“Good. We find Riley, then we return for the Toufik,” Vintor said.
“Get us to the other hall.” Cyprian hefted the Overseer onto his back. “Hold on.”
“That way,” the Overseer coughed as he weakly pointed a tentacle.
They headed down the empty corridor and exited the far door, leading into the primary back hall. Guards were rushing toward the destroyed office, while other employees were scurrying the opposite way, attempting to flee the scene of destruction.
“You. Help us,” the Overseer choked to a passing guard.
An amphibian and two Verrater stopped.
“Overseer,” one exclaimed.
Something caught Cyprian’s attention as he scanned the hall. His head swung to the left. A wisp of black and purple hair was visible in the chaos.
“Vintor, stay with the Overseer. Get our people.”
Cyprian passed the Overseer off to his men, then started pushing his way through the crowd.
Aculus has her.
The bony warrior moved faster, when he reached the esplanade. Cyprian dodged evacuating patrons as he tried to close the distance. He lost the pair as they approached the nearest concourse.
Aculus is heading for a ship.
Cyprian studied each group entering the airlocks, as he sprinted down the frustratingly long concourse. He ran faster when he spotted the distinct robed figure cradling Riley. The bony male was heading toward a portal, leading to a sleek silver vessel.
“No,” Cyprian roared as he watched the doors seal.
Cyprian slammed into the portal. He punched the control panel, but it refused to open. The general studied the vessel as it revved its engines and lifted off the asteroid surface. Cyprian panned the tarmac in desperation.
I need to commandeer a vessel.
Cyprian looked to a nearby airlock as a large group of gray beings evacuated. It would take too long to subdue them and gain access to their cruiser. That’s when he noticed a dozen surface jumpers docked nearby. They would be the quickest way to reach his cruiser, several concourses away. Cyprian ran to the airlock.
“Open the door, now.” Cyprian bellowed at the guard stationed by the portal.
The male moved to pull his weapon, but Cyprian was faster, fueled by rage. He struck the Verrater in the jaw, reveling in the crunch. The general snatched the odd disrupter and leveled it on the guard.
“You stand between me and my female. Don’t make me end you. Open the airlock,” Cyprian snarled, gnashing his teeth.
The guard swallowed hard as he tapped on the control panel. The second the door opened Cyprian rushed in. He reached the first jumper and opened the hatch to the one-man vessel. Cyprian jumped in, straddling the seat. He leaned forward and gripped the handlebar controls. The surface jumper lurched forward, disengaging from the dock, when he revved the controls. It wasn’t too different from a rota.
Cyprian took off, skimming the surface of the asteroid, heading toward his cruiser. He glanced over his shoulder to see if he could pick-out Aculus’ vessel among the other fleeing ships. He could barely make out the shining teardrop, as it headed into a cluster of space debris. Cyprian pushed the jumper faster over the rocky asteroid surface. He veered around docked and departing cruisers, as he approached his vessel. Cyprian landed the jumper by the rear hatch of the Zaxes cruiser.
“Come on. Come on,” he growled.
Once the connection was air tight, Cyprian manually opened the hatch and launched himself into the cruiser. He ran to the control room and started up the engines. As the viewing screen came online he smiled. Mave and his band of smugglers were outside, unsuccessfully attempting to access the ship.
“Not today.”
Cyprian engaged the cruiser and set a course for the clump of space debris.
“I’m coming, Little Manx.”
Riley
“We have a vessel rapidly approaching,” Aculus growled.
Riley wasn’t paying attention. The moment Cyprian entered the office, kept replaying over and over. The way his dark eyes connected with hers for a brief second, taunted her. So many things were conveyed in that glance, yet not enough to hold her a lifetime. Riley clamored to hold onto the image of his sardonic, maddening smile and the sound of his deep voice, as devastating anguish lashed her. The horror sent very real pain slicing through her. It was more than she could bear. Riley wanted to scream at the terrible injustice and agony that overwhelmed her. She opened her mouth but nothing came out, as she was pulled deeper into a swirling abyss of torment.
