A Forgotten Kitten (Sea-anan Saga Book 2)

by Kong, Jessica A

  “An hour and a half,” mumbled Jugar, worriedly regarding his ghastly pale leader.

  Sev sat motionless, staring at the floor. His expression was one of pure horror.

  Thirty minutes went by at a snail’s pace. Sphin resumed control of flying the White Star. Sev was dying inside. He had never felt so helpless or useless. The White Star was traveling at top speed, and they were still an entire hour away from reaching the fleet. In addition, Miko and the other Oceanans’ nonchalant attitudes infuriated him.

  The doors to the bridge opened.

  “Mike, did they succeed?” Jugar anxiously asked his godson.

  Sev’s attention switched from the window to Mike who had paused near the railing. Mike lowered his head and said nothing. It took a few seconds for the reality of it to hit everyone on the bridge. They all stopped what they were doing. Sev felt a cold enter his body. His limbs grew numb. His heart slowed.

  He heard someone call out Serena’s name. A blond Mage hurried past Sev. He knelt by Uma and an unconscious Serena. He lifted Serena into his arms and took her out of the room.

  “Beast, what did they say? What happened?” asked Sphin.

  “The time passed. The grid is still up,” Mike managed to say.

  Jugar spoke up. “That doesn’t mean they’re dead. Perhaps Mathew is having a difficult time hacking into the system.”

  “They want to believe the same thing. That’s why they haven’t left. They’re giving him some more time.”

  Sphin hurriedly asked, “How much time?”

  “They can only afford to sit there a few minutes more. They’re playing Russian roulette as it is. Besides, they don’t feel the delay has anything to do with Mathew not being able to hack into the computers. He’s too smart to have problems with that.”

  Sev stared at Mike. Tears filled his eyes and distorted his image. “Then what you are saying…is that my kitten is dead.”

  Everyone on the bridge heard the dead calm in Sev’s voice. They all faced him after Mike nodded.

  Having his worst nightmare confirmed, Sev slowly turned his face back to the streaking stars. He held onto the frame, locked his knees, and remained perfectly still. A door opened in his core. A series of scenes and images flooded his mind as his soul left in search of Areo’s.

  Twenty minutes later, Sev retook his seat. He had not spoken since the announcement. He inhaled deeply. “Beast…is there any way to hack into Laaren’s computers from aboard the White Stars?”

  Everyone on deck paused what they were doing to look at him. They had wondered when he was going to speak. His silence had placed them all on guard.

  Mike stood beside Sphin, who was flying the ship. They shared a meaningful look. Sev had not addressed either of them by their childhood code names since his return. They believed they understood the reason he did so now.

  “If there was, I’m sure Sparky would have figured it out,” Mike answered, testing Sev’s memory.

  “Who is Sparky?” questioned Angel.

  “Bob McCall,” replied Sev.

  Sphin and Mike looked swiftly at each other.

  “Who created the technology behind the force field?” The zooming stars never registered. Instead, Sev focused on repaying Daehog in the most horrible way possible.

  “Sparky did, with the help of some of his siblings,” replied

  Sphin. “Why?”

  The only part of Sev that moved was his lips. “Then he should know its weakness.”

  “It was created not to have a weakness,” Sphin said.

  The seat swung about. “Then how in the blazes did the Dominion take possession of that planet?”

  “Just like they got to Sea Base Ten. Traitors,” Mike reminded him.

  Sev felt his rage, which was already boiling over, increase. “So, there are traitors within the entire empire.”

  “Apparently so.”

  Sev took even breaths, hoping not to explode. “Where have the traitors who were arrested been taken?”

  Mike and Sphin frowned at the question. Sphin answered him. “Half were taken to a prison planet near Lagoona. The other half is waiting to be transported there. Why?”

  “Have they been sentenced yet?”

  Sev’s voice was void of all emotion, which placed everyone on eggshells.

  Mike cautiously replied, “No, not yet. We’re too busy with this war. Besides, there are still many arrests to make. We want to sentence them together.”

  “Who will sentence them?”

