by Tasha Black
“Are the kits okay?” Rex asked Rose.
The kits…
She ran the rest of the way to join him and lay on the corridor floor to look in the door of the crate, not wanting to frighten them by moving it.
The kits peered out at her nervously, their silken ears flat against their heads, antennae quivering.
“Don’t worry little ones,” Rose told them. “We’ll get you home again.”
18
Rex
Rex released the boy to Jensen as soon as he arrived.
On instinct, he swept the corridor for more danger.
Seeing none, he went to Rose.
His brave mate was lying on the floor of the corridor, comforting the kits.
They thrust their tiny snouts through the bars to touch her fingers and gaze at her with big lovelorn eyes.
Rex could hardly blame them. He felt like doing the same himself.
“Are you okay?” he asked her.
“Fine,” she said, looking up. “You?”
“Fine,” he told her, smiling.
She smiled back at him and he thought his heart would burst.
“You were right,” she told him.
“About what?” he asked.
“Those two,” she said.
“Well, when you know where they get their money, it’s hard not to be suspicious,” he said.
She frowned, opened her mouth and closed it again. “What exactly do you mean by that?” she asked at last.
“I mean you’ve been to Sheldrahk,” he said slowly, not understanding her confusion. “Those two are clearly the kids of the fuel barons who work those poor laborers to death while they go on luxury cruises and slaughter endangered animals to make their garments.”
“How do you know that?” she asked. “Just because they’re Terran it doesn’t mean they’re criminals or monsters.”
“Of course not,” Rex replied, horrified. “But her lounging coat - didn’t you recognize it?”
Rose shook her head.
“I’m sorry,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “I forget sometimes that you haven’t seen as much of the universe yet as I have. The fuel lords of Sheldrahk are the only people in the galaxy who have access to captured fyraki. It’s because of where they live. And wearing a coat like that is a way to signal you’re Sheldrahki merchant class.”
“That’s why you said these people,” Rose murmured.
Something terrible began to occur to him.
“Rose,” he said slowly. “When I said that, did you think I meant Terrans?”
“You have to understand that on Terra-4 that’s a typical attitude for Ceruleans to have about Terrans,” Rose said. “I’ve never known a Cerulean… like you.”
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I would never hurt you on purpose. And I think the world of you, and the resilience of your people.”
She looked up at him, her dark eyes intense. “I’m sorry I assumed the worst.”
“We just met, Rose,” he told her, cupping her cheek in his hand, loving the contrast of peach and blue. “Our relationship might be moving fast, but we’re still getting to know each other.”
“That’s true,” she said. “That was exactly what I was thinking earlier. We barely know each other. I thought I’d made a horrible mistake.”
“I did make a horrible mistake,” he said. “I spoke without thinking about how you might interpret my words. And for that I am sorry.”
“Me too,” she said, grinning and grabbing his hand from her cheek.
She kissed it and then gave it a squeeze. “So what do you think we’re supposed to do with these kits?”
He looked at the furry babies. They were still pressing against the bars to get to Rose.
“You know, they aren’t really prone to domestication, but they do seem to like you,” he said. “And you’re in Agro, which is about as close to Livestock as we get on a cruiser. Should we ask Anna if we can take them to our rooms until we come up with a better solution?”
Rose got quiet for a moment.
“What is it?” Rex asked. “Was it something I said again?”
“Kind of,” she admitted, but her smile told him it wasn’t something bad. “You said Agro is close to Livestock. That’s true. But they’re not the same.”
“Of course,” he allowed. “I only meant…”
“I know,” she said. “But you don’t need nitrates to grow rantyfann kits.”
“So why did they have it?” Rex asked, seeing her point.
“Exactly,” she said.
“I’ll be sure to tell Jensen to ask them about it when they are questioned,” he assured her. “In the meantime, should the kits come with us?”
“I think that sounds like a good idea,” Rose said with a smile as she stroked them though the bars.
“I mean, you already have one captive to look after,” he teased.
She grinned up at him. “Careful, or I’ll have to domesticate you, too.”
“You’ve already got my under your thumb,” he told her.
Footsteps approached.
“Hey guys, what are we doing with the kits?” Jensen asked.
“We were just going to check in with Anna about that,” Rex replied taking a few steps toward the man. “But I need to talk to you about the nitrate.”
The kits hissed and squawked at his movement.
“You’re okay,” Rose murmured.
They quieted almost immediately.
“Wow,” Rex said. “You’ve really made an impression on them.”
Rose touched her wrist comm. “Anna,” she said. “Things are under control now, but we’ve got some loose ends.”
“I’ll be right there,” Anna replied.
19
Rose
Rose looked around the room in a mild panic.
