Torque glanced over. “It’s the new model.”
“How can you tell? Power gauge indicates it’s full. How do you work it?”
“See the outline here. Flip open this chamber and keep your thumb pressed to the unlock mechanism on the handle while you fire.”
“And you’re sure it’ll fire?”
“I’m sure.”
“Why would they switch models?” Grady studied the weapon’s controls. “Genetic compatibility is more secure.”
“Convenience would be my guess, given that they have to arm their non-Egesa assassins. Those numbers started to grow at a pretty fast rate there for a while. Access to Xylon weaponry, that would be usable by the highbred traitors and other humanoids serving Daegal, is not as readily available as it used to be.”
“But they haven’t switched their trans-conns. Or have they?”
“No. Not yet. As far as we know. That would be trickier technologically and take a hell of a lot of reprogramming since the entire process is based on genetic reformation. On the weapons, they just had to design a model without the genetic sensor and whatever security they normally had in place protecting it.”
Grady fiddled with the settings then pointed the weapon at the wall and squeezed the trigger. A large portion of the wall fell down and part of the ceiling. Everyone ducked.
“Son of a bitch!” Jaeda stepped back. “Did you really have to do that?”
“I had to test it. Damn, that’s powerful.”
“Readjust the setting,” Torque told him. “Everyone in the facility had to have felt that.”
Kirk came rushing in. “What happened?”
“Dumbass happened,” Torque answered.
Everyone paused and the silence in the room became palpable. Then they all laughed. Jaeda welcomed the release. Even Grady laughed, not taking offense.
Kirk stepped forward. “Look what you opened up.”
Jaeda moved toward the hole. “Is that an elevator shaft?”
Kirk looked down and then up the shaft. “It’s the old freight elevator that I mentioned earlier.”
“So we can get to the armory through there then?” Torque asked. “I see ladders on the sides.”
“Yeah, but we can’t get through the old doors unless we blast them. They were all sealed except the one in the basement. The Egesa will hear any explosions.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Jaeda said. “The control room is blocked from outside video access, so they won’t know what’s going on. And they can’t get in to find out. If we blast the doors into the armory, same story.”
“Only if they were able to close up the armory before the Egesa got to it,” Grady said. “Otherwise we might find ourselves walking right into their hands.”
“Armory security is computer controlled.” Kirk turned to look at the group of them. “It would have activated automatically.”
“Like the auto-activated security in here that failed?” Grady questioned. “Excuse me if I’m skeptical.”
“That was just one system of many. The others worked,” Kirk explained, a snap in his voice.
“We’ll take the chance,” Torque interrupted. “It’s our best option. Certainly better than opening the main door and facing the Egesa head on.” He moved away from the shaft. “The problem is that they now know a blast occurred on this level.” He frowned. “When they hear another blast on the armory level, it won’t take a genius to figure things out, whether they can get in or not. If they think we’re going for the armory to secure weapons and they can’t contain the area, they might just destroy the facility.”
“Wait.” Kirk moved to examine the shaft. “If they don’t know about the freight elevator, instead of figuring out our plans, they might just think the facility is breaking down, especially if we help that concept seem reasonable.”
“What do you mean?” Jaeda asked, not sure where Kirk was going with this idea.
“Sections of this facility are rigged to implode to destroy its technology and data from getting into the hands of our enemies. It’s a last resort kind of thing. We can blow various areas and cause enough confusion that they’d never be able to figure out our movements, especially since we can do it from right here.”
“What?” Jaeda shook her head. “Why didn’t I know any of this? I’m in charge of this fucking place, you know.”
“You didn’t have the scientific clearance. Sorry, Jaeda. The destruct decision fell on me as lead technologist.”
She frowned. “How many people know about this? Will Daegal have access to the information through someone else?”
“Doubtful. General Adair knows. I know. The armory chief knows. That’s all, as far as I’m aware. The armory chief is the one who rigged the whole facility.”
“By himself?” Torque questioned, looking doubtful. “He had to have had a team. So they would know. If any of them were captured—”
“It was team C-618.”
“Damn,” Jaeda whispered.
“What?” Grady asked.
“C-618 was blown up during a test run of an experimental weapon.” Jaeda approached Kirk. She stared right into his eyes. “That was an accident, right? Not a way to get rid of people who knew too much.”
Kirk’s eyes widened. “Yes, of course, it was an accident. You don’t really think—”
“Just checking.” She glanced at Torque, who also glanced at Grady. She believed that Kirk believed it was an accident. The reality? She wasn’t so sure.
“All right,” Torque began, grabbing everyone’s attention. “Let’s put together a plan to get to the armory.”
* * * * *
Planet Earth, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
Temporary Military Command Center
“We’ve received a report that there’s been a massive explosion in the tracking facility in Colorado,” a soldier reported to General Adair. “We’re trying to gather details now. Most communications are still down. We found an old satellite-feed system that is still partially operational, so we’re using that to gather our intel, but it’s patchy at best.”
The general nodded. “Update me when you know more.”
