by Vivian Arend
She wanted to respond to his challenge. To be able to gloat for a mere second over his coming downfall, but that would ruin the surprise. If she were extremely lucky, the solar shock would kill him. “Nothing time sensitive, Sir.”
He nodded briskly and stepped back. His beetle black eyes bored into her for a moment. “By the way, Lieutenant, you’ll be interested to hear your father received a full pardon. Some discrepancies with the charges were noted, and he’s been released to the family home. Perhaps you’d like to call and wish him congratulations.”
Bastard. Her grandfather’s miserable attempt at humor churned her stomach. “Perhaps after I report to the infirmary, Sir, I’ll find the time. Permission to be excused?”
He turned his back on her and marched away, the odor of his greed lingering around her. How could she be related to the man? Genetically, she hoped there had been a mistake at the birthing facility, because if his blood ran in her veins… She shuddered.
“Lieutenant, we’re to escort you.”
The guards were apologetic but efficient. There would be no early escape from the Eagle, the trap wrapping tighter around her as each moment passed.
She paced between the security detail, ignoring the curious glances of the crew and passengers. Military vessels like the Eagle always carried civilians willing to pay for the privilege of a safe escort from one system to the next. Some faces she recognized but most were strangers and she realized she already missed the homey companionship she’d found aboard the Nottingham. Hell, she hoped she was wrong and she’d see them all again.
The escort left her at the door and she smiled at the one person on the Eagle she still called friend.
“Tracey.”
“Lieutenant. Please come with me.”
Melina wondered at Tracey’s response until she noticed the stranger standing at attention against the wall, his glassy stare frighteningly intense. “I’m supposed to have a physical. The planet wasn’t bad, but we should make sure I didn’t pick up any strange bugs.” She observed the intruder from the corner of her eye while she hopped onto the examining table. Her suspicions rose with every passing minute and she checked nonchalantly for a potential weapon to grasp. Tracey seemed tense and uneasy as she examined Melina’s eyes and mouth, her responses, her heart rate.
“May I ask for privacy for this exam?” Melina knew the answer but she wanted to hear it said. What the hell was her grandfather up to?
Tracey shook her head. “He’s…observing me. It’s a part of the new requirements.”
Right. Like Melina believed that lie. Tracey’s hands shook as she continued the exam and Melina coughed softly. She’d never seen her friend this twitchy.
“It’s okay, it’s just a physical. Trust me, it could be worse.”
Tracey shook her head. “No. It’s not okay.” She glanced at Melina and sighed. “I’m sorry, I really am.”
The stranger against the wall moved forward, drawing Melina’s attention. He paced toward her with his hands held visible. The split second it took for her to register he was a distraction was long enough for the pinprick of a needle to sink into her arm.
Tracey’s face blurred and her voice sounded as if it came from a far distance. Suddenly exhausted, Melina’s muscles went limp and the last thing she heard were the muted apologies of her friend echoing in her ears.
———
“Davis, it’s the shuttle. Melina’s shuttle is lying off the port side and there’s a life reading in it. There’s no sign of any operational equipment except for life support.”
Conner’s announcement jarred Trev from where he sat, pounding his fist repetitively into the cushioning of his chair.
“I’ll man the doors.” He leapt to his feet and raced toward the docking bay.
Was it true? Since he’d seen Melina’s ship disappear off the monitor a day ago, his heart had been lodged in his belly. The aching pain of wondering what he could have done differently slowly killing him. They’d discussed possible options for rescuing Melina for hours, and so far had come up with no workable plan. Davis hadn’t given up and was involved in some elaborate scheme with Jayne, but Trev wasn’t a planner. He was a doer. The urge to hop in another shuttle and go after her rose by the minute.
Finally getting to move was a blessing.
