A beep filled the air before an image came on the screen. Heather scrambled to stay out of sight. “Sir, you’re needed at headquarters.”
“Now?”
“Yes, sir. We just got a communiqué from your sister.”
He glanced at his mate. “On my way.”
The screen went black.
“Why didn’t you just think your clothes back on?” He was fully dressed again.
“I’m not as good at it as you are. My brain said ‘hide’, not ‘clothes’.” She watched him for a moment. “You’re not going, are you? You know it’s a trap.”
“One I’m not supposed to know about.” He touched her face. “I have to do this.”
“He’s too dangerous.”
“My heart, I felt the same way when you knew you were going to be kidnapped. I know he’s going to try to ambush me, and I’ll be ready. I’ll be back before you know it, and we’ll make sure that bed is the right one for us.” He pulled her to him, lowering his mouth to hers. His tongue begged entrance which she gladly gave. The fruity flavor of the wine they had shared with his mother after dinner still lingered. He drank his fill of her then broke the kiss. “There’s more where that came from when I get back.”
He walked out into the night and headed for the security office. His senses told him he was safe enough at the moment. Walking into the main office he found no one there. Oh, that couldn’t be good. He had his weapon with him, but had a feeling that it wasn’t going to do him much good.
Methodically he worked his way from room to room. They had to be here somewhere. Just as he crossed through another archway his world went black.
Chapter 15
Heather contacted the people in her team the moment she felt Storm fall unconscious. Not being able to touch his mind frightened her a lot, but she tried to stay focused so she could get him back.
She called them to meet her at the rooms Storm and her shared at the palace. Before she left she spoke to the computer. “Computer, follow him. Don’t lose my mate. I need to bring everyone home.”
“His vital signs are good and the ship he has been loaded into has left the atmosphere.”
“Thank you. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Her snug fitting uniform helped keep her focused. Once everyone had assembled in the main room she filled them in on what was going on.
“You can’t go.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry Heather, but you know the deal,” said Fridon. “Anyone involved with the extraction of family isn’t allowed on the assignment anymore. The commander put that out after your kidnapping.”
“Which one of you is going to stop me?” She looked at each of them, daring them to try. “If I have to take all of you on at the same time, I will.”
“We know what you’re capable of, Heather,” Fridon said. The two of them had bonded after he had been wounded because of her. “And none of us will stop you, but the commander will not be happy with any of us.”
“I know, but he will know who was in charge. I’ll make sure of it.” She laid out a plan she hoped would work, and sent them to get whatever supplies they might need for the journey. They would all meet up within the next thirty minutes near the main hanger where Storm landed their vessel.
Heather hurried back to the underground compound. “Have you been able to keep tabs on Storm?”
“Ialog did use the scrambler, but I was able to get direction and speed before they took off. With the information I have from what the doctor had given us I have the data to show you where the ship should be going. I believe I can pinpoint the location once your ship is in close enough to the planet they are on.”
“And how do you plan on doing that?” Heather didn’t think her link to the computer would work that far away.
“There is a way to transport me. There is a portable unit I can be downloaded to.” A section of the main computer slid aside so she could see the unit it spoke of. “Put it in the alcove I have highlighted for you and we’ll begin the process.”
“What will happen if this unit is destroyed once I download you?” She pulled the unit out. “Will I lose you completely?”
“No. Only the version in this system. Majority of my memory will remain here but you will have what you need with you.”
“Good. I’ve gotten used to you now. Sure would hate to lose you.” Heather loaded the unit into the slot the computer recommended and waited for it to download. Once done, she slung it over one shoulder and headed to the hanger where the small ship waited. It was the same one she and Storm had used before. The thought of her sitting in the chair without him hurt, but he had shown her how to fly it, so she felt better using this one more than any other ship.
She attached the computer to the main frame of the ship and set up communication so the computer could control the ship. “You have the data on the people I wish to bring with me?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” She started the engines. “We have no clearance to leave so make sure you get out undetected. I’m going to be in enough trouble over this, if we’re not successful it will just compound the problem.”
She felt the ship lift off. “Once you’re in orbit you have permission to bring my team aboard. I have spoken to them and made them aware of what I wanted to do so they’ll be ready to be transported up.”
The moment the ship hit orbit her security team stood in front of her.
“I know this ship is small so it will be a bit tight for us, but our destination isn’t far. Our goal is to retrieve Storm. There’s a lot I can’t tell you about what you might see and hear, but I’m sure you’re used to that.” She gave them a sad smile as she turned to the computer. “You have his coordinates?”
“Yes. We’re following the trail at a discreet distance.”
“What was that?” asked Fridon.
“It’s a prototype.”
“Really? Can I get a look at it?
“Fridon, you know I can’t let you do that.” She looked at him.
