by Catty Diva
“That’s kind of him.”
“They are good people, as far as I can tell. None of their own has ever turned on them. Those who have always seem to be employees recently come here. It amazes me they continue to take the chance on bringing in outsiders,” Duggin admitted.
“I think Razar has big plans but not enough people to bring them about. Besides, the number of people that have been bad are small compared to the good ones.”
“You’re right. It’s just the bad ones bring attention as well as the fear of the harm they can cause. They put everyone at risk.”
“There’s no denying what you say, but life is a risk. Most of those causing damage have snuck in. That’s impossible to prevent completely.”
“Maybe, but we will try to make it as close to impossible as we can.”
“Did you realize I’ll be done with school here in less than two weeks? College doesn’t start for two months after that. I’ll be working somewhere, probably on a farm, until then.”
“So soon? I hadn’t realized. We have a lot to discuss.”
Sharon’s heart beat faster. What did he want to talk about? Was he moving on or did he want to ask her to be his girlfriend? Wasn’t that the way it worked? It hadn’t with Clancy, she and Duke had gone right to living together, but she knew better than to expect things to move that fast. Those kind of expectations led to disappointment.
In her heart, she knew what he wanted, but she’d read a lot about relationships which told her males were the ones that usually feared commitment. Rushing them was a mistake, they would cut and run. Patience was required when dealing with the male animal. She’d read that in more than one book. That’s the rule of thumb she would apply.
Her life was mapped out for her. She knew what lay ahead. If she and Duggin decided on a more permanent relationship, it would change little for her. Her housing was being built even now. It was big enough for a family of four with additional rooms easy to add on later. He would be away much of the time leaving her living a life a lot like a single women. But she would have his visits home to look forward to which she would.
Lunch was over as Duggin escorted her back to class. The room was filling up with the teacher about to start working with a group of students. Duggin gave her a sweet kiss before he left as she watched him go. Sharon worried that she could never hold the attention of a male so sophisticated. He was a hunter who had traveled the galaxy. Her male knew of things she would never see, never experience. Could he ever really settle for such a naïve inexperienced woman?
As much as it worried her, she would know soon. He kept hinting at this talk they would soon have about the future. It would be best if she just put it aside until her day was done. Sharon would insist, as soon as she saw him, that they get this talk over with. The decision made, she pushed it out of her mind to deal with later.
Her school work occupied her as it always did. It was interesting but challenging as well, especially since she could move as her own pace. She rarely had a problem she couldn’t work through unless it involved math. Even that was only a problem once she got into higher math like algebra. Even then, once the teacher explained the new concepts, she could apply them without difficulty. Maybe that was because she was focused on her future. It also helped that she knew what she wanted to do with her life.
Chapter 8
Future Plans
It seemed his plans were set as they were tied completely with Sharon. Many might call her cute, with her impish smile, but they’d not seen her caught in the throes of passion as he had. Her hair when caught in the direct sunlight would glow with strand of red, gold, and various shades of brown. Her eyes looked brown, but on closer inspection, they were the darkest green he’d ever seen. That was a color that he’d never thought existed, not among human or alien.
She was tiny, not only short, but little everywhere although she had curves, just enough to prove she was indeed a woman grown. It brought out every protective instinct he had. It made him want to hide her away where no one could take her or hurt her. The problem with that was she had courage as well as an inner strength that amazed him. Sharon would never allow him to lock her away in a safe place.
Sharon was dedicated to the task of helping others by healing them. It was a dangerous job in many ways. Few Mazlans had health issues. It was prisoners or their humans, the mates or employees, for the most part, unless a Mazlan was injured. Those injuries had to be serious before they sought medical care. A seriously injured warrior could be delirious, they were the biggest danger of all.
It was true being a hunter was more dangerous. He faced danger on a daily basis when he was on the job, but he’d been well trained to handle it. She was an innocent sweet woman with no self-defense training of any kind. Her delicate build was also no help in overcoming a brawny attacker. Duggin knew Razar intended to start classes for the refugees, male and female, but he’d put it off due to recent events. That was a mistake. The classes were needed now more than ever.
Duggin walked to the surveillance room ready to get to work. Lunch had been nice with his mate taking the initiative to give him a sweet kiss. It had to last him until their respective days were finished. Entering the room, he saw a young male he didn’t know.
“Hello. Who might you be?”
“I’m Harok, one or the Mazlan warriors assigned to security here.”
“I thought you guys were just doing the perimeter and outside the building?”
“No, one of your new guys quit. Razar sent me here to cover the video room.”
“That was nice of him,” Duggin admitted. He wished he’d been told first. Surprises weren’t something he liked on the job. “Anything come up?”
“It’s been all quiet except when I go to the cafeteria. Some of those females are aggressive.”
Duggin smiled. “I know what you mean. Pick one that’s not and act friendly with her. The rest will leave you alone.”
“I think I already took care of that. When the worst one found out I was just a soldier, she lost interest,” Harok observed.
“Gayle is the one you’re talking about?”
