He stood up and went to one corner of the bunker. He pressed against a fissure in the wall, and a drawer slid out with a whisper of hydraulics. Asa gently put Joely on the ground, lying her down with great care, while Itan busied himself with something in the drawer.
“Now what the hell are you doing?”
“Sending a distress beacon.”
“If the Taluans are the ones who come, I’m gonna throw you at them first.”
Itan shook his head. “Be my guest.” He bent over the drawer again, then sat back with a sigh. “There. That will call any Resistance cells in the area.”
“Are there any close by?”
He nodded. “Yes, assuming they haven’t been rounded up yet. There should be a cell not more than forty clicks away.”
“Will that signal reach them?”
The alien looked at him as if he had taken leave of his senses. “It’s a subspace beacon. I’m pretty sure everybody can hear it.”
He walked back to Joely, pushing past Asa, and even though they were in cramped quarters, that sort of physical contact wasn’t entirely necessary. For his lady’s sake, the cowboy decided to let it go, but he added it to the list of things he’d get Itan for later.
Crouching by her side, the alien ran his sensor over her body again. “That arm is looking really bad, too.” He turned and looked at Asa. “Would you let me check you out? You’re limping, and I don’t want to ignore you just because she’s hurt.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re a liar.” He pointed the sensor at the Texan’s body. “Bad bruising, a torn ligament in the knee, some lacerations and contusions… you’re hurting, but you’re going to be okay.”
“Thank God for small favors.”
Itan put the sensor away and shook his head. “Sit down. You’re making your injuries worse.”
Asa hesitated, then opened one of the weapons cases and looked inside. There was a rifle of some sort there, broken up into three separate pieces, with a softly-glowing energy pack beside the stock. “How do I put this together, and will it fire?”
The hybrid came over and took the weapon out of his hands. “Sit down and I’ll show you.”
Reluctantly, the Texan sat. Itan crouched with the open gun case, talking while he reassmbled the rifle. “This is the stock, this is the barrel, and this is the action. The action is equipped with ilquasian crystals, which power the laser bolts. Each rifle has a cartridge of three hundred crystals, and when activated, each crystal can emit a bolt of energy that’s six centimeters long in the visual spectrum, and which superheats anything it hits to 4 million degrees. The action attaches to the stock like this, and the barrel to the action this way.” He snapped the pieces together, and there was as soft whine as they fused together. “The cartridge inserts into the action this way. The crystals are vaporized with each shot, and when the cartridge is empty, it ejects.” He handed the assembled rifle to Asa. “Its use is similar to the rifles on Earth. Point the business end in the direction of what you want to hit and squeeze the trigger.”
Asa examined the lethal object. “Where’s the sight?” Itan pointed to it, and the human nodded. “Got it.”
“If the Taluans come instead of the Resistance, you have three hundred opportunities to make them hurt.” He reached into the box and pulled out another cartridge, which he handed to Asa. “Six hundred.”
They sat in silence. Asa studied the rifle and familiarized himself with it while Itan assembled another weapon for himself. Joely whimpered in her sleep, and they both turned to look at her in concern.
“How long have you been together?” Itan asked quietly.
“We’ve known each other for about nine years, but we’ve been together for almost two.” He looked up at his companion. “How long have you been married to Nima?”
“A long time. Too long.” He shook his head. “We never loved each other. Do you love Joely?”
Asa nodded. “A lot.” He looked at Itan. “And that’s why I don’t appreciate you coming in like you are, trying to get with her. And I don’t like that she’s attracted to you, too. I don’t want to share.”
Before Itan could respond, the hatch above their heads clicked and began to lift. Both men pointed their weapons up the at the opening. A female Ylian, her green eyes shining, came into view. “Your rescue is here.”
Another Ylian woman, this one with the yellow eyes of the sensor class, appeared beside her. She smiled. “You rang?”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Weeks passed.
