by Liza Probz
Herman had rolled to the entrance on the right and stopped. He was emitting a series of bleeps, bloops, and whistles. The Hareema guards had turned in his direction, and one had walked towards the little robot, but neither had left the control room.
“Come on, Herman,” Jamie whispered. “You’ll have to do better than that!”
As if the robot ball heard her, he began to speak. “There is a disturbance among the cells. One of the creatures has gotten free and is attempting to free others.”
One of the Hareema, having taken the shape of an alien creature with four arms, frowned down at Herman. “I’m not showing any disturbance on our screens,” he said. “And just who are you?”
“Hareema Emulating Robotic Assistance Negotiator, or HERMAN, for short,” the robot responded. “The human, Dr. Lakewood, has created me to assist you. I have been given the task of patrolling the base and reporting any disturbances.”
“Well you missed a heck of a disturbance already,” the other guard, who had the form of a lizard-headed creature, said. “How come you didn’t warn us about that?”
“I have been patrolling the cells in central holding. I did not see any earlier disturbance. But I would urge you again to follow me. The creature seemed close to unlocking another cell.”
“Go check it out,” the four-armed guard said. “I’ll stay here.”
The lizard-headed one nodded, then followed Herman as he started to roll away. “I don’t know why we’re building robots to do our jobs. Soon we’ll all be out of work. Maybe I should just kick you out an airlock.”
“That’s the best we’re going to get,” Drake said when Herman and the guard were out of sight. “We’ve got to make our move now.”
The silver bubble opened a slight at the rear, down low, and the three of them climbed carefully out of it, crawling to remain out of sight. Once they were free of the bubble it collapsed on itself. The Hareema then turned himself into a look-alike of the lizard-like guard who’d followed Herman. “Stay here,” he said, “and follow my lead.”
The Hareema strolled into the control room. “You won’t believe what that stupid robot ball did,” he said to the four-armed guard. “You seriously have to go see it.”
“What?” his companion asked, his features showing his curiosity.
“Oh no, it’s too good. I’m not going to ruin it by telling you. Just go see. I’ll hold things down here.”
His companion shrugged, then laughed. “Why not?”
He headed out the entrance on the left and Drake motioned for Jamie and Lakewood to hustle into the opposite entrance before the guard could catch sight of them. “Stay down,” he said, then looked up at the Hareema. “Good job.”
The Hareema nodded and immediately set to work on the controls. “You want me to release the lock on every cell, right?”
“Yes!” Jamie said. “Free them all!”
“It will definitely create one hell of a diversion,” he replied, then started going down the console rows, flipping switches. There was a loud buzzing sound that repeated as he flipped. It was near deafening.
Drake risked a peek out the window. As he watched, cages began to open, the creatures inside them spilling out. The buzzing stopped, and suddenly he heard a scream.
He wondered which guard had been attacked.
Another scream. Well, he no longer needed to wonder.
“Done,” the Hareema said after flipping the last switch.
“Let’s get out of here,” Drake said, standing up and pulling Jamie towards him.
“Should I form the bubble again?” the Hareema asked.
“No need,” Drake said. “The shifters are about to be so overwhelmed, they’ll be spread too thin to worry about us.”
The group departed the control room, but Jamie paused before the exit to the massive chamber. She turned towards the cages.
It was pandemonium, with creatures of every shape and side flowing out of cages and wandering around in waves. Some were fighting, some coming together. Others were starting to move towards the exit.
Drake pulled Jamie to the side to let the first group of freed prisoners through the doors. “What are you waiting for?” he asked her.
“Herman! We can’t leave him behind!”
She cupped her hands in front of her mouth and let out a yell “HERMAN!”
They waited. She yelled again.
Drake’s skin was itching, his anxiety reaching a fever pitch. “We need to get out of here. Some of these prisoners might be dangerous.”
Jamie started to pull away from him, heading towards the now-empty cages. Drake tugged her back, his features tightening with anger. “There’s no way I’m letting you go after him.”
“HERMAN!!!!” she screamed again.
At last, the scrappy little ball rolled out of the melee, heading towards them. “Thank Noruma,” Drake muttered, moving them all towards the door. “Nice of you to join us, Herman.”
“Don’t yell at him!” Jamie said, her eyes full of fire. “He was just trying to help.”
“We’ve got to go,” Drake countered. “If you want this diversion to mask our departure, then we have to go right now.”
Jamie stuck her tongue out at him, then shoved her way through the exit door. He scowled, following right behind her.
The hallways were complete chaos. Herman led the way through the masses of alien bodies and the shapeshifter guards who were trying to get things under control. It was a losing battle, as wave after wave of prisoners rushed towards their freedom.
Drake fought his way through the masses, his fists and elbows becoming bloody in the process. It felt like an eternity before they reached the entrance to the hangar where his ship was parked.
They ran through the space, headed towards his craft, when there was a large explosion. Jamie screamed and he grabbed her, throwing her to the ground. Looking up, he saw that one ship was already in the air and it had used its weapons to blow a hole in the hangar. It shot through the hole, and another followed close behind.
“Get off me,” Jamie grunted from beneath him, and Drake hurried to pull her up and brush her off.
