by Zoey Indiana
"Give me a few seconds." His hands flew over the electrical components.
"We don't have a few seconds." She tried tugging on his shirt but he was an unbending force. "Bash, we don't have time for this."
He didn't respond. In a flash, he pulled something out of his pocket and hooked it up to the control box. A moment later there was an electrical hum and Bash let out a whoop. He turned and grabbed her as she started to run. "We can take our time. I reversed the polarity of their perimeter and added a few new features."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that they cannot see through the perimeter and they can't get near it. Light will be a completely blacked out. Every time they get too close, they will get sick and disquieted. In a few hours, they will be inexplicably sick and extremely paranoid." His arm wrapped around her waist as they walked.
"How long will that last?" He was a genius. Now they wouldn't have to worry about anyone tracking them back to the safe house. There was so much she needed to talk to Nova about. Plus whatever info Bash retrieved.
"Eight to ten hours. I haven't tested how much power those features use yet."
She wrapped her arm around him and looked up at him. "By the way, that hacking ability of yours is a bit terrifying."
STemporary Resistance Camp: Bash
It had been two days since they infiltrated Hiro Camp. Every time he got near Freya, Cay ran interference. Even when he left the safe house, there was automatically someone there ready to walk with him. He felt like a prisoner who was free to walk around, but not allowed to do anything.
This time he grabbed his handheld and arm band. Making sure to cloak himself, he stood by the door. Pulling up the controls for the safe house, he introduced a bug that would make the non-security functions go awry. Suddenly the door opened and then shut. It continued to open and shut until someone nearby came over. She tried to hold the door open, but it pushed her back. When she fell, it pushed her out of the way until it closed. Lights flickered throughout the house and various other noises let him know the bug was working. As the door opened, he sprinted through the door. More women ran over to investigate.
He took the opportunity to walk over to Nova's pod. With the press of a few buttons, he was able to enable sound inside the pod and listen to the conversation.
"This doesn't feel right Nova." A deep voice that sounded like Cay's said.
"I don't have a lot of choices here. We have to keep them apart."
"That's the same thing they said about us." Cay protested.
"Until it was determined that you weren't breedable. I love a heartwarming story the same as anyone, but we have to look at this realistically." Bash tried to get a video of the conversation, but there were no cameras installed inside the pod.
"Yes, we need to be realistic. Bash is a human, same as anyone else. He deserves the same rights as anyone else in this camp."
"Look, I see where you are coming from. I have tests confirming that he can produce the first human procreated naturally since the Sovereign wiped out men. I'm not taking away his rights, I'm just taking away an option." Nova's voice was pleading.
"I don't like this. It feels like I'm lying to him."
"You're not. Freya returns to Lay'ata Base tomorrow. As soon as she’s gone, you don't have to run interference with them. He will be free to do whatever and whoever he wants." Nova's argument made him sick to his stomach. Would there never be a day that someone wasn't using him? He couldn't listen to this asinine conversation anymore. Using his armband, he disconnected the link he'd made. If Freya was leaving, then he would see her one last time. She didn't have anymore control over her life than he did.
Slowly he walked over to her pod, staying aware of anything that might give him away. Stopping by her door, he made sure no one was looking before he slipped through the door. Once inside, he turned off the cloaking device. Freya was on the tiny couch reading a tab.
"Hey."
Her gaze snapped up to him. "Hey. I was wondering where you've been."
"Nova's had me on lockdown." He sat on the couch next to her.
"Oh, I thought she gave up on that idea." She set down the tab on the coffee table and looked up at him. Her purple eyes took his breath away.
Not sure what else to say, he resorted to what he was feeling. "I missed you."
She moved to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head at the last moment. Fire erupted in him as their lips met. Mine! His heart screamed out to make her his. No other woman in this camp, in the resistance, or in the planet was made for him like Freya was. He gently cupped her cheek as he deepened their kiss. He could feel her climb onto his lap but stopped at the last moment. Instead she sat on her knees next to him and cupped his face with her hands.
