Forever One

by L. F. Hampton

  Lairdi, one of the smiling twins, now languished against the cell bars near the door. He cocked his head and grinned a wicked, toothy welcome at the inquisitive lizard. It edged closer.

  Popi, the quieter sibling, suddenly wrapped a massive arm through the bars and snagged the Xeetag’s head in a twisting armlock complete with cell bars. Quickly working together, Lairdi, with cold deliberation, the smile gone from his face, snapped the lizard’s neck with a flip of his massive hard fist. The battle done and over so swiftly, the group hoped the Xeetag’s collective mind didn’t get a clear message of the circumstance. If their luck held, no one would know what happened, and, if no one suspected, perhaps, no one would send reinforcements. That was expecting a lot of luck, too much in her opinion. “Hurry!” she snapped.

  Tyrei had stopped his mock battle with Batla. At least, she thought they had only acted. It was hard to tell since both puffed with battle teeth and claws still extended. Under her hard stare, their grips on each other’s shoulders did finally drop although both still glared. She tried a glare of her own and received a reluctant compliance from the dusty duo. She decided that it wasn’t worth the effort to reprimand them and instead praised them. “Nicely done, warriors. Now, how do we get out?” One of the twins, Lairdi, she thought, grinned and dangled the blinking control bar he had taken from the dead Xeetag. He swung it back and forth while giving a sly smile and a button punch. Their cell clinked open.

  Chuckling, Tyrei said, “Very nice work, indeed.” He stooped, searching the Xeetag for more weapons, but she noted that he didn’t touch the scaly hide. With identical efficiency, the twins helped remove a long curved blade and the guard’s laser rifle. Only a short dagger was hidden in the lizard’s ammo belt.

  Tyrei wiped his hand on his thigh. He grimaced as if even that touch of Xeetag repelled him then he kicked the limp body out of the way. Then, just for good measure, he added one more solid boot thump. Cayla felt like doing the same but knew the dead creature wouldn’t feel it. Besides, she’d probably break a toe, and her warriors didn’t need the added burden of carrying her. Thank goodness, she had gained some strength by distancing herself from Vadyn—some but not a lot. She felt as weak as a day-old kitten, wobbly and dazed.

  The ground heaved. More dust rained down from the ceiling again.

  “Come on. Hurry!” She blinked dirt from her eyes and motioned for the twins to lead. Tyrei took her arm, and she willingly let him. Batla brought up the rear. The silent twins worked together with their special hand signals and gestures. As quietly and as quickly as they could, they traveled a long, winding, underground corridor dimly lit with faint glow lights. Cayla expected the ugly lizard-men to appear around every corner, but, so far, so good. The unstable floor shook again with sharp tremors. Cracks split walls. Existing fissures widened. The group, smothering coughs from the drifting dust, dodged falling mortar and rock. The black dust and roaring noise almost betrayed them. Only the clatter of metal buckets alerted the twins to a returning Xeetag’s approach. Frantic, they signaled to the rest with silent hand jerks. The group dived for opposite sides of the corridor. Batla took the side of the twins while Tyrei pressed Cayla against the other wall. Her heart again took up its jacked rhythm.

  Still in their silent communication, the twins waited, one on each side of Batla. When the dinner guard turned the blind corner in the narrow corridor, they attacked. Again she swelled with prideful approval in their efficient warrior precision. Their concise movements were a deadly choreography—a ballet of death. Vadyn had been just as proficient. The memories of his battles again became clearer to her. He had needed to be just as fiercely savage as these warriors. How wrong she had been to judge him so harshly. Gods, she hoped to make up for all her failures, if they ever got out of this alive. She didn’t feel any remorse as she watched her lieutenants kill.

  Popi efficiently snapped the lizard’s neck. Lairdi slit its soft throat. The two were certainly the best fighters she ever knew—outside of Vadyn. She pushed the thought of him down and tried to focus on the job at hand. She would find him soon. The twins had effectively managed to grab the supplies the guard carried. The soft clang of the water bucket and the gurgle of the Xeetag’s last breath were the only sounds in the dim and dusty tunnel. And not a drop of Xeetag blood scored the black bread’s surface. She was sure that the lizard never knew what hit it, let alone manage to get a message off to its collective consciousness. She rested her head wearily back against the stone wall. Deep breathing restored her. She needed more strength than what she had at the moment, but she dared not take any more from Vadyn. She dared not open their link for fear of never blocking it again.