Rantyfann kits were all over the place, along with the curtains they had pulled down, the bits of food they were hiding all over the room, and the little puddles of pungent pee that dotted the marble floor as quickly as Rose and Rex could clean them up.
Rex sat in the center of the room beside their crate, holding a bowl of milk and looking exhausted.
There were only five kits.
Well, she kept telling herself that. It seemed like there had to be at least thirty of them.
The entire day had melted away and the solar lights in the forest were dimming already.
Rose and Rex had spent the first couple of hours since the bust coaxing the kits out of the crate to eat and exercise a little. They assumed the poor babies had been in that small crate since arriving on the ship.
At last, the largest kit had ventured into Rose’s arms. Seemingly inspired by this act of bravery, all the others piled out and immediately began tearing the room apart.
“I think they’re denning,” Rex suggested, looking up at Rose from his place on the floor. “At least, that’s what the computer says.”
“So… they’re happy?” she ventured.
“When satisfied with their environment, rantyfanns den by piling leaves or other soft materials, marking their territory, and secreting food and other treasures,” Rex read. “Once entrenched, rantyfanns will protect their den with surprisingly ferocious zeal.”
Rose looked over at a kit the size of her fist, digging a fallen curtain into a tangle.
When it realized she was looking, it hissed and peed a little.
“That adds up,” Rose said. “I don’t think this is what Anna had in mind when she said we could keep them up here.”
“They’re endangered,” Rex pointed out.
“More so if she sees what they’ve done to the curtains,” Rose joked weakly. “Seriously though, I hope we can round them up and get them out safely when we get to port.”
“They normally choose an alpha,” Rex said. “If we can convince that one to come then the rest will follow.”
“The biggest one came out first,” Rose said. “Maybe he’s the one to win over.”
/> “If you mean that one, we’re in real trouble,” Rex said, pointing to a kit who was strutting around the top of the canopied bed, his antennae bouncing with every step. “I tried to clean up his pee while you were in the other room and he bit me.”
Rose looked at the tiny red bite mark on Rex’s blue forearm.
“He didn’t break the skin, but it hurt,” Rex said sadly.
Rose stifled a giggle.
“I guess this isn’t exactly the romantic make-up session we hoped it would be,” she said.
“Are you mocking my vicious wound?” Rex asked, grinning.
She laughed and sat down beside him.
He put an arm around her and she leaned in, closing her eyes.
Even in a room full of wild animals, she felt at peace with Rex. Maybe there really was something to all his mate bond talk.
Something warm nuzzled her hand and she opened her eyes to see one of the kits step cautiously into her lap and curl into a ball.
“They think you’re one of them,” Rex suggested.
“Nah, they just know I opened the cage,” she said, stroking the silky fur gently. “I guess it’s a good way to build trust.”
“I guess so,” Rex said, kissing her on top of the head.
It occurred to her that he had a tracker in his neck.
She held the key to deactivate that, too.
But, unlike the kits, Rex didn’t have the captain’s permission to be freed.
And Rose didn’t want to be jailed herself.
She sighed, trying not to think about what would happen at port.
Could he really be convicted at trial?
There were witnesses to clear his name. But what if all the jury members were Terran?
It was slowly occurring to her that her own people had as many prejudices against the Ceruleans as the Ceruleans had against them.
She looked into the forest, as if the trees might hold some answers.
Something enormous flashed across her view and disappeared into the foliage.
“Did you see that?” she asked.
In all the excitement, she had almost forgotten about the creature in the forest.
Rex was already letting go of her and getting up.
“Not again,” he murmured, walking over to the glass.
Rose joined him. The creature wasn’t visible, but the trees were shaking violently in one area.
“Shit,” Rex said. “We have to get down there.”
“Jensen,” Rose said into her wrist comm as they ran for the door. “We’ve got activity in the forest again. Come with back-up.”
20
Rex
Rex stood at the entrance to the forest again.
The maintenance crew had put up a temporary barricade to keep people out until the doors could be fixed, but it had been tossed aside like a child’s plaything.
Rose’s footsteps were right behind him.
“Wait,” he said, holding up his hand. “Please, turn my tracker off so I can go in alone.”
“No way,” Rose said. “I’m not letting you go in there without back-up.”
“Please, Rose,” he begged. “I’ve already seen you in danger once today.”
“Then you know I can handle myself,” she replied firmly. “Besides, I’m not going to intergalactic prison for freeing you.”
Fuck.
She was right. If she freed him and something went wrong, she would pay the ultimate price for trusting him.
“Fine, let’s go,” he said.
Together, they headed into the cool trees.
The forest was different at night. The dim glow of manufactured moonlight glimmered on the wet leaves and the mist hung low, hydrating the trees while the passengers slept so that everything would be verdant in the morning.