Alaia, Nima and Rai all provided the data that had been requested, and Beno and Theyn spent hours combing through it, refining their strategy. The civilians and non-combatants among the Ylian population were taken into the Temple in shifts, a few at a time, and funneled into the mines and out into the safe places occupied and protected by the Resistance. At the same time, Alaia let it be known that there was a bonded Emperor on the throne once more, and that hope had returned to the people of the Ylian diaspora. Morale surged among the beleaguered population.
Beno’s raids began as small, intermittent and widely-scattered attacks on Taluan and Bruthesan arms depots. Even though they were minor in terms of size, they were wildly successful. The Resistance stole all of the weapons they could carry and destroyed the rest. The Taluans launched a retaliatory cull in response, and Resistance fighters ambushed the harvesters. For the first time, the efforts of the rebellion began to have military strategy, and the Taluans and Bruthesans were clearly alarmed.
Raid led to crackdown led to counter-offensive, and the war for Ylian independence was gaining speed. There were casualties, deaths in Taluan counterstrikes and a stepped-up pace at the abattoir, which grieved Theyn deeply. There was little that his mates could do to assuage his sorrow, but they did their best.
In the hours when Beno was out leading his troops, Theyn and Sera filled their nervous waiting time by talking. She worked to learn the Ylian tongue without the earpiece, and she asked her mate all of the questions she had about Ylian society. He patiently provided her with as much information as he could about the history, society and religion of his home world, and she was fascinated. The mental exercise was exceedingly welcome, especially when it distracted them both from worrying about their mate.
Three days before the High Festival of Flame, Beno had gone out to lead another raid, and Theyn was at the Temple with Alaia. Sera was in their apartments, watching Kira play with a toy that Nima had provided from the surface, when the door chime announced a visitor. Warily, she went to the door and opened it.
She was surprised and annoyed to find Rai, the ruafa, standing there, dressed in her bizarre leather and gauze outfit. Rai bowed to Sera as soon as the door was opened.
“Selected,” she said, her voice throaty. She sounded like a phone sex operator. “I come with good news. May I enter?”
She considered leaving her in the corridor, but that would be churlish. She stepped back. “Of course.”
Rai glided in, her golden eyes scanning the room. “Where are His Majesty and his Companion?”
“Out.”
Sera walked over to Kira and picked her up protectively. The little girl whined to be separated from her toy, but she quieted quickly. Rai smiled at the baby.
“She’s beautiful. I’m quite envious. It must be wonderful to be a mother.”
“It is.” She nodded toward the couch. “Have a seat, if you’d like.”
“Thank you.” The two women sat. Rai crossed her long legs and smiled at Sera. “You don’t like me, do you, Selected?”
“Am I required to?”
“I am no threat to your bond.”
Sera wasn’t going to have this conversation. “You said you had news.”
The ruafa sighed before she could stop herself. “Yes. Your human friends, Joely and Asa, have been found.”
Her heart leaped into her throat. She could scarcely believe what she was hearing. “Found?”
“They’re alive and
well with a distant Resistance cell in the far western desert. Joely sustained a head injury in the course of their escape, but she’s been receiving the best medical care that the Resistance can offer her. They’re being brought here to the palace.”
“I thought… the slaughterhouse…”
“They were rescued by the Resistance and cared for by Nima’s husband, Itan.”
Sera shook her head. “Oh my God. I can’t believe it. I thought they were dead!”
Rai smiled. “Then this is happy news, to be sure.”
“Of course it is! What head injury did Joely have? How bad?”
“I don’t have that information, unfortunately. I know only that they’re on their way.” She hesitated. “Well… I know one other thing.”
She leaned back. “What other thing?”
“Apparently, Itan was struck by some sort of random inspiration – a gift from the Burning One, perhaps – and ran some interesting tests. It seems that your friend Asa is a matrix through which other males can merge.”
Sera frowned. “How does that even work?”
