The Spider Queen (The Space Merchants Book 5)

by Wendie Nordgren

  “Each of you will be assigned to a team to assist in locating life signs and in communicating with the Patagee after we find them. Yukihyo and Zared will stay with Teagan. Understood?” Kane asked.

  “Yes, sir,” my Imperial Guard said as one.

  “Teagan, I have a troop assigned to you for your personal protection and have placed them temporarily under Eli’s command,” Kane said. The transport rolled to a stop. The rest of you will get your orders at my command tent. Dismissed.” The hatch opened.

  “Chirp.”

  “I know. Right?”

  Thunderdrop and I both felt small. We waited while the men filed out. I kept my small, white ice bear boots out of the way of their large, heavy, black boots. Closing my eyes, I drew in a deep calming breath to center myself, but it was tinged by the smell of burnt vegetation and melted metal.

  Zared’s large comforting hand reached down to cover mine. “Is our Spider Princess ready?” he whispered.

  I shrugged. “I’m afraid. I’m so afraid.” I tried to force my imagination away from the mangled, bloodied corpses of aliens.

  “You don’t have to do this,” Zared said.

  Yukihyo stood and held his hand down to me. “Lady wife, you are strong and brave enough to assist. I suggest offering your aid to Phillip. I sense him near.”

  A small bit of hope entered my chest. “Yes, I don’t need to go into the wrecked ship to help. I can help in other ways, like how we helped on Malta.”

  Yukihyo nodded.

  I took his hand. When we exited the transport, Parvac soldiers formed a wall around us, but their height was dwarfed by the massive life ship about a mile away from us. Resting on its broken side, it towered up into the prematurely darkened sky. Tan smoke rose up from it in sporadic pillars as it shifted and groaned like an arthritic alien dinosaur attempting to find a comfortable position. Mounds of dirt surrounded it like a steaming nest, and the trees had been knocked flat around it for miles. Under my feet, the jungle looked like cooked spinach. I could see soldiers cutting away at the hull in a few places. Others attached beacons near those points to lure survivors to the exits to be unnaturally birthed out into a new world.

  My thoughts went to Niklos filling me with longing and sadness. “Are children onboard?” I asked.

  My husbands remained silent. Yukihyo put his arms around me. “Let us give comfort and hope to the survivors,” Yukihyo suggested as he washed my emotions clean with love and acceptance.

  In silent agreement, I nodded. We began walking toward a medical triage station that had been set up beneath a large canopied tent.

  “All right, people. Be prepared. We have sixty coming in from an escape pod in five. Follow procedure. Document everything. Upload all medical tests and procedures to our xenobiologists before treating your next patient. Everything we learn shaves seconds off of the next patient’s treatment, and we all know how important a few seconds can be,” Dr. Victor Svenson announced to his team.

  I spotted Phillip and a few other doctors in the back wearing surgical uniforms. They were prepared for the worst. Catching sight of us, Dr. Svenson stepped over.

  Before he could waste his time on pleasantries, I said, “What can we do to help?”

  He nodded. “We will treat the most seriously wounded first. You can give blankets to the ones who have to wait, smile kindly at them, and try to keep them calm while my nurses check their vital signs. If a doctor or a nurse orders you to do something, do it without question. It could mean the difference between life and death.”

  “Yes, sir,” Yukihyo and I said together.

  Zared said nothing. He scanned around constantly for threats. My Parvac guards did the same.

  Soon, a land transport pulled up, and Militia soldiers began helping Patagee into the medical tent. Every passenger of the escape pod was either a child or a female. The females were anywhere from three to four feet tall, and their babies were tiny. Aside from a few bruises, there were no injuries. Yukihyo and I passed out blankets and water.

  Talpa officials showed up and approved of temporary shelters. As I wrapped a thermal blanket around a Patagee mother, who had two toddlers clinging to her, I realized that aside from the longer clawed feet and hands, facial features, and extra side skin, their babies didn’t look much different from ours. Frightened by unfamiliar sounds and sights, her babies cried. I kneeled down in front of them.

  Thunderdrop trilled and chirped at them, as he climbed from my head to my right shoulder and back again. Doing my best to smile sweetly, I sent my feelings of calm and safety to them. “Where is the male with the translator box when we need him?” I asked my spider.

