by Maia Starr
"Commander Duron Spaunok, sir! We have more company. More Earth battleships are arriving; I have them on the radar!”
"Pilot, are we good with coordinates?!” I shouted.
"Coordinates entered and ready, sir!”
"Hyperdrive go!” I shouted.
Swoosh! The Retriever jumped into hyperdrive, leaving the battle behind us. We zoomed through space headed back to Altid. It would take a while to reach them on base. I only hoped that we were not too late. I would kill Leader Xet Crasis if he hurt her. I was already on a death sentence because I only had one year remaining. Then I stopped that because I mated with Shia, but mating with her only sped up my death sentence. So adding onto that death sentence by killing Leader Xet Crasis seemed like little difference to me. I would do it if I had to. I would steal her away and renounce the Corillion race. We would have to live somewhere far away from Earth and the Corillion world.
But would she want to go with me? I did not know her true feelings for me. She could have just given herself to me out of boredom or indulgence. As a scientist, maybe it was just her curiosity of what it was like to be with a Corillion warrior. But I hoped it was not the case, because it was not so with me. I loved her.
Then I remembered the communication that I had received. Who could've sent it? I did not think that Baradur would send me such a message. Why would he? He only saw me as her guard and captor; he would not feel the need to inform me of such a thing, especially while I was in deep space on a mission for him, for the Corillion race.
I moved to the communication room, looking for the officer that handed me the message.
"Show me the transmission for this,” I said, giving him the paper back.
"Yes, Commander sir,” he said. He pulled up the chart of the transmission. I recognized the origin immediately: it was my own communication panel in my home. It was astounding. It must be from Shia; she was sending me a warning. She had figured out how to use the communication device, she was, in fact, a smart scientist, so that should not shock me.
"Patch me through video communication back to this origin,” I said to him.
"But Commander, at hyperspeed, I do not think we can establish a connection,” the officer said.
"Try, dammit!" I shouted, losing my nerve.
"Sir, yes sir,” he said.
He fiddled with the controls and switches as I stood there waiting to send video communication.
"Communication unlocked and opened. Established; you're on," the officer said as a screen came up on the monitor. It was my living quarters, and Shia was sitting by the window, staring out at the moon terrain with a glass of green formula in her hand.
"Shia, it's me, Duron," I said loudly.
"Duron?” she said as she stood up and turned to the communication panel.
"Yes, it is me,” I said with a smile.
"You're breaking up. Did you get my message? I am being sent away,” she said as the communication was breaking up with static. I didn't know how long the communication line would continue to work.
"I am on my way. Shia, I am coming!” I shouted at the monitor.
"I am being sent to Crasis. Help me, Duron!” she shouted with fear. Just then, I saw her turn to the left suddenly. A warrior came in and grabbed her by the arm.
"It is time, human female,” he said as he yanked her away.
"No! Duron! Help me!” she shouted.
The warrior turned and looked at the monitor. He had a look of shock on his face. It was obvious that he was going to report this to Baradur. Our secret was now out. Why else would she be speaking to me on the communication panel, pleading for my help? The warrior did not make any sort of facial expression; instead, he just went on about his orders from Baradur. He yanked on Shia's arm and dragged her out toward the door. Then I didn't see her or hear her anymore.
I was filled with rage. It was an uncontrollable feeling. It was unlike anything I had ever felt or experienced in my existence as a Corillion warrior. The communication officer gave me a strange look.
"Say nothing to no one; is that understood? It is a direct order,” I said to him sternly.
"Yes, Commander Duron Spaunok,” he said.
I moved back to the flight deck; hyperdrive could not be fast enough to get me there. I needed to get to Shia, and I needed to get to her now. For all I knew, she was boarding a ship and I would not be arriving in time. Then I would have to defy orders again and set out for Crasis and steal her from Xet Crasis. It was going to be messy; it was going to be worth it.
"What is the status on landing?” I asked the pilot.
"We are coming out of hyperdrive in 10 minutes, then we can make our way to Altid,” he said to me.
"Do not wait for landing command to approve. Simply land as soon as you can,” I said as I moved away from the flight deck. The pilot looked at me strangely but followed commands.
"Yes, Commander,” he said.
I quickly moved to the arsenal and armed myself with as many weapons as I could. I pushed knives into my boots and guns in every holster. I didn't have a plan, but I also didn't have a choice.
Minutes later, I felt the engines powering down; it was time. We were landing. I was going to get Shia back if it killed me. I was already dying anyway.
The door to Retriever opened and I quickly ran out of the ship, down the landing port of the moon base. I needed to find Shia and I needed to find her now. I burst into the meeting room of Baradur. He was sitting at a table.
"Where is she? Where is Shia Heton?” I said sternly.