Cyprian de Praefectus
Cyprian held his breath as he again hailed the sleek silver vessel.
“You have my female,” Cyprian growled the instant Aculus opened a channel.
“Your female? Riley said you weren’t a slaver. Clearly, she was mistaken. Back away before I fire on your cruiser.”
“You misunderstand,” Cyprian spoke through clenched teeth. “She is my mate.”
“I would confirm your claim, but Riley isn’t responding.”
Cyprian was suddenly frantic. He couldn’t see her, since Aculus hadn’t engaged his visual display.
“She’s hurt! Let me board,” Cyprian demanded.
“She’s not mortally wounded. I’m not a fool. She’s in shock.”
“No, you’re a coward. You gave my female explosives and sent her in to do a warrior’s job. Halt your course and let me board,” Cyprian snarled. He was having difficulty being diplomatic.
Aculus was silent on the other end.
“Please.” Cyprian had never begged, but he would, if that’s what it took to get Riley back.
“Fine, but you come aboard alone and unarmed.”
“Agreed.”
Cyprian was chomping at the bit as he latched onto the Osivoire’s vessel, and set the autopilot. He hustled through the aligned hatches, and was greeted with a disruptor in the face.
“Turn full circle,” Aculus demanded.
Cyprian held his hands up as he turned, proving that he was unarmed.
“Come on.” Aculus waved him forward.
Cyprian followed the armored male through the cruiser to the control room. His shoulders relaxed when Riley came into view. Her shiny, raven and purple hair cascaded down the back of the seat. Cyprian circled the chair to find his beautiful, colorful, little, female sitting frighteningly still. The dark circles beneath her large black eyes, worried him. She looked incredibly tired. Her eyes didn’t focus on him, so he knelt at her booted feet.
“Little Manx,” he husked.
Riley’s eyes were open, but she stared right through him.
“There’s something very wrong.” Cyprian said with a catch in his throat.
Cyprian ran his hands through her hair. He felt a knot on the back of her head, but it wasn’t big enough to explain her current condition.
“They gave her some kind of mood altering implant. The Overseer said it wasn’t working right in Riley. I need to get her back to Cadi.”
“I’m not letting you take her, based on your word,” Aculus growled. “Riley called you her friend, but I know how you’ve treated her.” Aculus pointed to the bite mark on Riley’s neck.
Cyprian bowed his head. If he was in Aculus’ position, he would do the same. The male let Riley walk into danger, but was that really any worse than some of the things he, himself, had done. Cyprian had withheld the truth, and bent her to his will. Even if Riley was lucid, she wouldn’t confirm that he was her mate, because he never explained what he’d done.
But none of his sins mattered. He had to get Riley the help she needed.
“You can imagine what Riley went through on that asteroid. She witnessed her friend’s murder, among other horrible things, and she still came out strong. You saw her spirit yourself. This is not like her. There are people on my planet who can help her. They are familiar with humans,” Cyprian implored.
He would fight Aculus if the male refused to see reason.
“My vessel is faster than t
hat thing you were piloting. I will take you to your planet, and your people will treat her here. Then Riley will decide who she wishes to go with,” Aculus insisted.
“Fine. I need to send the cruiser back to the asteroid and check in with Vintor.”
Aculus nodded.
Cyprian hailed Vintor.
“Did you find Riley?” Vintor asked the instant he came onscreen.
“Yes, but there is something wrong. Aculus is taking us back to Cadi. Are you going to be fine?”
Cyprian hated the idea of leaving his friend behind.
“Go. The Overseer has been very compliant. I reminded him of his oath to release the Toufik. Ashtoret should be here soon to back me up.”
“Good. I’m sending the cruiser back to you. See if you can get the Overseer to secure Mave and his band, till Ashtoret arrives.”
“If the Overseer refuses. Let him know the Osivoire Nation is more than happy to reduce his asteroid to space dust,” Aculus added.
Vintor nodded then cut off the transmission.