Brianna paced as she moved around the warehouse. “I don’t like sitting here and waiting.” They’d set up a substation—or command center, as the humans called it—within an abandoned supply area. Most of the other military facilities had already been overrun by the Egesa. She was tired and irritable and wanted to get back to the tracking facility in Colorado. With virtually no communication, she felt especially worried about Torque and Leila.
“We’re trying to arrange a helicopter to pick you up, but everything’s being shot down. As it stands, I think it’s best for the both of you to remain here right now. It’s too dangerous. I’ll send extra troops to the tracking facility. It’s important that we secure that area and everything there.” The general turned to talk to another soldier.
She approached Sam. “This is ridiculous. We need to get back to Colorado. We’re of no use here anymore. The serum is being distributed. The virus delivery system is in place. And the military units are coordinated. We need to coordinate with the on-planet warriors and get back up to the ship to offer air support. Halah can’t do that alone. Two preferably three are needed to pilot, handle the weapon controls, and be available for in-flight repairs.”
Sam wrapped his hand around her arm and leaned in close. “Then let’s go. We’ll grab a truck and drive. If we stay off the main roads, the Egesa might not even bother us. It’ll take longer, but we’ll get there.”
“The general will never let us go. Though he’s apparently concerned about securing the tracking facility, he’s already said that he thinks it’s too dangerous for us to try to get to it.”
“The facility is important. It houses information and technology that can’t fall into enemy hands. And we need to save the people inside. Our people. This may be a military operation, Brianna. But now it’s personal too. Follow my lead.”
She nodded and tru
sted in Sam. This was his planet, his people, his rules. For now. Once among the Xylons, she would again take the lead.
Sam stepped away from her. “General, we’re going over to the mess to get something to eat. We’ll be back.”
“Make it quick. As soon as we get communications fully restored, we’ll be able to launch a coordinated global attack, instead of the small raids that are taking place now. I’ll want both your inputs.”
“Yes, Sir.” Sam turned and headed out of the building.
Brianna trailed him. He snatched an assault rifle and a small box off a table on the way out and she did the same. She still had her disruptor with her, but more weapons never hurt. Sam slung the gun over his shoulder and stuffed the box into his jacket pocket. She glanced around then followed his lead, hoping not to look out of place.
He headed toward a large black vehicle. “Get in on the other side,” he told her as he handed her his rifle. “Stow the weapons in the back.”
“You’re going to lose your rank for this.”
“Probably.” Once in the vehicle, he looked around, pulled down a flap, opened a compartment. “Damn it.” Then he pulled down a flap in front and above her. Something fell and he caught it in his hands. “Yes. Keys.” He pulled a belt across his chest. “Strap in.”
She grabbed the strap on her side and locked it into a mechanism on the other side, as she’d seen him do. He pushed one of the keys into a slot, turned it, and the engine roared to life.
A soldier came rushing at them, waving his arms.
“Hold on,” Sam said as he put the vehicle into gear and pulled away at a high rate of speed, the tires screeching.
Brianna looked behind them. “He’s on some sort of comm device.”
Sam glanced in the side mirror. “He’ll be contacting the gate, if the device is functional.” He took them around one of the abandoned warehouses into an unmanned area. “We’ll plow through one of these fences instead.”
“Can they track this vehicle?”
“I don’t know. With everything going on, let’s hope they don’t think it’s worth their time and resources. Despite what the general said about our input here, we’re more useful in the field.”
“I agree. But he’s not just going to let us go.”
“We’ll find out soon enough. I’m more worried about the Egesa than my own military. Brace yourself.”
Brianna held onto the sidearm as Sam drove the vehicle right through the wire fence. It scraped along the vehicle and made a horrendous noise but then they were clear. She breathed a sigh of relief. “How long will it take to get there?”
“A couple of days if we don’t run into any problems, depending on how fast we go and what the condition of the roads are.”
“Go as fast as you can. If the facility is under attack, they might not have that long.” Worry filled Brianna. If she could just contact Halah, then she could have them all materialized back to the orbiter. But her vid-cell had stopped working and Sam hadn’t been able to get through to Jaeda with any of the Earth-based units at the command center. She looked up at the ships in the sky. Where were their people? Earth needed help. Now.
* * * * *
Planet Earth, State of Colorado, U.S.A.
Underground Tracking Facility
Torque examined the energy levels on their weapons. He turned when he felt a presence in the room. Jaeda. “Hey. Is Kirk setting up the charge sequence?”
“Yes. He said that the monitors—the ones that weren’t destroyed—have been switched back on throughout the facility. But not by him.”
“The Egesa are probably trying to figure out where that explosion took place. With luck, they’ll only be able to pinpoint a general locale since they can’t get a direct visual. We’re secure, right?”
“Yes. Because our monitors are separately controlled, Kirk can block them, though he can see out now, which is going to be of great value to us, as long as they remain functional.”
“What about communications?”
“Nothing long range, except to my ships, which are using a separate grid.” She sat down on the couch that was still unfolded into a bed. “Do you really think this is going to work?”
