by S. E. Smith
“Thank you.” Trisha whispered softly as she began thinking more calmly.
Her dad always taught her that one day she might have to save herself. It was his job to make sure she was ready to do that. Trisha remembered her dad saying it didn’t matter if you were a male or a female when it came down to fighting for your life. You either knew how to fight to live or you died. Trisha smiled, her dad made sure his little girl knew how to fight to live. “Thank you, daddy.” Trisha whispered softly.
Kelan was listening with half an ear to Zoran and Trelon talking about a new defense system Trelon was developing for some of their smaller warships. He and Trelon already tested the prototype on two of the Class Four warships several months ago so he was fully abreast of what Trelon was talking about. Zoran turned and asked him if he thought it was feasible to go ahead with production of the system and have it installed in the over one hundred warships. Kelan was about to reply when a faint wave of unease swept through him. It must have hit Zoran and Trelon even harder because both of his brothers turned pale. All three men jumped to their feet and were already heading for the door when a warrior burst through it.
“My lords, the females are in danger.” Lurr growled fiercely.
Kelan was through the massive doors before Lurr even finished his sentence. Zoran and Trelon were behind him. All four men ran through the corridors bursting out into the open gardens cutting through to their living quarters. Kelan skidded to a halt just as N’tasha and four men appeared from the palace living quarters. He heard Zoran and Trelon’s roar of rage when they saw their mates draped over the shoulders of two of the men. Out of nowhere, two of the palace guards swung around towards the group cutting off the man carrying Abby. One of the warriors grabbed Abby while the other sliced through the stomach of the man holding her, letting the dead body drop while he carried her to Zoran. N’tasha turned a glare full of hatred towards Trelon before smiling savagely as she raised a blade to her throat and drew an imaginary line across it. Before they could do anything, N’tasha, the man next to her, and the one holding Cara disappeared in a transport beam.
“NO!” Trelon roared in protest.
Kelan watched in horror as his brother’s mate disappeared. He was about to rush to his living quarters to check on Trisha when Bio exploded into the garden growling and hissing in fury. He closed his eyes as he sent out his senses to the tiny symbiosis on Trisha. He could feel nothing.
“Zoran…” Abby sobbed as she lay cradled in her mate’s arms shaking. “They took them. They killed the guards and they took them.”
Zoran rocked Abby gently in his arms. “Who else did they take, Abby?”
But, Zoran already knew as he studied both of his brothers’ faces. He gripped Abby tighter as the full extent of the brutal attack washed over him. If they did not rescue Cara and Trisha, he knew he would lose his two youngest brothers. He snarled out a command to several warriors to see to the bodies of the warriors just as Trelon’s symbiosis exploded into the garden. Both of his brothers’ symbioses were snarling and hissing in fury at the attack to their mates. Kelan vaguely heard Trelon shout out that Symba could sense the symbiosis on Cara. Within seconds, Symba transformed into a sleek Valdier fighter and was lifting off. Kelan moved as if in a daze. Why couldn’t he sense the symbiosis on Trisha? He left her safe in their living quarters with guards, he thought distractedly. She was wearing several pieces of symbiosis on her arms and around her neck. Why didn’t they respond to him? Kelan growled out a command to his symbiosis as he began running towards his living quarters.
He and Bio rounded the corner sliding to a halt when they saw the red and gold splattered walls. Bio jerked as if a mega-watt of electricity had been discharged into it. It moved slowly forward making a howling sound unlike anything Kelan ever heard before. Kelan moved slowly forward staring in disbelief at the fragmented remains of the guards and the lifeless gold threads of their symbioses. Never in the history of their kind had a symbiosis been destroyed. Now, the gold remains were scattered all over the floor and walls of the corridor outside his living quarters. What could destroy something made of pure energy?
Several warriors rounded the corner freezing in horror at the sight that met them. “My lord…” Lurr said quietly staring at the sight. “Your mate?”
Kelan looked with dread at the door leading into his sanctuary. “I…I don’t know.” He whispered.
“Let me go first.” Lurr said starting to move around Kelan.
Kelan put his hand out to stop him, shaking his head slowly. “No, it is my right, my responsibility to see to my mate.” He croaked out in dread.
Lurr took a step back and bowed his head slightly. Zoran asked that Lurr be with Kelan until he could be there himself. He was instructed to protect Kelan; even if it meant from himself. Lurr would do as his king instructed.
Kelan forced the door to his living quarters opened ignoring everything but what was inside. He forced himself to enter the room. Everything looked just as he left it. There were no signs of a struggle in the living area. He moved slowly towards their sleeping area where he left Trisha sleeping peacefully only a couple of hours ago. His hand trembled as he forced himself to open the door which was now closed. He remembered leaving it opened when he left, he thought. Bio was beside him shaking with aggravation as if it was aware of what he might find.
“My lord…” Lurr started to say.
