by Linda Mooney
Dox paused in what he was doing and raised his face, blinking his eyes as his mind shifted so he could refocus. Kelen smiled to let him know it was not an emergency.
“I need you to do something for me.”
The little man waited without replying. Kelen pointed to the downed Seneecian.
“I want you to ask Five if he can tell whether or not Plat is awake and pretending to be asleep, or if he is actually unconscious.”
A quick exchange between the Terran and the Jeef got her an answer. “Not asleep, but not awake.”
She raised an eyebrow. Sandow overheard the exchange and crouched on the other side of Kelen. “What does that mean?”
“Not dreaming,” Dox explained further.
Kelen turned to the physician, who scratched the back of his head. “So he’s still unconscious?” she tried to interpret.
“Would seem that way. Why are you asking Five?”
“Because the furries seem to be more aware,” she told him and turned back to Dox. “Please have Five let us know when he detects signs of the Seneecian waking up.”
The little man nodded and passed along her request to the fuzzy alien. Five chirped in reply and resumed fiddling with whatever it was he held in his three hands.
Rather than get to her feet, Kelen crawled on hands and knees over to where Kyber sat on the floor near the front door, his long legs splayed out in front of him. Everyone else had also taken a seat, leaning their backs to the wall as they waited for the others to return.
“I’ll take first shift, if the rest of you want to catch forty winks,” Sandow offered. “If I see Plat starting to stir, or if Five there gives me a signal, I’ll raise the hue and cry.”
Kelen sighed and pressed closer to her husband. The chance to get some well-deserved rest was a siren’s call, made sweeter from the knowledge that she was with him, and that they were safe. Laying her head against his arm, she closed her eyes. “Thanks, Doc. I’ll take you up on that offer. Somebody wake me when it’s my shift.”
A soft beeping sound suddenly went off in the room. Kelen’s eyes flew open, her sleepiness shredded by the unexpected and strange noise.
The repetitious din was coming from the contraption in front of Dox. The little man stared at the thin rectangular box sitting on the floor, then looked up at the others. A delighted grin spread across his face. “Got it!”
“Got what?” Kyber responded and pointed to the box. “What is that thing?”
“Transmitter.”
“Transmitter to what, Dox?” Kelen asked. “What’s it transmitting?”
“Help signal.”
“Help signal?” Sandow echoed. “Where is it transmitting to?”
Dox pointed overhead. “Out there.”
Kleesod turned to Kyber. “Think it will work?”
“Who’s out there to hear it?” Sandow continued. “Who could it possibly reach? I thought we went through a freaking wormhole!”
Kyber slowly shook his head. “I guess we will find out. Maybe. Someday.”
Chapter 24
Transmission
She’d fallen asleep, unable to remain awake any longer after having a warm bowl of oatmeal. Curling up behind her husband, Kelen felt her worry and stress ebbing away, to be replaced with their combined warmth. Her leg had ceased throbbing. Her womb was quiet. And her hand didn’t protest too much if she was careful with the way she gripped things.
Kyber reached around and ran the tips of his claws through her tangled hair as she drifted off. She smiled at his touch. Sooner or later they would be able to be alone again. Once they had their own apartment, they could enjoy each other’s bodies in private. She was looking forward to it.
She awoke when Cooter and Massapa returned with a heavy load of clickers. Cooter had removed his uniform, stripping down to his skivvies, and the two men had used it like a sack, stuffing it with as many of the little creatures as they could manage.
With Dox’s help, Five showed them how to clean and cook the aliens. The furry emphasized removing all the claws first, then leaving the flat, stone-like carapace open as the clickers roasted over the pit of fiery rocks.
Sandow took possession of the claws to see if he could extract the poison from them. “If I can formulate an antidote from the venom, we’ll have that as insurance in case any of us are stung again. Kelen, can you lend me an extra hand here?”
“Sure.” She went to wash her hands, throwing some water on her face to help her wake up. When she returned, she noticed several people were missing. “Where’s Fullgrath?” Another realization struck her as she realized someone else was glaringly missing. “Where’s Plat?” she demanded, giving Kyber a worried stare.