  Mike watched Sev carefully. “Each nation will sentence its own citizens as part of our treaty agreement.”

  “I doubt any of them will get off lightly,” remarked Angel.

  Swiveling back to the front of the ship, Sev’s blazing orbs found him. “Oh, none of them will, I promise you. As ruler of the Seaanan Empire, all those responsible for the death of my…” He grabbed the sides of his seat. “They will pay with their petty lives. I will settle for nothing less.”

  “Sev, come with me for a while. Leave Mike in charge,” suggested Jugar.

  “Why?”

  “Because I think you need a break.”

  Sev’s fingers gripped the armrests tighter. “What I need has been taken from me a second time, Jugar. There is nothing left that I need.”

  Placing his hand on Sev’s forearm, Jugar pleaded with him. “I’m sorry. But really, come with me. Please.”

  Sev went back to staring out the window from his seat. “Remove your hand, cat. I will remain until her dream has been fulfilled. I will not allow that monster to go on possessing her homeland. We will free Laaren in her name.”

  “But, Sev, the fleet already left,” Mike informed him.

  The seat spun around. “What did you say?”

  The wild shine in Sev’s copper eyes caused Mike to pause. “I… was just told that they retreated.”

  “No! Relay a message to the fleet to return immediately! No ship is to leave the vicinity until I arrive. And by that time, they’d better have a way to get past that blast-it grid!”

  “But, I told you—”

  Sev roared. Jumping out of his seat, he pointed to Mike. “I told you we will not let her death be in vain! She departed from this life trying to save those she called her people. And by Oceana, so will we all!” His eyes began to glow. “As long as there exists a Seacat, we will fight Daehog. He will not win this war. He will not win while I still live!” He pointed at Mike. “You tell them that their king said whoever leaves that space will have to face me. And heaven knows I will make Daehog and the Dominion look like their best friends!”

  Mike and Sphin were speechless. They did not know what to do. Mike sought his godfather’s face. Jugar, too, was rendered voiceless.

  Not Miko. He approached Sev. “I think you need to step down, Sev. You are not thinking clearly. If you take a break and detach yourself emotionally from the entire situation, you might be able to get a clearer perspective on what our next move should be. Not to mention, you will see the futility of what you are asking everyone to do.”

  Sev could not hold back any longer. With a mighty roar, he lunged for Miko’s throat with razor-sharp claws extended. The nearest Mage cast a restraining spell before Sev’s deadly strike. Several men lifted Sev’s stiff frame off a stunned Miko. Once the spell was removed, it took seven men to hold Sev back.

  “You bastard!” Sev yelled, straining against them. “You never wanted her to survive! You never wanted my kitten in my life! You hated her—hated her solely because she was of mixed blood! She has never done anything to you! You never gave her the chance to prove how wonderful she was! How perfect. How…” His voice cracked. “I loathe you! You wanted nothing more than to tear us apart! That was the sole purpose of your trip here! Not to help us with the war, but to destroy something that was blessed by our creator! You wanted nothing more than to take my soulmate away from me, just like all the others. Just like Challen did!”

  Jugar, Sphin, and Mike gasped.

  �
�Don’t think for one second now that she’s gone that I would even consider returning with a bunch of egotistical, prejudiced, self-centered bastards like all of you Oceanans! I will never rule over a bunch of felines who care for nothing but themselves. As soon as it’s possible, you are to leave for Oceanica and never return to my empire! Do you hear me, Oceanan? I will not have your kind walking alongside my honorable Seacats! You are unworthy to even be in the same room with them!” Sev broke free and stormed out of the bridge. He left everyone, especially the Oceanans, immobilized.

  Jugar and Mike followed Sev to his quarters. They paused by the doorway and watched Sev fall onto his knees in the middle of the room, crying. He clenched his hands and yelled against the pain in his soul. Sev gripped his stomach. Crying out Areo’s name, he lowered his forehead onto the cold metal floor. His form shook with anguish.

  The scene was heartbreaking. The sensitive half-blood could endure it no longer. Mike raised his right hand and telekinetically released the belt from around Sev’s waist. The Sword of Power floated over to him. Sparing his godfather a quick look, Mike strapped the sword around his waist and exited the room.

