by Leslie Chase
Looking at the mess she was leaving, her discarded dress littering the floor, she shook her head. Not how I'd picture a prince's bedroom, she thought, forcing a small smile. I guess I always expected the maid to clean things up or something. But there aren't any servants here.
She stopped, frowning, and looked around again. Blinked, and then smiled for real. Of course there was no cleaning staff, only the guards had survived the long centuries in stasis. And that meant that this wasn't the only room that hadn't been cleaned up.
Hurrying out of Verikan's room, she almost ran to the chamber the humans had been held captive in. She didn't need to go inside to find what she was looking for. On the floor outside she saw dark brownish-purple marks on the floor. A trail of alien blood that had dripped from Verikan and his captors as they had dragged him away.
That will lead me to him, she thought, praying that she was right and following the bloody marks downward into the depths beneath the palace.
Now that she could see where to go, it didn't take her long to find her destination. The first hint was the sound of voices from up ahead, the deep booming voice of a dragon and the reedy sound of Woods' answer.
"Yes, I'm sure it will work," Woods said, answering a question she hadn't been able to make out. "Demonstrate your power to the nations of Earth and they'll fall into line, and these are the best cities to target for that."
He sounded nervous, terrified even, and Josie felt a white-hot rage burning through her. Peeking around the doorway, she could see Woods pointing at a holographic map of Earth, with various cities marked in red. He was talking about wiping out New York, Washington, Houston — and those were just the cities in North America that she could see. There were others she couldn't place as easily on the rest of the globe.
"Very well," Mordrak replied, nodding thoughtfully. "If this doesn't have the correct effect, you will be held responsible. But if it does, then you will be our first governor of Earth."
Woods preened, but even from behind, Josie could see that his pride was at war with his fear. Good, she thought. Let him suffer for his treason. Now if only I can stop it hurting anyone else.
The blood trail stopped here — inside the room, someone had made the effort to clean up. Josie looked around for a likely prison, but there were several doors off the room and no way to reach any of them without being spotted.
"How long until my army is awake?" Mordrak asked, and from somewhere further into the room, she heard Askelon reply.
"Patience, General. They are stirring now, and they'll start waking up shortly. It will be hours after that before they are ready to move, though. You will have to wait."
"This attack has waited too long," Mordrak grumbled. "The humans will be alerted that something is wrong. We should already be underway."
"I understand your urgency, but we have already lost too many dragons. This can't be hurried, and I will not kill more of our kind just to gain a few hours."
Mordrak paced back and forth, his wings beating. His agitation was palpable. "In that case, I'm going to make sure we're ready to go as soon as they are. Human, come with me. We're going to prepare your ship for launch."
"Yes sir," Woods said, snapping to attention and scurrying after Mordrak as he stormed towards the doorway.
Josie's heart pounded as she ducked aside, trying to think of something to do to interrupt. Nothing came to mind. All she could do was hope that Dr. Cain would manage to steal the Red Horizon or sabotage it and slow the invasion down.
She pressed herself back against the wall, not daring to breathe, as Mordrak and Woods marched past accompanied by two of the other dragons. Fortunately, they were all too focused on their task to look back and see her. Instead she watched them until they were out of sight and then sighed with relief. At least that was three fewer dragons here to deal with.
Josie tried not to think about the three that remained — no point dwelling on something she couldn't change. Instead, she peered around the doorway again and saw Askelon focused on his work.
I guess I'm never going to get a better chance. Sneaking in as quietly as she could, she made her way to the nearest of the doors and hesitated. Askelon was deep in his work, yes, but could he possibly miss her opening one of the doors? She didn't think it was likely.
And there were five doors that she could see. The odds of her finding Verikan before Askelon saw her were far too low. Crouching down behind one of the strange machines in the lab she tried to think. I have to find him, I have to find Verikan. But how can I do that and get away with it?
From beyond the balcony came a roar, and then another, loud and hungry enough to make her shiver. Askelon, on the other hand, made a pleased noise. Josie looked around the machine she was hiding behind and she saw him moving to the balcony. The remaining two dragon guards stood, too, moving to flank him.
"Dragons of the Empire," Askelon said, his voice commanding attention. "You awake to glory."
From below came the sounds of confusion and shock, and more rumbling roars that threatened to drown out his speech. With a gesture, he activated a loudspeaker, and his voice reverberated around the room.
"I bear orders from the Dragon Throne," Askelon cried, and that seemed to get the attention of the waking dragons below. "His Imperial Highness Prince Verikan has given the command to attack the third planet, to seize it and bring it into the Empire. Your glory awaits you! Mordrak has been promoted to General and even now readies the spaceship that will carry you on your attack."
He doesn't seem to be keen on filling in a lot of the detail, Josie thought as she took the opportunity to creep deeper into the room. Then again, who would want to tell a few hundred dragons that everyone they know is dead? I bet he just wants them moving and doing as they're told — they can get the bad news later.
She still had no idea where she could find Verikan, but time was running out. Desperate measures were called for, and in any case they were all she could think of. She couldn't fight these aliens, she knew that much from bitter experience. The best she could manage was to keep one off balance. Without Verikan to take advantage of that, she could hardly hope to do more than embarrass Askelon for a moment.