Just the fact that she was mindful about his comfort made his heart swell. She cared about how he felt and went out of her way to make him feel comfortable. He scooped his arms around her and set her on his lap. He broke their kiss to trail kisses along her jaw and down her neck.
"I have to go back to the base tomorrow." He didn't respond, instead he grabbed her shirt and pulled it over her head. Her short hair stuck out in every direction. It was adorable, and it made him instantly hard. Leaning down, he kissed the swell of her breasts. He hooked a finger under the sports bra and pulled it over her head and tossed it across the room. Her gorgeous breasts called out for him to taste them. Without hesitation, he obliged. He took one taught nipple into his mouth and flicked his tongue across it.
Freya gasped and pulled back. "We need to talk."
"We can talk later. Now is the time for making love. Whatever we need to say can wait until we're finished." If they stopped now, he'd never get the chance to show her how much he cared. Pulling her close, he captured her other nipple with his mouth. On a moan, her hands slid into his hair and tugged on it. With a low growl, he stood up with her in his arms and set her on the couch. This time, he unfastened her pants without a struggle. A quick tug and her pants were off and tossed across the room.
"Never forget, every time I kiss you, I am giving you a piece of my heart." He placed a soft kiss on the inside of her knee. By the time he kissed a trail up her thigh, she was panting. Hooking his arms under her knees and around her ass, he pulled her forward. With her legs wide open, he could see how wet she was. It made him want to never leave her again. But that wasn't possible. She had to go back to ARI, so he resorted to making sure she never forgot about him.
"Every time I touch you, I am worshiping the most beautiful body I have ever laid eyes on." He gave her a long lick that had her hands sinking into his hair again. It woke something primal in him. This was his woman, and he needed to claim her. He licked her again and almost purred as she moaned. After a minute he found the perfect rhythm of licking and sucking that made her quiver. One hand reached up and found her breast. He punctuated his movements with teasing her nipple. Her cries of pleasure made him more frenzied. A muffled scream was followed by her body tensing up. Through her orgasm, he continued to lick and suck at her, making her squirm and moan. Just when he thought she would stop him, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.
Gently he laid her on the bed. She spread her legs for him and it made him happier than he'd ever been. He leaned down and gave her another kiss that made her sigh and squirm.
"I had to tease you." He gave her a quick grin before he kissed a trail up her body to her breasts.
Even though she'd already orgasmed, he wanted to take his time. Tilting his hips, he positioned his cock so it rubbed against her clit, but didn't enter her. Searching out her breasts, he rocked his hips. Moans of pleasure met his ears. He took turns licking and teasing both breasts until Freya kept tilting her hips, seeking him out. He tilted his hips, but right before he gave her what she sought, he whispered.
"Every time I make love to you, I am declaring to the world that you are the only woman I want."
They moaned in unison and he sank into her. He took a momen
t to enjoy how tight she felt around him, but she rocked her hips. Pleasure rippled over him as she took control, pulling away from him then thrusting back into him. She ran her hands down his back and cupped his ass. Not wanting to ruin the moment, he held himself still. The enthusiasm she showed amused him. Until she slapped his ass. It broke the control he had, and he drove into her.
"Please Bash." Her moan finished destroying the control he had.
He placed a hand on her shoulder to hold her in place while he thrust into her. Keeping up a fast pace, he slowed down and pulled out until only the tip of his cock remained. He stayed that way until she begged for him to return. On a slow thrust, he slid in to the hilt. Enjoying her facial expressions, he did that a few more times until she wrapped her legs around him and ground herself into him.
He reached behind himself and unlatched her legs as he flipped onto his back. She was gorgeous as she rode him. Her bouncing breasts entranced him as she rocked her hips. Wanting to watch her orgasm while riding him made him suddenly hot. He reached down and rubbed her clit with his thumb. Her moans turned into panting pleas as she rode him harder. A moment later she clenched around him. Grabbing her hips, he thrust out his own orgasm.
