Haven 2: Redemption

by Sandra R Neeley

  As they left medical, Vivian’s guard hurried to get ahead of her as she walked beside Kol who held Ada Jane, and Quin walked with her, her hand in his.

  “You are a very empathetic Sirena, my Vivi,” he said, lifting her hand to his mouth to kiss her fingers.

  “I’m just trying to find my way. And sometimes it’s hard not to offer advice where I think I might be able to help.”

  “You truly believe what you said to her about Rokai. You really think he just needs someone to accept him for who he truly is?” Zha Quin asked, considering her words.

  “I do. I don’t know if she’s really seeing him, or has seen him, but I think he is starved for affection, acceptance of any type. It’s why he puts on so much of a bravado to everyone he meets,” Vivian said.

  “Oh, she’s actually seeing him. I have no doubt of that!” Asl announced from up ahead.

  “Why do you say that?” Vivian asked.

  “She slammed into medical yelling about infuriating green aliens that should be strangled with their own braids,” Asl explained smiling

  “That would be Rokai,” Quin said.

  “I wonder how his training with Kol’s unit went,” Vivian said.

  “He was phenomenal,” Zha Quin said, admiration clear in his voice.

  “You watched it?” Vivian asked, hugging Quin’s arm to her chest and looking up at him as they walked.

  “I watched it from the Command Deck on live feed. He’s very strong, very alert and those he did not defeat, he was on equal footing with. He is a gifted fighter. He would be undefeatable as a warrior. There is no hesitation in him. He would be a leader among leaders.”

  “You sound very proud of him,” Vivian said, smiling.

  Zha Quin looked down at her and smiled sadly. He nodded, acknowledging her statement, and they continued on in silence until they finally reached Vivian and Quin’s home.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  “I cannot believe you have me sneaking around the flight deck attempting to steal one of their cruisers!” Gaishon whispered harshly to Rokai for at least the 10th time.

  “Then go away,” Rokai answered, peeking out from behind one of the small four-man cruisers left sitting at the ready on the launch pad. Rokai assured himself that they were not observed and darted for the ramp of the nearest one, that happened to be positioned as next in line for flight. Gaishon followed on his heels, and without incident they found themselves standing in the cockpit of the cruiser, looking around at all the controls.

  “Can you even fly this thing?” Gaishon asked.

  Rokai was looking around with a gleam in his eye. “I can. If their DNA identifiers can be rerouted.”

  “Alright then, tell me why you feel you must sneak away only to return,” Gaishon pushed. “If you’re going to go, just go, why bother to come back? I’ll just stay here; you go wherever you want to be.”

  Rokai turned and glared at Gaishon, but didn’t answer.

  “I like it here. I am tired of running, Rokai. Always on the move, always looking over my shoulder. Why should I risk my chance at a real future? Just tell me that I’m not throwing it away over nothing but a whim,” Gaishon begged, feeling the need to stand with his friend, but also to pay attention to his own needs.

  “Yes. Tell us why you feel the need to slip away when you’ve clearly been placed on lock down, especially if you only plan to return. What nefarious plans have you, Rokai ahl?” a deep male voice said from behind them.

  Both Rokai and Gaishon turned as one, prepared to fight to defend themselves.

  Rokai growled. “It is you! Why are you here? Leave us!”

  The male shook his head. “No. It’s my day to babysit you. Tell me what you plan and why you think to return shortly after. Surely, if you make your getaway, you will not even consider returning.”

  Rokai glared at the male who’d fallen onto his shoulders from the ceiling of the training facility earlier in the day. They were the most evenly matched of Kol’s unit, and the male, irritatingly for Rokai, had an ever-present smile and good nature to him. Even now he smiled while he stood in their way, clearly enjoying himself.

  “Kron, do you have nothing better to do?”

  “No, truly I do not. I told you, it is my day to watch you. Besides, I saw you sneaking about and decided I’d like to play, too. So, what are we about?” Kron asked, his eyes sparking mischievously.

  “We are about you leaving us to our own devices. Go, leave us!” Rokai demanded, glaring at the yellow-colored male. His skin was mottled and faded from a deep yellow to a pale almost white as the mottling moved across his body.

