by Ava Ryant
Alexa heard a pinging sound of firing weapons and knew that the flimsy barricade would not last. She went room-by-room and grabbed every piece of available equipment, beds and stuff and moved it to reinforce the blockade, she gently moved all the patients to the last room at the same time. Until there was a literal wall of...junk blocking most of the hallway. Then she sighed, her head going a bit dizzy and sat on the floor, her Tk was close to burnout. Alexa prayed the barricade lasted. She sent a feeling of urgency to Ryhs and knew he felt her worry and stress and was hurrying to her. Hopefully with reinforcements.
Chapter 24
Ryhs sped through the city, his La’Ro and a team of guards with him as he kept intense focus on his bond with Alexa. After being without it for over ten hours...he was not about to lose it now. Nothing, absolutely nothing, terrified him more than losing her and their bond. He could feel her exhaustion and urgency flood him and he knew something was wrong. She needed help. Now.
“Faster!” Ryhs barked out, urging the driver on. His La’Ro gave him a grim look as they increased their acceleration to a dangerous speed. Ryhs felt them draw closer to her and signalled them to a stop. He and the others hopped out in front of a circumspect building in the warehouse district. This was where she was being held.
“This is it.” He said urgently and tried to lunge out of the transport but his La’Ro grabbed him and halted his momentum.
“Stay calm, son. We must be sensible, this could be a trap.”
“My Spark is in there!” Ryhs burst out in agitation. He didn’t want to be sensible or calm. He wanted his Mate.
“I know. Take this weapon and put this on.” His La’Ro said gruffly handing him a pulse bar and an standard armor-plated vest. It wasn’t the same as nanite-armor, that was specifically used for fleet personnel. Guardsmen used standard armor. He hurriedly pulled it on as the guards went up to the door with Owen. He had changed into his beast-form and Ryhs could see the guards giving him looks of trepidation. Ryhs had contacted Owen as soon as he awoke and realized his mate had been taken. He had seen what the beast-form could do and knew that he would be an asset.
They breached the building and found...nothing. It was filled with storage crates and not much else. His La’Ro gave him a confused look but he knew she was here.
“Scan the building. She’s here.” He said with certainty. The guards setout searchers that floated around and scanned every inch of the space. A beep sounded and Ryhs looked at his pad and saw that there was a negative field underneath the building indicating shielding that blocked cursory scanning. That meant there had to be a subterranean facility. It didn’t take them long after that to find a hidden entrance that led underground. What they found was several sub-layers of...laboratories. These labs were of the finest tech and highly-illegal. Each level they cleared made him more grim as he saw evidence of long-term use and dangerous experiments. What was this place? He and his La’Ro shared a grim look.
They heard the firing of weapons as soon as they entered the last level. Fear and rage raced through him as he shot forward. He saw a group of Laren males in security uniforms behind some type of barricade, shooting and trying to dismantle it. His Spark must be behind it and savage anger had him charging forward.
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Alexa heard a scuffle from behind the barrier and realized it was fighting. Relief flooded her. Ryhs was here. His presence was like a living flame and it was growing warmer inside her. Using the last of her Tk she pulled chunks of the blockade back as she saw Ryhs fighting with vicious intent with one of the security goons. He was a stunning display of fearsome violence in motion. He showed no hesitation as he snapped one of the males necks in a quick movement. Wow, she hadn’t known he could fight like this. He finished and sent another male flying against the wall and they locked gazes as she tried to stand.
He rushed to her and she was pulled up and into his arms in seconds. They clung to one another and then...they were kissing. It was desperate and perfect. Her arms tight around him as she let go off all her pent-up anger and fear.
“Are you injured my Spark?” Ryhs pulled back and asked her urgently, his hands were running up and down her body, searching for any wounds.
“Not really, but the others...they’re in a bad way.”
“What others?” He asked confused. Alexa pulled him and the Ambassador into the last room, explaining how she woke up, the neuro-block and then...the others. She could feel the shock and disgust as they listened and then saw the Laren patients.
“You have this scientist contained?” Ambassador Lyric asked in harsh voice.
