Shielder — A new Science Fiction Romance (Book 1, Shielder Series)

by Catherine Spangler

  Travers always managed to mirror his fowl moods back at him. Chase released him. "Sorry. How could I let myself be taken in by her? I fell for her story like a stupid Antek. I only hope she's headed for Zirak. Because if she's not, I'll have to wait until my ship's signal is picked up. I have that frequency in another hidden program file. Maybe Nessa won't think to look for it."

  "We might not have to track the homing device." Sabin straightened his flightsuit. "I've already received a message from Nessa."

  Chase grabbed him again. "What are you talking about?"

  With a pained look, Sabin pried Chase's hands away and straightened his garment once more. "The day after you contacted me from Odera, I received a message with your transmittal code, signed with your name. It requested that I meet you at Star Base Intrepid in three ship cycles, which is now one cycle away. Nessa must have sent it."

  What the hell was she up to? Wondering if Sabin might somehow be involved, Chase stared at his partner suspiciously. "Why would she want to meet you?" Was it his imagination, or did a brief expression of guilt cross Sabin's face?

  "I don't know why." Sabin paused, then added, "For sure."

  "What do you mean by that?"

  "The only thing I can figure is that if Nessa sent that message, she must be in some sort of trouble. So she contacted me because she had no one else to turn to. She would have to hope I didn't know your ship had been stolen."

  "I don't give a damn if she is in trouble, or even if her life is at stake," Chase growled. "Because she's going to be dead when I catch up with her anyway. Where and when did she want to meet at Intrepid?"

  "The message said I would be contacted with that information later."

  Chase glared at Sabin in frustration. "You have set the coordinates for Intrepid, haven't you?"

  Sabin flashed his usual cocky grin. "Of course, partner. I'm as intelligent as I am good looking."

  Chase snorted. "Then we're in trouble. How long until we reach Intrepid?"

  "One and a half ship cycles. We'll have to take steps to ensure Nessa doesn't panic and leave before we get there."

  "I'll take care of that." Chase headed for the cockpit. I'll send a message to my ship, using your name and informing Nessa it will take an extra half day to get there. Then I'll send a message to the authorities at Intrepid. Once my ship docks, it's to be detained until we arrive. Nessa's not getting away from me."

  "She could dock at any of over fifty landing bays," Sabin pointed out. "She might be in and out before anyone tracks the ship."

  Chase halted and faced his partner. "So we'll set two traps for her. One at the arranged meeting site, the other at my ship, which I will locate. Nessa will not escape me." Then, annoyed by Sabin's concerned expression, he snapped, "And why the hell should you care what happens to her? She deserves whatever punishment the Controllers mete out to her."

  His partner watched him solemnly. "Are you really going to turn her over to the Controllers? That's a guaranteed death sentence."

  Chase's insides knotted. Could he really do that to Nessa, after all that had passed between them? She had tended his wounds, even saved his life. She'd surrendered her virginity to him with a startling passion. She had touched him in the darkest hours of the night, a healing touch, gifting him with a few priceless hours of forgetfulness.

  He hardened himself against the rush of emotions sweeping through him. He couldn't let Nessa's inexplicable allure leave him vulnerable to betrayal. Not again.

  But could he turn her over to the Controllers and certain, agonizing death? No…probably not.

  He would deal with her himself. And it wouldn't be pleasant.

  * * * *

  Nessa circled the ship on a wide berth from Star Base Intrepid's orbit. Certain Chase would report his ship stolen, she wanted to spend as little time on the planet as possible. She had taken precautions, however, locating the ship's homing frequency file. She reset the frequency, matching it to Sabin's ship frequency, having also found that record in the files. Since Sabin and Chase's ship were marked only with standard Controller agent symbols, few would be able to tell their ships apart.

  Rubbing her aching neck, she pushed the intercom button. "Raven, how's it going in there?"

  "Okay. But when can we come out? Is Chase back yet?"

