“The wormhole could have spat us out anywhere,” she said.
“The Kantos generated it.”
“Yes.” A worry for another time. The Eon had experimented with wormhole technology, but they couldn’t generate one large enough to swallow a starship. That the Kantos could was very upsetting.
“It’s an aquatic planet,” Donovan said. “Mostly water, but there are a few chains of rocky, mountainous islands.”
Okay, that didn’t sound too bad.
“There’s some volcanic activity, and the ocean is teeming with life signs. Big ones.”
She wrinkled her nose. Not great, but nothing too concerning.
“There are some very small settlements. One more technologically advanced location. It’s heavily fortified, has a spaceport, and it’s pumping some sort of energy into the atmosphere.”
Now, a shiver ran down Airen’s spine. No, it couldn’t be.
“Airen? I’m getting pretty good at reading your blank looks, and I know something’s up.”
“We can’t go there.”
“We have no choice. It’s the only option—”
“I know what this planet is. We’re well outside of Eon space.”
“What is it?”
“Oblivion.” She swallowed. “It’s a prison planet.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Prison planet?”
“The most brutal one I know. Several systems dump their worst of the worst here. The oceans are filled with genetically-engineered creatures designed to keep the prisoners under control. When the prisoners aren’t slaughtering each other.”
Another laser volley hit, and they both jerked. There were more alarms and more clouds of smoke. Airen coughed.
“They have some sort of security net in place around the planet. It’s a bad place, Donovan.” She coughed again and another alarm started ringing like crazy. “We’ve lost our last engine!”
The ship spun, the dizzying roll throwing her back in her seat.
Oblivion rose up in front of them—dark and forbidding.
“It’s Oblivion or the Kantos,” Donovan said. “And I don’t think we have a choice anymore.”
They hit the planet’s atmosphere, flames flaring up over the viewscreen. The ship shook so hard that Airen felt like her bones were breaking.
Beside her, Donovan grunted.
Ahead, the ocean came into focus. It was all dark-blue water, with enormous, white-topped waves.
In the distance, she spotted some rocky islands—long, narrow mountains pointing up like a predator’s teeth.
“I can’t…control the ship.” She fought desperately to slow their descent.
“We can’t—”
Whatever he was about to say was cut off.
They hit the water with a huge splash.
Metal crunched, and they were both tossed hard between the seats and harnesses.
The ship’s momentum carried them toward the closest island, the rocky beach rushing closer and closer.
Cren, they were going to hit the rocks.
“Donovan.” She reached for his hand.
His fingers closed on hers.
Then there was a massive crash, and then…nothing.
* * *
Donovan swallowed a groan.
Damn, he hurt all over. It reminded him of his Space Corps Academy survival training sessions. The instructors had delighted in putting the recruits through hell. He shifted gingerly, and realized he was hanging upside down, his head throbbing.
He opened his eyes and blinked, every muscle tensing.
He was hanging upside down from a tree.
It only took seconds for him to take stock. A chill wind blew over him. He was tied to a leafless tree that had slick, black bark, and he was hanging from his ankles like a slab of meat.
His arms were free, his fingers numb. One of his eyes was swollen shut, and he felt the stickiness of drying blood on his face.
Careful to avoid drawing attention to himself, he looked around.
He was tied up at the edge of some rough, makeshift camp. A few men sat around a fire, all of them wearing ragged layers of clothes—torn fabric, furs.
They were on a rocky shore, the waves roughly lapping the beach. Light glinted off something in the distance. Metal. He sucked in a breath, taking in the ruins of their shuttle.
It was a crumpled, destroyed mess.
Damn, he was lucky he was still alive. His gut cramped. Where was Airen?
Panic was like acid in his throat. He didn’t see her. Donovan wasn’t used to panicking. God, fuck, had she made it? Had these assholes hurt her? His heart thundered. Where was she?
Suddenly, he realized the nearby conversation had stopped. He glanced over and saw the men looking his way.
A big one rose and sauntered over. His leather-and-fur boots crunched on the rocky ground. The man had rough, orange skin, almost reptilian looking. A coat made from some animal was wrapped around his big body.
“You’re alive.” The alien had a deep, rumbling voice like thunder.
“Yeah, feel like shit, though.”
The alien smiled, showing teeth that looked like sharp, broken points. Up close, Donovan saw the man also had tattoos on his skin—rough, uneven ones. They hadn’t been done by any artist or expert.
They looked like prison tattoos.
“My name is Crux. Welcome to Oblivion.”
“We weren’t meant to land here. We were shot down.”
“Sorry to hear that.” Crux grunted. “Anyone who ends up on Oblivion never gets off.”
Well, Donovan had no plans to stay, but he wisely kept his mouth shut.
The alien pointed to the purple-blue sky. “They have a planetary security field. Lets ships in, but not out. Only way out is through the prison command base, where the wardens are.” Crux smiled, showing jagged teeth. “The wardens don’t let anyone off.”
Donovan’s stomach dropped. Fuck. “I wasn’t alone—”
“Oh, we know.”
The way the man drawled the words made Donovan’s blood run cold. “Where is she?” Be alive, Airen.
