She glanced at the one she’d killed. It had a big hole in the head. That one wasn’t ever getting up. “I’m not going to throw up. Better a dead Ke’ter than a live one.”
Brassi chuckled. “Humans throw up when they see dead?”
“Some of us do.”
“I’ve been warned.”
Chapter Four
Brassi motioned Vivian to follow him, and she did. Vassi stayed at her back. The rest of the Veslor team were checking over the dead aliens, removing their weapons. She didn’t protest when they took them. It wasn’t like she could pay them for their help. Maybe they could sell the weapons later. They were traders, after all.
“Anything else on this level that we need to handle?” Brassi glanced back.
“No. We’ll take the lift to Deck Two. There’re a few blast doors sealed between the Ke’ters trapped there and where we’ll get out.”
“We aren’t going to be fighting immediately?”
“No.”
Brassi got into the lift, and she stepped in beside him. His men followed. With their size, she found herself pressed tight against him to make room. It was crowded as the doors sealed. The lift slowly dropped.
“I think I’m doing pretty good,” Abby said in her ear. “It’s one thing to install these systems but another to run a station. Not to mention, this one is at least ten years old. Talk about outdated. Remind me to tell Commander Alderson to upgrade when this is over.”
“You’re doing a great job.”
“Thank you,” Brassi replied.
She had been talking to Abby, but it certainly applied to the Veslors, too.
The lift stopped and the doors opened. The corridor stood empty as they exited. Vivian pointed to the right. “The Ke’ters are trapped behind two blast doors that way.”
Brassi glanced at the now closed lift. “Can anyone use that to sneak up on us?”
“No lifts on the ship will move unless Abby allows it. She’s controlling everything from a security station.”
“Stay here with Vassi then, Vivian. You’re not wearing armor. Allow us to handle the threat.”
“Listen to him,” Abby urged. “I have eyes on them. Stay where it’s safe.”
“Okay,” Vivian told him.
Brassi closed his face plate. “Tell the female to allow us to near the Ke’ters.”
“On it,” Abby said. “Tell him to motion to the cameras when he’s ready for me to open the last blast door. I’m opening the one nearest to you now. The six Ke’ters are lying down.”
Vivian relayed the information to Brassi, wishing she’d grabbed an extra earpiece for him so he could hear and speak to Abby directly. But she hadn’t thought they’d split up. She’d planned to stay with the Veslor group every step of the way.
Vassi moved her against the wall and put his big body between her and the blast doors that slid open to reveal more corridor. “Stay put.”
“Will do,” she agreed. “Do you guys have a way to talk when you’re apart?”
“Yes. Our helmets allow us to stay in contact with each other.” Vassi adjusted her until she was farther behind him and lifted his rifle, prepared to fight if any Ke’ters got past the others. “Do not move, female. Even if a firefight breaks out. My armor can take the hits.”
“Thank you, Vassi. And you can call me Vivian.”
“They are at the second blast doors,” he said. “Brassi is motioning for them to open now.”
She instantly heard sounds of fighting in the distance. She hated that she didn’t know what was going on. “Abby? Talk to me.”
“Shit is hitting the fan! The Ke’ters reacted fast. It’s hand-to-hand combat. Our aliens seem to like that better, I’m guessing, since they’re using the blades on their guns instead of just shooting them.” She gasped. “Gross! Head off on a Ke’ter. Now another one. Our aliens are slaughtering them.”
Vivian breathed easier. These were the ones who’d killed Mikey and Big M.
“It’s over,” Abby sighed. “Our aliens look fine but the Ke’ters are all dead.”
Vassi lowered his weapon. “We can move now, Vivian. Stay behind me.” He glanced back at her before walking forward.
She followed. They came to the scene of the battle and she avoided looking at the bodies, instead glancing at all the Veslors. They looked exactly the same in their armor. Only Vassi was easily identified because of the pack he carried.
One of the big men came toward her. She relaxed when Brassi’s helmet opened once more. She liked seeing his face.
