by Roxie Ray
Instead, I ran. Up to the higher levels, where the observation windows ringed the corridors. I looked out at the starry expanse around the station.
The sight that greeted me was beyond beautiful.
The terra-pods were wreaking havoc – darting and swooping like the bats I'd been so enamored with as a child, firing makeshift cannons. Half of them concentrated their fire on the prison's mounted guns, which were booming in response. The other half were showering the nearby moon with explosives, leaving smoldering craters all along the surface.
It would take a long time and a lot more firepower, but if they kept it up, the moon would eventually break apart... and the final piece of Karaak's terrible puzzle would be reduced to a cloud of floating debris.
I tried to single out Paige's terra-pod, to make sure she was all right – but suddenly, the doors to the cell blocks burst open and the prisoners came roaring out, carrying blasters and dragging the beaten and bloodied bodies of the jailers behind them.
The riot was raging now. There was no stopping it, especially now that Tetro had armed the inmates.
Now for Karaak.
I shouldered my way through the crowds of frenzied convicts, making my way toward the warden's office. I figured if he was half as smart as he pretended to be, he'd have holed himself up in there as soon as the riot broke out.
But as one of the foremost spies and assassins in the galaxy, infiltrating places that were supposedly impossible to break into was a specialty of mine.
And once we were alone, I'd put that maniac down once and for all.
Just as I reached the level where his chambers were located, though, I saw something unexpected ahead of me and skidded to a halt.
Karaak hadn't barricaded himself inside his office after all.
He was standing there, smiling, waiting for me.
“I suppose you think this scheme of yours was remarkably clever, don't you?” he taunted. “That those imbeciles in their terra-pods with their cobbled-together weapons are going to destroy the moon and derail my fiendish scheme, thus preventing me from ever completing the binding spell around the galaxy? How pitiful, not to mention futile.”
“You... knew what we were planning?” I couldn't believe my ears. I’d never been found out or outmaneuvered like this before.
Karaak shrugged mildly. “I had my suspicions. And I planned ahead just in case. Or did you truly believe I'd allow anyone to seize control of my pods ever again, after the last pair of self-righteous would-be lovers made a fool of me in my own damn prison?”
He produced a small remote control from the folds of his robe, and pressed a button on it.
Dozens of fireballs bloomed outside the observation window as the terra-pods exploded. Bits of debris – some of them recognizable as body parts – peppered the thick glass.
“Paige!” I screamed, staring at the devastation.
“Oh, there's no need to mourn her yet, Valkredian,” Karaak smirked, pointing out the window. “As you can see, I've chosen to spare her pod. There will be no fiery death for her on this day.”
Sure enough, a single pod remained intact, floating in space. I could see Paige's face in the cockpit, staring at the wreckage drifting around her with wide, frightened eyes.
“No,” the Lunian went on calmly, “a very different fate awaits her. You see, she doesn't realize it, but her date of birth perfectly corresponds with the final sacrifice required to complete the circle and unlock all that delicious cosmic power. I have shut off her fuel cells, and I've set her pod to pilot itself directly into the surface of the moon. She will die torn apart, screaming, cursing you for involving her in all of this, and you will watch.”
I charged at him without a second thought. No strategy, no stealth tactics, just pure fury.
It was a mistake.
With a single sweep of his clawlike hand, he swatted me like a bug, sending me smashing into the nearest wall. The force behind the blow was like nothing I'd ever felt before.
“You are pathetic,” Karaak chuckled. “How can you possibly hope to best me with brute strength? Even without my link to Yuluna and the others of my race, you cannot conceive of the power I wield. The eons of fighting prowess at my disposal.”
I grabbed the wall and pulled myself up. The corridor was spinning around me, and my ears were ringing. I felt blood trickling from my nose – and all that from just one strike.
All while Paige's pod kept plunging toward the moon's surface, with nothing to stand in its way.
Nothing except me.
I sized up my opponent, determined to fight smarter this time. He could brag all he wanted about his millennia of fighting experience – but I was the swiftest, most ruthless killer my planet had ever produced. That had to count for something.
The bats had taught me. Dhimurs had taught me. Valkred had taught me. And Paige was counting on me.
I'd be damned if I'd let them down now.
I feinted toward his face, and then dropped low, sweeping my leg under him to bring him down. Instead, my leg passed under him without hitting anything – as though he had no legs, as though the robe that swirled beneath him was empty.
Except that it wasn't.
It definitely contained at least two arms – because one was holding the remote, and a split second later, the other one lashed out and punched me squarely in the nose with the power of a runaway battle cruiser. I was sent backward again, seeing stars and hitting the floor hard.
Karaak advanced on me... and just as he loomed over me, I drove both of my legs up like pistons, kicking him in the face. His head snapped back, and for the briefest of moments, he seemed to stagger and lose his balance.
When he stood straight again, silver blood was pouring from his split lip, and his yellow eyes burned with pure hatred.
“How dare you touch me?” he roared, descending on me like a hurricane.
He was furious, out of control, swinging wildly. I blocked his first punch, and then his second, stunning him with a savage headbutt. His eyes widened in surprise and pain, and inwardly, I celebrated my victory. He wasn't invincible, no matter how ancient or powerful he was. He could be hurt.
