Haven 2: Redemption

by Sandra R Neeley

  Gaishon looked at Rokai with a smirk that said, ‘Dumbass.’ “This is your brother’s warship. If he wanted us dead, we’d already be. I am tired of running, Rokai. I am taking this opportunity to relax, just let my guard down for a while and see what becomes of me. We are not on a job here. We are not on the run. We have been captured. We are contained in a not very unpleasant atmosphere. I will take advantage of it. Besides, there are several females seated just beside us,” Gaishon finished on a whisper.

  Rokai took a bite of food, glancing at the females, before nodding his head in approval of the meal before him. He looked up at Gaishon. “I thought you just asked me not to get us killed while we are here? Make up your mind — are we safe here or a target here?”

  “I did ask you not to get us killed. We are relatively safe here, unless you anger everyone. If you get us killed while I am here trying to relax, I will beat you.”

  “How will you beat me if we are dead?” Rokai asked, chuckling.

  “I will find a way.”

  “Fine. Enjoy your enforced relaxation. I will continue looking for a way out of here. When I find it, I will let you know to prepare to leave.”

  Gaishon looked at Rokai, speechless for a moment. The male truly didn’t understand being tired of running, or needing some time to relax without looking over your shoulder at all times. There was no place that ever made him want to stay still — not even for a little while. “What is it you search for, Rokai? Why can you not ever be content?”

  Rokai hesitated to look up and meet the eyes of his friend. Finally when he did, there was a sadness there, that even with every effort, he was unable to hide. “I search for nothing, Gaishon. For me, there is no other option. I belong to no one and no place.”

  “So you’ll just wander forever?” Gaishon asked, surprised that Rokai had lowered his walls even this little bit.

  Rokai shrugged. “Perhaps I’ll just fade away.”

  Their conversation having comfortably talked itself out, they listened to the females at the neighboring table speaking to one another.

  It was clear they spoke of the female he’d decided he must have. He watched her, enjoying her food, as he listened to them.

  “She’s always been stronger than we are. From the first day I woke here, she was trying to protect me. Anytime we were awake at the same time, she was trying to draw the attention of the males we’d been sold to, so they’d concentrate on her and leave me alone,” one of the females confided.

  “It doesn’t surprise me. She did the same for me. A male we were to pleasure together once slapped me because I didn’t please him quickly enough. Rosie punched him in the jaw, jumped on him and started swinging her fists into his face until he grabbed her and threw her off him,” another female added.

  “Why don’t we go join her? She shouldn’t have to eat alone,” one suggested.

  “She prefers to be alone. I don’t think that she doesn’t care about us, she’s just one of those people who are better alone, you know?” another explained.

  The women snuck glances at Rosie who obliviously enjoyed her food.

  Rokai listened to them speaking and also watched Rosie. She’d gotten up to get herself another piece of the bread-like item she’d been dipping in the sauce on her plate. He watched the swish of her hips as she went to and from the serving line. He watched the swing of her shiny black hair. He listened to the words of the other females who’d been abused with her and realized there was more to this female than he’d first thought. She was a loner, much like he was. She was strong. And she had heart. She stood up for those that she saw as weaker than herself.

  Gaishon watched as Rokai’s eyes tracked someone seated behind him. He turned to see who it was and shook his head as he saw a female, an unusual female, beginning to make her way toward the exit of the commissary. “She is obviously one of the rescued females the assassin warned us about. You should leave her alone,” Gaishon said.

  “Yes, that is what is expected, isn’t it? She’s just so much more than a rescued female, I think,” Rokai answered, grinning as he watched Rosie leave as she nibbled on her piece of bread, before they went back to their meals.

  There was a bit of commotion at the door that drew both their attentions. Gaishon’s eyes widened as he watched a nearly full-grown shraler prance in and accept snacks from several people on his way to the serving line.

  “What the hells has my brother allowed onto his ship now? One of those damn things almost killed me when we were children,” Rokai grumbled.

  “How did you survive a shraler’s sting when just a small child?” Gaishon asked.