“She grilled me, then told the others I wasn’t worth their time. It didn’t bother Tavia. She was still nice to me. I might spend some time with her.”
“Tavia is a good girl,” Duggin agreed. Once she’d stopped trying to wink or be otherwise seductive, she’d been rather sweet. “You could do a lot worse.”
“I feel drawn to her. I just need to figure out if she’s my mate or not,” Harok admitted.
“Since I’ve found mine, I wish you well.”
Duggin left. He intended to call Razar. Not just to check up on Harok, but also to discuss the defense classes. Once he was in his room, the small box that guards were given, he pushed the buttons to call Razar. While he waited, his eyes took in his surroundings. The bed was little more than a cot. Sharon’s was much larger for such a little thing like her. The dresser was small with a hook above it to serve as a closet.
He had no attached bathroom, there was a small bathroom on the guard’s hall that all shared. It was dark, dingy too with two toilets and one large shower with a row of shower heads. Two sinks were crammed side by side. The bathroom was not as large as the one Sharon’s room sported.
“Razar.”
“Hello, Razar. This is Duggin. I wanted to thank you for sending Harok.”
“And make sure I did? Cash forget to tell you I sent him?” Razar asked with a chuckle. “He seems off lately.”
“I noticed he was distracted when last I spoke to him,” Duggin admitted. “I also wanted to discuss self-defense for the females and whatever males might need it.”
Razar sighed. “I know it’s necessary. Why don’t I send Lista to work things out with you? You have extra help right now so that should allow you time.”
“Do that. We’ll get this started soon?”
“As soon as Lista can get to you.”
“I’ll be expecting her. Thank you
.”
“You’re welcome.” The line went dead. That male was a busy one. Lista might be better for training females anyway.
Duggin made rounds meeting the other two Mazlans who guarded the building. These two stayed outside. Maybe rotating the males would give the females here a chance to get to know them. It might work better than the meet and greets which just distracted everyone. Maybe he would discuss it with Lista. He suspected she could make policy without talking to Razar. Her busy mate needed all the help he could get.
By the time he was done with his rounds, it was lunch time. He looked forward to the meal more than he ever had before. It was because of Sharon’s presence. Duggin made a point of getting her tray when he saw she wasn’t there yet. It made him feel good the way she appreciated such a small effort on his part.
Sharon was more than just the female he was attracted to, he genuinely liked her. They would be friends as well as lovers. That was important when you were going to be with someone the rest of your life. It meant something when you thought about them passing their personality or values onto the children you shared. She was everything he’d dreamed of when he tried to picture his mate.
Looking up because he just felt he should, he watched as Sharon made her way to him. His heart beat faster, he was so glad to see her. Her smile was enough to light up the room. Duggin knew that he never wanted to be without her again.
“Hi,” Sharon said as she sat next to him.
“Hello, I got your tray for you.”
“Thanks. You don’t know how much I appreciate it.”
“You could show me,” Duggin whispered. He enjoyed the pink flush that colored her cheeks.
Sharon grabbed the back of his head, pulling it down then kissed him. Now he felt his cheeks flushing. He was aware that everyone was watching them with only a few at least trying to pretend they weren’t. They were eating while quietly enjoying just being together when the alarm rang. His first thought was that he hoped it was a false alarm, but the explosion that came next squashed his hopes.
Jumping up, he ran to the video room where Harok was putting in a call, no doubt to Razar. “What do we have?”
“One ship dropped the bomb near our warrior on the inside of the fence. I can’t see the one on the outside. Now they have a dozen men trying to come in at various entrances. We’re badly outnumbered. We should send the refugees to the panic room below ground.”
“I’ll go tell them.” What else was there to do?
Duggin went to the cafeteria where he got everyone’s attention. “We are under attack. All of you need to make your way to the safe room below. Those with designated responsibilities, please step up to do them.”
Not long after the refugees had arrived, volunteers had been selected to get everyone to safety. He wasn’t surprised when Sharon stood to start organizing everyone. “Are you the only one in charge?” He asked her.
“Clancy and Ralph were also picked, along with Gayle.” Ralph who was dead and Gayle, the one sitting there frozen in her fear. She would not only be no help, she would require more calming than the others.
Duggin heard the sound of metal tearing. A door had given way. He ran to stop the mercenaries from stepping through it. Pulling his gun as he went, he began shooting the males as they stepped through. Three lay wounded with blood pouring out of those wounds, while those behind them ducked outside of the door trying to shoot at him from a protected position.
Harok joined him. “It won’t be long before other doors get broke in.”
“Let’s meet them head on. There are only two more at the door with three down.”
He and Harok took turns covering each other as they moved to the door as fast as possible. The two mercenaries didn’t stay to see what was about to happen. When Duggin and Harok made it to the door, they were nowhere to be seen.
“What now?” Harok asked turning to Duggin.
“We check to see if the refugees are in the safe room, then we check the other doors.”
“Don’t you think that’s what they hope we’ll do?”
