by S. E. Smith
“I’m sorry, Destin,” Tim said quietly, leaning forward in his seat.
“For what?” Destin asked.
Tim was silent for a brief second. He glanced down at his clasped hands. Destin could see the muscle throbbing in the other man’s jaw. Tim glanced at him again and released a deep breath.
“You really care about her, don’t you?” Tim asked instead.
This time it was Destin’s turn to be silent. He could feel both Tim and Mason’s eyes on him. Glancing out the front windshield, he debated if he should admit how much he did care. Hell, he had just accepted it today. The thought of losing her before he had a chance to tell her sent a shaft of physical pain shooting through his body.
“I love her,” he finally murmured, turning back to look at the two men he considered to be friends. “She… She’s strong and loyal… and has an incredible sense of humor when you get to know her.” Tim sat back, his face reflecting his shock. Destin looked at Mason. The big man surprised him. Mason had a crooked grin on his face. “What are you grinning at?” Destin demanded, frowning at the big man.
“I kind of thought you might have fallen for her when you came close to whipping my ass earlier in the conference room. You deserve love, Destin. If the blue lady makes you happy, I’ll stand by you,” Mason promised.
Destin pressed his lips together and nodded. He saw Tim give him a nod in agreement as well. Destin refocused on the scene outside the window. They were beginning their descent over the base. He could see the markings of the landing pad. His left hand clenched on the small tote bag that Troy gave him. He unzipped it and began removing the weapons inside, checking each, and fitting them around his body. As far as he was concerned, whoever in the hell attacked Sula and Beth made a critical error. It was personal now.
*.*.*
* * *
Prymorus stared at the report coming in from the vidcom attached to one of the men on the team. As if in slow motion, he saw the human woman with her arms raised, a weapon held firmly between her hands. A moment later, the man wearing the recorder fell back and Prymorus could only see the dark sky and the flashes of light from the Trivator transports. With a press of a button, the vidcom shut down and the circuits dissolved when he activated the self-destruct sequence programmed into it. He had assigned the men to retrieve the Usoleum Councilor, and once again, an elite team was defeated as if they were unskilled civilians.
Earlier in the day, he instructed the Raftian to install a surveillance module in the Councilor’s living quarters when the male told him he would be on the Trivator base doing some electrical repairs. Rising out of his seat, he walked around the desk. Retris stood at attention. Prymorus walked by him and out of the building they were using. If Retris was not so good at what he did, Prymorus would have taken his frustration out on the man. Instead, he drew in a deep breath and glared up at the stars.
Retris silently followed him, standing a short distance away. Prymorus didn’t know if Retris instinctively knew to give him the space he needed, or if it was because the other male realized it would be safer. In the distance, Prymorus could hear the sounds of construction continuing throughout the city.
“Find the Raftian and the Jawtaw. Bring them to me,” Prymorus ordered.
“Yes, sir,” Retris replied, turning to order one of his men to complete the task.
“Personally, Retris,” Prymorus stated. “I want you to find them and bring them here.”
“Sir… Your safety,” Retris began, remaining still when Prymorus swirled with an unexpected savagery. The male next to Retris raised his hand to touch the long blade protruding from his throat, a low gurgling sound escaping him before he collapsed on the ground next to Retris. “I’ll leave immediately.”
“See that you do,” Prymorus replied, walking over and pulling the blade from the dead male’s throat as he passed.
The sense that time was running out struck him hard. It had taken a very long time, and a great deal of coordination, to join the Waxian and Drethulan forces together. While the Drethulans were the ones to approach the Warlords, he was the only one that had recognized the full potential of their becoming allies.
The Drethulans were to enter this part of the galaxy within hours from the opposite side of the sun, using the huge mass and its radiation to help cover their arrival. It was one reason he sent the team in. He wanted Ikera and Parks alive. Once the Drethulans arrived, there was no guarantee they would survive the invasion. Unfortunately, the dead bodies of his team would alert the Trivators to the fact that a Waxian force was on the planet.
