Alien Caged

by Tracy St. John

  Joseph knew the two men in front of him were among the faithful, to a fanatical degree. Yet he still could not understand how they and Earth’s former government and religion could sanction punishing rape victims ... even going as far as to advocate killing women to prevent them from being raped. The idea that women tempted their attackers, that they were as guilty as the rapists themselves, was an abhorrence in the captain’s view.

  In this one instance, it didn’t matter to him how Chase and Robards would take his orders that went against their beliefs. Joseph would not allow Elisa killed simply because she’d been in the wrong place when Zemos and his crew had made their escape.

  He told his officers, “If your men find Miss Mackenzie alive, they are to do everything in their power to keep her that way. She will not die because of a crime done against rather than by her.”

  Robards actually recoiled. “The Holy Leader would never sanction such protection for a ruined woman.”

  Joseph narrowed his eyes. “I’m the captain. Holy Leader Copeland has placed his faith in my ability to run this ship. Are you questioning that?”

  It was as bold a bluff as he dared to make. If Chase and Robards insisted on him bringing the matter up to Copeland, he knew the answer the Holy Leader would give them.

  Elisa Mackenzie was tainted by sin. No matter what she might claim, it would be assumed she had been raped by the Kalquorians. That made her a temptation for other men. Therefore, for her own good as well as that of others, she would have to be executed.

  Joseph was already on shaky ground where Chase and Robards were concerned. He thought the only reason they hadn’t taken command from him was because Copeland had made it plain he wanted Joseph Walker as the battlecruiser’s captain. This issue over Elisa might be enough to make them challenge him.

  Silence hung over the men for a few seconds. Joseph could almost feel the two men weighing their options. Fortunately, they decided to continue to bide their time.

  Chase gentled his insulted glare to a more conciliatory smile. It didn’t make him look any better. “You are our commanding officer, as decreed by God’s Voice. But Captain, I must protest this understandable but utterly wrong kindness to the poor woman. She is better released from her sins so that she still finds a place in God’s embrace.”

  Robards stretched his big-knuckled hands in supplication. “At least discuss the matter with the Holy Leader. I beg you, for all our sakes. You do not want to lead us into iniquity.”

  The knot in Joseph’s stomach loosened as the momentary reprieve was granted. He had a little extra time to figure a solution out to keeping Elisa alive after her rescue. All he could do was hope the Kalquorians’ escape would keep him in command for just a bit longer until he found a solution to this mess.

  A part of him was sure Zemos would never allow his men to harm Elisa. The Dramok captain didn’t strike Joseph as a man who would countenance a woman crying and begging for mercy. Even the frightening Oret seemed to have plenty of conscience when it came to those weaker than him. The Nobek had shown great protectiveness towards Imdiko Miragin. Surely a helpless woman, even if she was an Earther, would lead such men more towards care than animal lust.

  To his men, Joseph said, “I have every intention of talking to the Holy Leader about the trials we face. God’s Voice will give us the final word. Meanwhile, we have to find where those Kalquorians are. Lieutenant Commander Robards, you’ve found no way to bring the monitors online?”

  The tactical officer shook his head. “We are utterly locked out. Nothing I do will bring the program back up.”

  The captain said, “Then have your men go level to level, section by section. We’ll do a manual search until we’ve got them cornered.”

  Robards’ temper flared anew. “With all due respect Captain, I say to hell with the Bi’isils and their money. Give me leave to kill every last Kalq we find.”

  Joseph kept his tone calm. “And run this ship on what? Dantovon and Adraf are the only species that will sell us provisions, and they don’t do charity. The Holy Leader needs those funds as well to continue his cause. Find the Kalquorians. Have our men defend themselves, but take as many of the aliens alive as possible. And save Elisa Mackenzie if you can. You are both dismissed.”

  Chase rose from his chair. He and Robards were back to looking surly, but they saluted anyway. Joseph didn’t breathe until they left the room and the door shut behind them.

