by CJ CADE
"Ms Jag?" Deuce said. "If you'll proceed to your navigation station, we'll begin your interview."
Mia faced the holocam, sitting up with her shoulders back, chin high, her face as blank as she could manage. Ready, she hoped, for anything.
As the holovid sprang up of the Egglantian reporter in the Octiron studio, Mia's shoulders tightened further as she saw the way the Egg was smirking.
"Greetings, Mia Jag, Team Starry Night," the reporter crooned.
Mia nodded, smiling at the holocams.
The reporter poised herself, reminding Mia of a rotund little felinoid about to spring at her prey. "I'm afraid we have some bad news to share. Two of the other teams did not make it through the first challenge. What is your reaction to that? Please share with our viewers."
Oh, no. Oh, goddess. No wonder Arek had been concerned about her reaction to the interview. Mia closed her eyes hard, struggling to draw in a breath and let it out again. But her breath caught, and tears pressed sharply at the back of her eyes. She pressed two fingers to her quivering lips, looking to the reporters and then the cameras.
"I...I can't—" she began. She swallowed hard and blinked. "It's horrible! Tragic—I'm so very sorry for them. Which teams?"
"Teams StarDust and SunSpot."
Mia shook her head, unable to remember which beings had been on the two teams. The holocams hovered before her. She wanted to spring from her chair and claw them from the air. They were like 'squitoes in a Pangaean rainforest, greedy to feed—only instead of blood, they wanted tears.
She took a shaky breath and looked to the reporter. "The loss of these contestants is a terrible tragedy, not only for their families, but for all of us in the Race. Will Octiron be calling off the Race now?"
The Egglantian's gaze sharpened. "Call off the race? And why should they do that?"
Mia stared at her. "Why? Because three teams, which means six beings altogether, have died!"
The Egg tipped her head. "Yes, this is very sad. Very sad. However, the Great Space Race is an enormous endeavor, one which involves many, many beings. Surely you would not wish to endanger the livelihoods of all the supporting staff?"
Oh, well done, Mia thought sardonically. How was she to answer no, without looking like a total bitch?
"Of course not," she said somberly. "And since Octiron is so concerned about their employees, I'm sure they will also look after the contestants' bereaved, who've lost their loved ones, possibly even their providers, won't they?"
The Egg hmmed and gave Mia a sugary sweet smile. "I'm sure they will. Now let's talk about your own challenge. Hardly the 'mouse' you were expecting, correct, Tygress?"
Mia raised a brow in gesture she'd seen her mother use on rude acquaintances. "No, but then, the creature wasn't expecting to die, either. Such a shame to see a wild beast perish unnecessarily... just for sport." At least, she was fairly certain none of the locals would miss it, but there were bound to be some wildlife lovers in the vast viewing audience.
"And tell us, how are you getting along with your teammate? I'm sure I don't need to remind viewers that your initial opinion of the prince was not very complimentary."
At least Mia was prepared in part for this question. She'd watched enough seasons of reality shows to know that cat-fights among teammates made great holovision. And she couldn't control what Arek said about her, but she could rise above her own, earlier snark.
"I did have a somewhat negative opinion of my team-mate when we met," she admitted. "But I always find it amazing how our impressions change once we truly get to know another being."
"So you have gotten to know your teammate better?" the interviewer asked, smirking coyly. "How much better, exactly?"
Mia's fingertips prickled, and she rubbed them gently on the top of her thighs. "Better in the sense that when one has faced danger, and been saved from it by another being, one learns what that other being is capable of. Courage, honor, ingenuity. That kind of thing."
Raising her brows delicately, she stared at the other female.
The Egg, however, had an extremely thick shell. "So you feel great gratitude for Prince A'Renoq, hmm? I'm sure we'd all like to know how you showed this gratitude."
