by S. E. Smith
And more than that, he felt a curiosity toward her that created an emotional ache in him almost as strong as his physical reaction. What had driven her to become a caretaker of animals? Why did she live in such an isolated location?
What was it like to grow up alongside her twin?
He couldn’t sort out the mix of emotions churning within him. Dane would be able to help. But first, Marq needed to get Caitlin to his ship.
“That’s some watch you have there,” Caitlin said. “I’ve never heard of one with a flashlight function that strong. Or at all.”
The device was a hybrid of Coalition and Earth technology. He didn’t think explaining that would expedite their journey. He wanted to do whatever necessary to get to Meredith before her kittens arrived.
Kittens…
Marq was becoming accustomed to the warmth that filled him when he thought of Meredith as a mother. He was still adjusting to the fact that a natural birth was about to take place in his own quarters.
The genetic engineers took care of creating all life forms that the Coalition of Planets required. Even Marq and Dane had been raised in maturation chambers after their mother’s unauthorized pregnancy had been detected.
Marq rubbed his chest, as if that could soothe the sense of sadness and loss that always accompanied thoughts of what should have been his family. The intensity of the emotions hadn’t abated at all during Dane’s treatment.
Before Meredith, Marq had spoken with Dane about whether the pain of restoring his emotions was worth enduring. He glanced over at Caitlin, a new warmth filling him, and better understood his brother’s tenacity.
“Why are we walking into the desert?” she asked.
“My skimmer is nearby,” he said.
“What’s a skimmer?”
“A small transport vessel. Your dwelling is far removed from other settlements, which is fortunate. We also have a bit of darkness left to cover our departure.”
“O…kay,” Caitlin said. “So, are you with the military?”
“Yes.”
“Are they going to let me on board your ship? I mean, don’t I need a security clearance?”
“They will do as I say.”
“That’s very alpha of you,” she murmured.
“I don’t know what alpha means.”
“It means in charge, I guess.”
“That is apt. I’m their Commander.”
“Wow. Cool.” They walked a bit farther in silence, then Caitlin said, “And Brigid is working with you?”
“She is. She’s now part of the Department of Homeworld Security.”
“No wonder she’s been so secretive. Wait, did you say Homeworld?”
“I did.”
“Homeworld.”
“Yes.”
Caitlin halted. “If this is some kind of joke, I am not amused.”
She sounded angry, but he didn’t understand how he could have offended her.
“It is not my intention to amuse or upset you,” he said. “But we do need to reach my ship as quickly as possible.”
“Your ship.” She narrowed her eyes, as if considering something. “It isn’t actively deployed, is it? Because I’d feel a lot safer if it was on a base. I think.”
“My ship isn’t on a base,” he said. “It is a base. We’re in the process of building multiple operational headquarters which will all have a Sadirian military presence.”
“Sadirian?”
“Yes. We’re expanding our base in Florida and assessing additional terrestrial sites. We’ve also established mining and manufacturing domes in the Van de Graaff crater, as well as a colony site in Leibnitz. The main base will be the station under construction in LaGrange point L2.”
Caitlin closed her eyes briefly and shook her head. “Wait, wait, wait. LaGrange what? And did you say terrestrial? Are some of these bases underwater or something?”
“No,” he said.
“Oh.”
She started to walk again and he gratefully followed.
“They’re in space,” he said.
“Okay. I’m out.” Caitlin turned abruptly and headed back the way they had come.
Marq ran after her, grabbing her arm to stop her progress. She glared at him as balefully as an angered Lyrian. A chill shot down his spine.
“I may be small, but I have tranquilizers in my bag that could drop a donkey on its ass and I am not afraid to use them,” she said. “And they’re the fast-acting kind, too.”
Marq let go of her arm. “Please, I need your help.”
“The help you need is way beyond me.”
He paused, considering her words. What help did he truly need?
The crushing fear he’d felt when he’d fled to Earth for assistance was gone. But now a new fear rose in him. Fear that Caitlin would turn away from him, that he would never get to kiss her again or be near her or learn the answers to any of his questions.
“Brigid told you to trust me,” he said.
“Brigid doesn’t know everything.”
“I understand that you don’t believe me. My skimmer is not far. When you see it, everything will make sense.”
“I don’t suppose a skimmer is a kind of spaceship.”
He didn’t know how to respond. If he confirmed her hypothesis, she might become more incensed. But he didn’t want to lie to her.
“Fifty paces,” he said. “Fifty paces is all I ask.”
“Fifty paces deeper into the desert with a man I just met and who is stark-raving mad.”
“I’m not raving.”
She stared at him a few moments longer. Finally, she let out a huge breath and started to walk toward his skimmer again.
“Fine,” she said. “But only because you’re the one with the light and I don’t want to get lost out here. And don’t forget that tranq I mentioned.”
He fell in step beside her, keeping the beam from his watch on the land ahead. When they were almost within range of the skimmer, he paused. One more step and it would decloak.
He turned toward her, and said, “I will return you to your dwelling if you insist.”
“That’s vaguely reassuring.”