“Yes, he’s unconscious. He was hit by those pulse weapons.” She said and pointed over to where the scientist was laying on the ground. Ryhs growled and started towards him, a merciless expression on his face. Alexa grabbed hold of him and held him back, knowing that they needed to question the sicko and...she really didn’t want him away from her for even a moment.
“Let your father handle it.” She whispered, seeing the Ambassador already having the guards cuff and carry out the scientist. Ryhs didn’t like it but he nodded, his arms wrapping around her in a tight embrace.
The Ambassador called for reinforcements and healers. Simin came and her gasp of horror was everything that Alexa had been feeling.
“Can you help them?” Alexa asked softly of the gentle Healer.
“I do not know. I have never seen anything like this before.” Simin answered truthfully and Alexa felt a pit open up in her stomach as she insisted on waiting until all the patients had been transported away from this horrible place. Ryhs at her side the whole time, his presence a comfort and a strength.
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Alexa leaned back in the onsen alcove, a privacy screen in place blocking them from view. Apparently, communal bathing was the norm and each home had a subterranean level with a bathhouse that was shared by all. No matter what the Laren custom was she could not get on board with the whole bathing-in-public thing. Nope, not happening. Especially since Ryhs was with her, his hands grazing loving over her skin as they soaked in the steaming water. It was blissful and private.
“Is it true?” She asked, her mind going back to what that scientist said about the Laren.
“Is what true?” Ryhs asked confused and she explained. Ryhs frowned.
“I know there has been a decline in recent Matings but...I have not heard anything about a virus or contagion.” He answered and she could feel his honesty. She nodded and turned in his arms. She reached up and kissed him, wrapping her arms around him and letting the passion between them come to bear.
Chapter 25
“It’s true, isn’t it.” Alexa said in a tight voice, standing in the Ambassador’s private office. She felt Ryhs’s shock at her words but she ignored them, focusing on the Ambassador. His face went blank at her words and the pit in her stomach opened wider. She was right. He opened his mouth to speak but she interrupted him.
“Don’t lie to me Ambassador.” Alexa gritted out, hands clenched. They stared at each other, both knowing the truth. Or at least a part of it. She wanted it all.
“Yes, it is true.” He finally said and this time Ryhs’s shock had him surging to his feet.
“What are you saying La’Ro?” Ryhs demanded. The Ambassador sighed.
“Over a century ago there was an outbreak. A virus that seemed to affect many children, our Scientists and Healers were able to seemingly snuff it out quickly and we thought that was that. What we didn’t realize was the insidiousness of the disease. It...corrupted parts of our genetic code, that corruption was passed on to our offspring. We didn’t know it until decades later when...Matings began to surcease. Researchers found the problem but it was too late; everything we tried to correct the corruption failed. It was theorized that because of the way we procreate, Matings ceased to occur when there was too much corruption in the genetic code. That we would not Spark if both female and male carried too much corruption.” Alex
a nodded but knew that wasn’t all of it.
“Continue.” She bit out angrily.
“Six annums ago when the Coalition became aware of Earth. I was the nearest Ambassador, so I was tasked with making contact.” He paused. Alexa waved her hand, wanting him to finish.
“I was struck by your species...likeness to us. In all my travels there has never been another race so...similar. Your physical features, your psychic abilities, it made me suspect that there could be a common ancestry between our two races.”
“What?” Alexa asked astonished, she hadn’t expected him to say that. Common ancestry? What the hell? Ryhs groaned next to her and gave his father a flat look of disbelief.
“My La’Ro is a Theorist Zealot. He believes in the theory of the Lost Ships.” Ryhs said in a peeved voice.
“Uhm...the what?” She asked confused. Ambassador Lyric’s face turned eager as he explained.
“During the early annums of the Laren space exploration, many ships were sent out with crews to explore the surrounding universe. It was a vastly different place than it is today. It was wild and lawless. There was no Coalition, no Laren fleet. We were a fledgling society. Some of the ships...were lost. It is theorized by many...” Ryhs snorted at that, the Ambassador glared at him.
“Do not lie, La’Ro. It is a very small percentage of the scientific community that truly believes this theory.” Ryhs bit out. The Ambassador ignored him and carried on as if he hadn’t interrupted but they exchanged heated looks.