“As long as Daegal thinks what’s stored here is too valuable to destroy the facility, then yeah, I think it’ll work.”
“And if he changes his mind?”
“Then we’ll be shit out of luck. Where’s Grady?”
“He’s studying the plans, so we know exactly how far up to go and where to break through. You know when we break into the armory we’ll probably take some fire. They’ll think it’s the enemy.”
“I know. We’ll need to keep cover as much as possible until you can call out and get their attention and identify us. Whoever’s in there will know who you are, right? Even if they’re low-level personnel.”
“Yes. They’ll know me.”
He set aside the weapons and sat down beside her. “Good. I don’t want to kill anyone that we shouldn’t have to, just to save our lives.”
“You have to give the order that there will be no firing of weapons.”
“I can’t do that, Jaeda.”
“I trust you not to shoot unless forced to. But Grady is volatile. I won’t fire on my own people. I don’t know how Kirk will respond in a fight but he does follow orders well. This could get out of control very quickly if we don’t set down some ground rules.”
He stroked her cheek. “Try not to worry about it. It’s going to work out all right.” He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips.
She curled her fingers around his biceps. She felt safe with Torque. She could take care of herself if necessary. But being part of a team that she could trust added a lot of security. She wished her shifter crew could get to them. It would be much easier to fight the Egesa from the sky. Her ships wouldn’t do so without her direct order though. Alone, they had too many limitations. But if they could team up with a squadron of Xylon ships, they’d be unstoppable.
She opened her mouth and Torque slipped his tongue inside. All his aggression seemed to have melted away. His kiss was steamy but so gentle that she felt like weeping. An odd reaction for her. Extreme circumstances often leant to a false sense of closeness with another person. She knew that. But still, she felt her relationship with Torque was real and not a product of the stress they were under. Slowly he lowered her to the mattress. She broke the kiss and chuckled. “Again? Now?”
“Again. Now.”
If they survived all this, she had no idea what the future held. Her dreams had never shown her that. Maybe because this was all the future they had. She held him tighter, fighting against that thought.
Torque slowly opened the front of her uniform. He nibbled his way along her flesh and then grazed his tongue across one of her nipples. She gasped. The slightly rougher texture of a Xylon’s tongue caused much more sensation than she was accustomed to and she loved it. He tugged on her uniform, continuing downward with his tongue until he reached her pussy. The leggings of the uniform prevented her from spreading her thighs widely but that didn’t stop Torque.
He speared his tongue between the lips of her pussy and found her clit. He wiggled his tongue back and forth along the tip of the fleshy bud, slowly building the sensations between her legs. She arched her back and moaned. She needed to come so badly.
She reached down and tangled her fingers in his hair. “You’re driving me crazy, Torque.” He cupped her bared ass in his hands and pushed his tongue deeper, licking faster now, almost demanding that she come. He growled slightly and somehow she felt the vibration through her clit. “Oh!”
Her need escalated. She pushed her hips up against his mouth. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands from his head, then held them down on each side of her. She felt captured and at his mercy.
“Torque, please!”
Every time she felt close to climaxing, he seemed to know and would ease the pressure of his tongue until she relaxed again. He was tor
turing her on purpose, making her wait, making her beg. He concentrated just on the tip of her clit again, batting it with his tongue.
“Ah, ah, ah.” She squirmed beneath him. She knew he’d stop as she once more got close, so she relaxed her tightening muscles. As soon as she did that, an orgasm shot through her body like an arrow from her clit, through her stomach, to her nipples and into her brain. “Oh! Yes!” Every nerve inside her came alive and she screeched his name in pure pleasure.
Torque continued lightly licking her clit and her muscles twitched with each flick. “I can’t—” She tried to pull her arms free but he held her tightly. Then, to her surprise, she came again. A flutter of pleasure that made her sob. Finally Torque released her and kissed his way up her body to her mouth. She tasted herself on his tongue.
He whispered against her lips. “Say…I’m Torque’s woman now. Say it.”
“I’m Torque’s woman now,” she whispered to his command and without hesitation.
Chapter Nine
Underground, Planet Xylon
Tara sat looking at her captors. They hadn’t found Alexa and the babies and she hadn’t told them about her or the others, even though she’d been repeatedly questioned. She’d found out from them that they’d only found a small fire pit and nothing else when they’d searched the cave. Somehow Alexa had taken all the equipment and hid it, along with herself and the babies. Braden would be proud.
The two men spoke in hushed whispers. Now that they could all understand each other, the Def’mal were being more cautious. Still, her hearing was acute and she knew they talked of clan business.
She glanced around her surroundings. Nothing much to see but dirt. And nothing to use as an effective weapon, so she hadn’t tried to escape…yet. The last thing she wanted to do was accidentally lead the Def’mal back to Alexa or to Pitch and Josella. She needed a plan.
The Def’mal that she’d rendered unconscious during the fight stood and approached her. “You cause problems, woman. We should kill you. You would be a valuable prize to the clan.”
Depths Of Desire XW5 Page 19