He braced her as another contraction took hold, her knees threatened to give out under her and she did her best to breathe through it, as Gemma had taught her. “Anything for you, doc.”
Ask Walt if we breached the wall to extract the two of you, would it be safe?
Once the contraction ended, she relayed the question to Walt and he was shaking his head before she even finished the sentence. “Tell him no. We don’t have any cover and the compression wave in this small enclosed room from an explosive would be bad enough for me, unacceptable for you. Mateer’ll have to find another way.”
Together they paced the length of the room, pivoted and retraced their steps. Megan found the walking did help, although the contractions weren’t too bad yet so she didn’t want to allow herself to be too hopeful. She tried to send the baby waves of good thoughts, seeking to be reassuring and emphasizing how eager she was to hold her daughter in her arms. Mateer was able to sense the baby on a telepathic level better than she could but Megan had a deeply maternal bond to her child. Tears threatened to flow again over what the Khagrish would do to a helpless child. I’ll die before I’ll let them get their hands on her.
The Khagrish won’t be coming anywhere near you or our child. Mateer responded to the defiant declaration. I swear it on my own life. We’ve gotten out of tough situations before.
CHAPTER FIVE
Satisfied Megan had gained control of her immediate anxiety, Mateer took a deep breath and surreptitiously rubbed his gut. The mate bond was transmitting echoes of Megan’s contractions to him, which made it hard to concentrate on the plans for rescuing her. He cursed Harker yet again for distorting what should have been a wonderful, intimate time for Megan and him as mates into a grueling ordeal. He understood labor and giving birth would be a physical feat for Megan that he had a hard time even beginning to comprehend. Harker’s actions piled danger and despair on top of the rigors of the natural process.
Putting his mate and his child at risk was unforgivable.
His talons extended to their full length and red rage threatened to overtake him again.
Aydarr gripped his shoulder tightly, surprising him, but he was grateful for the support. The Alpha sent him a pulse of sustaining power through the pack bond and Mateer nodded his thanks. He straightened as the refracted pain from Megan eased. “I wish you could send Megan the same help.”
“I’ve been trying, not sure if she’s receiving it,” Aydarr said. “Usually I can speak to her as well as you can, but right now I think she’s tightly focused on you and the baby. She’s forgotten how to talk to the rest of us. What she’s in the middle of right now is a female mystery. We have to hope the Great Mother will exercise compassion and bless her.”
“We have to get her out of there.” Mateer allowed his frustration to seep into his voice. He wanted to batter through the walls of the abandoned lab and reach Megan now but blunt force wasn’t the safest answer.
“Hence the planning.” Aydarr turned to Jill, eyes narrowed and glowing brightly with emotion. “As your mate, I’m not liking this discussion so far but continue.”
“I’ll not stand by and let my sister be in that bastard’s hands any longer. I’m glad Walt is there with her but he can’t protect her against all of Harker’s armed goons.” Jill sounded cold as ice and she had her warrior face on, expressionless. “MARL is blanketing the facility electronically right now so no messages can go in or out. Harker can’t send further word to Gahzhing or his spies in the valley.”
“I worry how he’s going to react to being silenced,” Aydarr said. “But Reede is working on the sympathizer he captured. The goal is to get him to send a false message to Harker.”
“Risks inherent in the deception,” Mateer said, struggling to remain analytical rather than emotional. “The man could lie to us, tell Harker the wrong thing.”
“Reede is peeling him like a spiral fruit,” Aydarr said. “Layer by layer.” He cast a glance at Dr. Madarian, standing at the side. “Metaphorically speaking.”
Gemma bit her lip but remained silent.
The Alpha did his best to reassure Mateer. “Reede will ensure only the correct answer is sent. He knows his job. We’re running out of time here.”
MARL projected a holographic rendering of the abandoned Khagrish facility, with red markers where humans were located. “I believe these two are Dr. Garrison and Walt,” he said, highlighting a portion of his display in green.
