“When he gets his money, we should be good to go. His friendship and loyalty should be to me over G-Force.”
“Well, I hope so. We’re definitely gonna need a place once we’re both kicked out of our jobs. Maybe I can work on Megiddo as a casino dealer.”
“Nah. Why not security? That’s the job I was going for.”
“What would we do? They’ve got Robot Cops.”
“No, they have both kinds. The Robots secure the casinos because of the money exchanged. They’ve got plenty other places that need security help, and Whimpsy could give us the information.”
“All right sounds like a plan, but if he’s got a dealer position, I want it.”
“Why?”
“I like card games and dice. Poker is my favorite. Ever since I learned to play the Old World’s game, I’ve gotten good at it.”
Renard smiled. “Ah, I see. All right, even though I’m not sure I want you in a dangerous place like the casino, I suppose it’ll be fine.”
Dominic made a face. “Whatd’ya mean? I’m a bear. I can take good care of myself.”
“I know you can, but there’s a reason the Robots work there.”
“And that is?”
“All the shady characters that gamble there. It’s not the safest place on Megiddo. The dust up I created isn’t the first and won’t be the last, namely because other planets, like Gocara aren’t under G-Force jurisdiction and they feel they aren’t subject to the rules.”
“Well, maybe they should start banning those people. Once I get away from the assholes, I won’t give a fuck what happens to them.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do. When we decided to say fuck you to our planets, I meant it. After I get out of the trouble in, I’m sure they ask me to leave. I’m fully okay with that because I know I’ll have you to go to.”
Renard grinned and kissed his hand again before planting a soft one on his lips. “That means so much to me, baby bear. You and—” Renard stopped talking and dropped Dominic’s hands.
Dominic frowned. “Baby? What’s wrong?”
Renard rose his head a moment, only to dropped back down, holding his stomach.
“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” Dominic rubbed Renard’s back.
“I… I dunno. I feel so sick. I—” Renard rushed out the room without saying another word.
Dominic followed, but abruptly stopped when he heard Renard coughing then vomiting in the lavatory.
“Shit. Baby? I’ll get you some water, okay?” Dominic rushed to the refractory and grabbed two bottles of water, then dashed back. Renard was leaning over the toilet bowl. “Here, I’ve got water.”
Renard looked up at Dominic with bloodshot eyes. His face was full of moisture and dripped from his hairline.
“Sweetheart?” Dominic ran to him and dropped to his knees. He opened the bottle and put it to Renard’s lips to drink. He caressed Renard’s head. “You’re burning up all of a sudden. What’s wrong?”
“I…I don’t know. Just…” Renard jerked away, going back to the bowl.
“Fuck. I wonder did you eat something bad on Unas, or maybe it’s all the traveling? We need to get you to a doctor, ASAP.”
“No, no. No doctor. Selfheal…I can… I’ll go to”
“Alert! Alert! Engine on sensor one failing. Engaging back-up motor!”
Dominic listened to Baal, knowing that mean there was something wrong in the engine room. “Renard? I need to go check on Baal. Are you gonna be okay?”
“Check… what’s…I need to lie down. I can’t.” Renard eyes fluttered and he collapsed. His skinned turned ashy white, then changed to gray.
“Fuck! Baby, I need you to tell Baal to allow me to check the ship. Please… I—”
“Engine alert! Backup failing, backup failing!” Baal continued to exclaim.
“What the hell am I going to do?” Dominic eyed Renard who had completely turned to stone in front of his eyes. He gripped his hair, pulling it, thinking that would give him ideas.
“Oh Goddess! I’m gonna have to do something.” Dominic thought aloud. Suddenly he recalled Dominic using his communicator to translate to the servicemen on Unas. “Shit, I hope this fucking works!” Dominic removed the communicator from Renard’s wrist, then got up from the floor. He tried dragging Renard to the dormitory, but in human form he couldn’t. With the engine troubles, he thought it best not to shift either. More weight might add to the problems they already had.
