by T. Cobbin
Sliding to the floor, she watched in horror as the door opened, revealing two very large, blue Lesh. Then darkness loomed and covered her.
* * * *
“Direct hit to their starboard bow. Their shields are fluctuating,” Fic reported.
Trian nodded. “Hit them again.”
He and his officers watched the screen as another stream of weapons were fired at the Lesh ship. It was the last one standing. The three other ships that had accompanied them had been disabled and were currently limping away. Trian had to admit that if the Hanja hadn’t been there to help, they might never have won this battle.
“Shields are down,” Fic reported as the last torp hit the Lesh ship.
“Open communications,” Trian ordered.
A rather disheveled Lesh appeared on the bridge’s chrono screen.
Trian didn’t give the male a chance to speak. “This is your last warning. Leave this space and don’t come back. As you can see, our people will protect this planet, and more of our ships will soon be joining us. We will not be aiming to disable you next time, we will be shooting to kill. Spread the word.” Trian cut off the communication with a press of a button.
A cheer erupted around the bridge with his officers smiling wide.
With a slash of his hand, he calmed his men. “I want a full report of the damage and repairs needed, along with information about the men in medical.”
“Sir?” Basup said, looking down at his console. His nose was so close to it, it was almost touching.
“What is it, Basup?” Trian asked.
“Sir, the body count aboard the Gemorph is two short.”
“What?” Trian was on his feet and walking toward Basup’s console.
Staring down at the screen, he could see Basup was right. He pressed a few buttons, trying to find out who was missing. Had the computer got it wrong? Trian’s heart stopped and his stomach churned when he saw who it was that wasn’t aboard the Gemorph anymore.
“Maybe their comms are just off-line, sir?” Basup asked.
“You have five yen to get me a full report on who has entered and left this ship,” Trian ordered before zapping to the captain’s quarters.
A few gasps met him as he stared at the gathered women and security team who filled his cabin. His men, seeing his concern, walked toward him.
“Sir?” Knut asked.
“Where are Zoe and Amelia?” Trian barked out, not seeing either woman.
“When we did the check, Zoe was doing her disappearing act, but from the bleep we placed in her comm, she was on this level. As for your spark, we haven’t seen her since she helped bring all the females to your cabin.”
“So why didn’t you inform me?” Trian growled, feeling his energy zing underneath his skin. He wanted the sensors to be wrong. He’d wanted to lay eyes on his mate when he’d zapped to his quarters. But no, she and Zoe were nowhere to be found.
“When we couldn’t find her we thought she was with you, sir.”
“That’s a sore excuse—”
“Captain, sir,” Basup interrupted Trian.
“What?” Trian snapped. He was going to grill Knut alive for losing his mate.
“Sir, we are receiving two Gracian emergency signals from the last Lesh ship, and Captain Fortua is waiting for you on the bridge.”
Trian glared at Knut and the other security team members standing in the room, then barked out, “Allow the women to return to their cabins. I will deal with you men later!”
He zapped to his bridge and came face-to-face with Fortua.
“What are you doing aboard my ship?” he asked the other captain, practically growling at him. Trian walked straight over to Basup and viewed his console.
“I came to help,” Fortua answered and followed Trian.
“So, I guess you know about the signals?”
“Yes. After you found the women aboard the Lesh ship and learned what they might be to us, I made sure that every ship we came upon from then on was scanned constantly. One of my officers was doing that when the two human signals suddenly appeared. As soon as we saw that I came to offer my help.”
Trian frowned, wondering if Fortua was up to something. The history between the two captains was bumpy, but Trian let it rest. His main priority now was finding his spark. Trian, Iryano, and Fortua all stared at Basup’s screen with frowns on their faces.
“How the frinx did two human females get aboard that ship?” Fortua asked. “I know you weren’t boarded.”
