by Catty Diva
“Well try to be careful and next time, how about a heads up?” The guard asked. Jazzy shot him a look that said really? “Okay, just if you can.”
The guards retreated like they were on fire. Caffrey was a high authority among the labs and a well-known asshole. Few had the balls to question anything done in his name and these guards were no exceptions. Since Jill had gotten an answer, maybe she’d let things drop at least for a little while. If she did, it would all be over.
Brutus wasn’t going to relax until backup was here and the lab was taken down. Shari was sleeping again. She’d woke during the confrontation and Brutus didn’t know what his lovely patient thought about what she’d heard.
It was odd sitting there holding her hand in his. He wasn’t tired and he really couldn’t sleep in this room. The scents reminded him too much of his youth. It brought back memories long hidden in the back of his mind.
“Mommy, where’s Bint?”
“Brent had to go. They took him somewhere else.”
“Did Daddy go to?” His mom dissolved into tears. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to know.”
“It’s okay, Brutus. You’re such a good boy. Everything will be alright. Just remember we love you, even if we’re not here with you.”
“Don’t go, Mommy. I don’t want to be alone.”
“I’m here right now. Just go to sleep, my sweet one.”
He woke up in the morning and she was gone. The tears fell like rain and his heart hurt, but it did no good. They were all gone and he was alone. It wasn’t long after that before he was taken away. Lots of children with stories just like him where in the orphanage, if you could call it that. Many of them escaped into the streets where they were toughened up and learned how to survive, alone.
Brutus got a job, at a young age. Maybe he was eight or nine and helped load ships and trucks. It helped him build muscles and he grew tall at an early age. Once he could protect himself, he became a bounty hunter. That was better than being a criminal. Cash found him and offered him a better job and the rest was history.
Now, he and the other hunters rescued people like his family. Things had truly come full circle. Had he come along far enough to claim a woman and have a family? Why was he even thinking about that?
It was amazing they had made it through a whole day without Jazzy’s plan falling apart. Jill, the one in charge of the guards was trying to reach someone in a higher capacity, to undo what Jazzy was doing. It was only a matter of time before she got through and found out they were posing as people that didn’t exist. What would happen then, was everything would fall apart like a house of cards.
“Someday, Brutus, everything will work out.”
“I doubt that, Cash. Someday, they’ll all be gone and it won’t matter anymore.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you have a dark outlook?” Cash asked.
“Yes, you tell me that all the time. It’s dark because of what I’ve seen and what I know to be true.”
“Someday you’ll find someone that will change all that.”
“What about you?”
“Me? What do you mean?”
“When will you find someone to change all that?”
“I’m not made to have someone like that. I would just drive them away or ruin them. The rest of you can find that happiness. If you do, never give it up. That only comes once in your life. Do you understand?”
Maybe he didn’t fully understand then, but he thought he did now. Brutus looked at Shari and he knew, he just knew, she was it. Even with a child growing inside her and according to the records, other children to find, she was his, and so were they. Brutus had never thought about having children before and now, if Shari accepted him, he would have an instant family. He should be scared, he might even be frightened later once it sank in, but right now he just felt a warm happy feeling inside.
The next day, he felt a bit sore from sleeping the night in a chair. They were getting closer to the time his back up would arrive and all would be safe. Shari already looked healthier and her appetite had picked up. His libido was kicking in, now that she was no longer in harm’s way. It wasn’t that he didn’t still feel protective of her, he did. Now, he wanted to protect her and make love to her as well.
Chapter 5
Newsworthy
“Shilo Knows ace reporter here. I’m waiting in the outer office of Moon Hunters Inc. about to interview the hunky Cash, owner and operator of this company that has caught the attention of the people of Earth. Part of the reason is their close association with the Mazlans, those hunky males many Earth women seem to be fighting, for a chance to be sent to as mail-order brides.”
“Cut, Sissy.” Shilo called to the camera person, as Cash watched their antics pulled up on his computer screen from the cameras in the waiting room.
“She’s a piranha and you’re trying to take a swim with her,” Dani accused.
“The woman is a means to an end. We’re getting too much attention from these labs being busted and I need to diffuse the situation.”
“By answering questions about it?”
“No, by giving her something else to hunt.”
“She’ll take it, say thank you, and be right back on your tail.”
“Let me worry about that. You just escort her in here.”
“Fine,” Dani said, as she stomped out the door.
Cash just sighed heavily as he thought that this was one of those days he just couldn’t win. He glanced at the camera where it looked as if Dani and Shilo were deep in a genial conversation. Dani pointed toward the office and led the way. The second the door opened, Cash turned off the screen and leaned back to project the image of a confident and comfortable man with no worries of any kind. It was timed perfectly as Dani ushered Shilo and her camera person in and left hurriedly.
“Good morning, Miss Knows.”
“Hello Cash. Is that a name or a nickname? It sounds like a nickname.”
“You mean like knows for a news lady?”
Shilo glared at him, “The people of Earth want to know more about you and your company. There are rumors that you and your hunters have been heavily involved in bringing down the labs. Can you tell us your part in it?”