They were both breathing hard when she slid off of him and curled up into his side. She rested her head on his shoulder and he tucked her closer. He had one last thought before he drifted off into sleep. Maybe, just maybe, he could trust this one woman.
Chapter 14
Lay'ata Base: Freya
Freya jogged with the rest of Kaun'az Squad through simulated terrain. In the few days she'd been back to Lay'ata Base, it had taken some adjustment. As they jogged around a patch of trees, she tried to inch closer to O'Paka. A woman she didn't recognize sped up and got between them. If she didn't know better, she would think that they were trying to keep her away from O'Paka. A bell sounded and the simulation turned off. The floor became stationary and everyone started to clear out. She headed towards O'Paka.
The recent recruit that blocked her on the jog appeared in her way again. "Hi, my name is Gar'Tah. I joined Lava Division while you were undercover. It's nice to finally meet the infamous Freya."
"Nice to meet you too." Freya crossed her arms and waited for Gar'Tah to say something. There was a stretch of silence. Freya finally moved to walk past the recruit, but Gar'Tah stepped in her way again.
"We should sit next to each other in the mess hall. Since we are in the same squad, we should get to know each other a bit. Don't you think?"
It was clear that something was going on, but Freya couldn't figure out what. Every day since she'd returned, someone kept O'Paka far enough that Freya couldn't get a good read on her thoughts. Instincts were shouting at her that O'Paka desperately wanted to tell her something.
"Sure." Maybe if she went to the mess hall she could get close enough to read O'Paka.
They walked through the corridors until they walked through the door that led to the mess hall. Privates were lined up on both sides picking up food trays from industrial replicators. Despite the variety the machines were capable of, they only served two variations of each meal. Neither were appetizing. What she wouldn't give for some eggs and a muffin right now. Or to feel Bash's arms around her. The last night they'd been together had her questioning everything she knew. She was starting to believe there might be a future for them.
She met up with Gar'Tah and picked a place to sit. To her dismay, it was too far from O'Paka. "So how long have you been a private first class?" Gar'Tah didn't waste time.
"About four years." That was technically the truth. While she'd been a part of ARI since the day she was born, she was classified as a private on her sixteenth birthday and private first class a few years after.
"Why did you join?" These questions were already getting on her nerves. She wasn't even sure why she was still here. Nova said two days and Major Tas'Ki would send her back to the camp undercover.
"I had nothing better to do." In truth, she hadn't had a choice. It was join or be terminated as a failed experiment. Even though she didn't care, turning the question around might give her some time to think. "What about you?"
"Me? I joined a few weeks ago because I wanted to show my support of the Sovereign." Freya had to hold back a cynical laugh. "My mother was an officer until she was killed a few years ago by a Resistance attack on her base. With the right training, I can get the revenge I deserve." Gar'Tah droned on as Freya thought. If only the girl knew the truth. Almost everyone here wanted revenge for whatever harm was done to them. Freya wanted vengeance for the injustices and harm the Sovereign wrought on everyone, not just herself. Reaching out with her telepathy, all she heard was an annoying jingle playing on repeat in her mind.
Sha'Rah sat across from her, breaking her train of thought. Gar'Tah went silent and all three of them ate. When Freya looked up at Sha'Rah, she continued to eat without breaking eye contact. Freya looked down as she took another bite. Opening up her mind, she heard chaos as several voices flooded into her mind. Focusing, she narrowed on the one she wanted, but couldn't find it. After a moment, she realized something. Sha'Rah's mind was completely silent. Not a single thought was available for her to hear. When she looked up at Sha'Rah again, Sha'Rah winked then stood up from the table. Without a look back, she walked out of the mess hall. Her mind raced with the implications. Something was very wrong.
Food forgotten, she raced to the barracks where she found O'Paka alone. Without a word, she grabbed O'Paka by her jacked and dragged her to an old supply closet. As she reached for the door, an alarm sounded. Blue lights flashed indicating that high-ranking officers were arriving. She shoved O'Paka in the closet and closed the door after she stepped through. The press of a button enabled Bash's cloaking perimeter to engulf the whole closet.
