Stardust And Shadows

by Janelle Taylor

  “Maybe she was lying to scare us. Maybe this place is uninhabited.” Or inhabited with dangerous creatures and mutants like Luz. The thought of being ripped apart by predators caused her to shudder in panic. She stroked her lower abdomen and prayed for her child’s survival.

  “Oh, Jana, they’re going to come soon and … I’d rather die. Kill me, Jana; find some way to kill me. Don’t let those beasts rape me. Please.” Andrea began to sob and Jana tried to comfort her.

  After the auburn-haired female regained control, Jana voiced her thoughts aloud. “I doubt it would do much good to collect makeshift weapons; there will be too many of them to battle and no place to escape to in their world so that would only antagonize them. We should get out of this area as they’re sure to come to investigate for new arrivals, but I don’t know in which direction to head to elude them. I could walk us straight into their clutches. Just let me think a minute. I—”

  Jana went silent. She pushed greenery aside and let her gaze search the sky. When Andrea started to question her actions, Jana ordered her to listen. “The shuttle,” she said, “it’s coming back. Maybe Cass changed her mind. Maybe she did this to scare us.” Or maybe that evil and deviant bitch wants to hover and watch the action to make certain we’re … What to do, J.G.?

  Chapter Twenty

  “Maybe Canissia …” Jana went silent and stared as the craft made curious maneuvers to signal “rescue alert,” which Varian had explained to her on Luz. But was it a friendly shuttle?

  Andrea shook her arm. “What, Jana?” she demanded. “What is it?”

  “Just stay still and quiet. It might be a trick to draw us out of hiding, like the one she pulled at Darkar with those Androasian markings.”

  Jana peered through the verdant bushes. When the shuttle landed, the door opened and faces appeared. Her heart leapt with joy and relief. She grabbed Andrea’s hand and shook it in excitement. “It’s them! Let’s go before those evil prisoners arrive.”

  Varian jumped down the steps with Nigel and a security team in tow. His narrowed sapphire gaze shot in the direction of noise and movement in the tangly vegetation. When Jana and Andrea came into sight, he holstered his weapon and ran toward them, as did Nigel. The heavily armed team spread out and took a defensive position.

  Varian hugged Jana so tightly that the breath almost was squeezed from her lungs. “Kahala be thanked, you’re safe and alive. I feared I had lost you, my love. If we didn’t have witnesses, Mrs. Triloni, I would cover you with kisses from head to toe!”

  When Jana lifted her head to look at him, she saw tears in his sapphire eyes. She knew time was limited for talking and staying. “I knew you would come,” she said in a low voice, even though she knew they couldn’t be overheard. “I never lost faith. But I was scared witless,” she added with laughter to dispell her tension. “We’d better get out of—”

  “Just let me look at you for a minute. Kahala, I’m ten years older after enduring this terror! I would have returned on schedule,” he explained, “but there was an emergency rescue on a ship about to explode. We had to stop and save its crew, and solar flare-ups knocked out our communications. I swear I would have made the deadline or contacted you if—”

  She pressed her fingers to his lips to silence him. “I know, and the deadline doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we love each other.”

  Varian gazed at her adoring smile, and his heart melted.

  “Yes, Rogue Saar, I love you and I want to marry you. I think the rest of our talk should be in private and out of danger,” she hinted, “or the others will wonder why Ryker’s wife and brother are being so intimate.”

  “Are you all right, Moonbeam? Did she hurt you?”

  “We’re fine,” Jana assured him as she touched her stomach. “Cass knows about the baby; she tested me on her ship. She thinks it’s Ryker’s.”

  Varian grasped her hand to guide her to the shuttle. “Break it up, Nigel,” he teased his friend, “you two can kiss and hug aboard the ship. Let’s get Mrs. Triloni and your sweetheart out of here before we have company.”

  Jana glanced at the well-armed rescue team that was on watchful alert for intruders. She smiled and greeted the security chief. “Ferris Laus, you look wonderful; I’m delighted you made it here in time.”

  “If we’d been any slower, Varian would have gotten out and pushed. We do seem to have a lot of excitement and adventure with you two.”