Trian couldn’t help but growl. His energy built inside him. His mate was on another ship—one that was heading toward a wormhole to leave the system. He couldn’t protect her over there, he couldn’t hold her in his arms and stem her worry. Frinx! She must be terrified.
“Have you tried communicating with them?” Trian asked.
“Yes, sir. They’re refusing to answer,” Basup replied. “May I make a suggestion?”
Trian nodded.
“When their shields went down we were able to run a decent scan over their ship showing the rough layout of it. We are still close enough in range that someone can zap over, sir.”
Trian glanced between Fortua and Iryano. His mind clicked over the pros and cons of the suggestion. No matter what the percentages were of not surviving when they zapped over to the Lesh ship, Trian made the decision to do it. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he didn’t try.
Standing tall, Trian turned to his security officer. “Ausk, find me a team of men who will join me. Send them the plans of the Lesh ship. Make it quick. I want to be gone asap.”
Ausk nodded and immediately started to comm his men.
“I’m going with you,” Fortua demanded.
Before Trian could ask why Fortua wanted to help or even demand he stay with his ship, Basup spoke with excitement in his voice.
“Sir, communications are coming in. Another of our fleet ships has just exited the wormhole. It’s the Jupion.”
Hope flooded Trian. “Get me Captain—”
“Already done, sir,” Basup interrupted him, a tinge of pink hitting his cheeks. “Captain Frimm is waiting for your comm.”
“Thank you, Basup.” Turning, Trian walked over to his captain’s chair and hit the comm button. “Captain Frimm, it’s a pleasure to see you again, but I would ask you to help us in a small situation.”
“Yes, of course,” Frimm replied.
“There are several Lesh ships heading your way. The last one has two of the human women aboard it. One of those is my spark.” Trian’s voice broke toward the end. His heart beat fiercely in his chest thinking of Amelia on that damn ship. “Would you help hold off the ships from entering the wormhole until I give the word the women are safe?”
“Challenge accepted.” Frimm chuckled. “I haven’t had a good fight in ages. Frimm out.”
“Sir,” Ausk spoke up as Frimm finished. “The team is ready and waiting.”
“Tell them to zap to my office please.” Trian turned his attention to Iryano. “Look after my ship for me.” He held his head up high. He’d already said goodbye to his friend so many times when he was flaring, even though he had that small amount of hope that Amelia was his.
As Iryano nodded and slapped a fist over his heart, Trian hoped this was the last time he had to hand the captainship of the Gemorph to his friend. If he returned, he would never leave his ship again.
“Fortua, my office. Let’s go,” Trian ordered.
Trian zapped to his office, which now seemed small with five fully armed warriors standing in it along with Fortua. He walked around to his desk and pulled the semantics of the Lesh ship up.
“We’ll have to move fast and cover as much of the ship as we can.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of his men hand Fortua several weapons. Then each of the men lowered their heads to look at the plans.
Loop pointed to the largest cargo hold. “I’d say here is the best place to zap, less chance of appearing in something that might kill us.”
Trian studied the map and nodded. “I agree. It’s also the ideal place to start our hunt. We go room to room, scanning all we can to find those females. Keep in constant contact.”
Six heads nodded, affirming his orders. Trian hid the shock he felt at seeing Fortua nod and say nothing. He held a little wariness wondering what Fortua was up to, but he pushed it aside.
“Any suggestions or such before we leave?” Trian asked.
The men shook their heads. Trian grabbed a spare gun that had been placed on his desk for him. He also removed his dagger from the top drawer of his desk and stood ready.
Trian pressed his comm and said his friend’s name. “Iryano.”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Keep in constant contact. Trian out.”
Trian’s heart felt heavy as he glanced around his office. Would this be the last time he saw his ship? A part of him didn’t care. The thought of his mate being so alone on the Lesh ship was his main concern. He would fight his way through that damn ship to get to her. And if the Lesh were too far away for him to zap back, he’d take each one of those blue stercores out until he could control their ship, so he could bring his mate home.