He pounded down the corridors, sharysa racing away from underfoot as he ran. Rapid changes in the thrusters throbbed through the walls as Davis adjusted course to pick up the drifting vessel. By the time Trev opened the airlocks, the shuttle hovered outside, awkwardly off angle to the docking bay floor. He whipped around the small service room, adjusting valves with rapid calculations until he’d created a strong cushion of air pulses to level and support the vessel as the Nottingham slowly engulfed her. Trev eased the flow from some, increased in others, making the shuttle dance momentarily until she was level enough to lower to safety. Another long minute passed to shut the massive hangar doors and flood the area with breathable air before he slammed the safety hatch open and sprinted in.
When Melina broke the door seal on her own, Trev was ready to sing praises to whatever gods occupied this area of space. She threw herself into his arms. He kissed her frantically, accepting her flurry of kisses as she clung to him, her fingers clenched in the fabric of his uniform.
“Trev, report, is she okay?” Davis’ voice resonated as if he was running down the corridors with the intercom set on high.
“I’m fine,” Melina called to Davis. She dropped her head on Trev’s shoulder and cried, her gasping breaths tearing him apart.
“I’ve got you, baby. You’re going to be all right. You’re back, and that’s all that matters.”
Melina continued to sob and he swung her into his arms and carried her from the dock, heading toward Sal’s medical station.
“It’s a trap, Trev. They’re following me,” she whispered.
Of course they were. From the minute he’d seen her shuttle run on life support alone he’d known the Eagle had dropped her. “It’s fine. It’s okay.” The reassurances were for them both. He didn’t know how they would get out of this one, but he was willing to do anything to make it happen.
“It’s a trap…” She buried her face in his neck and wept.
Davis slammed around the corner simultaneously with their arrival at Sal’s rooms. Trev offered Melina, knowing nothing less than holding her would satisfy his need. Davis cradled her gently, pulling her head against his chest as he maneuvered through the doorway.
“You okay, sweetheart?”
She nodded. “They drugged me. Dropped me in the shuttle and left me where they knew you’d find me. We’ve got to get out of here now.”
Davis lowered her carefully to the examining table and shook his head. “There’s a craft already approaching. Conn picked it up on our sensors as we did the final maneuvers to gather you in.”
Melina covered her face with her hands and Davis tore them away. “Don’t you dare hide. You did nothing wrong. Now let Sal scan you to make sure your ass of a grandfather didn’t plan something morbid.”
Melina retched involuntarily and Sal pushed Davis aside. “I’ve got her. The sooner you let me start, the sooner we’ll know she’s all right.”
They stepped back to allow Sal access and Trev’s temper flared. He smashed his fist into the steely muscle of Davis’ shoulder. “What kind of insensitive remark was that?”
Davis pressed Trev against the wall with one hand, his gaze boring down from inches away. He lowered his voice and spat out the words, “Look, I’d cut off my arm with a table knife to save either of your lives. You telling me you don’t think Melina feels the same way about us?”
In the background Sal moved quickly, examining and soothing Melina.
“I’m sorry, I just…” The thought of losing her again sent a sharp pang through his core and Trev shook uncontrollably as reaction set in. Hell. He’d never felt fear like this before—deep, gut-aching fear. Not when Davis had left. Not when he’d
been snatched away from Melina by the SIC, not even when he’d seen her arrive unexpectedly on the planet’s surface. All those had seemed childish pranks compared to this situation.
They could have killed Melina outright while she was aboard the Eagle. His stomach clenched involuntarily and it was hard to breathe.
Davis leaned in with his entire body, elbows braced on the wall on either side of Trev’s head. His warm breath flowed around them while his strength supported them, covering Trev with a heat that melted a bit of the panic away.
Davis murmured in Trev’s ear, his lips tickling the soft lobe. “We’re not going to lose her. Not this time. Not any time in the future. Her grandfather may think he’s top gun, but he did us a favor sending Melina back.” Davis rubbed their cheeks together, the coarse hair of his beard scratching Trev’s skin, leaving the ghost of a sensation as if Davis continued to touch him. “She ran away to save us, and he sent her back. It’s called poetic justice and I’m going to rub it in his face.” Trev turned his lips for a kiss, needing encouragement that together they’d support Melina. The taste of Davis’ power lifted him, filled him. Erased some of the fear from his soul.
