“You know we mean well and still you insist that we leave, never to return?” Vintor asked.
“We do. I’ve thought on what you shared. You did not expressly say it, but your people have been taking humans bound for the colony, claiming them as mates. We can’t have that. We have taken the role as protector of the humans because we have the longest history with them. I agree that there are many paths that can be taken and understand that you don’t like our methods, but our own people have sacrificed their lives for the human colony as well. And if it guards against the loss of a very promising species, the sacrifice is worth it. In a few generations the colonists will not miss Earth,” Deto insisted.
“The ends do not justify the means. That is a terrible mistake you and my people are making.” Maya shook her head. She did not have a good solution, but somehow this wasn’t it.
“I’m am truly sorry.” Ambassador Deto frowned.
Maya felt a pinch in her arm like she’d been stung by a bee. She jumped up and spun around. Vintor growled and did the same.
“What the hell?” She studied the Miran Sona soldier holding something she couldn’t identify, her vision suddenly blurry.
“I meant what I said, Maya. You are gifted and your insight into your people is valued. We won’t return you to your people to be exterminated, but we also won’t be handing you over with the Cadi male,” the ambassador informed her.
Maya’s eyes widened. She should’ve known the Miran Sona would do whatever they thought was in the greater interest, her rights as an individual be damned. It made her feel foolish for suggesting they have faith in others.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me, Maya lamented her error as she stumbled and clamored for Vintor. She heard him roar, then everything went dim.
Vintor quo Fortis
Vintor startled awake with an enraged snarl. He opened his eyes and looked around the small room. He was again in a cell, a wavering barrier separated him from the central room and other chambers. Without his fellow warriors to back him, he was outmanned over and over again. It was getting real tiring being knocked out and separated from Maya. He should’ve known. These were bureaucrats, who only cared about their larger goal, not the caring Miran Sona he’d met back home. Still the betrayal came as a shock. They didn’t use such underhanded tactics on Cadi. Your enemy would just kill you and be done with it. But the Miran Sona hadn’t, and they’d regret it, because as long as a Cadi warrior lived he’d come out fighting.
“You have made a grave error. Don’t think I won’t fight to get my mate back. I’ll hunt for her to the ends of the universe. It was not our intent to be your enemy, but what choice do you give us?!” Vintor bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls.
His tail lashed wildly as he paced, plotting how to free himself and find Maya.
“Is it true?”
Vintor spun to see Captain Wen standing on the other side of the flickering energy barrier.
“Is what true?” he snarled.
“Do you know Ion and Exo, caretakers of the human colony?” The pale female hesitantly stepped toward the wavering barrier.
He wanted to rush forward, bristling, just to frighten the Miran Sona, but resisted. This female had the power to free him from this cell and acting like a crazed animal wouldn’t achieve that.
“I know Ion and knew Exo. Sadly, he died because your people didn’t see fit to send sufficient protection.”
He realized insulting the Miran Sona wasn’t wise when Wen’s face twisted in sorrow.
“H-how did he die?” she managed to say, and it suddenly became clear she too knew Ion and Exo. Her dark, oblong eyes, growing larger and looking so forlorn, made him instantly feel guilty for casually blurting the news.
“The reptilian flesh merchants attempted to sell him and my human friend after they captured your collection vessel. He defended the human and was struck down,” Vintor related the story his friend told him.
“My father died doing his duty,” Wen whispered as she nodded her head sadly.
Father? That was surprising news.
“I am sorry for your loss, but it shouldn’t have happened. Your people need to equip the colony better. The Cadi and our allies will do what we can, however, as Deto has said, we are not readily welcomed.”
“I agree, but the ruling council wants the colony to become independent. They want the Miran Sona caretakers to fade in time, and for the colony to become a new Earth and progress on their own course.”
“Then they will be vulnerable and will fail. My quadrant is far more active than you may have realized.”
“My parents never should’ve made the bargain,” Wen lamented in her high-pitched warbling voice.
