“I don’t want any death,” said Jessie.
“I cannot offer you life,” said Whiplash. “That would hardly be fair after the trouble you’ve caused us.”
“I’ve only been playing your game.”
“Another lie,” said Whiplash. “You’re making this hard on yourself.”
Jessie’s exhalation shook out of her. “I know nothing that can help you.”
“Tell me about your loyalty to the Vorten.” Whiplash traced a talon down Jessie’s side. “How long have you been working together?”
“I don’t know any Vorten.”
“You are acquainted with the warrior who is supposed to kill you,” said Whiplash. “What contact did you have with each other prior to this game?”
“None.”
“What arrangement have you made with him so he will not kill you?”
“Before this game, I’d never met Thunde,” said Jessie. “I don’t know any other Vorten.”
“Why is he helping you?”
“He’s not,” said Jessie.
“More lies. Such a shame. There’s no sport in breaking something so small. I doubt I’ll have to use any equipment to snap a bone in your leg.” Whiplash slid his talons from the top of Jessie’s thigh to her calf and began to squeeze. “Let’s see how easy you are to damage.”
Jessie pressed her lips together as she felt the sting of blood oozing from her flesh as Whiplash dug his talons in.
The smaller Fraken moved to Whiplash’s side and muttered in his ear.
Whiplash shrugged and let go of Jessie’s calf. “This is your last chance. Are you prepared to reveal your information?”
“I can’t tell you what I don’t know,” choked out Jessie.
Whiplash shook his head. “All we wish to know is how long you’ve been involved with the Vorten and what they’re plotting. And, if you provide us with the names of other warriors disobeying our orders, I might spare you and have you sold to another alien.”
“I’m not yours to sell,” spat out Jessie, unable to stop a tear leaking from the corner of one eye.
Whiplash caught the tear on a talon and flicked it to the ground. “You are mine while you’re in this game. And you might enjoy your time as a slave. It would mean you get to keep your life, but I cannot guarantee what kind of slave you will be.” He stroked his talons back up Jessie’s leg, prodding her knees apart and grazing the flesh on her inner thigh.
“I choose death over slavery,” said Jessie, her voice quivering with terror.
“We have other captives we can speak to,” said Whiplash. “Keep your secrets if you wish; it does not make you indispensable.”
“The Vorten are honorable,” said Jessie. “They are doing a good thing by resisting you.”
“They’re doing a foolish thing,” snapped Whiplash. “And they will pay a heavy price for their treachery.”
Sweat prickled in Jessie’s armpits as she watched Whiplash’s gaze run over her. She could feel her death hanging in the air. And he was right, he could kill her easily with a slash of his talons or a bite.
“But for now, you live,” said Whiplash. “My colleague, Cabula, is interested in you. He has been experimenting with Human-Fraken hybrids and needs a new test subject.”
“No!” The word slipped out of Jessie’s mouth before she could stop herself. The thought of a Fraken touching her, impregnating her, was too much to bear.
Whiplash smirked. “Perhaps I can provide the genetic material? My credentials are outstanding, and I have sampled human female flesh before. It is always so soft and yielding.”
“Do not touch me,” growled out Jessie, as she strained against her restraints, the muscles in her arms protesting as she squirmed and bucked.
Whiplash tilted his head, and his smirk widened. “Not this time. Cabula uses a more clinical method to impregnate his subjects. But I will be back, and I will enjoy you at my leisure. And if Cabula’s experiment is not a success, I will take great delight in destroying you and wiping away every pleasant memory you have ever had. When I finally kill you, you’ll be begging me to do so.”
Jessie turned her head away, determined not to let Whiplash see more of her hot tears. Instead, her gaze met Cabula’s, who raised a filled syringe in one hand and stepped towards her.
“I am ready to begin my experiment,” said Cabula. “Prepare the test subject.”
Jessie’s fists clenched, and she raised her chin. She was not going to let them do this. Whatever she had to do, even if it meant she would die doing it, the Fraken were not going to hurt her anymore.