Cyprian quickly retrieved a few things from his cruiser, then sent it back to the asteroid. He swiftly returned to the control room and pulled Riley out of the seat. Cyprian strapped in, and cradled Riley against his lap. She relaxed against his chest, but didn’t react beyond that.
“Based on the coordinates you transferred, we’ll arrive at your planet in a score of hours.”
Less than a day. That is fast. Cyprian nodded. He was eager to get Riley home.
“I didn’t coerce Riley into setting the charges. It was the opposite. She has a way of twisting things,” Aculus commented, breaking the silence.
“I’m not surprised.”
“Last night, she threatened to have the guard escort me out of her room, if I didn’t go along with her plan,” Aculus grumbled.
“She’s stubborn.” Cyprian smiled as he looked down at Riley. “Do you know how she got away from Mave?”
“Riley said that after you were apprehended she convinced the Overseer to take possession of her. She knew the greedy Overseer would jump on the opportunity to make more credits off her. She even managed to get her own private room last night,” Aculus explained.
“She is brilliant. You are brilliant,” Cyprian repeated as he stroked Riley’s dark hair. He hoped she heard them talking. “I am proud of the way you got free of Mave,” he whispered close to her ear.
“And possibly dangerous,” Aculus chuckled. “Who would suspect a tiny creature like her? Riley would quickly be welcomed by the matrons back home. She is as fierce and cunning as any Osivoire female, and that’s without the armor to back her up.”
“I doubt either of us would’ve been as successful as she was today.”
Cyprian didn’t want Riley in harm’s way, but he wouldn’t denigrate her success. Riley was just as fierce as the warriors he’d served with, perhaps more so.
“On that we agree.”
“So, your females are aggressive?” Cyprian inquired, changing the subject.
“No more than the males. They have skills and wisdom we do not, and vice versa. They are just as successful on missions. What of your females?”
“I think Cadi females are a bit more subdued compared to yours. But they have their ways, which complement the males. Riley is probably more like your people. Most of the human females I’ve met are spirited. It’s a shocking contrast to their soft, feminine exterior,” Cyprian replied with a smile.
“My missions put me into contact with many species, and I’ve enjoyed meeting females in all forms.” Aculus grinned.
“I’m guessing you’re not mated,” Cyprian laughed.
The general appreciated the casual banter. It cut through some of the somberness.
“How did you guess?”
“I’m not Cadi’s High General for nothing.” Cyprian tapped his forehead. He then eyed the bony warrior. “Don’t get any ideas about Riley.”
“It will be her choice,” Aculus said.
Cyprian nodded. It would be Riley’s choice, although, now, that was the least of his concerns. Cyprian would give anything to see her smiling up at him. But he’d welcome her sarcastic anger with equal joy.
The general fished through the satchel he retrieved from the Overseer’s office, looking for his flask of water. He wondered if Riley would be able to take a sip in her present condition.
“Son of a metcor,” Cyprian exclaimed, when his hand met something furry that shouldn’t have been in the bag.
He retracted his hand and peered into his bag. At the bottom, tangled in the remnant of Riley’s panties, was a trembling ball of red fluff.
“What is it?” Aculus asked.
“I don’t know. It’s a stowaway.” Cyprian gingerly reached in and lifted the critter out.
“It’s a cor, vermin.” Aculus wrinkled his nose in disgust. “Is that the only one?”
“Yeah.”
The bizarre little creature snuffled hard as Cyprian held it by a clump of its fiery red fur. He couldn’t make out a nose, eyes, or limbs of any kind, just fur.
“Good. They can breed by the hundreds if you have a pair.”
The thing split open, exposing a giant mouth for something so small. It nipped at Cyprian with its pin teeth, and he dropped it on the floor.
“Shit. Sorry. It’s nothing but a mouth with fur,” Cyprian exclaimed, feeling slightly shocked by the unexpected weird creature.
“Catch it,” Aculus insisted.
