by Anna Carven
“Kalan, Rykal, get out of the way,” she shouted, not once looking up from her work. “I swear, if this Human dies on me because of your stalling, I’ll kill you both.”
She found a reasonably sized vein in the crook of the girl’s arm. The alcoholic fog was gone, replaced with crystalline focus. She fumbled with the venous insertion device, trying to figure out how it worked. She pressed a button and a needle flicked out. She slid the needle into the vein with delicate precision. Its clear display chamber turned red, filling with blood. It was in.
“We’ll burn in Kaiin’s hells before we let anything happen to you,” Rykal yelled. “Leave the Humans, medic.”
Zyara ignored him as she fumbled with the small valves and attachments connected to the IV. Upon insertion, it had released a kind of adhesive gel that held it firmly against the skin. A thin line ran from it, and she ran her fingers down the line, trying to figure out how to connect it to the bag.
There.
There was a small port on the bag. She attached the line to it and it clicked into place. A valve opened, and clear liquid started to run down the line.
Zyara breathed a sigh of relief and started to squeeze the bag with both hands, pushing fluid into the Human’s body as quickly as possible. It was only then that she permitted herself to look up, meeting the grim faces of her comrades.
“I’ll be fine,” she said, allowing desperation to creep into her voice. “Let us through.” She locked eyes with the driver. “You need to convince them you won’t let anything happen to me.”
Amidst the chaos, he managed to look affronted. “Nothing’s going to happen while I’m with you,” he said. Zyara wondered how he could sound so sure of himself at a time like this. She squeezed the bag of fluid tighter, willing it into the girl. The Human had lost so much blood. She was teetering on the edge of life and death.
The driver’s elegant features drew together in a frown as he turned back to the two Kordolian males. “This isn’t your fight,” he said in accentless Universal, his voice low and controlled, “and I understand you only want to protect your medic, but I need her right now. Melia needs her. It may not matter one iota to you Kordolians, but if the kid dies, Darkside goes up in flames. I am begging you now. Please, let us pass.”
For some reason, Zyara got the impression this man wasn’t used to begging.
Something complicated was happening here, but Zyara didn’t have time to think about it. “For the last fucking time,” she yelled in Kordolian, “get out of the way. Kalan, put that gun down.”
At first, the two big warriors didn’t respond. Zyara shot them a dark look.
Then, slowly, they relented, stepping back as the hover-car edged forward.
“The boss is gonna kill us when he finds out,” Zyara heard Rykal mutter, as Kalan shook his head.
“I have a comm, you know,” Zyara retorted, as they prepared to take off. “Follow me if you want. Call me in the morning. And tell the General that all those phases I spent training in the sim-chamber weren’t for nothing.”
She squeezed the rest of the fluid out of the bag and sighed. Males. They could be overly dramatic at times, especially if they happened to be Kordolian. The First Division in particular reminded her of the Ancestors. In the old tales, were always depicted as fierce and savagely protective.
Zyara looked down at her small patient, pressing her fingers against the fluttering pulse in her neck. It was a little stronger now, a little steadier. The fluid replacement was doing her good, and the Coag-Gel seemed to have stopped the bleeding.
She looked across and saw that the burly enforcer had another bag of the stuff ready to go.
For a Human, especially one who wasn’t medically trained, he wasn’t doing too badly.
“We’re off,” the driver said in an even voice, as the doors slid closed and the hover-car drifted upwards, its engines roaring, leaving the two Kordolian warriors in its wake.
Zyara had no doubt they would find a way to follow them.
She clipped the IV line to the second bag of Universal Haema and hoped for the best as they shot off into the night sky.
CHAPTER THREE
Kai was furious.
Someone had deviated from the plan. He wasn’t sure whether it was extreme stupidity or incredible treachery, but someone had decided to divert the convoy through the fucking Glory Strip at the busiest hour of the night.
In this crowded, chaotic, dangerous place, they’d been ambushed by soldiers of a rival clan, the Jinkai.
And now, the very person the convoy had been transporting lay in the back seat of his car, bleeding to death.
The Boss’s thirteen-year old daughter, Melia, had been stabbed.
If not for the Kordolian medic, who had appeared in the midst of battle like some kind of silver angel of mercy, Melia would probably be dead right now.
Cold fury ripped through him at the thought. Whoever was responsible for this would be punished by his hand.
He tore through the narrow streets of Lower Darkside, not caring that the pedestrians below were ducking for cover as the hover-car swept over them.
The Lamborghini Vortex was a rare beast, and driving it demanded absolute concentration and catlike reflexes. Master Vadim, the supreme Boss of their organization and the father of their clan, had gifted it to him when he’d ascended to the position of Sandama, the third lieutenant.
Hover-cars were extremely rare on the streets of Darkside. They were exorbitantly expensive, and as a result they were seldom seen in the grey zones of Earth.
But for a busy Sandama like Kai, who needed to be everywhere at once, the vehicle was a godsend.
He navigated down a dark, narrow alley with extreme precision, shooting out the other side and into the docking bay of the North Ward General Hospital.
It was the closest trauma facility to the Glory Strip. One look at Melia and he’d known she needed urgent surgery.