  Jugar kept pace with Mike as they walked down the corridor. “Why did you take the sword?”

  “Why do you think? You know how attached he was to Areo. How much he loved her.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “That wild, hollow gleam in Sev’s eyes was the same empty, confused look my mother had when she was certain my father was dead. She stopped living after that. She stowed away in her room and stopped eating and drinking. She never spoke another word to any of us after that horrible day. Within a week, she was dead. The love my parents shared was too powerful for either one to exist alone. I’m afraid that Sev and Areo’s love is as strong.”

  “So you think he would use the sword to take his own life?”

  Stopping in his steps, Mike gave his answer in no uncertain terms. “Yes.”

  Jugar shook his head. “No. Sev would never do something like that. He knows it would destroy the Sword of Power.”

  “Do you really think he gives a damn?” Mike pointed to Sev’s quarters. “That man has lost the only woman he has ever loved. The woman he has loved since the day she was born. Do you really think he cares about anyone else right now? About the sword, about what would happen, about anything? Do you honestly believe Sev wants to live one second without Areo?”

  “But he’s our king.”

  “He’s a man with feelings, godfather! You saw him just now. How he almost killed Miko, a Seacat.” Mike pointed to the room. “How he collapsed in there. I don’t know what’s going through his mind because I’ve never found my soulmate, but I’m sure as hell that Sev is not too thrilled to be facing a life without Areo again. Why else do you think he was the only one who forgot his past?”

  “What do you mean?”

  Mike raised, then slapped both his arms against his sides in exasperation. “Oh, come on, now, you can’t be serious.”

  He waited for Jugar to say he was aware of the obvious, but he did not. “Sev was eleven years old when he was faced with the loss of his devoted father, beloved homeworld, and his dearest Areo. Haven’t you ever heard of memory block due to a traumatic event? Sev couldn’t face a future without Areo. All his life he had planned a future with her. When he was faced with her death, he couldn’t deal with it. So, when he went to sleep, his mind shut those destructive thoughts behind a sealed door. It allowed the kitten to survive and become a grown cat. If not, he likely would have died aboard that ship.”

  Jugar stared at the floor. His expression showed that he had not given Sev’s amnesia such an in-depth analysis.

  “Did you think his loss of memory was due to the extra-long sleep?” asked Mike.

  “Something like that…yes.”

  “It didn’t affect anyone else but him.” Mike inhaled. “Did you hear him mention that my father took Areo from him?”

  “I heard that.”

  “I believe Areo’s death has triggered his memory.”

  “Do you really think he remembers?”

  Mike nodded. “Yes, and it will only add to his grief. I’m not about to give Sev an easy way out of facing his pain, so until I’m certain he will not use my father’s sword on himself, destroying both the sword and the Seacats in one action, it will remain on my waist.”

  Leaving Jugar to contemplate his words, he went back to the bridge.

  A half hour later, Mike and Sphin ran into Sev’s quarters. Finding the main living area empty, they hurried into the bedroom. Sev was lying in bed with his right arm thrown over his eyes. The men rushed to his side.

  “Sev, the Sword of Power has signaled danger,” Sphin told him excitedly. “You have to ask the eye to show you which Seacat is in trouble.”

  “I’ve already contacted the fleet, and they don’t detect any enemy ships nearby. And the grid is still up,” Mike informed him.

  “So we know it’s not them,” Sphin added.

  Mike continued, “Plus, I’ve already checked our surroundings. There’s no threat to us, either. So, you have to find out for us.” Mike held the sword out for him. Sev did not move.

  “Sev, please,” begged Sphin. “There’s a Seacat in danger.”

  “Leave me alone,” Sev mumbled weakly from underneath his arm.

  “It may be coming from the planet’s surface,” said Mike. Sev did not move. “It may be Mathew and Areo.”

  Sev’s arm flew off his face. His red, swollen eyes landed on Mike. “What?”

  “I said that those in danger could actually be Mathew and Areo. Maybe they survived the grid and are now in danger on the planet’s surface.”