Instead of scurrying to the nearest crevice, the ball of fluff swiftly rolled up Cyprian’s leg and onto Riley’s lap. It squirmed itself beneath Riley’s hand, and started making a tiny rumbling noise, as if it belonged there.
Cyprian reached down to remove the vermin, then paused when he noticed Riley’s finger moving ever so slightly against the vibrating furball. Something told Cyprian the little creature had burrowed into his bag not because of the food, but because it recognized Riley’s scent on the scrap of clothing he kept.
“I think it’s her pet. Why am I not surprised you made friends with the vermin, Little Manx?”
“That’s strange. I didn’t know they hummed,” Aculus commented looking perplexed. “What else do you have hiding in that bag?”
Cyprian double checked his bag, to reassure himself no more creatures were hiding in it. He bypassed Riley’s underwear. Aculus didn’t need to know about the depraved souvenir he kept.
“I forgot about this,” Cyprian said as he lifted the holo-cast frame from his bag. “One of the merchants conned me into buying it.”
He pressed the button on the side, and an image of a single sun setting behind exotic green leafy trees appeared.
“I don’t recognize the planet,” Aculus commented.
Music began playing as the image changed. Cyprian instantly recognized the foreign sounds.
“It must be Earth. This is Riley’s music. I bet she took these images. She said she was a photographer before she was taken from her home-world,” Cyprian replied.
The general smiled at how he’d inadvertently acquired the item. Riley would be happy to have them.
“Her pictures seem to tell a story.”
“She is a talented craftsman.” Cyprian nodded in agreement
He squeezed Riley close, while they listened, and watched the scrolling scenes from Earth.
Most of Riley’s music was aggressive. However, there were some songs that were deeply expressive, much like the pictures she took. Humans poured a lot of emotion into their music. Cyprian admired their creativity. The craftsman on Cadi had dwindled during the war. Those who remained, created utilitarian objects, like furniture, that they decorated. Much of their songs were old traditional pieces, only sung at matings or burials. Cyprian used to enjoy singing the folk tunes, though that ceased when he began training under his sire.
As Cyprian debated what things would’ve been like if he’d pursued the life of a craftsman, a song captured his attention. The male sang out a desperate melody to the femal
e he loved. A lump formed in Cyprian’s throat as he listened to the poignant ballad, while staring down at Riley.
Please come back to me, Little Manx.
Chapter 14. Awakening
Riley
Riley looked around, perplexed, wondering why she was sitting in the center of a dim movie theater. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out how she wound up here. The last thing she recalled was the explosion.
The cinema was like the ones back home, with a large screen up ahead, and speakers lining the curtained walls. Riley turned to see the dozen rows behind her were empty, just like the ones up front. It was more than a little disconcerting. At least the red upholstered seat was warm and comfortable, as it molded to her back. In her lap was a tub of popcorn. Riley ran her finger over the container.
Riley focused on the screen, as the usual green preview slide appeared.
“On a blustery winter night in the heart of Boston,” the recognizable deep voice that narrated all action movie trailers reverberated through the speakers.
The image panned a two-story brownstone, then zoomed through a frosty pane on the casement window, to focus on a small parlor with gaudy floral wallpaper.
“What the hell is going on?” Riley blurted as she realized she was looking in on the last Christmas her family had spent together.
She was struck dumb seeing a scene from her youth flickering before her on the big screen.
I’m either dreaming or I died.
Onscreen her mother sat in a well-worn armchair drinking eggnog, which was more rum than nog. Meanwhile Jay kept sneaking off to smoke something that wasn’t tobacco, claiming it was rude to smoke in Pépère’s house. They all knew that was bullshit, since their grandfather smoked like a chimney. But no one said anything, not on Christmas.
“Ugh, I’ve seen this film before, and it’s not very good,” Riley commented at the rerun of her life.
Riley laughed as the scene panned to her. She was wearing her favorite vintage Joan Jett tee, torn jeans, and more eye make-up than was reasonable for a high schooler. People labeled her goth, but her style was probably a bit more punk, though she just liked what she liked.
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