As he set the vehicle down, regulating the thrusters to prevent any sudden, jarring movements, he glanced at his rearview monitor.
The Kordolian was using her hands to force more Haema into Melia’s tiny body, squeezing the bag in order to get the fluid into her system as quickly as possible. The medic was covered in blood and her blouse had been ripped, revealing smooth, silver-grey skin underneath.
Things had happened so very quickly. Kai and his enforcer, Banri, had been en-route to a cargo inspection when they’d received the distress call. They’d stopped only to break into a local clinic, stealing an emergency kit from the deserted premises.
Banri had destroyed the guard-bot with a single shot from his bolt-rifle.
Never mind. They would recompense the owner at a later date.
The Kordolian looked up and Kai stared into eyes that reminded him of an intense sunset. Humans didn’t possess such eyes. In another place and time, he might have been entranced.
But right now, they needed to get Melia inside.
Kai leaned on the horn, sending out a long sharp blast of electric sound. A medical team appeared in the dock shortly after, an automated stretcher rolling alongside them.
“Let’s get her out of here,” he said, releasing the doors and stepping outside. The lead medic’s eyes widened as she took in his appearance.
Like most of the inhabitants of Darkside, she instantly recognized him for what he was. Details mattered. His distinctive dark, tailored suit and the small round pin at his lapel, the Ouroboros symbol of his clan, gave him away.
For a split-second, there was an echo of fear in her dark eyes. But then, professionalism took over. “What have we got?”
“Kid’s been stabbed,” he said. “She’s lost a lot of blood. Luckily, our medic’s managed to stabilize the bleeding and pump two bags of Universal Haema into her, but I think she needs surgery.”
The doctor glanced at Melia, taking in her torn shoulder, which was covered in dark, sticky Coag-Gel. Blood was everywhere. She nodded in understanding. “Let’s get her to theater.�
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The medical team didn’t waste time. The Kordolian medic looked at him questioningly, and he gave her a small, reassuring nod. She graciously stepped aside as the Humans rushed in.
Her duty done, she allowed the Human medical team to take over. They swept Melia from the back seat, placing her on the stretcher. Bots and hands swarmed over her, attaching lines and monitors to her frail body.
Kai was so full of anger, and yet he felt strangely helpless as he looked down at the girl. There was nothing more he could do for her right now. Her fate was in the hands of these medics.
Once upon a time, he’d been Melia’s shadow. For the first five years of her life, the Boss had entrusted Kai with Melia’s safety. He was no longer her bodyguard, but he still felt a certain sense of responsibility for her. She’d spent a good proportion of her childhood growing up under his watchful eye, after all.
The Kordolian woman appeared at his side, watching silently as Melia was whisked away, the Human medics running beside her as the automated stretcher disappeared through a pair of sliding doors.
For a moment, they were both quiet.
He looked at the Kordolian, studying her properly for the first time since they’d plucked her from the midst of that bloody street battle.
Her hands were coated in drying blood and her blouse was shredded. Long strands of hair had escaped her high ponytail, loosely framing her face. Her hair was like lilac-tinted starlight, and her eyes were the richest shade of orange; twin glowing embers in an otherwise expressionless face.
She had regal features and delicately pointed ears. She was completely unadorned. She wore no jewelry, no make-up, and her face was free from surgical modification.
Kai hadn’t seen a Kordolian up close before.
This one was tall and ethereal, and the effect she had on him was most unexpected.
He found himself wanting to talk to her. He wanted to tease out the thoughts and secrets hidden beneath her cool exterior.
He was intrigued, and that rarely ever happened.
Kai blinked, shaking his head slightly. He couldn’t afford to be distracted right now.
Banri stood at a respectful distance, waiting expectantly for Kai’s instructions. The big enforcer met his boss’s gaze.
“Take her back,” Kai said. “I will stay here and wait for news of Melia.”
CHAPTER FOUR
To Zyara’s surprise, the Human bowed. It wasn’t a pompous, flourishing bow such as might be performed in the Kythian Court. This gesture was deep, solemn, and very serious.
The Human rose again, regarding her with a serious expression. “My sincere thanks for your assistance,” he said softly, as he rose to his full height. He was only slightly taller than her. “My man will take you back now.” His dark eyes traveled over her figure, and Zyara suddenly felt self-conscious.
She was bloody and disheveled, in stark contrast to her strange companion, who wore an impeccably fitted suit.
He was all sharp lines and perfect darkness, with not a thread or hair out of place. He moved with graceful economy, and Zyara got a sense of carefully restrained power.
What an unusual Human.
She looked down at her hands, which were coated in blood.
He followed the direction of her stare, an unfathomable expression on his face.
Zyara couldn’t read this male at all. He turned and locked eyes with his colleague. “Make sure she gets anything she wants. If she wishes to refresh herself before returning to her companions, she may use the guest facilities in my residence.”
The large man’s only response was a slight quirk of his eyebrow, indicating his surprise. But it was quickly hidden. He nodded in acknowledgement, stepping around to the driver’s side. He gestured towards the front passenger seat, making a face. “It’s less than ideal. My apologies. I would normally offer you the back seat, however it is… unsuitable right now.”