They pulled apart slowly to rejoin Melina. Trev pressed against her, burying his face in her chest as he sucked in a deep breath. Drawing her scent into his body to prove she was really there.
“She’s clean. Literally.” Sal raised a brow. “Whoever knocked her out also sterilized her skin from top to bottom. If she had any beasties left from the visit to Derryn they’re gone.” Sal wrinkled her nose as Melina began to laugh, a hollow, tinny sound in the midst of the tension. “Your grandfather is one damn fool if he thinks you needed to be—”
“No, it’s okay. It’s a message from my friend. I knew she didn’t want to follow her orders but she was being watched.” Melina clasped Trev and Davis’ hands with hers. “You never met Tracey. She moved in with me when you two disappeared. We used to joke about ‘sanitizing the situation’ when we discussed politics and internal rebellions. Turning organizations from within. Shit, there’s something happening on the Eagle I wasn’t aware of if she’s sent me that message.”
Melina kissed their knuckles, Davis first then Trev’s, her soft lips tormenting him. He wanted to drag her back to their quarters and bury himself in her. Wrap Davis around them both and ensure they were alive.
After they dealt with the new threat from the Eagle.
“Are you up to joining us, Melina?” Davis asked. “We might need some fancy flying from the Nottingham, and there’s no one I’d like behind her helm more than you.”
———
In a bizarre way, gathering together in the command center, waiting to be captured felt good. Davis watched his crew take their places as something akin to pride filled him. Melina sat behind the steering controls, Conn beside her with the navigation and communication at the ready. Trev manned the small munitions station. Sal waited to the side, ready to fill in where needed as an army of sharysa crawled over her shoulders. Tucker and Jayne were off in the engine room but visible on the smaller monitor set into the front wall. The past days had been hard on all of them and they were all eager to get this over with.
“Short-range vessel approaching from the starboard quadrant, Davis. They’re asking to speak to you.”
“I bet they are. Melina, be ready to move us. Open the line, Conner.” Davis stepped to the front of the command deck, in front of the main monitor.
“Open, Sir. It’s the old bastard.”
The forbidding visage of Melina’s grandfather appeared and Davis turned his back just in time to hide his grin. Conn had made his announcement after connecting the channel. Davis heard a snarl of disgust as the man reacted to the impertinence.
“The name is Admiral Davenport, you miserable excuse for a life form.”
“I stand corrected. It’s the old bastard Admiral Davenport himself,” Conn growled out. “You want to talk or you want me to tell him to fuck off?”
Davis winked at Conn then swung around to face the monitor. “Can I help you with anything, Sir? You seem to have lost your way. The exit to hell is the other direction.”
His old commander’s face flushed scarlet and Sal giggled in the background.
“You’re wanted for questioning. This system is under the jurisdiction of the Space Institute. The ship approaching you will escort your vessel back to the SIC War Eagle with the authority—”
“Your authority means nothing here,” Davis cut in. “Not over us. We’re a peaceful vessel on a holiday cruise through the system. The brochure lied and the beaches are highly overrated, so we’re moving on. Have a nice life.” He turned his back again and motioned to Conn.
Conn made an adjustment then nodded, the speakers fading to a quiet hum. “Sound off on our side. Go ahead, Davis.”
“Trev and Melina, get ready. Looks like the admiral has a rocket or two up his ass. We can outrun the short-range but not the Eagle, and we can’t leave until the sun gets seeded. Jayne—are you ready with the magnetic bombs?”
“In five minutes, Sir,” she snapped back.
Trev whistled. “How did you manage so quickly? I thought you had to build a larger trigger before launching?”
Jayne’s smiling face reappeared on the small monitor. “Thank the sharysa. They like to make explosives, remember?”
Davis clapped in approval. “One issue taken care of. Melina, get ready to take us out of here. Conn, plot the straightest course that keeps the Eagle within the range of the solar pulse if she follows us. We need their systems knocked out if we’re going to have a chance to get away.” Davis glanced at Trev. “Is he still raving?”