Trian looked at the warriors standing before him. “Pugna ut vivet,” he said proudly, slapping a fist over his heart. Fight to live.
His men and Fortua echoed his words and slapped their hands over their chests. With that said, he and his men zapped from his office.
Chapter 17
Trian glanced around the darkened cargo area, satisfied his men had zapped over to the Lesh ship safe and sound. With a twitch of his gun, he silently motioned for his men to head toward the door. As they approached, it opened automatically.
Without hesitation, Trian walked into the corridor along with his men. Making a quick decision, he decided to keep his men together rather than separating. They could cover more ground if they separated, but that would also increase the chances of them being spotted.
“Let’s head right. Check every room fo—”
“Can someone hear me for fuck’s sake?” A voice came from Trian’s comm. From the startled looks of his men, it would seem they too could hear the female.
“We can hear you. Zoe, is this you?” Trian asked. “Where are you? Where’s Amelia?”
“Captain Trian? Oh my God! Finally! Yes, this is Zoe. Are you coming to rescue us or what?” she asked, annoyed. “Do you know what we’re going through because of one of your damn people?”
Trian had already figured out that one of his men or one of Fortua’s men had betrayed them. There had been no sign of the Lesh boarding either of their ships.
“We are aboard the Lesh ship now. Where are you, and where’s Amelia?” Trian’s energy was building to boiling point inside his body. He was getting annoyed that Zoe wouldn’t tell him where Amelia was or even if she was okay.
“I don’t fucking know where we are. All I can say is…oof.”
Trian heard a scuffle of some sort. He heard the sound of something hitting what sounded like flesh in quick succession before Zoe breathlessly spoke.
“Take that, you son of a bitch. Now, where was I? Oh yeah.”
Trian could almost imagine Zoe standing tall and collecting her thoughts before talking again.
“I have no bloody idea where we are, but please find us and get us out of here as soon as possible. These blue bastards keep coming, and I can’t wake Amelia to get us out of this damn room.”
Trian’s heart stopped with a jolt. “What do you mean you can’t wake Amelia?” he demanded.
His feet moved before he realized he was walking down the corridor at a hurried pace. His men followed, guns and daggers held high, ready for battle.
“She got knocked out when an explosion rocked the ship. Stop asking me questions and rescue us.”
The thought of his mate being on the ship when they had been attacking made Trian’s heart pound. Just one wrong torp to the right place and the ship could have exploded. He could have lost his mate forever. If that had happened, he would have searched out every single person involved in kidnapping his mate and killed each one of them.
“Tell me she’s still alive,” he demanded walking faster along the corridor, eager to get to the two human females.
“She’s fucking alive, you moron, now stop asking questions. We’re in some kind of gym. Four of those blue bastards are in the room unconscious with us. Please,” she pleaded, “get to us before they wake up.”
Trian ran through the schematics of the Lesh ship he’d seen. From what he’d seen the gym was on the third level. “We need to go up,” he told his men.
“Lift or zap?” Fortua asked.
“Can’t take the risk of zapping where we aren’t sure. We need to find an elevator. From the scans I’d say there should be one at the end of this corridor.”
Together, the men ran toward the end of the corridor. As they approached the door it opened to reveal two Lesh. The surprise on their faces would have been comical, but Trian was in no mood for funny shit; he was in a killing mood.
In quick succession the two Lesh fell to their knees, both with smoking wounds to their chests. Trian’s men followed him into the elevator, the space becoming increasingly small with so many big men inside.
“Level three,” Trian ordered, hoping it was the right floor.
* * * *
“You fucking piece of shit.” A woman’s voice broke through Amelia’s darkness. “Stay the fuck down.”
Amelia tried to get her thoughts together, but she couldn’t concentrate because of the roaring pain in her head. Slowly, her foggy thoughts were beginning to lift.
“You shitting dirtbag, fucking think you can take me and my friend as slaves. You bastard.” Amelia heard a couple of soft thuds. “Wanker.” The woman swore again, and Amelia realized it was Zoe’s voice.
