Antares

by Yvonne Nicolas

“And then you decided to take the place of the Droid and become her personal watchman. Is that true?”

  That was a confidential mandate—an agreement between him and the councilmen. No one else was supposed to be privy to that information, which meant the Chief Commander had been snooping around in classified documents.

  “How’s JR?” Sanjay asked, changing the subject.

  His jaw pulled tight. “Still in a coma. He may never awaken.”

  “Sorry to hear that.”

  “I’m sure you are.” He glanced over at the squadron before speaking again. “I don’t usually share this kind of information with subordinates since it’s not protocol, but I wanted to give you a head’s up. The physicians will conduct a cerebro scan on JR to find out exactly what happened in the field between him and Moonlight. I imagine their findings will be enlightening.”

  Sanjay didn’t budge or look away. The Commander was fishing for information, or better yet, a reaction. Sanjay gave him neither, even though his blood was starting to boil.

  “Before they do that, I’m going to issue an order for Moonlight’s immediate removal from the force, and, cell time for her recklessness and insubordination.”

  The pounding beneath his chest quickened as his anger increased. He quirked a brow. “Cell time? That’s a bit harsh. Don’t you think?”

  “My son may die because of her.”

  “She made a mistake, Sir.”

  “A mistake I can’t overlook.”

  “She’s a good soldier. Just fatigued from war.”

  The Commander tilted his head and narrowed his emerald eyes. “I’ve never heard you take up this much for anyone. What is it about her?”

  “It’s just…I’m privy to her mental situation, Sir. That aside, I just think your personal grudge toward her is clouding your judgement.” Dammit. The second it slipped off his tongue, he knew he had messed up. Should’ve just kept my fuckin’ mouth shut.

  “Is that so?” A low growl traveled on his voice. “Interesting. Her pussy must be outstanding.”

  Sanjay returned his sneer. “Excuse me?”

  Commander Cannon took a step back, but kept a tight grip on the handrail. “You’ve never spoken out against my orders. Until now. I was informed weeks ago that you were in an intimate relationship with her. I didn’t want to believe one of my best Knights would do something so stupid, but here you are confirming the worst. Have you forgotten who you serve, Vice Commander?”

  He swallowed back his swelling rage and took a deep breath. “My allegiance is to the Federation. Nothing or no one takes precedence over my duty for the cause.”

  For a long moment, the Commander said nothing. He eyed him with a hint of suspiciousness in his darkening gaze. “That’s good to hear.” He leaned in and delivered the rest of his words on a gruff whisper. “‘Cause I’m going to destroy that bitch for what she did to JR, and I want to make sure my righthand man is on my side when I do.”

  Sanjay briefly closed his eyes and did his best to calm the storm thrashing through his sanity. “Whatever’s best for the Federation, sir.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Silver Spider

  “Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey.” Jonavas settled back in the hover chair and slid over to the lighted keyboard. Intertwining his fingers, he flexed his hands then got to work. He keyed in the councilwoman’s super-com code, and just like that he was in the system. Excited, he high-fived the air. “Boom, baby!”

  Dramatic opera music filled the room. The singer’s voice soared from a deep baritone to a stunning soprano as the slightly warped vinyl record spun on the antique audio player. The staticky break in the music added to the dark, yet sexy ambiance.

  Movement stirred on the bed behind him. “What’re you doing?” the councilwoman slurred, still pleasurably drunk.

  “Invading your system.”

  “Come back to bed.”

  He grinned. “Greedy nymph.” He still had quite a way to go to breach the main Central Command unit, but at least he’d gotten past the first firewall. “Can’t always be fun and pleasure. I’ve still got work to do.”

  Wonder how far Nefertiti has gotten on her end.

  He was a far better diver than she was, but she was too prideful to admit it out loud. So he made it a point to shove that fact down her throat by showing off his cyber-diving skills on every mission.

  “She’s gonna be so pissed,” he chuckled to himself.