But that didn't mean that she was helpless. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and focused on the memory of Verikan. The feel of his scaled skin under her hands, the confidence in his eyes, the smell and sound and taste of him. Borrowing what courage she could from the memory, she stepped out from her hiding place and onto the balcony beside Askelon.
Below her was a sight to give her pause. Hundreds of aliens, most in humanoid form but some as mighty winged lizards, looked up at her with wide eyes, surprised by her sudden appearance. It was that surprise that she was counting on, a few moments before anyone could react to her.
"He's lying to you," she shouted, her voice amplified and booming through the cavern. "Askelon has imprisoned your prince, and is usurping his authority! Verikan doesn't want the Earth invaded, he — oh!"
Her speech was cut short as one of the guards grabbed her, lifting her clear of the floor and swinging her out over the railing. She dangled above the cavern, hundreds of pairs of eyes on her as she struggled.
"Who is this?" One of the aliens below demanded. "Is what she says true?"
"I'm Prince Verikan's mate," Josie gasped. The thick lining of her spacesuit meant that at least she could breath and speak as she dangled.
The aliens below exchanged glances, and Askelon looked at a loss for words. His eyes full of a terrifying fury, he snarled at Josie. Before he could decide what to do, questions started to fly.
"Where is our prince?"
"Why are you speaking for him?"
"What happened to us?"
Askelon leaned across the railing to shout down. "Enough questions. His Highness is in seclusion, and will not be bothered by your questions. I speak with his voice, and you will obey me."
The roar of his voice silenced the questioners below, if only for a moment. Josie gl
anced down at the drop below her and saw the aliens looking up at Askelon with mixed expressions on their faces.
At least I made them doubt, she thought. It would be a bitter epitaph if that was all she managed before they burned the Earth, but it was better than nothing. I just hope this next bit works.
Askelon drew a deep breath, looking at her, and she could see her death in his eyes. Whatever his plans for her had been before now, he was too angry for them. It was, in a way, liberating. There was no need to worry about what he'd do to her if she defied him now — it was done. So there was no point in holding back her last desperate play.
"You didn't ask yourself how I got out of my cell, did you?" she said to Askelon, forcing herself to smile. Looking past him, she focused on the doors lining the wall.
"Doors open!" Her shout, amplified by Askelon's microphone, boomed through the lab, and all the doors slid open at her command. Askelon's eyes went wide and he spun to face the room behind him as a roar of rage and triumph filled the laboratory.
18
Verikan
Pacing in his small cell, Verikan growled and grumbled to himself. The confinement gave him nothing to do except think, and the thoughts that filled his mind weren't ones he liked. Should he have fought on, despite the threat to his mate? Josie would have died, that much he was certain of, but he couldn't help wondering if that wasn't what she'd have preferred.
Wouldn't I rather die than be responsible for the conquest of my race? He shook his head. Mordrak and Askelon would say I've already made that choice, and put myself and my mate first before the species.
He slammed a fist into the wall of the cell, hard enough to leave a dent. He'd chosen her life over Earth's freedom, and he didn't know if she'd forgive him. But he couldn't have done otherwise. Just the thought of Josie dying was enough to tear at his heart, and if she hated him for that choice that was a price he'd have to bear. Not that he had any choice now, the decision was made.
From outside the cell he heard Askelon's amplified voice haranguing the royal guard, and he groaned. They were getting ready to move, and the lives that were about to be lost would be on his head. In a way, that was a good thing. At least once the war began, he'd have less space for doubts.
No. He wasn't going to resign himself to losing so easily. Taking a deep breath, he crouched facing the door. If there was a chance to stop this, it was now, when the soldiers were awake. If he could only speak to them, show them the truth, there was still time — but the door wouldn't open to his command.
Bracing himself to charge, he closed his eyes in silent prayer. The door was thick and strong, and he wouldn't be able to break through easily if at all. If he had the space to shift, it would be different — no door would stop an angry dragon in war form — but Askelon was too clever to try and confine him in a space big enough for that.
Ancestors forgive me, I hope that this is the right choice.
As though in answer to his prayer, another voice interrupted Askelon's speech. Josie's. Verikan's head snapped up at the sound of her shouting the truth to the warriors outside, and his heart swelled to bursting with love and fear. Somehow she was free, somehow she had found them, and now she was putting herself back in the jaws of certain death in order to try and save both of their peoples from a terrible mistake.
She's perfect, he thought, awestruck. I couldn't love anyone more. I will not let her die.
He launched himself into the door with a crash that filled the small space, but while his shoulder burned with pain the door was unmarked. The metal was the same as they used for warship hulls, and he had no tools to open it.
But he didn't need to. Just as he was about to despair, he heard her voice echoing from the speakers.
"Doors open!" she said. And they did.
Without pausing to see what he was diving into, Verikan leaped. The roar that escaped his throat terrified even him, promising death to anyone who would harm the woman he loved.
On the balcony, Askelon turned to face him. Slowly, too slowly, the scientist raised his hands to defend himself. But he wasn't Verikan's first target. That was the guardsman holding Josie over the abyss.
