Defender of the Stars

by Lucee Joie

  Missy stands tall and looks out over the group. A mass of faces stares back at her and I realize that while I have been making radio contact with Missy over the past few days, she has been making a real difference here during her own captivity. She has sheltered these women, given them hope, and she is the only one who has a chance of getting them to realize that the men can’t be rescued today.

  One of the women nods, then another. A smile spreads across my face as the rest follow suit and I realize that we just might stand a chance of escaping this ship once more.

  “The guards are coming! We need to leave now!”

  Chapter Sixteen: Ece

  I want to shake some sense into the women who are eager to free their breeding partners. There just isn’t time for this and there is even less time to have a democratic conversation about the matter.

  Still, I wait, clamping down on my tongue as the women continue to sort it out. I watch the perimeters with careful concentration. It is all I can do to distract myself from the delay. Plus, if a threat should arise, at least there is someone who is on high alert.

  So, it comes as no surprise when a group of guards starts rushing through the door on the far side of the prison.

  “The guards are coming! We need to leave now!”

  I have no idea where in the conversation the women are at and I give them no choice but to follow as I start firing over their heads towards the far side.

  The women rush towards me, their arms over their heads as they duck down low to avoid being hit by fire from either end.

  As soon as they start to run, I step aside, allowing them to swarm out of the door and into the long corridor. They rush past me, their fear evident as they create a chaotic stream.

  I continue to shoot until they are all past me then I turn and follow suit, ignoring the pounding in my head from the hit earlier. The guards are well behind but I imagine that will change as a large proportion of them are Ochek and run much faster than humans. As I duck through the door, Missy is by my side.

  She whips out a small device and I watch as light arcs between it and the door. There is a small pop and the smell of burning as the door is sealed shut. The heavens only know just how long this trick will last, or how quickly the guards will give up and skirt around to the front of the corridor we are following. Missy grabs my arm and we both run together, joining the main group as we barrel through the corridor towards a hopeful freedom.

  “You need to go in front,” Missy says as she runs. Her breath puffs out in bursts and it is hard to understand what she is saying as she struggles to run and talk at the same time. “We need someone to fly the Prennia.”

  I shake my head. I want to save my own skin, to stretch out and run like the humans can’t. However, I limit my pace, sticking behind the main group as a way to do so. I want to live, to survive beyond this night but if Shirley were to die as a result of me not being present to help her. Well, that is an option I am just not willing to undertake.

  “I can’t leave Shirley,” I reply.

  “We are all here and will do our best to save each other.”

  “I’m not leaving her.”

  Missy grabs my arm, pulls me to a stop, and I glare at her. “You need to think of all of us, not just Shirley. Everyone will die if there is no one to helm the ship. If you wait behind to protect Shirley and you get killed, Shirley dies as well.”

  My jaw is tight as I try not to growl back at Missy. She stares at me, her look taunting me, daring me to respond, to contradict what she is saying.

  Of course, she is right.

  I want to protect Shirley, to stay here and help her in the heat of the action. However, that is not my job presently. No, today I must help my lover out by leaving her, by letting the will of the universe take us both where we must go. I hope that we are reunited, I desperately beg the stars that we will see each other again.

  Instead of staying, of searching out Shirley one last time before fleeing like the wind on a blustery day on Ochekia.

  The docking bay is silent as Horgeer and I approach. I grabbed him on the way through the corridors. He is the only other person that can keep up with me and I need him to protect me should trouble arise.

  We are two men against an army if my father has found out about our little mission. And, I have no doubt that he has some knowledge, at least, of this little side venture of mine. It has been too quiet here for too long. Sure, the Qorcin was a side problem that was pretty dangerous. But, if my father suspected enough to send them in as guards, then he likely has been keeping a close eye on the one human he keeps at hand: Missy.

  I dread to think just how much my father knows thanks to my stepmother. While it seems obvious that she is determined to escape his clutches, I also believe that she has given him information; involuntarily or not. She may be tech-savvy regarding mechanical ways to keep a close watch on her but my father is cunning, he has other means in which he can obtain information.

  As a result of this, the empty docking bay concerns me more than even the arrival of the Qorcin earlier.

  Both of us come to a grinding halt. Our natural make up means that we can be relatively silent in our approach, even when running quickly. However, most of my father’s army is also made up of Ochek, so all the stealth in the galaxy might not be enough to make us silent towards our own kind.

  I lean over as I attempt to slow my breathing without making too much noise. The punch earlier may have not caused substantial injury but it has winded me still the same.

  Horgeer taps me on the shoulder and I stand. Making some hand signals, I indicate that he will head out first, to test out exactly what we are up against.

  I want to caution him, to suggest that we both go out together, battle whatever may come our way. After all, I don’t want to be the one to have to explain to Beth that her partner was killed defending me.

  However, I remain silent, merely nodding at Horgeer as he moves off.