  Let’s see. Got the councilwoman to record the necessary announcements for the masses. Check. Fucked her thoroughly in the process. Check-check! Took control of the perimeter drones. Checkity-check. Now all he needed was the map to the underground facility beneath the canal, if one existed.

  The City of Lights. He’d gained the cerebral footage from the Bravo-Overwatch squad. It was a golden find, one that brought them closer to the goal at hand. From what he could tell, those crafty, royal fuckers had built a metropolis beneath Liège. Probably been there for decades, long before the war started.

  Time to go deep-diving!

  He inserted his virus chip in the network slot. A series of channels cascaded across the screen. Each file represented a sector within the region, mainly within the walls. He’d tapped into most of them before they arrived. However, there was one channel that stuck out like a sore thumb. It lingered by its lonesome on the left side of the screen.

  It was tilted Silver Spider. Below the file, Confidential beamed in red.

  “Let’s see what’re you hiding, little spider.” He navigated passed the other files and activated the channel.

  It opened then a large spider flashed on the screen. To the left, a section of the desk opened up. A digital console rose from the opening. The outline of a hand blinked on the face of the device. “Hand recognition, please,” the computer requested.

  “Of course.” Rearing back in the chair, he called out, “Liana! C’mon, baby. Time to get up. I need a hand.”

  The rustling of her stirring beneath the sheets sounded. “I’ve already given you my code.”

  “Once again. I need a hand over here.”

  The councilwoman rose from the bed and approached him from behind. She looped her arms around his neck and nibbled on the shell of his ear. “And I need you.” She circled his nipple with her middle finger, rousing the sensitive nerves within. “I’ve never felt anything like that in my life. Please give me more, lover.”

  “I’ll happily oblige when you meet my request. Now…” He tapped the raised console with his nail. “Your hand.”

  She drew back with a scoff. “I refuse.”

  “You refuse?” Jonavas swiveled around to face her.

  Councilwoman Liana stood before him in the nude. Her long, bouncy salt and pepper hair cascaded down her shoulders. Salt dominated the color of her sparse pubic hair. Smooth tanned skin and bold curves blessed her frame. She’d birthed many in her heyday and carried a succulent body as proof. Speaking of her body…This woman was well over eighty in age, yet she appeared to be no older than thirty. Looked like she’d found the fountain of youth in the Noble blood she’d been consuming.

  Her deep grey eyes softened as he stared at her. Her cheeks reddened. “Don’t give me that look. I think I’ve given you enough.”

  He cocked a brow. “Liana, you do know I can compel you to do as I wish without asking…” He took her by the hand and pressed his nail into the vein in her wrist, piercing her flesh. “Right?”

  Gaze widening, she panted and shuddered. “Why don’t you?”

  “‘Cause I’m a nice guy.” He brought her wrist to his mouth and swept his tongue over the puncture wound he’d made. “Don’t make me show you my ugly side, sweetie.”

  “What does it matter? You’re going to kill me anyway.”

  “No I’m not.”

  “You’re lying. There’s no reason to keep me alive once you get what you want.”

  “I’m a man of my word. I have no intention of killing you.” He reached beneath the waistband of
his slacks and freed his cock. It stood at full attention, ready for round eight. Or was it nine? Dammit, lost count.

  Hunger flared in her eyes.

  Tugging her forward, he spun her around. “I will, however, fuck you into oblivion. I’m sure you’re good with that.”

  “Yes, please.” Moving backward, she splayed her legs over his.

  He guided her hips downward until her wet snatch swallowed his full length with a slurp.

  She settled back against him and let out a deep moan. “Oh God, it feels so good.”

  He slid his hands underneath her thighs and pulled her legs upward.

  Bending her knees, she pressed her heels against the chair’s armrests, splayed her thighs, and braced herself.

  He pumped his hips upward, stroking her deep and slow.

  She followed his motion, lifting up just slightly to increase the friction.

  “That’s it, baby…” He grabbed her wrist then placed her hand on the console. “Surrender to this dick.”

  A beep sounded as the device scanned her palm. The spider fled the screen, and a diagram emerged.