"Commander Duron Spaunok? What are you doing here? You should be pillaging an Earth vessel right about now.”
"Answer me," I shouted.
Baradur stood up angry. “How dare you speak to me in that way! Do you forget that I am your leader?”
"I have not forgotten. Where is she? You cannot send her to Leader Xet Crasis,” I said.
"Oh, I see what is going on here. My warrior reported the communication between you and Shia and your living quarters. He thought it was strange. Now I know the reason: you love her. Have you touched her? Have you mated with her? You do know the penalty if you have,” he said coming toward me.
"You cannot send her to Leader Xet Crasis; he will kill her. It will be a waste of a human female. She is too defiant for such a brutal Corillion warrior. Find another,” I said to him.
"You do love her. It is written all over your face. He will definitely kill her once he realizes that she is carrying your offspring. You cannot tell me that you did not mate with her. Not now, after you barge in here like this risking everything. You risk your life for her.”
"Where is she?"
"Her ship is preparing for departure right at this moment. It is too late,” he said to me. I began to run toward the door ready to leave.
"Stop!” Baradur shouted at me, and several warriors blocked the doorway. “You cannot go after her. She does not belong to you. You will be punished for your disobedience,” he said.
BOOM! An explosion rocked the entire base!
We all fell to the floor. It was complete chaos as all of the buildings shook and the walls vibrated. I knew immediately that we were under attack. I quickly jumped to my feet before the others did, as they were still dazed and unsure of what was going on. I had been in too many air battles to let a single jolt make me hesitate. It was just the distraction that I needed to run out of the room and toward the launching area.
"Shia…” I said as I realized that perhaps the blast was at the launching pad. If she was hurt or dead, I didn't know what I would do. I ran as fast as I could as sirens blared. Through the glass sky domes that I ran under, I could see glimpses of Earth ships firing here and there. It was the same vessel that I had been engaged in battle with. They had followed us. They had used hyperdrive to follow us to the moon base. This was my fault. But it also was the perfect distraction. If Shia and I lived through this, we would have to leave, and that would be easier in this chaos.
EXPL
OSIONS boomed all around me. I could not get to the launch pad fast enough. When I finally arrived, there were fires burning and the roof threatened to collapse.
"Shia! Shia!” I shouted. There were dead Corillions all around me on the ground. Many of them had been hurt in the blast. I could now see a clear picture of the battle outside. Corillion ships had taken to the air and there was an air battle between Earth ships and Corillion ships. It was a battle that I should be in, but all I could think about was finding Shia. Perhaps her ship had already launched before the battle siege began. She could be halfway to Crasis by now and to Leader Xet Crasis. I ran to the monitor log to search for ships that were launched.
"Duron!” I heard Shia yell my name.
I turned, and through the smoky fog, I saw her running down the stairs out of a ship. I ran to her. I was so happy to see her. She was alive. She was still on Altid. It was more than I could hope for in the chaotic battle and I realized just how fortunate I was. She ran into my arms and I lifted her off the ground in a tight hug. I would never let her go.
Chapter 9
SHIA HETON
I was absolutely thrilled to see Duron on the communication wall in his living quarters. Even though the communication with static and broken up, I understood him. He was coming for me. He was going to stop this monstrosity from happening to me. I didn't know how, but I knew that he would be with me. I could feel it. I trusted his word. We were bonded.
So when the warrior came in and forced me away, I was completely terrified. I could not go live with this Corillion leader known as Leader Xet Crasis. If he was just as brutal as Baradur had said, then I would end up hurting him, and then I would end up being killed in return. I would not last long. I would not get to see Duron one last time. It was awful timing. I had just got through to Duron and he was coming for me, but he wouldn’t get to me in time now that I was being pulled away.
The warrior dragged me through the base and I kicked and screamed the entire way. I held on to pipes and bars at every turn. Finally, he threw me over his shoulder and I could no longer prolong the trip. He carried me into the launch area. I could see a small ship being prepared. Many Corillions were still working on it. This was good. There was time. He carried me onto the ship and sat me down next to a warrior, who guarded me.
I was on this small transportation ship that would take me to the asteroid known as Crasis when the first bomb went off. I was startled to hear the Corillion warriors shout, “It's the humans! We are under attack by the humans!”
I was frozen in complete shock. Had my messages gotten through to Earth? Were they here to rescue Alexis and I? Would she want to go? There were so many questions running through my mind. Had I caused this siege through the communications I had sent? Now that it was happening I sort of regretted it because I did not know if it meant that Duron would die. But it was perfect timing. I had to figure out how to communicate with the Earth ships to let them know how to find me.
BOOM!
"The launch port has been hit! I repeat, the launch port has been hit!” the warrior shouted into the communication lines. This was good news. It meant that we could not depart to Crasis.