“She’s still breathing.”
Donovan ground his teeth together. He knew he had to play the game to get himself and Airen out of here alive. “So, you got any food you can share?”
The man eyed him for a second, then pulled out a giant knife.
Donovan tensed, then Crux reached up and sliced through the bindings at Donovan’s ankles.
He hit the ground, pausing for a second to catch his breath. He ignored all the aches and pains rising up through his body. He rubbed his sore ankles, then rose, stretching his back.
“You look like a strong one. A good addition to our clan.”
“Sounds good.” Donovan forced his voice to stay even.
“We all look out for each other. Hunt, fight, survive. It’s necessary in this place. Alone, you won’t last very long.”
Donovan nodded. Together, they moved toward the fire.
“My companion…” Donovan began.
Crux’s lime-green eyes narrowed. “Women are good for one thing, friend.” The alien’s ugly grin made it clear what he thought that was. “I like them screaming and clawing under me.”
Donovan barely restrained himself from knocking the man out. “She’s mine.”
“Not anymore,” Crux said.
Donovan stiffened.
The alien laughed, and slapped Donovan’s back, hard. “You still have a chance to claim her back.”
“Oh?” Keep your cool.
“Yeah, in the hunt.”
Donovan followed the man’s gaze, and his heart swelled about three times its size. He spotted Airen in a small cage. She was crouched, naked, her fingers gripping the dark wooden bars. She glared at them.
He sucked in a breath. She was alive. The bastards had stripped her, but she was alive.
Play the game. Get Airen, then get the fuck away from here.
Donovan glanced up. He knew the Kanto
s would come. And he and Airen couldn’t afford to be anywhere near the crash site when they did.
“Okay.” He turned toward the fire. “What’s the hunt?”
“Any females we find, we set them loose. Then we hunt ’em down.” Crux laughed. “Whoever catches the prize gets to claim her. Then she’s yours to fuck as you please.”
Donovan breathed through his nose. You can’t kill him. Not yet. “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.” He tried to keep his tone light.
“What’s a horse?”
“Big animal on my planet.”
“Well, we have food and drink. Come meet the others and rest up, so you can see if you can claim back your woman.”
Chapter Ten
Airen nursed her fury.
She was locked up, naked, and her captors were drinking and eating like they didn’t have a care in the world.
And Donovan was there laughing with them. After that first long look, he hadn’t even glanced her way once.
A cold wind rushed over her and she shivered. She was cold, naked, and hungry. She still had some aches and fading bruises from the crash, but thankfully, by some stroke of luck, she wasn’t badly injured. Her helian was healing the worst of her minor scrapes.
She shivered again. She could give herself her armor, but she didn’t want to give her helian abilities away to her captors.
She dragged in a deep breath. Donovan was clearly gaining the criminals’ trust, but she was still mad at the situation. She didn’t like being naked, exposed. She didn’t remember much from the crash, just waking up to rough hands tearing her clothes off. She’d been groggy and disoriented, and thankfully her helian had dissolved her armor before the criminals had found them.
Before she could fight back, she’d been stuffed in a cage.
When she’d come to again, she’d seen Donovan hanging from a tree. She bit her lip. At first, she’d thought he was dead, and it had hurt. Her chest had felt ripped open. She’d been damn glad when he’d woken up.
Airen had growing feelings for the stubborn, tough Terran. Donovan was honorable, and didn’t hide how much he admired and desired her. She squeezed her eyes closed, a mix of emotion churning in her belly. Falling for Donovan was almost scarier than Oblivion.
You’d better remember he doesn’t believe in the long-term, Airen, and focus on getting off this prison planet alive.
She glanced up at the sky. The distant sun was lowering toward the watery horizon, and the temperature was already dropping. She guessed Donovan was waiting for the right moment to make a move.
She counted the group of criminals. There were too many of them. Even if she and Donovan were free and had weapons, the men would still overpower them.
The criminals’ voices rose, getting louder and more ribald. She tensed. Something was going on. They were standing now, nudging each other and glancing her way. One grabbed his crotch, threw his head back, and howled at the sky.
She sensed the hyped-up energy, and she watched as they gathered in a crowd at the edge of the jungle. The trees on this planet lacked color; all grays, blacks, and dark browns.
Donovan looked her way and their gazes locked. She saw the determined glint in his eyes, and he gave her a small nod.
Two men broke away from the crowd, lumbering in her direction. Their big frames were covered in furs.
“Hope you can run, female,” one drawled.
The other criminal laughed.
They opened the cage, and one reached in and yanked her out.
She ignored the blatant way they looked at her naked body. She was an Eon warrior and she wasn’t afraid.
She fought not to look over their shoulders at Donovan. She reminded herself she wasn’t alone.
“I want to win this one,” the other man drawled, his ugly face alight. “She’s skinny, but she needs breaking.”
Lovely. “Win?” she said in a bored tone.
“Yeah, it’s time for the hunt.” The big one dragged her across the rocky ground to the edge of the jungle. The jagged stones pricked her bare feet.
The men in the crowd jumped and rocked. Preparing for something.
“The rules are simple,” the alien said. “You run, and whoever catches you, claims you.”