  The same two questions Raven always asked, several times a day. Every time she mentioned Chase, a heated rush of emotions inundated Nessa. Memories of the amazing explosion of sensations when they mated, of lying securely in his arms afterwards, of gray eyes that seemed to bore into her soul; all lodged in her mind, refusing to be exorcized.

  She reclined the seat back. As she had grown increasingly weaker, walking between her cabin and the cockpit drained her. She’d made a pallet on the seat, spending most of her time in the cockpit. From there, she could run the ship and talk to the children. Fortunately, the Orana had not progressed to the advanced stages. No hemorrhaging or delirium—yet. She pushed that thought aside.

  "No, sweetness. Chase isn't back. But we'll be landing on the star base this afternoon."

  "We will?" Raven's voice quivered. "Please don't make us go with Sabin. We want to stay with you."

  "Oh, Raven. You can't stay with me. You might catch the virus. Sabin will take you to a Shielder colony. You'll have a new home."

  "I don't want to leave you. I can take care of you and make you well."

  Closing her eyes, Nessa battled the overwhelming desire to sleep. "I know you would take good care of me, sweetness. But I can't allow you to get sick, too. What's Brand doing?"

  "He's playing Black Hole on the computer. I taught him how," Raven replied, pride evident in her voice.

  "Good for you. What are Turi and Lia doing?"

  "I think they're mad at each other. They've been fighting a lot, rolling around and making funny noises."

  Nessa suspected the two weren't fighting at all, but didn't bother to correct Raven. Sabin would just have to find homes for some baby lanraxes. It would serve him right if all of them bonded with him. She almost laughed at the thought, except any movement hurt now.

  "Listen, Raven, two packs, two surgical masks, and some miterons are in decon right now. I'm going to sterilize the corridor again before we land. Right after we dock, I'll ask you and Brand to carry Turi and Lia to decon and put them in the packs. You can each carry one. Then you'll put on the masks and we'll go out on the base. Okay?"

  "Okay. What if I don't remember what to do?" Raven sounded close to tears.

  A lump clogged Nessa's throat and tears of her own filled her eyes. No time for self-pity, she told herself fiercely. Save your energy for surviving and getting to Santerra.

  "I'll remind you. Now why don't you go play on the computer with Brand?" She turned from the intercom to compose her message to Sabin and arrange a meeting. Computer files on Star Base Intrepid had helped her determine the safest place to meet: the CTC, Central Transport Center.

  Intrepid's main terminal for public transport arrivals and departures, the CTC was the largest and busiest site on the base. Nessa studied a schematic of the terminal, pleased to find numerous entrances, as well as many private communication and meeting alcoves. She chose her meeting site carefully, and then composed a message for Sabin.

  Travers, meet me at the CTC today at 1600 hours. Wait by the trams to transports for sectors ten through twelve. I'll find you. McKnight.

  Sabin responded within minutes.

  Message received, old man. Transmit your orbit and landing coordinates, so we can dock together. I have some cargo to transfer.

  Nessa considered replying, but decided to ignore the message. Let Sabin think she hadn't received it or that her return reply hadn't reached him.

  She implemented procedures for entering Star Base Alpha's orbit, this time using Sabin's identification code instead of Chase's to request air space. Her request granted, she dropped into orbit, and began her descent to the surface.

  Within an hour, she had landed the shi
p, wincing when it whammed against the docking lock. Her landing skills were a little rusty. She had chosen one of the larger and busier landing bays. Hopefully, anyone looking for the ship would be looking in bays on the more deserted area of the base.

  Unhooking her harness, she intercomed the cabin. "Raven, we've landed. Did you and Brand stay on the floor with the pillows, like I told you?"

  "Yes, Nessa. We only bumped a little bit."

  "Are both of you okay?"

  "Yes."

  Nessa exhaled a sigh of relief. She'd worried about the children not having safety restraints for the landing. The ship responded somewhat roughly to her inexperienced handling, not nearly so smoothly as when Chase manned the controls.

  "Good. It's time to leave the ship. First, take Brand and the lanraxes to the decon unit. Put the animals in the packs and slip them on your backs. Put on the masks, making sure your nose and mouth are both covered. Then attach the bags of coins on the inside of your blankets. The hooks are already on the bags. There's also a com unit for Sabin. Put it into the pack. Do you understand?"