Mateer evaluated the situation. “Harker’s being careless or overconfident. No guard outside the cell, only one or two men patrolling the perimeter. He doesn’t have much of a force in there with him. A small rebellion.”
“But effective so far.” Jill’s voice was bleak. “As you’ll recall, MARL can throw a disruption field around himself and render a few people invisible. We go in under the cover of his projection, he opens the door for us, we get to Megan and then the rest of you can attack once we have her adequately protected.” Jill fingered her blaster. “Although if I come across Harker on the way, he’s a dead man.”
“Mine to kill,” Mateer said, fangs deploying as he staked his claim. No one had more right to take down the chief conspirator than he did. “And I will make this foray with MARL.”
“I must remain with Jill at all times, she is my Authority.” The AI’s body glowed red with just a few speckles of turquoise here and there as he reiterated his customary stance about only going where Jill went. No one could determine if it was a choice on MARL’s part or a piece of his ancient programming but he never deviated from the position.
Aydarr flashed his talons and his eyes flashed amber. “Then I must come as well. I’m not risking my own mate while I stay safe behind the lines.”
“Fine. MARL can hide the three of us.” Jill shrugged.
Mateer knew her casual gesture masked her cold anger and devotion to rescuing her sister. Respect for his Alpha’s mate had him nodding in agreement. She was a true warrior, one he was proud to go into battle with.
Megan was in the midst of another contraction, with Walt keeping her on her feet as she requested, when there was a sound at the door. They exchanged glances but it was too late to do anything. The soldier gave her a comforting side hug and she felt him bracing himself to do his best to protect her from their captors.
Harker came inside, halting on the threshold, swearing. “What the seven hells is going on here? I told you not to touch Walt and you go and set him free?” He strode to the couple, raising his hand as if to strike her. Walt inserted himself between the two of them, taking the blow but staggering from the effort. Leaning against the wall, Megan pushed past the end of the contraction and stood tall.
“I’m in labor, you prick,” she said to Harker. “I need help and Walt seems to be the one elected for the duty. What’s going to happen if he paces the floor with me? He can’t get out of this cell any more than I can. If he could have, we’d have been long gone.”
He did a double take, studying her closely, even as his two henchmen closed in on Walt, grabbing him by the arms and dragging him away from proximity to Megan. “The baby’s coming? How long?”
Megan had to bite her lip against the urge to laugh hysterically at Harker’s eager inquiry. Because I’d tell you anything even if I knew myself, you idiot. “There’s no way to know. Having the first baby usually takes a long time.”
Rubbing his jaw, Harker furrowed his brow and considered the situation. “Ferdy there learned a dab of first aid in the military. He’ll help.”
So you kidnapped a woman about to go into labor and you had no idea how you were going to handle the situation. Typical. Megan glanced at the white faced Ferdy, who appeared to be on the verge of fainting at the mere idea of attending a delivery, and laughed scornfully. “And he knows all about women giving birth, I’m sure.” She leaned forward, shaking a finger in Harker’s face. “He’s not touching me or my baby. And you’re not going to use my child as a bargaining chip with the Khagrish. What the hell happened
“I’m trying to protect humans,” he said. “We weren’t meant to live under the thumb of a buncha freaks and animals like the one who knocked you up, doc.”
Surprising everyone, including herself, Megan took one step forward and punched him in the jaw with all the force in her body. She channeled her fear and anger into the blow and actually rocked Harker back on his heels.
Walt took advantage of the distraction she provided and tore free of his captors, knocking one to the floor moaning and grabbing his weapon to shoot the other.
Harker seized Megan by the throat and pivoted, weapon pointed at her head. The barrel of the gun dug into her temple. He was holding her so tightly she had trouble breathing. “Drop the weapon, soldier boy, or I will shoot her. I won’t aim to kill but it won’t be pretty.”
