by S. E. Smith
Dagger grabbed the guard’s wrist, twisting it to the side as it discharged. At the same time, he turned and wrapped his arm around the man’s neck. The other two guards, alerted by the laser fire, rounded the corner at the same time firing. The burst of fire struck the guard Dagger held in the chest, shoulder, and stomach. Fortunately for Dagger, the guard was a large male and shielded his body from the bursts.
Gripping the guard’s hand, he forced the man’s finger down on the trigger. He hit one of the guards in the forehead, sending the man flying backwards into the brightly lit corridor. The other guard, realizing what he was facing, started to back up as he continued to lay down fire.
Dagger dropped the dead guard in his arms. He quickly twisted the pistol out of the man’s limp fingers and moved forward. He held the pistol steady, waiting for the guard to lean around the corner again.
He didn’t have long to wait. The guard rolled across the floor, firing as he did. The male, expecting Dagger to have remained in the center of the corridor didn’t realize that Dagger had moved closer to the side until it was too late. The guard’s eyes widened as a hole opened up in the center of his chest. The male’s head fell backwards and his eyes glazed over even as his head fell backwards.
Dagger didn’t waste any time. Moving swiftly over to the guard at the entrance to the corridor, he removed the weapons from his hand and those at his waist. His head turned and a low snarl escaped him when he heard the sound of running footsteps coming from both the direction of the cell and from the right corridor.
Rising, he removed the weapons from the other guards before darting toward the door. He hoped that Jordan had been successful at opening it. A sick knot formed in his stomach at the thought of her being unsuccessful. If she couldn’t… his mind shied away from what would happen to her if Kelman captured her.
“Never,” Dagger muttered under his breath.
Relief flooded him when he saw Jordan standing in the opened doorway, the tablet clutched to her chest and worry on her face. The sound of shouts behind him had him putting on a burst of speed. He exploded through the door at the same time as multiple laser fire erupted behind him. He turned as the door shut and the red light flashed to show that it was sealed.
Breathing heavily, he glanced over to where Jordan was turning to face him. A look of triumph crossed his face. The doors were blast-proof. The last thing anyone wanted was a spaceship exploding and taking half of the Spaceport with it.
“Let’s go,” Dagger said, turning back toward the Lexamus IV. “We need to leave now before they can intercept us.”
Dagger glanced over his shoulder when Jordan didn’t respond. She was staring at him with large, bright eyes filled with shock and… pain. His eyes swept down to where she was holding out one hand. It was covered in blood. The blood that was slowly spreading across the front of her shirt.
“Dagger,” Jordan whispered, looking at him with pleading eyes.
As if in slow motion, the tablet she was holding fell from her other hand. Horror gripped him when she swayed a moment before her knees gave out on her. He rushed forward, catching her before she hit the floor. Lowering her to the ground, he brushed the hair that had caught on her lips back with a trembling hand.
“Jordan,” Dagger choked, his eyes moving to the front of her scorched shirt. “You can’t… I can’t…”
Chapter 9
Dagger looked down through the clear cylinder of the medical unit at the peaceful features of Jordan’s face for the hundredth time. His hands splayed across the glass, staring and willing her to live. Each moment she didn’t wake was another moment that he felt like he was locked in a cell far darker than any he had been held in before.
“Warning, incoming vessels approaching,” the computer system announced.
Dagger jerked back and turned. He had set the defense system to monitor any vessels tracking the same direction as the Lexamus IV. Glancing one last time at Jordan’s pale features¸ he turned and headed for the bridge of the Lexamus IV.
“Activate defense systems,” he ordered as he slid into the pilot’s seat. “Show vessels.”
“Defense systems activated,” the computer responded. “Two Class C Star Ships are approaching at zero, eight, four, three point six clicks.”
“Affirmative,” Dagger responded, bringing up the manual controls.
His hands paused for a fraction of a second, his eyes flashing over the blood, Jordan’s blood, that still stained them. For the past two days, they had been traveling through the far side of the star system, staying one step ahead of Kelman and his band of mercenary followers. He had barely had time to place Jordan in the on board medical unit, hook up the lifeline that would keep her alive, and seal her in a deep sleep in the stasis cylinder until he could properly look after her.
They were still too close to the Spaceport for him to take care of her wounds. She was stabilized for now in the medical unit, it was all he could do before he was forced to get them away from the Spaceport. Every chance he got, he returned to check on her to make sure that she was still stable.
He could still see Kelman’s mocking face through the window as he picked up her limp body. Now, more than ever, he was determined to kill the mercenary. Taking defensive actions, he checked the coordinates of known planets in the star system. He needed to find a place to hide. While the Lexamus IV was state of the art and faster than most vessels, so were the ones Kelman was using.
He cursed when an alarm sounded. “Prepare for impact,” the computer stated. “Rear shields set at maximum. Diverting power to shields.”
“Do not divert power from the medical unit,” Dagger ordered. “Confirm.”
“Confirmed,” the computer replied as a blast knocked him forward in his seat, triggering the automatic restraints in it. “Shields at eighty-four percent. Recommend diverting all unnecessary power to shields.”
