Blue Maneuver

by Linda Andrews

  My cell rang just as he opened his mouth. I raised the Smartphone to eye level. The muffin icon filled the screen.

  Tobias leapt to his feet. “Who is it?”

  “The muffin man.” Embarrassment heated my cheeks. How unprofessional of me. “I mean control.”

  “Don’t answer it.”

  My thumb hovered over the icon. “What? Why not? I mean everyone can understand one missed call, but two… That’s a little hard for even me to swallow.”

  The cell rang again. Besides I needed to make a good impression. After all, the woman on the other end of the line held my life in her hands. Of course, having a dead protectee and pilot might not be the best way to go about convincing her to keep me alive. I sucked on my bottom lip while the phone rang for the third time.

  He knocked the phone from my hand and crushed it under his heel. Bits of plastic flew in every direction and light fizzled across the cracked screen. Tobias scooped the mass, ran the edge over the black Torunn goo then chucked the whole thing in the cockpit.

  Outrage and relief flipped through me. “What did you do that for?”

  Tobias used his knife and opened a small gash on his palm, before smearing his blood on his phone. “I didn’t want to get the order to kill you again.”

  Idiot! I smacked my forehead. I had failed, naturally, control would demand Tobias kill me. They thought I was in league with Victor.

  With his bloody hand, Tobias snapped his cell phone in half and tossed the pieces inside. “This way, our tech is destroyed and whoever killed Torunn and Kim will think they’re safe and we are injured.”

  He smashed his MP4 player on the ground then the key fob before adding them to the mess inside the plane.

  I rubbed my temples hoping to deaden the ache building inside my head. Without his James Bond gadgets, how were we to get at the information and unmask the bad guy? “But what about the data from the ship? I only opened one file and it was empty. How are we supposed to know whom they’ve contacted, and their flight path and…”

  Using his knife, Tobias cut off his sleeve. “You have duplicate data in your CeeBees.”

  “I do? You mean to tell me that I’m a back-up drive for my Smartphone?” My skin itched at the thought. How was this possible? Stepping forward, I took the severed sleeve from him and wrapped it around his bloody hand.

  “Not a back-up drive, more like cyberspace. The datapad merely provides a means to access the information stored inside you.” He slit the cuff so I could tie the makeshift bandage in place. “It’s a failsafe. Without you actually being in contact with the phone, no one can access the information. Although a few ghost images remain.”

  After knotting the fabric, I stepped away from him. “So you have them too?”

  “No.” He rolled his shoulders and glanced down at Torunn’s body. “I just have a genetic lock. The data is stored on the phone; it’s just hidden until I touch it.”

  A soft whine filled the night and the lamps on the tips of the plane’s wings flickered on. Red light bathed the tarmac with a bloody glow. A female voice spoke from the cockpit. “Prepare for liftoff in Tee minus one minute.”

  I backed away from the wing. “What did you do?”

  “Nothing.” Tobias spun the knife in his hand. “In case of emergency, the ship is designed to return to the transport within a set period of time.”

  Like not hearing from the people who were supposed to protect the cargo?

  Tobias tilted his head to stare at me. “Rae, do you trust me?”

  Trust him? As much as I could someone who was always thinking about killing me. Wrapping my arms around my waist, I tossed my weight from foot to foot. But this was hardly the time to be having a deep conversation about trust. We had a body to deal with, information to cut out of said body, a plane about to depart and a boatload of trouble coming our way.

  “Rae?” He held out his hand toward me.

  “I guess so.” He hadn’t killed me and let’s face it; I needed him far more than he needed me. I nodded for good measure, dispelling any lingering doubts then placed my palm against his calloused one. “Yes. Absolutely.”

  “Good.” He dropped to the ground dragging me with him.

  I collapsed on my knees and winced at the pebbles digging into my unprotected flesh. I jerked forward when he pressed my palm against Torunn’s tattoo. Gross. His skin felt warm and rubbery.

  “Hey. What are you doing?” My hand started to tingle then the skin seemed to catch fire. I tried to pull back, but Tobias held me firmly. “What’s going on?”