“Shit. I gotta leave you here. Sleep well baby. I love you.” Dominic kissed him, then ran up to the cockpit, dropping into his chair. “Look girl, the Captain’s out. We’re gonna have to work together okay?” Dominic pressed a couple of buttons, but nothing would move.
“Access denied!” Baal said aloud.
“Baal, c’mon. Your Captain is out cold. Shit.” Dominic had to think of something to get the controls to respond to him. If not, they wouldn’t make it back to Megiddo let alone Damascus, because one engine failing mean they eventually would all fail.
Chapter Sixteen
Dominic
After failing on the first couple of attempts, Dominic pressed the button on the communicator to translate. “Baal, please give co-captain Dominic access to the board.” He spoke into the device.
The communicator stalled, then Renard’s voice came through on the loudspeaker.
Dominic swallowed hard, waiting with bated breath. What if the damn computer wouldn’t respond? He hoped it would, so they’d have a fighting chance at surviving.
“Welcome back Captain Renard...” Baal spoke, and the lights flickered on the controls. “Access given to co-Captain Dominic.”
“Thank fuck!” Dominic pressed the earpiece into his lobe and adjusted the mic. “Baal, please give me the status of the engines.”
“Co-Captain Dominic, engine one and two have failed. Also, the fuel systems are running low, but I’ve activated reserves.”
“Shit.” Dominic shook his head, wondering if that missile had truly done more damage than first thought. “Baal, how far are we from Damascus or Megiddo?” Dominic asked, pressing a couple of buttons to slow down the ship. This would stop the craft from using so much fuel. With two broken engines, it didn’t need much.
“We are still six days away, sir. By my calculations, we must land on the Xeritron and repair the engines, as well as gather more fuel.”
“But Xeritron isn’t that far away from Megiddo is it?” Dominic turned off the lights in the cockpit to conserve energy.
“A difference of an extra couple of days, sir.”
Dominic thought back to what Renard said. Xeritron was under G-Force, but they weren’t nice to visitors. Though it was a huge risk, Dominic figured he’d take his chances and fly on. He didn’t know much about the inner workings of ships, but being in the Messoli, he knew the basics.
“Baal. We’re gonna fly on. We can’t afford to stop on Xeritron. Captain Renard wouldn’t want to be caught by… erm, you know he wouldn’t want that. So, let’s keep going and establish contact with Damascus please.” Dominic wiped his forehead and stared straight ahead at the massive universe that seemed quiet for now. Hopefully it would stay that way while he navigated the ship.
“Co-Captain Dominic, connection established with Damascus.”
“Renard? You better have a damn good reason for ignoring my orders and taking off for this long. Do you realize you’ve been gone for over three weeks? Almost a month, Renard! When you get back…”
Fuck, it must be his father Kirk.
Dominic kept one hand on the lever while the other clutched the seat’s arm. Hearing the way Kirk talked about Renard like he was worthless made him so angry, he clawed the cover off the seat.
Dominic gritted his teeth. “Sir, I’m sorry, sir. Um, sir!”
“What? Don’t call me sir now, you worthless piece of—”
“Dammit, listen to me! I’m not Renard! I’m your son’s lover. We’re in trouble right now and need your
help!” Dominic yelled.
“Help? And I’m sorry, who are you? My son has no lover! Whimpsy said he rescued some stranger and took him on the ship.”
“I’m that stranger! He rescued me from a Hunartheon who’d raped and tortured me. I owe him my life, but I won’t get that chance if you don’t help us.”
Silence.
Dominic released a ragged breath, trying to calm himself. He was very close to changing and putting his and Renard’s life in danger.
“Where is my son?”
“He’s shifted… sir.” Dominic didn’t want to call the man that. But decided he should be polite.
“What? While you’re trying to fly a space craft? What a coward!”
“Look dammit, he shifted because he got ill. He was vomiting and running a fever. Please, General, just help us, all right? If you can send a ship to guide Baal home and get him to a medic, everything should be okay.” Dominic huffed, waiting for a response.