“Damn girl, you have a mouth like a sewer,” Amelia whispered, but she smiled; she couldn’t help but find Zoe’s swearing amusing.
“My mother always told me I’d make a sailor blush. How you doing, girl?” Zoe asked.
Amelia felt her friend kneel beside her, so she tried opening her eyes. Pain shot through her mind like a white-hot poker might feel. Quickly, she closed her eyes again with a groan.
“I feel like someone hit me over the head with a hammer. What the hell happened? The last thing I remember is…” Amelia thought back. “Is hiding inside a bathroom.” Opening her eyes, she glanced around, not recognizing where they were. “Where are we?”
“On a Lesh ship. Do you remember one of those Gracian dudes zapping us here?”
Amelia’s stomach churned as she tried to remember. “Which one?” she asked, not able to recall a face.
“I don’t know. But you put me in front of him and I’ll kick his nuts so far he’ll end up with another set of fucking tonsils.” Zoe growled low. “Here, raise your head, let me see,” she said, cupping Amelia’s head and helping her lift it up so Zoe could see the back of it.
The pain of moving her head, even if it was supported, had Amelia closing her eyes again. As the pain subsided a little, she re-opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Zoe’s breast through her torn dress. “You have better-looking boobs than I do.” Amelia chuckled, trying to lighten her heavy, cloudy mood.
Zoe lowered Amelia’s head back down and glanced down toward her chest then fidgeted with the ripped material, trying to pull it together.
“Stupid blue aliens. One of them grabbed my top and ripped it.” She turned concerned eyes toward Amelia. “How are you feeling? Thankfully, your head’s stopped bleeding.”
Bleeding? Amelia tried again to dig through her murky memory. She started to lift a hand to touch her head, but Zoe stopped her.
“Don’t. You have quite a gash there, and it will hurt even more if you poke it.”
Movement behind Zoe stopped Amelia from asking the question about how she’d gotten knocked out and cut her head. Seeing the look on her friend’s face, Zoe sp
un around.
Amelia watched, amazed when Zoe stood, grabbed a silver bar beside them, and walked over to a moving blue alien who’d been getting to his feet. Zoe made the bar in her hands spin, and her body moved with a dancer’s precision as she pounded that alien until once again he was lying on the floor unconscious.
“Stay down, you fucker.” Zoe swore down at the alien as if he could hear her.
Amelia glanced around and saw there were three more Lesh lying on the floor. “Good God, woman, did you do that?” she asked in awe.
Zoe just shrugged and walked back over to her. “Shit happens, and I deal with it,” she simply stated.
Amelia frowned. “You never did tell me what you did before we were kidnapped.”
“You don’t want to know,” Zoe replied. “I managed to get in con—”
The door whooshing open interrupted Zoe. Both women went on full alert at the sight of two more Lesh standing in the open doorway. Their surprised looks had them halting a moment before they rushed into action. Zoe was already on her feet, spinning the pole in her hands faster than Amelia could see.
Amelia pulled herself up into a sitting position. Bile rose to the back of her throat, her skin turned clammy, and a wave of dizziness all joined together, making her feel ill. She managed to shuffle to her right to lean against a long, black bench. She watched in fascination as Zoe went into action.
The first Lesh to approach Zoe received a hard poke to his stomach from the end of the pole. His breath gushed from his mouth as he bent over. Lesh Two walked menacingly toward Zoe only for her to bounce the pole off his head. A grunt left him, and he raised one of his four hands to touch where the pole had hit him. However, it didn’t stop him from advancing toward Zoe. She spun the pole again and then swung it to hit first the right side of the Lesh’s head and then the left. Lesh Two fell to his knees, clutching his ears. By this time Lesh One had recovered and was again advancing on Zoe. Dancing on her feet, Zoe spun her pole in front of her. Zoe struck as yet again the doors whooshed open.