  Was this some kind of punishment?

  “Your CeeBees are taking up the data.” He smiled.

  What a douche. The tingles raced up my arms to my neck and tightened my scalp until I thought it might split open. The pounding in my head increased.

  “How is this possible?” I closed my eyes against a wave of nausea. “And please don’t get technical.”

  My stomach couldn’t take it.

  “The CeeBees are Archa technology and the light storage capabilities are based on the ancient’s designs.” He stroked my back.

  The pleasure of his touch momentarily kept the pain at bay. God, I hoped I didn’t get a migraine every time I used my CeeBees.

  “I wasn’t sure it was going to work.”

  I glared at him from between my lashes. “I’m so happy your enjoying this.”

  I forced my jaw to relax. Gritting my teeth only made the throbbing in my skull louder.

  “Thirty seconds to lift off.” The female voice echoed around the cockpit.

  His hand delved under my hair to massage my knots in my neck. “Don’t worry I’ll feed you later.”

  I bit back a groan. Ohhh that did help. I relaxed into his touch and the pounding ebbed. Naturally, he stopped. “Food seems your answer to everything.”

  “That and sex.”

  That didn’t even deserve a response. I massaged my neck as the pounding faded away completely.

  With a wink, he hefted the body over his shoulder and stuffed it into the ship. No sooner had he stepped back than the door closed.

  I watched as it lifted straight up in the air, higher and higher until the lights blinked out. Now that was truly cool. “Will they think we’re dead when they find our phones and stuff?”

  “No.” Tobias leaned over and wrapped his arm around my back. “But it will cause an investigation to be launched. Do you think you can stand?”

  “Of course.” Thank God the pounding stopped. Bracing my hand on the pavement, I pushed to my feet. No sooner had I straightened my legs than my knees buckled.

  Tobias tightened his grip and held me against his hard body.

  Perspiration beaded my upper lip. Crap on a cracker! My legs wobbled more than unset gelatin. Using my hands, I crawled up his chest until I stood straight. “Will I always feel so weak?”

  “No.” He dragged me slowly toward the truck. “Your body will eventually adapt but you need to eat more. Store up some reserves.”

  “I thought I had enough of that.” I patted my butt.

  He glanced behind me. “Just the right amount, but not any extra.”

  I shook my head. The guy could be downright sweet when he wasn’t threatening to kill me or make me suck information off dead guys. I glanced down at my arm. The odd blue symbol marred the white skin of my forearm. “Are you sure you can get this information out of me?”

  That blue knot was so not my style.

  “It might come out once I reconstruct your datapad.”

  “Might?” I didn’t like the sound of that. I wanted that information out of me and in the hands of the right people. “Are you—”

  “Shh!”

  I stilled. Now what? My ears strained to listen above my pounding heart. Then I heard it. A soft yelp swelled in the darkness.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I fisted Tobias’s shirt front. A yelp meant people. How could this have happened? We had scanned the airport’s tarmac and hangars. O
nly in the houses located behind the airport buildings had the infrared camera screen glowed with the bright yellow glow of people.

  “Do we hit the deck, run for the truck or…?” Or just take a Scrambler hit in the chest. My muscles twitched with indecision while fear toweled the moisture from my mouth.

  “None of the above.” Tobias set his hands on mine. They felt hot against my chilled skin.

  “None?” Calmness seeped into me from the steady beat of his heart against my palms.

  “If whoever out there wanted us dead, we’d be dead already.” He gently pried my hands off his chest.

  Right. Out here in the open, we were as exposed as a filet in a butcher’s case. I shook the tension from my hands. We’re safe, safe, safe. Maybe if I repeated the mantra enough, I’d believe it. “So what do we do?”

  “I don’t suppose you’d stay in the truck?” Tobias shrugged and stepped back. Even thought his hands hung loosely at his side, tension radiated off his stiff shoulders.

  I glanced at the vehicle, a ghostly white rectangle twenty feet away.