“NO!” Kelan said harshly. “She is my mate...she is my mate.” He said again, his voice fading at the end as if it was too difficult to say anything more.
Lurr once again took a step back and waited as Kelan drew in a deep breath. Kelan stared at the door willing Trisha to still be in their bed sleeping. He pushed open the door and forced himself forward towards the bed. He started shaking uncontrollably when he saw it was empty, the covers tossed back and laying half on the bed and half off of it. As he drew near, he caught a glimpse of gold lying motionless on the tangled covers. Kelan and his symbiosis both let out a howl of unimaginable pain as they stared at the lifeless symbiosis belonging to Trisha.
Zoran walked across the room studying Kelan. Lurr gave him a complete report on what was found outside of Kelan’s apartment. They knew whatever was used there had not been used in his own apartments. From the little Abby was able to tell him, N’tasha seemed to be in charge of the abduction of Trelon’s mate and the death of his personal guards. She made both Abby and Cara demand that they remove their symbiosis. Abby complied simply because there was no place for her to hide it. Cara was able to hide some of hers which is why Trelon’s symbiosis was able to track her location. Kelan returned immediately ordering the V’ager be readied for immediate departure.
“I’m going to kill the bitch after I find out what she has done with my mate.” Kelan said calmly.
Zoran studied his brother. The icy control he was renowned for was clearly evident. Kelan moved with precision as he ordered the transporter room readied and all essential personnel to be on board for immediate departure.
“We need to find out what weapon was used to kill the symbioses. This could be devastating to our people if it falls into the wrong hands.” Zoran said placing his hand on Kelan’s arm as his brother turned and gave another order.
Kelan’s eyes swung first to Zoran’s hand then to his face. His face cut in stone, Kelan replied coolly. “I know my duty brother. I will fulfill it before I leave this world.”
“Kelan…” Zoran said softly. “We do not know that your mate is dead. She is a fighter. You said yourself she was trained as a warrior by not only her people but her father. She will find a way to survive until you reach her.”
Kelan stood frozen in place for half a second before Zoran saw a flicker of hope flare. “She is unbelievable. Gunner said as much when we were tracking her through the forests.” Kelan replied hoarsely.
Zoran smiled. “She has much to live for. She will need you to be there for her.”
Kelan nodded before adding, “And for our child
.”
Kelan saw Zoran’s look of surprise before he nodded grimly. “Go to her. Track her down and bring her back.”
Kelan stood on the platform to the transporter and gave a sharp nod. Within moments, he was striding out of the transporter room on the V’ager quietly giving orders. He had a bitch to kill.
Chapter 19
Trisha watched carefully as the five men settled into their seats and strapped down. Jaron sat to her right and the man who was in the corridor the first day she awoke was sitting to her left. Trisha didn’t recognize the other three men but they didn’t look like they were going to be considered ‘friendly’. Jaron was able to slip Trisha food and drink over the last four days of her confinement. She kept it hidden under the cot just in case someone else came in. She was also fortunate they didn’t feel threatened by her or feel the need to search her. She developed a bad habit when she worked for Boswell of carrying her Leatherman micro with her everywhere. Because the uniforms didn’t have pockets she used the one that came natural for women, she hid it between her breasts in her bra. It was like picking up your keys or wearing earrings, she naturally tucked it away no matter where she was. It came in handy removing several of the metal slats out of the bottom of the cot in her little prison cell. She used the rough edge of the cot to slowly sharpen the ends of three of the slats to razor sharp. She tore some of the sheeting and wrapped it around one end as a handle. Now, she was equipped with three sharp knives. She would use them without mercy the first opportunity she got. She slowly observed each man in front of her, cataloging which hand was dominate, where there might be a weakness in their uniforms, which foot they stepped forward on first, how they shifted, what kind of weapons they carried and where. She listened as Jaron asked one of the men some questions about the small moon they were going to be landing on.
“I heard this moon is very dangerous. The few colonist who tried to settle were forced off because of the animals who inhabit it broke through all their defenses.” Jaron said. “Where are we landing that will be safe?”
One of the men with a deep scar across his cheek smiled cruelly. “No place is safe. We won’t be there long, though. Just long enough to stake the female out for dinner.”
Several of the men looked at Trisha and laughed. Trisha looked down so they couldn’t see her roll her eyes. Given the natural inhabitants of the moon and these guys, she would take the moon any day. She turned her focus back to the conversation. She halfway wondered if Jaron was trying to tell her something.
“I thought Lord Raffvin wanted the female alive until her mate found her? How can that happen if she is staked out on the planet?” Jaron asked hesitantly.
Another of the big men laughed. “Well, you see, that is where you and Terac are useful. You two will be staying behind to make sure she doesn’t get eaten until Raffvin is ready. If you screw this up, you can forget ever seeing the people of your little village again.” All three men laughed at that.