“Maybe, but once we check on them, we’ll come back here. There’s only nine left, we got this in the bag,” Duggin said as Harok shook his head, but followed him anyway.
They headed to the main door passing the empty cafeteria on the way by. “This one is reinforced heavily. I don’t think it will give,” Harok informed.
It looked like he was right because it wasn’t even dented. Next, they made it around to the side door. It was beaten and battered, but had not been broken. No sounds came from the other side which made him come to a conclusion.
“They’re back at the door we left.” They both turned to run back to that door just in time to catch several males in the hallway.
That’s when the shooting started. The interlopers were sitting ducks in the long hallway with no place to hide. “Two more down, two wounded,” Harok observed.
“Now, we just hold them until Razar’s warriors get here.”
“Their plan wasn’t sound. They must have thought we’d run.”
“Many do when faced with overwhelming odds.”
“Mazlans don’t run. We’d rather die.”
That was something Duggin could attest to. Hunters rarely ran, unless it was a strategic retreat. That would only happen if those they were told to keep safe ran with them. “It’s too quiet. Either they are planning something, or they’ve left.” He peeked around the corner still seeing nothing. “Let’s move out.”
Duggin led the charge to the door, but they were gone. He and Harok went outside to scope the area finding a seriously wounded Mazlan warrior. They didn’t see any sign of the ship or the mercenaries so they carried in the warrior.
He headed to the safe room putting in the code before opening the door. “Sharon, I need you out here. The rest of you stay inside until someone comes to let you out.” No one argued with him. Sharon hurried to do as he ask. “We have a wounded guard. I hope you can do something for him.”
Getting her back to the guard, she dropped to her knees immediately checking out his wounds. She ran to the classroom coming back with a large first aid kit which she put to use right away.
“Harok.” He called him off to the side speaking quietly. “I’m going to look for the perimeter guard. Keep Sharon safe.”
“With my life,” Harok answered. Duggin nodded, acknowledging his answer before he hurried out the door.
He walked to a gate that he could get through with a code. It pooped open letting him out. His hope was to find the warrior alive, but realistically speaking, he didn’t think he would be. These Mazlans were tough, but a shot in the right spot or several allover could kill anyone. Stopping for a moment, his eyes swept over the area. There was no sign of a battle here.
Duggin knew a Mazlan warrior would make them fight to take him out. The bomb had dropped near the guy by the building, so this guy had been taken out in a more personal way. Probably overrun by the assholes. He began to sweep the area not even stopping when he saw Mazlans arriving. There was no time to waste if he wanted to save this guy. Halfway around the perimeter, he spotted a pile of clothing all bunched up.
No, it was a male curled up, maybe from pain. It was something Mazlans rarely showed. He ran to get to him as quickly as possible. He had been gut shot. His attempt to stop the bleeding had been to fold himself in half so the wound was pressed up against his legs. It had slowed the bleeding.
“Man down!” He yelled attracting the attention of a nearby Mazlan.
The warrior joined him as they decided to carry him between them. Sharon was being loaded on a ship with the other Mazlan so they yelled, demanding they wait for this guy too. They carried him on board, but there was only seats to strap him into.
“I’d go with you if I could,” Duggin told her. She nodded. He couldn’t leave here since he was in charge, no matter how it hurt to let her go without him.
Duty was a double edged sword that could cut deeply. Her duty was to h
eal while his was to battle. It was ironic that he harmed while she healed. They were complete opposites, yet he wanted to spend the rest of his days with this woman. He knew once the patients were stable, she would return. While she was gone, he would do what he had to do so he would be able to spend time with her when she returned.
“What the hell happened here?” Razar demanded. He’d walked up to Duggin as he watched the ship carry Sharon with her patients to the clinic.
“We were attacked by a dozen mercenaries who landed in a ship. They took out your perimeter guard then dropped a bomb near the outside guard, the one that stayed near the building. When we heard the bomb go off, it was shortly after the alarm went off. Sharon evacuated the refugees to the safe room while Harok and I tried to keep the mercenaries out of the building. Four died with two wounded while the rest escaped.”
“How the hell do a dozen mercenaries with a ship hide?” Razar asked.
Duggin was glad he’d asked the question because he wondered that himself.
Chapter 9
His Healer
Sharon was shaking. This was testing her resolve, showing her the hard part about being a healer. There was more blood than she’d ever seen before. Her first patient had more wounds while the second male had the worst. Not that it was a contest, they both needed all the help they could get.
The smell of blood had filled her nose as soon as she’d gotten near the first guy. That iron scent came with most blood, but Mazlans blood was a darker red than most. Full humans had the brightest color. The smell of dust also invaded her nostrils from the dirt the bomb had kicked up into the air that now coated everything.
She was shaking because she was terrified she would not be able to save them, either of them. The care a patient received right after getting injured could make all the difference. The first aid kit had helped but it had been woefully inadequate when presented with such serious wounds. At least she had stopped the bleeding on her first patient before loading on the ship. The other one she’d stopped as quickly as possible.