  The specs shifted to the three-dimensional view of the underground city dwelling. Mansion-like houses surrounded a large warehouse building. That had to be where they were keeping Antares. While the map offered many ways to navigate the city, it showed no clear access point. Guess that’s where the councilman’s daughter would come in handy.

  Jonavas dove in deeper.

  The names and faces of miners came up. Of course the Nobles had charmed a bunch of humans to do all the digging and the building. Probably made meals out of the poor saps after the job was done.

  He sighed. Nothing to see here. Moving on…

  The outline and specs of a pod-chamber came up. Inside the egg-shaped compartment was a curved device that looked like a spinal column. A line of needles dotted the length of it. Hmm… A three-dimensional projection of the device protruded from the screen for display. Given the shape and framing of the pod, it was the perfect incubation cell for a full-grown human. Several tubes lined the vertebral column. Probably for the extraction of spinal fluid.

  Jonavas attempted to further his search, but that part of the file was restricted to an external server, belonging to Dr. Ricardo Bishop.

  Looks like it’s your turn, Nai.

  “I’m afraid,” Liana whimpered on a moan, slow-rocking on his dick.

  “You weren’t afraid when you and your fellow councilman struck a bargain with outlaw Nobles.” He slipped his fingers between her wet folds and strummed her erect clit to intensify her pleasure.

  Her mewls rose, her thighs quivered. “We—we had no choice.”

  “Sure ya did. You cast your morals aside for power. I get it. Seemed like the logical thing to do, ‘specially when you’re promised the gift of immortality. You should enjoy this moment of mindless pleasure while you can. ‘Cause soon the Federation will fall. That means you’re gonna go down with it, so buckle up for your ride to hell, baby.”

  “You said you wouldn’t kill me.”

  “And I won’t. As I’ve said, I’m a man of my word. But that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. You’ve done some pretty grimy shit.”

  “I can help you.”

  “You have helped me.” While her hand was on the sensor, he changed the passcode then he dropped a bug on the outskirts of the system. No one would know it was there. After this, they’d be able to access and change the files from anywhere.

  Ha-haa! Suck it, Nefertiti!

  Liana’s undulating hips quickened in pace. Her breathing hitched as a shudder ripped through her. A layer of warm cream oozed down his length. She breathed heavily for a moment before speaking again. “I have pertinent info you can’t get from any of the computer files.”

  Little did she know, he’d gotten everything he needed from one drop of her blood. Actually, it was kind of disappointing she hadn’t figured that out yet, being that she was supposed to be smarter than the other councilmembers. Maybe this hybrid-Elven dick got her brain screwed. “Last ditch effort to swipe that humanity, ay?”

  “You don’t get it. This isn’t a battle you can win.”

  “Then why are you trying to skip over to the losing side?”

  “The Federation has an unstoppable force behind the army you think you see. Their influence and power stretch far and wide. You’re going to lose, and innocent people are going to die.”

  “Innocent people are already dying. You’ve got a city full of Nobles living it up right under our feet. How many people have gone missing without a trace? Probably more than the refugees you open your gates to every week. Fodder—all of them. How many of your children have you offered up as payment for power, for this everlasting youth? For this body?”

  She stiffened against him. “I either go along with the majority or die opposing them.”

  “Are you that afraid of death?”

  “It’s not about being afraid of death. The ones who were swayed into this plan were bigger than me, higher in power. My father, his father, and the fathers before him all served Nobles. I was born into this dark hierarchy! I couldn’t break the ties they had on my family.”

  “Nor did you try.”

  Lowering her legs, she sat upright then twisted around to look at him. Sorrow claimed her expression. “So easy for you to judge when you’re on the outside looking in. I’m not a monster.”

  “Sure ya are, baby.”

  “No, I’m…” Her voice faltered. Tears filled her eyes.

  “I’d like to believe you’re one of the good ones.” He traced the side of her face, gently caressing her skin. “I’d really like to believe that. But you and I both know that’s not the case. You’ve made decisions that cost people their lives, all to secure power for you and your fellow councilmen. Sooner or later, you’ll have to pay the piper.”

