by Layla Stone
His arms were too tight around her, and she felt like her lungs would burst. In the background, she was sure she heard, “This tarq won’t stay down.”
“Shoot him in the blasted head.” That was from Mish.
“Kill him, and you will never get a deal from my captain. He values the Yunkin’s life over mine a thousand times.” Vivra screamed with the last of her air.
Mish’s hold loosened a minuscule amount. “Is that right?”
“You kill him, you’re dead.” She looked at Mish to make sure he believed her.
“Then what does that say about you?” Mish smiled. “I guess you’ll be staying with me while my guys negotiate with the captain.”
Several shots rang out behind Vivra. Images of Yon being pelted with bullets cut through her mind. She screamed, the desire to get vengeance for the death of her first mate rising inside her.
Mish’s lips brushed her neck, and she was revolted by the violation. “I’m so glad you’ll be staying with me. This planet does not have any females with your sweetness. Only used and abused mine workers.”
If she’d had enough saliva in her mouth, she would have spit at him. The murdering tarq.
“So, you’ve settled for kidnapping to blitz a female. That’s got to be a new low, even for your kind.”
Mish squeezed her. “You should be trying to get on my good side, sweetpea.”
Vivra was not the type to bow out or down. The male holding her was bigger and uglier, but she still felt a thousand times better than him. Her response came from that place. “I didn’t know Red Demons had a good side. But even so, I’m not into the whole getting down and dirty with a storage shop owner who can’t even keep his warehouse clean. I mean, what does that say about your hygiene?” Mish pulled her up so her feet dangled. Then he tossed her over his shoulder. She could see Yon’s slumped figure on the ground, his body surrounded by grey blood.
Unmoving.
She cursed to herself. Cursed Mish. Cursed the men who’d shot Yon.
Two men grabbed Yon’s arms and pulled him as they followed Mish. Red-hot vengeance burned through Vivra’s veins. Everyone deserved to die. Sadly, she’d come ill-prepared to kill so many bastards. There wasn’t enough glitter in her pixy pistol to take out the extra men, but she would figure a way out of this one.
A low, baritone groan echoed, and she stilled. Narrowing her eyes, she held herself up to peek at Yon.
He groaned again when one of the men pulled hard on his arm.
That red-hot vengeance she’d felt seconds ago transformed into frightening distress, filling her with emotions she didn’t normally feel: concern, fear, and doubt.
Yon was alive. Probably slowly dying from all the blood loss. But more to the point, he was not dead. She couldn’t let him die, because then…it would be her fault.
Out of all the poor life choices she’d made and was sure to make in the future, getting the first mate killed would not be one of them.
Chapter Fifteen
The Merimore
Pax checked the log and saw that Vivra and Yon had just left the Garna. He kept his Minky running so he could track when 806 entered the atmosphere and landed. He’d sent a message to Yon when he left to notify him immediately if he needed backup. It was in the back of Pax’s mind to do so anyway, but he wasn’t sure if that was instinct or his concern and overprotection of a female crewmate.
He was protective of all his crew, but he had a soft spot for females and their suffering. He’d had to endure watching and hearing what the bastards on the Angny planet did to the so-called fairer sex that they took prisoner.
Vivra’s sweet scent had rubbed off on his clothes. Her essence was drawing out new habits. Unexplainable ones. He didn’t wash the clothes, just left them on a chair so he could smell her when he returned from his shift.
Her smell would keep him grounded. Images of slipping between her luscious thighs played on a loop in the back of his mind. They didn’t take up his conscious thoughts, but they were there like familiar old friends. Pax had a team to run and protect.
The door to his office opened, and Sci walked in. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yeah. I’ve decided you’re coming with me down to Brica. You can thank me later for being so thoughtful. I also thought you might want to meet my new team.” He stuffed his pad into his pocket, and they both left, headed to the training room at the other end of the level.
Once inside, he saw all sixty-one new members of his crew.
“All right, listen up. If you are not with weapons and tactical response, then you need to leave the training room right now,” Pax called out. He waited and saw only two people leave. As they left, he linked to the Minky screens in the room and began his debrief. “Petty officers, direct your attention to the screens. We received a distress call from the Cenlura mine on Brica. See the red dot on the map?” He tapped the pad, and another red dot appeared. “This is the current location of a ship that unlawfully entered the planet’s atmosphere while we were in transit. As you can tell, it’s about thirty miles away from the Cenlura mine. And since An-Kor, the captain of the Merimore, has been so discourteous and has ignored our pings and attempts to find out why he’s still on a restricted planet, we’ve been given permission to seize the ship and detain him, taking anything he may have gathered from Brica.”
Pax touched the screen again, and a blue dot appeared on the far upper left side of the map. “We also have two crew members headed here. They are picking up some necessary items for the ship. Any questions so far?”
All eyes turned to him. No one spoke or asked any questions. Pax gave them a few seconds and then decided to continue on with his verbal debrief.