“Yes, I can. We get notified by an anonymous source just in time to rescue the victims in these horrible places. All of us, every decent citizen in our part of the galaxy, owes a debt to those people that are risking their lives to bring justice and decency to our little part of space. If they are out there listening, I’m grateful for the risks they take and the horrible crimes by big companies of Earth that they are bringing to light.”
“Did you just say companies on Earth are behind these horrible testing facilities?” Shilo looked stunned. It wasn’t her best look.
“That’s exactly what I said. Here is a drive with rock solid proof on it and a copy of the lawsuit we filed on behalf of the survivors with the justice system on Earth. Now, we’ll see if they really mean justice for all.”
“Shilo gulped and turned back to face the cameras, “Folks, you heard it here first. Our legal team will review the information and our audience will get a full report. From Moon Hunters Inc.’s headquarter’s, this is Shilo Knows, sounding off. Cut the film now.” Shilo directed her camera person. “You could have given me a heads up, but I’ll forgive you since I got the scoop of my career.”
“What if it doesn’t pan out?”
“I think it will, but if not, we’ll lay the blame at your door and the report will be about how you tried to fool everyone.”
“Anyone tell you that you’re a real sweetheart?”
“That’s not a title that goes with reporter.”
“You’re telling me. The information will check out. An anonymous source sent it to me from Earth. These people take evil to a whole new level,” Cash admitted.
“Why are you doing this?”
“It’s the right thing to do. Sometimes that’s enough.”
“You’re hiding thin
gs from me, but I’ll wait until my report on the information is out. Once that’s done, I’ll be back. I’ve been around long enough to know when I’m being put off the trail.” She stepped up to the door. “I’ll be back.” Shilo motioned to her camera person to follow along.
It left Cash wondering how much of the information the station would actually release in their report. They couldn’t hide it all and if the report wasn’t comprehensive enough, Cash and company would hijack the airwaves and send out more of the information. Evil hid in the dark of ignorance and that wouldn’t be allowed anymore.
Cash knew that things would start happening now and he needed to get back up to his people regardless of what else might be going on. Pressing the call button on his desk he yelled, “Dani!”
She came in seconds later. “You rang?” She asked sarcastically. His assistant was no longer the shy girl who blushed when he glanced at her. He suspected she still had feelings for him, but she no longer let it show. Dani had learned to call him on his shit and not let him get by with it.
“I need to call in my one percenters along with Zac and Bear. The shit’s gonna hit the fan and my interview may have been a mistake. They’ll be looking for infiltrators now.”
“Ya think?”
“Hey, be nice.” Cash said. He was beginning to miss the sweet girl she’d been only weeks ago.
“You don’t pay me enough to be nice.”
“How about if I give you a raise?” He was just joking.
“I’d consider it depending on the amount of the raise.”
“Never mind. We need to call in all our experienced people and start the raid now.” Brutus and Jazzy were in need of saving and he was moving up the timeline.
“I’ll get right on it,” Dani agreed, and hurried out the door. She was probably at her desk making the calls one after another.
He could admit to himself, he’d grown to care for her. At first, he’d been drawn in by her looks and how easily she’d blushed. After a time, he’d become completely enamored of her. Cash suspected the female might be his one. No other females, not even the ballsy but sexy reported could build a fire in him. It seemed Dani was it, but he could never ask that beautiful and polished woman to settle for a no good like him.
A knock sounded on the doorframe because the door was open. Looking up, he saw Dani waiting to be acknowledged. “Yes?”
“I’ve finished the calls and all the one percenters, even Cyn and Justice are headed to space station Gamma. Their arrival times will be spread out over the next three days. Razar does have some of the Phoenix people nearby on a small ship doing a standard buying run,” Dani pointed out.
The Phoenix people were the indigenous people that shared this moon with us. They were a warrior race like the Mazlans, except their culture and ways were kept secret and hidden from outsiders and even more so than their neighbors, than the Mazlans.
From the rare times he’d seen one of them fight, he’d bemoaned the fact that he couldn’t hire them to work for him. Yes, they were that amazing. They jumped high in the air with a grace that made them look as if they flew. Just like the Phoenix of legends which all over the galaxy was said to be a bird.
Chapter 6
Hopeful
Jazzy had been checking in on Brutus and Shari as often as she could. A few of the nearby senior hunters had made it to the station, but not enough of them to make a successful raid on the lab. It had been five days since Brutus had arrived and each day Jazzy grew more nervous.
Jill, the bitch in charge of the guards, was still trying to contact headquarters. Eventually, even with no technical skills, she’d get lucky. It was like thinking about the bitch had summoned her.
“Jazzy, hold up.” Jill yelled as she waved at her to get her attention.
“What do you want?” Jazzy asked.
“Do you know why headquarters would go dark?” Jill demanded.
“You mean other than the fact that we’ve had information stolen, labs raided, and subjects taken?” Jazzy asked sarcasm dripping off every word.
