by KG Stutts
"If those scratch marks are any proof, I'd say no." Nova laughed.
"Shows what you know. She likes it rough." Lewis playfully jabbed him.
"Not always."
The tone in Ember's voice caught everyone off guard. A curtain of black hair fell in her face as she looked down at her plate.
"What was that?" Lewis questioned.
"Forget about it."
She shifted uncomfortably in her chair as Lewis' purple eyes bore into her. Ember composed herself, looking up into his face.
"Sometimes I need more, but not from you." She smirked.
"Sounds like someone can't get the job done." Morris clamped his hand on Lewis' shoulder.
"Cut it out." Lewis shrugged him off.
The men howled with laughter as Lewis flushed.
"Cute, Wilson. Real cute."
Ember flashed him a grin, tossing back her hair.
#
Once everyone had their assignments, Michael Lewis visited Ember in her quarters. He was trying to sneak out quietly when Liam caught up with him in the hallway.
“Sorry,” Lewis apologized as they bumped shoulders.
“It’s no problem. What are you doing here?”
“Oh, um, nothing,” Lewis muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Liam looked at him unconvinced. “Right. I’m just heading back to my room after a workout.”
Lewis grinned. “Me too. See you later.”
Liam’s eyes narrowed as the other man brushed past him, whistling a happy tune.
Ember was sitting on her bed when Liam came in. He paused as he watched her rest her head against her knees and hug her legs to her chest.
“Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine." Her voice was barely above a whisper.
His father always told him whenever a woman said she was fine, it usually meant she wasn’t. He flung his towel down in the clothes basket and sat down next to her on the bed. He had expected her to snap at him or move away, but she rested her head against his shoulder instead.
"I'm not going to ask you what's wrong or encourage you to talk."
She lifted her head and peered up at him. A cloud of emotions rolled through her beautiful violet eyes.
"Do you consider yourself a whole person?"
Her question surprised him. "Yes, I do."
"I don't. I've been searching for something to fill the void."
"Is that why there's this thing between you and Lewis?"
"Excuse you?"
"I'm sorry, that didn't come out right."
"Something you want to ask me?"
Liam rubbed the back of his neck. "It's not my place to question."
"It's too late now."
"I've just wondered why you would sleep with someone under your command."
"Michael wasn't always under my command. We came up together in the academy. We ... go back a long ways. Sometimes it's just comforting to have a link to the past and to have a bond with someone like that."
"But you’re not in love with him?"
"No. Sometimes I wish I was. Maybe I wouldn't feel incomplete if I did."
Not knowing what else to say, Liam wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pressed her closer to him. She let out a snort and leaped off the bed.
"Don’t touch me.” She nearly growled at him.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any harm.” Liam looked bewildered at her.
"Just don’t. I don't show weakness."
“Ember, I could never see you as weak."
She planned on snapping at him, but the look on his face said he was being serious.
"I admire you. Ember, you show strength beyond your given abilities."
"Don't patronize me."
"I'm not."
Liam pushed off the bed and walked over to her. He gripped her shoulders as they locked eyes.
"I can look in your eyes and see your strength and the pain behind it. Being open to me is not a weakness. We have to rely on each other for survival. I don't pretend to understand it, but I can see you've been through hell."
"That's putting it mildly." She swallowed hard. "You talk as if you care."
He lightly brushed a stray black hair from her pale face. "I do."
Ember looked confused by his tenderness. "Why?"
"Because you are so much more than the anger which seems to fuel you. Ember, you are special."
"My specialness came from a lab."
"No. It comes from here." He carefully placed a hand over her heart.
The simple act stunned her. For several quiet moments, she could only stare. The sincere look in his brown eyes took her breath away. She had to break his gaze, feeling completely uncomfortable and blindsided. Her face turned red as she excused herself and ran out of the room.
Chapter Five
As soon as the door slammed shut behind Ember, Liam felt like kicking himself. He didn't know what possessed him to express himself in that manner, but he was sure he frightened her. Ember would never let him close to her again.
To help clear his mind, he decided on another workout. Apparently Ember had the same idea. She was hitting a punching bag in the corner when he came in. It didn't go unnoticed when she started attacking the bag harder.
He grabbed a few hundred pound weights and put it on a weight lifting bar.
"You trying to impress me with a two-hundred pound bench?" Her voice echoed in the small room.
"Somehow I doubt there's anything I can do in here to impress you."
Ember shot him an icy glare and punched the bag again. Liam sighed and approached her.
"Look, I'm sorry if I somehow overstepped my boundaries."
Ember hit the bag hard enough it knocked into him. He steadied the bag and took a step back.
"Clearly I had a strong effect on you."
The force of the next blow broke the chain. The bag slammed against the wall, sand pouring out of a hole in the middle. His mouth fell open as he stared at the mess on the floor. Her ponytail whipped around, hitting him in the face as she turned on her heels and walked out.