“We will have two ships, two teams. Team one will go to the Cenlura mine in galleon 502. That team will sweep the mine, gather any intel you can, take out any hostiles…you know the drill. Team two will head to the Merimore in galleon 817 and seize and capture the ship and crew. So,”—he scanned his team that had spread out in a half arc around him—“who wants to investigate the plundered mine, and who wants to play pirate crush?”
Sci turned to him. “I’m impressed with your debriefing style.”
“It’s a gift,” he responded.
Some of the crew members looked at the screen. Some looked at him. One, the female cyborg, had moved to the front and was eyeing Sci. Pax remembered that her name was Shady.
She was a cyborg, and Pax knew that Sci couldn’t hear their thoughts, but maybe she didn’t know that. “Is there a problem, Shady?”
Shady answered, “He’s a Cerebral. An OutWorlder not allowed in Federation space let alone walking freely about on a Federation ship. As a weapons and tactical response expert, it is ill-advised to inform such a person of our mission.”
Pax slid the Minky pad into his pocket and addressed the room. “Does anyone else feel this way?”
A few hands shot up, all young cyborgs.
All right, then. “Sci is married to our primary flight pilot. He is a registered spouse and archiver. This information is known and approved by the council admirals.” Pax scanned the males and females, making sure to give Shady a pointed look. “He has proven to be an asset in other missions, and I have personally asked him to join this one.”
Shady didn’t respond. But Pax wasn’t sure if she was even listening since several red words flew across her irises. The crimson letters were a signature feature on Federation cyborgs.
Holding out his arms, he ended with, “And anyone who can’t accept my word or his presence may excuse themselves now and head to the galley to enjoy your last meal on the Garna. Because I will not tolerate anyone who can’t trust me or follow my orders. Your transfer will be swift.”
When the red lettering stopped flying across Shady’s eyes, she asked. “I’ll be on whatever team the Cerebral is on.”
“Well, then I guess you’re with me on team two.” Unfortunately, he had planned to have her
lead team one. He would have to find another leader in the next few minutes. “Hands up to all those who want to be on team one?”
Shady asked, “How far does his telepathy reach?” Pax was about to point out that now was not the time for those details. He needed to round up members for a team one. But Sci answered.
“Fifty miles,” Sci replied in an unemotional tone.
Shady didn’t stop there. “Telekinesis range?”
“Same.”
“Do you get mental fatigue after a certain amount of time when engaged in both activities?”
“Yes.”
“Define,” Shady almost commanded.
“Not sure this is the right time for this,” Pax mentioned. His words were ignored as Sci answered again.
“My capabilities drain fastest when I am forcing communication with multiple minds at the same time.”
One cyborg behind Shady spoke up. “How many of us can you communicate with at a time?”
“None. I can’t hear the thoughts of cyborgs.”
Shady folded her arms, but it looked like she was relaxing instead of being defensive. So, she wasn’t a fan of having her mind read. Pax could understand that. Not many people were. But to intrude on her commander’s debrief because she didn’t want the Cerebral in her mind was irritating. But again before he had a chance to say anything, Shady commented.
“That’s unfortunate. It would have been handy to have that connection so we all knew what was going on and could assess the situation at the same time.”
Oh, really?
Sci shrugged as if her comment didn’t have merit.
Pax folded his arms. When exactly had he lost control of his debrief? “The questions and answers for the Cerebral are over. Eyes on me.” He looked at his sixty-two team members. “Since no one wants to volunteer, here’s how we’re going to split it up.” Pax held up his finger and pointed at the first twelve cyborgs. “You twelve will be going in 502 to the Cenlura mine. I assume that is a sufficient enough number to get the job done. If you are overwhelmed and need assistance, you will contact Clalls. He can send backup from the ship and notify me. Is that clear?”
“Yes sir.”
Then Pax pointed at the one with the highest rank and said, “You will lead team one.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What’s your name?”
“Byalo.”
Pax said the name five times fast in his mind so he would remember when he updated the mission report. “Take your men, Byalo, and get to the ship. The pilot is already waiting.” A pilot from the latest round of transfers he had yet to meet.
All twelve quickly left the training room.
“Sol, come forward.”
The one and only Bolark on the team moved from the very back of the pack to the front. Pax didn’t miss that he was not wearing a cerebral blocker. “Like I said before, you will be on the bridge. I want you working with Clalls. Do not feel obligated to play nice, he’s a tarq. I want constant updates regarding my team and any dangers in the area.” Pax held up one finger to add a side note to the male. “And keep an eye on cargo transporter 806.”
“Yes, sir,” Sol answered with sincerity.
“You’re dismissed.”
Now, Pax was down to forty-nine team members. Four Yunkin, eight Graches, two Hettens, and thirty-five cyborgs. Add Sci, Sasha, and himself, it made for a small team, but the force multiplier should equalize anything they came up against. Sci being the main force, of course.
“Team two, direct yourselves to 817. It’s time to commandeer a pirate ship.”
Sci walked out beside him and whispered, “I seem to remember how much you enjoyed taking over pirate ships. Is it your birthday?”
Pax chuckled. “No, but it feels like it.”