“Sorry. Habit.” He put his hands up in front of him, knowing his mistake. “You know how I enjoy tinkering with computers.”
“Let’s get ready,” said Heather. “I have research for all of you to look at.”
****
Kuarto walked into his office and stopped short when he spotted the body lying on the table near his work station. Toki stopped right behind him.
“What?”
“It seems we have company.” He pointed to the table as he tried to shield her reaction from the camera.
She peeked around his shoulder to see her brother lying there. “Is he dead?”
Kuarto pulled out his scanner. “No. He is in deep stasis.”
“And why is he here? I thought all you needed was a sample of his DNA, not him.”
“I felt this way you can’t tell me you didn’t get enough sample material,” said Al. “Find out why he was able to impregnate Heather.”
Toki practically jumped out of her skin when she heard Al’s voice very close to her. She hadn’t expected him to be there.
Kuarto nodded. He wasn’t happy about the situation. The one person he thought would be able to rescue them was lying on the table. This put an unwanted kink in their plan.
The uniform incasing Storm was just like the one Toki had been wearing when he found her. “I’m going to need something to cover him when I remove this uniform.”
Toki didn’t question as she handed him a cloth from a shelf near her station.
He pressed the seam of the uniform and watched as it opened for him. Draping the cloth over Storm’s waist, he pulled the uniform from under him. He held it out to Toki. “Can you do something with this?”
She took the uniform, folded it up, and placed it on a shelf. He noticed she kept herself from looking at him, probably afraid she would give something away.
He took a blood sample and ran it through his equipment. He thought of talking to her, but decided to leave her be. Al was still in th
e room.
“You two always this quiet?”
“When we’re focused, yes.” Kuarto looked up from his computer, waiting for his readings to come back. How was he going to be able to stall with Storm here? His DNA would fertilize the egg before they could escape with it.
“And your mail-order bride seems a little uncomfortable with our guest.” His intense gaze rested on her.
“Well, he’s naked and the cloth isn’t really covering anything properly.” She pointed to the table. “Wouldn’t you be a little uncomfortable? The only naked body I’ve seen has been Kuarto’s and I don’t want to compare.”
Kuarto tried not to choke on his laughter. “You can look if you wish. I’m sure I’ll do okay.”
“Really? So you’ve already done the math?” She arched a brow at him.
“I’m just saying I should be able to measure up.” The computer made a slight ping sound. He went to the screen to see what the data said. The information made him frown. “This can’t be right.”
He walked to Storm’s side, pulled another sample, and ran it again.
“Something wrong?”
“Um, no. I think the sample got contaminated so I want to run it again.”
“How?” Al walked to his station and looked over his shoulder. “This is all new equipment.”
“I’ve had it happen before. Just being cautious.” He ran the same test as before, and got the same readings. Now Storm’s readings were changing. He had read about Heather’s device, how her DNA started to change when she met Storm, and the device began its disintegration.
Everything was off the chart and he had no idea what to do about it. “I’m not going to be able to find out why he was able to get her pregnant.”
“Why not?”
“Look for yourself.”
Al looked at the readings on the screen showing constant changes to his DNA sequence. His changes were happening a lot faster than Heather’s did. There was no evidence of any sort of inhibiter, so why wasn’t this detected before? And why was it happening now? What set it off?
He looked at the small machine sitting on Storm’s forehead. It was what kept him under without pumping chemicals into his system so his DNA wouldn’t get contaminated. Could it? “How is that keeping him under? Could it be what was causing all of this?”
****
Heather rested in the command chair, slipping into slumber without planning it.
“Heather.”
She heard Storm’s voice so clear in her head. She spun to see where it came from. He stood behind her looking very confused. “What happened?”
“You never came home, my heart.”
“So where am I?”
“I don’t know yet. I’m assuming you’re with Kuarto and Toki.” She tried to move toward him but found herself rooted to the spot. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get closer. “We’re following you through your computer insert, but Al used the scrambler so we have to get closer before we can pinpoint your exact location. Don’t you know where you are?” She didn’t like this at all.
“No. I was in the main security area and it was empty so I knew I was in trouble. I don’t remember anything since then.”
“Could you be unconscious?”
“I am able to join you in your dreams so I’d say no. Maybe kept under by something so I can’t cause trouble.”
“Okay. I can check with the computer to see what Al might be using. Maybe there is a way to beat it.”
“Don’t leave. Not yet. I don’t know if I can come back again.”
“I will find you, my heart.”
“No.” Anger laced his words. “You need to protect you and our children.”
“My mate is in trouble and needs me. He would do the same thing for me. He has done the same thing for me.”
“Yes, but he isn’t carrying our children.” He watched the determination on her face and knew she wouldn’t back down. “At least tell me you didn’t come alone, and that you have a plan.”
“Our team is with me. You know they are the best.”
“And the plan?”