As soon as the door shut behind her, Ember leaned against it as she struggled to regain her composure.
How did he get under her skin? Somehow he had gotten through her defenses. She had started to care about him more than she was comfortable with. The whole situation with him was unsettling. Liam Ross was certainly attractive. She had grown accustomed to men giving her attention based on her looks, but there was something else behind his expression. It was unfathomable to her.
Sweat dripped into her eyes, mixing with the tears she didn't know she had cried. When she went through the training necessary for the Genesis Project, she locked her heart away. Emotions would only get in the way. None of it seemed to matter when he looked into her eyes.
#
Ember was already in bed with her back to him when Liam returned. He felt relieved. He wasn't sure what to say, so it was better she was already asleep. He quietly crept in his bed and drifted off in minutes.
When he awoke the next morning, Ember was gone. He expected to see her in the mess hall but she didn't join the team for breakfast.
"Wilson said to tell you she would join you for the strategy meeting," Lewis informed him.
"Where is she?"
"Probably in the training center." Lewis shrugged.
"You didn't ask?" Liam raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, with Ember, sometimes it's best to give her time and space."
"General Blanchard said we're supposed to be-"
"Yeah, you repeating Blanchard's commands isn't going to win her over."
"I noticed. What's the deal between them? Aren't they family?"
"Blood doesn't make you family," Nova said. "If she wanted you to know, she'd tell you."
Morris studied Liam for a moment before chuckling and shaking his head.
“What?”
“Just strikes me funny as someone with the last name Ross trying to figure out a monster.”
“Nah, Wilson isn’t a monster. Although she when she’s on the war path, it’s best to stay out of her way.” Nova elbowed Morris before stealing a potato from his plate.
“I know she’s … hey! Quit stealing my food.”
“Got to be quicker than that, bud.”
Liam frowned into his cup of instant coffee. Just when he felt like he was getting closer to her, something always showed him how wrong he was.
He couldn't wait to meet up with her to strategize their attack. When he entered, Ember was looking at a holographic projection of PK-5873.
"You're late." She didn't glance in his direction.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"Most of the planet is rough terrain." She hit a few buttons on the console beneath the graphic. A section of the planet became highlighted and magnified. "This area has the highest concentration of croceus in these caves."
"I see. How do we mine it?"
"Carefully and with lasers. We can cut the crystal without damaging the cave."
"Crystal? I thought this was a mineral we were after."
"It's grown in crystalline form then crushed to be used."
"Oh." Liam felt sheepish.
"The hard part will be dealing with the Maulians." She frowned. "They don't understand our language and I doubt a translator droid will be effective."
"General Blanchard said they weren't friendly."
"He's right." Ember punched in a few commands and the projection of the brown planet was replaced by a bug like creature. It had short, stubby arms and legs, a round body, and massive wings. "What this world lacks in technology is made up for in brutality. They use spears for weapons, but I've seen them tear a grown man apart with their teeth."
"Their teeth?"
Ember shuddered. "A gruesome way to die."
"Surely a species so primitive couldn't be a match for our blasters."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that. I would prefer no loss of life from any side."
"I agree."
"The Maulians are nocturnal so my suggestion is to approach during the day. Keep the ship above orbit and beam down, cut the sample, and get out. No muss, no fuss."
"Reasonable plan."
"The croceus is deep in the cave. Caution is strongly advised. If there's trouble, we may not be able to beam out until we reach the surface."
"Sounds simple enough. Why don't you let my team handle it? There's no sense in all ten of us going."
"We're one team now, remember? Besides, you'll need us if something goes wrong."
Liam snorted. "You just don't think we're up to the task."
"Now who's got an ego?" She turned to him. "Liam, that's not what I said."
"Say it. Tell me you think my guys are just as capable as yours."
She stared at him agape. "Where is this coming from?"
"You can't do it. You think you're better than me."
"Liam, what's the matter with you?"
"You've been nothing but a bitch to me since you came out of hibernation. I've done nothing to you and you turn your nose up at me, keeping me at arm’s length."
Ember looked stunned at his tirade. "Look, Liam-"
"Just." He paused, holding up his hand. "I don't want to hear it. I tried to be open and you shut me out at every possible opportunity. Just you wait, Wilson. You'll see."
He left her standing with her jaw hanging open when he rushed out of the room.
#
"What do you think he meant by that?" Lewis asked when Ember told Amethyst what happened.
"I wish I knew." Ember sighed.
"He pulled a Wilson." Morris chuckled.
"What was that?"
"You know ... how you can get fired up and go off then just walk out of the room."
"Ah." Ember bit her lip. She did have a penchant for theatrics. "I'm sorry, guys."
"Hey, we've all seen each other at our best and worst."
"I think he has a crush on you, Wilson," Nova said.
"Now isn't the time for feelings. This is war."
Nova and Morris exchanged curious looks. "That's not what we expected you to say."
"What?"
"You know, something along the lines of you have no interest in him."
