Unexpected Hostage (Unexpected Series Book 1)

by Layla Stone

  The Bolark bellowed. “You are without honor!” The male fired his weapon, hitting the others in front of him as he aimed for Rannn. He kept shooting until his own crewmen finally subdued him.

  Wrists and ankles secured, the admiral twisted, cursing the captain for infecting his space station with mutiny. “You will go down in history as the worst officer in history! They will all know when I tell them what you’ve done.”

  Another Yunkin walked up to Rannn, ignoring Sci altogether. “Our admiral was wrong to give a death sentence to your crew, but just so we’re clear, I don’t like you or your people, and would appreciate you off my space station as soon as possible.”

  “As soon as we are cleared by the Admiral High End, my crew and I are gone.”

  The Yunkin nodded before looking down at Sci. “You will tell your Cerebral to release my crewmen. Now.”

  “Sci,” was all Rannn said.

  Sci released them.

  “Your team will be escorted to your rooms instead of the brig. My one gift to your team for not attacking when anyone else would have.”

  Sci watched as Rannn’s chest puffed out in pride.

  “The admiral was not wrong, and I will document all I have seen you do since you have been aboard. You have withheld information, set your own rules, and broken many of ours. Not to mention letting a prisoner go free.”

  Rannn chuffed. “Don’t blame me for your crew’s incompetence. If they became complacent and didn’t follow procedure, that’s on them; not me or my team.”

  The Yunkin sneered. “I hope the courts take away your title and dismantle your little outcast team of offenders.”

  “You can hope all you want, but nothing’s going to happen. You can count on that.” And then Rannn’s large hand came down on Sci’s back, and the captain pushed him forward. “I’ll take this one back myself. No need for anyone to get trigger-happy.”

  Quietly walking side by side, Sasha’s chest started vibrating. Sci knew that it wasn’t fear but mirth. Sasha was pleased with the captain and wanted to hoot in his honor. Sci, on the other hand, thought the captain was a tad arrogant.

  In the rounded hall, Sci asked, “Do you honestly believe the court session will go as you hope?”

  Rannn shrugged. “My first and main goal is to get my crew off this starsforsaken station before I slap everyone for acting like a bunch of scumsucking Bolarks.”

  ***

  Entering into their cabin, the door shut, and Sasha moved to Sci’s cot. He followed her down and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, making it so they were facing each other.

  Sasha sniffed before saying, “You saw the things that she did to me, didn’t you?”

  “I did. Are you upset about that?” He asked because he didn’t know. Her emotions were all over the place, and it was impossible to pinpoint her thoughts.

  She moved her head into his chest, and he could feel her body shake. She was crying again. “I feel bad that you had to see that. My mom almost died from watching it.” Her voice broke on the last word.

  With Sasha was the only place Sci wanted to be, yet it was killing him at the same time. His Terran was suffering. “What can I do to help you?” He couldn’t push away the images, she had already done that. And since her mom wasn’t awake yet, he didn’t want to add on to Sasha’s guilt—as irrational as it was.

  “Did you mean what you said earlier? Do you love me?” Sasha asked.

  Pulling her chin so she could see his eyes, he answered, “Am I loving you incorrectly? Is there something I’m doing wrong for you to doubt it?”

  She blinked several times to stop a new wave of tears. “No, you’re here with me, and I wouldn’t want anyone else. But I was wondering if Cerebrals love differently.”

  It was a valid question. One Sci had to think about. “Cerebrals are not taught to love at all. Not like this, not this level of emotion or the connection I feel to you. We are taught to be thoughtful and inclusive. Are you afraid I will change the way I feel about you?”

  She hesitated. “It crossed my mind, yes, but I know that was nonsense. My fears are getting away from me. Can we go into another memory? I want to be somewhere else.”

  Sci kissed the side of Sasha’s forehead and took her to his planet to show her where he worked and the large building he’d been born in.

  ***

  The next morning, Sasha’s mom woke up. She was still in Ansel’s room, but Sci was playing tele-recorder between the two.