Mia smiled as the Egg rolled right into her paws. "You know, I truly haven't done so yet. So let me take this opportunity, if I may." She looked into the hovering holocams, and smiled. "Commander A'Renoq, I know you won't see this for several days. But today, you saved my life. And you did it in a way that demonstrated that for you, it was simply what you do, as an officer and a member of your people's military. So today, you earned my respect, and my gratitude for using your courage and skills to help us both survive a deadly situation. Thank you."
Then she lifted her hand and gracefully flipped her hair back over one shoulder, and sat back with the air of a woman who had said the most important thing she had to say, and the rest would be somewhat inconsequential.
Fortunately, the reporter seemed to agree. She asked a few more questions about Mia's hopes for the remainder of the race and what she would do if she won. Mia replied that she most wanted to stay alive and if she won, she would donate a large portion of the proceeds to charity.
As soon as the hololink broke, Mia rose, her jaw set. "Commander A'Renoq?" she called. "My interview is finished, if you'd like to join me in the cabin."
Arek's cubby hatch immediately slid open, and he appeared in the opening. So either he had avoided being locked in, or Deuce had let him out.
But instead of coming out, he tipped his head and stepped back inside the small room. Mia didn't hesitate, but went to him. Slipping past him into his cubby, she waited only until the hatch had closed before opening her mouth to speak.
He raised his hand, a finger to her lips, his skin warm and calloused. She stilled, watching as he lifted a small device in his free hand. He pressed a button and the air filled with a strange, low hum. He lifted his hand away from her face, and Mia's lips felt strangely bereft.
"What is that?" she asked, her voice hushed.
"A scrambler. If they attempt to listen in, they'll hear only white noise."
"Octiron," she breathed, and he nodded.
"They locked me in," she told him. "And they've blocked my data feed. I couldn't even read an audiobook. That's just—it's wrong!"
He nodded, his gaze hard as green fireglass. "I agree. Listen, we can't stay in here too long, Deuce can over-ride the locks. Just... stay alert. This whole thing is much deeper and darker than any of the contestants were led to believe. Two other teams perished today."
"I know. The reporter told me on camera—for the effect, I'm certain. I wonder how they died?"
"I don't know. But nearly all the other contestants are civilians, like you. If their challenges were as dangerous as ours..." he shook his head.
"You're right—and that means we may lose more teams," she said. "Especially if the next challenges are as dangerous as this one was." She shuddered.
Arek took her shoulders in his hands. "Mia—do you want out?"
She stared up at him. "What do you mean—out of the Race? How could we even do that? We can't link our people, and goddess only knows what the law enforcement is in this galaxy."
"Do not breathe a word out of this room, but I have... a method of communicating with my people. If you wish, we can get you to safety, and I'll carry on."
She opened her mouth and then closed it. "I don't know what to say. If you'd asked me a few hours ago, I would've said, of course I want out. But now... I'm so angry at Octiron, and I—I want to get the better of them, if it's the last thing I do."
He gave her shoulders a squeeze, and smiled down at her, his gaze warm in a way that made her insides melt into goo. She also wanted to stay, and fight by his side for triumph over Octiron and over circumstances.
"Somehow I thought you'd say that. Mia, I'm a warrior. And unlike you, the others in this Race aren't fierce little cats with more courage than some warriors I've known. You and I wi
ll get through this."
She smiled back, because what female wouldn't? But her smile faded as she remembered her terror, and how he'd been forced to take charge. "But, Arek, are you sure? You don't mind having me for a partner?"
He gave her a look. "I answered that earlier, Tygress. You and I are a team."
"We're a team," she repeated. And when his gaze dropped to her lips, they parted, and she leaned forward into his grasp, the melting feeling intensifying into prickles of sheer breathless need.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Something electronic pinged.
"Okay, we're out of time," Arek muttered. He let her go, and the sensual spell was broken. The humming stopped, also. "Deuce, can you hear me?"
"Yes, captain," Deuce said instantly. "We seem to have had an interruption in my data feed. My apologies. How may I serve you?"