  “Zha Quin moved quickly and took the sting in my stead,” Rokai answered before realizing his words. He whipped his head around and glared at Gaishon. “I don’t wish to speak of it!” he snapped.

  Gaishon’s eyes wandered toward the entrance of the commissary again, and Rokai turned to see what drew his attention. A female, human, very similar to his own female, yet smaller, and dressed in the royal colors of the Cruestaci people. She smiled and greeted everyone she made eye contact with by name.

  A loud clatter drew everyone’s attention. “Sirena! Sirena, please! He will not listen!” a voice called from the kitchen.

  “Kitty!” she called. “Kitty! Stop causing trouble, or I’ll leave you at home next time!”

  A loud shraler’s mewl answered her threat; then, the shraler hurried to her side to rub his huge fanged head against her hip.

  “Stop making a nuisance of yourself, or Quin is going to make me keep you on a leash!” she whispered to the creature. Then she petted the animal lovingly and kissed the top of his head. “Come on. Let’s see what they have today. And if you behave, we’ll get you your own plate.”

  The shraler fell into step with her and waited patiently beside her as she joined the end of the line and waited her turn.

  “Now I have seen all,” Rokai said, truly surprised.

  “Because a tiny human keeps a shraler as a pet?” Gaishon asked.

  Rokai shook his head. “No. Because the tiny human with the shraler as a pet is also carrying a chain and is armed with the dagger his mother gifted the royal Sire upon his rise to Commander of their armed forces. And she’s wearing the royal colors of Cruestace and responding to the title, Sirena. That little female is apparently my brother’s Ehlealah.”

  Both watched curiously as she made it a point to greet everyone she came in contact with. She happily tried several different items the cook offered after he came from the kitchen to the serving line specifically to serve her. And despite his original shouts of complaint regarding Kitty, he also handed the shraler a very large, very meaty, roasted bone of some poor creature. Kitty happily accepted and waited for his Sirena to gather her meal selections and make her way to a table. It became apparent that she couldn’t carry all of the food she’d chosen for herself and Kitty, and just about the time that Rokai was deciding maybe he should introduce himself and offer his assistance, three large males who’d entered the commissary right behind her, came to her aid, helping her carry her food and choose a table with enough chairs for all of them.

  “Her personal guard?” Gaishon asked.

  “Probably,” Rokai answered, still watching the female curiously. She waved the males away to get their own food and started eating after she got Kitty situated in his chair to her left. She placed one of her plates in front of Kitty and went back to hers.

  “I shall be but a moment,” Rokai said, rising and making a beeline straight for her.

  Vivian looked up and saw an unfamiliar male coming her way. He was beautiful in a roguish way. His skin was a pale sage green, and the tattoos he wore appeared exotic and dangerous. She tried to keep her eyes from the multitude of scars he seemed to wear proudly, just in case he was more sensitive about them than he let on. He had two horns, growing out of his hairline and sweeping back over the top of his head. His hair was a darker shade of green than his skin and had grays and other pale col
ors mixed into it. It was ornately braided and gathered at the upper crown of his head, allowing the length of it to cascade freely down the back of his head and over his shoulder. His eyes were unique, of a type she’d never seen. She stared into them as he focused on her during his approach. Where she had whites to her eyes, his were dark, not quite black, but definitely dark, and the centers were a translucent green. They seemed to be luminous as they regarded her intently. And with his next blink she realized that when he blinked, he had inner eyelids that slid vertically over his eyes first; then, his horizontal lids met before once again opening in the reverse order. His eyes were almost reptilian in the way they closed and opened. As he approached, she smiled and stood to greet him. “Hello!” she called across the small space still separating them.

  Rokai inclined his head. “Greetings. You are Sirena of Cruestace, I’m guessing. Ehlealah to Zha Quin Tha?” he asked.

  “I am,” she said happily. “And you are?” she asked.

  Chapter 9

  Rokai relaxed into the persona he wore as a defense. The one who cared about nothing and no one. “I am Rokai ahl. Brother to your mate. ‘Tis a shame I was not invited to the ceremony introducing you to the Cruestaci people. I should have liked to meet you.”