  “But we won’t know until you check, so please hurry,” added Sphin.

  Sev bolted upright. He snatched the sword from Mike’s fingers and held the gem before his eyes. “Sword of Power, let me see what is there to be seen.”

  Sev held his breath. His entire focus was on the feline’s eye. It began to swirl. Blue, red, and black mixed and blurred as the columns of smoke spun faster.

  “What do you see?” asked Mike and Sphin.

  Sev growled. “Nothing…nothing but static!” In frustration, he made to fling the sword across the room.

  “Sev, don’t!” yelled Mike. “Don’t you get it? The static is the grid’s interference with the gem’s second sight.”

  “I know!”

  “But you don’t get it!”

  “Get what?” asked Sev irritably.

  “Each time you wanted to check to see if Areo survived, the gem’s power went against that of the grid’s because she was near it,” explained Sphin. “Now you called upon the sword to show you who was in danger, and again its power went up against the grid’s.”

  His meaning gradually became clear to Sev. He swallowed hard. “Are you suggesting…that perhaps my kitten is still alive…and is now in danger because of the Orions?”

  “That’s precisely what I’m saying. The sword didn’t travel over to any of the bases or our ships. I mean, I could be totally wrong about this. There are Seacats on Laaren, and the sword could be picking up on their situation.”

  “But if there is a chance, no matter how remote it is—”

  “Our point exactly,” finished Sphin.

  Sev took a moment to get his bearings. “How long before we reach Laaren?”

  “Ten minutes.”

  A piercing pain sliced Sev’s heart. He grimaced and his eyes squeezed shut as he rubbed his chest. “Can we shorten it?”

  “I’m pushing her already. Any more and we’ll be the ones who need to be rescued.”

  Sev unfortunately knew what he meant. “Get us to Laaren as fast as you can, Vindicator.” Copper eyes beseeched blue ones. “Please.”

  With a firm nod, Sphin left.

  Planet Laaren

  Canyon Cliff

  Areo signaled her attack with a roar. She whipped out her handheld laser machine gun to provide cover during her s
ister’s transformation. Her peripheral vision spotted several arrows sailing toward their attackers. She heard an eagle’s loud cry. A gust of wind saturated the air with dirt, blinding all the combatants. It was her sister Cynthia’s signal that her transformation was complete.

  Before the Orions could clear the dirt from their eyes, Areo’s godson Coby was plucked from where he stood. Areo made a mad dash for the nearest boulders while making certain her fire kept the Orions from hindering Cynthia’s escape.

  The entire episode took only seconds to occur, but it seemed to drag on forever to a terrified Areo. She rhythmically changed fuses and opened fire. It eventually sunk into her petrified mind that the Orions’ return fire had decreased dramatically. Either she had killed most of her enemy, or they decided she was not worth the trouble.

  Doubting it was the latter, Areo carefully peeped over the boulder and searched for disrupted air currents. In her terrified state, she forgot she could sense their locations with her heightened senses.

  Out of the corner of her right eye, she spotted movement. With lightning reflexes, Areo spun and fired. A horrible cry pierced her ears. Light pink blood from her invisible opponent splattered across her face and chest. Areo felt nauseous, but she had no time to dwell on it. Belatedly, she realized the alien she had killed was the decoy. The real predator had snuck up behind her, yanking her by her long hair.

  Areo tried to look at the one who had her hair wrapped around his fist. She raised her gun and took aim. A second invisible Orion snatched it out of her hand, breaking her right wrist in the process. The pain made her angry. Areo reached for her semi-automatic laser gun with her left hand. That same Orion dislocated her left shoulder as he yanked the gun from her grasp, nearly ripping her arm from her torso.

  Areo screamed in agony. While gasping for breath, she received a powerful blow to her midsection. She heard a crack. Through blurred vision, she watched the two Orions turn off their cloaking devices.

  Two pale crablike faces appeared. Both were framed by silver dreadlocks that converted the atmosphere to their form of oxygen. They each stared back at Areo with their small black eyes. Had it not been for the one who held her hair, she would have slumped to the ground.