“Then you’re going to have to teach me, because right now, the best I can do is the bed or a broom closet,” she said, scrunching up her face.
Suddenly they heard a loud commotion from the main area. Things were being tossed around and crashing into the walls and they heard voices and a man’s screams. They quickly dressed and headed over there to investigate.
Liasare cried out as she saw Tommy in restraints, surrounded by Ludo, Marik and Tak.
“Notify Rykerian and January. We need to get Tommy on the Star Avenger right away. We don’t have much time,” Tak yelled.
Tommy was trying to tear his restraints off like a mad man, growling and screeching.
“Are they in range of us?” Liasare asked.
Jurek looked at her and answered, trying to calm her. “Liasare, Praestani don’t have a range, remember?”
She smacked herself in the head, saying, “Damn! I forgot.” She gave him a bleak smile, trying to hide her fears for her brother. He was acting insane, didn’t care that he was injuring himself.
Jurek gave Tak the go ahead and they all departed for the Star Avenger, where the team of robo-medics was standing by to get the nanochip out of Tommy’s brain.
Chapter Thirty-Five
They injected Tommy with some sort of drug that knocked him out cold. Then the robo-medics put his brain into a suspended state, allowing enough oxygen and blood to sustain it, but all brain activity was slowed to a bare minimum. His body was artificially kept alive. January was right. The robomedics worked with the utmost efficiency, extracting the chip in what seemed like only minutes.
Rykerian and Ludo promptly removed all the bits of data that were stored on it. Then they placed it on an ejector beam and jettisoned it out a million light years away from them, setting it for self-destruct upon its arrival. By the time the Xanthians located it, they would wonder how the hell it had gotten that far. They wouldn’t have a single thing to trace because it would be destroyed and all traces of it would be nothing but dust.
The viewing screen suddenly lit up with flashing alarms.
“We’ve got company!” Rykerian yelled.
“Who?” Jurek wanted to know.
“Guess.” Rykerian responded.
“How the hell did the Xanthians find us so quickly?”
“I don’t know, but we only have minutes.”
“Is the ship expendable?”
“Yes.”
“The robo-medics?”
“Yes.”
“Then we’re out of here.”
Jurek grabbed Liasare, Marik grabbed Rykerian, Tak took January and Ludo took Tommy and they all flashed to Lare-Stell.
***
Lare-Stell Base
Once they all arrived, complete mayhem ensued with everyone yelling over each other.
Jurek finally commanded, “Quiet! We have a patient here that needs our attention and then we can analyze what happened.”
Tommy was set up in a med unit that had been created especially for him. Naroo was standing by to complete the healing on his brain, while January prepared all the supplies he would need upon awakening.
Liasare paced outside the unit, worried about his state of mind. They were uncertain how much of his brain had been damaged and just how much could be repaired to the point of normal functionality. Naroo would do her best, but time would bear the true test.
Jurek, Ludo and Rykerian were in the lab analyzing the data that had been stripped off the chip.
“Anything yet on the chip or how the Xanthians found us?” Jurek asked.
“I don’t have anything on how they found us. My guess is they tracked the chip in the human. As for the chip itself, I’m getting the prelim stuff, but nothing we don’t already know. Basic info on warehouses on Earth, names of their commanding officers, etc. I’m getting ready to extrapolate all the data now. Hold on.”
Images were flashing across the screen, so fast the eye couldn’t comprehend anything concrete. Once all the information was in the system, they would review it for any red flags.
“I think I may have something here. There’s something about Club Down and the Master, whoever he is. Apparently, the Master has ties to that place, maybe even lives there. That could be why we all felt that source of power when we got there. Maybe the Master has ties to Abaddon.”
Rykerian thoughtfully rubbed his chin, then asked, “You don’t think they’re one and the same, do you?”
“Abaddon usually doesn’t do his own dirty work. He always sends someone in to do it for him. Although, there’s always a first. We need Liasare in here.”
“Why?” Rykerian queried.
“She’s had first hand experience with both of them.”
Rykerian didn’t like that answer at all.
Jurek flashed to the med unit to check on Tommy and try to persuade Liasare to come with him. Tommy was still unconscious so Liasare accompanied him back to the lab.
“I know you hate this, but we need to know something. Do you remember if the hooded man from the dungeon and Abaddon from your dreams are one and the same?”
“No, definitely not. Abaddon has black fangs and the man from the dungeon didn’t.” Liasare shook as she answered. Jurek enfolded her in his arms.
He bent his head and whispered in her ear, “I’m sorry to bring up the bad memory, love, but we’re trying to piece some things together here.” He rubbed her arms up and down, warming her with his energy. She put her arms around him and rested her cheek against his chest, letting his energy flow into her. It always made her feel calmer, stronger.
“Do you remember when we walked into Club Down and how we both felt?”
“Yes, and it was very disturbing,” she answered.
“We’ve found that the Xanthians call this person Master and he’s associated with Club Down. We’re wondering if he lives there. We think he may be the hooded guy that held you captive.”