Chapter Sixteen
Force Multiplier
Shady was standing at the top of the ramp when Pax and Sci walked on. Her first words were, “This is not a Federation galleon ship. It looks like a luxury liner.”
Pax walked past her and answered, “Very perceptive, Shady.”
“Why are we taking this ship instead of a Federation aircraft?”
Pax continued on to the lower belly of the ship that had once been a storage area but was now a refurbished seating area for transporting large groups of people. “Because I like this ship.”
“Let me rephrase. We should be in a Federation-equipped aircraft.”
Pax turned, addressing the petty officer with a slow, threatening tone. “I’m glad you rephrased it so you not only question me but also the honor of our dear captain. I’m sure I already told you that if you have an issue with following my orders and trusting me, you were welcome to leave.” He jerked his chin to the exit. “You’re welcome to leave. If you question me again, I won’t be so nice. I won’t let you just transfer off the ship. I’ll make sure you’re demoted for insubordination and then returned to the academy from where you came.”
Shady didn’t respond.
Pax had thought she might walk out, but she didn’t. When he moved to his seat, Shady sat across from him. “I apologize. I was insubordinate, just now and before.”
He nodded to let her know that he’d heard her.
“I am new to the Federation.”
He’d surmised that after looking at her file. She had signed up to serve the Federation for thirty years in exchange for the extra work they had done for her. She had been born with two deformed arms, but she didn’t request cybernetic upgrades until she turned eighteen—the legal age on Marnak to make decisions for oneself.
Shady went straight to the planet Verrain to get the upgrades. Verrain was called the cyborg planet because everyone went there to get their upgrades. It was also run by androids and cyborgs. The planet didn’t have parks, forests, or much of anything natural. It was primarily metal, and the air was manufactured and recycled, much like it was on the Garna.
Pax also remembered that Shady had scored top ranks on protocol. She’d advanced through the cyborg academy in only six weeks. Something that normally took two years.
His respect for her motivation and knowledge had dimmed the more she questioned him, though. And she was at an all-time low, one that made him want her to leave the division. Something that would cut into his numbers. But with her attitude, she could get someone killed.
“I’ve been in several mock battles. And from my experience, a Federation galleon has a stronger hull and can take more hits. Also, a luxury liner has no defensive weapons.”
She was one smart cyborg. Most luxury liners that traveled for planetary pleasure didn’t have defensive weapons. But this ship did. “This used to be employed for smuggling. It had defensive weapons when we commandeered it, and it did pretty well in a firefight on Lotus Nexis. And since then, she has been upgraded with even more weapons.”
Shady was quiet, and he thought that he had finally quelled her questioning.
“You were on Lotus Nexis?” Did he hear censure in her tone?
Oh, for the love of the stars. She couldn’t still be a virgin, could she? Or maybe she was just grossly ignorant.
Also, apparently, she conveniently didn’t hear the part where he’d said that they were in a firefight.
The ship started to vibrate, and he knew that Sasha was in the pilot seat getting ready to take off. He also knew that since Sci hadn’t followed him down to the storage area, that the Cerebral was likely with his wife on the bridge.
“How old are you, Shady?”
“Nineteen.”
Pax grunted. “I’m one hundred and nineteen. To me, you’re a child. A toddler. Even after you serve your thirty years, I will still consider you a child.” He pointed at the Yunkin at the end of the row of seats. “Do you see him? He’s at least seventy-five years old. Yunkins live to be roughly three hundred and fifty, along with Kircans.” He pointed at himself. “Kirca’s the name of the Demon planet, in case you didn’t know.” Then he continue
d about the Yunkins. “The academy for our races is not a mere two years. It takes up to twenty-five training years to be considered a full member of the Federation. That is why most non-humanoid races are usually the commanders, and the others the petty officers. You just don’t have the background, nor the experience.”
Shady leaned down, keeping her eyes on him.
“Now, think about that the next time you want to question my methods.”
“Yes, sir.”
The wall’s running lights had changed from yellow to green, alerting Pax that they were welcome to leave their seats. He made his way to the captain’s cabin that had been refurbished as a strategy room.
Sci was standing at the Minky table. He had brought up a three-dimensional projection of the area between the Cenlura mine and the Merimore. One Minky screen on the wall in the middle held a quantum video call with Captain Rannn, who was sitting in the captain seat of the Garna’s bridge.
“Looks like I’m just in time,” Pax said, rubbing his hands together dramatically.
“I’m following your trajectory. Sol has a lock on the Merimore and will be able to help defend 817 if attacked.” Rannn said.
Smart. “I appreciate that. I just have to wonder why the Merimore is still on the planet when they knew we were coming.”
“I will be able to give you a count of how many people are on An-Kor’s crew when we get close enough,” Sci answered.
“I’m counting on it,” Pax said, knowing he’d made the right decision to bring Sci along.
Pointing at the Merimore, he told Sci, “As we’ve seen before, the ship moves every few hours. How long has it been there?”
“It hasn’t moved in over four hours. It’s still at the Absaloka mine,” Clalls said from the other side of the screen, on Garna’s bridge, where Pax couldn’t see him.