Trev nodded. “I don’t know if that shade of purple suits him.” Davis snorted and squared his shoulders as he faced the screen. The sound returned, the admiral continuing to sputter threats and orders.
“With all respect, Sir,” Davis turned the honorific into an insult, “we’ll be leaving now.”
The deadly silence that followed worked better as intimidation than the raving maniac. Admiral Davenport stood motionless, his dark eyes glaring through the monitor at Davis. “One of my crewmen is on your vessel. Once she is returned to the Eagle, we can talk about whether we let you go peacefully on your way this time.”
Yeah right. “Your request is denied. There are private citizens onboard and a refugee I found floating in space. None of your personnel.” If the bastard thought Melina would be given up so easily, he was insane.
The admiral raised his voice. “Lieutenant Commander Trev Conto, you deserted your post. Please inform your current captain you are in direct dereliction of duty.”
All eyes swung to take in Trev.
He shrugged. “Hey, you guys kidnapped me from the black-ops. I guess his logic is correct, in a warped way, and I’m AWOL. Since I’m rude enough to still be alive.”
“Fuck!” The Nottingham leapt to portside as Melina set all the thrusters in motion simultaneously. The ship twisted and warning lights and buzzers went off as the missile shot from the Eagle’s messenger ship impacted.
Davis barked out orders, Melina’s and Conn’s hands flying over their control panels as Trev sent a volley of shots back, forcing the other ship to retreat slightly. Holy shit, the bastard had shot at them.
“If you want to quote regulations to me, I suspect starting an unprovoked attack on a stationary vessel is listed somewhere in the violations,” Davis shouted.
“Subsection 34.54. All SIC vessels will alert said—” Sal recited.
“Sal!” Conn growled at her.
Trev stepped forward. “Captain Davis Yurt, I hereby request permission to return to the Eagle—”
“Stand down, Trev.” Idiot. What was Trev up to?
“But, Davis, I—”
Davis moved into Trev’s space and snarled at him. “I said stand down.”
Melina stood and faced the monitor. “Admiral Davenport, please stop—” Melina raised her voice to be heard over the repeti
tive alarms and the high-pitched squeals of dismay from the sharysa swarming over the deck.
Another explosion rocked the Nottingham and Melina fell to the floor.
“This isn’t really about you, Trev. Or you, Melina, although I do thank you for being in the right place at the right time.”
Melina crawled back into her chair and attempted to maneuver. “Davis, three of the propulsion jets are out. I might be able to make a blind jump from the system, but with missing engines we’ll be in trouble on the other end.”
Davis raised a hand. His entire crew would be offering to abandon ship if he didn’t do something quick. “Admiral Davenport. A broadcast of this encounter is being recorded. If you destroy the ship, the message is triggered to automatically send to SIC—and yes, we still know all the high-priority access codes to drop the information into the proper hands to make sure the follow-up inquiry nails your ass to the wall.”
The old man shrugged and spoke to the blank-faced attendant beside him before turning back to Davis. “I don’t plan to kill you. The thought of your immediate removal brings me little pleasure. Now where’s that granddaughter of mine?”
Melina rose again and Davis pulled her close to his side. He wanted to hide her away but Melina would kick his butt for making the suggestion. She needed to face the bastard.
“You had a chance to inform me you’d been in contact with the Nottingham. By your own actions you threw in your lot with a group of do-good wannabes. I’m going to make sure you live to regret the decision. We’ll pick you up shortly. According to the codes of over a dozen planets, you’re all guilty of treason. Trying to decide the proper way to rehabilitate you will take decades. You’re going to rot in jail, my dear girl, along with your deviant partners. Although I’ll make sure it’s not the same jail.”
The man was unbelievable. All this for revenge? Davis couldn’t contain his laugh. “Love you too, Gramps. Six months from now, when you’re weeping into your empty glass and wondering what happened to your princess world, I want you to remember the deviants fucked you over. Nottingham out.” Melina stared at him with shock in her eyes.