by S. E. Smith
Creon smiled tightly at his friend. He knew that Ha’ven didn’t blame him for what happened to him back in the lower caverns of Hell where he had been tortured. It still didn’t prevent him from having enough guilt for the both of them.
*.*.*
Two hours later, both men were ready to admit defeat. Creon stood over a stubborn Cal who was sitting on the edge of the platform, flanked by two guards. He eyed the old man in aggravation. Even Ha’ven had muttered it would have just been easier to take the damn creature than try to find the kid in the endless maze of tunnels.
“None of the scanners work once we get into the lower corridors,” one of the warriors said. “We’ve searched the upper ones and there was no sign of them.”
“How can something the size of a Pactor just vanish?” Creon demanded, running his hands through his hair in annoyance before he turned on Cal. “If it wasn’t for the fact that I do not want to upset my mate, I would have left you and the boy here. Call to him, tell him the beast can go,” Creon ordered.
“How do I know you’ll keep your word?” Cal asked, standing up.
“He has a point,” Ha’ven muttered.
Creon threw an exasperated look at Ha’ven. “You are getting as bad as Vox, you know that, don’t you? You are being a pain in my…”
Ha’ven shrugged and grinned as he looked at Cal. “Creon always keeps his word,” he said, suddenly serious. “If he says the beast can go, it will go.”
Cal studied both men for several long seconds before he nodded his head. Creon shot the guards a look when Cal stood up and took a step away from them. The guards paused and stepped back, watching as Cal walked over to the entrance to the tunnel. Cal raised his fingers to his lips and loudly whistled. He did three long whistles followed by two short. He repeated the call several times before he stopped.
“Come on out, boy,” Cal called. “The beast can go with us.
Creon and Ha’ven watched in disbelief as the hunched figure of Mel appeared. The Pactor was glued to his side. They stepped to one side as the old man, the boy, and the Pactor slowly walked by them up the ramp.
“Remind me to contact Mandra as soon as possible,” Creon mumbled under his breath to Ha’ven.
“Why?” Ha’ven asked, eyeing the strange group.
Creon grinned. “Ariel loves animals. I’m giving the damn thing to her as a present. Mandra won’t be able to do a thing about it.”
“You, Creon Reykill, are a very devious male,” Ha’ven replied with a chuckle. “I want a picture of his face.”
Chapter 4
Melina shrank back against Hobbler as eight very large men crowded into the back of the shuttle. A smile curved her lips and she had to hide her face when Hobbler let out a loud fart. The moans that followed had her burying her face against Hobbler. It didn’t help when her granddad leaned down next to her ear and whispered into it.
“That was a good one,” Cal muttered. “Ripe too from the looks on their faces.”
Melina shook her head, trying to cover her amusement when Hobbler did it again. This time the moans turned to a very loud curse from the male that had been going to leave the Pactor back on the asteroid.
She peeked over Hobbler’s back to see his face. That was a huge mistake as it was turning a funny shade of blue. She learned why when he drew in a large breath of air. The poor guy had been trying to hold his breath.
“That’s it! Someone get me a blaster,” Creon choked out behind his hand. “What the hell have you been feeding this damn thing?”
“Well, Pactors eat just about anything,” Cal commented. “I should have warned you that standing behind them can be a touch on the dangerous side.”
“A touch?” Ha’ven asked in a strangled voice. “This could be used as a new weapon!”
Several of the men had taken off their shirts to tie it around their nose and mouth. Even their eyes were watering. Melina just hoped that Hobbler didn’t do anything else. The baby Pactor had a bad habit of leaving huge, nasty presents when she was scared.
“There she blows,” Cal whispered as a large wet splat, followed by several smaller ones filled the air. “Green bombs.”
Melina shot her grandfather a nasty look. He was taunting her as much as the men. She could see the gleam of mischief in his eyes. She glared at him, silently letting him know that he could expect payback. His grin showed he couldn’t wait.