Jill flushed. “I’ve been trying to contact someone I actually know and not that anonymous secretary that tells me everything is okay.”
“In other words, you want to keep contacting people until someone agrees with you?”
“You have to understand your presence here is unexpected. No one knew about you until you showed up.”
“That’s so full of shit. I’ve been with the organization since I graduated at sixteen. They called me the wonder girl of zeta program. Being Caffrey’s niece had little to do with me being hired.” Jazzy had read up on that girl. She’d been presumed lost in a fire at the lab on Earth.
“I have heard of her but she disappeared.”
“Everyone important to the project disappears when attention is put on them. They also come back when needed. Several scientists have done that, too.”
“You are right about that, but some never come back.”
“You are a doubter. The program has the power to do what it needs to and you are just disappointed to find out that you aren’t at a high enough level to be told anything.” Jazzy could see Jill was beginning to have doubts. Good. Maybe it would slow her down.
Jazzy moved on past Jill as if she was nothing and she didn’t care who she called. It wasn’t true, but she intended to show no weaknesses. At the end of the hall was her goal, medical. Pushing the door open, she walked right in and took a good look at Shari. The female was about to drop, her stomach ballooned out like a beach ball.
Brutus must know something about healing because she was starting to flesh out and her eyes were bright and healthy looking. Her skin had cleared up and was no longer grey looking. “She’s doing well,” Jazzy noted.
“She’s put on weight, her tests are coming back with good levels. They are almost normal now.”
“Is she on anything you’re testing?”
“Yes, I’m testing a nutrient for expectant mothers at risk for spontaneous abortion. The results have been excellent.” Jazzy knew it wasn’t true, but there were people listening in.
“My uncle will be glad to know you’re proceeding with some of the research that makes money short term.” It was hard to remember to pretend to be capitalistic and heartless all the time.
“We are making great strides. It won’t be much longer before we reap the rewards of our hard work.”
Jazzy stuck around talking to Brutus for about an hour before she headed back to walk around the halls. She was figuring out some of the connections between subjects. If only she could just talk to these people and tell them help was on its way. They were being fed and treated better, but it was still a prison and none of them knew they would be free soon.
When the guards changed, she headed to the station with them. Jazzy put in a call to Cash.
“Jazzy, is that you?” He couldn’t see her because there was no video only audio. It was easier to prevent anyone from intercepting or listening into their call is they didn’t have the video.
“Yeah, it’s me. How is the plan progressing?”
“We will have everyone in place tomorrow. Razar has a ship of Phoenix that will be assisting.”
“I don’t know much about them. Do they know the risks?”
“Of course. They are warriors. You’ll be impressed.”
“I’ll appreciate any assistance. I’m ready to get out of here.”
“Just hang in there. It’ll be alright soon.”
“Thanks Cash.”
“What for?”
“Just for being you and for not being mad.”
“I could never stay mad at you, Jazzy.”
They hung up and now she needed to try and get some sleep knowing tomorrow would be the day they’d finally make the big move. She rolled around trying to get comfortable, and at some point after twisting up her sheets, she managed to fall into a deep sleep.
Jazzy woke in the morning with a feeling of excitement and hopefulness. Today was the day i
t would all come together. She showered, dressed, and headed down to the lab. Cash hadn’t given her a time for the attack to commence, but it couldn’t be soon enough to suit her. Exiting the shuttle that hauled people and supplies from the station to the lab, Jazzy headed down the hall hoping to avoid undesirables and see Brutus first thing.
Luck wasn’t with her, as Jill accosted her as soon as she entered the wing where subjects were kept. “You don’t look much like your uncle.” Jill accused.
“Give it a rest. Family resemblance isn’t a guarantee. Everyone says I have his eyes. Not the color so much as the look he gets and the shape of my eyes.” Jill stared hard at her.
“I don’t see it,” She said critically.
“Don’t know what to tell you. Just keep at it and you’ll see that I have his temper,” Jill stepped back. It told Jazzy she was well aware of that temper.
Jazzy hit medical and Brutus was working in the lab area doing some testing. Shari was sleeping in one of the small patient rooms. “She looks close.” Jazzy observed. Brutus jerked, she’d startled him.
“Don’t sneak up on me like that. I could have dropped something.” He said indicating the test tubes he was holding.
“Sorry, Man. Any breakthroughs today?”
“Too early to tell.”
“I’ll be making my rounds, if you need anything. Uncle Caffrey told me your research is more important than anything else being done here today.” Jazzy hoped Brutus understood things were happening today.
She left to check on the subjects and found a guard messing with one of the young girls. “Did you fail to get the memo?”
“What memo? I’ve been on vacation and just got back. Who the hell are you?” The guard asked.
“I’m Jazzy and there are new rules in place. You want to get laid, get a sex worker. Subjects are hands off now. If they are bred, it better not be by you.
“Who died and left you in charge?”
“My uncle Caffrey didn’t die and he left me in charge for now.”
“No way in hell does Caffrey have a niece? He was an only child.”