“But please, before you react, think of the kittens.”
She laughed, but then quickly forced her scowl in place once more.
Reassured a bit, he stepped backward.
The scrub around them lit up as the ship illuminated the area, casting long shadows onto the sandy earth. Caitlin blinked against the sudden brightness, shielding her eyes.
Her mouth dropped open and a few half-strangled words came out. “This… What… I mean… It…”
“This is a standard skimmer craft,” he said. “A small transport used for short-range journeys with minimal crew—usually one or two soldiers.”
“Soldiers.”
“Sadirian soldiers.”
“Sadirian…”
“Are you just going to repeat everything I say?”
“Give me a break, here,” she yelled. “I’m standing in the desert in front of a freaking spaceship talking to a guy about… Wait a minute.” She started to back away from him. “Are you a guy? Or are you some kind of alien?”
“I’m Sadirian.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I’m from Sadr-4.”
“So you are an alien.” She balked and shook her head, staring at the ship with wide eyes. “He can’t be an alien. This is a trick. This is all part of an elaborate prank. It’s not real.”
“It is real, as is my need. Please, can we just go and check on Meredith and her kittens?”
“Her kittens?” Caitlin squealed. “You’re still going on about your cat? If you even have a cat.”
“I do. Just come aboard and I can show you.”
“I’m not getting on that thing.”
He scrambled, trying to think of a way to calm her, to help her understand. “You just said it isn’t real. If it’s not real, what is there to fear?”
“Gettin
g into an enclosed space with a lunatic!”
“I’m not a… What even is a lunatic?”
“Why don’t you ask your fancy space watch?” she spat.
“Because I would rather talk to you.”
“Oh no. Don’t you try to sweet talk me, with your soulful eyes and your ridiculous attractiveness. I’m not falling for it.”
Ridiculous attractiveness?
If she was as drawn to him as he was to her, maybe there was still a chance he could get through to her without just picking her up and tossing her onto the ship. Seeing it in flight would surely convince her he was telling the truth.
But that really would be kidnapping her. The idea of forcing her to do anything was too close to his experiences with the Coalition before the war had begun. He wouldn’t take away her choice.
Another part of him wondered if she actually already believed him and this was an emotional reaction to being faced with truths too big to process all at once. He probably should have considered that possibility before reaching out to her. But he’d been so panicked. Now, Caitlin seemed just as upset as he had been.
“Please, Caitlin,” he said.
She shook her head.
The situation was beyond his experience. He didn’t know how to address it. Deep in his abdomen, he felt as if his organs were sinking.
He had failed in his mission of getting an expert to assist with Meredith, but at least he knew what he was facing. With the urgency removed, he could find another way to see to her care.
That didn’t help with his other dilemma. He had also ruined his chance to get to know Caitlin better. The thought caused a physical ache in his chest.
The ache intensified as he thought back to their kiss and what he hadn’t even realized it might mean for him. Hope.
Chapter Five
Marq was staring at her, his eyes gleaming in the lights from the ship behind him. Caitlin refused to feel guilty for not playing along.
It wasn’t a ship. It was a trick. A prop.
Any minute now, a crew—a film crew—would walk out of it, sheepish that they couldn’t pull one over on her. Caitlin tapped on her leg impatiently.
“Could you please give me a moment?” Marq said.
“A moment to do what?”
“I need to speak with Dane. Then I can escort you back to your dwelling.”
“Fine.”
She glared at his back as he walked up the ramp.
Damn, he had an amazing ass. And legs. And back.
She shook herself. Those thoughts were not helping.
Spaceships weren’t real. Not like this one, anyway.
Marq’s “skimmer” looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. It was crescent-shaped, like a croissant. A flying croissant. That’s what she’d call it.
The outside was painted in a shiny black lacquer. Red, green, and gold lights flickered here and there over its surface, in addition to the white lights beaming out of it in a solid line that bisected the upper and lower halves of the thing and lit up the desert as if it were noon.
It was held maybe eight feet off the ground on shiny silver legs. “Landing gear,” no doubt. There was a small window that looked like it might be on a second level of the ship from what she could see from outside.
Not that she was thinking of going inside. Or curious at all.
“Flying croissant,” she murmured, as she paced outside of Marq’s spaceship, glancing at the ramp he’d used to enter it.
She wasn’t being unreasonable. This was all insane.
Everybody knew what a donkey was. And about kittens.
Everybody from Earth.
“Stop it, Caitlin,” she said.
She paused, staring at the light coming from the open hatch in the ship. Knowing that Marq was inside of it.
Marq, who had seemed so earnest and who her sister had vouched for.
Marq, who was a really great kisser.
Caitlin pulled out her phone and turned off the do not disturb setting.
“Crap,” she whispered. No signal.
Marq had a signal. On his spaceship.
She looked back at the ramp.
“What am I doing?”
She slid her phone into her pocket as she approached the ramp, quickening her pace as she neared so she didn’t chicken out. Voices drifted from the ship.
“I get that you’re upset.” The voice was similar to Marq’s, but warmer. Caitlin crouched as she neared the end of the ramp, peering into the ship.