I quickly got up from my seat and ran towards the door and down the stairway of the ship. “Wait!” the warrior shouted.
“Let her go! It is not safe here!” another warrior shouted.
I ran down the stairs and onto the launch floor. Then I saw him, and I could not believe it. Duron was there! I was so relieved when I saw him I ran straight into his arms.
"Duron! You are here! You came back!” I cried into his arms.
"I am here, Shia. Come with me; we do not have much time. We are in a lot of trouble. The Earth vessels followed my ship from the battle we were in. We must get out of here; it is our only chance!”
"They followed you?” I asked him, realizing that perhaps it wasn't because I had signaled them. Maybe they didn't even know I was here.
"Yes, come with me; we must get off this moon base," he said.
I hesitated and stopped. “But it is humans, it is Earth. It is my chance to go home,” I said to him. He stopped and looked at me. There was sorrow on his face. We were both quiet for a few seconds as bombs exploded around us.
"I understand, Shia. If that is what you truly want, then I will help you to get on one of these Earth ships. I don't know how, but we can make it happen. You will be going back to Earth. It is what you want, yes?” he asked.
His willingness to sacrifice never seeing me again so that I could go home made my heart swell with joy. Suddenly the feeling of not being with him made me feel sick. Was it really what I wanted? I knew for sure that I did not want to be with Leader Xet Crasis, but that did not mean that I did not want to be with Duron. I had to make a decision, and I had to make it now.
"No. I will go with you."
"Shia, are you sure? This is your time to go home.”
"I am sure. I want to be with you Duron. Take me with you,” I said as I reached up and kissed him.
"It is what I want too. It is all that I want,” he said to me as he grabbed my hand and led me off into a small ship that reminded me of the escape pods from the space station.
“How could we possibly get out of this?” I said to him as the explosions continued around us. I did not see how we could get away from both Earth ships as well as Corillion ships.
"Come with me. I know a way,” he said to me as he continued to drag me through the launch port. He opened a patch on the ground. There was a ladder that led into the ground.
"Climb the ladder! Go down! I'm right behind you!” he shouted.
“All right! I’m going down the ladder! It’s so dark,” I shouted back.
I was terrified as I climbed down the steep ladder that went down into darkness. I could not see anything and I could still feel the vibrations of the attack. I looked up and saw Duron climbing down and closing the lid on top of him. I was relieved that at least he was with me. Then suddenly the entire tunnel of the ladder glowed with green light.
"I opened the panel with my hand print and turned on the light. It’s all right! Keep going; we are almost there, Shia!" he shouted at me.
I looked down and could see the ground now with the green light. I jumped off the last step of the ladder onto the ground. I looked around and could see that it was a very long tunnel. I could not see the end of it. It looked like it went on underground forever.
"Duron, where are we?” I asked him.
"Come on!" He grabbed my hand and led me down the tunnel as he said, “It is an escape tunnel from the moon base. It leads to a smaller launch pad on the other side. We will board a small ship there.”
This gave me hope. I ran faster with him. He was very smart and very skilled. He was a quick thinker. Finally, the tunnel gave way to a small launch port. I could barely hear the blast of the siege battle in the distance. I truly was giving up my chance at going back to Earth to be with Duron. It was a decision that I felt to no regrets over in this moment. It was astonishing how much had changed in such little time. Only a week or two before, I wanted to be on Earth at any cost. Now I felt completely bonded to this Corillion warrior. Maybe there was something to my theory about their kisses emitting spawn-like particles that bonded us to them. But at this point, I did not care; it was too late for me. I just wanted to be with him and it didn't matter where we were, where we went, or whose rules we broke: the Corillions’ or thehumans’. It only mattered that we were together.
"Here, climb in here!" he shouted as he moved around the outside of a small spaceship, removing the tethers that tied it to the launch pad. I climbed inside and quickly fastened myself into a seat. Duron was close behind as he moved in and began to flip switches and knobs and the ship came alive. The engine groaned a soft rumble.
"I have to make sure to take it off-line. No communications,” he said as he pulled on the communication switches, turning it off. We were going rogue. “I do not want to be tracked. We just need to get as far
from here as possible.”
"Where will he go?” I asked him.
"Let's figure that out once we are out of range of Altid,” he said.
"Sounds like a plan to me. I'm fastened and ready,” I said to him.
In seconds, the ship shot out of the launch pad straight into deep space. We did it. No one noticed, and we did not have anyone trailing us.
"I'm trying to get us deeper into the astroid belt. It is easier to hide there. There are many space rocks and debris flying around. Earth ships would not dare try to maneuver there. It gives us a lot of cover."
"Is it dangerous?” I asked.