  “Not going to happen.” I inched closer to him and felt my heart slow in his presence. Even if the truck were armor-plated, I would have stayed by his side. “You picked a hell of a time to give up your weapons.”

  I’d give my first born for his key fob right about now or even a cell phone I could chuck at someone.

  He straightened. “We’re not defenseless.”

  “Speak for yourself.” He was a trained soldier and I was raised by parents who thought I’d get a lifetime of bad Karma for stepping on a cockroach. My best shot at survival lay with being nearby when he unleashed his warrior mojo on whoever waited in the darkness. “I don’t know hand-to-hand, mind-melding or the Vulcan death grip.”

  Although he tucked a lock of my hair behind my ears, his attention seemed drawn to the darkness behind me.

  The skin on the back of my neck prickled. I knew exactly where he looked. The lights were out on the last three hangars and blackness crept in the spaces between.

  What did he see?

  Did I really want to know?

  “Come on.” He turned me about, until I faced the darkness, and then casually maneuvered his body between me and whatever waited. “But—”

  “But stay close. Trust me. I plan to.” I’d crawl under his skin and hide if I could. Clearing my throat, I gathered the ribbons of my courage. I could do this. I had to do this. My life and Tobias’s were at stake.

  “You’re catching on.”

  I licked my dry lips. Yeah, danger and I were becoming old friends. Too bad I couldn’t get a restraining order against it.

  With measured steps, he strolled toward the last hangar.

  Looping my finger through his belt, I kept pace. The closer to the building we crept the more sweat pooled under my arms and trickled down my spine. My lungs labored to draw in the humid air and my eyes strained to pick out something, anything in the darkness.

  When we reached the closed hangar doors, he stopped.

  I barely registered his upheld fist, before I plowed into his back. Tingles radiated from my nose and I blinked back the tears. Son of a monkey’s butt! The man’s muscles had muscles.

  He sighed, his frustration loud in the stillness.

  Holy Toledo, it was quiet. Not even a scorpion stirred.

  A moan rasped against the night. Low and soft, it sliced the blanket of night.

  Good God, what if it wasn’t human? I shivered and rubbed my bare arms. When had it gotten so cold?

  After a moment, Tobias crept forward along the front of the building.

  Step by step, I followed behind him. Tension knotted my stomach and I had to form fists to keep my hands from shaking. I counted footfalls to the edge of the building then heartbeats when it angled back toward the infinite nothingness. My eye twitched. Just how big was this building? Weren’t we almost there?

  As much as I dreaded the encounter, I wanted it over and done with.

  Tobias paused on the edge of the pitch black wedge between the hangars.

  “Don’t kill me.” The voice was soft and quiet, not quite a sob but definitely tear-filled and female.

  My heart squeezed painfully in my chest. She sounded so small and scared, more frightened than me. A second ago, I wouldn’t have believed that possible. My fear dissipated, leaving my knees shaky and legs rubbery. I had to help her.

  Tobias reached behind and laid a hand on my hip. “Identify yourself.”

  Right. No rushing forward. She could still be the enemy.

  “Ulla.” The woman sniffled. “Ulla Torunn.” Her last word ended in a hiccough.

  “Oh, thank God.” Again I tried to step forward but Tobias dug his fingers into my hip and held me in place. I sensed more than saw him shake his head.

  “How did you survive the Scrambler?”

  Gravel crunched in the darkness and I thought I detected an inky shadow move in the blackness. Could my eyes have adjusted to the lack of light?

  “Rudd. He always insisted I wear an energy cloak. It must have protected me.” Her voice pitched low and throaty, no doubt from her crying.

  I would have been hysterical had I seen my husband dissolve in front of me and not been able to help. I plucked at Tobias’s fingers. “Let me go to her.”

  His grip relaxed but didn’t release me. “Are you hurt?

  “I—I don’t know. Are you going to kill me?”

  “We’re here to help you.” Tobias dropped his hand.

  Finally free, I darted into the murky darkness aiming for the blackest lump. The faint scent of flowers filled the space and I slowed. Reaching to her side, I extended my hand in her direction. “Take my hand and I’ll help you up.”