The back seat was, of course, coated in blood.
Zyara had no idea what was so problematic about sitting in the front, but she didn’t want to offend these odd, overly formal Humans with any uninformed questions, so she simply inclined her head in acknowledgment.
“Banri will take you back now.” The Human gestured towards his vehicle, his arm outstretched.
And just like that, Zyara slipped into the car and was whisked away from the dock, away from the mysterious Human with depthless black eyes who had treated her with an almost reverential level of respect.
She glanced out of the rear window as the hover-car started to rise and drift away from the dock. He stood there motionlessly, seeing them off. He cut a striking figure in the harsh light, and Zyara had to tear her eyes away from him.
She had so many questions.
These Humans were different to the ordinary citizens she’d encountered on the streets of Darkside. These men struck her as predators. They seemed to inhabit a hidden world, one closed off to all but the closest insiders.
And yet at the same time, they’d been nothing but proper with her, treating her as if she were Earth nobility. She didn’t feel any threat from them whatsoever.
Earth had so many layers.
Human civilization was proving to be much more intricate and complex than she had first thought.
The large bodyguard, who was now piloting the car, softly cleared his throat, catching her attention. “Ma’am, would you like to go back to Entropy straight away, or would you like to refresh yourself first? You can use the facilities at Master Kainan’s residence if you wish. If you feel you might need a change of clothes, suitable garments will be available.”
Kainan. So that was his name.
Zyara hesitated. She really should get back to the club. The Kordolians would be going out of their minds wondering whether she was safe. That was how they were.
She hoped they’d left the fight. She hoped the Humans hadn’t done anything to antagonize them.
Two First Division warriors tangling with a bunch of Humans was bad news for the Humans. With their superior strength and speed, not to mention their highly advanced physical modifications, they could do some serious damage to Human bodies. But despite their fearsome reputation, the First Division weren’t bloodthirsty savages. She trusted Kalan and Rykal not to get too caught up in Human affairs. They were on this planet to forge a new existence, not get involved in age-old conflicts.
Still, when there were a couple of First Division warriors around, one never really knew what might happen.
She really should go back right now and make sure the situation was under control.
But a part of her was curious. The Human called Kainan had offered her the use of his residence.
Was this normal behavior for Humans?
A home revealed a lot about an individual, and for some reason, this Kainan trusted her enough to allow her into his personal quarters.
It wasn’t just on a whim, either. Kainan didn’t seem like the kind of person who would make such an offer without thinking, or do something as an afterthought.
Interesting, indeed.
Who were these people?
“Thank you for your offer,” Zyara said softly. “I’d appreciate the chance to freshen up before we go back to the club.”
The big man nodded as he edged the flying car into the slipstream, hovering above the narrow streets below. There were so few of these types of vehicles around that Zyara wondered if this kind of technology was difficult for Humans to create.
“How should I address you, Sir?” She looked across at the Human, taking in his sheer size. He was too big for the seat, and his massive arms stretched the dark material of his jacket. His face was rugged, marred by vicious looking scars that continued across his bald head.
This one had seen a few battles in his life.
“Banri, ma’am.” He regarded her with a cautious sidelong glance, shifting in his seat.
“Banri.” Various thoughts and questions filtered through her mind. Zyara was brimming with curiosity
. The remnants of alcohol were still coursing through her system, but now, instead of feeling slightly delirious, she was relaxed.
The danger had passed, and she was riding in a strange vehicle with a strange man who was taking her wherever she wanted to go. Right now, that just happened to be the residence of a dark-eyed Human called Kainan, a man who held secret power.
Never before had Zyara done anything so reckless.
Perhaps it was the alcohol in her veins, or perhaps she was entranced by the night, captivated by the colorful lights and hidden layers of this place called Darkside, where nothing was as it seemed, and Humans experienced a wild kind of freedom, unlike anything she had ever known.
Such wonderful, seething, controlled dissent would have been stamped out on Kythia a long time ago. Kordolians were expected to play by the rules of the Empire.
Zyara had never been one the play by the rules, and this is where it had gotten her. Who could have predicted she’d end up on a distant planet in the Ninth Sector, rebelling against the Kordolian Empire?
She smiled at the big Human, who looked a tad awkward. “My name is Zyara.”
Banri blinked, but didn’t say anything.
“It’s very generous of, uh, Kainan to offer me his facilities.” Zyara said slowly, raising a lilac eyebrow. Banri merely grunted and nodded, again offering no words, although his eyes widened slightly. She got the feeling he was the type who didn’t say much.
His hard face gave away nothing as the reflections of Darkside’s brightly colored lights played over his stoic expression. Zyara watched the streets below in fascination, surprised to see the place still so busy. Humans were normally asleep at this time of the night-cycle.
“What was the fight on the Glory Strip about, Banri?” Although Zyara had resolved to stay out of Human affairs, her curiosity was growing. She couldn’t hide it any longer.
Banri swerved around a tall building, increasing their speed. He stared straight ahead. “That isn’t something I can discuss with you, ma’am.”