  “Tell her I love her so much, and I’m so sorry I left. I shouldn’t have abandoned her. I’m such a bad daughter.”

  Sci sent an image to Sasha’s mom, a picture of them hugging with big smiles.

  Her mother wanted to know in no particular order:

  If her daughter was safe?

  What was going to happen to them?

  Where they were going to live?

  Was her daughter a pilot?

  Why was she in the same room as a man…

  Sci remembered the constant worry Sasha had had when he first met her and felt that not answering Sasha’s mom would be the best option. Not to mention that Sci didn’t have the answers to two of her questions. He sent another picture of her and Sasha hugging, but this time, he added an image of them playing speed.

  Joan’s mind laughed at the visions. Especially when he made sure to make Sasha win the game.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  The Captain’s Gift

  Rannn followed Sci inside their cabin. The captain waited by the door as Sci laid Sasha down. When Sci noticed that the captain had not turned to leave, Sci offered him a seat at the small table near the rear of the cabin. Sasha didn’t stay lying down. Instead, she pushed herself up and faced the back, listening silently and hoping to be included in whatever plan the captain had.

  Once Rannn and Sci were seated on their chairs, the captain said, “You lasted longer than I estimated, and you didn’t kill anyone.”

  “Did you know the admiral planned to kill us?” Sci hoped Rannn didn’t. But he would never truly know because Sci felt obligated to honor the male’s privacy.

  “I assumed he was going to do something, but I didn’t think he would be stupid enough to actually try.”

  Sci looked back at Sasha and sent her images of her being pregnant and Rannn looking at her. It was the only way he could think of to ask if it was okay to share the news.

  Sasha nodded.

  It was still a difficult thing to accept. Sci kept calling back the memories of when he’d first felt the tether. The child, connected to his mind from inside Sasha’s womb…it was curious and amazing. Sci couldn’t get over it. Taking a moment to get control of his emotions, he told Rannn, “Sasha was pregnant when she was kidnapped. She miscarried due to the torture she underwent.”

  Rannn winced. “I’m sorry. Did you two plan a family so soon?”

  Sci’s eyes narrowed. “So soon?”

  “The two of you haven’t known each other for very long. To start a family when your future is undetermined…or was it accidental?”

  It was unplanned. However, now that Sci was comfortable with the idea of having a child, he found he wanted one badly. He resented the captain for suggesting that it was wrong. “Our future is not undetermined. Sasha’s not leaving me, and I’m not leaving her. What comes next, no matter what happens, we will be together.”

  Rannn pointed over to the trash heap on their counter. “Not the tidiest of life partners.”

  Sci didn’t like what he was hearing. “You’re being rude, Captain. Your only warning.”

  Rannn took him in, assessing him and his threat, which were both very real. Tapping his finger on the table Rannn said, “I like you, Sci, and I like how you take everything seriously.”

  Sasha’s foot was shaking so fast it nearly vibrated the room. Sci knew she was desperate to hear something solid. Sci obliged her by asking, “What’s your plan? Or, more importantly, does it involve
us?”

  Rannn leaned back, lacing his fingers together and letting his hands rest on his stomach. “If it did? Would you stay?”

  “Yes,” Sasha blurted out, unable to keep herself sitting any longer. “I’d stay.” She wanted to stay. Sci didn’t have the heart to tell her that the Federation wasn’t going to let him stay, he was going to be approved to go home, and she would follow. She’d promised she would.

  Looking as casual as ever, Rannn asked, “And what about your mother? What are her plans? She can’t stay here, not when I’m trying to get everyone off.”

  Sasha rubbed the inside of her hand. “I will find her somewhere safe to live. That’s all I want.”

  Sci wanted that, too. He just wasn’t absolutely sure about bringing Sasha and Joan back to the Cerebral planet. But there were other places to live. He would find the right place for his family.

  “That’s all you want? After all Sci has done for you?”

  Sasha hooked her hands on her hips. “Sci already told you we’re together. Your plan would have to include both of us.”