  A sliver of black emerged from the lump. Energy sparked between my arm and hers. Crap on a cracker! I yelped and tried to retreat but my legs wouldn’t move. When little starbursts of blue and white lit up the night, I had an impression of blond hair and pale skin before she pulled back.

  Tobias’s hands closed around my shoulders and his thumbs eased the knots dotting my neck. “Ulla, can you deactivate the suit?”

  “I—I think it was damaged in the blast.” Silk whispered in the stillness then a flame flared pushing back the darkness. A yellow aura surrounded the woman on the ground, gilding her lithe arms and long, slender legs. A curtain of honey blond hair shielded her face as she leaned forward and worked at the glittering broach on her teal tunic.

  Everything about her screamed money, privilege and beauty. I tried to ignore the spurt of jealousy shooting through me but my attention whipped to Tobias.

  His eyes narrowed as he watched her.

  At least, he didn’t have that intense look men wore in the throes of lust. Maybe every extraterrestrial human was gorgeous. Tobias and Victor weren’t exactly chopped bologna.

  Ulla’s tapered fingers flew over the red gems ringing a thumb-sized green stone. “Rudd told me there was another way around the switch.”

  “He would know.” Tobias removed his hands from my shoulders. “He invented the suit, correct?”

  “Yes.” Ulla pressed two small jewels before turning the center one. A soft humming filled the air. “It was one of his favorite inventions.”

  “It saved many a fourth worlder from assassination.” Tobias leaned against the side of the building and crossed his legs at the ankles.

  What was he up to? I certainly wasn’t buying the whole nonchalance act. Maybe he saw something I didn’t? Then again, I doubt he trusted anyone.

  “Our friends, you mean.” Ulla spat. “They were quick enough to desert us, when we needed a little support… a little help.” Pain shone through the contempt. “If just one had stood by us…”

  Friends made even the worst situations bearable or good situations intolerable if they deserted you. Been there, experienced that. Tobias the douche could keep his suspicions. I wouldn’t allow anyone to think they’re alone, without friends. I crouched on the blacktop next to
Ulla. “Do you know where you are?”

  “Earth.” Ulla stopped fiddling with her broach. The humming faded as she glanced up at me. Her crystal blue eyes shattered into a mosaic of emotion before she blinked it away.

  “That’s right and I’m Rae.” I stopped myself from holding out my hand. God knows I didn’t want to get shocked again. “I’m going to help you adjust to life here.”

  Her pink tongue skimmed over her full lips and her eyes widened. “You’re not going to send me back? I know it was Rudd you wanted…”

  She sighed deeply and her gaze skittered away. The lights overhead chose that moment to hum to life.

  Tobias squinted up. “The power outage must be a result of the dampening field.”

  So much for reliable UED technology. Raising my hand, I shielded my eyes against the brightness. “No, of course we’re not going to send you back.”

  I glared at Tobias. What kind of place was the universe? And this UED? Obviously, she and her husband had risked a lot to get here. Surely the UED wouldn’t throw her back. I scratched my tattoo. Especially since we got the information.

  Tobias brushed my fingers aside and wrapped his hand around my forearm, hiding the tattoo. He tugged me to my feet. “We need to get you someplace safe, Mrs. Torunn.”

  “Yes, of course.” Ulla brushed at the wrinkles in her tunic before rising gracefully to her feet. “How silly of me. I’ve neutralized the suit.”

  I glanced up and up. Crap on a cracker! Ulla was tall, at least an inch over six feet. And her legs… She twitched her skirt and the slit on the side gaped open revealing legs that stopped somewhere near her shoulders. Next to her, I felt about as sexy as the traveling gnome.

  Not that I was thinking about sex, but a woman had her pride.

  She held out her hand to Tobias, wiggled her fingers. Her manicured nails glistened like diamonds in the overhead lights. “I had forgotten how heavy Earth gravity could be.”

  “I’m sure you’ll adjust in no time.” After squeezing my fingers, he tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and guided her across the tarmac.