Freya grasped O'Paka's jacked and shoved her against the wall. "What the hell is going on?"
Lay'ata Base: O'Paka
O'Paka's heart rate spiked as Freya shoved her against the wall.
"They made sure I couldn't get close enough to tell you. Sha'Rah told everyone in the division you and Major Tas'Ki are working for the resistance. I don't know why she's lying, but they want to take you out."
Freya released her jacket, and she almost fell to the ground. That was one terrifying woman. Just looking at her size made her seem harmless, but some of the deadliest things came in small packages.
O'Paka watched as Freya paced in the small closet. Three steps then she turned and three more steps and she turned again.
"What are you going to do?"
"You will do nothing, I don't want you involved in this." Freya growled, tapping a finger against her lips.
"You really are working for the resistance, aren't you?" O'Paka asked even though she already knew the answer.
Freya turned and gave her a hard look. A wave of dizziness washed over her but she didn't break eye contact. Sensing something else was happening in the moment, she wanted to make her loyalty known.
"Yes." Freya broke eye contact and resumed pacing. "So they plan to bring in some high-ranking officers to capture me?"
"Not from what she said. She wanted to catch you in the act. Then go over the base major's head. I have no idea why they are here."
A voice came over the system. "This is a level three lockdown. All enlisted and officers are to return to their quarters. Level three officers will go to the B2 garage. This order is effective immediately. Anyone found in insubordination will be dealt with instantly and to the fullest extent."
O'Paka looked at Freya. "Are you going to leave?"
"It's too late." She shook her head. "The base is already locked down. Not even I could get out."
"What happens now?"
Freya held out her hand. "Tell me the truth," the sudden change of subject startled her, "do you really want to be here?"
O'Paka took a moment before she answered. "I was an aspiring painter. The week before the brigadier general dropped me off here, I had the grand open
ing of my gallery." Freya said nothing as O'Paka tried to find the right words. "I'd give up all of this just to live a different life."
"If I survive this, I'll get you to the resistance." She grabbed Freya's hand and gave it a shake. "It's not glamorous or easy, but it's better than this. People matter there."
O'Paka watched Freya reach into her jacket and press a button. "Oh, and to answer your question. We go back to the barracks like everyone else and hope they are here for someone else. Then we can live another day to obliterate the Sovereign."
Temporary Resistance Camp: Bash
Bash sat at the kitchen table in the safe house. Cay and Alastor both glared at him from behind a hand of cards while playing Da'Temp. Looking over the table, he measured his large stack of chips and compared it to their smaller stacks. Using the index finger on his free hand he tapped his lower lip. He tossed in another chip. The moment it hit the table the perimeter alarms sounded. Reaching for his handheld, he verified that it was indeed a perimeter breach.
"This is legit." He looked up at the other men.
Cay looked panicked. "We haven't completed setting up our escape routes. There aren't enough hover transits to get everyone to safety."
"Round up as many people as you can and meet me in the small clearing just east of us." Bash tossed his cards on the table.
"What are you going to do?" Alastor questioned while he remained seated as Cay stood up.
"I have a way to protect us from whoever is intruding, but I have to grab it. While I do that, you two can round up as many people as possible."
"I have to find Nova." Cay didn't wait for Alastor.
"Don't do anything stupid." Alastor glared at Bash as he walked out.
What he was about to do was beyond stupid. Even though he knew none of these people, he knew Freya did. If she were here, she would save them. Since she wasn't, it was up to him. He sprinted to his bedroom and grabbed a second handheld. Replicating a knife, he pulled the device's case off. With the twist of his knife, he popped out the regulator. A flick of the wrist closed the knife, and he returned to the replicator in the kitchen. He took longer than he wanted to program the pieces he needed it to create. Once finished, he installed them and reassembled it. He glanced back at the cards on the table. Had Cay been bluffing? A flip of the cards showed Cay's hand. The damn man had the best hand possible for Da'Temp.