  Vivian’s eyes lit up, her mouth formed a soft ‘O’ shape. “Oh my goodness!” she exclaimed. She rushed around the table and grabbed Rokai, pulling him down into her arms so that she could hug him as tightly as she possibly could. She held on to him an uncomfortable amount of time, the whole time jabbering in his ear.

  “Rokai! I’m so happy to meet you! I’m Vivian, Vivi for short, if you prefer. I’m so sorry you weren't invited. I was not even aware of you until this morning. But, I’m so happy to meet you now. How long are you staying? How was your flight? Have you seen Quin yet? Wow, look at your braids! They’re gorgeous! Do they grow that way, or do you braid them yourself?”

  Rokai was taken aback. This was certainly not the response he was hoping for. He’d meant to make her feel awkward and off balance, completely out of place and unwelcome in her new role. Pretty much the same as he’d always been made to feel. But he only had a moment to think on it before he realized he was surrounded. Three males and a shraler stood evenly spaced around him, each emitting a low-pitched rumble.

  Slowly, he brought his hands up and patted her waist in some semblance of a perceived hug. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Sirena,” Rokai said, standing to his full height with some effort to pull away from her hug.

  “Oh, and I’m so happy to make yours. Won’t you join me and share a meal with me?” she invited.

  “Thank you for the invitation, but I’m already sharing a meal with my friend.” He indicated Gaishon.

  Vivian looked over in the direction he pointed and on spying another unfamiliar, yet strikingly beautiful male, raised her hand and waved enthusiastically. “Hi!” she called. Returning her attention to Rokai, she asked him for his friend’s name. “What is his name?”

  “His name is Gaishon. He is of my people, the Quari,” he said, baiting her to see if she’d remark on the fact that he’d not claimed the Cruestaci.

  Turning back to his friend, she called out across the dining room again. “Hi, Gaishon! Would you like to join me for a meal?” she invited hopefully.

  Rokai stood to Vivi’s side, vigorously shaking his head at Gaishon with a horrified look on his face, trying to beg Gaishon to refuse her offer.

  Gaishon was grinning as he watched Rokai trying to make him say no. He raised his hand and mimicked the Sirena’s greeting. “Thank you for your generous invitation, Sirena. But perhaps another time. I am almost finished, and I’m anxious to see the rest of the ship.”

  “Of course!” she answered. “Another time. But soon!”

  “As you wish, Sirena,” Gaishon answered.

  Before Rokai had time to process the relief he felt at Gaishon refusing this female’s invitation, he found himself again hunched over and in her quite tight embrace yet again.

  “I’m so glad you came over to introduce yourself. And I can’t wait to get to know you better. Family is family, and that is always first with me.” She pulled her head back and pecked his cheek with her lips. “Welcome, Rokai. I’m happy you’re here.” Vivian released him and stood back.

  Rokai, completely taken off guard and sensing no lie or subterfuge with this female, mumbled a simple thank you and bade her good day, hurrying to make his way back to the table he shared with Gaishon.

  Vivian, grinning ear-to-ear, made eye contact with each of her guards, then happily sat down and returned to her meal.

  Kitty retook his seat and ignoring the bone he’d been given for the time being, started on the massive plate of food Vivian had ordered for him.

  Rel, Zahn and Kail all took their seats, their filled plates still in hand. “Sirena, please. You cannot go around greeting every male you meet as though he is your friend.”

  “I didn’t. I greeted him like he’s family,” she answered.

  “That is up for debate,” Rel said grumpily.

  Vivian looked from her food up to meet Rel’s disapproving gaze. “No, it’s not. He’s family. Whether he likes it or not, whether Quin likes it or not, he’s always going to be family. And he should never be treated as any less.”

  “He is not a reputable male, Sirena,” Kail added.

  “He’s never disrespected me. He’s never done me harm. Until he does, he gets the benefit of the doubt. Besides, what family do you know without their black sheep? There’s one in every family, and usually, they’re just misunderstood.”

  “Black sheep?” Zahn asked.