Walt kept his stolen gun trained on Harker but Megan knew he was going to have to surrender. “You need her and the baby to have a chance in hell of saving your own hide. You won’t hurt her.”
Harker laughed and the sound was chilling. “Well, see, that’s where you’re wrong. There’s a whole spectrum of hurt, pal. I already told the so-called Alpha if I didn’t hear from my boys in the valley about him complying with what I wanted, I’d start removing the doc’s fingers and toes, one by one.” He gave her a quick glance as she gasped and struggled in his hold. “Sorry, doc. So I won’t hesitate to do some damage.”
He’s completely insane. If Megan had been frightened before, utter terror had her in its grip now. The deputy had gone completely around the bend and she no longer cherished any hope he wouldn’t carry out his various threats against her and the baby.
“Boss, the kid called in—the Alpha gave an order any human in the valley who wants to leave will be provided transport!” Mouth agape as he took in the standoff situation, one of the gang skidded to a halt in the entry to the room and drew a bead on Walt. “Drop it, Ezden.”
Laughing, Harker tapped Megan lightly on the head with his weapon. “Guess you get to keep all your pretty digits, for now anyway. The Alpha’s got to carry through on the promise but if he’s gone this far, likely he will.” He slid his hand down to her stomach and Megan slapped it away. “Now I just need you to pop out the kid, so I can buy immunity from the Khagrish and Harkerville’s on its way to reality.”
As more of the gang arrived, Walt dropped the gun and retreated to the wall, hands in the air. He was quickly locked in the restraints again and bound with cords as an extra measure. Harker gave Megan a shove and she nearly fell. “Sorry to deprive you of your buddy but he’s too dangerous to have on the loose. We’ll be moving him to another cell shortly.” He strode across the room to the door as several of his remaining cronies helped the injured man from the cell and returned to cart the dead colonist’s body away. “Ferdy’ll come check on you in half an hour.”
The door slammed shut and Megan sagged, clutching the wall for support. “Walt, I’m so sorry.” Suddenly her stomach heaved and she threw up. Moving as quickly as she could, she made for the bathroom in the corner.
“Talk to me, doc, are you ok?” Walt’s voice was strained.
“I think my water broke,” she said, trembling. Watching her hands shake, she knew it was reaction to the scene with Harker coupled with the loss of fluids. I’m going to get seriously dehydrated. Terror for the baby swept over her as she contemplated giving birth in these circumstances.
Deep breaths, Mateer said in her head. Are you all right?
She couldn’t even form a thought as another contraction shook her and she tried to breathe through it.
The baby is distressed. By the sound of her mate’s mental voice, he was too.
As if she wasn’t perfectly well aware of the situation. Megan bit her lip, hoping she hadn’t broadcast the snarky remark.
Can you open your mind to Aydarr? He’s been trying to send you energy but you’re blocking everyone but me. Only the Alpha can support another pack member in this way.
“I have too much going on right now to worry about managing my telepathy,” she said out loud and in her head, well aware she sounded grumpy.
“Trouble?” Walt asked.
“That’s all we have right now,” she said. Leaning on the wall she did her best to think of Aydarr and establish a telepathic link with him. Extra energy sounded damn good. She built a mental picture of the Alpha, visualizing him standing next to her sister Jill. There was the sensation of a door opening in her mind and a wave of cool, refreshing strength poured through her as the Alpha shared his own power.
We’re coming. His voice vibrated in her mind and she had to fight not to cry as another contraction began. Megan shut out everything else to concentrate on riding the wave of pain and not allowing anxiety to make the contractions worse. Her job was to bring her daughter safely into the world and nothing else right now. She’d have to relinquish the job of protecting herself and the baby to Mateer and the others and pray to the Lords of Space and the Great Mother for her loved ones to succeed in reaching her soon. The reserves of energy Aydarr had shared were immensely helpful but she was still becoming dehydrated.
Leaning against the wall, legs trembling as the contraction eased, she closed her eyes. “Mateer had better hurry.”