Arek lowered one eyelid in a slow wink to Mia, and strode to the hatch, slamming it open and striding out into the cabin. "I said, now that quarking interview is over, how about some good intel on our next challenge. It's time to prepare."
Mia gazed after him. How the hells was he so—so focused on his scheming to outwit Octiron, when her brain seemed full of one need—getting that kiss, or whatever he'd seemed to promise a moment ago?
Arek sagged against the wall outside his sleep cubby, for once in his life, his knees weak. What had he almost done in there? Kiss a Tygress... or, even worse, place his hand over his heart like a knight of old, swearing fealty to a queen? When she looked up at him with those big golden eyes, all her uncertainty and courage shining forth, all he wanted was to hold her, protect her... and fuck her until they both lost their minds.
But, exactly why was he holding out against her sweet, peppery attraction, anyway? It wasn't like she was a siren or a succubus of legend, intent on stealing his manhood. She was a Tygress, a sweet, hot little temptress with courage, heart and apparently much less experience than he would expect from a gorgeous female of her race. Else why did she blush when he teased her, eye him only when she thought he couldn't see, and allow him to so easily foil her tryst with another male?
Arek supposed he should feel guilty for using the HQ surveillance to pretend Tenn had met with the redhead that night, instead of earlier in the week, before he'd even met Mia. But as a seasoned warrior, and one of Hamor Base' tech experts, Arek felt no such remorse. He'd learned to use tech to best the enemy... and any male who wanted to fuck his partner, his Tygress, was the enemy.
Maybe it was time he accepted that, instead of fighting it.
He wanted her, and despite her refusal to acknowledge their mutual lust, she wanted him.
Game on, Tygress. Game on.
He straightened, stretching muscles stiff from bursts of activity followed by inactivity on the ship. He was tired, but through it burned desire, for her.
But when he knocked, waited, and then pushed open the hatch to her sleep cubby... his prey was stretched out in her bunk. On her side, one arm flung out on the pillow before her, her long hair streaming over the pillow, and sound asleep.
Arek dropped his head with a quiet groan. His timing sucked.
Then he yawned mightily, and wiped a hand over his face. Sleep, then. And after that, let the chase ensue.
He left the hatch open between their cubbies when he retired to his own bunk.
* * *
Jostyn Jag was on a link with the elected Governor Prime of planet Bryght. GP Peotr Lyons also happened to be his cousin, on his mother's side.
"Jostyn," the Governor asked, seated at his opulent desk in his office. "My assistant said this is urgent. How may I help?"
"Peotr, thank you for seeing me. What do you know about Octiron Media?" Jag asked.
Lyons' smile disappeared. "This is about Mia, isn't it."
"You know, then."
"That she's a contestant in Octiron's Race? Yes. My daughter is a fan of those sort of shows, never misses one. She told me Mia was taking part… I watched with her last evening."
The two men shared a look of understanding.
"I'm worried," Jostyn said. "Tryon's career has led him into some deadly situations, but this… it's insane. They're sending young beings from every race out to duel with monsters! I want my daughter out, now!"
Lyons sighed heavily. "I understand. Listen, Jos. I'm not sure what I—what we can do. Octiron is huge. But I'll start shaking some branches, see who drops. I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Meanwhile, stay calm."
Jostyn Jag bared his teeth. "Oh, I'll be busy as well. You're not the only one who'll be shaking branches."
* * *
When Arek emerged from the lav the next morning, fresh from his showerdry, Mia kept her gaze on her bowl of boiled grains and soymilk. She spooned up a mouthful and then set it back, pretending she wanted more dried berries in the bite.
Arek sauntered into the galley and brushed by her on his way to the coffee machine. "Sleep well, kitten?"
Strangely, the nickname brought up none of her usual irritation. She was too busy dealing with the hit to her senses—his scent, his heat and strength in such close quarters. The caressing note in his deep voice.
"Um—what?" she asked. "Oh, sleep? Yes. Fine."