  “Someone who, despite being family, just doesn’t fit in well. Doesn’t make them any less family, just means you have to try a little harder,” Vivian explained.

  “And this family outsider is called a black sheep?” Zahn asked.

  “Yes. Because the herds of sheep were usually white, and the black ones were rare, but stayed with them anyway even though they stuck out and didn’t fit in well,” Vivian answered.

  Across the dining room, Rokai and Gaishon rose from their table in preparation of leaving. Just before they left the commissary, Rokai turned and met her eyes. She smiled at him warmly. Rokai inclined his head and lifted his hand in a wave. Gaishon did the same, then, they both walked out into the corridor.

  Vivian smiled and leaned toward Kitty. “See? I told you he probably only needed a hug.”

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  “I liked her. She is very welcoming,” Gaishon declared as he accompanied Rokai up and down the corridors of Warship 1.

  “She is too welcoming,” Rokai answered. “I have not yet figured out her angle, but I will.”

  “Why must everyone have an angle?” Gaishon asked.

  Rokai looked at him as though he didn’t know him any longer. “Everyone does! No one does a single thing just because they wish to be kind. They all want something in return.”

  “You’re wrong, Rokai.”

  “No. I’m not.”

  “Where are we going now?” Gaishon asked, changing the subject.

  “We are looking for the human female’s lodgings. I wish to know where she lives,” Rokai said thoughtfully as he walked down the corridor, his nose in the air sniffing for her scent.

  “She is mate to your brother! Surely, not even you would harm her!” Gaishon exclaimed, coming to a stop.

  “Not that human! The other one! The one with the soft waves in her heavy dark hair and the markings on her skin. Did you see the teardrop on her face just below her large dark eyes?” Rokai asked, still walking and looking both left and right as he passed doorways that led to sleeping quarters, but none of them scented of her. “I wish to know the semblance of the teardrop on her face. What could that mean?” he asked aloud, not realizing he’d even spoken.

  “What is this female to you?” Gaishon asked, aware that this was not Rokai’s standard response to a female. He’d never done more tha
n tempt them, fuck them, then move on — usually under cover of darkness.

  Rokai realized his friend may have detected his unusual interest in this particular female. “What is any female? A warm bed to share, soft hands to touch you, soft lips to taste. A sweet distraction from an otherwise dreary waste of time.”

  “Is she interested in you?” Gaishon asked.

  “Of course she is. They all are. I will merely play her little game, allowing her to think she’ll be what no other ever has been, then I’ll take what’s ripe for the taking. I shall prevail!” Rokai proclaimed, his finger raising in the air above his head. “The hunt is on!” he snarled, clearly delighted with the chase.

  A soft tone sounded around them, signaling a communication from the ship’s computer. “Rokai Ahl, please report to the meeting room on Command Deck. Commander Zha Quin Tha awaits you there.”

  Rokai paused in his stalking of the corridors and glared at the ceiling, then at Gaishon, rolling his eyes. “As though I could be summoned like a naughty child,” he said angrily.

  “Perhaps we should go. He may wish to welcome us aboard personally without all the public eyes watching,” Gaishon suggested.

  “He has already declared his place. The moment we stepped off my ship he greeted us with military might and intimidation. Fortunately, I’m not easily intimidated,” Rokai said, smiling ruthlessly.

  “Rokai ahl, shall I tell Commander Zha Quin Tha that you will be joining him?” the ship’s computer pressed.

  “Captain! I am Captain Rokai ahl! Tell him that I have no intention of participating in his plan to force me into acquiescence!” Rokai fairly exploded, shouting at the computer. “If he wants me, he can come find me himself!” he finished on a snarl.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Rosie sat on the edge of her bed, holding the ointment-laden towel across her shoulders, keeping it pressed tightly to her back. Her belly was full, and she was safe to move about the ship at will — the males here even stood back and inclined their heads at her respectfully as she passed. She had no more reason to fear. She thought of her plan earlier — to find a male and seduce him. It didn’t exactly go as planned; the food had gained her attention first. But, after realizing she couldn’t hurt any of the males that had rescued her, fate had delivered, right into her all-too-willing hands, Papi.