“Negative,” Dagger retorted harshly. “Manual override. Load and lock rear laser cannons.”
“Confirmed,” the computer replied.
Grim determination filled him as he twisted and turned in an effort to avoid the impact of the blasts aimed at disabling the Lexamus IV. The one advantage he had over the other ships was the mobility of this one. It was small and sleek, made for moving quickly in and out of tight areas.
His eyes focused on a small cluster of asteroids. Even if he could get to them, they were still too far apart to provide any type of protection. Yet, if he could get close enough to one to destroy it, that was a different matter. Focusing on his target, he increased the speed of the Lexamus IV. The closest asteroid would come into view in a matter of minutes.
Another blast violently shook the Lexamus IV causing the lights to flicker. Dagger impatiently shut off the alarms and manually rerouted power to the shields. His eyes swept over the screen as the asteroid appeared.
“Warning,” the computer said. “Imminent impact probable. Evasive maneuvers advised.”
Dagger was well aware that there was a possibility of impact. He also knew that he needed to be close enough to shield the asteroid, destroy it, and get through the debris before the two ships gaining on him knew what he was doing. At this speed, the larger ships wouldn’t be able to avoid it. The key was having the element of surprise so they could not avoid the debris field.
“Warning,” the computer stated again.
Dagger’s hand flashed to the controls and he shut it off. His hands tightened around the grips of the manual control navigation system. He slowly counted under his breath as he adjusted the front laser cannons.
“Ten, nine, eight, seven….” Dagger whispered under his breath, rocking again as another blast hit him. “Fire!” He ordered.
Twin blasts, intensified by his rerouting power from the rear cannons to the front, struck the Gartaian-sized asteroid. The super-heated bursts tore through the center of the asteroid, shattering the silicate and metal-ore into thousands of deadly missiles.
He twisted on the controls to
the Lexamus IV, pulling to the side. Cursing loudly, he heard the outer hull striking the deadly debris. He had to lower the front shields to give him the additional power he needed. The maneuver left the Lexamus IV momentarily vulnerable. The two ships behind him weren’t as mobile. The one closest to him could not react as quickly. He watched on the monitor as the outside of the ship’s hull lit up.
Heavy pieces of the metal struck the Lexamus IV’s outer shields as they came online. Dagger redirected the power to the rear laser cannons and fired a volley of blasts. A sense of triumph coursed through him when the combination opened a rift in the attacking ship’s shields, allowing the debris through. Unprotected, the thick pieces of metal-iron ore pelted the ship and ripped through the outer engines.
The ship behind him exploded. The force of the explosion, combined with the remains of the asteroid forced the second ship behind it to veer to avoid colliding with it. A swift scan showed that it appeared to have sustained damage from the explosion. Dagger hoped so as he pulled further away from the attacking vessels.
“Warning, engine one overheating. Emergency shut down and compartment sealing has been activated,” the computer suddenly announced, pulling his eyes down to the readings being displayed.
Dagger cursed under his breath. The distance between the Lexamus IV and the other ship continued to grow, giving him hope that it was damaged too extensively to follow him. Checking the readings, he noted with relief that the fuel levels remained intact. He needed to find a safe place to land where he could check out the damage and hopefully repair it.
“Computer, open communications…,” his voice died as he realized that he chanced giving away his location to Kelman or the Dreluthan. “Cancel. Computer, identify habitable bodies in this region.”
“There are four worlds capable of sustaining life within reach of the current position,” the computer replied.
“Show me each one,” Dagger commanded.
His eyes flickered over the statistics for each one. The first two had large mining operations. He immediately eliminated them. In this region, if there were mining operations, they were more than likely populated by slavers and convicts. The third was a small moon that was covered by water, and while it could support life, it also had massive storms that would rip the Lexamus IV apart. The fourth was his only option. It was the smallest of the four and covered by thick vegetation and mountains. It was also the home of the Gartaians.
“Computer, plot course for the Gartaian planet,” Dagger ordered.
“Confirmed,” the computer replied. “Destination has been set.”
“System status,” Dagger asked in a rough voice.
“Shields at seventy-two percent, engine one currently offline, weapons system at twenty-four percent, hull integrity intact, environmental and medical within normal operational status,” it responded.
“Monitor for any incoming vessels,” Dagger ordered, releasing the straps that had automatically extended and wrapped around his chest when the first blast struck the Lexamus IV. “Maximum range.”
“Confirm,” the computer replied.
Dagger wearily swiveled the chair around and rose. Running a hand through his short hair, he pushed back his exhaustion. He needed to make sure that Jordan was still stable and set up the surgical tube. He didn’t have time before, but he would now. The longer he waited, the less chance she had of surviving. The stasis chamber could only keep her alive for so long.
The thought that she might already be lost to him drove him down the narrow corridor. The Lexamus IV had three levels to it. The top section which contained the bridge and weapons systems. The second, which contained the medical unit and the living and dining areas, and the third level, which held the engine room and cargo area.
Whoever owned the ship before Arindoss had set it up with an advanced computer system so it could be operated by just one person. Dagger stepped into the lift and gave the command for the second level. He quickly squeezed through the doors before they opened all the way.