  I hold my breath. My jaw is tight as I clench my teeth together. Horgeer is silent as he moves, sneaking along the edge of the docking bay and scoping the room. His eyes constantly dart from the room itself to the Prennia. The doors are closed, we locked everything up tightly as we left. However, that doesn’t mean that things have stayed that way. Our security is good but my father owned this vessel first. We can only go on the information supplied to us—and the added devices found on board. If my father has any access at all, if we have forgotten a single device that he has planted, then we no longer have an escape vessel.

  However, it turns out that I needn’t worry about the hidden tricks from my father.

  Instead, I need to worry about the laser that is now pointed at my head.

  “You need to remain quiet,” a voice hisses in my ear and I comply.

  I can see Horgeer as he disappears behind the Prennia and realize that this person has likely been waiting for his moment, for the time when Horgeer will no longer be in sight of me. There is a sinking feeling as I realize that our whole mission is now a lost cause, that everything we have done up to this point in time has been observed, that my father has been the one pulling the strings all along. I swallow hard and feel the laser dig in deeper.

  I continue to wait for Horgeer to make his appearance on the other side of the Prennia, hungering for the moment when he notices that I am a captive. At least then I will stand half a chance of escaping once Horgeer sees me.

  Still, I don’t hold much hope, not unless Horgeer can shoot and kill the Ochek guard, all without being noticed first.

  No, we are in a whole lot of serious trouble.

  Horgeer has still not appeared and my dread starts to intensify.

  “You have him too, don’t you,” I finally whisper.

  “Yes,” the man answers as he drags me across to the Prennia. “You need to open the hatch.”

  I shake my head but the threat of the laser is shoved further into my neck and starts to block my windpipe.

  “Why do you want me to
unlock the ship?” I ask, even though I can barely speak now.

  “We want you to take us with you,” the Ochek replies.

  I am stunned—and confused. I want to turn, to find out who I am talking to, to question them further but I am not given that option. Instead, the weapon at my throat continues to threaten me, to coerce me into doing my duty against my own group.

  I wonder who this person is, if they are genuine or whether my father just wants a way into the Prennia, in order to reclaim his precious vessel. I have no choice but to take a leap of faith, to hope that this man really does want to escape. Perhaps, he is one of the men in the breeding program who belongs to one of the women who wanted to stay behind.

  “Are you with Lizzie?” I finally ask.

  The weapon slackens at my throat and I instantly bring my hand up to rub the spot where it has dug in deep. I want to hit out at the guard but one glance at his face as I turn tells me everything I need to know.

  “Is she okay?”

  I nod at him. “The last time I saw her she was trying to get us to turn back, to help rescue you and the other Ochek who want to be free of my father’s regime. She will be very happy to see you.”

  I turn and type in the password that will give us access to the Prennia and the world goes suddenly black.

  Chapter Seventeen: Shirley

  I have seen flashes of Ece as I move with the group towards the Prennia. At first, he hung back, likely defending our rear as we moved together as a group.

  Then, he sped past us all, overtaking us like we were snails in a garden. I wanted to stop him, to ask him what he was doing, or to follow him but I knew that I wouldn’t be able to keep up.

  Instead, I stick with the crowd, moving as fast as I can and hope that the guards that we had seen back at the prison were somehow long gone. So far, I haven’t heard their approach and, judging by how quickly I knew that Ece and Horgeer could travel, they should be upon us already.

  I didn’t like to think too much about that, about how feeble we are compared to the Ochek. So, I run as fast as I can. Even after it feels like my lungs are on fire, I continue my panicked dash.

  Finally, I can see the corridor open out and I know that we are close, that the docking bay is just around the corner. It is all that I need to get an extra burst of energy, to whistle on through the opening.

  The sight of the Prennia filled me with joy. While the sight of spacecraft had never really appealed to me, the sleek lines of our escape vessel shine at me like the sun on a warm day after the rigors of winter. I wanted to be finally free of this place so badly that I can taste it like an elixir on my tongue.

  Rushing forward I can see Horgeer standing over the slumped forms of Ece and another man.

  No, not again.

  My heart leaps into my throat as I bound forward, ignoring the pressing pain of a stitch forming in my side. I try to scream again but there is no sound, only the horror of his body leaning against the open hatch.

  Reaching his side, I bob down, taking his limp form in my arms and sobbing into his mane. As I do so, I can see the rise and fall of his chest and am relieved that Ece lives. However, something horrible occurred and I need to know all about it.

  “What happened here?” I ask of Horgeer as I continue to weep.

  “I don’t know,” he replies. “I was circling the area, looking for trouble and as soon as I was out of the line of sight, a guard tackled me, held me down until I could fight back and escape.”

  Looking around, I locate the guard, off to one side. He is seated and rubbing at the back of his head. Even before I can make an assumption about what has happened, two women are rushing forward from our group.

  “Nuval!” Lizzie shouts as she rushes over and embraces him. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

  Clare gingerly kneels next to the Ochek who is lying beside Ece. She is crying and it is enough to rouse the man, who smiles weakly up at her before they embrace.

  I am confused as to what is happening and turn back towards Horgeer.

  “According to Nuvul, these two escaped of their own accord and were planning on leaving with us.”

