Dana Cartwright Mission 2: Lancer

by Joyz W. Riter

  He felt distrust and disbelief coming from the mercenary, and realized that Novem’s worldview was as deformed as his body and hands, probably from decades of abuse and propaganda. He decided it was a really good idea to change the subject.

  “How many mercenary ships are there?”

  Novem held up his left hand, the less deformed of the two, and folded down two fingers.

  “Three,” Kieran echoed, “and how many slaves?”

  “Too many to count. Most are not perfect.”

  “So, hybrids, like these Castellans?”

  Novem nodded.

  “How many like you?”

  “Only one other left...Dec.”

  “December? Any full Enturians?”

  Novem held up the same deformed hand with one finger folded down.

  “Four Enturians?”

  “They are not slaves. They are sokem.”

  The word meant nothing to Kieran. “What is sokem?”

  Janz Macao broke in, groggily. “Sokem is Enturian…it means secured. They must be prisoners.”

  Kieran slid across the deck to his brother’s side, checking the neuro-scan. The spinal weave program had ended, so he lifted the device off Janz’s back. “Can you feel anything? Are you in pain?”

  Macao shifted his position. “No pain. Feeling starting to return.”

  “Move slowly,” Kieran cautioned. “Don’t strain.”

  “Where’s Dana?”

  “Taking a shower.”

  Janz kicked up each leg, testing his muscles, flexing toes and ankles, then he dared to roll over and sit up. “Much better.”

  “Did you hear the conversation?” Kieran asked.

  “Most of it… Could the four Enturians be the crew of the GCE survey ship that went missing over three decades ago?”

  They both turned to Novem.

  “Novem has been a slave longer than the sokem have been.”

  Janz groaned. “I don’t recall any reports of other GCE ships going missing.”

  “Maybe a privateer or a pleasure vessel?”

  Novem looked from one to the other. “What is Terrine?”

  Kieran stiffened. “Terrines is a place.”

  “The sokem spoke of Terrines? I’ve been to the Terrines,” Janz said. “It’s a resort, underground caverns with therapeutic hot springs…a beautiful place. Shalee and I visited with the ambassador a long time ago. If the prisoners were speaking of the Terrines, it was wishful thinking.”

  Novem struggled to sit up, copying Macao’s movements, gritting his broken teeth to endure a wave of pain. He made as though to answer, but when Kieran slid closer to aid him, he cringed and withdrew to just out of reach.

  Macao cautioned, “I wouldn’t do that again, K…he probably doesn’t understand compassion coming from another male.”

  Kieran got the picture.

  Novem stared, narrowing his blue, left eye just the way Dana often did. “How come you do not ask Novem questions?”

  “What should we ask?” Kieran tested.

  “How the Craz knew this ship was here...How the Craz come and leave without being caught.”

  Janz groaned. “I think we already know that someone in the Star Service sends messages when spoils are to be had.”

  Novem’s other eye narrowed. “The Craz have — what is the word for it — infiltrated. That is not all. They buy little ones, and steal them, to use as threats. They take wo-men...perfect ones.”

  Kieran tensed and locked stares with his brother. “It’s too dangerous then to take Dana with us.”

  Macao nodded agreement.

  Kieran turned back to Novem. “Where are the sokem and the women kept?”

  “Beyond…where there is no Republic.”

  “Beyond is a big place,” Macao muttered.

  Novem gave a crooked grin. “The ship remembers.”

  Kieran chuckled, “Good point.”

  “Excellent point,” Janz added.

  Both he and Kieran jumped when a COM device let out a loud buzz.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Dana decided to use the shower in the Captain’s quarters, but had the distinct feeling someone was watching as she unbraided her hair and gladly stepped out of her dirty overalls and sweaty undergarments.

  Like going through decon at the medical center, the sonic shower removed every molecule of dust, dead skin cells, and even the beneficial natural oils in her hair. Nothing beat the squeaky clean feeling.