“It is theorized by many that some of the ships survived and traveled the Universe and seeded new worlds.” Alexa listened to all this in silence but she agreed with Ryhs, this was a farfetched Theory at best.
“On Earth, during our initial talks I had scouts take blood and tissue samples of your species.”
“You what!” Alexa yelled in outrage. The Ambassador winced guiltily.
“You violated our agreement! You spied on us!”
“No! It was before that...before we had an agreement. Your world was in disarray it was easy to procure the samples without your knowledge. We did not harm anyone. But the samples did confirm what I had suspected. Humans and Laren were biologically compatible. It is why…” His voice faded off.
“It’s why you gave us the agreement in the first place.” She gritted out.
“Yes and why we pushed it through the Coalition and enforced the protection of Earth’s territory.”
“La’Ro!” Ryhs said in a shocked voice.
“You believe Humans and Laren...are...what? Related?” She asked in a tight voice.
“It is my belief that one of the Lost Ships crashed on Earth sometime after the extinction of your Dino-saurs. I do not think any survived the crash but instead that their...genetic material adapted and is what sprouted the next evolutionary creation on your planet. It explains why your species is so similar and compatible with our own. Why there are so many congruent aspects of our cultures. You said it yourself Alexa, there are many coincidences between our customs.” She had said that, a passing remark at their dinner the other night. The Ambassador had shrugged her off and changed topics. Now she knew why.
But Wow. There was no other word for what he just sprung on her. If, and that was a big if, it was true, then Humans origins was...well...people’s mind would be blown with this news. If it was true...every weird coincidence she had noted about their similar cultures shouted loudly in her mind.
“That was millions of years ago. Are you telling me the Laren are...millions of years old?” Alexa asked curiously, she really couldn’t help herself.
“Yes, the Laren are an Ancient race. We created the Coalition and established law in the Universe. Made contact with millions of different species.” Okay then. Really what else was there to say.
Epilogue
Ryhs found the song. The one Anabel recommended. Fly me to the Moon by someone named Frank Sinatra. He selected it in the database and the music came out over the speakers. His Spark looked up in surprise at her desk. She’s been too busy working these days, stressed with setting up the Embassy and everything that entailed. Everything was moving so fast, a blur of meetings and problems, but he knew she was still upset over the news his father shared with both of them regarding the Laren...Mating issue. In truth he was as well.
She didn’t know what to do, he knew what his La’Ro wanted. His La’Ro wanted her to do...nothing. Let “nature” take its course, let the Alliance stand as is and allow Humans to intermingle with the Laren on both their planets. His La’Ro was betting that Matings would occur. Like Ryhs’s had. Like Noelle’s had. He knew Alexa was torn...this would be keeping an important development from her people but it could also save the Laren race. Her loyalty to her people was as strong as steel, as was her...loyalty and love for him. He would not pressure her to choose between them...would in fact stand against such pressure. Even if it came from his La’Ro. For now though he would put that all aside to hold his Spark.
He went over to her and reached out a hand, she smiled and placed hers in his, getting up as he pulled her close. He whirled her around and they began to move...this close-dancing of the humans was something he loved. The music swelled around them and they danced to the rhythm, flowing outside into their private courtyard. The air was soft and sweet with the night blooms and he twirled his Spark around once more as she laughed with joy.
FLY ME TO THE MOON LYRICS
Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like on
A-Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, baby, kiss me
Fill my heart with song and let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words, please be true
In other words, I love you
Fill my heart with song
Let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for, all I worship and adore
In other words, please be true
In other words
In other words
I love you
WHAT’S COMING!
Here is a list of Works In Progress that will be coming soon!
AURUM
(Order of the Aurum: Book 3)
This is the final book in the Aurum series and completes Ashlyn’s journey.
COMING 2017
MATING DANCE
(Praesidio Corp: Book 1.5)
This is a novella in the Praesidio “universe” for Ryker and Justine!
COMING SUMMER 2017
MATING SIGHT
(Praesidio Corp: Book 2)
COMING TBD
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facebook.com/ava.ryant