“I’m uncertain of the mechanics, or if it’s been tested in real life,” Rai admitted, her sly tone indicating that she had given the matter a good deal of salacious thought. “I know only that when the test for potential bond mates was applied, a failure was rendered positive by the addition of Asa’s blood.”
“That’s… weird.”
“That’s hope.”
“I understand that your people are desperate -”
“Our people.”
She frowned at the interruption. “I understand that your people are desperate to add to your numbers, but you’re really obsessed.”
“If you were on the brink of extinction, I think you’d be similarly absorbed,” Rai said, unruffled.
“I suppose. When do you think Asa and Joely will be here?”
“Within the day, I should think.” She looked at Kira fondly, then back at Sera. “Shall I have them brought directly here when they arrive?”
“Yes, absolutely. Thank you.” She blurted, “You said you’re no threat to my bond, but you’d sleep with Theyn and Beno in a heartbeat, wouldn’t you?”
Rai looked surprised by the question. “Certainly. It would be my honor, and my duty.”
“You want them.” It wasn’t a question.
“Of course I do. My entire existence has been geared toward providing this service to the royal family, and until recently, there has been no royal family for me to comfort. I have had no reason for being until your mates arrived. Now I hope they will come to me, and that I can finally have a purpose in my life.””
Sera set her jaw. “They told you no. They’re not interested in you.”
Rai smirked. “With all due respect, Selected, that’s for them to say, not you. You may be bonded with them, and you have been granted the honor of bearing their child, but I ask you to remember that there is no fidelity implied in a bond.”
“Not that you’d honor such an implication if it was there, of course.”
“Of course.”
The way the ruafa smiled made her angry, and she stood. “Thank you for your news, but you can leave now. Don’t come back here. You’re not welcome.”
The Ylian woman rose. “Whether I am welcome or not is up to His Majesty, not you. You forget your place.”
“I know my place, and I know where I belong. I’m not sure you can say the same.”
“You’re no different than I am, Selected. I am a sacred prostitute, but you are a concubine. Neither one of us is any man’s wife.” She bowed to Sera, and the motion had a mocking edge. “Good day, Selected.”
She left before Sera could throw her out.
*
Theyn stood silently in the center of the sanctuary, gazing up at the icon of the Burning One. Behind him, Alaia watched, gauging his reactions. He ignored her.
The icon was similar to the one in the Temple he’d known in his youth, with the same brilliantly colored glass and precious stones. The Phoenix’s immolation was portrayed with pathos and power, and it moved him as much as it had in his days as a teenaged acolyte. Almost subconsciously, he reached up and touched the amulet around his neck that echoed the image before him. It was warm to the touch, warmer than just his body heat should have made it. The Burning One’s power was with him.
Behind Alaia, the leaders of the Resistance were filling the seats, taking the places normally held by worshippers during rituals. He could feel the weight of their stares, and he had expected nothing less. Most of these people had never seen a full-blooded Ylian male before, much less a royal one. He would let them stare.
‘Beno,’ he called. ‘How is the raid?’
‘We’re almost back to the Temple. It went extremely well. I’m surprised you couldn’t hear the explosions from where you are.’
It was hyperbole, he knew; the depot that Beno and his raiders had planned to sack today was far away from the city and well out of earshot, no matter how large the explosion. He smiled. ‘We’re in the Temple. Join me as quickly as you can.’
‘Should I bring Sera and Kira?’
He considered quickly. ‘Yes.’
‘Then that will take me more time.’
Theyn nodded, a seemingly superfluous physical response to a telepathic conversation. Still, he knew his partner felt the motion through their bond and understood. ‘I’m sure I can keep them occupied until you get here.’
He felt Beno chuckle. ‘I have no doubt.’
Their link went silent, and Theyn turned to face the waiting onlookers. He saw expressions of doubt melt away into astonishment at the sight of his undeniable royal eyes. One of the Resistance leaders, a hybrid female, wiped away a tear.