  He sagged in his chair, feeling the hopelessness of the situation. The Kalquorians were loose on the ship. They had killed five crewmen, one so horrifically it looked as if an animal had done the slaughtering. Elisa was with them, and she was probably safer with them than her own kind. She was certainly better off than Captain Joseph Walker, but that wouldn’t last, not if Chase and Robards had their way. Sooner or later, there would be a fight for the ship. Sooner or later, people would die, and whether he re-captured the Kalquorians or not, Joseph knew his command – his very life – would probably end. Innocents like Elisa would also perish, more than likely.

  He couldn’t deny it. Time was running short for them all.

  Chapter 10

  The tension in Zemos’ body eased a fraction when he saw his Imdiko and Nobek. A sense of calm flowed over his senses as Miragin and Oret entered the wide open space of the cargo hold. The lighting in the bay was low enough that Elisa had complained she couldn’t see very well, but Zemos had no such trouble. He easily spied streaks of smeared blood on Oret’s hands, but the crimson marks had obviously come from someone else’s body. Zemos’ clan was safe, and it gave him a small sense of victory.

  He looked at Elisa. Some of the worry bled out of her expression as Oret and Miragin approached, making most of the light creases at the corners of her eyes disappear. It made the Dramok’s heart lift to know that despite what they had done to her, she still cared. For now not all of her goodwill had been destroyed. That too made Zemos feel easier in his mind.

  As soon as his clanmates reached them, he gave Oret a nod of acknowledgment. For Miragin there was a rough hug, because Zemos was glad to see his gentle Imdiko safe and because he wanted to whisper in his ear.

  “Take Elisa to that small office over there to your right, behind that line of storage bins. The less she knows of our plans the better, especially if she is taken from us.”

  Miragin nodded. He stepped back and offered his warm smile to Elisa. “Let’s leave these warriors to their work, my sweet. While they play soldiers, I’d like to interview you for my next book.”

  She blinked at him, taken off guard by the request. “You want to interview me?”

  He took her arm and led her away. “Absolutely. The Empire will most certainly want an Earther’s perspective on being under siege by escaped and desperate prisoners.”

  She went with him, looking flattered to have a famous author’s attention. Zemos couldn’t help but smile as he watched them go. Miragin had mentioned many times during their captivity that Elisa might be a worthy subject for a book. It had driven him crazy that she wasn’t allowed to speak to them. He was finally getting his chance to draw her out, and that no doubt made him happy despite their desperate straits. The two of them would be well distracted from knowing how much carnage could be headed their way.

  As soon as the pair disappeared into the small office off the cargo hold, Zemos gathered his crew around him. He turned first to his security officer.

  “Oret, I’ve already briefed the men on what we’re looking at: possibly going into Bi’is space and sold into slavery, the potential of a mutiny against Captain Walker, everything.”

  Oret nodded to the cart that had already been divested of much of the weapons he and Miragin had confiscated. The crew had wasted no time arming themselves. They were bedraggled, their formsuits tattered at the hems in most cases, but they looked proud and ready to fight once more.

  Oret told them, “As you can see, I’ve gotten us some firepower. That’s what we’ll use to take Engineering and gain contr
ol over the ship.”

  “We’re not going to try to escape using the shuttles they have?” one of the Imdikos asked.

  Zemos shook his head. “We lost that option when the alarm sounded. The bays are exactly where the Earthers will expect us to run, and they’ll have placed their heaviest concentration of guards there. If there was only half a dozen of us, we might have snuck in and gotten away, but not this many. Taking over the enemy vessel is our goal now.”

  Oret added, “Besides, we don’t know where we are in relation to our fleet, colonies, or stations. Taking off and flying blind into space will not save our lives or bring these Earthers to justice. We have to stay on board and fight.”

  Zemos answered the grins of the always battle-hopeful Nobeks with one of his own. “That means we must take Engineering, which I hope is not as well-guarded as the bays.”