“What bargain?” he asked, now curious.
“Among the Miran Sona, our mates are chosen by genetic match. It assures the best progeny and a strong future. I did not wish to be paired with some random male. I wanted this, to be captain of a vessel, to see the universe.” She cast him a wan smile. “My parents bought me out of my pairing, by agreeing to become caretakers, knowing they could never come home again.”
He didn’t make a habit of questioning other societies, but it seemed cruel to force pairs to mate this way. And even crueler that his friends had to make such a harsh bargain to buy Wen’s freedom.
“Don’t you think that’s a rather high price so that you might make a decision you should’ve had the right to make in the first place?”
“Yes, but it is also why we thrive,” she replied.
“Do you thrive, or are you just surviving?” he pointed out. “And now your people are imposing this same reasoning on others. You tear my mate from my side, claiming it’s for the best. But who gives you the right? I don’t agree and neither do my friends. The Cadi have allies. And I can tell you that if the colonist were to contact us demanding our aid against you, we’d answer the call. Do the right thing. Free me and my mate. Show us that there are those among you who have honor,” Vintor entreated.
“It would mean going against orders. And then what was the point of my parents’ sacrifice?” Wen shook her head as she backed away from the cell then quickly fled.
Vintor snarled in frustration. It felt like he was getting somewhere with the captain, only to have her retreat. He punched the wall but didn’t wince when his knuckles split.
17 Sleeping Beauty
Maya
Her eyes opened on her worst nightmare. She was trapped in a coffin of glass. Her rapid breathing quickly fogged the surface.
“Let me out of here,” Maya choked on her scream. She shoved at the glass, her knee striking the lid hard when she tried to kick her legs.
“Don’t hurt yourself.” Captain Wen’s pale face appeared in the misty glass.
The instant the lid opened, Maya scrambled to get out of the creepy glass tomb.
“Captain, I was under the impression these humans were to remain in stasis,” a Miran Sona wearing blue like the physician on the cruiser questioned Wen.
Maya glanced over at Gary who was sitting up in a similar capsule, shaking off the lethargy.
“Plans have changed. These people will not be going to the colony. They will remain as our guests. I’ll be escorting them back to their quarters.”
No! Maya frowned. She’d rather go to the colony. At least there Vintor had a hope of finding her.
The brunette girl they rescued started crying hysterically, and the sound of her own crying seemed to make it worse. Gary rushed to her side.
“You remember me. We’re going to be okay,” Gary attempted to console her.
The poor woman shook her head frantically, covering her ears to block everything out. She’d been through too much, ripped from her life, tortured by Emil, exposed to aliens, knocked out, hearing suddenly healed. Maya worried the poor girl’s mind had fractured under the stress.
“We must go get you settled,” Wen insisted.
Gary and Maya assisted their distraught companion and they followed Wen out
of the infirmary. The captain moved swiftly down the halls.
“So, your plan is to keep us here, for what, forever?” Gary asked as they tried to keep up.
“I want to see Vintor,” Maya demanded, but Wen ignored them.
Maya paused when they entered a room with several guards. Beyond the open door she saw several cells.
“Go on your break. I must question the prisoners,” Wen instructed the guards who immediately vacated.
Fear filled her hearing Wen’s stern tone. What were they going to be subjected to now?
“What more do you want?” Maya demanded. “I’ve told you everything I know.”
“Maya!” Vintor bellowed from the other room.
Maya rushed in to find him in one of the cells.
“Stop,” he barked as she moved forward. “There’s a barrier. It will hurt if you touch it.”
She stopped short and noticed the flickering force field.
“What is going on?” Maya turned on Wen, who’d followed her.
“I don’t have time to explain.” Wen tapped on a panel and the wavering barrier on Vintor’s cell evaporated. “Come, we don’t have much time.”
Confusion filled Maya, but Wen had just freed Vintor, so she wasn’t about to complain.