  She was halfway into her change of clothes when the cabin door opened. She whirled, grabbing for a weapon, then relaxed.

  “Sorry,” Kieran offered as he stuck his head in. “We’ve received an incoming. Lancer is two hours out.”

  Dana frowned. “Big L? Why?”

  He shrugged, and turned on his heels. “We need to be gone.”

  She hurriedly finished dressing, slipping her aching feet into her boots, calling after him, “I’m ready.”

  Up in the rotunda, Kieran had two mounds of gear waiting for tagging and transfer up to the mercenaries’ ship. He also had an attaché, which he set down nearby.

  “Where’s the Captain and Novem?”

  “Down in the hold…they are fine! You can tag Janz once I’m back aboard the merc ship. Take Novem with you aboard Lancer. He’s looking rather pale.”

  She glared at him. “Janz needs…”

  “I know…he needs to rest. There will be plenty of time once we’re aboard. I need him with me. I can’t do this alone.” Kieran grinned, like a boy with a new toy, “They have a very nice ship in orbit.”

  “Are you going to commandeer it?”

  Kieran nodded. “Have to…since this one is going nowhere.”

  She shook her head in exasperation. “I won’t quote regulations to you.”

  Kieran forced a chuckle. “Please don’t.” He offered her the stiletto in its sheath. “I took this from your boot. You may need it.”

  She backed away. “Keep it!”

  He sighed, wanting to defuse her anger. “Dana…”

  She turned away.

  He shrugged, hid the blade and sheath back in his boot, then went to stand beside the gear. “Ready?”

  His last words, sent telepathically, were, I love you…always.

  Dana rushed back down to the storage hold, finding both Novem and Macao sitting up with their backs against crates, Janz holding a weapon pointed at Novem.

  Both men were in agony. She went first to the Captain, checking the readings.

  Macao heaved a sigh, pointing her to Novem. “Sedate him until Big L gets here. You should be fine during the short time we’re gone. At first I had no pain, but it’s starting to flare up again. You’ll need to give me something.”

  She did as commanded, pulling the blanket about Novem’s shoulders before returning to Janz. Performing a quick scan first, she sighed and programmed an injector. “You need another dose of anti-inflammatory and you need to rest — prone.”

  Macao chuckled. “Come lay next to me?”

  She shook her head, “That’s not a good idea.”

  He waited until she’d administered the injection, then reached out with his left hand and caught hold of her, pulling her down to sit beside him, telepathically responding, I don’t deal well with females fussing over me.

  She snorted, protesting, “I’m an officer, sir.”

  “Yes, Mister Cartwright, and a doctor…thank you for reminding me, a rather insubordinate officer at that.” He didn’t let go of her hand. “Kieran thinks he can fly that ship. I know I can’t, not like this.”

  “All the more reason you should not be going,” Dana countered.

  “I wish you could come with us.”

  “I’d be hard to explain.”

  “You’d be valuable with all these possible hybrids and such.”

  He pulled her around to where he could take a long, hard look, staring into her mismatched eyes. Then he wondered, “If I was out of the picture, would you go with Kieran?”

&
nbsp; She shook her head. “No! Absolutely and positively not…”

  “If it was me, alone, would you come?”

  She looked away.

  “Would you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “You’re my Captain,” Dana reminded.

  “So, I could order you to come with us…”

  “You would be countering my Star Service orders to return to Four,” she said, running a scanner before his shoulder.

  His expression went from a tired smile to a scowl. “No, I will not counter your orders. You don’t belong out here on away missions. You’re too valuable…and it’s too dangerous.”

  She slid her hand along his neck, detecting the tension, massaging away some of it while waiting for the medication to take effect.

  “I’ve program this hypospray for incremental doses of the anti-inflammatory drug; you will need re-evaluation in a week or two.” She handed him the device.

  He took it, nodding and moaning as her fingers returned to massaging and soothing away the pain.

  Before I break the telepathic link, I want to give you a memory.