***
Thunde kept his grip loose on the lightning stick. Despite the almost overwhelming urge to charge the Fraken ship he’d discovered, he knew he needed to wait. He’d been studying the Fraken guard movements, and they had regular patrols doing a circuit around the ship. Three Fraken had returned, so far, reported into the ship, and left again. They must be hunting for him and Jessie if she wasn’t already on board. So far, he’d counted a dozen Fraken, typical for a small fighter jet like this.
His tracking of Jessie’s blood had led him directly here, and he was convinced she was on board. A growl slid from his lips as horrible images of what they could be doing to her flitted through his mind. They would be interrogating her, trying to find out what she knew about the escape plan. He’d seen the Fraken in action many times and knew they were capable of much more than a simple interrogation. They could have already killed Jessie, and her body could be lying in the game somewhere for the beasts to pick over. Or they might be making preparations to take her back to the Fraken homeland and parade her in the streets like some sick trophy, before torturing her and leaving her to die.
The lightning stick in Thunde’s grip squeaked in protest, and he forced himself to relax. All he wanted to do, all he had to do, was get Jessie off that ship and safely away from the Fraken.
He watched as the guards moved away from the ship, their gaze on the trees. This could be a guard changeover. A few seconds later, two new Fraken emerged, and all of them disappeared into the ship.
Thunde took his opportunity to dash to the side of the ship. He used his camouflage abilities to blend in with the sleek blackness of the ship’s exterior, but the lightning stick remained visible in his hand. And he needed that. He had to be swift and deadly if he was going to get in the ship to save Jessie.
Thunde took two rapid steps towards the boarding slope. His heart sped up as he heard footsteps approaching. He swung around to the bottom of the boarding slope, aimed the lightning stick, and blasted the two Fraken in front of him before they’d had an opportunity to raise the alarm and get reinforcements.
Stepping over their bodies, he kicked their weapons away and shifted the lightning stick so the cudgel end faced forward. He didn’t need to alert any more Fraken on board as to what he was doing and couldn’t risk a blast from the laser.
He strode to an entranceway and checked it was clear. He inhaled deeply. Jessie’s scent was strongest to the right of the corridor. He ducked back as he heard voices coming towards him and waited until he got a clear sight of two more Fraken. He swung the cudgel, smashing it into the side of the first Fraken’s head. Thunde twirled the lightning stick, driving it up into the other’s jaw.
The second Fraken was fast, and although he’d been wounded by Thunde’s assault, he deflected the worst of the blow with his arm. The Fraken swung a punishing blow at Thunde with his own lightning stick, smashing into his already injured shoulder.
Thunde roared with agony and slammed the cudgel into the Fraken’s throat. The Fraken raked his talons down Thunde’s arm, but he barely noticed, as he ground the cudgel into the Fraken’s scaled neck, cutting off his airway.
The Fraken gave a gargle as his hands scrabbled against the force of Thunde’s hold, before slumping down.
Leaping over the Frakens’ bodies, Thunde hurried along the corridor. Jessie was so close, he could taste her scent. And mingled with her familiar sweet
odor was an acrid tinge of terror. If they’d hurt her, he would tear the world apart until he’d got vengeance. Jessie was not going to die like this. He had plans for them when they got out of this game; he wanted to show her everything space had to offer, show her how incredible she really was, and make her a part of Axen’s plans and his, as well. And he wouldn’t be able to do any of that if he didn’t get her off this ship alive.
Chapter 23
Jessie’s throat tightened in horror as Cabula approached the table she was strapped to. “Keep away from me.” She yanked against the bindings on her wrists, desperation fueling her veins with adrenaline.
“This won’t hurt,” said Cabula. “Well, not much. And believe me; it will be more pleasurable than what Daruk would do if he decides to take you as his own.”
Jessie looked over to where the Fraken she knew as Whiplash stood. He lounged against the entrance of the room, his gaze on her, his sharp tongue sliding between his teeth as he saw her watching.