“None of us were harmed. What’s next?”
Vivian was torn. There were more Ke’ters to take care of…but she had to know for sure. “I need to make a stop first.” She turned from the group and heard them following her all the way to the doors of the debriefing room.
“Open it for me, Abby.”
“Why? There are bodies inside.”
“Please?” Vivian hugged her waist. No Ke’ters were in there. She’d viewed the room plenty of times on the security monitors.
A big body pressed to her back. It was Brassi. “What’s inside?”
“A lot of dead people.” She hoped they were gone, at least. She hadn’t seen any of them moving around. “I need to make sure, though.”
“Shit.” Abby softly cursed. “Your family is inside there, aren’t they?”
“Open the door, Abby.”
“No. I’m not going to allow you to do this to yourself. I can see into that room. Wait until this is over, and then you can view the bodies after they’ve been cleaned up by whoever’s job it is to handle our dead.”
“Open the fucking door, Abby!” Vivian ground out.
“What’s inside?” Brassi gripped her shoulders and pulled her back, forcing her to look up at him.
“My brother and dad were attacked in there. I need to make sure they aren’t suffering. I couldn’t get a really good view of either of them from the security cameras. The angles were bad.” Her voice broke. “I need to make certain they aren’t like that man we had to leave behind on Deck Seven.”
Brassi motioned to one of his men, and they pushed her back. He found the camera and looked up at it as he aimed his weapon at the sealed doors. “Open it, please. We’ll protect Vivian.”
“Fuck,” Abby cursed loudly in her ear. “You’re going to need therapy later. Don’t blame me.”
“Thank you.” Vivian tried to prepare herself as the doors slid open.
There was a bad smell in the room, and it had her wincing and breathing through her mouth. Brassi and his men entered first, weapons drawn. She followed, stepping into the room slowly.
There were bodies everywhere. It tore her up to see people she knew strewn on the floor, a few of them partially lying on the chairs where they’d been attacked. She moved toward the podium first, where Big M lie.
She stepped around the podium. He hadn’t been eaten, but she could tell he was dead. She stared down at him, her heart breaking. At least he was at peace now. It looked as if his neck had been broken, based on the odd angle where he sprawled, and dried blood had pooled on the floor behind his head. She glanced up at the wall where he’d been thrown, seeing more blood there as well. He hadn’t stood a chance.
She spun away, fighting a sob, and smacked right into a big shelled body.
Brassi put his arm around her. “Is that your brother?”
“Father,” she got out.
“He’s not suffering, nor was he eaten. That’s a blessing.” His big gloved hand rubbed her back lightly. “You shouldn’t see this.”
“I have to check on my brother.” She moved away from him and had to pick her way around fallen bodies, avoiding looking at them too closely. Mikey was in the very back, up higher where the seating was. He’d retreated there as he’d fought.
She caught sight of him around some chairs—and froze.
She couldn’t see much of him yet, and wasn’t certain she could take it. The camera views had been bad enough, but reality
was much worse than a screen.
Brassi moved to her side. “Is that him?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll check on him. Don’t do this, Vivian.”
“I need to make sure he’s not suffering.”
Brassi sighed. “I would do the same.” He stepped forward, moved around a chair, and crouched. A low snarl came from him, and he lifted his head, meeting her gaze.
His golden eyes appeared sad. “Let me end this for him…for you.”
She rushed forward, understanding what he meant.
Mikey wasn’t dead.
She shoved a chair out of the way, almost tripped, and then was at her brother’s side. His eyes were closed and blood stained his face. The damage to his uniform revealed he’d been ripped open from rib cage to pelvis, the same as some others. She gagged but fought it back, grabbing his still hand and inching closer, staring at his face instead.
Mikey breathed shallowly.
“Vassi, come now,” Brassi snarled. “Vivian’s brother is alive.”
“Oh shit,” Abby muttered in her ear. “He’s alive still? I can see enough to know he has to be in bad shape.”