  “And are you the piper?”

  “Nah. I’m the dude they send in to make preparations for the piper,” he said with a wink.

  For a second, she just stared at him. A flash of humanity sparked in her teary eyes, then just as quickly vanished. “The Federation has a high priestess under their control. That tips the war in their favor.”

  Jonavas smirked as he ran his fingers across the keyboard. A picture of Moonlight came up on the big screen. “You mean her?”

  Liana’s eyes shifted nervously. “So that’s why you’re really here, isn’t it? She’ll never join you. She’s under the influence of a very powerful substance.”

  “You talking about that Prolibrium shit? Not a trace of it in her system. And even if there were, I can guarantee you that her heart, in addition to some supernatural dick, would sway her. Anyway, babe…” He slapped her thigh, drawing out a sharp yelp. “We’re done here. You can go clean yourself up.”

  She frowned then struggled to pull herself up off of his cock.

  “Careful…” He grabbed her hips and lifted her, helping her to her feet. Her limbs trembled. “Pace yourself. Don’t try to walk too fast, or you’ll fall on your face. And I’ll laugh. Ridiculously hard.” He turned back to the computer to finish implementing the virus. “Moonlight is ours now. As I’ve said before, the Federation will fall.”

  “What happens now?”

  “Nothing. I’ll finish my business and be on my way.” He quickly shoved his penis back into his slacks. “I mean, unless you wanna get married or sumthin’,” he jested under his breath with a snort.

  Her heart rate increased as she stumbled away from him. Her bare footfalls shuffled across the marble flooring. “Marriage? What an absurd thought.” A hint of nervousness laced her voice.

  Uh-oh, she’s about to do something stupid.

  The sound of a drawer opening reached his ears. The scent of steel followed. Most likely a weapon.

  “Don’t feel bad. You wouldn’t be the first female who’d wanted to marry ya boy after one night. I’m a cool guy, and an excellent lover, but I gotta forewarn you, I’m kinda complicated
when it comes to affairs of the heart.” Without turning to face her, he continued typing. “You might hate me in the end.”

  The weapon rattled in her shaky grip. The sound of her finger trembling over the trigger resonated. Ahh, a laser shooter. Good choice. She wouldn’t have to get close to take him out.

  “Make sure you don’t miss. If you hit me anywhere other than my head, I won’t die. And then I’ll be pissed. Believe me, you don’t wanna see me pissed.”

  A hardly audible click sounded, then there was a vroom. The heat washed over him before the blast left the barrel. He tilted his head to avoid the laser stream and raised his hand. The shield on the back of his glove deflected the ray and sent it shooting through the ceiling.

  Chuckling, he glanced at her over his shoulder.

  Utter fear veiled her face as she stood there in the nude, double-gripping her pistol.

  “Well, I’ll be damned. You actually pulled the trigger. I didn’t think you had it in you. You’re one feisty, old broad. I wish I didn’t like you as much as I do. C’mon, give it another try. This time I won’t move.”

  A new presence drifted into the room.

  Behind councilwoman Liana, Helena manifested, her face contorted in annoyance. “You shouldn’t tease her.”

  A streak of silver slid past Liana’s neck. Her eyes stretched wide, and her mouth fell open.

  “You shouldn’t have promised her life either,” Helena continued, her voice pitched in aggravation.

  “I didn’t.” Jonavas turned back to the computer with a smile. “I promised I wouldn’t kill her, and I kept my word.”

  The sound of the councilwoman’s body falling sounded like wet meat hitting the floor. Her head followed with a hard thud.

  “Did you have to fuck her?”

  “Uh-yeeeah! You saw how tense I’ve been all week. Gotta admit, she put it on me good. For an old gal, she knew how to work that body. She got rid of the crook in my neck.” Palming his nape, he twisted his head back and forth. “See, all better.”

  “You’re disgusting.” Helena tossed two bit-sized data chips onto the desk. “Done and done.”

  “Are the projections ready?”