by Lisa Lace
"No, you never know when you'll need something like that," said Thiago slowly. Those were the last words he had expected to come out of her mouth. And she had mentioned it offhandedly, as well. "Why would you be looking for such a thing?"
"Trust me," said Eden, rising off the ground.
She shimmied out of Ardela's dress and laid it on the side of a chair. Gently removing the spirals holding her sleek ponytail in place, she lay the slinky hair accessory on the nightstand. His enchanted eyes watched as her loosened hair fell around her shoulders, a few tousled strands sexily framing her face.
"So where is it?"
Thiago opened the third drawer of the nightstand and felt around the bottom, retrieving an ugly collar along with a remote control. Eden took the collar from him and fastened it around her neck. She closed her palm over the control in his hands, a wicked smile crossing her lips as she gazed up at him.
"Could you hold onto this for me?"
Before Thiago could ask any questions, Eden flung her arms around him. She pulled him close hungrily, keeping him silent as she kissed him with the all the passion she had pent up from the restaurant. Something about the morally reprehensible, yet titillating scene she witnessed aroused something she never knew existed inside her.
There was nothing more she wanted at that moment than to let Thiago have his way with her. The intense satisfaction that sparked in Thiago's eyes as he controlled his last target, Krypt, with his mind-control theremin device, made Eden yearn for a similar sensation.
Eden broke away from the sloppy kiss. She fell back on the bed, daintily wiping the sides of her mouth with the back of her hand. With a mischievous grin on her face, Eden slipped off her panties and tossed them aside. She spread her legs wide open to taunt him, stroking her drenched folds with the tips of her fingers. A whispered moan came out of her lips as her middle finger squeezed her sex. She thrust the finger in and out of her quivering folds, her fluttering eyes locking onto Thiago's.
"Don't just stand there. What are you waiting for?" Eden teased him through clenched teeth. "Go ahead. Zap me."
"What?"
"Do it, Thiago. Trust me."
His finger hovered tentatively over the button of the control, his Adam's apple bobbing as he stared at her. The hardening bulge in his pants swelled with every pumping movement of her nimble finger. Lost in the euphoria present on her beautifully contorting face, he gently pressed down on the control.
A momentary spark shot off once on her shock collar. Eden gasped, her eyelids snapping back. She purred faintly, her lowering head sinking back into his pillows.
"Again."
Thiago obliged. He tentatively held the button down for three seconds before his finger bounced off the knob. The bulge between his legs throbbed at the sight her jiggling breasts, trembling along with the short, sensual spasms of her body. Stumbling out of his underwear, he climbed onto the bed. He moved on top of her, his cock dragging against her calf and up the warm flesh of her thighs.
Eden clutched a clump of his hair in her fist, licking a trail along his musky neck as she whispered into his ear.
"Don't hold back."
Chapter Sixteen
"I bring bad news, kids."
Ardela sauntered out from the central office of the spacecraft repair station. The station was enormous, claiming a commercial-sized pod for itself, and hovered over thirty thousand feet above ground level. She crossed the landing strip toward Eden and Thiago, who were playing fetch with Hercules by Thiago's parked spaceship.
"I just spoke to about five different employees at the station," Ardela announced as she approached them. She crossed her arms, sighing theatrically. "The flight software on my craft is too advanced for those Runic hicks. It's not just that they don't have my processor in stock. They don't even carry the one I need! Can you believe it?"
"That's what I tried to explain to you back on my ship," said Thiago. He snorted unpleasantly. "If you would have listened to me, we could have avoided this waste of time."
"Be nice," Eden whispered. She could already feel the slow creep of Ardela's stay extending past the Salabar mission. Turning to Ardela, she chimed in helpfully. "I'm sorry their customer service wasn't more helpful. Did they recommend a shop that carries what you need?"
"As a matter of fact, they did," said Ardela crossly, tapping a finger against her cheek in thought. "It's in a station all the way out on the border between the Glop and Curvehorn territories. I couldn't ask you to take me all the way there. It would be too much of a burden."
