On a Rogue Planet

by Anna Hackett

  Malin wrinkled her nose. “Aren’t the cleanest guys, are they?”

  There was another doorway directly ahead. “Come on.”

  They’d made it half way across the room when a noise made them freeze.

  A snuffling noise.

  Xander cocked his head, trying to identify it. An animal, maybe. No, that wasn’t quite right. The sound had a slightly mechanical element to it.

  Something moved in the shadows beyond one of the couches.

  “Xander,” Malin whispered, stepping closer to him. Her multi-tool was clutched in front of her, set to her trusty laser cutter.

  Whatever it was rose from where it had been lying.

  A giant cat.

  It stepped into the light, watching them with glowing orange eyes. Its shoulders would reach Xander’s waist.

  Not just a cat. Xander saw the long line of the beast’s flank was covered in fur but its legs were glossy metal. As was its enormous head.

  It sniffed, its tail stiffening, its mechanical head lowering. It opened its mouth in a silent roar—baring very sharp, very long fangs.

  “Jesus,” Malin muttered.

  Then the cat charged.

  It ran, leaped over a couch and headed straight for them.

  Xander shoved Malin out of the way. He then dived to the side.

  The cat landed, swiveled and pounced again.

  It landed on Xander.

  The force of the hit made them roll. Xander felt the enormous weight of the creature and the prick of claws on his chest.

  He grabbed the cat’s jaws, holding them back from clamping onto his face.

  The damn thing was stronger than he’d estimated. He struggled to hold it off. It wanted his head.

  “Malin.” He managed to get her name out.

  His human hand slipped a little under the strain, bringing those vicious canines inches from Xander’s eyes.

  ***

  Mal scrambled to her feet, racing over to where Xander was wrestling the cat.

  A bio-mechanical cat. It was so incredible. If they weren’t fighting for their lives, she would have liked to study it.

  She rushed up and shoved her laser cutter into the cat’s side.

  It let out a mechanical screech. Hot, red blood sprayed out, covering Mal. Her stomach lurched.

  Ugh. She ignored the blood, twisting the laser cutter. Here, the cat seemed like a regular, living creature. She felt the laser cut through flesh and bone, and for a second, she felt intense sorrow for killing it.

  Until it reared back in an attempt to protect itself. Its giant jaws snapped at her.

  Mal fell back on her butt with a cry.

  Xander punched out with his mechanical arm. His fist slammed hard into the cat’s head, knocking the creature off its feet.

  It was clearly dazed, shaking its head. Mal scrambled back toward it.

  She reached her arm in the gash she’d opened up. She was in the creature’s chest cavity. Her hand touched its pulsing heart—its metallic heart.

  She cut through it with her laser.

  The cat dropped to the ground like a starship with no engines.

  Mal yanked her gore-covered arm back and sank to her knees. Safe. Stars, when she’d seen that thing trying to take Xander’s head off…the cyborg might drive her crazy but she quite liked his head where it was.

  Xander moved up close behind her. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded, still trying to catch her breath.

  “Thank you for saving me. Again.” His breath puffed across the side of her neck.

  “I’ll add it to your bill,” she said.

  Leaning down, he brushed his mouth against her ear.

  She stiffened. “What are—?”

  “You are a distraction. But you’re the most pleasant distraction I’ve ever experienced.”

  She paused, staring straight ahead. Something inside her trembled. “Xander—”

  He nipped the shell of her ear. “I’ve never been distracted by anything or anyone before. Only you.”

  Her forehead dropped. “Jesus, you twist me up.”

  Xander’s hands pressed to her waist for a second, then he moved back. “Let’s keep moving.”

  She let him help her up. She snatched a discarded shirt off one of the couches and did the best she could to wipe the blood off her hand and arm.

  Then they moved through the next doorway.

  Xander came to a sudden halt and Mal slammed into his back. Righting herself, she stepped up beside him.

  Stars, no. Her mind went blank. Then fury rushed into her belly like molten fire.

  The Taskmaster hadn’t seen them yet.