  Raven sniffed tearfully. "Yes. Then what do we do?"

  "I'll meet you in the corridor. Remember, don't get close to me." Nessa pushed out of the seat, weak and shaky, praying to Spirit for the energy to see the children safely into Sabin's care. She hadn't told him much in the communication—only that she could no longer keep the children with her, and asked him to find a good home for them.

  Perhaps she should have warned Sabin of the possibility of Orana. But since the virus didn't become highly contagious until the final stage, when hemorrhaging began, she thought it safer not to tell him. He might deduce she was headed to Santerra and track her there. Even if she had already become contagious, hopefully her precautions had prevented the children from contracting the disease.

  Slipping on her mask, she tucked a com with maps of Intrepid and the CTC into her tunic pocket, along with a stunner. Extra miterons jingled in her other pocket, as the computer had readily deciphered the new code on the vault.

  She reached the decontamination unit and saw the children inside, their masks on. Raven was obediently pinning the bags of coins on the inside of their blankets. Nessa hoped Sabin would buy the children some tunics and boots. She opened the door and stood back. "Come out when you're finished. Raven, don't forget the com unit for Sabin."

  Raven entered the corridor, Brand behind her. The girl stared at Nessa, her mouth trembling. "Please, can't we stay here?" she begged. Clutching the back of his sister's blanket, Brand kept his gaze on the floor.

  Nessa pushed aside her own inner torment. "No, sweetness. More than anything, I want you and Brand to be safe. Chase wants that, too." She leaned against the wall a moment, drawing a deep breath. "Come on. Let's go."

  With Nessa walking slowly to conserve her limited energy, they eventually reached a tram connection. Normally, she would have been avidly observing the sights and sounds of an active star base, but not today. Intrepid was actually a natural planet that had been commandeered as a base because of its central location in the quadrant. To give it appeal, the developers had planted numerous species of trees and plants, representative of all the planets in the quadrant, along the various tram routes. Each landing bay had nearby visitor complexes offering lodging, food, entertainment, anything gold could purchase. A festive, if not commercial, atmosphere made Intrepid appear more like a vacation spot than a major shipping and transportation exchange.

  But Nessa didn't have her usual enthusiasm for seeing all these wonders. Getting to the tram pickup point sapped most of her energy. Having to send the children away further dampened her spirits.

  She insisted on sitting several rows behind Brand and Raven as the tram sped them toward their destination. Their surgical masks drew curious stares, but the star base had such a melting pot of cultures, no one paid them much attention.

  They finally arrived at the CTC. Nessa knew the terminal was busy, but nothing prepared her for the crush and movement of so many bodies in one place. A teeming crowd packed the enormous building. The children edged toward her, and she tried to move away, but the press of the people propelled her against them. Lia squealed in alarm, which set Turi off as well.

  "Try not to touch me," Nessa gasped, to no avail. The children couldn't move away from her. She tried to remain calm, reminding herself, as she had repeatedly the past few cycles, that the Orana shouldn't be very contagious yet. She didn't want the children getting lost in this crowd anyway.

  They huddled against her, panicked looks on their faces. "It's okay," Nessa reassured them. "Hold on to my tunic if you have to. Just be sure to wash your hands as soon as you get to Sabin's ship. If he has a decontamination unit, make sure you use it."

  They worked their way within sight of the meeting place. Buffeted by the crowds, Nessa had little strength left. She got the three of them over to a wall, where she leaned back and surveyed the area. She didn't see Sabin, but then, they'd arrived almost an hour early.

  The time had come. Spirit, give me strength, she prayed.

  "All right, now," she said, struggling to keep her voice even. "See those lines of people waiting for trams over there? And see the computer terminals next to them, where people are purchasing transport? That's were I want you to wait. Right at the end of the terminals."

  Raven clutched Nessa's tunic even tighter. "Then what?" she sobbed, tears streaming down her face.