“Apologies,” he said, “but your safety will always be my first priority.”
“I thought being an asshole was your first priority,” she grumbled, but he thought he detected a hint of humor beneath the words.
Drake pulled her hand into his and tugged her towards his ship. He tapped against the entry panel and the hatch opened. Then he walked inside, and immediately froze.
The Hareema who had taken the form of his own brother stood there, a weapon pointed in Drake’s direction.
Chapter 23
“I knew it was you,” the creature who had boarded Drake’s ship said.
Jamie frowned, looking at her companion’s face. It was rigid, angry. This was the same Hareema who’d greeted them at Command. The same one she’d known Drake had recognized.
The Hareema masquerading as a Zantharian continued. “As soon as I heard the alarm, I knew you had something to do with it. And look, you did.”
He inched closer, and Drake moved towards Jamie, attempting to shield her with his body.
“But you look a little different now, don’t you,” the creature said, motioning to Drake’s appearance. Yet I can tell you’re not a shapeshifter, not like the one behind you. That is your true form.”
The Hareema laughed, and it sent a chill down Jamie’s spine. It was an evil noise, one that made her feel sick to her stomach.
“A Zantharian male in the mating frenzy.” The Hareema pointed the gun in Jamie’s direction. “And this is your mate, if I’m not mistaken.”
Drake growled. “Don’t fucking point that thing at her if you want to continue breathing.”
The Hareema laughed again. “I was right. She is your mate. How amusing.” He stalked closer. “I see you’ve stolen my two most valuable prisoners. I can’t just let you blast off with this expensive cargo.”
“You’re too
late,” Drake said. “You can’t stop us now.”
“Can’t I?” The Hareema flashed a chilly smile. “It would be easy enough to dispatch you.”
“You’ll only get one shot off before we take that weapon away,” Drake replied.
“Oh, but I only really need one shot. Let’s see, do I shoot you, or do I shoot your mate? Either way, you die.”
Jamie was tired of these alien asshats threatening her man. It was time to do something, once and for all. She crept behind Drake, crouching low.
The Hareema laughed. “It looks like your female has made the choice for you. Are you really sure she’s so keen to be your mate?”
Drake stiffened, the words hitting their target, but Jamie patted him gently on the leg to reassure him. In the meantime, she picked up Herman and held him close to her chest.
“I’m sorry, little guy,” she whispered. “But I need you for one more diversion.”
The lights on Herman’s surface blinked in accord. Jamie straightened, just in time to hear the next threat.
“My men will be here soon, and then we’ll take all four of you back to your cells. Lakewood will keep cranking out technological advances for my people, and the traitor will be our key to infiltrating the resistance and dismantling it once and for all.”
“You, however,” the Hareema continued, “will be the most rewarding one of all. I’ll keep you caged, in sight of, but just out of reach of, your precious mate. You’ll be able to see her, to smell her, but never to touch her. And she and I will have the pleasure of watching you suffer until the frenzy consumes you and you die.”
Jamie could feel the anger rising up inside her and it gave her strength. “Be ready” she whispered, and she saw Drake’s shoulders stiffen.
“Maybe I’ll even take your form,” the Hareema said. “Maybe I’ll claim her in front of you, one last twist of the knife before you succumb.”
“You fucking bastard,” Drake growled, his fists tight by his sides.
“Now,” Jamie shouted, coming out around Drake’s side and throwing Herman with all her might.
The robot ball flew the short distance across the chamber towards its target, slamming into the Hareema’s chest. Drake didn’t waste a second, knocking the weapon from the creature’s hand and setting about pummeling it to a pulp.
The rebel agent picked up the weapon, aiming it towards the enemy.
“Drake,” Jamie said softly, not wanting to get too close while the male was intent on delivering a well-deserved beating. “We don’t have time for this, unfortunately. Let’s kick his ass out of here and get a move on.”
It took several moments for the blood lust to clear from his eyes, but at last Drake allowed her to pull him away from the Hareema. The Zantharian form looked much worse for wear, and the creature was sluggish as it pulled itself up.
The rebel agent marched it towards the hatch, pressing the weapon into its back. Once it had set foot outside the ship’s confines, Jamie heard a blast.
The Hareema rebel had fired. Then he hit the control to close the hatch.
“Did you have to kill him?” Jamie asked, having mixed feelings about the exchange.
“Yes. He had knowledge of our escape, and who we are. He could not be allowed to share that knowledge with others.”
“I’m glad he’s dead,” Drake snarled.
Jamie opened her mouth to respond, but her words disappeared when she saw Lakewood holding Herman in his arms. The little robot was dented, half of his lights not functioning, the others blinking fitfully.
“Herman, no!” she yelled, putting her hands on the damaged ball. “I’m so sorry.”
“No apology needed,” he said, his voice skipping.
Jamie felt the tears start to fall. “Oh, no.”
Drake pulled her into his arms. “Shh…dear heart.”
“I’m sorry for interrupting,” the Hareema said, “but we should depart immediately.”
Jamie nodded, pulling away from Drake. “He’s right. Get us out of here.”