The Seneecian pointed behind her. She whirled around as the third door opened and Kleesod entered from the apartment next door. Beyond the man she could see Massapa standing guard over Plat, who had finally regained consciousness. As Kleesod came through the doorway, he stopped and slapped a hand on a panel, and the portal remained open.
“We moved him next door, but he will remain under scrutiny at all times.”
“You will pay for your subordination!” a voice yelled from the other room.
Cooter snorted. “You might want to reconsider keeping that door open if he keeps that up.”
“Kyber! Kyber Nau!”
Kyber motioned to Kleesod. “Gag him.”
“Gratefully,” the Seneecian chuckled and exited the room.
Kelen sat next to Sandow and waited for the doctor’s instruction. Over by the fire pit Gaveer and Mellori were overseeing the clickers sizzling on the hot rocks. The smell of the little creatures cooking made her stomach rumble. “God, I hope they taste as good as they smell,” she murmured to Sandow.
“You and me both. I did an analysis of the meat, and it shouldn’t give us any gastrointestinal distress.”
“How soon before we eat?” Jules inquired. He was sitting beside Dox where the two of them—no, the three of them. Five was sitting on Jules’s knee, his head bent over the tablet lying on the floor. The three of them appeared to be calibrating the transmitter with the tablet.
Mellori glanced up from where he stood by the fire pit. “Soon. Doc said to be sure to cook the meat thoroughly.”
“Hey, Jules. How will we know if that transmitter reaches anyone? Does it talk back?” Cooter halfway teased.
“Sadly, no. Hey, you guys should be happy Dox got it to work. Don’t bust his chops because it’s only a one-way signal,” the ex-navigator answered.
Sandow set out a group of claws in front of her as Kelen smiled from the exchange. “I’m milking what poison I can from these, and I could use a little help.” He flashed her a smile. “Many hands make short work.”
Kelen chuckled. “My mother used to tell me that whenever she wanted me to lend a hand. What are we using to gather it? Do we have a vial or—”
The front door opened and Fullgrath stumbled in, out of breath. The man was wide-eyed as he gestured outside. “Guys! You gotta see this! Now!” Before anyone could ask, he raced back out of the apartment.
“Gaveer! Mellori! Kleesod! Massapa! You four stay here with Plat!” Kyber tersely ordered as Kelen and Sandow dashed out ahead of him. He quickly caught up with her, and together they continued to chase after the weapons master, who’d disappeared inside the tunnel leading to the orange chamber.
Fullgrath was waiting for them midway through the corridor. “This way!” he instructed, and got on his hands and knees to take the small interconnecting tunnel.
“Where is he going?” Kelen called out. “Anyone know?”
It was Cooter, coming up behind them, who answered. “I think he’s leading us to the pink cavern!”
Kelen glanced around to see if Jules had his tablet to confirm Cooter’s remark, but Kyber shoved her down onto her hands and knees and pushed her into the tunnel after Sandow.
They hurried through the narrow corridor, emerging into the next major tunnel. Sandow helped her to h
er feet, then took off after Fullgrath. When Kyber came through, she pointed which direction to go. “Tell the next person. Pass it on,” she instructed and proceeded to tail the doctor.
Within minutes she caught sight of the rosy light emanating from the watching room. Fullgrath’s body was outlined in the doorway as he waited for them to catch up. Kelen hung back for Kyber to join her, and together they rushed onto the ledge where everyone was gathering.
“Fullgrath?” Kyber gruffly asked.
The big man whirled around and pointed to the wall of screens to their left. “There! Look!”
“What are we looking at?” Sandow queried.
“What’s the hubbub?” Jules questioned.
Kelen spotted it the same time Fullgrath clarified. “Second row, third screen from the left!”
Everyone went silent, not so much because of what they were seeing on the six-sided monitor, but what it meant.