  Kron’s eerie yellow eyes, fringed with white lashes, regarded Rokai thoughtfully. “I think not. Perhaps if you explain your plans, I could be persuaded to forget I’ve seen you here.”

  Kron waited, his head tilted just a smidge to the side as he paused to see what Rokai would do. After a few minutes of waiting and no reply, he shrugged. “Fine. I saw a beautiful, curvy, little Earth female in the commissary a short while ago. She has dark, heavy hair and large dark eyes. She carries a dagger like our Sirena does. I wonder if she’d like a lesson or two on how to handle the dagger properly. I think I shall offer my… services,” he said, his eyes saying dagger wielding lessons weren’t the only thing he’d be offering.

  Rokai came unglued. “Stay away from my female!” he snarled, advancing on Kron.

  Kron held his position, a lighthearted smile on his face, his enlarged canine teeth just barely peeking through his lips.

  Rokai came to a stop just in front of Kron, his chest butting up against Kron’s chest. “I thought so. I believed it was you I saw speaking with her in the dance club last evening. And you again who followed her to the lifts. And I watched you seek her out this morning.”

  “What of it?!” Rokai growled.

  Kron’s smile grew larger. “Nothing, Rokai. Just making an observation. Now, tell me why you’re out here, before I’m forced to call Elite Commander Kol or Sire Zha Quin Tha and alert them that you’re attempting to steal a ship.”

  “I am taking this ship. I’m not attempting it,” Rokai snarled.

  Kron shook his head. “No. You’re not. You see, each of these ships is on alert for our Elite Unit should we be called away suddenly. They are always kept at the ready when we are back at base here on Command Warship 1. They can only be activated and flown by one of our pilots — each pilot’s DNA identified and confirmed when they sit in the pilot’s seat. Even if you managed to get me off this cruiser, and get the door sealed, the cruiser will never start.”

  Rokai looked around at the cockpit, turning his back to Kron. He took in the multiple security measures, consisting of a two-step DNA tester, including one that insured the DNA being tested was from a live pilot and not a dead one being used to start the cruiser and bring it on line. “Fuck!” Rokai shouted. “I need their fucking heads! I need their hearts! She deserves no less!” Rokai threw his head back and roared at not being able to do what he felt he needed to do in the very depths of his soul.

  Kron’s eyes narrowed, this was not what he expected. “Whose head, whose heart?” he asked.

  Rokai turned and faced Kron. “It is none of your concern,” he growled, low and deadly.

  “It could be,” Kron answered.

  Rokai watched Kron, weighing his options. If he confided in the male, he may see Rokai's point and help him sneak away. Or he may still call for Kol or Zha Quin. Finally Rokai shrugged — he had nothing to lose. “My female was hurt. She wears the wounds and scars of the males who abused her. I recognized those marks. They come from a specific type of whip. It has three smaller strands studded with tiny spikes, and five larger strands studded with white hot barbs, heated and then tied into them. They leave unique scarring. I know the male who did this. I will bring her his head and his heart. And if I find any others are with him that have hurt her, theirs as well.”

  “I know of this male. His name is Vanoth. He is rumored to keep female slav
es for his own pleasure, even kidnapping innocents and abusing them as well, when he bores of his own slaves. It is said he likes to see them suffer,” Kron said, his yellow eyes taking on a swirling orange appearance. He stood there, regarding Rokai, Rokai regarding him, and Gaishon waiting to see what would happen.

  Rokai simply nodded one single time to indicate Kron was correct.

  “Is she your Ehlealah?” Kron asked seriously, no tone, no ulterior motive, just wanting to know.

  Rokai raised his chin, squared his shoulders.

  “You know that only the Cruestaci have Ehlealahs that they recognize on sight?” Kron asked, inferring that Rokai would have to claim his Cruestaci blood in order to admit that he had an Ehlealah.

  Rokai didn’t flinch. He inclined his head once more. “I do.”

  “Then I ask again. Is she your Ehlealah?”

  “I do not have an Ehlealah. I am Quari.”