  He was too busy crooning to the cages that lined both sides of the room. Crooning to his captives. All women.

  At first, Mal only noticed that they were all shapes and sizes. Then she noticed they all had darker skin tones. Honey browns to gorgeous polished obsidian.

  Then she noticed the implants.

  She hissed in a breath. All the women were Centaxian.

  There were twelve of them. Many were naked, the rest in see-through wisps of fabric. They all looked tired, scared and dejected.

  Beside her, Xander was silent. But an icy menace pumped off him.

  Before she could say anything, Xander was sprinting forward.

  The Taskmaster barely had time to turn before Xander was on him.

  Xander took the Taskmaster down and was systematically pummeling the Rahl in the face.

  Mal raced up, tried to grab Xander’s arm. “Don’t kill him. We need information first.”

  But Xander was like a syndroid, not reacting to her, set only on his task. His eyes were glowing neon.

  “CenSec.” The Taskmaster’s face blanched. He kept raising his hands to protect himself, but Xander’s relentless punches were too strong.

  “Xander!” Mal pressed herself to his side and planted her mouth to the side of his neck.

  As soon as she licked his skin, his fists paused. He grabbed her, plastering her to him.

  “There you are.” Her voice was a shaky whisper. “Okay, now?”

  He gave a curt nod and set her aside. He yanked the Taskmaster up by his vest, wrapped his hand around the man’s neck and held him several inches off the ground. “Where is the Antikythera?”

  The Taskmaster shook his head, his face turning red.

  Xander tightened his hold. The Rahl made a choking noise. “You are responsible for a lot of death and destruction on my planet. You facilitated the theft of something invaluable to my people. And you keep our women prisoner. You do not want to disobey my order.”

  Mal wondered how someone with such an impassive face and icy voice could come across so damned scary.

  Xander lowered his voice. “You know I can kill you in an instant. Crush your throat with my enhanced strength, electrocute you with my implants, break your neck…should I go on?”

  The Rahl made a gurgling sound.

  Xander set the man on his feet. “Talk.”

  “G-Gurion gave it to someone in return for weapons.” The words came out breathless and garbled.

  “Who?”

  “Don’t…know.”

  Mal saw the muscles in Xander’s arm flex, his hold tightening again.

  The Taskmaster’s eyes bulged. “No. No! I don’t know.”

  “Where then? Where did he send it?”

  “A planet called Technis. That’s all I know.”

  Mal had never heard the name.

  “Why do you have Centaxian women here?”

  “Payment.” His voice was barely a whisper. “Rexon Dax is paying part of our fee with women.”

  Mal felt her stomach turn over.

  Xander landed another punch to the Taskmaster’s face, then gripped the man’s head. With a vicious twist, he broke the Rahl’s neck and tossed him on the floor.

  Then Xander was striding to the nearest cage and breaking the lock.

  Mal rushed to the next cage and used her multi-tool t
o pick the lock. “You’re safe now.”

  The women were wide-eyed and beyond scared. Stars only knew what they’d been through.

  Mal helped one thin woman who was incredibly weak. Her silver implant looked enormous against her frail neck. “You’re free.” Mal heard Xander talking to the others as he freed them.

  She passed the woman into the arms of another, then Mal met him at the last cage, watched him rip the lock away with his mechanical hand. The women inside tripped over each other to get out.

  One woman stopped in front of them.

  She was older and very attractive, with skin the color of melted chocolate. A silver-gray implant sat above her left eye. “Thank you, General Saros.”

  The muscle in Xander’s jaw ticked. He nodded.

  The woman’s gaze landed on Mal. “You’re Malin Phoenix.”

  Mal blinked. “Yes. Do I know you?”

  “No.” The woman paused, pressing a closed hand to her throat. “You know my husband. Traxan.”

  Mal felt a cold sensation wash over her. “You’re Trax’s Xalla?”

  “Yes.”

  Mal touched the woman’s arm, needed the contact. “How did you end up here?”