She stiffened. She could take him down, but even with Donovan’s help, she couldn’t take them all down.
The alien leaned closer, his fetid breath washing over her face. “And your new owner can do whatever he wants to you.” He reached out and cupped her breast.
She knocked his arm away, and when he swung to slap her, she dodged.
Don’t fight him. Don’t show your skills. Not yet. If they chased her, she could pick them off one by one in the trees.
And Donovan would come for her.
The alien growled. “This should be fun.” He shoved her. “Now run.”
Airen shot one last look toward the crowd, then she sprinted into the jungle.
Dark leaves slapped at her, and the wind picked up. She ran through the trees and pushed thick vines out of her way. She spotted a trailing vine lying across the path, short spikes tipped with noxious-looking, neon-green fluid. She leaped over it.
She had to get far enough away so that she could form her armor. Not yet, because they might be watching her. She’d seen the battered binocs resting on the alien’s belt.
It didn’t help that night was falling, the shadows under the trees growing.
A horn sounded—long and deep. Then she heard shouts and whistles in the distance.
Her mouth firmed. Her “hunters” were coming.
Airen sprinted hard. Suddenly, her leg went down through a hole in the ground. It was filled with slushy brown water and full of rotting leaves.
Ugh. Her foot was stuck in some mud at the bottom and she yanked, pulling it out.
She was losing time.
She took off again, keeping one eye on the ground to make sure she didn’t fall in any other holes.
She heard a noise. A twig snapping. She swiveled and frowned. She saw nothing through the leaves. Surely none of the criminals had caught up with her yet, but they did have the advantage of knowing the terrain better than she did.
Keep moving. She turned and had taken two steps when she was tackled from behind.
She hit the ground hard, a heavy body on top of her. She smelled rancid breath and rank body odor.
“You’re mine now, girly.”
* * *
Donovan’s heart was pumping as he ran hard. He leaped over a fallen log of black, twisted wood.
Nearby, he heard the shouts of the other criminals. They were fanning out, crashing through the vegetation like a pack of wolves.
Where the hell was Airen?
He slapped through some glowing vines. Then he heard the sounds of a struggle. He cocked his head. To the right. He plowed into the trees, picking up speed.
He broke out of the vegetation and saw Airen wrestling with a man in ragged clothes. The man growled, showing a mouth with no teeth.
Suddenly, Airen shoved him off her and rose. Her armor formed, scales flowing up over her slim body.
The criminal stared at her, face shocked, and made a choked sound. He stumbled to his feet.
She formed a short sword on her arm and it glowed with a green edge.
The criminal pulled a large, jagged blade off his belt. It looked like it was made of scavenged metal.
He rushed her.
Airen cut him down with one swipe.
“You all right?” Donovan jogged over to her.
She nodded.
He took a second to yank her close and pressed his face to her hair. Her arms clamped around him.
“Can we get out of here?” she said.
“Good idea. I keep expecting the Kantos to arrive.”
Green-black eyes met his. “They won’t be far away.”
Then, because he needed it, needed to touch her and reassure himself that she was okay, he pulled her even closer. His lips touched hers, a g
entle, searching kiss. “I’m sorry about what those assholes did to you.”
“I’m fine now.” She leaned into him for a second, reaching up to stroke his swollen eye. “When I saw you in that tree, I thought you were dead.”
“I’m pretty hard to kill.”
She let out a choked laugh. “We need to go.”
Donovan reluctantly released her and went down on one knee. He grabbed the criminal’s sword. It was poorly made, the weight all wrong, but it was better than nothing.
With Airen by his side, they took off running. Shouts echoed not too far away.
All of a sudden, a body dropped from a tree. It hit Donovan, and they crashed to the ground. His attacker’s heavy weight knocked the air out of him.
Fuck, that hurt. He wheezed.
Gasping, he squirmed beneath his attacker, turning to get a glimpse of the criminal on top of him—a younger male, wiry and strong, with reptilian eyes that had elongated pupils.
Suddenly, the criminal rolled off Donovan and sprang at Airen.
Damn, he moved fast.
She kicked him and they fought. They traded several blows and kicks, but the criminal was so quick, most of Airen’s blows hit air. The criminal swiped out with a knife he pulled out of nowhere. Airen spun and slashed with her sword.
The man leaped back, then moved again, blindingly fast.
Donovan pushed up, sucking in air and strode closer.
The criminal’s knife hit Airen’s armor. Donovan’s heart thumped, but her armor protected her. She dodged to the side.
Donovan got close, and with a roar, he swung his sword, but the criminal was gone like smoke.
Fuck. The asshole was too quick.
The criminal danced around, taunting them. He darted toward a tree and pushed off of it. He sprinted toward Airen again.
She didn’t move, her face set, her sword held up.
“You’ll never catch me.” The criminal had a high-pitched voice. “I’ll claim you, female, and kill your man and drink his blood.” He flicked out a forked tongue.
Airen stayed still, watching the man with a laser-like gaze.
He rushed at her.
Her sword flashed. She impaled the man on her blade.
Claim of Eon: Eon Warriors #6 Page 8