  “Then she is available, and you calling her yours is just a term you use. It has no deeper meaning,” Kron teased. Kron shrugged and turned to leave the cruiser.

  “She is mine!” Rokai shouted.

  Kron turned back to Rokai and regarded him thoughtfully. The male was clearly at odds with himself. Though he claimed to be Quari, he was half Cruestaci, and he did possess that alter ego that the Cruestaci warriors called a Psi. Rokai’s teeth were elongated, and his size had increased noticeably. His Psi was not as large as a full-blooded Cruestaci warrior’s, but still it was nothing to scoff at.

  “Your Psi betrays your heritage, Rokai ahl. Perhaps you should reconsider and claim all your lineage,” Kron advised, moving to step around Rokai in order to get to the controls.

  “I have only ever been claimed by one side, only good enough for one side. That is the side I claim,” Rokai answered.

  Kron nodded his head slowly. “I can understand that.”

  “What are you doing?” Rokai asked as Kron slid into the pilot’s seat.

  “Lucky for you, I’m one of our pilots. You have your targets set on this bastard. I’ll help you get there,” Kron said. The DNA tests immediately started up. The armrest gave a slight finger prick. The seat analyzed minute flakes of his skin, the laser peered directly into his eyes identifying him through retinal scan as well, and he sat still while the seat measured his heartbeats to insure he was still alive and not a corpse being used to start the engines.

  “Flight Lieutenant Kron, welcome aboard,” a computerized voice said.

  “Thank you. How about a practice flight?” he immediately responded as he waved Rokai closer.

  “Of course, sir. Please stand by for flight preparations.”

  Rokai watched him suspiciously. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Either I’m a fool, or I see an honorable male hiding inside you.” Kron shrugged. “Probably a fool because I see the honorable male. Either way. Give me your hand,” he finished, reached out and grabbed Rokai’s hand, catching him off balance and yanked him closer. He slapped Rokai’s hand onto the armrest, where his finger was immediately pricked, and his blood logged into the computer.

  “Computer, register Flight Cadet Rokai ahl Tel Mo’ Kok.”

  “Scanning, Lieutenant Kron,” the computer responded.

  “My name is not Tel Mo’ Kok,” Rokai snapped.

  Kron stood and pushed Rokai ahl toward the seat. “Today it is. Have a seat — your heartbeat, your DNA, and your blood will be catalogued along with your retinal scan.”

  “Lieutenant, Flight Cadet Tel Mo’ Kok shares familial DNA with Sire Tel Mo’ Kok. Should he be added to the familial data base for access as necessary?”

  Kron raised his eyebrows and smiled widely. He whispered to Rokai, “I hadn’t thought of that. How fortuitous!” Then he raised his voice and addressed the computer. “Yes, Computer. Please see to it at once,” Kron answered.

  “Why?” Rokai asked, looking up at Kron.

  “Do you want to fly the cruiser or not?” Kron asked.

  Rokai only held Kron’s gaze for a moment before nodding his head and facing forward for the computer to finish its scan.

  “Flight Cadet Rokai ahl Tel Mo’ Kok, you have been cataloged into the system. You are cleared for takeoff and practice flights only. You will not be allowed to fly into battle until you complete your training program. You have been granted access in other areas of the database. If you need additional information, voice your questions, and I shall be at the ready.”

  “Thank you, Computer,” Rokai answered.

  Kron grinned. “Missy taught you to say thank you?”

  “Yes. Stubborn damned computer,” Rokai answered, his fingers and eyes dancing over the controls he now had access to.

  “We requested the standard computer communications for our battle cruisers. But, you get used to Missy anyway when on Warship 1.”

  “Damn thing thinks she’s real,” Rokai muttered, involved in flight prechecks.

  “She is,” Kron answered. “But, back to the matter at hand; you get caught, you’re on your own. You come back; Sire Zha Quin Tha will have your head if he’s angry, not mine. I will claim I have no idea what happened or how you got the cruiser to recognize you.”

  “A transcript of your orders to the computer will be on file,” Rokai answered.