  Each of the grounded Parvac and Galaxic ships had set up its own medical tent at intervals around the crash site. Finally, one of the Patagee dignitaries arrived at ours to comfort the females and answer questions.

  Soldiers began erecting large tents and placing cots, blankets, and pillows inside. Portable bathrooms went up next. Then, they put together a tent in which they placed folding tables, chairs, and rations.

  “They need diapers and wipes,” I said to a passing officer.

  He saluted me and said, “The Talpa are gathering supplies for the children, Princess Probus.”

  “Good. Thank you.”

  Yukihyo and I helped the nurses to guide the Patagee females over to the emergency shelters. A few of the females took charge of the others making sure that they had a safe place to rest with their children, along with food and drink.

  Then, the first group of rescued males entered our section. Yukihyo and I stayed out of the way as Dr. Victor directed the nurses on where to take the injured. Patagee blood ran red. A distressed cry came from my left as a little female ran for us. Zared motioned my guards to let her pass. It was her mate that concerned her, not us. He bled from his left temple, shoulder, and hip as though something sharp had fallen upon him.

  “Ma’am, I need for you to stand back so I can stop the bleeding,” Dr. Victor told her as he quickly applied sterilization and compression bandages.

  Zared made sure that Yukihyo guarded me before walking forward. Telepathically, he was able to calm her and get her to stand at the foot of the gurney out of the way of the doctor and nurse.

  Dr. Victor said, “He’ll be okay in a few days barring infection. He needs to rest. He lost a lot of blood.”

  The little female let out a sob after Zared communicated the information to her. She covered her mate with a blanket and remained at his side, just as Yukihyo often did for me.

  Turning, I hid my face to Yukihyo’s chest. In his deep, calm monotone, he said, “My thoughts of them mirrored your own. I viewed them as a problematic lesser species, who only created havoc and unease. Now, we see they love as we do, their babies are almost as cute as ours, and they search for a hospitable planet on which to raise them.” Yukihyo looked down on me with calm white eyes full of understanding. He didn’t think I was bad. “Regardless of the enlightened view of the aliens that Eric proports to possess, it is one he tells himself repeatedly so that he will believe it.” Surprised, I looked up at him while holding onto the sides of his jacket. “When we were on Trambelus Space Station, did you sense feelings of equality among our races?”

  “No, not quite.”

  “Zared and his hybrid brothers are earning their place in Parvacian society. Their acceptance on the Hadrian has progressed at a much slower rate. Do not be so hard on yourself. The Patagee did much to earn our distrust.”

  I nodded. “Lord Ponidi is wise,” I said as I smiled up at him and brushed his short, dove-grey hair behind his ear. “I wonder if the Talpa and Patagee like pineapples.”

  Yukihyo grinned and brought his lips down to mine.

  Chapter Eight

  The earth shuddered beneath our feet toppling us down. Yukihyo held me away from the cold wet ground with his left arm. He braced himself with his right hand and his knees. Zared staggered over to us while my guards closed their circle around us. A second shoc
k wave had all of us wobbling. A deep screaming moan filled the air followed by an explosion at the crash site. Fear and pain flashed through my mind before it was hidden from me.

  Far up in the sky, a hunk of the alien ship tore free. We watched as it seemed to lift up in slow motion, turn slowly, and then plummet at an accelerated speed until it crashed into the jungle toward the north-west and away from our location.

  Yukihyo flattened me to the ground and covered me with his body moments before vertical rain, leaves, and debris struck us. The sounds of flapping tents, screaming alien babies, crying mothers, and officers barking orders replaced the brief unnatural quiet that followed.

  Crouched beside us, Zared stood staring toward the blasted off portion of the ship in horror.

  “Yukihyo! Hurry! We have to go! Guards, get a nurse, a medical kit, rescue gear, and a land transport. Hurry!” They rushed to follow my orders. “Oh, Yukihyo! Eric, Kane, and Xavier were in there! They’re captains, well Kane’s a vice admiral, now. What were they thinking?”