  “From there, we can learn all the Earthers’ plans in detail, signal the Empire to come after this ship, and find out how much the Bi’is’ leadership is aware of,” Oret told the men.

  The big and scarred Nobek Almon asked, “How long do you anticipate us being able to hold this ship, Commander?”

  Oret looked over the group, no doubt counting his fighters. Zemos had already figured out three-quarters of his surviving crew were Nobeks, most of whom had worked in security.

  After a moment’s consideration, Oret answered, “It all depends on the Earther crew. If they’re organized and ready to follow Captain Walker as their duty demands, we won’t hold out for long. They’ve got more than three times our number. If their loyalties are fractured as we suspect, infighting could give us an advantage for perhaps a day or two.”

  Almon snorted. “Nothing brings enemies together faster than a common foe though.”

  “I agree. I think we have to count on ultimately failing to hold the ship if we don’t get help from the Empire.”

  Another Nobek pointed out, “We have the female hostage.”

  Zemos tamped down the surge of temper that rose at the man’s statement. After all, he made a valid point. He told the men, “Don’t count on that as much of an advantage. Captain Walker and a few others treat her with respect, and I’m confident they’ll try to keep her alive. However from what I’ve seen here, such men are in the minority.”

  Eyes around him widened in disbelief. Oret added, “There are those Walker has little control over who are undermining him. That includes his tactical officer, who has countermanded orders behind his back. To such men, Matara Elisa’s life may mean as little as ours.”

  That got some growls and black looks from the crew. Having so few women of their own kind and teetering on the brink of extinction, most Kalquorians accorded automatic respect for lifebringers.

  Oret ignored the outbreak of anger to keep them all on task. “What is the situation with the computers in this room?”

  Almon said, “They are operational, Commander.”

  “Good.” Oret turned his full attention to Zemos. “I’m going to use the monitoring access and pinpoint the Earthers’ movements. When I think it is the optimum time to make an attempt at the engineering department, we’ll attack.”

  “Agreed.”

  Oret eyed the men surrounding them. “Unless the engineering staff immediately surrenders and lays down their weapons, we don’t have the luxury of taking prisoners.”

  Everyone nodded. They knew the stakes. No one would hesitate to do his duty.

  Oret seemed satisfied. “All right. You’ve already noticed Earther weapons are made for their smaller hands. Familiarize yourselves with them while I monitor the enemy. Be ready to move when I say.”

  The men broke away into groups to go over the stolen firearms. Lieutenants and squad leaders had already formed teams to make the command structure work at its optimum.

  Zemos walked over to the computer banks with his Nobek. He didn’t miss how Oret eyed him darkly as they went.

  “What’s on your mind, Security Commander?” he asked, thinking he already knew where the man’s thoughts were.

  He discovered he was right. Oret said, “May I beg the favor of you not knocking me out should our re-capture become imminent?”

  Zemos restrained a smile. Humor right now would rub his Nobek the wrong way. “If we are unable to reach the Empire, we are not to be re-captured.”

  Oret looked him in the eye. “Does that include Miragin?”

  “Do you want him collared by a Bi’isil master?”

  Oret’s penetrating stare never wavered. He didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. Zemos knew his fierce clanmate would do whatever it took to protect his Dramok and Imdiko. If death was the only shelter available to keep them from the brutal fate of slavery on Bi’is, so be it.

  * * * *

  Miragin ushered Elisa into the office. It was spacious but held little: a chair and a desk on which sat a computer and ship communications device. A couple of large placards were stuck on the wall with safety regulations and proper cargo loading directions. Because several foremen would have sat in here during their shifts, it held no real personality. No personal mementos littered the space.

  Big hands seized Elisa’s waist from behind. She uttered a little shriek of surprise as Miragin lifted her, turning her around and sitting her on the edge of the desk.

  He offered an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry I startled you. I thought you might as well get comfortable. We might be in here for a little while.”

  Elisa swallowed. Looking at him, all she could think was, I’m his prisoner. I’m also in love with him.