  Kron shook his head. “We are Elite forces. Our talents are many. There will be no record other than you being added to the database as a Flight Cadet. It will appear that you did it yourself since you have shared familial DNA and thereby computer access. And make no mistake, after I exit this cruiser and wipe the database of my presence, I’ll forget I was ever on it. There will be no back up coming your way if you find yourself in trouble.”

  “I won’t need any,” Rokai answered.

  “Gaishon is your name, yes?” Kron asked, glancing over his shoulder.

  “It is,” Gaishon answered.

  “I wish you luck. May you both return in one piece.”

  Chapter 18

  Rosie went back to her room and carefully applied the creams to her towel, then lay back onto it. Her mind wandered to the things Vivian had told her. Rokai was afraid of being hurt. He regularly pushed people away so that they didn’t have the chance to push him away first. And then she thought of what the Commander of this ship contributed to the conversation. Rokai was a criminal, but not the kind she thought of, or the kind Rokai managed to make the rest of the universe believe. While some illegal things took place, he risked himself freeing slaves, returning them to their homelands.

  Rosie considered the fact that he could have very easily chased her down the corridor the night before and forced his way into her room. But he didn’t. He’d given her the choice to leave him needing, shouting just outside the lift. She thought of his elaborate braids, his flashing, luminescent sea-green eyes. The feel of him pressed against her, the scent of his body as he stood close to her asking for permission to pleasure her. She thought of him feeding her his peach in the lift and the way his eyes followed every stroke of her tongue as she licked his hand clean. He was a player, she had no doubt of that. And she also believed he was dangerous, extremely so, from the way some of these other aliens avoided confrontation with him. But despite all that, she was drawn to him. And Vivian had been right — she was irritated that he’d left her and immediately taken up company with three other females.

  “Why the hell would I even care?” she said aloud. The silence surrounded her. Rosie huffed out a breath, irritation permeating her very being. “I shouldn’t care,” she said. More silence greeted her. “Then why do I care?!” she yelled. “Damnit!” she snapped, shaking her head in disbelief.

  Only a moment more and Rosie was up, changing her clothes, determined to find Rokai ahl and have it out with him. Find out if she was no more than just a conquest to him, and why he had no problem moving on only moments after being with her. “Asshole,” she mumbled under her breath, shoving her legs into her pants.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  “What do you mean
, one of our cruisers has left the ship? If all our personnel are accounted for, who is flying the cruiser?” Zha Quin shouted.

  “We’re not sure. But… one Rokai ahl Tel Mo’ Kok was logged into the system as an approved flight cadet for training flights,” Ba Re’ answered.

  Zha Quin, speechless, just regarded Ba Re’ while waiting for more explanation.

  Ba Re’ stared right back at Quin.

  “And…” Quin encouraged.

  “And what? There is no more. Just that his name has been entered as a flight cadet for training purposes. Other than that, we are sure of nothing,” Ba Re’ explained.

  “Except that the cruiser is gone,” Quin said, his face showing all the irritation he was struggling to contain.

  “Yes, well, there is that as well. So, we think Rokai ahl and his friend…”

  “Gaishon,” Quin offered.

  “Yes, Gaishon, are the two who absconded with the cruiser,” Ba Re’ finished.

  “Track it! Find them! Why the hell hasn’t this been done already? How did they manage to get past the safety features on the cruiser?!” Quin demanded, firing one question after another.

  “It would seem that when he submitted his DNA to the cruiser’s security system, it linked him with you and gave him familial access to certain programs,” Ba Re’ explained. “You and your family are the ruling nobility of our planet. He’s part of the family. He would not have been questioned otherwise.”

  “Missy knows that he is to be contained,” Quin objected.

  “The battle cruisers, and attack support maintain the original software in their artificial intelligence interfaces. Missy is unique to Command Warship 1 only. Linking him automatically through familial DNA is a glitch we haven’t thought to contain. There has only ever been yourself or your immediate family on board.”

  A low rumble started in Quin’s chest as he got to his feet. “Fix it. Find him.”

  “We are searching for him, Quin. It appears he cloaked the cruiser to keep us from tracking him,” Ba Re’ said in an effort to calm Zha Quin.