Unfortunately, he could also be enraged.
His mouth opened impossibly wide, his jaw seeming to dislocate like a snake's as he bellowed – a sound like a crack in reality itself, like the dying groan of the universe. His jagged teeth gnashed as he sank his fist so deep in my stomach that for a bizarre moment, I thought it would go straight through my body and punch my spine out of my back. I sank to my knees.
Paige's pod was still headed for the surface. Just a couple more minutes until impact.
“I can see now,” Karaak said, panting, “that you are a practiced taker of lives. I respect that. In another life, perhaps you might have been useful as my pawn. As it stands now, though, you've left me no choice but to reunite you with all those you have killed.”
He positioned himself above me, preparing to deliver the final blow. “Please give them my regards.”
I tried to muster enough strength to rise again, to counter his attack. I could still win, damn it. All I needed was a few more seconds to pull myself back to my feet, and I could stand my ground against him. I could end this.
Just a few more seconds. Seconds which I didn't have.
He brought his fist down like a hammer... and suddenly, a blur filled my field of vision, throwing itself between us.
“No!” Boola shrieked, taking the full force of the strike. Karaak's fist glowed as it connected with her chest, and she crumpled, dropping to the floor in a heap. Her head lolled lifelessly to one side, her eyes closing as her final breath rattled in her throat.
I couldn't believe it.
Not only had she left her cell after all, she had given her life to give me the chance she didn’t have at defeating Karaak.
Karaak stared down at her in shock and disbelief. “Boola,” he whispered. “My sister... this... this wasn't supposed to happen, you weren't suppose
d to... die... you were supposed to live to see my success, you were supposed to forgive me, to join me... how... how could this happen?”
“Like this, motherfucker,” I snarled, aiming a killing blow directly at the Lunian's chest and letting loose with every ounce of strength left in me.
This time, my fist connected with something solid beneath the robes. Something that splintered inward, sending shards of bone plunging into the soft organs beneath.
It was a move I'd used to take many lives before... but never with this much satisfaction.
I withdrew my hand, now sticky with blood that looked like quicksilver, and snatched the remote from Karaak. Paige's pod was mere seconds from impact now. I pressed the navigational buttons, and the pod lurched, swerving away at the last moment and veering back toward Karcerikus. Then I released the remote piloting mechanism, allowing her to take control of the pod again.
Karaak's skin was rippling, as though there were things crawling and writhing underneath. His eyes bulged, and he fell to his knees next to his sister, gasping and croaking. After a few moments, his gaze met mine and he summoned enough breath to utter four short words:
“This... is... not... over.”
Then there was a blinding flash of light, and the warden was gone, his empty robes billowing and collapsing on the floor.
Had I done it?
Was this another trick? Or had I actually killed a Lunian?
If so, there was no time to relish that victory now. I had to get to the pod bay. I had to make sure Paige was safe. I had to hold her in my arms again and never let her go.
As I ran through the prison, past the rioting inmates, I swore to myself that I would earn her love and trust again if it took me a lifetime. I would give her the life she'd always deserved, free from the shackles of poverty and imprisonment and slavery. I would do whatever I needed in order to make her feel safe and happy, to make sure she never felt alone again. I would forsake my life of bloody service to Valkred, I would settle down and never take another life again... whatever it took to show her that I was devoted to her, that she was the center of my universe, my one true mate.
I threw myself against the pod bay doors, banging on the console next to them, cursing them for not opening faster. When they parted enough for me to fit, I squeezed through just in time to see Paige's pod touch down on its landing pad.
The canopy popped open and she slid out, walking toward me unsteadily.
“Surge?” she asked. “Are you okay?”
I looked down at myself and realized I was still bruised and bleeding from my brawl with Karaak. I'd probably need medical attention in the very near future.
But none of that mattered now.
“I am fine,” I assured her, taking her in my arms.
“My pod,” she said. “I couldn't control it... it was heading right for the moon, and I... I saw you with Karaak... did... did you save me?”
“Yes, Paige. You're safe now.” I folded my wings around her and kissed her fiercely. My face was battered, my eye was swollen shut, and pressing my sore lips against her mouth hurt like hell, but I didn't care.
My mate was alive.
And she was kissing me back.
Suddenly, the transmitter implant in my skull buzzed with static, followed by Dhimurs' voice. “Surge? What’s happened? Did your plan succeed?”
“Yes, Dhimurs. This prison has been delivered from its oppressor. Karaak is no more.”
“Excellent news,” Dhimurs replied. “I knew we could rely on you to emerge victorious in service to the empire, as always. Now it's time to ensure that no one else gets the same idea Karaak had. You may want to look out the window – you won't want to miss this.”
I put an arm around Paige as we limped to the nearest observation window, looking out.
The Devil's Mercy – the recently commissioned flagship of the Valkred fleet – soared into view, followed by an armada of Valkredian warships. As they passed over the moon, they unleashed a spectacular volley of pulse mortars, bombarding it until it shuddered and blew apart. A few of the larger pieces smacked against the side of the station harmlessly, while the rest dissipated in seconds.