The dragon let go of her and spun to face his charge, but Josie clung to his arm, slowing him. Verikan smashed into him, fists lashing out and slamming the man back into the railing. The prince didn't have a weapon but he didn't need one, not when his anger filled him and gave him strength. His fist hit like a jackhammer, sending the guard reeling back against the railing.
Josie dropped the guard's arm and grabbed hold of the railing, hanging on for dear life. Grabbing hold of the man's head, Verikan smashed it into the wall, dazing him, and then flipped him over the edge. The fall was too short for the guard to recover, and he hit the cavern floor with a loud crunch.
Verikan reached out for Josie, but the other guard was on him before he could get a hold on her. Tumbling to the floor, the two struggled for control as the dragons below watched in stunned silence.
The guard managed to roll on top of Verikan and smashed a powerful fist into Verikan's face, but he ignored it. There wasn't time for him to focus on the pain, too much was at stake. Blocking the next punch, he pushed it aside to slam into the floor beside him and braced his legs under him. Verikan arched his back with a roar, sending the guard flying to smash into some of Askelon's equipment. A crack of discharging electricity filled the air. Rolling to his feet, he saw that the guard wasn't moving. Smoke rose from his body.
"Stop or I kill her!" Askelon grabbed over the railing at Josie, desperation in his voice. If he thought that was going to slow down Verikan, he couldn't have been more wrong.
With a roar, Verikan leaped at his foe, crashing into him just as Askelon got hold of Josie's arm. The impact sent both the dragons over the railing, tumbling into space and pulling Josie with them.
Verikan's wings spread, catching the air and slowing their fall, but the three of them weighed too much and there was no time to pull up. All he could do was slow them so that they hit with a jarring impact that didn't break anything.
Around them, the hundreds of royal guards looked on. Most had stunned expressions on their faces, but some were trying to move, to rise, to do something. They were still too fresh from their hibernation to move quickly, though, and Verikan could see he would have to finish this on his own.
So be it, he thought, his lips pulling back to bare his teeth. This is my fight anyway. Let them all see what happens to someone who threatens my Josie.
Askelon struggled to his feet, pulling Josie with him. His eyes darted around wildly, as though he was looking for a way out, but there was nowhere to go.
"Surrender," he said, his voice cracking on the word.
"To who?" Verikan stepped closer. "You aren't in charge here, even you know that. I am your prince, and you will surrender to me now or I will end you."
Askelon hissed an angry denial, but the look in his eyes showed Verikan the truth. The fear there, the doubt, made it clear that Askelon saw no way to salvage his position, but his pride left him no way to back down.
It's better this way. If he surrendered now, I'd just have to kill him after a trial. What other punishment can there be for treason like his?
Carefully, Verikan prowled forward. His bones ached from the impact of the fall, and Askelon had Josie hostage. He couldn't risk something happening to her, not now.
He looked into her eyes and saw the trust there. Fear, too — but she trusted him to make this right, to save her people and his. It warmed his heart to see that, and he knew he couldn't let her down.
"Another step closer and I tear out her throat," Askelon said. "Your Highness, you have to understand that I did this for our people."
"You did this for yourself," Verikan snarled, keeping his distance and looking for a chance to strike. "You usurped the authority of the throne to start a war against my wishes, a war that would set two species against each other. That might kill us all. And now you hide behind threats to my ma
te rather than facing me as a dragon should."
He could feel the eyes of his warriors on him, and their confusion. They wouldn't be any help, not until this standoff was resolved — and by then it would be too late for their help to matter. But as long as they weren't helping his enemies, he could control the situation.
"If you harm her, I will kill you before her blood reaches the ground," Verikan promised. "There is no way for you to win this, Askelon. Give up while you still have some dignity left."
"I can still do this. You can still lead a race of warriors," Askelon said, looking around nervously. "Neither of us want to see this human dead, Your Highness."
Verikan tried circling, but the scientist kept a wary eye on him, preventing him from getting close enough to pounce. Josie shivered in her captor's grip, tense and waiting, but there was no way forward. The stalemate locked the three of them together, no one able to get the upper hand.
Eventually he'll give me a chance, Verikan thought, his predator's patience settling over him. He could wait if he had to — the slightest slip on Askelon's part and he'd be there to rescue Josie. Askelon didn't have any rescue coming.
Askelon's tongue darted out to wet his lips, and Verikan could see he knew that too. The scientist wasn't willing to simply wait for his doom. With his free hand Askelon fumbled at his belt, activating a communicator.
Mordrak's voice answered, terse and annoyed. "What is it? I'm busy here."
"The prince is free, launch now," Askelon snarled quickly, eyes lighting in relief and triumph. "Start the war with what you have."
Distracted by the call, his grip on Josie's throat loosened. That was all the opportunity she and Verikan needed. As Verikan leaped forward, Josie lifted her foot and stamped down on Askelon's instep with all her weight. The spacesuit's studded boot hit hard, leaving Askelon howling in pain as Verikan reached him.
Grabbing the scientist's wrist, Verikan wrenched it away from Josie's throat. With his free hand, he punched past her and felt Askelon's nose break under his fist.