  Thunderdrop chittered, jumped down from me, and shook each of his legs

  “They are young and wanted to bravely assist in the rescue operations. They wouldn’t want you near the wreck,” Yukihyo said as he stood and started brushing me off. I stared at him and began to feel stubborn and argumentative. “I am not as foolish as they are to argue with you. I have sunk my capitol into Ponidi Propulsions and cannot at this time afford to buy you a new transport should I make the mistake of forbidding your actions.”

  With my heart swelling with love and gratitude, I said, “What I’m hearing is that we are going to save them together, as a team of equals.”

  “Yes, but you are beautiful and precious to me. I will fear for you.”

  “And, you are precious to me, my lord.”

  “We need to be careful.”

  “Agreed,” I said.

  “Chirp!” Thunderdrop said as he climbed my leg.

  This time, Zared was the one who began cussing in Laconian as I climbed into the large land transport that one of my guards brought around for us. This transport was different from the type usually reserved for my use. Two weapons lockers were on each side set between serviceable black seating along each side of the cabin. The cockpit had four seats. One seat was for the driver, one was for a weapons officer, and the seats behind them were for communications, and shielding. Eli took over, placing Yukihyo in charge of weapons and Zared in charge of shielding. I was urged forward, and then Eli fastened me into the seat behind him. Dr. Savelli was in the rear of the transport, completing an inventory of his medical supplies.

  “Are you feeling alright?” I asked Thunderdrop. He had been still and quiet.

  “Chirp chitter chitter,” he said admonishing me to be quiet.

  Zared and Yukihyo laughed.

  Dirty rain had begun to slide down the windshield of the transport as Eli drove over rugged terrain. I watched the blip on the console as we got closer to it. Random leaves, some the size of a cot, hit the transport, stuck, and slid across it like wet slaps as we drove onward through the traumatized jungle. Animals, birds, and frightfully large insects scurried away from the new crash site straight for us before sharply veering away.

  Screaming, I clutched my harness and pulled my feet up as a transport-sized insect leapt onto the hood and stared into the window.

  “Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!” Thunderdrop said as he jumped to Eli’s head for a better look.

  “Shit! What the fuck is that?” I yelled.

  “It looks like a giant brown cricket,” Dr. Savelli said as he scanned me for injuries. The bug jumped free. “I’ll get you some new breast pads,” he said as he walked haltingly back to the rear of the moving transport.

  I tried to mimic the Laconian cuss words I was trying to learn from listening to Quaid, Yukihyo, and Zared. Yukihyo shook his head without turning to look at me.

  Zared smiled, bent forward, and squeezed my knee. “You just said ice bears mate with avalanches.”

  I scowled. “Well, isn’t that some strong Laconian profanity?”

  “Not exactly,” he said.

  Another horrified screech escaped me when several huge, wet, slimy things stuck to the transport.

  “What? Wait! Let me collect a sample!” Dr. Savelli said excitedly. Eli stopped. Dr. Savelli grabbed a big plastic container and jumped out of the transport with two guards. When they returned, Dr. Savelli had a giant shelled slug with him. I grimaced at it through the plastic. “Oh, here you go,” he said as he thrust out some large wrapped adhesive bandages in my direction. Hesitantly, I reached out and took them.

  “Emit a low-level pulse through our shields to get them to drop off from our hull,” Eli said to Zared.

  Reaching under my jacket and shirt, I pulled out my soaked breast pads so I could replace them with what I hoped would prove to be super absorbent for big band aids. “Toss me a sterilization wipe, please,” I called back. “Poor Niklos,” I lamented.

  “Poor Nico,” Yukihyo said.

  “Agreed,” Eli responded.

  Niklos had a temper when he wasn’t nursed on time.

  A static-filled communication came through from Captain Ricimer. “Inquisitor Beck, clouds of dust continue to rise obscuring sensor readings. Hundreds of mines were knocked from their orbits and are mixed in with atmospheric debris. It may be several hours before it is safe to fly her up.”

  “Understood. How are ship’s systems?”

  “Audio is loud, clear, and functioning without delays. Strategic defenses are in place with reinforcements,” Captain Ricimer responded.

  “Understood. Beck out.” The call ended.