  Nessa's own tears threatened to overflow. "Then …" Her voice broke and she struggled to regain her composure. "Then, you wait until you see Sabin. The instant you see him, go to him. Be sure and give him the com unit. Tell him I've already left the star base. Don't tell him anything else."

  "Are—are you leav-v-ving now?" Raven wiped at her face.

  "Don't touch your face until you wash your hands." Nessa wrapped her arms around herself to keep from hugging both children. "No, sweetness, I'll be nearby until I see you're safe with Sabin. Just don't tell him that. He might try to find me, and then he might get sick, too. Can you do that? Say I'm already gone?"

  With another sob, Raven nodded. "Do you think Chase will be mad at me for not telling the truth?"

  Nessa closed her eyes against the sudden vision of Chase's face. "No, Raven," she whispered, "he'll understand. Now, go. Please!"

  "But—"

  "Just go!" Nessa made her voice as stern as she could. "Do it—now."

  Her head hanging dejectedly, Raven turned toward the terminals, glancing back one more time. Then she trudged away, Brand trailing behind her, clutching her tunic.

  All at once, Brand turned and scrambled back toward Nessa. He stopped a few feet away, staring on her. "Nesss—Ness-ssa," he stammered. "No go."

  His first words. A band tightened around her heart, threatening to squeeze the life from it. She called on all her self-control to hold back the tears.

  "Oh, Brand, Chase will be so proud to know you spoke." Pressing against the wall for support, she forced a smile. "But you have to go, so you'll be safe. Chase wants you to."

  Raven came up behind Brand and took his hand. "We love you, Nessa," she said, the truth of her words shining in her eyes. "We'll never forget you."

  No one, not even Jarek, had ever said those words to Nessa.

  She would never hear them again.

  She could hardly see Raven and Brand's precious faces through the tears slipping down her face now. "I love you, too. Now go. Please go. And be good for Sabin."

  Raven nodded and took Brand's hand. He went, but kept his head turned toward her. "Nessa," he said again.

  Trembling with fatigue and emotion, she watched until the children reached the end of the terminal counter. They took their masks off and stood there dutifully. She looked around, noting a recessed entry about fifteen meters away. Edging along the wall, she worked her way to the corner of the entryway to wait there.

  She longed to sink to the ground and rest, but then she wouldn't be able to see the children. Digging deep, s
he found the strength to remain standing, supported by the wall. She didn't have to wait long. Sabin appeared a short while later, fortunately coming through another entrance. He looked around the tram area, his dark brows drawn together. He didn't notice the children, but Raven knew him. Nessa had refreshed her memory with his picture, kept in Chase's personal computer file.

  Sabin looked down with a start when Raven tugged on his flightsuit. He leaned forward and listened intently for a moment. Taking the com unit from Raven, he glanced up, scanning the CTC. Nessa slipped around the corner, then peered back around. Sabin was reading the message. He looked around the terminal again, then squatted by the children and talked with them. Raven replied, while Brand kept his usual focus on the ground.

  Assured that she'd done the best she could, Nessa exited the building. Now, if she could only make it to Santerra in time.

  She managed to get on the next tram to her landing bay, and sank gratefully into the seat. She forced herself to remain awake on the ride to the bay. She would have plenty of time to rest on the trip to Santerra.

  She made her way slowly from the tram drop-off to Chase's ship, heaving a sigh of relief when she finally reached it. Stumbling inside, she closed the hatch and pulled her mask off. Have to stay alert just a little longer, she told herself, limping toward the cockpit.

  She punched the entry pad and the panel slid open. Starting in, she halted abruptly when she saw the stunner pointed at her. Looking up, she came face to face with Chase.

  "So, we meet again, you scheming liar."

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  "Chase!" Nessa gasped, feeling the blood drain from her face. Not trusting her trembling legs, she clutched the entry frame for support.

  "Nessa!" Chase mocked. "You seem surprised to see me. I can't imagine why, this being my ship and all."

  Logical thought scattered. She met his scathing glare, knowing she'd find no mercy from him. "I'm sorry."