Jogging down the corridor, he turned into the open door of the medical unit. His eyes immediately went to the readings above it and he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the lights all showed normal.
Slowing his pace, he walked over to the stasis unit. His eyes softened as he stared down into Jordan’s face again. The expression in them turned dark, menacing when he noticed the splatter of blood along one cheek. His eyes moved down and a low, burning fury scorched through him at the sight of the bruising along her neck. The vivid imprint of fingerprints showed clearly against her pale skin.
His mind fought to remember if he had been the one to hurt her. A part of him shied away from the knowledge that he could have hurt her and not remembered it. His gaze swept down to her wrists. The sleeves of the cloak still draped around her slender figure. They had pulled up and he grimaced when he saw the bruises around each fragile wrist.
Regret seared through him as he realized that he remembered grabbing her when she came into his cell. His stomach rolled at how close he came to killing her. Just the thought of it made him bend over the clear tube and draw in a deep, calming breath in an attempt to regain control of the emotions threatening to suffocate him. Reaching up, he pressed the control to start the process of bringing Jordan out of the stasis unit.
He would need to work fast. Turning, he pulled the cylinder for the surgical unit out of the wall. Within minutes, he had it ready for her. He turned when the stasis unit chimed to let him know that it was safe to remove her from it. His eyes went to the monitor when an alarm sounded.
“Don’t,” he ordered huskily when he saw the drop in her vital signs. “Don’t you dare die on me, Jordan Sampson. I… just don’t.”
Dagger gently lifted her body in his arms and turned toward the other narrow bed. Laying her on it, he reached for the sharp pair of scissors in the tray that pulled out with it. He quickly cut off the cloak, her shirt and pants. Sliding his hand under her calf, he carefully pulled her boots off.
He couldn’t prevent his gaze from returning to the wound on her right side. The skin was dark and blistered. Dried blood mixed with fresh where he had pulled her shirt away from the wound and it had been stuck to her skin.
“Please,” he whispered, touching her cheek with trembling fingers even as his other hand pressed the control to close the lid. He didn’t pull away until he had no choice. “Live… for me.”
He watched as the lights from the scanner moved over her. His eyes briefly closed as the automated system took over. Twin arms detached and an injector attached to each arm pressed against either side of her bruised neck. The cylinder swept over her body, the band pausing over the damage to her side. He blindly moved over to a chair set against the wall and sank down into it. Blinking rapidly to clear the burning in them, his eyes focused on the readings showing Jordan’s vital signs. His mind drifted back to the first time they met.
*.*.*
Earth: Over Two and a half years before.
Dagger reached down and gently lifted the shivering body of the human female in his arms. “You are called Jordan?” He remembered asking in a husky voice.
He would never forget her beautiful eyes as she turned to look up at him. They were filled with tears of pain, even though he was doing everything he could to be gentle. Her body had been hot to the touch despite the frigid air. He had drawn her as close to his body as he could without hurting her more.
“Why are you doing this?” Jordan had whispered.
“I will answer you if you confirm your name,” he had retorted in a teasing voice when her lower lip poked out in a stubborn pout even as another shiver wracked her body. “Please,” he remembered adding after she was silent for several seconds.
Her body relaxed and she turned her face into his chest, burying her cold nose against it, until he worried if she would be able to breathe. It took a moment, but he heard her muffled words. When he didn’t immediately respond, she turned her head and glared up at him wit
h quiet, defiant eyes.
“I said Jordan Sampson,” she muttered. “My name is Jordan Sampson.”
An amused grin curved Dagger’s lips. It felt strange, as he wasn’t the kind that ‘grinned’ very often. It was just the flash of defiance in her eyes and the beautiful pout to her lower lip when she was in no shape to defy him that he found… fascinating.
“I am called Dagger,” he responded.
“Dagger what?” She asked, rubbing her cheek against his chest before releasing a sigh. “You feel so warm. I can’t remember the last time I felt warm… or safe.”
Dagger had to force himself not to tighten his grip around her as the soft, almost inaudible admission, escaped her. A strange, unfamiliar emotion coursed through his body again. There was a tightening in his chest, as if someone was squeezing his heart.
“I would keep you warm forever,” he replied in a husky voice.
It took a moment for him to realize that the words had come from his mouth. Since when in the hell did he say mushy stuff like that… never! Shaking his head, he scowled at Saber, who was looking at him with a strange expression before he grunted when the female he was holding kicked him in the shin again.
“Will you stop that!” Saber snapped. “We are trying to help you.”
“Well, keep your dirty paws to yourself and off me!” The girl retorted with a glare.
“I should just tie you up and haul your ass out of here,” Saber growled in a low, menacing voice guaranteed to make anyone think twice about riling him, anyone it would appear except for the tiny blonde haired female glaring back at him.
“I can run circles around a big ape like you,” the girl scoffed. “You’d never catch me.”
“Taylor,” Jordan whispered, turning her head to wearily stare at her younger sister. “Jesse!”
Dagger saw where Jordan’s pain-filled eyes were focused. Hunter had returned with the body of the female they had originally been searching for. His friend’s face was set in a fierce mask of determination.