Trisha decided she had enough. She turned to Jaron and smiled innocently. “Do you know how to fly one of these things?” She asked quietly.
Jaron shook his head in resignation. “No, I don’t but Terac does. Why?”
Trisha smiled as she unfolded her arms. She popped the restraints on her seat shortly after takeoff. The other men still wore theirs so they were at a disadvantage. She decided she needed to neutralize the three men across from her and the pilot of the shuttle. They would be entering the orbit of the moon in approximately three minutes from what she was able to gather. There would not be enough time for Raffvin to deploy a strike force before they could land. Once on the ground, she would disappear until Kelan could find her. There was no doubt in her mind that she could survive. The thick forests were home to her.
Raising her arms, she launched herself across the narrow aisle slicing through two of the men's throats and kicking out her leg at the third. She rolled slamming her elbow into scar-face’s nose just as he pulled his laser pistol up and shot out wildly. Trisha used her body to prevent him from unlatching his restraints. He reached a beefy arm out and was able to get it around her waist and began squeezing her. Trisha could feel the pressure on her ribs as he threatened to snap them like toothpicks. She rolled one of the knives in her hand until the handle was facing upward and the point towards her body. She slammed her head back against the nose she already broke listening as the bones crunched even more. She heard the man roar out in rage and pain but she got the desired effect she was looking for – he loosened his hold around her ribs long enough for her to drive the four inch blade between his ribs and twist. She felt his jerk of surprise as she twisted around slashing with her other hand across his throat. Blood splattered her as she cut through the thick artery in his neck. Trisha glanced at the other two men she attacked first. One was already dead and the other was in the last stages of the death throes.
“Remind me never to make you mad.” Jaron whispered in shocked.
“No, shit.” Terac croaked out in agreement.
Both men were staring at Trisha with admiration and a little apprehension. Trisha was about to reply when she was thrown to the floor when the shuttle suddenly lurched to the side. Terac was already undoing his restrains and moving to the front. The wild shot from the last man Trisha attacked ricocheted, striking the pilot in the back of the head killing him instantly. Terac let loose a string of curses as he struggled to get the pilot out of the seat.
“Some of the controls are fried. Get strapped in, we are going in for a bumpy landing.” Terac shouted as he tried to get control of the shuttle as it hit the outer atmosphere of the moon.
Jaron undid his restraints and helped Trisha back into her seat. He quickly redid her straps before strapping himself back in. He leaned forward and placed his hands lightly on Trisha letting them move slowly over her.
“What are you doing?” Trisha asked puzzled. She was shaking as she came down from the adrenalin rush.
“Checking to make sure you are not hurt. I want to check your baby as well.” Jaron said quietly as he leaned into her.
Trisha closed her eyes and focused inward. Are you and the baby okay? She asked her dragon urgently.
Mate whip your ass, yes. I tell mate whip your ass. Her dragon snarled. You scare me! You crazy! I tell mate whip you ass for scaring me. Our baby is safe, but I scared!o
Trisha laughed as her dragon continued to give her holy hell for attacking those men and not waiting for Kelan to come save them. She ignored Trisha when Trisha calmly told her cussing in front of the baby probably wasn’t a good idea. Her dragon simply snapped her teeth at Trisha and growled out low after that. The intense vibration of the shuttle brought Trisha back to their current predicament.
Terac yelled for Jaron to come help him. Jaron looked panic for a moment before he fumbled with his restraints. Trisha laid her hand over his briefly before she undid hers.
“I’ll go. I was a pilot on my planet. Maybe I can help.” Trisha murmured as she moved past Jaron.
Jaron gave Trisha a weak smile of thanks. “I’ve never been up in a warship before until I was captured by Raffvin’s forces.”
Trisha just smiled as she moved to the front. She stepped over the dead body of the pilot and slid into the seat beside Terac. She quickly strapped in and pulled an ear piece on.
“Tell me what to do.” Trisha said calmly.
“Grab the controller in front of you. The holoscreen will show the surface of the moon as we break through the cloud cover. Keep it steady as I try to find an area clear enough to land.” Terac said tersely.
Trisha let all her training as a pilot and test pilot flow through her. There would be time enough to have a melt down when she was safe in Kelan’s arms. Until then, she had a job to do – stay alive and keep the men with her alive. Trisha focused on the view on the holoscreen and keeping the nose up and the shuttle level as they broke through the thick cloud covering.
“There looks like a place just big enough for us to possibly land
in eight-point-three vectors. Trisha, do you think you can keep the nose up while I try to keep us upright? The left burner is working at only twenty percent.”
“You get us there and down safely and I’ll not only keep the nose up but give you a big kiss, darlin’.” Trisha said with a determined smile.
NO kiss! Lips only for mate! No, kiss…no kill…no fighting…no crashing…no...no...no! Her dragon roared as she tried to wrap as tightly as she could around the spark inside Trisha.