“Don’t be so sure about that,” said Daruk. “You might as well know, Cabula has a one hundred percent failure rate when it comes to creating successful hybrids. If you were his first success, every Fraken will want a turn on you. They will want to breed with you and see what they can create. You would become an extremely popular human on our planet. Would being fucked to death please you?”
“I’m not going to breed with any of you,” spat out Jessie. “And keep that damn needle away from me.” Her head whipped around as Cabula’s cool fingers touched her leg.
Cabula glanced at Daruk. “Perhaps a light sedative to make things easier? It helps when subjects are relaxed. Implantation goes more smoothly.”
“No. She needs to be aware of what you’re doing to her,” said Daruk. “Let it be a part of her punishment for betraying us and siding with the Vorten traitor.”
Jessie clamped her knees together. “I’m not going to be implanted with anything.” She felt the binding on her left wrist give as she continued to strain, and slid her thumb into her palm as she wiggled her hand an inch out of the tie.
“Yes, you will,” said Daruk. “Because if you won’t, after I’m done with you, I’ll throw you back into the game and let the rest of my troop have you. Some enjoy the taste of human flesh. You will be a treat for them.”
“This is the better option,” said Cabula. “And you can become a celebrity on our homeland. If this is a success, we will be very interested in you.”
“Whiplash said you’d never succeeded with this,” said Jessie.
Cabula frowned at her. “Who’s Whiplash?”
Jessie bit her lip. “I mean, Daruk.”
Cabula smirked. “Is that what you call him?”
“I don’t know him,” said Jessie. “But that’s what Thunde said he was called, something about the way he kills his victims.”
Daruk thumped his lightning stick on the ground. “I am not some pet to be given a nickname, not by prey and their poisoned sidekick.”
Cabula shrugged, a sly smile sliding across his scaled face. “It suits you.”
Daruk snapped his teeth and stalked towards Jessie. “I will kill you for that insult.”
“But she’s mine to test now,” said Cabula, his teeth clicking together and a low hiss slipping out of his mouth. “Give me three clics, and I shall have completed my work. I will monitor the implantation to see if it has been a success. And if it has not—”
“If it has not, then I will take her and rip her apart for the audience to see,” said Daruk. “And then I will find the traitorous Vorten and do the same to him. I will have him on his knees begging for mercy as I take his life.”
A sob escaped Jessie’s throat at the thought of Thunde being killed.
Daruk raked a talon along Jessie’s leg. “Would you like to see that? I can keep you alive long enough for you to see your hero warrior destroyed in front of you. Maybe then, you’ll realize Vortens are not to be relied upon. They are not the strong, fierce warriors they pretend to be. You have placed your trust in the wrong aliens, and it has been your downfall.”
Jessie swallowed the bile in her throat. “You will never beat Thunde. And you will never beat the Vorten.”
“But we have beaten you,” sneered Daruk. “It will not be long before this game ends and we have won. Until then, we will do with you what we will. Cabula will complete his tests, and then, when he is done, I will have you.”
Jessie shuddered as Daruk led Cabula to the door. They spoke with their heads close, and she took the opportunity to yank her left hand free of the bindings. Her wrist ached and her muscles felt torn, but with one hand free, she would have a chance to defend herself and fight off Cabula and his hateful syringe.
She tucked her hand to her side to disguise the fact she was no longer bound, as her gaze shot around the room, looking for a suitable weapon. The medical equipment had possibilities but would mean reaching over her body, which could be spotted.
Jessie studied Cabula as he continued to talk to Daruk. He was small for a Fraken, but still much bigger than her, and had sharp teeth and talons. If she aimed a kick in the right place, she might disable him long enough to free her other hand and grab a weapon.
Daruk glanced over at Jessie and gave her one last sneer before leaving the room.
Cabula approached the table. “Relax for a moment. I need to complete some small incisions on your abdomen before we begin the insertion procedure.”
“You’re going to cut me open?” Jessie licked her lips. “Is that necessary?”
“Only small cuts,” said Cabula. “Nothing life threatening. And Daruk sees no reason for you to be knocked out as I cut you. He has not taken kindly to you.”