Drake strapped himself into the control seat and Jamie took her seat, motioning for the others to find their places. In moments they were shooting upwards towards the hole in the hangar ceiling. Then they were through, joining the other ships as they blasted into space.
Jamie turned her head in Dr. Lakewood’s direction. “Can you fix the little guy?”
“I think so. If I can get access to the right equipment.”
Jamie nodded. “You have to. We wouldn’t have made it without him.” Her voice caught in her throat, and she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “He’s a hero.”
Chapter 24
Zanthar lay in the distance. Drake took in the swirling colors of his planet. Normally he’d be elated to be returning home, his mission accomplished. Now all he felt was numb.
They’d succeeded beyond his wildest expectations. They were returning with Dr. Lakewood, and the scientist had already revealed a weakness in the Hareema adaptation that would give Zanthar an indisputable edge against their enemies.
They’d also rescued a member of the Hareema resistance. If they could tap into the other shape-shifters who were against their central government, they could turn the tide of the war and perhaps bring down the enemy they’d been fighting for centuries.
Still, despite their success, Drake knew his own situation had not improved. The frenzy still rode him, and soon everyone on his planet would know that he had succumbed to the charms of a human female. Although he would not be the first to have done so, it was still not widely accepted among his people.
What was worse, he wasn’t certain how Jamie would receive the news of his plight. There was no way she would forget what she’d heard about the frenzy. She would know that if she did not accept him as her mate, he would die. And Jamie wasn’t the type to allow that kind of tragedy to happen.
But if she accepted him to save his life and wasn’t committed to him, it would end far worse for her. She would be unable to shake her Zantharian mate. He would be by her side for the rest of her life, whether she liked it or not. Once the bond was in place, he would be unable to leave her alone.
And then there was the possibility of a child. Even if she only allowed him to mate her once, it could be enough for his seed to take root inside her. The human females who had taken Zantharian mates had already proved the potency of a human-Zantharian bond.
Could he saddle her with his child for the rest of her life if she didn’t consider herself his true mate?
He piloted towards the surface, landing the craft at their central control hub. He’d already informed his people of his approach, and he expected to be greeted by his brother upon his return. There would be little private time to explain things to Jamie, not while he was debriefing with the security forces.
The craft touched down and he unstrapped himself. Drake took a deep breath, the weight of his worries pressing against him like a rock strapped to his chest. When he turned, Jamie was already out of her seat. She looked at him expectantly.
He couldn’t meet her eyes, so he turned towards the hatch, opening it. Outside his brother, Xivthar Rasveen, Supreme Regent of Zanthar, stood with a wide smile on his face. Beside him was his human mate.
“Sylvie!” Jamie screamed from behind him. She pushed past Drake, hopping out of the craft and into the arms of her sister.
“Jamie! What in the holy heck are you doing here?”
“Looking for you, you bitch,” she said, laughing. “You made me come all the way into outer space to find you!”
Sylvie hugged her sister tightly. Drake enjoyed the warm feeling that filled his insides. Jamie had achieved her goal of being reunited with her sister. He wondered if she would still be as exhilarated when she discovered the cost of their reunion.
Once everyone had disembarked, Xivthar led them towards a conference room. “It looks like we have a lot to talk about,” his brother said, slapping Drake on the shoulders. “But, I wonder, maybe I should let you, erm, take care
of business before we debrief.”
Drake shook his head, his eyes darting to his mate. “I don’t think it would be welcomed,” he mumbled softly.
His brother’s eyes widened. “So it’s like that?”
Drake nodded. “It may be.”
The regent frowned at his younger brother. “We’ll figure something out. Some way to stave off the frenzy.”
Drake didn’t reply. There was no way he knew of to stop the frenzy, short of claiming his mate.
The conference room was already crowded. The human captain, Jennifer Brooklyn, sat with her hands on her swollen belly. Major Ontarii stood behind her, rubbing her shoulders and staring down with a distracted smile.
Nearby, Lieutenant Jeffrey Brunt sat with his mate’s feet in his hands, rubbing away. Kat’Chinna Yarr, the Zantharian lieutenant, had a blissful smile on her face, her hands cradling the small bump in her middle.
Two Zantharian-human pairings that were about to bear fruit. It should have been an idyllic scene, but in his current mindset, it only set Drake on edge. He pushed into the room, taking a seat at the table.
There was a buzz when the human scientist and his robot entered the room, followed by the Hareema rebel agent who’d kept his lizard-man form. Then came his mate and her sister, hands linked, twin smiles on their faces.
Drake was too distracted to hear much of the conversation and was willing to let others do the talking. He couldn’t help wondering what it would be like if there was a chance for him and Jamie.
He could be the one rubbing her back, rubbing her adorable feet. His seed could be swelling in her belly. Every night they would lie down together and he would greet every morning with a soft kiss on her beautiful face.
He had to force the thoughts away. It wasn’t likely to end that way, not with Jamie. Too much had happened, and they’d had no time to even talk about whether a relationship was something she wanted.
She’d never been to space before, and now she was on an alien world, ignorant of the position she was in. Drake wished he could keep it from her. Let her go home, he thought. Let her live her life. Let her be happy.