“You are so bad,” she mouthed.
His wink told her he was enjoying every minute of it. Melina’s heart swelled with love to see the teasing look back in her granddad’s eyes. They had always been close, even before her parents and grandmother were killed in a car accident coming home from Atlanta one summer.
“Move, move!” Ha’ven growled.
Melina gasped as all eight men shuffled around and pressed forward. She was trapped in the corner. Poor Hobbler didn’t understand what was going on. She kept nipping at the men packed like sardines in front of her as they pressed against the cockpit doorway in an effort to get as far forward as possible.
“I should have just left you behind and let Carmen kill me. At least I would have died for a good reason,” Creon bit out through clenched teeth, just before he winced. “I swear, if that thing bites my ass one more time, I’m opening the loading door and pushing him out into space.”
“It’s just a baby,” Cal said cheerfully, patting Hobbler on the head. “She doesn’t know any better. You and your men scared her.”
Creon grunted when one of the men knocked into him as the shuttle turned for its final approach to the warship. The smell of urine added to the aroma as it mixed with the fresh manure. A shudder ran through his body at the sound of the creature pissing all over the floor. He decided right then and there that this shuttle was going to be ejected into space the moment he got out of it.
“Mm, Mel and I’ll clean this up,” Cal finally said. “We’re used to things like this.”
“That’s okay,” Creon replied hoarsely. “I didn’t like this shuttle anyway.”
Cal’s deep laugh drowned out the relieved sighs as the shuttle finally landed. He wrapped his arm around Melina’s shoulders as the back platform opened and the men rushed for it. He felt her shoulders shaking with silent laughter. It was good for both of them to laugh again.
“Not bad for a new beginning,” Cal murmured. “He said he might take us home, Melina. If he does, we’ll be back on the farm before you know it.”
Melina looked up into her grandfather’s shining eyes and smiled, really smiled, for the first time in over four years.
*.*.*
Melina stared with wide eyes at their new ‘home’. The huge male had ordered a warrior to escort them to a repair bay on the same level as the landing area. Cal had insisted that they clean up the shuttle before they moved in. Melinda’s lips curved upward as she remembered that.
If she wanted to keep everyone away from her, all she needed to do was have Hobbler pee and poop. The only warrior that had remained close was the one ordered to escort them. Even he had kept a fairly large distance from her, Cal, and Hobbler as they cleaned up the mess before escorting them to the area that would be their new, temporary home.
The only time when she had become scared was shortly after they first arrived in the bay. She was adjusting a barrier around the pen where Hobbler would be staying when the doors to the bay opened and two men walked in. She recognized the warrior from earlier, but not the other.
Her grandfather had snapped out for her to stay with Hobbler as the new male, Tandor, introduced himself as the medical officer. He wanted to do a thorough medical examination of both of them.
Melina hadn’t heard her grandfather go off like he had at the man in a long, long time. Maybe not since Stuart Wilson went for a joy ride on the tractor her grandfather used to plow the fields back home.
Stuart and his friends had been drunk one Friday night after a football game and had snuck onto the farm. The muscled linebacker had driven the tractor into
the pond. Gramps had been more concerned that Stuart or one of the other boys could have been killed than about the old tractor.
He had made Stuart work the rest of the school year and summer to pay for the damage done. Melina sighed as she thought of that summer. It was the first time she had been kissed. Gramps hadn’t been too happy about that either, now that she thought back to it.
“I told you we don’t need a damn exam. The boy and I are healthy as a horse,” Cal snapped loudly. “No one goes near the boy, but me. No one.”
“I need to scan you both and make sure that there are no parasites or other health issues. It is standard procedure,” Tandor explained patiently.
“The Antrox made sure we were all clean,” Cal responded stubbornly. “The bastards didn’t want anyone bringing in something that could wipe out their stock. They may have worked us to death, but they made damn sure that we weren’t contagious so we could kill each other. Now get the hell out of here.”