  The crazy mix of emotions concerning Zemos’ clan kept her feeling off-balance. How could she ever make sense of this? Seeing Miragin’s handsome face only inches from hers, with his smile as sweet as ever made her want to smile back. Yet now, without the containment field between them, the Imdiko had taken on the added element of danger. He might have been the kindest member of his clan, but he was also much bigger and stronger than her.

  Elisa was right to be afraid of him. Yet her stomach insisted on fluttering with excitement. Her sex was warm with arousal, especially when she thought of how the clan had brought her to climax in the former captain’s quarters. That particular memory drove a spike of pure, undeniable need deep into her guts.

  Put a lid on it, Mackenzie. You’re in enough trouble as it is.

  Miragin shook his head, a twinge of conscience dimming his gaze. “Poor Elisa. Here you are, caught between Earthers and Kalquorians and feeling like you don’t have a true ally on either side. Tell me how you’re coping right now.”

  She wasn’t about to tell him she was turned on or that she was in love with him and his clan. Otherwise, Elisa decided to be truthful. “I felt sorry for you in that cell, I really did. You didn’t deserve to have your ship attacked. You didn’t deserve to be taken prisoner to be sold as slaves.” She drew a steadying breath. “But these are my people, Miragin. I know they killed part of Zemos’ crew, but to know they might die too...” She blinked back the sudden sting of tears.

  Miragin blew out a disconsolate breath. “As few as possible will be killed, if I know my Dramok. After all, some on this ship are victims of circumstance, just like you. Zemos knows this and will do his best.”

  Elisa thought so too, but that didn’t change the fact innocents would fall. “It’s still damned hard to deal with, though. So many have already died. It feels like the bloodshed never ends.”

  “I know. You and I are not made to fight wars. We have few emotional barriers to the pain they cause.”

  Miragin stroked Elisa’s hair, smoothing it back from her face. She knew he only tried to comfort her but the contact, as innocent as it was, brought arousal surging into her gut. She flinched.

  “Don’t.”

  Miragin’s brows drew down. “Why not? Is it because my touch reminds you that you are attracted to me?”

  She batted at his hand as he continued to caress her hair. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

  He captured Elisa’s
hands in his and brought them to his lips to kiss. “I’m not. I smell your arousal, as I am sure you can smell mine. Why should we not enjoy each other as we want to now that we have the opportunity?”

  He thought she could smell him wanting her? Elisa blinked at him. Was that why she kept thinking she smelled cinnamon? The spicy-sharp scent had been pungent when the clan had played with her earlier too. Did Kalquorian men give off an aroma when sexually excited?

  It made her wonder what they tasted like.

  Elisa tried to shut down that traitorous part of her mind that insisted on taking advantage of being alone with Miragin at long last. She tugged to free her hands from his. “Do you know what this would mean if you’re re-captured and I’m rescued? Please, Miragin. I’m probably as good as dead as it is.”

  “Then what does it matter if you take sexual pleasure while you can?”

  The Imdiko gathered her in his arms, holding too tight for her to struggle. Looking into those riveting purple eyes, Elisa felt her will to resist slipping away. Why was she fighting what she wanted more than anything, especially when the Earther crew would assume she had done the worst?

  Miragin’s mouth covered hers, and every sense lit bright. Elisa moaned, softening to him. At last she was with one of the three men she’d fallen in love with, a love so taboo it would destroy her.

  Let the destruction come, an insidious voice whispered in her head. The alternative is to live your quiet, uninspired life never knowing what you missed. Is mere existence really worth continuing on this way?

  Elisa felt the wet, scratchy warmth of Miragin’s tongue slide along the parting of her lips. She opened to him and he took the invitation, deepening the kiss, stroking her tongue, tasting her. For the several seconds he kissed her, Elisa forgot to breathe. When his mouth released hers, she was lightheaded.

  She looked into that strong face, softened by Miragin’s untamed curls falling over his forehead. Damn it, she loved him. She was ready to risk her life just to be possessed by his clan.