There was a tremendous military and psychological effect riding on the success of taking this planet. It would be the first test of the pods made from the unique ore mined on Dises V. If the metal proved to be impenetrable to the Trivator’s weapons, it would allow the Drethulan and Waxian forces a superior edge in the battle against the Alliance. Even if the warships’ shields failed, the hulls would not.
Prymorus had hired the former Usoleum Councilor, Badrick, recognizing the other male’s weaknesses and using them against him. The Usoleum was instrumental in negotiating with the Disesians. The Disesians had wanted additional protection for their mining colony when a new ore was discovered. Prymorus realized the ore was instrumental if he wanted to negotiate with the Drethulans.
He had discovered the Drethulans’ plans to seize control of the Alliance – and Prymorus wanted to be a part of it. The Waxians brought weapons, ships, and their mercenary services to the table, but they couldn’t build enough without more ore, and no mining colony currently possessed a sufficient quantity to meet their needs unless he took over the running of the mines.
Getting enough ore to build the Drethulan pods took several years, in large part because of the resistance of several former military personnel on Dises V, including Commander Atlas, the former leader of the Western Region and the suspected leader of the rebel group on Dises V.
But the Drethulans needed more than just ore, mercenaries, weapons, and ships to take on the Alliance, they needed to learn the Trivators’ weaknesses, and Prymorus was determined to make himself invaluable in this aspect, too. He was going to be a very important man in the new order.
Especially if he got that ring! There had been another discovery on Dises V that captured his attention besides the ore. A find that very few knew about. A tiny deposit of red crystals and a mummified body were discovered in one of the mines. The crystals fascinated Prymorus. The power locked within the blood red stones were incredible. That power, if he could harness it, would give him a decided edge over his fellow Waxian warlords, and the Drethulans. He had been furious when both the crystals and the mummy vanished.
Deep down, he suspected that damn Kassisan, Dakar, or perhaps even Badrick, was somehow involved in the disappearance. Ikera’s comment earlier this morning about a ring possessing a blood red stone, possibly made from the same crystals found in the mine on Dises V, gave him hope that he might find the key to the missing energy crystals and the secrets to the unusual mummy.
* * *
*.*.*
* * *
Destin jumped out of the transport and jogged over to where he saw Cutter waiting. Tim, Mason, and Trig followed him. Cutter’s face was grim. Destin nodded in greeting, matching Cutter’s pace when he turned on his heel and began walking across to a land transport.
“How are they?” Destin asked, sliding into the front next to Cutter.
Cutter briefly glanced at him before focusing on activating the transport and pulling away from the landing pad. “They will heal,” he replied in an abrupt tone.
“How could there be an attack here – on the base?” Destin demanded, his knuckles almost white from his grip on the side of the transport. “There used to be better security.”
“A section of the shield was rerouted and the fencing was cut near the Councilor’s living quarters. We are assessing who had access to the power grid to do that. This was done from the inside,” Cutter stated, tur
ning onto a long road that led to the main buildings. “I accept responsibility. Councilor Ikera stated she only needed to gather a few things from the residence that was assigned to her. Both she and the human female insisted they would be safe since they were on the base and would not be long. Another issue required my attention. I thought they had already returned to the tower,” he added in a low tone.
“What do you know?” Destin asked, glancing at the dark buildings they passed.
“There were three intruders, all Waxians,” Cutter stated. “It was obvious they were not expecting to encounter the resistance they did. Remind me never to upset the human female, Beth. In fact, I have learned it is better to never upset any of them,” he muttered, releasing the steering long enough to absently rub at his right hand as if remembering something.
“What did Beth do?” Trig asked, leaning forward.
Cutter briefly glanced over his shoulder at Trig’s tight face. “She killed two of them,” he said, slowing the transport to a stop in front of the medical building. “Patch is with both females at this time.”