They didn’t get very far before Rex could feel the movement under his feet and hear the thrashing of nearby trees.
Something big was moving in there.
He poured on speed, wishing he didn’t have the damned tracker, blocking him from amplifying. His blood simmered and his muscles ached to expand.
There was a crash like thunder and the branches ahead of them shivered and whined.
Had the thing ripped the limbs off a tree?
They were close enough now to hear loud panting.
“No, don’t come any closer,” a faint voice whined from up ahead.
There was another crash and the sound of something hitting the ground.
Then silence.
Rex crept forward, every sense on high alert.
Though he was trying his best to be quiet, he couldn’t help the soft tap of his boots on the dirt path, or the whisper of the leaves on the branches that caressed him on his way deeper into the forest.
Behind him, he could barely hear Rose’s progress.
He wished she didn’t have to be here with him. Capable or not, she was his mate. His primary desire was to keep her safe.
The path curved slightly, and he saw something in the dim light - a body maybe, strewn across the path.
He turned to Rose and held up his hand, but she continued toward him.
Damned stubborn mate.
He moved closer slowly.
As he grew closer, he could see the small form. Could it be a child? It was covered in flannel pajamas.
He held his breath as he knelt beside it.
This wasn’t a child, thank goodness. The head was covered in thin gray hair. It was an old man. The face was somehow familiar.
Rose moved closer and he willed her footsteps to be silent.
Something had injured, maybe even killed this poor man.
He reached for the man’s wrist, feeling for a pulse through his papery skin.
A faint pulse told him the man was still alive, just out cold.
Rose arrived by Rex’s side at last.
“Howard,” she breathed.
He looked back at the man’s face, and realized where he knew him from. He and Rose had nearly knocked over this man and his wife the first day they went running.
“He’s alive,” Rex murmured. “But we need to get him help.”
Thunderous footsteps cut off the rest of his thought.
The trees ahead of them swayed, branches snapping.
Something sucked in air and panted it out.
It roared.
The sound was so deep Rex felt his organs vibrate.
“Rose,” he moaned. “Run.”
21
Rose
Rose gazed down at the small prone body.
The creature was coming fast, but she couldn’t leave poor Howard here. What would Maude do without her companion?
It suddenly struck her that it was the middle of the night.
And that she had never seen Howard without Maude.
What if she was hurt, too?
“Where’s Maude?” she wondered out loud.
It felt like the pieces of the puzzle were right in front of her, but she wasn’t seeing them:
a creature in the night…
a sweet little old man without his wife…
a container of stolen nitrate…
“Please, Rose, get out of here,” Rex repeated. “I can’t let anything happen to you.”
The final piece fell into place in Rose’s mind and she realized what was going on.
And what she had to do.
“Lean your head down,” she whispered to Rex.
She almost didn’t catch the expression of gratitude on his face as he bent forward.
Well, he wouldn’t be grateful for long.
She drew a military blade from her sleeve and slid it under the scab on his neck, popping out the tracker.
Rex hissed in a breath.
He was probably wondering why she hadn’t simply powered the tracker off instead of prying it out of his neck.
But there was no time to explain.
A huge figure had just appeared behind him.
“You’re free,” she told him.
“Now run.”
But he held perfectly still, tremors running along his whole body until he seemed to blur.
He roared and she didn’t know if it was in pain or fury.
His body expanded, tearing most of his clothing in the process, until he was barely covered at all.
Amplification.
Rose watched his blue body swell even more.
Rex looked like himself, but nearly twice the size, muscles bristling.
The creature was close now, bellowing with rage.
Rex turned to meet it.
Rose clutched the tracker in her fist and darted into the trees.
She had one shot at this. And she was going to have to be strategic.
By the time she got to a place where she was sure she was behind the thing, she could hear it howling at Rex.
She turned to see it looming over him, a midnight wolf the size of an elephant.
Focus, Rose.
An old sycamore with lumpy bark and a couple of shoots off the lower trunk was the best thing she could find to climb.
She grabbed the trunk and shimmied up to the first branch. The tree was so wide around, it took all her strength and concentration to make it to the next one.
Just ahead the wolf swiped at the massive Cerulean.
So far, Rex was managing to leap out of the way, but his increased bulk made him less graceful.
She hoped he could stay out of reach for a few more minutes without letting the wolf get away from her tree.
The next branch bent under her weight and her sweaty hands slipped slightly, but she managed to catch one foot on a knot and push herself higher.
Rex cried out - a deep throaty sound of pain.
The wolf must have gotten in a strike.
She had to hurry.
The seconds went by like hours, her muscles in agony as she dragged herself higher. When she reached a group of larger branches, the going was easier.
She swung herself up until she was looking down onto the fight below.
Rex was bleeding, dark droplets scattering on the forest floor.