“At least let me do a brief scan,” Tandor suggested. “Just for my records. It will only take a moment.”
“No! You get your damn scanner out of here,” Cal replied. “We’ll stay away from everyone. Don’t want to be around anyone else anyway. The boy gets nervous when he’s around people. Just leave us alone until you drop our asses back on Earth and everything will be fine.”
Tandor released an exasperated sigh. “Surely after so long alone, you and the boy would enjoy being able to interact with some of the other personnel on board the warship?” Tandor glanced at where Mel was standing on the other side of the Pactor. The boy’s hat was pulled down, but he could still see the vivid green eyes watching him. The male was still young. He wasn’t even old enough for facial hair. “The boy might do better if he has contact with others. How long were you held captive? A situation like that could be very damaging to a young child.”
“Don’t you go worrying about Mel’s mental health,” Cal said. “He’s fine. I’m here and he has the Pactor. He’ll be good with that.”
“I am not disagreeing that you are not enough for the boy, but surely you see that being around just you and a beast is not enough stimulation. Perhaps I can help,” Tandor suggested. “From what I’ve been told and what you have said, the boy doesn’t speak and may have… mental health issues that I can help him with, perhaps even heal.”
“The only thing that will help heal the boy is getting back to Earth,” Cal insisted, crowding Tandor and the guard who was listening to the exchange in silence. He kept stepping closer, until the door to the bay opened. “You and everyone else stay out of here and leave us alone and it will be fine.”
Tandor scowled as the old man stepped back and palmed the door to the bay shut. He looked down at the scanner. All readings for body temperature and parasites were normal for the old man. The scans for Mel looked fine, but he had been too far away to get a good reading.
“Is he always so difficult?” Tandor asked the guard in frustration.
“From what the warriors who were on the asteroid said, he could have been more difficult,” the guard responded with a grin. “I heard the boy went after one of the warriors with a metal pipe while the beast attacked another, so it could have been worse.”
“Well, just in case, I will order some additional nutrients to be added to their food,” Tandor sighed. “I’ll have it delivered since it doesn’t look like they will be leaving the repair bay any time soon.”
“If you could have smelled the shuttle when the door opened, be thankful for that,” the warrior laughed. “Pactor dung is about as foul as it gets, yet those two didn’t even blink an eye about cleaning it up.”
Tandor shuddered. “I’m glad I missed that,” he replied. “If you notice anything unusual, please immediately report it to me.”
“Yes, sir,” the warrior replied, leaning back against the bulkhead. “I don’t imagine this will be too difficult a job.”
Chapter 5
Melina ran the damp cloth over Hobbler’s forehead, giggling softly when the baby Pactor tried to nibble on it. She loved feeling clean, really clean, for the first time in forever. It had taken her a few minutes to figure out the bathroom that was attached to the small office area, but it had been worth every second of it.
Ha’ven Ha’darra had ordered a section of a different repair bay divided for their use as they needed the original one late last night. This one was better for several reasons. It was further down and was a smaller, less used, area. It was more of a storage area for parts and equipment. The second reason it was better was because it had a room with a full bathroom where the other didn’t.
They had been on board the Horizon for a week now. It was so different from the Antrox mine. She didn’t have to worry about where to sleep if her grandfather was working, or about other prisoners harassing her. She especially didn’t have to worry about the guards. Their lone guard had disappeared after the second day.
“I heard Creon tell Gramps that you were going to be going to live with a woman named Ariel and her husband… mate… or whatever they are called on their mountain home,” Melina murmured in a soothing voice as she dipped the cloth into the bucket again and ran it over Hobbler’s short trunk. “He said they have all kinds of animals and that you’d have room to roam and grow. I wish I could take you with me back to our farm, but I can’t.”
Hobbler snorted and rubbed her head against the rough cloth. Melina smiled. Home. It was hard to believe that she and Gramps might be going home. She wondered how much everything had changed.