Destin slid out of the transport and strode to the front door. A warrior standing near the entrance opened the door for the group. He paused inside, unsure of which way he should go. Cutter nodded for them to follow him through the doors and down a long corridor to the left.
“Councilor Ikera said she found a surveillance device in a lighting fixture. They realized they were in danger and were leaving when they were attacked. From the little Councilor Ikera related, they were sent to bring her to a Waxian called General Achler. I assume she was referring to Prymorus Achler,” Cutter explained.
“Prymorus!” Trig hissed, slowing to a stop in the corridor.
“You know who that is?” Destin asked, turning to face Trig.
Trig grimly nodded. “Yes, he was on Dises V. He’s the one that attacked the medical compound and kidnapped Taylor Sampson, Saber’s Amate,” he explained.
“That’s where I heard the name before,” Destin muttered with a frown.
“Destin, do you mind telling us what the fuck is going on?” Tim asked, resting his hands on his hips.
Destin closed his eyes and ran a hand over them before dropping it and looking back at Tim and Mason. He started to explain before Trig went ballistic earlier today – or was it yesterday? Hell, he was so out of sync with his days at the moment he wasn’t sure which was which.
“I’ll explain if you like, Destin,” Cutter said. “I know you would like to check on the women.”
“I want to see Bethany,” Trig stated, the muscle in his jaw working.
Cutter looked startled for a moment before he nodded. “We’ll be in the break room down the hall and on the left,” he said.
“Sounds good,” Destin replied. “Which rooms are the women in?”
“The Counselor is in the third room on the right. Beth is in the room straight across from it,” Cutter replied.
Destin turned and headed down the hallway. He stopped, torn by what he should do and what he wanted to do. He wanted to see Sula first, but knew once he was with her, he wouldn’t be able to leave. He paused, watching as Trig opened the door and stepped into the room. Beth was chatting with the Trivator healer.
“Patch,” Destin murmured, glancing from the man to Beth. “Hey, Beth.”
“Hi Destin,” Beth greeted him with a tired grin. “I got shot by an alien. Grandma is going to have a fit.”
“Yeah, I know. I didn’t even think to tell Mary about this,” Destin admitted, stepping into the room.
Trig had moved to the end of the bed where he picked up the tablet to read the medical report. Destin’s lips twitched when Patch leaned over and pulled it out of Trig’s hands with a raised eyebrow. Beth’s tired laugh told him she did not miss the move either. Destin watched her lay her head back against the propped up pillows.
“I’m glad you didn’t,” Beth admitted with a weary sigh. “She wold be jumping all over me for getting hurt.”
“No, she would be proud of you,” Destin murmured. “These aliens have some pretty good medicine. You’ll be kicking butt before you know it.”
“I know whatever Patch gave me for the pain is some good shit,” Beth grinned, her gaze moving to Trig when he walked around to the other side of the bed. “Are you giving Destin trouble again, big guy? Don’t make me have to ‘open a can of whoop ass on you’, as Grandma likes to say.”
Destin grinned, relieved that Beth would be fine. He glanced at Patch when the healer murmured he would return later to check on Beth. Following Patch out of the room, he closed the door and glanced across the hall at the room where Sula was located.
“How is Councilor Ikera?” Destin asked, sliding his hands into his pockets.
“As Chelsea would say, ‘lucky to be alive’,” Patch commented. “She took a blast to her shoulder. I was able to repair most of the torn tissue. She’ll need a few weeks of rest before she is fully recovered. I would suggest that someone in her condition avoid getting shot.”
“Someone in her condition? Is she ill?” Destin asked in concern, glancing at the door again.
“Being pregnant is not an illness. She can carry on with her daily activities as long as they don’t involve almost getting killed,” Patch stated in a dry tone.
“Did you… did you say pregnant?” Destin asked, a wave of shock hitting him with the force of a tsunami.