  “Eli!” I cried. “I need to check on my babies. Call him back.” I wiped at my tears with the sterilization wipes that soldiers had passed up to me.

  “They are fine. That is what I asked Captain Ricimer. Ship’s systems is code for the prince and princess. Audio for obvious reasons refers to Niklos. He has been screaming loudly for you, but has been placated by Lorca and Nico. Strategic defenses in place with reinforcements means that Neema is playing with her blocks and dolls,” Eli said.

  “Oh. When can I go back to them?”

  “Not until we are certain that it is safe. Let’s focus on our mission.”

  Discretely, I tried to clean my boobs with the wipes. Breast milk itched when it dried, and the swelling I was experiencing was only going to get worse.

  “Stop!” Zared yelled.

  Eli stopped.

  “They are near. That way,” Zared said as he pointed.

  My soldiers filed out of the transport and into the alien jungle. Eli ordered a soldier to remain in the driver’s seat and another to guard the door. Cowardice almost overcame me, which Yukihyo and Zared seemed to encourage, but I centered myself and stepped out into the undergrowth. Looking down, I saw long roots under my boots that had grown above ground to trail far outward from their trunks. The long roots interlaced with those of other trees like the entwined fingers of lovers’ hands. Above us, the large leaves of the trees were the size of blankets shaped like drowsy half-closed eyes.

  My Parvac soldiers were like predatory shadows. Eli scanned in every direction through the scope of a high-powered blaster rifle. I stayed close to Dr. Savelli, surrounded by guards, while we followed as quietly as possible behind Yukihyo and Zared. Forcing myself into a calm, meditative state, I reached for Kane and Eric and hurried to them. Something felt wrong.

  “Chitter chitter clack.”

  “I know. I feel it, too,” I told Thunderdrop.

  “What is it?” Dr. Savelli asked.

  “Something isn’t right.”

  Hearing me, my soldiers raised their blaster rifles and loosened their side arms. Yukihyo and Zared ran, jumping over tree roots and around tree trunks until they were out of sight.

  “Hurry!” I said.

  A hand clamped onto my shoulder. Looking up and over, my guards motioned me to silence. Dr. Savelli kneeled down and tugged
on my hand until I joined him. Several huge brown birds with leather wings soared over us. I hunched down, and Thunderdrop surprised me by hiding against my chest.

  “Ew. Yuck,” I whispered.

  One of the strange birds had dropped a nasty splatter a few feet away from us. I jumped at the sound of blaster fire.

  “Hold,” I said. Xavier had spoken through me. “Incoming wounded. Femoral bleeding.”

  Dr. Savelli flipped open his medical case, removed a few packages, and clipped them onto his jacket. In one hand, he had sterilization spray ready. Two of my guards rushed forward when Xavier came into view with Eric hanging limply across his shoulders. Each of them took one of his legs, braced an arm behind his back, and sped him over to us. Dr. Savelli got to work. Xavier had tightened a belt around Eric’s leg, but blood soaked his uniform, and sweat plastered his hair to his forehead.

  “Eric!”

  My cousin’s blue eyes struggled to open. I took his hand in mine and put his head on my lap while Dr. Savelli worked to staunch the bleeding.

  Xavier said, “They’re coming out of the trees. They glide like silent leaves and strike like falling shards of ice.”

  Blaster fire filled my ears. Then, the fast pounding of feet came closer and closer as Parvac and Militia soldiers came into view.

  “They think we attacked their ship,” Kane said as he took up a position in front of us with Eli, Yukihyo, and Zared.

  “Have they not been in contact with their people?” Eli asked.

  “No, we offered to let them use our devices. Then, the ship exploded hurling us out here. We spilled out of the wreckage with our survivors and hundreds of the angry little fuckers coming after us. They’ve been ambushing us and killing us off, one by one. They’re fast, light, and know where to cut,” Kane said as he gestured with his chin toward Eric. When he saw me, his fury turned him into Uncle Kagan. “What the fuck is she doing out here?” he coldly asked Eli.

  “She ordered us to rescue you. Would you have me disobey an Imperial order?”

  “We’ll settle this later, Beck.”

  “Chitter chitter chitter chitter!” Thunderdrop warned.