To me, it looked like fireworks.
22
Paige
As Surge led me through the winding hallways of the Valkredian flagship, I couldn't help but stare at my luxurious surroundings. It occurred to me that for all the time that had passed since I'd been abducted from Earth, almost all of my experience with the rest of the galaxy and its denizens had been inside the filthy confines of Karcerikus, surrounded by snarling thieves and murderers.
This, though... this was spectacular.
The surfaces shimmered and gleamed with exotic metals and minerals I'd never seen before. The uniforms of the Valkredian soldiers were pressed and immaculate, especially compared to the grimy coveralls of the prisoners and jailers in Karcerikus. The oxygen that was pumped through the vents was crisp and clear, and when I noticed myself walking with more buoyancy and ease, I realized that the artificial gravity in the prison must have been set more heavily to keep the inmates weighted down and exhausted.
More reasons to hate Karaak, and to be glad the son of a bitch was gone for good.
Meanwhile, there were so many wonders for me to explore in the universe, now that I was finally free... and now that I'd have Surge as my guide.
He'd been walking beside me, and now he took my hand in his, squeezing it and smiling at me as though he could read my thoughts – and I remembered that once the psychic inhibitors were removed from his head, he would be able to.
I found myself looking forward to that.
Despite how close we'd gotten, and how deeply we’d had to trust each other, there was so much about Surge that was still a mystery to me. I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to swim in his thoughts and feelings, to finally break past all of his internal barriers and get to know the real him.
When we reached a chamber with elaborately carved doors depicting fanged and snarling warriors, they parted for us automatically. I stepped onto what appeared to be the command deck of the ship, where a tall, broad-shouldered Valkredian sat in the central chair. He had curly reddish-brown hair, and red sparks danced in his brown eyes. He stood, smiling and extending his hand to me.
“Paige Hudson of Earth,” he welcomed me in a deep voice. “I am General Dhimurs, leader of the Valkredian Fleet. It seems that once more, the human females of the Sol System prove themselves to be brave and resilient in the face of peril. You are to be commended for providing Surge with such valuable assistance during his mission. I think it's safe to say that we owe our triumph to you.”
“Thank you, General.” I wasn't sure what the proper decorum was under the circumstances, so I gave him a slight, awkward curtsey. “I'm just glad we all made it out of there in one piece.”
“Indeed,” Dhimurs agreed with a nod. “Surge will be awarded the Fang of Valor upon our return to Valkred... even though he has no use for such prizes, as he so often reminds us in situations like these.”
“Victory,” Surge rumbled, “is reward enough.”
“But you, Paige.” Dhimurs put a hand on my arm, looking deep into my eyes. “Surge has told me you seek asylum on Valkred, is that correct?”
I nodded.
“Then you shall have it,” he laughed. “My human wife, Judy, will be glad of your company, no doubt. In fact, we seem to be developing quite the collection of Earthling women on Valkred. Perhaps you will end up participating in the political changes they've committed themselves to.”
So what Surge had told me about the impending cultural shift on his homeworld had been true after all. I grinned. “I certainly hope so.”
“Good!” He clapped me on the shoulder jovially, and the strength in his arm nearly sent me toppling to one side. Christ, these space-vampires were strong! “But for now, you should rest. Surge will show you to his quarters... unless you'd prefer to have your own, of course?” he added wit
h a sly wink.
“No, sharing with him will be just fine,” I replied, blushing.
“I suspected as much.” Dhimurs chuckled, and then turned to Surge, peering at him curiously. “It's damned strange, old friend... seeing you walking around with this other body and face. Thank the Succubi we'll be back on Valkred soon, so Khim can attend to that. Overall, I'd say your normal features are far more pleasing to the eye.”
I felt something inside me squirm at these words. Would Surge be even more handsome once he'd been returned to his old look? I could hardly imagine how that could be possible.
Surge led me to his cabin – the large window in it had a magnificent view of the stars streaking by outside the ship. There were two chairs, a tabletop, and a bed. None of these pieces of furniture had legs, oddly enough. All of them just seemed to float peacefully a couple feet above the floor, their cushions rippling and shifting faintly as though eagerly waiting to cradle whoever sat on them.
“So, Paige,” Surge said, taking my face in his powerful hands and gazing into my eyes. “Have I proved myself to you? Do you believe in me now?”
I took a deep breath. “Surge, you rescued me from a life of slavery and horror. You saved my life from a space wizard. And now you're sweeping me off to a new home on a beautiful distant planet. Yes, I believe in you. With all of my heart.”
“Excellent.” He stroked my cheek gently. “Then know that I love you, and cannot wait to spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”
I bit my lower lip. “I can think of a way for you to get started on that right now, actually.”
Surge nodded and leaned in, pressing his lips to mine. My tongue reached out for his, enjoying the taste of him, the way our bodies felt against each other. The bulge in his crotch pressed against my inner thigh firmly, giving me a fluttery feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“Once we take these off,” I murmured into his ear, undoing the latches on his uniform, “we'll never have to put them back on ever again.”
His breath tickled the side of my neck. “When we get to Valkred, I'll buy you a hundred lovely dresses to replace it.”