“I am not familiar with Usoleum anatomy, but I would suspect from the readings that she isn’t far along,” Patch murmured, glancing down at the tablet in his hand and touching it. “I’ll have to access the database to be sure.”
Destin pulled his right hand out of the front pocket of his jeans and ran it over his face before rubbing the back of his neck. His mind swirled with the knowledge. In all honesty, he did not even think of the possibility of Sula getting pregnant. He did not know why he thought it would matter that they were two different species. After all, so were Kali and Razor, and they had Ami.
“Does she know?” Destin asked, looking at Patch again. “Does Sula know she’s pregnant?”
“Yes,” Patch replied with a pained expression. “I left Chelsea with her when she burst into tears. Chelsea thought having another female with her would be better than my attempts to quiet her.”
Destin swallowed and absently nodded. He slowly walked toward the door. Pausing with his hand on the doorknob, he turned to Patch again.
“Will the baby be alright if the father is human and not Usoleum?” Destin asked in a quiet voice.
“Human…. Ah, yes, well… I’ll do some research to be sure, but I suspect there shouldn’t be an issue, otherwise she would not have been able to conceive in the first place,” Patch said with a curious expression. “I assume you are the father?”
“I think it is safe to say that,” Destin muttered. “Thanks for taking care of her.”
Patch bowed his head and strode down the hallway. Destin watched the other man disappear into a room down the hall before he turned his attention to the door again. He ran his hand through his short hair then drew in several deep breaths and released them to calm his stomach.
He knocked on the door and opened it when he heard a woman’s voice. He immediately recognized the cheerful, dark face of Chelsea, the resident human nurse and motherly figure who kept the Trivators, particularly Patch, on their toes.
“I…,” Destin started to say, but his voice died when his gaze locked with Sula’s watery one. His heart melted when he saw her swollen face. “You are the most beautiful woman in the world,” he whispered, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.
“Now you’re going to make me cry again,” Sula wailed, burying her face in the small towel she was holding.
“Honey, you just keep on telling her that,” Chelsea said, walking around the bed and patting Destin on the shoulder. “Go give that girl a hug, she needs it right now, but be gentle with her shoulder.”
Destin nodded, walking slowly toward the b
ed. He heard Chelsea quietly exit the room, closing the door firmly behind her. He sank down on the edge of the bed and lifted a hand to slide it along her jaw. She sniffed and looked at him, her eyes red and her nose a dark blue.
“Destin…,” Sula sniffed. “I… We… I’m….”
“I know,” Destin murmured, leaning forward. “I love you, Sula.”
He caught Sula’s soft gasp with his lips. He gently teased her lips, waiting for her to open for him. A soft whimper escaped her and he immediately released her, afraid he had hurt her.
“No,” she whispered, lifting her good arm and wrapping her hand around his neck to pull him close again. “Don’t stop.”
Destin’s soft chuckle filled the room. This was his Sula – his alien mermaid. The woman with eyes of fire and skin the color of glacier ice. A woman who could fire his blood faster than any other woman he had ever known, could fight like a warrior, and cried ugly.
“I love you,” he murmured, caressing her cheek and gazing at her with passion-filled eyes.
“I love you, Destin Parks,” Sula whispered, a teary-eyed smile curving her lips before it faded and she bit her lip. “I should warn you, though.”
“Warn me about what?” Destin asked, lifting her chin and rubbing her bottom lip when she released it.
Sula gazed at him with a worried expression. “My father and brothers will probably try to kill you,” she said with an apologetic look.
“Let them try,” Destin murmured, leaning forward to kiss her deeply again.
Her family was the least of his worries at the moment. Drawing back, he twisted so that he could lean back against the pillows with her and hold her. Thankfully, the beds were designed to hold a Trivator warrior, so they were both longer and wider than a normal hospital bed. He carefully wrapped his arm around her when she sat forward enough for him to do so. Once he was settled, she lay back against him.