  Tyrei moistened a dry piece of the hard bread that had been their diet for far too long in water and held it to her mouth. She waved it away, looking at the stain spreading under the green reptile.

  “Eat, ly’teal. Please. For the child. For the el’kota.” Tyrei urged her, pleading with his eyes as well as his words. It was amazing how soft this fierce warrior could look when he appealed to her. She thought that even Vadyn would be amazed by his warriors’ gentleness. The thought of his suffering hardened the lump in her throat. She opened her mouth, touched the damp bread, gagged but swallowed. The next bite was easier. She needed her strength for her child, for her mate. Batla knelt next to them with a knee joint crack.

  “We have to move on, Tyrei,” he growled. “We don’t have time for dinner or resting.” As if in agreement, the ground heaved again. More dust rained down the narrow walls of the tunnel. With a scowl, she pushed Batla back and tried to straighten. She nearly wiggled up the wall until Tyrei lent her his arm. But Batla wasn’t finished.

  “I’ll carry her, if you’re too tired.” His growled taunt brought the twins around from their vigilant posts at the corridor’s bend. They stared intently, but, at Tyrei’s slight head shake, they turned back to watching. Again, she wondered if the old warrior would push for a confrontation with Tyrei. Had he forgotten that she, as ly’teal, was leading this group?

  But Tyrei ignored Batla, no doubt, irritating the old warrior even further. She watched Batla’s yellow stare bore into Tyrei’s back while he searched the Xeetag dinner guard for more weapons. She knew, someday soon, those two Kasar would tangle. Batla wanted his position back as first lieutenant. But Tyrei ignored the old veteran and carefully drew the lizard’s weapons. It carried only a shortrange laser pistol and another dagger, but, at least, this was more ammo than the Kasar had when they started. With his tread light and even, Tyrei padded over and handed the pistol to Batla without a word. He put the knife in his belt and gently lifted her in his arms. His hard stare effectively silenced any words the old warrior had to say. Tyrei even ignored her smothered protest. She didn’t have the strength to give another.

  Through the drifting dust, Tyrei nodded a signal for the twins to proceed. Even Cayla felt his need for haste. If they didn’t get out of the twisting tunnel soon the ceiling would pancake them to the ground. Up ahead a hazy light, clouded by drifting dust, framed the opening’s arch.

  The warrior pair halted in the shadows near the entrance of the bunker. No other Xeetag guards seemed to lie in wait for them, but they jerked back into the darkness just the same. Cayla didn’t understand until the sound of heavy feet alerted her. A group of fleeing lizards passed in a flurry of activity. Again, the twins waited, and she blessed their efficiency. Long valued as lieutenants in the el’kota’s personal guards, the twin warriors knew each move the other made, almost before he made it. Their verbal speech, when they felt the need over their secret hand signals, was always short and to the point, no words wasted. They wasted none now. They nodded the group toward the Xeetag’s landing field—and a beautiful sight.

  Vadyn’s Cobra rested in plain view on a landing pad, but she wondered if it was a cunning trap. It glowed, tempting like a piece of ripe fruit to a starving man. She licked her lips, knowing that the other
s waited for her decision. There was nothing between them and it. But the distance across the open area make them a clear target. Were the Xeetag waiting for them?

  Dalhum, the restless planet, offered its help.

  Deep underground, great stone plates shifted.

  Pressure released with a groan.

  Not much longer.

  Cayla waited for the seismic tremor to pass. The others still watched her. Their quickened breathing, loud in the stillness, was broken only by the rumbling of the ground and the creaking of the prison walls. The quake continued. The shaking did not stop for a long time. Seams and the mortar of the prison tunnel broke. Large blocks of the stone ceiling began to collapse. A roll of choking dust blasted down the corridor like an explosion, covering them all in a sandy disguise. Tyrei protected her with his big hand shading her eyes. Within seconds under the blown debris, the golden Kasars’ fur faded to drabness. Her vivid red gown matched the brown color of the dirty floor. They couldn’t have asked for better camouflage. Now was the time to move, and all she had to do was nod to Tyrei. He pitched his snarl above the noise of creaking wall supports that began giving way. “Move, warriors. Get to the ship quickly.” The blinding, stifling air obscured vision. Cayla suddenly realized Tyrei’s intent. Her heart seized.