"Great. I was afraid you were going to ask us for another ride."
Eden prodded Thiago's side, inadvertently striking him square in the ribs. She saw how Ardela's prissy tendencies could irritate anyone. However, she couldn't understand what triggered Thiago's animosity toward an ex-partner that used to help him bring in a lot of money. In fact, Thiago had never mentioned Ardela before.
Of course, Eden wasn't naive. She knew there had been more to Ardela and Thiago's partnership than what she saw on the surface. Still, Eden prided herself on being trustworthy. The promise she made to Ardela involved completion of her ship repairs, and Eden was going to deliver if it was possible.
"It wouldn't be a burden at all. We can have a look right after you send Salabar to the authorities."
"Eden, if only all Earthlings were as sweet and considerate as you," Ardela bubbled, wrapping her arm around Eden in a tight squeeze. She paused for effect. "Or had half your smarts. You don't seem the self-important, educated type. Maybe the humans wouldn't be miserable on this planet."
Ardela's candid tone sounded as innocent as ever. The brutal and ignorant remark caught Eden off guard. She frowned. Was it possible that she was reading too much between the lines that only existed in her mind? She looked over at Thiago to see if he had overheard the conversation. Apparently he had not. He was busy rubbing the top of Hercules' head, praising the creature for his skill at retrieving objects.
"Um, I don't think..."
"Oh dear, will you look at how late it's getting? I'll have to ask one of the station boys to keep my ship in storage while we take down Salabar. Let's hope they've got enough sense to keep my baby intact while I'm away, or I'll be forced to sue," Ardela spoke to herself breezily, peering up at the darkening skies overhead. "It looks like a storm's about to break over the horizon, too. Come on, let's not waste time. We've got a criminal overlord to catch."
Thiago whistled and pulled a stuffed bone away from Hercules' slobbering mouth. The creature ran and scuttled behind his master, boarding the cargo door of the spaceship. Ardela marched back into the station, her shrill demands audible to Eden through the closed doors.
Eden blew a disgruntled raspberry at Ardela through her lips. She headed towards Thiago's ship as well, dragging her feet underneath her.
The wheels of Thiago's ship touched down soundlessly on a plot of land in the jungle surrounding Runic territory. Eden pressed her nose against the glass of her passenger window, inspecting her surroundings with bewildered fascination. Giant trees with lopsided trunks the height and width of Earth-sized industrial trucks jutted out from the land, disturbing the flat area around the clearing. The sticky leaves of trees stayed together naturally, forming long, swooping curls that looked like the limp crown of a jester's hat. Two-toned tulips budded out from the ends of leaves like little rusty bells.
Thiago unbuckled his restraint, rising from the pilot’s seat. "Okay, Eden, you'll have to wait here. Remember to keep the shields active this time. There's some leftover salad and honeyberry macaroons in the fridge if you get hungry."
"You can trust me. And I'm incredibly grateful for Ardela's portable television," added Eden, waving a twelve-inch flatscreen device in the air victoriously. "I guess it would be unrealistic to receive Earth broadcasts out here, but I'll make do. Stay safe, you guys. I, on the other hand, will sit back, relax, and watch whatever I can with a glass of bubbly by my side. And by bubbly, I mean my favorite soda."
"It can get pretty strenuous sometimes," Eden admitted with a shrug. "I have to say, Thiago's an excellent teacher. I didn't start from much, but I think I'm improving."
"Is that so?" said Ardela as she removed her weapon satchel from the hooks on the cockpit wall. "Why don't you come with us tonight? You can shadow me and give your skills a live test."
"Not a chance," interjected Thiago. "Eden doesn't have enough experience to get out on the field, and she might hurt herself."
"Where is she going to acquire real-world experience, if not in a real situation?" challenged Ardela, folding her arms across her chest. "Don't tell me you're afraid of that little runt Salabar? We will both be there! It's the safest scenario for Eden. You don't think I'd let anything happen to her under my watch, do you?"
"Well, no, but it doesn't make sense to take unnecessary risks."