  Jana smiled. “Life is anything but dull around this space pirate. He makes a good friend and brother-in-law,” she said for the deluding benefit of the others nearby. “Thanks to all of you.”

  “You’re more than welcome, Jana. You have lots of friends on the Wanderlust and elsewhere who will be happy to see you returned safely.”

  The shuttle took off within minutes of the approach of numerous savage-looking criminals. It docked in the enormous starship that was orbiting the confining location. The force shield was reenergized around the penal colony. Varian, Jana, Nigel, Andrea, and Ferris headed for the bridge.

  “Jarre, take us after Miss Garthon,” Varian ordered. “Braq, give us starlight speed. Coran, don’t lose her on your sensors for a minute. All right, men, we have a big job to do; let’s catch us a traitor. “

  “How can you ever find her? She has cloaking,” Jana ventured, as the ship left in pursuit of the fleeing Canissia.

  Varian sent her a broad grin. “But we have an anticloaking device. There’s no place she can hide from our new sensors, if we stay within range. She isn’t far ahead. We’ll follow her spent fuel trail until we catch up. It’s one of your late husband’s designs, and it works perfectly. Brec had it installed before we left Star Base after the Galactic Gem’s rescue. We also have a new antiinterference system, so we won’t lose contact again.”

  “How did you locate us? Cass said no one would search here.”

  “She made the mistake of dropping her shield for a few minutes to check the news concerning your disappearance; I guess to see if she was in the clear so far. Brec put out a full alert on you as soon as Kagan realized something was wrong. A patrol ship with the new systems detected her presence but didn’t close in to attack and risk endangering you two. They followed you and guarded you until we could reach the area and take charge of your rescue.”

  “You mean, you’ve been closing in on us and we weren’t in danger?”

  “She had already dropped you when we arrived and scared her off. We have the advantage over her: we can penetrate her shield, but she can’t pierce ours. When we approached and detected a shuttle returning from the surface, I guessed what she had in mind for you two. We lowered our shield to scare her into leaving fast so we could rescue you without a delaying battle. She probably thinks we’re a prisoner-delivery vessel, so she cloaked and ran. She’s gliding along thinking herself safe and alone.”

  “And thinking me and Andrea are dead, or worse. And we would have been very soon if all of you hadn’t rescued us. Thank you, everyone, Varian.”

  The crew turned, nodded, and smiled, and a few chatted with her.

  “As soon as we capture Cass, I’ll take you home to Darkar.” he promised Jana.

  Jana and Varian played along with the last ruse, but it was difficult, as they wanted to hug and kiss and talk.

  “I hope you put her under the jail when you catch her,” Andrea said.

  “I guess that translates to, do our worst to her,” Nigel chuckled. “We will, my sweet.” He kept Andrea nestled close to him as the two lovers touched and smiled and savored their reunion. He had already told the crew, his friends, that the woman with Jana was his fiancée.

  “She’s a terrible person,” Andrea said. “Evil personified. If it hadn’t been for Jana’s wits, she would have tortured us all the way to that horrible place. If she hadn’t been crazy, Jana could have talked her into releasing us. I’m so glad to be away from that wicked witch.”

  “Why did she abduct you, Jana?” Vaiden, an old friend, asked.

>   “She held Ryker responsible for betraying her evil deeds to Varian after they reconciled. She was involved in that kidnapping episode with Taemin, among other crimes.” Jana glanced at Varian. “I’m sure all of you know she’s obsessed with winning your commander. When he broke off their engagement, she thought it was because of me. When I became a widow and was free again, she feared Varian and I would …”•

  The ebony-haired man smiled. “It’s all right, Jana,” he told her. “I’m sure everybody knows or suspects I never got over you and I’ll do about anything to get you back.”

  Jana was astonished. “Commander Saar, you shouldn’t speak like that.”

  Varian had decided to let the crew, mostly close friends, overhear a few things to initiate gossip about a new romance. “Why not? It’s the truth, something I realized after I foolishly let you get away from me. Ask my friends; they raked me over rocky ground about that big mistake, so did Tesla. I hope it isn’t too late to correct it.”

