by Cher Hollis
Balice whimpered Khan’s name.
She thought she heard Ramon softly speaking, “Hush, sweet lady. Khan will keep you safe. You must lie still for me.”
She could feel the iciness of the ground along her side, but she didn’t have the strength to move. Tears of frustration welled behind her closed eyes as she laid helplessly in the cold. Her consciousness deserted her again, until she felt strong hands pulling her, and she thought it was Korpal.
“No!” she cried out.
“It is Khan, Balice. I will not hurt you.”
Khan knew Balice could not understand his Esa clicks as she fell against him.
“She will need rest to heal, Khan. You must keep any open wounds clean of dirt and blood. Keep her off her back, it will lessen her pain,” Ramon sent.
Looking down at her, Khan asked, “Why is she so unmoving?”
“She is semi-conscious. It’s her body’s way of fighting the injury. She will be in and out of this state. Hopefully, she will sleep for a while. You must give her water, make sure she eats some food, and run the med-scan over her from in the med-pack. That scan will lessen the pain to her body. Let her rest until tomorrow. If she has not awakened to eat by then, you will have to make her wake. Gently shake her and talk to her. Try to get her to answer. Keep her warm. With injuries like these, only time and rest can heal them.”
Khan leaned Balice back against the wall, then with Ramon’s instructions he carefully washed her soft face. Her eyes fluttered open and closed only once and he heard her whispering his name. When he’d finished trying to fix the marks on her back, he asked Ramon a hard thing that hurt him deeply.
“Will she live?”
Ramon straightened from his hunched position.
“Balice has spirit. With your help, she will recover. But you must listen to the truth of what I am saying, Khan. Korpal cannot allow you or any other Esa to keep a woman as his own. Balice is still in serious danger. I think Korpal’s solution will be to kill her, then his problem will be solved.”
Khan felt the heat of anger at Ramon’s thoughts as he carefully gathered Balice up into his arms and stood. He turned to Ramon, his bulk tight by the strength he used to control his rage.
“I do not understand, Ramon.”
Ramon leaned forward, looking directly at him.
“If you had your own Talis, given freely to you at any time you wanted it, what need would you or any Esa have for Korpal? Think about that carefully. Make sure no one finds out where you are keeping Balice.”
“Balice lives because of you, Ramon. I will think over what you say, and I will return,” Khan sent.
Khan pulled the blanket over Balice’s head, hiding her fully. Then he took back the Esa communicator he’d given to Ramon. As he turned and started down the tunnel leading from the cell area, one last thought entered him from Ramon.
“Remember your true origins, Khan. Remember the beginning. It holds the answers.”
After Khan left Ramon’s cell carrying Balice, he moved carefully down the dark tunnel. What Ramon said could be the truth and Korpal could already be looking for Balice. The need to protect Balice was strong, and he moved her slight weight, then he stopped before the opening leading out into the main cavern.
Khan put his back to the tunnel wall and he lowered into a crouch, still holding Balice. He needed something to hide the way he took Balice, and he set her on one of his lower limbs, so he could tap the communicator on his chest strap. He heard Flagg’s clicking, and he quickly gave Flagg orders.
Like a rock, unmoving, which was not an Esa way, he waited for a sign that his plan had started. A few clicks later, he heard noise growing at the opening to the tunnel where he crouched. Setting Balice on the ground, he moved to cover all parts of her small body with the cloth.
Once she was covered, he lifted her and put her over one flat, broad shoulder and he caught her lower limbs with his strong red arm. He did not like holding Balice as he was, but she would be hidden.
On the edge of the tunnel entrance, he stopped and studied the outer cavern. At once, Khan saw Dante and two wardens moving to where he stood. Their human faces were turned, looking over the pack of Esa, which was growing. Khan took his chance and he prowled forward, quickly mixing into the mass of Esa gathering for a throwing challenge that Flagg had ordered.
Seeing Dante with his wardens, Khan knew that Korpal had lied and broken his vow to give him a female, and Ramon was correct; Balice was not safe from Korpal.
Khan’s fury grew at the proof of Korpal’s lies, as he stalked through the pack of Esa to the other side of the cavern. At the far side, Khan stopped to look behind him and he saw that none of the Variants had tracked him. Carefully, he worked his way through the tunnels and caves that had been set up as the war base on Armageddon, until he reached the K-10 Flagg had picked to hide Balice.
The K-10 was on hold for repairs and it was at the back of one of the largest caves. Khan saw the ship had been pushed out of view, and he nodded.
Going below the K-10, he reached up and tripped the entry open, which lowered a ramp to the ground in front of him. Then he went the short distance into the control sphere, as the hiss of the entry closed behind him.
The Variants had told Khan that in Earth’s military the K-10’s would be called space bombers. It was fitted to carry eight Esa, but could run with as little as four warriors. Each K-10 carried a self-renewing particle beam that was nearly unlimited. It had been the Variants that named the powerful flash of energy “particle beam.”
Since he’d first known they existed, Khan had seen the Variants need to name all things. The Esa had never called the weapon anything but good at destroying targets.
There were four main stations in the sphere; command, communication, piloting, and Tritick drive control. One Esa activated each walled station, but the command chair could control all four. The four main control posts worked through sensor fields, closing each Esa controlling the station in flexible organic matter. Once inside, the controls started by touch, sound, and impulse.