“He is,” Vivian admitted.
The medic rushed to their side. Brassi moved out of the way, and she held some hope as Vassi ran the scanner over her brother. She looked up at his face plate, waiting until he was done.
He lowered the scanner. “I can’t help him,” he growled, so low she barely heard him. “The preservative is present in abundant amounts.”
Vivian felt her heart shatter and a stabbing pain pierced her chest. She leaned in close to Mikey’s face. “I’m here,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.” She stroked his hair with her shaking hand.
He startled her when he moaned quietly. Vivian straightened, half horrified that he might have heard her.
Then his eyes opened, and she gasped.
“Mikey!”
It took him seconds to focus on her. She knew the instant he recognized her. The hand she held tightened on hers.
“Vivian.”
“I’m here, Mikey.”
“Run,” he croaked. “Get to Control One.”
“I did. Help has come.”
He turned his head, staring at Vassi, still crouched next to him. Mikey looked confused, then alarmed.
“They’re friends. It’s okay.” She stroked Mikey’s hair.
Her brother looked back at her. “Ship safe?”
“Yes. You saved us. I got to Control One just like you told me to, initiated lockdown, and was able to cut off the Ke’ters and trap them,” she informed him. “The ones who attacked you are dead. They paid, Mikey.”
He groaned, agony twisting his features. “Hurts bad.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I know. I’m so sorry!”
He stared into her eyes, and more pain twisted his features. He moaned again, and his hand tightened slightly but still felt weak. “Tired.”
“I know. You rest. You saved the ship, Mikey. I love you.” She fought back a sob. “You’re the best brother ever.”
Tears filled his eyes. “I’m dying. It’s okay, Vivian. You don’t need to lie.”
She normally would have laughed but instead a sob broke from her. “You’re the best. I’m right here with you. I love you.”
“Love you too, brat.” His eyes closed, and he moaned in pain once more.
Vassi softly growled, and someone crouched at her back, pressing close.
“Let me help,” Brassi rasped softly in her ear. “He could last like this for hours or days, suffering. We can’t fix him. Your people can’t fix him. I’ll make it painless.”
Tears kept falling down her face as she looked at Vassi. “You’re certain we can’t do anything?”
“Certain. Apologies,” the male whispered. “I understand how difficult this is for you. Brassi is my brother. I would end his suffering if he were in this condition.”
Brassi. Vassi. She should have guessed they might have a close relationship, with such similar names. She stared down at Mikey. He seemed to have passed out again but his pain was obvious from the way his mouth tightened, lips pressing together. He groaned again, louder this time. His hand trembled in hers.
“Not you, Brassi,” his brother said. “Let me. The female needs no reminder that you were the one to end his suffering.”
“Wait.” Vivian fought down another sob. “Turn off the cameras to this room, Abby.”
There was a pause. “Got it. Hang on.” Seconds ticked by. “They’re down. No feed is being recorded in the room. I’m so sorry, Vivian. It’s the right thing to do. I’d want someone to end my suffering. I’m sure your brother does, too.”
Vivian leaned down and pressed a kiss to Mikey’s forehead. “I love you. Tell Dad I love him, too. You’ll be together again.” She turned into Brassi, still keeping hold of Mikey’s hand, and buried her face against his shelled chest. “Please do it, Vassi.”
She couldn’t watch.
Whatever he did, it was indeed fast. Mikey’s hand went utterly limp in hers and stopped trembling.
Brassi wrapped his arm around her waist and stood, breaking her physical connection with her brother. His other hand cupped the back of her head to make certain she couldn’t look at Mikey again. He carried her as if she weighed nothing, walking them through the room. She gripped his shoulders, keeping her eyes closed, until he lowered her to her feet in the corridor.
“We’re out of there. It’s done. He didn’t suffer.”
She released him and wiped at her nose, sniffing. “Thank you.”
Vassi joined them in the corridor. “Apologies, Vivian.”