  “I detained Ece,” Nuvul said, stepping forward, his arm still firmly around Lizzie’s waist. “However, someone else hit us from behind and knocked us out.”

  As he speaks, I feel the gentle touch of Ece and turn towards him. Kissing him tenderly, I allow myself a moment of pure joy.

  “This man had nothing to do with what happened to me,” Ece says quietly and I believe him. There is nothing but trust towards this man, the one who first used and discarded me but has gone on to prove his worth as well as his love for me over and over again.

  “We need to search the Prennia,” Horgeer says and Ece tries to stand.

  He is weak, staggers once before getting his balance.

  “You can’t go in there,” I say and Horgeer agrees with me.

  “Nuvul and Dakk can come with me,” Horgeer says and I hold on tight to Ece’s arm.

  “Let them do it, Ece. We need you to drive,” I say. Ece pauses, wobbles once more before conceding defeat.

  Horgeer leads the way into the ship just as Beth brushes past me. I try to grab her as well but she is too quick and dashes in behind the Ochek as they enter the vessel.

  I kiss Ece’s head, inspect the bump on his head, and gingerly run my fingers through his rusty mane while we wait for the group to return.

  Since they have entered, I haven’t heard a sound from them and as the silence draws out, I begin to worry. Glancing around the holding bay, I try to assess the situation, to see if any other dangers are lurking but there is nothing. I am unnerved by the quietness of the situation.

  My gaze flits around the room, determined to find anything out of the ordinary in a location that I have barely had the chance to examine prior to now. So far, I can’t see anything to concern me and I turn back just in time to see Horgeer’s group finally exiting the Prennia.

  “Well?” Ece says as he steps towards them.

  “Nothing,” Horgeer says and I can see the confusion on his face. His brows knit together as he appears to mull over the situation.

  “The ship is clear,” Beth says and she appears to be equally confused. “We can board and leave.”

  I am relieved by the news and I lead Ece towards the hatch, ready to be gone from this wretched place. Others join me, moving forward in a haste that gets claustrophobic.

  “It makes no sense,” Ece says as Horgeer joins us. “Someone hit me over the head. There has to be a reason for that. Having access to the Prennia seems the logical conclusion if they are not taking me prisoner. Make sure the ship is searched for bugs once we are on board.”

  “Beth and Missy are already onto that,” Horgeer replies as we enter the ship.

  The main room in the Prennia was not big to begin with. The first time we escaped it seems cramped even then. Now, a sea of bodies mashes together as Ece and I move towards the cockpit.

  The cool blue lines of Bruxland is a welcome sight when we land. As the ship bumps gently to a standstill I breathe my first deep breath since exiting the Leonida.

  While we traveled, the ship was searched. No bugging devices were found. It still makes absolutely no sense that Ece was rendered unconscious by someone on board the Union’s craft.

  As a result of this, an uneasiness has traveled with us all and now we rush from the Prennia as soon as the doors open in order to be free of the disconcerting feeling.

  “Shirley!” Danika rushes forward, ready to greet us.

  Behind her is Bivir, using a cane for support. He appears to be much healed since the last time I saw him and he offers a nod to both myself and Ece.

  “Thank you for allowing us access to land,” Ece says.

  “It was the least I could do after Danika tended to me,” Bivir replies and he smiles across at Danika. There is a warmth there that is returned and I wonder just what else they have been up to while we were gone.

 
; “Please, come inside, have something to eat,” Bivir’s sister, Marir, says and we all rush forward, ready to celebrate the fact that we were now free of Emperor Thahars once more.

  Even though we still have the threat of the Galactic Union, it feels different now. It feels like we are free. As soon as we were within Bruxland’s atmosphere, reports have been released anonymously via media outlets, stating that a mutiny has occurred on board the Leonida. As we settle into our new planet, our new home, the word is spreading that the Union no longer has a stronghold over the galaxy.

  Instead, when we attack next—and there will be a next time—the Union will have to face not only our small rebellion but, hopefully, a much larger movement that has been festering behind closed doors almost since the day the Union was formed.

  I smile at Ece as he puts an arm around my waist.

  Yes, for the first time in a long time, I am actually happy.

  If you loved Defender of the Stars (or, even if you didn’t) please leave a review so that other readers can help find out more about this book. Reviews do not need to be long, even a short sentence can help out.

  LEAVE A REVIEW

  Read on now for a sneak peek into Book Three of the Galactic Union series…

  SNEAK PEEK of Galactic Union Book 3: Protector of the Stars

  Chapter One: Danika

  I try not to gawk at everything around me. Being lost in the galaxy outside of Earth is my new normal but it is also a recent normal. Bruxland is a sea of strangeness that I just want to explore.

  It feels even more remote to be here than onboard the Galactic Union’s ship. At least there were other humans on board. Here, now that the others have left, there is no one that I know, no one that is familiar to me. I wrap my arms around my middle and cling to the hope that Shirley and the others will return soon, that I won’t be trapped on this new planet forever now.