  “I’m not leaving without Vadyn!”

  Tyrei set her on her feet and looked sternly into her eyes. His own had gone to determined amber. “Yes, you are leaving, ly’teal. You are leaving as soon as we can get to the ship. We must warn Kasara and then launch a counter attack.” His eyes narrowed with warrior zeal, and he pushed his big face in front of hers to make sure she saw him clearly. Gone was the soft, revered look in his eyes. Only determination remained. “The el’kota said to get you out of here. I am doing just that.”

  “And if I fight you?” Heat flared on her neck. She couldn’t just leave Vadyn behind! She lifted her chin and fisted her hands.

  Tyrei smiled at her—a gentle, proud gesture that exposed his sharp battle fangs. He purred gently, “Then, my brave honored one, we will be forced to carry you, kicking and screaming to the ship.” He waited with one brow raised. Both knew such an incident would draw unwanted Xeetag attention. And she didn’t like the thought of kicking and screaming against her own guards. She remembered Vadyn’s last message. Do what Tyrei says. Go with him. Protect our child. She could only do that now, but she promised herself that she would be back—and soon. She would get her mate. Her vision clouded. Her throat ached, the thickened muscles strained against her voice, but she nodded toward Tyrei.

  “You win.” Upon uttering those words, she sagged weakly against his long warmth. “We will come back for him? Promise,” she whispered softly so that only he heard her weak plea. At his shaggy-headed nod, she began making mental plans to lead an all-out assault on the Xeetag. She would make them pay. And pay dearly for Vadyn’s pain. Tyrei’s own promise rumbled in his chest.

  “We will return, ly’teal. I promise.” Nodding to Batla, he replaced Batla’s pistol with a Xeetag short knife. Then he handed Batla’s short range laser to Cayla. He pulled the other Xeetag knife from his belt and signaled for the group to proceed. The twins carried one laser rifle and one curved sword. She hoped it was enough. Batla led the way behind the attentive Lairdi and Popi while Tyrei placed her between him and the old warrior. She assured them that she could run, at least, the short distance to the Cobra. At the twins’ nod, they raced for the landing pad. Silently, they stumbled across the uneven, trembling ground. Her legs cramped, but she kept plodding ahead. She kept telling herself that the ship wasn’t that much further. Just hurry. Their steps echoed loudly to her ears.

  The Xeetag, unaware of their escape, didn’t see them until they reached the pad where their grounded Cobra rested in the Xeetag’s open starship hangar. Finally alerted, the lizards fired. Laser scores zipped past them. But the three lizard guards fired wide in panic. Their shots zinged off the Cobra’s thick skin. The Kasar lieutenants roared and rushed the Xeetag. Within seconds, the twins reached the startled trio, dispatching the lizard-men amid blood-splattered slashes and harsh growls. With her heart in her throat, she watched as wounds ripped across the twins, but neither slowed. They quickly shoved the bodies aside, sweeping up more stolen laser rifles, tossing one to Tyrei and Batla. Her palms itched for a new weapon, for her pistol had died. Damn it! She finally snagged a rifle from Tyrei’s hands. He gave her a narrowed frown but relinquished the weapon under her glare. More Xeetag entered the hangar.

  Again, red laser charges laced the air, scorching with ozone. Tyrei pushed her ahead of him without a word. She opened her mouth to protest but felt him flinch. A laser scored a burn across his shoulder. She smelled the scorched flesh, but Tyrei only roared defiance and pushed her harder without stopping. Adrenaline surged through her, and she screamed throat-aching curses. And, she fought with every ounce of her strength. Every lizard in her sights was one less to torment Vadyn.