Their farm was set off a ways from the main road. Clayton, Georgia was a small town and she knew it was going to be difficult explaining their sudden disappearance. She and her grandfather had discussed different things that they could tell people, but hadn’t decided on the best way to handle it yet. Until they could decide, they thought it best not to say anything. As her grandfather had pointed out, it wasn’t anybody’s damn business anyway.
Melina dropped the cloth into the bucket and grabbed the handle so she could move it away from the curious Pactor. She would pour the water out once Gramps was out of the shower. She grabbed the shovel as she walked by so Hobbler wouldn’t use it as a play toy.
The baby Pactor released a series of grunts as Melina reset the barrier that kept her from freely roaming around their living area. There was nothing worse than waking up and accidently stepping in a pile of poop when you were half asleep. Both she and Gramps had gotten to enjoyed that unpleasant experience more than once back in the mine.
“I have other chores than just taking care of you,” Melina laughed as she set the bucket down near the door to the office. “I can’t just play all day long.”
Melina turned when the door to the repair bay suddenly opened and two large warriors walked in. Fear gripped her as she grabbed her hat that was lying on a chair and slammed it on her head. Gripping the shovel between her hands, she held it out in front of her like a bat.
The men, who had been talking, stopped in surprise. One of them grinned at her and nudged the other. The fear turned to terror when she saw the puzzled look in both their eyes turn to speculation. She didn’t stop to think, she just swung the shovel.
“We just need parts,” one of the warriors yelled out as they both jumped back. “Stop, boy. We mean you no harm.”
Melina didn’t care what they wanted or needed. She needed them out of the repair bay. This was their section. Ha’ven had said they would not be disturbed.
“Get the hell out of here,” Cal yelled from behind Melina. “Get out!”
“We meant no harm,” the other warrior protested as they stepped backwards with their hands up, palms out. “We were just looking for parts that we needed.”
“Look somewhere else,” Cal growled in his gravelly voice. “Now, get out.”
Melina kept her head bowed, but her eyes glued on the men. She didn’t lower the shovel until the repair bay doors had closed again. By the time they did, her whole body was shaking.
/> “Mel,” Cal said quietly, reaching out and taking the shovel from her trembling hands. “Honey, did they hurt you?”
Melina turned into her grandfather’s reassuring arms. Tears burned her eyes and she tightly closed them to hold them back. Instead, she relaxed against her grandfather and waited until the adrenaline stopped flowing.
“I was afraid they would know I was a girl,” she whispered. “I was afraid they would…”
“Shush,” Cal murmured, rubbing her back as he held her close. “They’ll think twice about coming in here again. I think you scared them too.”
Melina gave a self-conscience laugh as she pulled back. Pushing her floppy hat back, she gave her grandfather a wobbly grin. He always knew what to say to make her feel better.
“It was all those Little League games when I was younger,” she replied, before turning away. “Are you hungry? A portable replicator was delivered earlier by our old guard. He yelled out then left.”
“A working one?” Cal laughed. “I’d love something to eat.”
“One replicated meal coming right up,” she said, feeling better as she bent to pick up the shovel that had fallen on the floor when granddad dropped it to give her a hug. “Thanks, Gramps.”
Cal scowled. “What for?”
Melina gave him a warm look filled with love. “For being you,” she replied before turning back to the office.
Cal’s throat tightened and he rubbed his chest. His eyes glittered as he watched the slim figure of his only grandchild walk away. For a split second, he saw his beautiful wife when she was younger.
“Anytime, child,” he whispered. “And anything for you.”
*.*.*
Cree grimaced as he walked beside Carmen. He pushed down on his dragon which was pacing inside him. He was frustrated as hell. It was becoming more and more difficult to pretend that he was alright when he felt like he was losing his sanity.
Settle down, he ordered his dragon in frustration. We cannot let them see that we are vulnerable right now.