She forced her head to turn to stare at his helmet. Then she lifted her hand and covered her mouth. “No. Thank you. Never apologize for what you just did for me, since I couldn’t do it myself. But if you’re ever questioned, say I was the one who ended his life. The cameras have no sound but they can read lips if the feeds are reviewed.” She lowered her hand.
“That’s why you’re covering your mouth,” Brassi guessed.
She gave him a nod. “I’ll grieve later. Are you ready to kill more Ke’ters?”
“Give us a moment,” Brassi ordered his team.
After his men walked away, moving out of sight around the corridor, Vivien was surprised when the big male lowered to his knees in front of her. He reached up with both hands, completely removing his helmet, then set it and his weapon on the floor.
She stared at his pointed ears and his black hair. Brassi then removed his gloves.
“What are you doing?” She was more curious than alarmed.
He surprised her further by touching something near his throat, and there was a slight clicking sound. The armor over his chest and down each arm parted slightly. He slid his fingers into the crevice and opened it farther, removing the upper portion of his armor to reveal his muscled chest and arms. His dark skin appeared almost luxurious, with that thin, soft-looking fur covering it. She wouldn’t have even noticed it if they weren’t so close to each other. He had humanlike nipples, dark gray ones, and lots of abs.
He placed his armor on the floor, and then rose to stand in front of her.
Her mouth was open slightly, and she closed it abruptly. He might be different from humans, but not all that much. It sure wasn’t enough to stop her from admiring his body. Any other time, she might have been more appreciative. At that moment, grieving for her family, she was more stunned than anything.
“Do you want me to turn off the cameras?”
She ignored Abby. “Brassi?”
“I’m baring my skin to you. It’s what we do to show respect, when someone bares themselves to us. I just witnessed your intense pain. I would reveal all of myself, but for the cameras.” He glanced at one, before looking back at her. “I offer you comfort.”
“I think he means sex,” Abby breathed in her ear. “That’s so fucking hot! Worst timing ever for a guy to hit on you, I get that, but I’d let him comfo
rt me.”
Vivian reached up and tapped off the coms, silencing the other woman’s commentary. “Thank you.”
He opened his arms to her. “We hold each other while we grieve. Cry, Vivian. Let out the pain. It helps. I’m here for you.”
She stepped closer, hesitated for a long moment before wrapping her arms around his waist and closing her eyes. He was so tall. It put her basically at his nipples, her cheek between the flat disks on his chest. His skin had a soft texture, like velvet, yet it was firm, and also super warm. It felt so nice, so comforting.
He hugged her back, holding her close, and rested his chin on the top of her head. She heard him take a long inhalation, and was glad for that shower she’d taken.
They just stood there, and she breathed him in as well. He smelled really good, like no scent she’d ever encountered before. Maybe, if she had to guess, like a warm, sunny day, with a slight hint of berries. It was soothing.
“Do you have a male?”
His soft words broke the silence after a few minutes. She shook her head.
He squeezed her a little tighter. “Good.”
She eased her hold around his waist, hating to let him go, but they couldn’t stay there forever. Even if she wished otherwise. He let her go, and she peered up at him. Those golden eyes of his were narrowed a little, and the way he looked at her in that moment made him even more appealing. It was as if he thought she was special.
“Good?”
He made a low growling sound. “Yes. Good. No male has claimed you as his mate.”
Those sounds of his were pretty sexy. “You take mates?”
“A mate. One.” He glanced down her body. “For life.”
It was getting hot in that corridor, and it had nothing to do with the temperature. “You don’t have a mate?”
“No. Do humans not take a mate?”
She shook her head. “We sometimes marry. It means making a legal contract to be together, usually have children, and live together.”
He grimaced and bent, putting his armor back on as she watched. “It sounds cold and emotionless.” He sealed the armor down his arms and along his chest, hiding his body from her again. It was a shame, since he had such a great one. He paused, holding her gaze. “Mates are much better. There’s passion and intense feelings.”
The Gorison Traveler Incident (Veslor Mates #1) Page 5