  Rannn nodded thoughtfully at no one in particular. After a couple of minutes, he said, “Yunkin families are different. Couples do not marry for love. They marry for duty. Not every Yunkin male or female can marry. They would have to be physically approved, take the set courses, and they have to be Federation members. All others are rejected. To us, marriage is a lifelong honor.”

  Sci could sense Sasha’s sadness.

  Rannn waited a moment or two and looked between Sci and Sasha. “If you mean it, that you to are together forever, I can marry you in the traditional way. I will conduct the ceremony myself. This evening.” The captain had lost all the heaviness in his tone. Oddly, he sounded perky. Almost pushy.

  “Ceremony? Today?” Sci could sense the change in his female. She liked the sound of what the captain was saying.

  Rannn glanced back up at her. “Today. You’re going to want to make it official. Trust me.”

  Sci saw Sasha’s mind begin to picture things he didn’t understand. White dresses, lines of people, and rings. “We’ll do it.”

  Sci couldn’t respond in the same enthusiastic way. To Sasha, he said, “As a Cerebral, the connection I have with you is already complete. You are mine, and I am yours. We shared flesh and thoughts and blood. I see no reason for a ceremony.” His kind wasn’t tribal, being official or not wouldn’t matter. And since they were most likely going to be escorted out of Federation space, it didn’t seem to be relevant.

  Sasha laughed darkly and then abruptly stopped. “We’re doing a wedding.”

  “Sasha—”

  “It’s a Terran tradition, and even though I don’t live there, my family is from there. Well, my mom’s side, and it’s something special for us. You don’t have to do anything but show up and agree to be my husband, which is pretty much what you’ve already agreed to just without the title.”

  She had him at a Terran tradition.

  He took her right hand from her hip and felt the tension. “You’re right, I have agreed to be your husband. I didn’t realize the depth of this tradition, we’ll get married.”

  She smiled, and he felt it in his soul. He pulled her onto his lap after adjusting his seat, and they both looked at the captain, who had sat forward, intently interested in what they had just said to each other.

  Rannn pulled out a black ball and handed it to Sci. “Another Terran tradition is giving a gift to the new couple. I’d like you to have this.”

  Sci took the small, fist-sized, smooth, metallic ball. “What is it?” Sasha took it from Sci’s hand and rolled it in her palm.

  Rannn answered, “It is called a rong. It’s customary for a father to give one to his son when he takes a wife. So, I guess my gift is really a Yunkin tradition. Regardless, the ball is advanced technology and runs its own program. Just set it on a shelf, and it will learn the family and tailor itself to you.”

  Sci was confused by everything the male had just said—from wife to son to family, but most of all regarding the description of the object. “But what is it?” Sci had no idea what it was or even a memory of reading about something like it. The Yunkins were a very traditional race. For Rannn to give Sci something he was supposed to give to his son astounded him. “What about your own son?”

  Rannn shook his head. “I don’t have a family. Not anymore.”

  Sci paused. “I’m sorry.”

  Rannn pointed at the ball. “It’s different for each unit. For mine, the rong collected videos of my wife when I was away. It would send me something every week. Straight to my messages.”

  He had a wife? Sasha thought.

  “What happened?” Sci asked.

  Rannn grimaced sadly. “I’m widowed. I learned she died while my status was reported as dead. We didn’t have any children. We planned to wait until I completed my obligation to the Federation.”

  Swallowing hard at the level of value the object represented, Sci said, “Thank you for the gift.” Then he turned to Sasha and said, “Sasha and I appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”

  Rannn slapped the table goodnaturedly. “I will be back in an hour with Pax, Ansel, and Sands to make this all official. I just have to find the acting admiral and get approval for the event.”

  “He doesn’t like you, though. How are you going to get approved?” Sasha asked while handing the rong back to Sci.

  With a gleam in his eye, Rannn said, “That’s never stopped me before.”

  ***

  Rannn conducted the ceremony.