Alaia turned toward the congregation as well. “Good people, I present to you Theyn, son of Kina, true Emperor of Ylia.”
In the old days, the appropriate response would have been for them to speak in unison, saying, “Hail, Great One.” Royal protocol had been lost in the intervening centuries. They applauded instead. He didn’t mind the change.
One of the leaders, a man with a scarred face, demanded, “How is this possible?”
Some of his fellows looked askance at his tone, but his question was a reasonable one. Theyn answered without rancor. “The day our world died, my bond mate and I escaped in long-range pods and landed on a planet called Earth, in the Sol system. We spent hundreds of years in stasis and were awakened early by the natives of that world.”
The weeping woman echoed, “Bond mate?”
“Yes. My Companion will be joining us soon, as will our Selected and our child.”
Alaia looked surprised, but her expression was nothing like the shock on the faces of the Resistance leaders. They buzzed with excitement at his words, and the priestess at Theyn’s side gave him a beaming smile of approval. His family’s presence at this meeting had not been planned, and she was clearly pleased by the turn of events.
Theyn continued. “It will take some time for them to reach us, so if you have any questions, I will answer them for you now.”
They asked a hundred questions – how he and his Companion escaped the planet, about their trip, about Earth. They asked about his Selected and their child, and about the prophesy about the Burning One. He answered all of their questions as fully as he could, except for the questions about the prophesy, which he deflected. His evasion was noted, and he saw some of the Resistance leaders exchanging cynical looks.
Finally, Beno arrived with Sera and Kira in tow. They joined him at the front of the congregation, and the woman who had been weeping began to cry anew. Kira stared out at the people from her vantage point in Sera’s arms, and Theyn could feel her wonder and curiosity.
“The time has come,” he announced, “for us to cast off the shackles of this oppression by Bruthes and Talua. You have all been helping us to bring our people down into the mines, to safety, while the Resistance continues to live on the surface. My Companion has been
keeping them too busy to count heads, and most of our people are now in safety. But we can be safer.”
He was momentarily distracted when Kira pointed at the large icon of the Burning One and gurgled. Sera smiled at her and took her a step closer to the image of the phoenix. Theyn turned back to his people.
“There is a place we can go where we can be safe. It’s far away from Bruthes, and somewhere the Taluans cannot find. We will be safe there, and we will be able to live our lives in freedom and in peace.”
The surly man furrowed his brow. “There’s no such place.”
“It’s Earth.” He gestured toward Sera. “My Selected’s homeworld.”
“But Earth is a primitive place,” another man objected. “And humans are violent. Would we not be trading one hell for another?”
Theyn shook his head. “There are places on Earth were we can live without ever coming into contact with humans, or coming into contact only with humans with whom we have an agreement. They can be trusted, for the most part, to do as they say they will.”
Kira squealed and leaned away from Sera, reaching for the phoenix on the wall. Her mother gently but firmly held her back.
Theyn continued his efforts at persuasion. “Earth is the best option for us at this point. It’s a safe place, and if we want to relocate to another world entirely, settling on Earth for the time being will give us a safe base from which to do our search for a home of our own.”
A woman in the back of the room, clad in the black jumpsuit of a Resistance fighter, asked, “How are you going to get us there? We can’t leave the planet with the Taluan patrols shooting down anybody flying without permission.”
Beno told Theyn, ‘Tell them some, but don’t tell them all, just in case we have traitors in the mix.’
He nodded, then answered her. “We have plans in place that will eliminate the ability of the Taluans to stop our ships, and another course of action we will take will compel the Bruthesans to cooperate.” He gestured to Beno. “My Companion has news, as well.”
Beno stepped forward. “Today, our raid on the primary Taluan weapons depot was a resounding success. We made off with three space-worthy shuttles filled with weapons and components, and in the fight, we killed the Taluan commander, Zustkrath. They are disorganized and demoralized.”
Ignition: Alien Ménage Romance (Phoenix Rising Book 2) Page 23