"Hey," Eden called out, exhaling in frustration as she turned to face them in her swiveling chair. "I'm right here."
"My apologies, Eden," said Ardela as she checked the contents of her satchel. "I just think hands-on experience is the best way to learn. I would be delighted to teach you everything I know."
"I find it incredible I need to repeat myself," Thiago rumbled, his voice thick with annoyance. "But Eden's simply not ready for it."
"You know what? I think I'd like to take Ardela up on her offer," said Eden churlishly. Her arched eyebrows practically merged at the center of her displeased, wrinkled forehead. She was frustrated with Thiago. Eden didn't like it when anyone took it upon themselves to speak for her. She wouldn't have tolerated it back on Earth, and she wasn't about to start now in space.
"Don't underestimate the Runics, especially Salabar and his crew," Thiago insisted, scowling at Eden. "They may look small, but they're swift and much stronger than their size would indicate. We aren't even halfway through your training yet."
"I know, but I think Ardela's correct. I'll need to step out of my comfort zone at some point." She looked at Thiago pointedly. "Granted, I could do with a little more target practice, but I think I know how to swing a windsor now."
Thiago shook his head, pulling down a lever to activate the shields.
Nothing happened.
He pulled the lever again, hoping that the same action would have different results this time, and made an exasperated sound when the shields refused to deploy. Pulling up a control panel on the dashboard screen, he began a troubleshooting procedure. He tried repeatedly but couldn't get the shields down. All his attempts resulted in irritating sounds reinforcing failure after failure.
"Unbelievable. The shields are not functioning," Thiago muttered, nearly crushing the shield lever in a last futile attempt. "That's strange. They seemed to have been working last night when I tested them."
"You should have gotten your ship checked out back at the station like I recommended," Ardela sang. She lifted up one side of her mouth. The gold flakes crusted on her lips shimmered under the cockpit lighting. Her face turned solemn. "There are a few ancient Runic tribes scattered all over the area. They are uncivilized, violently unstable, and don't need provocation to attack. Leaving Eden here without any sort of protection on your spaceship would be just as irresponsible, if not more dangerous, than bringing her with us."
Eden imagined a horde of angry Runics with bloodied spears, blasters, and bags of explosives strapped over their knobby little shoulders. Shuddering at the thought of a hundred slimy webbed hands pawing at her as they pinned her down, she leaped to her feet. The imagery was frightening and perhaps the product of a disturbed imagination, but she wasn't going to take any chances.
"I'm convinced now. I'm not staying here."
"Fine. I guess we're all going then," Thiago conceded. He took a quick look at Eden's outfit. It was a pink jumpsuit she had borrowed from Ardela. "You may want to change into something more water-resistant."
As if on cue, a brief burst of blinding lightning flashed outside the spaceship windows, followed by the ground-quaking roar of thunder. Waves of rain began pattering noisily against the ship top and windshields, solidifying his case.
"Thiago's right," said Ardela, reaching into her satchel. She switched on a computer and headed out the door without consulting anyone. "Let me see if I can get a head start. It's going to be difficult locating Salabar's cavern in this terrible weather. "
"Thanks. I'll round up Hercules."
"Thiago, wait," Eden called after him, hastily grabbing his arm.
"What is it?"
"I know you're worried," said Eden softly, squeezing his hand. "I'm scared, too. But I'll promise you something. I'm going to keep my mouth shut and my ears open. I'll listen to every word you say."
"You really want to tag along with me, don't you?"
"I do. I should probably contribute to society somehow, shouldn't I? Even if the people around me are aliens? If you're worried about splitting the bounty with me, don't be. I'm not interested in the money. Technically, we are married. Humans are barely people here, so you're morally obligated to make sure I don't die in your care."
"Equality laws don't apply to humans," said Thiago, laughing. "Okay. You've got five minutes to meet us in front."
"You know what? I'll be out in three. I promise I won't let you down."
"Good. I know you won't."