The captain looked both ways before leading them back into the hall. They followed her closely. As they passed a group of soldiers, Wen nodded as if nothing was amiss. They rounded a corner and the captain opened a door to a storage room.
“Stay here,” Wen insisted then left.
“Do you have any idea what’s going on?” Maya asked as she hugged Vintor.
“Wen is the daughter of some friends. I asked her to help us, but I don’t know what she has planned,” he replied as he rubbed her back.
“Things are never dull around you two,” Gary commented.
“Come. I cleared the way,” Wen said when she returned.
They swiftly followed the captain across the hall to a hangar with two small ships.
“So, we’re running. Won’t your people follow?” Vintor asked.
“We are within range of your vessel,” Wen replied as she jogged toward the nearest vessel.
They boarded the cruiser and took their seats. Maya anxiously watched as the hangar opened, and they shot into space. She gaped at the three giant wedge-shaped spaceships they left behind, watching for any hint of sudden movement. They wouldn’t stand a chance if the behemoths decided to hunt them down or worse, fired on their tiny cruiser. Everyone else was quiet as well. You could cut the tension with a knife.
Her shoulders eased when the trio grew smaller then disappeared altogether. The screen shifted, and a new lone vessel appeared in the distance. It reminded her of the one they’d taken from the DOD hangar, an overgrown silver teardrop tipped on its side. Maya glanced over at Vintor to see him smiling. The closer they got to the ship, the more excited she got.
“Why did you decide to help us?” Maya asked Wen, feeling more at ease.
“My mother needs me. But, like you, I have become disenchanted with how my people are behaving. You said we must have faith in the good intention of others. Ambassador Deto betrayed that faith when he made the bargain with you. He played word games, when he promised not to return you to your people in exchange for the information you shared.” Wen shook her head with a moue of distaste twisting her narrow mouth.
“I should’ve specifically insisted that we all be released to Vintor’s people,” Maya exclaimed, realizing her error when she negotiated with the man.
“Exactly. Deto can say that he kept his word, when he detained you, knowing full well that at the heart of the bargain, you desired to remain with your mate. I cannot abide by that.” Wen turned back to the screen.
“Thank you,” she replied, grateful her plea had reached someone.
Vintor reached over and gripped her hand. Maya smiled at him. With everything she’d been through over the last two years, all the running and constant obstacles, she herself had trouble keeping faith in others. When she said her piece, it had been as much to bolster herself as it had been intended for her fellow man. But as she looked from Vintor to Wen and thought about Boaz and everyone else that aided them, she was humbled and felt extremely blessed. There were people who were still willing to risk it all to help each other.
Maya jumped when there was a ping from the console.
“Quiet.” Wen held up her hand. “Cruiser Olaire, responding, proceed.”
“Captain Wen, I did not realize you were planning a foray,” Ambassador Deto spoke through the comm.
“I am transferring the Cadi male to his vessel.”
“This is a task any of your lieutenants could’ve handled.”
“Generally, I would; however, we are dealing with a new race. I didn’t feel it was wise to trust just anyone with first contact when we unload the male,” Wen reasoned.
“Scans show you have three additional crew.” Deto’s voice was calm and measured.
“I have a team accompanying me as a precaution for my own safety,” Wen countered without skipping a beat.
“You disappoint me, Captain.” Deto ended the transmission and they all looked at each other. Undoubtedly, he discovered they were missing from the infirmary.
“The three frigates are moving to intercept.” Wen’s face paled.
“Hail my friend,” Vintor insisted and the captain complied. “Aculus, we’re in the approaching cruiser and the three X-class on our tail aren’t too happy about our departure.”
“I got you,” Aculus relayed.
Maya’s heart kicked into high gear as Aculus’ ship swiftly approached. It seemed so close, but she had no clue. The Miran Sona ships could fire on them at any moment for all she knew. A siren blared, and she bit her lip to keep from screeching in shock. The poor brunette did scream, covered her ears and started rocking in her seat.