  Sasha’s mom walked Sasha from the cleaner to the front of the room where Rannn and Sci waited. Sasha’s mom had sewn a dress. It looked…awkward on Sasha, who he was used to wearing pants.

  When she looked up at him, he saw the uncertainty in her mind. She was worried about her dress. Wanted to know if he liked it. Reassuring her, he whispered, “You look amazing. Absolutely beautiful.”

  Sasha smiled so hard, she had to wipe a single tear from her eye. “I love the crap out of you right now.”

  After the ceremony, everyone stayed for the limited refreshments they could round up.

  Pax hugged Sasha and handed her a small gift with a wink. Sci didn’t like that, but when Sasha opened the box, he decided he liked it very much. A necklace with a charm combining both his planet’s symbol and Earth’s. It was thoughtful, and Sci respected the gesture.

  During the feast, Pax’s Minky screen chirped. He jumped up to check the message and cursed. “And the bad timing award goes to the Federation’s court marshals.” He turned to Rannn and said, “Your hearing is in two hours.”

  The small group finished eating, returned to their cabins to change into the Federation uniforms, and one and a half hours later, they were all present for the hearing.

  The large conference room had all the screens facing them. Under her breath, Sasha asked, “Are you nervous?”

  Sci wasn’t, but he knew she was. Sci wanted to say something that would ease her mind. “No. I have better things to worry about.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Collecting A Crew

  Sci was once more in the large room with a new judge, lawyers, and jurors. They all introduced themselves over the video screen and went over the charges for the Admiral High End.

  The judge spoke first. “I am Admiral Orin, and I will be the judge for the following proceedings.” Sci listened to the long list of criminal charges the previous admiral was being charged with. By the sound of it, Rannn had collected quite a bit of damning evidence. The Bolark admiral stood in the front of the room, no longer in restraints, but Yunkins stood at the exits guarding against escape.

  Standing in a line behind the admiral was Rannn. Next to him was his recovered officer, Yon. After that was Pax, Sasha, Sci, and then Ansel at the end. Everyone was in their Federation uniform minus Sasha and himself.

  The court lawyer defending the admiral was just as emotio
nal and determined to get the admiral free of all charges as Sci’s lawyer had been for him. But the prosecuting lawyer had mounds of evidence that couldn’t be overlooked, and in less than two hours, the admiral was removed from the room and sentenced to the Federation disciplinary barracks. He was stripped of his rank and sentenced to twenty-five years.

  Admiral Orin took a moment to wait as two Yunkins escorted the Bolark out. The lawyers, and jurors that joined via Quantum Connecting and stopped transmitting. The screens were blue with small letting that read: new court officials connecting soon.

  While the court was transitioning, admiral Orin rubbed his forehead from side to side, then took a drink of something clear set it back down.

  New faces showed on the monitors and Orin tapped his video screen, motioning to the captain, Rannn took two steps forward toward the judge. “I have read your request to regain a ship and return to your duties in the Jedego System. As it stands, the new admiral has yet to arrive on Pegna so I will address this request.”

  The captain put his hands behind his back and stood tall. “I’d appreciate that, Admiral.”

  Ignoring his comment, the admiral said, “Captain Rannn, how old are you?”

  “One hundred and twenty.”

  “So young? Yet you’ve accomplished so much. How long have you been a captain?”

  “Twenty years.”

  “One hundred being the minimum age to earn that title. You must have done very well.” Admiral Orin looked pleased. “What happened to your ship and crew?”

  Sci knew the story, but it affected him every time he heard it. Captain Rannn very respectfully explained, “The engines failed, and we crash-landed on the desert Angny planet where we were captured by several inhabitants. They left the dead for their animals and took the remaining crew inside a mountain where the females were used for bedsport and died slowly. I can still hear their screams. The strongest males were all chained and used for fighting sport where they all fought to the death. The exact time we were in cages was seven months, thirteen days, and two hours. We were rescued by a female Angny and her brother. Pax, Ansel, and Yon are the last of my crew.”