  She waited, closing her eyes, receiving the vision of a beautiful woman, tall and fair, with albino hair braided just the way she wore her own. The woman’s long, soft white gown hung gracefully, with a train at the back and a hooded cloak. White boots glistened with brilliant gemstones.

  Macao sighed. If anything should happen to me, I want Shalee’s memory to live on.

  Tears trickled down Dana’s cheek as the vision of Janz Jai’s wedding to Shalee Raja Macao ended with a kiss.

  Then he broke the link. “I won’t show you how she died. That memory is too painful.”

  “Why are you doing this? You said to study Galt’s ‘Theorem’ again. If you believe it, there’s no reason.”

  He shut his eyes and sighed. “Shalee wants you to know something. She was afraid, at first, just like you. Love overcame.”

  Dana withdrew her hands from his shoulders.

  “You would like her. She says…You’re very special and,” he sighed, “you and Kieran should…”

  Dana countered, “I’m not Alphan.”

  “Neither was Shalee.” Janz took a handful of Dana’s hair in his hands. “You should wear it loose. It’s beautiful. So very long…” He mumbled, “She had platinum hair and wore it long. It had never been cut.”

  “Regulations require…”

  “Fane!” he scolded, shaking his head, “when you’re off duty, silly. I want to remember you, just like this…” Janz smiled, but it faded. “I won’t be coming back you know.”

  “I know.”

  “I should have wrestled you to the floor when I had the chance,” he teased.

  “Just for fun?” she returned.

  They both heard the sound of someone materializing up in the rotunda and shortly after Kieran peeked in from the hatchway.

  “All secure. You about ready, Janz?” He looked from Macao to Dana and back.

  “You need to be on your way before Mackenna gets back,” she reminded.

  Janz nodded.

  He pointed Kieran to the roll of transport tags, rose slowly to his feet, with Dana’s help, still testing his strength. “Thank you for the life-star…” He whispered in Dana’s ear, giving her a friendly peck on the cheek.

  She took a step back, struggling with feelings of regret, offering a smile to Janz Macao for the last time before the Captain vanished.

  Kieran came to stand beside her, dropping the N-Link into her hands. “Found that on the floor.”

  She fingered the device before going through the motions of putting the leather thong over her head and lifting her hair to hide it.

  “Dana?” He sensed her pain in spite of the dampening device, and leaned down to place a very tender kiss upon her cheek. “Do what you can to heal your brother… He’s suffered a great deal.”

  Her eyes misted up.

  “He thinks you are perfect,” Kieran whispered, nibbling at her earlobe, “So do I.”

  She shrugged nervously, fidgeting with a lock of hair, then pulled it all back and tied it off, changing the subject. “This is a bad idea, Kieran. Janz needs medical attention and physical therapy. You should abort the mission and…”

  Kieran interrupted, scolding, “Have you ever seen a firing squad?”

  Dana scowled.

  “Have you?” he demanded.

  “No…they were banned on Earth ages ago and the Republic has no such penalties.”

  “Centauri has,” Kieran said flatly. “Janz and I are from Centauri Prime. He would face a terrible judgment if I take him back. However, I have other orders.”

  Dana shook her head. “Why are you…”

  “Janz has to come with me. There’s no alternative.”

  She frowned. “He needs medical care! I’m worried that…”

  “You can’t come with us…it’s too dangerous.”

  “I know; and I have orders to return to Four. I can’t disobey direct orders.”

  He chuckled. “I could get around those, quite easily.”

  “I’m sure you can,” she responded, “but maybe I don’t want to.”

  He sighed, deciding, “We’ll wait in orbit until Lancer gets here and they rescue you.”

  “How do I explain all those dead men?”

  “Oh, they are self explanatory,” he assured. “You realize, of course, you won’t have a prayer of getting anyone to believe you tried to stop us.”

  “I thought about that…You have a digital injector in your pocket. Program it for a strong sedative to knock me out for a time, while you make your escape.”