“Collision imminent. Collision imminent,” the automated voice droned till Wen cut it off.
“Don’t reduce propulsion. The landing bay is equipped with arrestors,” Aculus instructed.
The landing bay doors opened just a crack at first. The speed they were going, she was sure they’d slam into the slow-moving doors.
“Oh fuck!” Sweat poured down Gary’s forehead. He’d cussed more in the last day than she’d heard from him in a decade.
“We’ll make it,” Vintor assured them.
She wanted to believe him, but the way the muscle in his jaw flexed screamed they were cutting it close. Maya watched the swiftly approaching opening with a lump in her throat. At least if they crashed, it would be a quick death. Maya closed her eyes when the silver vessel swallowed up the entire display screen. She couldn’t watch anymore. Her eyes flew open again when they suddenly reversed direction, then went forward again, jarring back and forth like a bungee jumper. A sob escaped when they eventually came to a halt.
“Is everyone all right?” Aculus asked, his concerned face appearing on screen.
Maya blinked as she took him in. Aculus was nothing like the species she’d seen. He was bony, but not like a defleshed skeleton. It looked more like he wore calcified body armor. The hard ridge along his brow extended up his temples and over his skull. It was fascinating the way his bony skin moved as he spoke, making her wonder if it softened and rehardened to make the range of facial expressions possible.
“Everyone is well,” Vintor replied.
“Stay where you are. We’re heading for the rift at full speed,” Aculus insisted.
“How are your ballistics? Because my people aren’t going to let me get away without a fight. I possess too much secure information,” Wen warned.
“I’m acquainted with your weapons capabilities, since you fired at us when I was stationed on the moon. Don’t fear, my ordnances are just as formidable, however, I don’t plan on testing them since we’re a tad outnumbered,” Aculus relayed as his bony hands flew over the console. “I’m switching the view. If you have any advice, let me
know.”
A view of the three Miran Sona ships closing in popped up on the screen. They were spread out in a diagonal formation, attempting to surround them at all angles. A coordinated flash of light shot out from all three vessels. Everything turned on end as Aculus banked sideways to avoid the strafing fire. The artificial gravity had barely compensated when Aculus pulled another wild maneuver.
“I hate rollercoasters,” Gary shouted then covered his mouth when the display screen lit up with gunfire and the ship rolled.
She was always the one that loved amusement parks, but this was testing her limits. The ship rattled as they came out of the barrel roll.
“Your friend is good,” Wen trilled to Vintor. The Miran Sona captain was obviously an adrenaline junkie.
“Thanks,” Aculus barked. “However, we have taken a few hits. The hull is holding just fine, but I need it in top shape to enter the rift.”
“The ship with the yellow insignia is mine, was mine. Faro must be piloting. He tends to bank starboard and is a little too eager when firing,” Wen hinted.
“Good to know.”
It seemed like the jarring shots to the ship came faster and closer together. Aculus returned fire, despite his previous comment, but it was still three to one. Maya gripped her seat as she was thrown about, doing her best not to cry. It didn’t help that their brunette friend was now wailing hysterically despite Gary’s attempt to console her. Vintor reached over and covered Maya’s hand with his large palm. She cast him an anxious smile. If they were going to die at least they’d be together.
“Yes!” Aculus shouted exuberantly.
“Shit!” Maya yipped. He nearly gave her a heart attack.
She looked at the screen wondering why Aculus was suddenly so excited. The three Miran Sona ships were still on their tail. Suddenly they shot off, retreating into starry space as if they were never there to begin with. Maya looked to Vintor, but he was no help. From his expression he was just as confused as she was.
“It’s a good thing we were patrolling for flesh merchants on the other side of the rift when we got your beacon. It wouldn’t do for the Premiere Servant of the Conclave to have his shell handed to him in some far-flung galaxy,” a new voice sounding an awful lot like Aculus said through the comm.
Warrior's Plight (Cadi Warriors Book 6) Page 19