  “They—” Xalla’s voice broke, her face fell “—the mercenaries came for Traxan. They blamed him for your escape, General Saros.”

  No! Mal’s grip tightened on Xalla’s arm. “Is he okay?”

  The Centaxian woman’s lips trembled. “They tortured him. And our son.” A tear slid down Xalla’s cheek. “They loaded me onto a ship to come here. I have no idea if Traxan and Pax are still alive.”

  Nausea choked Mal, making her dizzy. Trax. Crusty, tough Trax who’d helped her and Xander escape. “We’ll make them pay, Xalla. All of them.” Mal gripped the woman’s hand. “I promise.”

  Xander was staring at Mal. She lifted her chin. This was her fight now, too.

  “Can anyone pilot a shuttle?” Xander asked.

  A tall, sturdy woman stepped forward. She was naked and her dark hair was matted, but her face was steady. “I work for Trade and Commerce. Cargo pilot.”

  “I need you to get these women to the landing pads. Steal a shuttle and then make contact with a ship called the Infinitas. They’ll help you escape.”

  The woman nodded and looked to the others. “Let’s find some clothes and get out of here.”

  When Xalla squeezed Malin’s hand, Mal looked back at her.

  “Thank you. Both of you.”

  Xander dipped his head. “Don’t thank me until I’ve restored order on Centax. You cannot return yet, Xalla. Our planet is still under the control of the attackers.”

  Mal gave the woman an impulsive hug. “Trax will be all right. He’s the toughest old salvager I know.”

  The woman nodded and moved to join the group of women.

  Mal watched as the women searched for clothes and comforted each other. She saw Centaxian strength despite their ordeal. “They’ll be okay.” Mal knew Xander was seething under his cool, calm mask.

  She reached up and traced a hand over his jaw. The need to comfort him welled from somewhere deep inside, surprising her. She was a mechanic. Offering comfort wasn’t something she was good at. “You saved them.”

  His hand cupped hers and held it there. He drew in a breath. “How many other Centaxian women have been taken? Sold to slavery? Tortured?”

  “We know where the Antikythera is now. We’ll find it. We’ll save them.”

  “We?”

  “Trax is my friend. He helped me—us—get off-world. I won’t rest until we make his attackers pay and Centax is free.”

  Xander was silent and Mal looked back at the women. Many of them were staring at her and Xander. Most were staring at Xander with wide eyes and mouths hanging open.

  Hmm, she might be ruining Xander’s tough guy reputation.

  Xander took another deep breath. “Thank you, Malin. Without your help…”

  She winked at him. “Not too shabby for a distraction, huh?” She pulled away but in one of his lightning moves, he grabbed her hand.

  “You are a beautiful distraction. One who erodes my control.”

  Mal’s breath hitched.

  Then Xander stiffened and touched the implant at his temple. “Go ahead, Dathan.”

  Mal listened to Xander’s side of the conversation. Watched his jaw tighten and his eyes narrow.

  “We’re on our way. Also, there will be a shuttle of Centaxian women hitting orbit soon. Help them get away.”

  “What is it?” Mal asked.

  “A huge group of enraged Rahl is headed our way. We need to get to the shuttle. Now.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Xander and Malin sprinted through the Rahl living areas. Xander studied the map overlay, identifying possible routes to the landing pads.

  “How far to the shuttle?” Malin said, panting a little from their pace.

  “Not far—”

  A door at the end of the corridor burst open. The lead Rahl spotted them and let out a roar.

  Without blinking, Xander pushed open the nearest door and dragged Malin through.

  They were in the kitchens.

  Staff of all species looked up from their work, staring at them. Xander paid them no attention. He crossed the space and pulled Malin through another door.

  They ran through the corridors, twisting and turning to throw their pursuers off.

  Dathan’s voice came through Xander’s systems. “You guys nearly at the shuttle?”

  “Negative. The access was blocked by Rahl.”

  Dathan cursed.

  “We’re coming through the living areas. We’ll get there.”

  “Make it quick. There’s a group of Rahl tearing through the landing pads. Think they’re looking for our shuttle.”