  Finally the fighting was over. They regained their ship, and within moments, they launched the Cobra. She heard the snarls of complaint from the twins as they realized their instruments had been tampered with and nearly destroyed in the Xeetag’s clumsy attempt to steal tech knowledge that was superior to their own. Although her frantic heart urged her to stay and rescue Vadyn, she knew that Tyrei was right. They had to warn Kasara. But she would bring more troops back and rescue the el’kota. By now, the Xeetag collective consciousness had to know they were escaping. Their fighters would be launching right behind them. So with her mind governing her actions and her heart breaking, she ordered her warriors away, dry-eyed and fierce. Inside, her heart beat heavily against her chest like a trapped bird fighting to get free.

  On the ground, another planet-jolting tremor passed through the desert world. Dalhum still aided their escape. Delayed by the ground’s treachery, Xeetag fighters launched—too late. Under Cayla’s unnecessary commands, Tyrei steadily pushed the Cobra into hyper-drive. She felt as if he was humoring her and actually doing what he thought best anyway. After all, he was following Vadyn’s last order to get her to safety.

  But, why should the Xeetag bother to chase them? She swallowed against a clogged throat and fought weak knees to remain upright on the bridge. The damned lizards had what they wanted. They had Vadyn. Gods! She couldn’t do this, just leave him behind. She rested her forehead against a rumbling bulkhead, reminding her of the distance that grew greater with each moment that passed. How would she even get the Kasar to follow her back? Why should they follow her, weak girl that she was? “Can’t we go any faster or get a message off?” she snapped. The faster home, the faster back.

  Tyrei grunted at her before banging his fist on the bridge’s equipment. “Com’s link is out,” he growled. Obviously, the Xeetag had sabotaged the transmission when they had raped the bridge’s technology. Had they discovered Kasara’s landing codes as well?

  “LET THEM GO, imbecilesss. They’ll never reach their world in sssuch a damaged ssship. Besides, we will kill them all sssoon anyway.

  “Ready the attack plan. Their essscape mattersss little now.” Turathoom’s thick shoulders shook. Her restrained laughter echoed in the room like the explosions of stone cannon blasts.

  “Where is Ssslavortay?” Her laughter abruptly cut off. In a sudden mood swing, she whirled to face her captains, her big tail thumping the stone.

  As a radio drone reported the absence of communication with the long-range Xeetag space fighters, Turathoom snapped, “Asss sssoon asss the Kasssar world isss oursss, I will kill that incompetent commander. He mussst catch that other ssship. Is that underssstood?” Not waiting for an answer, she stomped away. Her enraged roar rattled the already shaking building. More debris rained down on their heads. The drone Xeetag scattered before Turathoom’s mating frustration as she waddled from the control room. Her rage deepened. She needed a new nest for her unborn children. It had better
be ready soon. Her eggs needed hot sand to harden the tender birth shells, protecting them from injury.

  Kasara had lots of hot sand.

  But Turathoom didn’t need that incompetent Slavortay to fertilize her eggs. She would choose a new mate. One male was just as good as another.

  A drone laborer, late in spotting her, skittered out of sight, all but blindly running before her. His short legs scrambled for hold on the shaking floor. Turathoom snorted in disgust.

  They were all so stupid! She lumbered away to her room, her massive tail dragging behind her. Thankfully, her new toy still afforded lots of entertainment.

  ABOARD THEIR fleeing Cobra, Cayla patiently attended Popi’s superficial wounds. Her heart felt as heavy as a lead weight in her chest, but she shook her head at his jovial response to her care. The twin actually grinned with fierce joy covering his face in a fang-wide grin. No doubt, he rejoiced in the completion of a good fight. Lairdi, his brother, waited at his side, smiling with the same wry enjoyment at their success. Blood dripped from his shoulder wound. She snorted at their inane behavior. Immature children, both of them. With a start, she realized that she had grown to love them all as if they were her very own family; her brothers or—she looked at the grizzled Batla—maybe her grandfather. Her family. And in a way they were. She was their ly’teal, their queen. She just hoped she would prove worthy of their trust. A sickness rested inside her throat. Vadyn? She called him again but received no answer, just as she had called many times before and with the same results. She fought back grief and kept her head down, busy tending wounds. Popi told a joke and actually laughed during her ministrations. She swatted him, but, again, he just laughed.