“I was trained by the best. I would never disappoint my trainer. He is everything to me.”
He tried to reach for her and found he couldn’t move either. “Why can’t I touch you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it has something to do with the dream state we’re in. I haven’t been able to move here either.” She wished she could. “I have tried to touch your mind several times before, but you didn’t respond. If you hadn’t contacted me I’d probably be frantic soon.”
“In other words, you were already frantic, and this helped.”
“Yes,” she smiled at him. “A lot. At least I know you’re safe for the moment.”
“Have you tried contacting your brother? See if he knows what is going on?”
“And what if Al didn’t take you to where he’s been keeping them? Didn’t want to give our link away until I was sure. I have to assume Al is watching them like a hawk.”
“Have you asked the computer for updates from the recordings? You might find what you need there.”
“I’ve been so worried about you I didn’t even think about checking on that. Besides, the team is with me now, and I know you don’t want them to know that much about the computer.”
“And what do you mean by that?”
She knew he wasn’t going to like what she said next, “I brought it with me. Before you get too mad understand the computer suggested it. The only way to track you with Al using that scrambler was to bring the underground computer’s tracking device with us. It had a portable unit I could tie into the main computer of your ship.”
“So you’re flying my ship as well?”
“Yes. I also took off without clearance.”
“Do you know the consequences for that?”
“I do. I have spent time in the brig before. I had to rescue you and time was of the essence. I’m willing to pay for my crimes when I get back if it’s going to save my family.” She felt someone touch her shoulder which made her image shift a little.
“You’re going to go now, aren’t you?”
“You will see me soon, my heart, and you can yell at me all you want for everything I’ve done wrong. If I could touch you, my hand would be on your heart, letting you know I want my mate back in one piece, anger and all.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I promise.” Heather opened her eyes and sat up. Fridon knelt next to her. “Your computer is asking for you.”
Heather nodded and swung her feet to the floor. “Computer?”
“I have some new data that you need to see.”
“Not now.” She knew she couldn’t allow any of her team members to see what the computer was capable of. No one had technology like that. It would raise too many questions.
“I can send the data to your link.” Seconds later, she found herself staring at the data Kuarto had been looking at, but it was inside her head so no one else could see it.
“This doesn’t make any sense. His DNA can’t be changing.” She could hear her brother’s voice in her head.
Storm’s DNA was changing? Heather could see the information Kuarto was looking at like she was the one reading it. Why would it start changing now? Then she realized this wasn’t something she needed to worry about now. She needed to know where her mate was, bring him home. Once that was done they could find out what was going on with him.
The problem was she couldn’t get a visual on the room. Her brother kept staring at the screen instead of looking around the room. Finally Kuarto looked up at the table and Heather saw the prone form covered with the cloth. Her heart stopped for just a moment. She’d know that body anywhere. The image stopped and she found several set of eyes watching her.
“You okay?”
“Yes.” Heather smiled, happy to know she had what she wanted. “We have three to bring home.”
****
Kuarto stared a
t the data. This just didn’t make any sense. He took another sample, this time setting the tests to see what caused his DNA to start changing.
Toki sensed his frustration. She moved to his side and placed her hand on his shoulder. “You okay?”
Al had left the room in anger when he saw the information on Storm.
“I don’t understand.” Kuarto stared at the screen until the heat of her hand penetrated his concentration. He placed his hand on top of hers when he looked at her concerned face. “I’m fine. It’s just a bit strange, that’s all.”
“What is going on?”
“I’m not real sure. Storm’s DNA is changing and it shouldn’t be.”
“What is he changing into?”
“Have no idea.” He looked back at the screen. “I also don’t know how long this has been going on. Could this be why he and Heather were able to produce? Because their DNA changed?”
“Is Storm sterile now?”
“That came back inconclusive. He’s changing too quickly for the readings to settle.” He leaned back in his chair. “One minute it will show him sterile then the next fertile. Is that what happened? A shift in their DNA made them go from sterile to fertile? I wish I had an old sample to compare this to.” He did, the one he took when they first met. He didn’t remember anything like this going on when he first looked at their DNA but he couldn’t let Al know he had that with him. He needed to keep the egg unfertilized as long as he could. Give Heather time to find them.
He knew she was probably the only one who would be looking for them.
“Or you could ask Al to wake him and ask Storm yourself.” She looked at her brother’s unconscious form.
“Al would never do that. You know how intimidating the man is when he is awake.” He wasn’t sure why she suggested it since she knew Ialog wouldn’t go along with it either.
“Just thought I’d suggest it.”
He pulled up the new changes in Storm’s DNA and studied them. What he wanted to do was get moment by moment readings to see what he was going through every second. Storm wouldn’t want to go along with it but he knew Heather would. She had been through the same thing and had allowed those readings to be recorded.
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