  Xander moved through another door. It led into a sort of dorm room with beds lining the walls.

  And it wasn’t empty.

  He stopped and bumped into him.

  “What the—”

  He slapped a hand over her mouth and dragged her around in front of him. But his gaze didn’t leave the tableau in front of them.

  A large Rahl warrior was sprawled back on the edge of a bed, legs spread.

  Between his legs, a green-skinned woman knelt, her mouth engulfing his large cock.

  Xander felt Malin stiffen. His own muscles tensed to breaking point. He couldn’t make himself look away—from the woman’s stretched red lips and bobbing head or from the rictus of pleasure-pain on the man’s face.

  In Xander’s head, it was so easy to imagine the scene with him and Malin. Him, sprawled back and Malin on her knees, his cock in the sweet heat of her mouth.

  Malin leaned into him, her shapely bottom rubbing against him. He hissed out a breath.

  When the Rahl groaned, it snapped Xander out of the sensual spell. He took hold of Malin’s arm and pulled her left, toward the opposite door and out of the room.

  As they passed into yet another corridor, she kept her gaze resolutely ahead. “Which way?”

  “Ahead and to the left.”

  They hadn’t gone far when Dathan’s voice came through again. “CenSec, you there?”

  “Yes.”

  “They’ve found the shuttle.”

  Xander bit off a curse. “We’ll find another shuttle.”

  “I won’t risk my cousin—”

  “I’ll take care of Malin.” He looked down into turbulent amethyst eyes. “You have my word.”

  “I’ll hold you to that, CenSec. If you don’t get her back to us safely…” Dathan didn’t need to finish his threat.

  “I’ll keep her safe.” And as the words crossed his lips, Xander realized keeping her safe had become vitally important to him.

  “What’s going on?” Malin asked.

  Xander hurried her down the hall. “The Rahl found our shuttle. We’ll need to find another way out.”

  “We’ll have to steal another shuttle.”

  “The Rahl are pat
rolling the landing pads.”

  “Any secondary pads?”

  He ran through the overlay glowing over his right eye. “No.”

  “Wait a second.” She drew to a stop. “Do they have a salvage yard?”

  “Yes. A small one.”

  “Then there should be pads there.”

  He scanned the schematics. “Yes! Including record of a small starfreighter.”

  “Let’s go.”

  They made it out of the building. Xander was grateful Rhage had a breathable atmosphere, with only a slightly decreased oxygen content. Surprisingly, he and Malin made it out into the courtyard in front of the arena without encountering any other Rahl.

  “Look!” She pointed ahead. A high electro-link fence cordoned off a small salvage yard.

  They’d only gone a couple of steps when a Rahl guard rounded the corner of the building. When he saw them, his eyes flared and he bared his fangs.

  Xander leaped high and came down on the top of the guard. He gripped the guard’s head and with a violent twist, broke his neck.

  He dropped the body and looked at Malin. “Keep moving.”

  They sprinted across the open courtyard. Behind them, he heard the sound of running footfalls.

  Malin glanced over her shoulder and her mouth tightened. “They’re coming.”

  His sensors detected thirty Rahl in pursuit.

  They passed a large statue of a Rahl set to attack—fangs bared, large fists raised. Ahead of Xander, Malin stumbled on her precarious heels. Without breaking stride, Xander swung her into his arms.

  They neared the glowing fence. Xander searched for an entrance and then assessed the height in case he had to jump. Luckily electro fences didn’t carry enough voltage to do much harm if they touched it.

  Malin cursed. “Xander, look at the freighter.”

  He looked beyond the fence’s blue mesh. The small freighter sat on the landing pads. He swallowed his own curse. It had been sitting there a long time and wouldn’t be leaving any time soon. It had been partially dismantled and listed to one side.

  Xander set Malin down, running through their options. He looked behind them and saw the Rahl racing toward them. Some were bounding on all fours like giant cats.

  “Run.” He flexed his hands, letting his system run through the best attack plans. None of them had a hundred percent chance of success.