“Have you found anything else?”
“Not yet, but we may need to pay another visit to Club Down. At least we know there’s a definite connection now.”
“I’m heading back to the med unit then. Let me know if you find anything else, okay?”
Jurek walked her back, just so she wouldn’t get lost. “Are you doing okay?”
She grabbed his hand and squeezed. “I wish he’d wake up and look at us and give us one of his stupid grins and ask what we’re all doing in there.” She smiled sadly.
“Hey, you never know. Naroo is a miracle worker of sorts. He’s resting now because that’s what his brain needs to do to recover. Don’t give up hope Liasare. That’s not like you.”
Turning to him, she hugged him and said, “Thanks, I needed that. I need to ask you something and I don’t think you’re going to like it. I think Shandro needs to be here.”
Jurek looked at Liasare, staring into her eyes. A million feelings passed between them, love mainly, but she was taken off guard when she felt his questions about her feelings toward Shandro.
“Do you have any doubt of my feelings toward you?”
His eyes, those gorgeous swirling orbs of lavender and silver, reached into her heart and spoke to her.
I’ve laid my heart and soul at your feet; they are yours forever. I’ve given you my power and my body is yours as well. I would die for you Liasare.
She walked up to him and touched his cheek, her power lighting it up.
I’ve told you this before and I’ll tell you every day if I have to. I would crawl inside of you and cradle your heart within my hands. I would wrap my soul around yours and protect it forever. I could never love anyone as I love you. You are mine Alaric.
“I don’t like the way he looks at you. He invades my space when he does.”
“He’s Tommy’s best friend. He needs to be here. He’s been sick with worry about him.”
“I’ll be sick with worry about you if he comes.”
“Why? I’m secure in my love for you and yours for me.”
“He’l
l see you as you are now and not as you were.”
“Oh Jurek. I don’t mind when you’re around January. It’s the same kind of thing.”
He rubbed his eyes and said, “No it’s not. January never loved me in that way. Shandro looks at you with longing in his eyes. He loves you Liasare. There’s a huge difference.”
“You’re right, he does. But I’ve never given him any indication that my feelings for him were anything other than that of a brother-sister relationship. He knows that. And if it will make you feel better, I’ll tell him again, in your presence. I’ll tell him that we’re married, that I’m your queen. I’ll do whatever you want me to do. But Shandro’s my friend and he’s Tommy’s friend. Please, Jurek. I don’t ask this for myself. I ask it for my brother.”
He jerked his head up and down one time. She understood how much he was giving up to extend an invitation to Shandro. “Thank you.”
“When it comes to most things, I find it impossible to deny you anything.”
“I’ll make it worth your while,” she said with a seductive grin.
“Oh, I’ll see that you do,” he responded in that throaty whisper that drove her crazy.
***
Shandro arrived on Lare-Stell two days later. As Jurek predicted, he was amazed at Liasare’s appearance and could barely tear his eyes off of her. Jurek began to growl every few minutes until Liasare, as promised, explained to Shandro her relationship to him. They both agreed that Shandro could be brought into the fold on how Liasare had been given Jurek’s power and so her story was passed to him.
Shandro felt his heart plummet to his feet and he was unable to hide his disappointment. Of course he stammered out his thanks to Jurek repeatedly for saving her life, but he had always held onto hope, albeit tiny, that someday, he and Liasare would find themselves together. He was so crushed by her news that he excused himself and remained in his quarters for the rest of the day.
Three days later Tommy woke up. He wasn’t grinning as Liasare had prayed he would be, but instead he was screaming. He tore around his room like a mad man, yanking at his hair, yelling at the ceiling and banging on the walls. He had to be sedated because they were afraid he would injure himself. Liasare was a complete mess. Her stomach was a twisted mass of knots and she wondered over and over whether they had done the right thing.
“So you would have rather left him with those stinking fuckers? Come on Liasare, how many times did you say you would do anything to get him out of there? His brain is damaged. It’s been traumatized. His neurons have to calm down. That nanochip was invasive. It was like a cancer, taking over. Now that it’s gone, his brain has to adjust to it not being there. Even January predicted this. You have to give it time, love.” He held her while he spoke, calming her frayed nerves.
“It kills me to see him like this. It was like his eyes were dead. There were no sparks of life in them.”
Jurek pulled back so he could look at her. Pushing her hair back he said, “Remember when he shot you? You said his eyes didn’t look like they belonged to him then.” He massaged her back, trying to ease the tension in her shoulders.
“I remember. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that. I was hoping against hope, I guess.”
“No, you love him and you want the best for him. Give him time Liasare. He’s just now woken up. His brain needs time. Don’t ever stop hoping.” He continued to hold her and move his hands across her back, warming her with his energy. “Recognition will return. The healing will do that. Be patient, my love. It will happen.” He turned her to face him and placed his hand on her forehead, infusing her with his energy.