“You’re doing a great job, doc. Keep your focus where it needs to be, on delivering your baby and let your mate carry the load when it comes to the details of getting us out.”
Walt sounded as if he was in considerable pain and she blinked, getting ready to go to him and see what she could do. In labor or not, I’m the only doctor here.
CHAPTER SIX
MARL led the way, with Jill, Aydarr and himself tucked into a tight triangle right behind. Mateer hoped they were as invisible as the AI promised. Reaching the rear portal of the abandoned Khagrish facility without incident, MARL paused. “There’s only a low level of technical or system activity inside,” he said through the comlink. “No AI, nothing I can reach out and take over. I can physically link to the power grid using a probe interface and terminate all support functions once I’m inside.”
“All right, we prepared for this.” Aydarr sidled past the AI and blasted the door on low power. Mateer held his breath but no alarms sounded. The Alpha slid the now unlocked and cracked portal open far enough for them to squeeze inside and enter a dim corridor. The majority of the lights were unlit, which didn’t bother Mateer with his enhanced vision. There were holes and gouges in the walls where equipment had been removed when this lab was decommissioned by the Khagrish, a long time ago judging by the dirt and webs woven by arachnids.
The mate bond glowed in his heart and mind, prompting him to move faster. Aydarr grabbed his shoulder. Stay in the disruption zone. We don’t know if the kidnappers have any surveillance vids activated.
Tell the fucking AI to move faster then.
A human came running down the corridor, weapon ready, eyes wide. Mateer supposed he’d been detailed to check on the status at the now open rear door or was a sentry out of positon. He didn’t care, stepping out of the invisibility field like an avenging monster in a nightmare, grabbing the man by the neck hard enough to break the spine, his talons puncturing the skin and rupturing the artery and casting him aside to die. These enemies were all walking dead men to him. After what had been done to his mate, and what had been threatened to her and his child, none of the guilty humans would leave this place alive.
Mateer continued on, leaving the rebel on the floor in a spreading pool of blood. MARL accelerated to get past him, blinking yellow and red bands as if on fire, and led the way to the left, through a cross corridor and into what might have originally been intended to serve as an office area. He halted in front of one in a series of doors, green and vermilion lights now flashing across his surface. “Megan and Walt are here.”
Aydarr shot out the lock with one low power blast and Mateer bounded into the room, going straight to his mate, who was leaning against the wall, white faced, staring at him. He swept her into his arms and held her close to his heart, mindful of her swollen belly. Kissing her with pent-up hunger, he staggered a bit as all his fears of the past hours rose to the surface and threatened to choke him. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine but I’m so glad to see you.” Her voice sounded raspy, as if she’d been weeping. “All three of you.” She tipped her face up to his and said, “Your voice in my head was all that kept me going in the worst moments.”
Jill came to stand beside them, facing the door, pulse rifle armed and ready. “We weren’t going to leave you with these maniacs a second longer than necessary, sis.”
Megan drew in a huge breath and through the mate bond Mateer felt the pale echo of the pain in his own gut signaling another contraction was beginning for her. “What can I do?” he asked urgently.
“Put me down and let me lean on you while I pace,” she said in between puffs of controlled panting. “Check on Walt, he was badly injured.”
“He’s in rough shape,” Aydarr said, kneeling beside the soldier. He’d slashed through the bonds with his talons and unfastened the force binders.
“Get her out of here and come back for me later,” Walt said, so faintly Mateer could barely hear him. He groaned as the Alpha helped him move to a sitting position and curled one arm protectively over his rib cage, as if holding himself in one piece.
The building rocked under an explosion. Megan screamed and Mateer wrapped her in his arms, acting as a living shield. “We’ll stay here until all the bastards are dead.”
As the sound of weapons fire crackled in the aftermath of the explosion, Aydarr came to them. “I thought you wanted to hunt?” he asked Mateer. “I’ll stand guard over your mate.”
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