Again, the silence.
Dominic counted to five, then backwards to one. He gripped the lever, almost tearing it from its compartment.
“Okay, fine. Push the yellow button to make the ship detectable. I swear, if I find out this is a ploy from you or him, I’ll have you both thrown in prison!” He snarled.
“No ploy.” Dominic shook his head, attempting to keep his beast at bay. He knew the more upset he got, the more danger he’d put himself and Renard in.
Dominic had already pressed that button but didn’t give Renard’s father the satisfaction of confirming it. “I promise you.”
“Okay. I’ll send four ships to bring Baal to Megiddo. I see you on the screen now. You’re still several days away, but keep her steady and we’ll bring her in. Don’t try anything stupid, either.”
“I won’t sir. You have my word. Dominic—” He was ready to shut off the speaker.
“Wait, wait. Before you end transmission, just who are you anyway? What kind of man would cause my son to defy his father’s orders and leave his position?”
Dominic sighed, knowing he shouldn’t say anything. That would only cause more trouble that neither Dominic or Renard needed. “A man he loves, sir. Now, I must go tend to him.”
“Wait, that says—.”
“Dominic, out!” He touched the button to cease communication with Renard’s father and fell backwards in the chair. He couldn’t stop it all, but hearing the asshole say anything more would’ve made Dominic lose his shit.
Now, all he could do was wait for the rescue ships and keep Baal as steady as possible. He hoped this would be the last of their bad luck so that once Renard recovered from whatever bug he contracted they could move on with their life together.
Dominic fought to stay awake.
He’d turned off all extra lights and machines to keep the pressure off the two remaining operating engines.
While trying to conserve energy he couldn’t put the ship on autopilot for long periods. He’d checked on Renard a few times during the past few days, but he hadn’t changed back. Dominic wished there was something he could do to wake him, but all his attempts were for not.
“Baal, how are we on reserve fuel?”
“Still good, co-Captain, but we will have to stop soon. My third engine is running, but the fourth one is experiencing difficulties.”
“Okay. We’re gonna be fine. Help is on the way.” Dominic lifted a cup of coffee and sipped. He made sure not to put it by the board and set it back on the floor.
“Dom…minic?”
The weak voice behind him, startled Dominic and he glanced over his shoulder. “Baby? You’re awake!”
Renard stumbled to the seat and fell into it. He was breathing hard and still perspiring heavily, but at least he was upright.
“Where are we, baby bear?”
“On our way back to Megiddo. I contacted G-Force for help. Two of Baal’s engines went out and the third is on its way.”
“Are you serious?” Renard shook his head, huffing. “Fuck, my father is going to be upset.”
“Oh, he already is. I talked with him.” Dominic added.
“Fucking hell. This is… horrible. I—”
“Forget him and G-Force, how are you feeling?”
“I’m… I don’t know. I’m still hot. Why isn’t the air on?” Renard struggled to reach for the vents.
“No, no. I turned it all off to preserve her energy! And I’d hug you right now, but I can’t put her on autopilot for long.”
Renard leaned back, and exhaled. “You’re right. I keep forgetting you fly ships too. You’re freaking amazing.”
Dominic eyed him and smiled. “No, you are.”
“Heh, not so much when I passed out and wasn’t able to help you.”
“Don’t worry. Your people are on their way to take us back to Megiddo. And once we touch down, you’re going straight to the medic.”
“And you’re going home, right?”
“Not until I know you’re better. My people are the least of my concerns right now.”
“I’ll be fine. Might be food poisoning? Maybe even just a little stomach bug. I’m healing though.”
“I get it, but I still want confirmation from a doctor. Now, no more talking, get some rest.”
“I’m getting better! I can help.” Renard tried moving towards the control board but stopped when it appeared to be too much work.
“No, you can’t. Now relax, Captain.” Dominic said, glancing at the windshield ahead of them. Right then a group of ships came into view.