“That’s exactly what I needed. That really feels wonderful, you know. Thank you. You always seem to know exactly what I need.” She leaned in to place a kiss on his lips.
He smiled and got a mischievous gleam in his eye. “If you really want me to, I can think of something that will take your mind off things.”
She squinted her eyes at him. “Hmm. Whatever did you have in mind?”
Smiling suggestively, he ran his tongue along his lower lip. She immediately felt a rush of heat in her belly. “I’d rather show you than tell you,” he breathed, as his scent bathed her in its exotic essence.
She was always amazed at how little it took for her body to respond to him. Reading her mind, he said, his voice low and husky, “It’s our energy, Liasare. It has bound us together. It recognizes itself in each of us. And please don’t feel guilty for feeling pleasure in the midst of all this madness. It’s the only thing that can keep us sane.” He kissed her then, his mouth erasing further questions and replacing them with thoughts of where she wanted his tongue next. She felt his lips curve into a smile as he read her thoughts.
Jurek knelt in front of her and tugged her pants off. Tracing her markings with his tongue, he veered across her hip and slightly nipped at her tender flesh, until she moaned unabashedly. He moved across her body, repeating the same motions across her other hipbone, sucking and biting, until she cried out his name.
“Jurek, I want you now!” she demanded.
“Bossy, aren’t you?”
“Yes! Now!”
Standing, he undid his pants, picked her up and slid into her in one fluid motion.
“Liasare,” he cried her name, as he moved within her. “Say it! Now!” It was the one thing he loved to hear coming from her lips, other than the signs of her pleasure.
“I love you Alaric!”
“As I love you Liasare,” he said as they both felt their energy buzzing them into ecstasy.
He was still holding her as he fell onto their bed. “You want me to call you Alaric, don’t you?”
“When we are loving each other, yes. I love hearing you say my name.”
“I can call you that all the time. I call you Jurek out of habit, but I think Alaric is a beautiful name. I do think your middle name should have been Jurgasmic though.” She said it with a straight face, but when he looked at her, she exploded with laughter. “In fact, I’m going to start calling them Jurgasms.”
“You think you’re pretty comical, don’t you?” he smirked. “Let’s just see how many more Jurgasms I can give you today.”
He was very gracious with his gifts of several more.
As they lay together in their aftermath, she said, “I wish we could stop the world from spinning, if only for a few days. Stop all of the worries so we could enjoy this without anything clouding the backs of our minds.”
“Well, let me give you something to think about then. Hopefully, it’s something pleasant that will take your mind off the worries.”
“What is it?”
“Marry me Liasare. I know I broached this subject with you before and you told me that what we have is good enough for you. It’s not good enough for me. I want to have you as my wife, my true mate, the way things are done in your world. I want to show your family how much I adore you. Marry me.”
Her eyes filled with unshed tears and her throat burned, making it difficult to swallow. Her mind sped back to her nasty mother and to comments she would make about how she’d never find a husband. The tears that threatened spilled down her cheeks and she blinked repeatedly, trying to clear her vision.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize this would upset you so.”
“You misunderstand Alaric.” She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in that place she had come to love, her own special nook that offered her comfort and security.
“Talk to me sweetheart. Your tears hurt my heart, as much as they hurt your own.”
She explained, “I wasn’t expecting that from you and it took me back to my mother and her comments about how I’d never find anyone to marry me.”
“Ah, I see. Well, then, I guess that means you’ll have to marry me after all. Just to spite her.”
“No! I’ll marry you because I can’t live without you Alaric and for no other reason. My mother can go to hell!”
“That’s my girl,” he said, laughing,
and kissing away her tears.
“Do you really want to do a wedding thing? Because I meant what I said. I’m with you now and I feel as if we’re already married.”
“I know, but I want to make it right and I want to show your world how right it is.”
“I’ll be proud and honored to be your wife Alaric. I love you.” She kissed him then.
They lay together and she started to think about all the obstacles they had to face.
Noticing her change of expression, he said, “Tell me, why the deep, troubled look?”
“The usual. Reality. I was thinking how great it would be to stay like this forever, but then reality busted in. Everything we have to do and our rosy future.”
He rubbed her lower lip with his thumb and said, “Reality. That filthy word. Yes, it would be nice not to have to worry about the state of the universe, wouldn’t it? I suppose I need to get back to the lab before they send out a search party for me. Care to accompany me?”
***
Ludo had worked nonstop to unlock all the information from the chip. He had uncovered a lot, although not as much as they’d hoped for. There were ten colonies scattered throughout the universe that were being used to build armies. They were using the abductees, as they’d suspected, and all of them had chips implanted in their brains. They were living automatons, trained to follow all orders, without question. Many of the humans were given drugs to enhance their physiques, making them much stronger than they normally were.
The non-humans were separated by their abilities and placed in special units designed for each specific ability. For example, if they had the power of speed, they would be placed in a unit where speed would be used for certain tasks. Or if they were gifted with telepathy, they would be placed in a unit where they would be trained to gather intelligence.
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