Marq was standing in front of a huge monitor. The face on the screen looked exactly like his, except not. Aside from the robust coat of stubble, the man on the monitor appeared more relaxed than Caitlin could ever imagine Marq being. Plus, his hair was longer, brushing his shoulders.
This must be Dane.
“I didn’t know Meredith was pregnant,” Dane said. “It honestly never crossed my mind to check.”
“You’re a doctor,” Marq snapped. “You should have at least scanned her.”
“I’m a Sadirian doctor, and honestly… I was carried away at the thought of finally finding a way to help restore this aspect of your emotions. Companion animals can bring out an amazing nurturing aspect in people. I mean, have you seen Ari with his cats?”
“Have you seen Rin with Ari’s cats?” Marq said.
“That’s not fair. Rin was traumatized.”
“And it sounds like Marq may have been, too.” A familiar voice broke into the conversation as an even more familiar face slid onto the screen. “Which wouldn’t have happened, if you’d asked me before going forward with this cockamamie scheme.”
“Brigid?” Caitlin whispered.
Brigid leaned closer to the screen. “It’s going to be okay,” she said. “We’ll make sure Meredith and her kittens are healthy. But you have to figure out a way to convince my sister that this is all some kind of joke. I don’t want her getting a mindwipe.”
“I apologize for involving her,” Marq said.
“I understand why you did, but you still need to fix this.” There was Brigid and her ever-present damage control.
Wait… Why was Brigid with Dane in the wee hours of the morning? And standing really close to him—in her pajamas.
Caitlin ran the rest of the way onto the ship and jabbed her finger at the monitor. “Busted!”
Brigid’s eyes widened and she leaped out of the screen’s view.
“Just because I can’t see you anymore doesn’t mean I don’t know that you’re there,” Caitlin yelled.
Brigid stepped back onto the screen. “Caitlin, you’re really not supposed to be there.”
“Where?” Caitlin said. “On a spaceship?”
Brigid’s eyes narrowed a bit and her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t deny it.
Oh my God, I’m on a spaceship. Aliens are real and I totally made out with one.
Caitlin tried to mask her shock with a stern look, setting down her bag and crossing her arms so she could glare at Brigid properly.
“This is serious, Caitlin,” Brigid said.
“No kidding, it’s serious.” Caitlin’s voice had risen to nearly a screech. “I’m on a spaceship with a super-hot alien!”
Dane’s eyebrows rose and he half-smiled, a deep dimple appearing on the right side of his face. Caitlin glanced over at Marq, wondering if he would have the same dimple if she could ever get him to smirk like that.
He was still glowering.
Dammit. Focus, Caitlin.
“Sounds like you two have similar tastes,” Dane said.
Brigid and Caitlin both glared at him. He shivered and looked away.
“That is not fun in stereo,” Dane said. He reached out to Brigid and pulled her closer. “This is good. I know you’ve been wanting to talk to your sister about all this.”
“Now that Caitlin is aware of us, could you please tell her to go with me?” Marq said.
Caitlin turned her glare on him. “She’s not the boss of me.”
&nbs
p; “I’m not telling my sister to sneak on board the Reckoning,” Brigid said. “She hasn’t been cleared yet and I do not want her getting a mindwipe.”
“What’s a mindwipe?” Caitlin said. She had a few ideas, but really, really hoped she was wrong.
Marq ignored her question. “She won’t get a mindwipe. Commander Teisha is gone. The Reckoning is my ship now, and my crew will obey my orders.”
“All of them?” Brigid said. “Can you truly guarantee my sister’s safety?”
Marq’s silence was ominous, but Caitlin didn’t care. Her sister was hanging out with aliens—and had been for months. Caitlin was not about to be left behind.
“I’m going,” Caitlin said.
Even if she didn’t want to go for herself, the relief on Marq’s face would have made it worthwhile. The furrow between his eyebrows lessened, and she could see his chest rise and fall as he took a deep breath and let it out.
“You don’t know the danger involved,” Brigid said.
“Neither did you,” Marq said.
Brigid snapped at him. “That’s different. Your crew abducted me.”
“Abducted?” Caitlin took a step toward the screen, her arms dropping to her sides. “What happened? Are you okay? Where even are you?”
“I’m fine and I’m back on Earth in Florida, just like I told you.” Brigid turned her glare back to Marq. “But I’ve been aboard the Reckoning and it was not a pleasant experience.”
“My crew was only following the previous Commander’s orders,” Marq said. “I’m identifying those who are still loyal to her and removing them.”
“‘Identifying’.” Brigid made air quotes with her fingers. “As in, ‘you’re still in the process of doing it.’ I don’t want my sister on the Reckoning while there are still soldiers aboard who are sympathetic to the High Council.”
Marq turned toward Caitlin, a trace of the desperation she’d noticed the first time she saw him returning to his face. “I swear to you, I will keep you safe.”
“Caitlin…” Brigid warned.
“You don’t get to make this decision for me,” Caitlin said. “I’m going.”