“I think that’s our welcoming party.” Dominic turned on communications.
“G-Force number 119879, spaceship Baal. This is your G-Force General Kirk. Please let go of the controls and allow us to guide you down to safety. I repeat, please let go of the controls.”
Dominic did and leaned back, allowing the G-Force to take over. He’d never been so happy to see his mortal enemies in his life.
“Goddamn it. He just had to make the trip, huh?” Renard harrumphed.
“Just be happy he did.” Dominic got up and kissed Renard on the lips. “He really does care, baby. He might be an asshole, but he loves his son, more than you’ll ever know.”
Renard
Baal was safely dropped in the emergency landing bay on Megiddo. Thankfully they weren’t keeping a craft there just for the hell of it or Baal’s engine’s might’ve given out while they moved it.
Although Renard hated that his father rescued him, he was grateful to Dominic for not trying anything more that would potentially put them in more danger. Being a hero meant thinking of others while saving the person you cared about. Something Renard was sure Dominic didn’t learn from the Messoli, but instead from him.
Once they extracted Renard from the craft, they rushed him onto one of the rescue crafts back to Damascus. Immediately, he was transported to the medical bay where only a few G-Force were recovering from various injuries during their last missions. Renard was the most severe since they had no idea what was wrong. Hopefully it wouldn’t be anything more than a space bug so he could get on with his life as Dominic’s devoted partner.
As he laid in bed, Renard glanced outside the window, thinking of those last few minutes with Dominic. His father kept them from doing anything more than hugging before they whisked Renard away. Worse, the G-Force men cuffed Renard’s lover and forbade to come along.
Of course, that angered Dominic, but Renard was helpless.
Renard hoped his recovery would be a quick one so they could reunite and start their life together.
Together.
Renard loved the sound of that.
During his life, Renard never thought he’d want someone so badly in his life until Dominic came along. He supposed he was in love, which was truly a first. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the balls to say the words during their last time making love, so surely Dominic was probably wondering if Renard was serious. He was, but first things first, Renard needed to convince the medics he was well enough to
be released.
“Boy, I can’t believe you allowed a Gocarian on your ship.”
Renard’s father’s voice cut through the silence. “He’s my man.”
“The fuck he is!” The large man known as General Kirk came into view, bringing his strong manly scent with him. His entire face was beet red. “You will not under any circumstances mate with our enemy!”
“I already did, and I’m doing it again, just so you know.” Renard barked.
Renard’s father shook his head, and paced, wearing out the tiles under his feet. “You did this just to spite me, didn’t you? You were supposed to take three days, then return to duty to talk to his people. You didn’t want to do that. Why in God’s name would you mate with him if you never wished to be bothered with the Gocarians in the first place?”
Renard bit his lip and glared at his father. “One doesn’t have anything to do with the other. I’m in love with Dominic!”
“You have no idea what that means! True love isn’t taking someone captive then fucking them!”
“I didn’t take him captive!” Renard griped. “I rescued him from that barbaric Hunartheon who was torturing him. The moment we locked eyes I knew I had to help him. I tried to rationalize it, fight it off as just being horny, but it wasn’t that at all. From that day forward, I knew he was mine.”
“Bullshit! This isn’t some fairy tale!”
“No, it’s not. It’s real. After we sacrificed a lot to be together, he claimed me. And we and will continue to whatever we can for the sake of our relationship.”
“Relationship? You think being together almost a month means you’re in a relationship? You truly are sick or delusional.”
“No, I’m not. I know in my heart how much I care for him and feel for him. And neither you, the G-Force, the Gocarians, or anyone is gonna stop me from being with Dominic!”
Renard’s father’s mouth dropped open. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “No. We’re not doing this.”
“You don’t have a choice. Didn’t you just hear what I said? He claimed me!”
“I don’t give a damn! You’re a gargoyle, that so called bite means nothing in our circles. My only child will not mate with some worthless bear shifter.”
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