  Kieran nodded appreciatively. “You really would make a terrific SSID officer. That’s an excellent plan.” He pulled her close, sliding his left hand up to the nape of her neck, beneath her luxurious, cinnamon hair, and gave her a strong, sensual kiss; the kind that old lovers hope and fear will rekindle the original flame.

  “Please be careful,” she begged.

  “We will. I promise…”

  She hugged him that much tighter. “K…”

  “I will always love you, Dana J,” he told her, as he pressed the injector against her shoulder, and then eased her limp body down to the deck beside Novem.

  “We will meet again…I promise,” he whispered, though the drug had already taken effect. He took the Sterillian blade in its sheath from his boot and secured it in hers.

  Kieran then slapped a transfer tag on his chest, following his brother.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Dana heard her name whispered softly in her ear, and opened her eyes to a foggy recollection of whose voice it was. “Patel?”

  The Doctor’s instruments hummed loudly in the quiet of the infirmary. Patel offered a genuine smile. “Welcome back, Mister Cartwright.”

  From nearby, Mackenna pleaded, “Will she be all right? We found her down in the storage hold, with all the bodies of the mercenaries, but couldn’t wake her.”

  Patel assured, “She’ll be fine. Just a little dehydrated…” He administered another injection, with a drug to neutralize the effects of the sedatives he detected in her system.

  She blinked, still somewhat dazed and confused. “Aboard Lancer?”

  Patel nodded.

  She turned to look at the diagnostic bed beside her and pointed at Novem.

  “How is he?”

  “Battling a nasty infection…should transfer him to a C-FIIN for the duration. May be a few days before we reach Station Four.” Patel stared at her. “His DNA is mutating. What he needs is a hematologist.”

  She agreed, “And I know just the one.”

  Mackenna pleaded, “McHale’s demanding to know what happened to the Captain?”

  “His back…I performed two surgeries,” Dana recalled. “He wouldn’t rest. They…”

  Patel scowled, “They what?”

  She slowly came to realize she could not tell the whole story. In this case, less was bet
ter. “They boarded a mercenary ship.”

  “Mercenary ship!” Mackenna exclaimed, coming a few steps closer. “Mercenaries? Like those dead men down in the hold?”

  “Mercenaries…” Dana nodded. “They tried to steal the wraith invisibility technology.”

  Mackenna rolled his eyes. “Wow! And the three of you managed to…that’s amazing. Wraith technology… Oh, no! I better go tell the Commander.” He took off at a run.

  Dana winced, looking to the Doctor. “Novem…is a tribrid… If you run a scan of his DNA you’ll see that many of the markers match mine.”

  Doctor Patel stiffened. “Match?”

  “He claimed to be…” She stopped herself. “Well, he claimed to be a slave. Many of the others were, too.”

  “Castellan-human hybrids and the Crazorians…” Patel patted her shoulder. “I’ve already run some tests on them.”

  She nodded. “Yes, I remember reading something about them in the history books.”

  “We know very little about that race. I may do an autopsy on one or two. Waiting for approval from the Star Service…Should have permission soon.”

  Dana blinked.

  “So, the Captain and Tighe just up and left you?” The doctor wondered.

  “I tried, but could not persuade them to abort the mission. That didn’t sit well with Tighe…”

  “Just between us, maybe it’s for the best.”

  Dana stared at Patel. “What about the contraband?”

  “Commander McHale knows everything. He has Nichols, and the others, in detention. We’re on a course back to Station Four where they face a court-martial.”

  She nodded weakly. “At least the Republic doesn’t have firing squads…”

  Patel gasped, “Firing squads? How barbaric!”

  “I don’t know what Tighe has planned. At first, he tried to lure me into going with him, but then he decided that for the sake of the mission, the Captain was more valuable because of the mercenaries.”

  As the fog started lifting, Dana sighed and tears started to well up in her eyes. “Maybe I am a weepy female…I sure am going to miss him.”

  Patel guessed she meant Macao and commented, “We will, too.”