"Guys, what's the big deal?" Ember questioned.
"The big deal is you didn't automatically shoot the notion down."
Ember looked at them confused. The three men looked eagerly at her for a response.
"What do you want me to say?" she asked.
"Ember, do you have feelings for Ross?" Lewis asked.
"What? No, of course not." She shook her head. Ember rubbed her temple and forehead. "Maybe? I don't know. No, absolutely not."
"Is it your final answer?" Morris grinned.
"Shut up."
"Wow, Ember does have a crush."
"Shut up, Bryan." Ember elbowed him.
Lewis looked down at his plate, feeling his stomach churn. He knew Ember didn't share his feelings, but it didn't stop him from wishing she would change her mind.
Seeing the look on his face, Ember reached across the table to touch his hand. "Oh, Michael ..."
He pulled away from her, getting up from the table. "It's okay, Ember. I had no delusions about us."
He nearly knocked over one of the station's crew members who had approached them.
"What is it, airman?" Ember asked.
"Major Ross and his team are gone," he informed her.
"Gone?" Ember bolted upright. "What do you mean they're gone?"
"Major Ross said the General gave him permission to lead his team to PK-5873."
"Please tell me you're joking," Ember sternly said.
"No, ma'am. But I checked with General Blanchard who said to report to you."
"Thank you, airman," she said, dismissing him.
"What a moron!" Lewis exclaimed.
"Does he think he has something to prove?" Nova asked.
"Yes." Ember frowned. "And it's going to get him and his crew killed."
Chapter Six
Ember ordered Nova to ready their ship. They would be leaving as soon as he gave the word. Ember and Lewis headed to the armory to gather supplies while Morris went to tell the General they were heading after the wayward team.
“So, you really care about this guy?” Lewis asked as they packed charges for their blasters.
“I don’t know. Don’t ask me questions like that as we prepare for a rescue mission.”
“You really think they are in trouble?”
“I think he acted brash and put his team at risk, yes.”
Ember filled a bag with a laser cutter, night-vision goggles, a large first aid kit and rope. She threw in an illumination stick and extra charge packs before zipping up her green canvas bag.
“Nova is ready,” Morris informed them.
Lewis tossed him a supply bag and Ember strapped a knife to her right ankle.
“Can never be too careful,” she said when Lewis raised an eyebrow at her.
The three of them grabbed their black uniform jackets and headed to their ship.
“We have clearance,” Nova told her as they boarded.
“Get us up in the air.”
“Wilson, come in.” The General’s voice crackled over the intercom.
“I read you.”
“Be safe out there and bring those men home.”
“That is the plan, General.”
“You know how dangerous the Maulians are. Watch each other’s backs out there.”
“Understood. Wilson out.” She turned her attention over to Nova as he was putting in the planet coordinates in the ships navicomputer. “Go ahead and set us out for mark ten.”
His purple eyes widened as he turned to her. “Mark ten? Wilson, safety recommendations for this vessel-“
“Mark eight, I know. It’ll be okay.”
“So you say.”
“Nova, it’s worth the risk if it means getting to the planet faster.”
/> “Yeah, but in how many pieces?”
“What are you whining for? It’s a recommendation, Nova. Not a law. This ship can do up to mark twelve before the hull begins to heat up.”
“Fine. You’re the boss,” he grumbled but still complied.
They arrived to PK-5873 in record time. Ember’s eyes narrowed when Nova dropped them out of light speed near the planet. At least Liam listened and kept his ship above the alien world’s orbit.
“Keep us above orbit and use your comm to lock onto the computer. I want us to be ready to transport at any time,” Ember ordered.
“Aye,” Nova acknowledged.
Morris connected with the military vessel and pulled the transporter records from the computer log. The quartet beamed down to the planet’s surface using the coordinates as a guide.
Unfortunately, they were under the cover of night. The moon reflected very little light so Amethyst activated their night vision goggles and moved cautiously.
Lewis picked up on human footprints leading to a cave which appeared to have been caved in and someone had dug out from inside.
“Looks like they were here,” Morris commented.
“But where did they go?” Nova asked.
Ember peered into the mouth of the cave. The smell of blood and rotted flesh twisted her stomach. She emptied her stomach contents as she saw body parts scattered on the dirt floor.
“Ember?” Lewis looked concerned at her. It was unlike her to vomit while on a mission.
“I’m okay.” She closed her eyes as she leaned against the stone, wiping her mouth clean. “We’d better move.”
If the Air Force team fell under attack in the mine, they wouldn’t be able to transport out. Signs the Maulians discovered them gave little hope of finding any other humans on the planet.
If Liam had managed to survive, he would’ve transported back to his ship. She looked at her men who agreed with her unspoken thought.
“We should’ve scanned for life signs before leaving our ship.” Ember looked back at the cave and shook her head.
“Might not have done us any good. If they were still trapped in here and alive, our sensors wouldn’t have been able to penetrate the mine,” Morris told her.