“Oh my God,” Cooter softly swore. “The transmitter worked. The transmitter worked!” The man whooped and jumped upward, brandishing his rifle over his head. “Holy shit! We’re saved!”
Sandow and Jules also danced around, shouting with joy.
Kelen’s eyes misted over. Pressing her hand to her mouth, she continued to stare, almost disbelieving, at the figures trudging through the snow and into the temple. From the angle of the camera, or whatever was viewing that area, it was difficult to see what species was approaching, but one thing was certain. They were bipedal, with two legs and two arms. They were definitely not of this world.
Kyber moved forward, approaching close to the drop-off. His eyes never wavered from the view screen. Walking up next to him, she slid an arm around his waist to hug him tightly.
“We have our miracle,” she told him. “We’re saved!”
“Perhaps,” her husband answered in a tight voice. His tone wasn’t jubilant. Neither did he appear to be as elated as everyone else.
She peered up at him. “What’s wrong? Why did you say that?” Another quick glance at the screen, and this time she felt the hairs on her head rise with the sudden fear threatening to overwhelm her.
Two of the figures moved further into the temple, finally giving them a clearer glimpse of their supposed saviors.
They were Seneecians, and they were wearing full battle gear.
About the Author:
Linda loves to write sensuous romance with a fantasy, paranormal, or science fiction flair. Her technique is often described as being as visual as a motion picture or graphic novel.
A wife, mother, grandmother, and retired Kindergarten and music teacher, she lives in a small south Texas town near the Gulf coast where she delves into other worlds filled with daring exploits, adventure, and intense love.
She has numerous best sellers, including 10 consecutive #1s. In 2009, she was named Whiskey Creek Press Torrid’s Author of the Year, and her book My Strength, My Power, My Love was named the 2009 WCPT Book of the Year. In 2011, her book Lord of Thunder was named the Epic Ebook “Eppie” Award Winner for Best Erotic Sci-Fi Romance.
She also writes naughty humorous romances under the name of Carolyn Gregg, horror under the pseudonym of Gail Smith, and elementary teacher workbooks as L. G. Mooney.
For more information about Linda Mooney books and titles, and to sign up for her newsletter, please visit her website.
http://www.LindaMooney.com
Other Science Fiction Romances by Linda Mooney
The Battle Lord Saga
The Battle Lord’s Lady
Her Battle Lord’s Desire
A Battle Lord’s Heart
One Battle Lord’s Fate
This Battle Lord’s Quest
Every Battle Lord’s Nightmare
Their Battle Lord’s Sacrifice
Captive Surrender (aka Beauty’s Alien Beast)
Deep
A Different Yesterday
The Final Pleasure
Star Girl Series
The Gifted
The Gifting
HeartFast Series
HeartFast
HeartCrystal
HeartStorm
His by Right
His Last Request
Knight of Darkness
The Thunder Trilogy
Lord of Thunder
Passion of Thunder
Wings of Thunder
Mine Until Midnight
My Strength, My Power, My Love
Neverwylde 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Rhea 41070
Runner’s Moon
Jebaral
Tiron
Simolif
Challa
Yarrolam
UnderSilver
Vall’s Will
X-Troller
Zonaton
Table of Contents
Title Page
Disclaimer
Chapter 1 - Furries
Chapter 2 - Five
Chapter 3 - Decision
Chapter 4 - Alternative
Chapter 5 - Close Call
Chapter 6 - Discovery
Chapter 7 - Signal
Chapter 8 - Return
Chapter 9 - Glyphs
Chapter 10 - Feed
Chapter 11 - Relocation
Chapter 12 - Reunion
Chapter 13 - Hiccup
Chapter 14 - Intelligence
Chapter 15 - Bath
Chapter 16 - Pure
Chapter 17 - Answers
Chapter 18 - Scout
Chapter 19 - Theory
Chapter 20 - Alert
Chapter 21 - Confrontation
Chapter 22 - Truce?
Chapter 23 - Transmitter
Chapter 24 - Transmission
About the Author
More Science Fiction Romances by Linda Mooney