Chapter Seventeen
Eden shivered, sniffling her wrinkled nose as the pouring rain attacked her like a runaway shower head. Dragging her windsor behind her, she ducked under one of the swirling masses of overhanging leaves for cover. She adjusted the black protective helmet over her head. It projected a full-sized screen onto her retina behind the visor. The night-vision setting cast a spectral green glow on her surroundings. Ardela and Thiago's silhouettes also appeared on the screen. Their bodies were reduced to blobs of neon green and orange, allowing them to stand out from the thermal imagery.
"Got it!" Ardela declared, waving the tracking device over her head triumphantly.
Eden slung the windsor over her shoulder. She joined Thiago and Ardela around a brown, dead patch of vegetation. It was a sharp contrast to its surroundings: the slight incline of a green hill covered with moss. Thiago squatted on the floor, digging out a frayed end of a piece of rope sticking out of the ground. A droplet of sweat made its way down the center of his face as he gave it a hard pull. A hidden door swung open, and he toppled back onto the ground, knocked over by his strength.
Ardela picked up the dislodged door and lay it flat on the opposite side of a gaping 4-foot-wide hole. She tapped on the side of her helmet, which matched the stripes and color scheme of her spaceship. A bright shaft of light radiated from the headlight centered above her visor, illuminating the dark opening.
"It looks like a long way to the bottom. I think it's a thirty foot drop, at least. We're looking at the location of someone who wants to say hidden," remarked Ardela. "There's only one way to find out what lies beneath. I'll jump in and send a signal if it's safe to come after me." She gave them a quick thumbs-up, nodding determinedly.
"Don't be reckless, Ardela."
Eden tiptoed over to look down into the pit. "Oh my God!" she screeched, nearly losing her balance in her shock.
As Thiago reached out to steady Eden, Ardela hopped into the opening, yelling whoops of exhilaration that echoed down the shaft behind her. After pacing around for a few painful seconds, a square band around his wrist blinked twice. He pulled up his visor and whistled.
Hercules came scampering at his master's call. The bristles of his hair that carpeted his body matted together from the rain. He shook himself dry to get ready for action. Eden wasn't ready for the beast's attempt to dry himself off, and she experienced th
e brunt of the inadvertent attack; water splashed all over her body.
Thiago patted the creature twice on the leg. Eden watched the jumbo-sized Hercules shrink back his legs like a closing accordion, adjusting his build so he could squeeze down the hole. Thiago turned to Eden. The heels of her feet scuffed against the mud as he guided her towards the edge. Her palms were sweating as she peered down the stark black hole beneath her feet, wondering what was waiting for her at the bottom.
"Whatever you do, keep your hands at your sides at all times," Thiago instructed as he took the windsor from Eden. "Are you ready?"
"No, not really," Eden squeaked. She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply, counting to ten. It was too late to turn back now. There was nowhere else for her to go. "Okay, I'm good. I'm as ready as I'm going to be."
She clamped her arms tightly against her sides. Keeping her eyes squeezed shut, she jumped. The jittery sensation in her stomach moved up her body, to her throat and head. Her back crashed against something solid, and she started sliding. She tried to take control of her descent, but there was nothing for her to grab. As she hurtled down the chute, her body smoothly skated down spiraling twists and turns. Her breath caught in her throat. She heard someone screaming, and she realized it was herself.
"Eden! Are you okay?"
She had stopped moving. A hysterical Eden quieted down immediately, trembling as she pushed up her visor. Ardela held out a hand, her pink brows knitted together with concern. Still shaking like a diabetic low on blood sugar, Eden looked around at the dark environment of the underground cavern. Hercules tilted his head, staring at her blankly.
"Herc, you're drooling all over me," Eden groaned. She reached up to accept Ardela's extended hand. "I'm okay, thanks. Who's that behind you?"
An airborne Runic with a crossbow slung over his shoulder appeared. It was swinging a baton with a tip ablaze with flames. Although she was disoriented, the sight of an enemy was enough to shoot adrenaline into Eden's system. Even though she didn't have any feeling in her legs, she dragged herself off the floor, tackling Ardela and shoving her off to the side.