"Good." He came back and sank to the seat opposite her. He gave her a hooded look through the steam rising from his mug, and drank. Mia stared at his lips, wet from the coffee as he lowered his mug. "So did I."
She looked up, meeting his gaze, and unaccountably, blushed. "You left the—the hatch open between our beds."
He shrugged amiably. "I did. So, you ready for our second challenge?"
Abruptly, the warmth surrounding them like a bubble popped. A chill settled over her shoulders. "I... think so. I mean, yes. I'm ready."
He smiled at her, his gaze warm, and held out his hand. "Good. Team Starry Night."
Mia lifted her hand, and his closed around hers, warm and strong. A current of live power arcing between them. "Team Starry Night," she agreed.
And if she wished he would follow through with a kiss, well... that was her business alone.
"Your next challenge," Deuce told them, "takes place in The Allermo Sector, which contains the small planet Altaria, a required stop on the Space Race. Altaria is a small, rock-based planet, roughly the size of your Bryght, Mia. It revolves around its sun, Miraga. Altaria has two moons, and the atmosphere supports luxuriant plant growth, with salty seas and fresh water. Plants vary between native growth, and those brought in by early settlers."
Mia gazed in wonder at the holomap of the planet they'd brought up in the middle of the cabin, so she and Arek could walk around it and examine different areas. This was largely shades of green, with pale milky-green seas and the darker greens of vegetation, although strips of tan sand bordered the seas, and ran in a wide ribbon through one valley that nearly bisected the planet.
The mild appearance of the planet came as a complete surprise to Mia, after all the talk about its being deserted. The plant life was much more moderate than that on Am-ghyr, and there seemed to be no jagged mountains, cliffs or abyss-like canyons.
"This is one of the loveliest planets I've ever seen," she said to Arek. "And I watch a great many travelogues on the holovids."
"I believe you," he said, in such a bland voice that she immediately suspected he was laughing at her behind that soldier's face.
"Well, some of us don't get to travel for work," she shot back, and then winced. "I mean... not that you get to see many scenic places..."
He snorted. "No, most military outposts are by no means scenic. Nor are settlements that have been overrun by Gorglons or Maus."
When she grimaced, he shook his head. "Mia, don't fuss about saying the wrong thing with me. I've a very thick skin. And this is a beautiful planet, but the thing you must remember, is this beauty hides deadly traps."
"What? How do you know that? What kind of traps?"
"The Captain is correct," Deuce chimed in helpfully. "Planet Altaria is known for it
s hidden dangers. We recommend our contestants be extremely cautious while exploring. Each team will also be provided with a complete holomap of known traps."
"Which will do little to no good," Arek replied. "As there are hundreds more traps undiscovered."
"What happened to your 'Team Starry Night, we can do this' attitude?" she muttered.
Arek grinned, in a way that made Mia narrow her eyes at him suspiciously. He knew something he wasn't telling her. Well, he'd better watch out, because the moment they landed she was yanking him into her sleep cubby and demanding he activate that jamming device of his.
And then, she just might demand something else... such as that kiss she'd been waiting for.
She blinked, and forced her mind back to their business. "So, about these traps?"
He sobered. "Right. Deuce?"
"Yes. Altaria was once the home of the Altarians, a race known in this galaxy for their culture and peaceful lifestyle. Unfortunately, they placed little credence on maintaining armed forces to protect themselves. They were invaded centuries ago, and their civilization fell. The survivors fled.'
'Their conquerors were the Narrguhl, a race of beings who prided themselves on their intellect, but from the scientific angle instead of cultural. The Narrguhl had no interest in settling Altaria. Instead, they used it for experimentation of defense systems they might employ on their own, much larger planets.'
"And when they were reprimanded by the ruling council of this galaxy," Arek cut in, "The cold bastards pulled out—and left their quarking defense traps behind. They're still in place. The problem is, they left no records of where their traps are. So they're still in play."
Mia shuddered. "What kind of traps?"
"Psi, physical, mechanical—you name it, they used it. Like I said, they were experimenting."