  Jana was amazed by his bold conduct. “Really, sir, you shouldn’t talk like this. I’m ma—I guess I’m not married anymore. Still …”

  “I’m sorry if I’m embarrassing you or making you uncomfortable, Jana; it’s just that I’ve been so worried about you that it’s loosened my tongue. The only reason I sold you to Councilman Procyon was to protect you against death threats from my many enemies, and because I was too blind to see I was in love with you. Our good friend Draco realized we were in love; that’s why he let me buy you from him. After you earned your freedom, I was going to ask you to marry me. I shouldn’t have decided to wait to tell you my feelings and plans until after I finished my mission to Earth. I had you back, so I thought I had plenty of time to confess to you later and I arrogantly believed you had to know how I felt without my telling you. I can’t blame you for running off from a captor who had auctioned you and snatched you back without telling you why. I thought you had been kidnapped and Cass was responsible. She’d dropped out of sight, too. I put out that phony story about our engagement to lure her into the open so I could question her about you.”

  Varian grasped her hand as he continued. “I never suspected you were working at Trilabs with my brother, that you two were confined in the complex doing a long experiment and didn’t hear about the investigation, or that my crazy ruse would provoke you into marrying Ryker. I know you two were good friends and had a lot in common, but you didn’t love him, Jana; you couldn’t have, because you love me. I hurt you by keeping secrets and I’m sorry. When you’ve had time to adjust to Ryker’s death, I’d like us to see if we can get back together. If you’ll give me a chance to make up for the past, you won’t be sorry. I give you my word of honor.”

  “Varian, I don’t think this is the time or place to discuss—”

  “I have to be honest, Jana, before my old ruses do more damage. When I learned you had married Ryker, I was forced to hide the truth and to let you go. My brother is dead and you’re free again, so it’s past time I was totally honest. If I had been truthful months ago, we would be married today. I lost you to Ryker and almost lost you to Cass’s treachery; I don’t want to risk losing you forever. Stars above, Jana Greyson, I love you, woman! How much plainer can I be?”

  Jana knew he must have a good motive for what he was doing, so she would play along by feigning surprise. “You what?”

  “I love you. I have since we met.”

  Varian and Jana pretended to have slipped into a world of their own, oblivious to the presence of the others around them.

  “Why didn’t you tell me this a long time ago, before I…”

  When she paused, he said, “Because I was a blind and stupid fool. Can you forgive me and let me try to make things right between us?”

  The crew remained still and quiet so nothing would intrude on the romantic scene.

  “I … Ryker has been dead such a short time, Varian. I shouldn’t be thinking about you or your offer this soon, or even listening to it. Ryker was good and kind to me. It would be disloyal to—”

  He interrupted in a gentle tone. “My brother, your husband, is dead. We’re alive, Jana. Ryker would want you to be safe and happy.”

  “But … it seems wrong; too soon. Tell him, Nigel.”

  The First Officer grinned and shook his head of curly brown hair. The creases around his hazel eyes and near his mouth deepened as his smile increased. “I can’t, because I agree with him. What’s more romantic than best friends marrying best friends?”

  Jana widened her eyes in astonishment. “Marrying?”

  “That’s right, woman,” Varian clarified with his own broad grin.

  “Ferris,” Jana coaxed, “help me get through to him.”

  “I agree with Nigel; you two were made for each other, just like Kathy and I were, just like Nigel and Andrea, just like Tris and Martella.”

  Jana looked at another officer she remembered from her last time on the ship. “Braq?”

  The engineering officer grinned and shook his head in playful refusal.

  “Vaiden, it’s up to you. Talk sense into your friend and commander.”

  “It’s the most sense he’s made since you two parted.”

  “Am I in the midst of a conspiracy, you guys?” she jested.

  Varian was delighted when the four men chuckled and nodded. “Don’t worry, Jana; I’ll try to behave myself, but it’s hard around you. I had to let you know how I felt before other men come calling on you.”