“I imagine he doesn’t like any prey.” Jessie’s gaze locked onto the laser scalpel in Cabula’s hand.
“You’re an asset, but a disposable one,” said Cabula. “That’s all he cares about. Prepare yourself before I begin cutting. It will sting, but try not to scream too loudly. It always hurts my ears.”
“Why don’t you just do it?” asked Jessie. “Why care about whether I’m ready for the pain?”
“Not all Fraken are warriors,” said Cabula. “I enjoy research and science more than fighting. Although, I have my own weapons to use when required.” He snapped his teeth together.
“Perhaps we’re not so different,” said Jessie, her limbs shaking as Cabula drew closer. “I was a researcher on Earth.”
Cabula glanced at her. “You conducted scientific tests on other aliens?”
“Not that kind of research,” said Jessie. “I worked in an archive.”
“Theoretical research.” Cabula waved the scalpel in the air. “Hardly the same thing. To get true results, you need to be hands-on, creating new experiments and tests. It’s the only way to succeed.”
“Doesn’t sound like you’ve been successful so far,” said Jessie. “Everything you’ve done has failed. You must have killed hundreds of innocent people.”
Cabula hissed at her, his yellow eyes narrowing. “Perhaps you will be my first success. But to know that, I’m going to have to cut you open. Still your tongue, so I don’t slip with the scalpel and slit your throat.”
Jessie’s mouth dried, and she ran her tongue over her teeth. “Maybe we can share research and knowledge? I could be more valuable to you than a vessel for impregnation.”
“Not interested.” Cabula grabbed a mouth guard and pressed it against her lips. “Bite down on this. It will stop your noise.”
Jessie turned her head away, but Cabula grabbed her hair and yanked her head around. “I will kill you. Just because you have a small value to me doesn’t make you priceless. Open your mouth and bite down.”
Jessie’s chin trembled as she accepted the mouth guard. She took a deep breath as she watched Cabula slide his claws over her belly. He was going to kill her.
***
Thunde shook with repressed rage. Every fibre in his body urged him onwards, closer to Jessie. His gaze s
hifted as he watched the guards on the closed door in front of him. Their movements showed they were on high alert, looking for him, and expecting an attack. They were right to be cautious. Thunde had plans to slit their throats for taking Jessie from him.
Jessie could not be dead; he needed her alive. But still, images of her being devoured by some twisted Fraken with a taste for human flesh wouldn’t leave him. Thunde growled low in his chest, and his hands clenched around the lightning stick.
He swallowed his anger as he slid back into the shadows as the Fraken guards began their new circuit of the ship’s interior. He waited until they had passed, waited for them to split at the corridor’s intersection, and then followed one silently, his weight on the balls of his feet and his weapon poised. This Fraken looked strong, with solid muscles and a fierce looking spike attached to the end of his lightning stick. He needed to die first, then Thunde would dispatch his weaker Fraken companion.
He matched the Fraken’s steps, his stride longer so he gained on him. The Fraken paused and raised his nose. Thunde tensed, just as the Fraken turned, a hiss exploding from his mouth as he saw him.
Thunde didn’t hesitate in smashing the cudgel end of the lightning stick towards the Fraken’s head.
The Fraken parried the blow with his own stick, lessening the impact of Thunde’s attack.
Thunde ducked and drove the lightning stick into the Fraken’s stomach, hearing him grunt as he did so. He felt a slash of talons across his shoulders, but drew back the lightning stick and punched it into the Fraken’s stomach a second time.
The Fraken grabbed the lightning stick Thunde held and tugged it towards him, trying to get Thunde closer to his vicious teeth. But Thunde held fast, and with a roar, slammed the Fraken back into the wall.
The Fraken snapped his teeth in Thunde’s face as he closed the gap between them. “You will not get out of here alive, Vorten betrayer.”
“I will,” spat Thunde. “And I’m taking what’s mine.”
The Fraken opened his mouth to speak, but Thunde slammed a fist into his teeth, and the Fraken dropped to the ground.
Thunde Page 17