  Jana glanced around the room to find everyone smiling and nodding agreement with Varian. She looked at him and teased, “You always were persistent and bold, Varian Saar.”

  “So, you haven’t forgotten,” he replied and chuckled.

  “How could any woman forget anything about you?”

  “Or any man forget anything about you.” His smoldering gaze engulfed her for a moment, then he reminded everyone he had to focus on the task ahead.

  “Why don’t you two women go to my quarters and relax?” Nigel suggested.

  “They’re welcome to use mine, Nigel,” Varian said.

  That sounds like what we need after our frightening experience,” Jana said gratefully. “But if my old quarters aren’t being used, I’d prefer we stay there and not intrude on you two, if you don’t mind.”

  “Certainly not. You know the way to the Gold Room.”

  “Yes, I remember it well. Come along, Andrea; you can see Nigel later. The crew has work to do. Thanks again to everyone for saving our lives.” Jana halted and turned. “Oh, yes, Varian, Canissia’s ship has phony Trilabs markings in case the patrol didn’t tell you. It’s a Pyropean ship, if that information will help anyone.” She related how Canissia had stolen and altered the vessel.

  As the elevator whisked the two women from the bridge down the right side of the top deck of the U-shaped vessel, Jana expressed her surprise at Varian’s behavior. “I’ve never known him to use such a lack of caution. He’ll have everyone gossiping about us.”

  “Nigel whispered to me that he was setting his plan into motion to set you up for falling for the hero who rescued you twice. He said that was why Commander Sard issued that full alert for us,’ to let people know you were kidnapped and that he rescued you. I thought it was very cunning and romantic. The men loved it, and they like you a lot, Jana. The crew that rescued me from Earth was nice, too. I met a few of Varian’s men when they came to Anais during our troubles, but Nigel fetched me in another ship to take me to Darkar; I guess to conceal my presence there. You should be happy Varian’s crew likes you so much.”

  “Except for three of the men, I’ve known everyone aboard for a long time. We were together a lot during my months on the ship. I wish Kara Curri, Tesla Rilke, and Lieutenant Dykstra were still aboard; you’d like them, too. Tesla was the one killed during my rescue from Darkar after Shara tried to kill me. Kara was our recreational and physical training coach. She and I became good friends. She left to get married. Lieutenant Dykstra was in charge of security for the ca
ptives; the man I called Mon Spectre was the one who passed along Varian’s orders. He was transferred to another ship after that mission ended and promoted to head of security. I’m sure he’ll work his way up to a commander one day.”

  Inside the guest quarters she had occupied long ago, Jana looked at Andrea. “This is where it all began, my friend,” she said. “I woke up in here after I was taken from Earth that night. This was my home for months.”

  They eyed the furniture that was of an alien material, neither wood nor metal nor plastic. There was an étagère with expensive books, statues, figurines, and a model of the Wanderlust. On one wall was the servo and eating bar. On another was a sitting area with a phantasmagorial painting above a sofa, a picture that concealed a telecom system. A bed with nightstand and hanging lamp was in another corner. The floor was carpeted in thick material that curled around the feet. Everything was in shades of gold and ivory, except for the painting with its magical hints of blue and black. It was a suite that exuded an aura of wealth, serenity, and excellent taste.

  “It was designed to soothe the eye, body, and mind—of a real guest, not a frightened captive. The bath and dressing room with closets are in there,” Jana said, pointing to a closed door that worked by floor pressure.

  Andrea gazed at the setting. “It’s beautiful, Jana.”

  “Yes, it is. I remember the first time I saw this room. I was scared witless, Andrea. When I checked out that bathroom, everything in there—clothes, cosmetics, and lingerie—was in my sizes and my favorite colors. There were even drawers of expensive jewelry fit for a queen. We had schedules, lessons, and classes. We even had parties to relax us and train us. That’s how I got to know the crew so well. I must admit it was a strange sort of imprisonment and slavery. They did try to relax us and teach us to fit in.”

  “My best friend was their elite captive, their mission cover; that’s so exciting!” Andrea collapsed onto the bed. “We’re safe, Jana.”