Khan moved to the open area next to the command chair. Carefully, he lifted Balice off his shoulder, and bent to lay her lightly on the deck. She didn’t move when he took off the cloth.
Khan spread the cloth out and lifted Balice onto it, turning her onto her stomach as Ramon had said. He was worried, looking over her small unmoving body. She was so still. Looking for a sign, Khan carefully reached out. His lengthy digits brushed through her hair and he felt its softness as he stroked the long white strands.
He’d never felt anything like it, and its lightness showed him to be gentle.
“Ramon said she will be like this,” he clicked lowly, as he struggled to use the patience Ramon had taught him.
He knew he had to leave Balice, to bring back the supplies he’d left at Ramon’s cell. But he didn’t want to leave her. After that, he had to go to his command duties. What if she opened her eyes and saw she was alone? He had to find a way to leave her a sign, to let her see she was safe from Korpal.
Reluctantly, Khan stood while he looked down at Balice, and then at the marks on her curving body. A body that he could easily look at for many cycles. But the marks on her pounded him in ways he did not understand.
“There will be a cycle when Korpal will not have my pledge to hide with and I will crush him for this,” Khan clicked tightly.
Controlling his fierce anger, Khan left the K-10, locking the hatch with his code. Then he swiftly went to get the supplies he’d left at Ramon’s cell. On his march to Ramon, he was pleased to see the throwing matches he’d ordered Flagg to start had made a large gathering of Esa. He moved through them with no trouble as he watched for any Variant wardens.
Tapping his communicator, he clicked to Flagg. “Order a new guard for Ramon’s cell. I will be at the command post this cycle.”
When Khan reached Ramon’s cell, he could see Ramon had been watching for him.
As he neared, Ramon sent, “Is she
all right?”
“She lies very quiet,” Khan sent, as he bent to pick up the supplies.
“Resting will help her heal, Khan.”
“The Variants are looking for Balice. Your warning was true. I will keep her hidden, to protect her,” Khan sent.
“Take good care of her, Khan. Balice is a rare treasure and deserves better than Korpal’s insane cruelty. Will you come back to tell me how she is?”
“I will be back, Ramon ... for many reasons.”
Khan returned to the K-10 without the Variant wardens seeing him. Once inside, he knelt beside Balice and he placed a tiny translator probe in the small shape of her ear. He’d spent extra time to find one when he’d gone for the supplies.
Next, he started the med-scan as Ramon had told him. It lifted from his red fists and hovered over Balice. He saw a blue light moving up and down her bare curves, then it dropped closer. It looked as if it settled on her back in several positions.
Then the small human machine announced, “Keep the patient’s back clean and dry. She will be disorientated and lightheaded because of pain sedative administered. More sedative needed in eight hours.”
The machine lifted and settled back on the deck, shutting itself off.
Khan said Balice’s name several times, but she only turned her face away. He knew to let her rest as Ramon had told him. He lifted the second human cover over her, and then he put the food and water close.
Reaching across his chest, he took off his black armband and communicator. Lifting Balice’s small hand, he turned it and put his armband and the square communicator into the center. Then he closed her little digits over them. Her hand was warm in the large shape of his, and he held it for several clicks.
It was new—touching her hair and now her hand. He had always wondered what it would be like to touch her as he’d seen Korpal do. He drew in the feelings of touching his Talis for the first times, and suddenly, it reminded him of the vision he’d had during his first Talis Fire with her.
Looking at Balice and thinking new ways he’d never done before, brought the vision closer. The strange floating vision had come to him, after he’d received Talis Fire from Balice. Esa never had the weakness of long sleep, as humans did, but after reaching Talis Fire, many would find they laid still in a stunned and weak way.
The experience of Balice’s naked dance, and then her lips touching his red hide, had sent him forcefully into Talis Fire. Afterward was not normal, and he didn’t remember falling to rest or his choice to let it happen. It had been a partial cycle later when he’d recovered with the strange memory still with him, and Balice gone.
In the vision, Khan had seen the tall shadow of a man covering Balice. Their lips had touched each other’s slowly as he’d seen Korpal do to Balice. Only it hadn’t been Korpal’s black shadow clinging to her. It was Khan’s ... and when their lips parted, he knew she looked into eyes as green as hers.
The visions had faded and he’d awaken with the strongest desire to be that human male that touched Balice’s lips. But he’d shaken himself free of the vision as foolishness then forced it away, until now.
Khan shook his head, thinking Balice’s closeness made him think strangely. Letting go of her hand, he set it next to her with one last look at her.
“I do not like to leave you, Balice,” he clicked.
He took a knife hidden in the black fighting strap he wore and drove the point of it into the bottom of the command chair next to her.
When he reached the exit, he looked back. “I will return soon.”
Then the door hatch hissed closed behind him.
Event Six: Bo (Invasion)
Vytor’s preternatural energy pulsated around his diaphanous extraterrestrial form, radiating like silver smoke suspended in his brilliant jade colored matrix. He was following the connections to his Circle brother, Ramon’s child.
He had discovered the path to Ela Cassandra, and he was chasing it.
He could feel the threads were growing stronger.
She must be close—
He could nearly touch her...
Cassie woke with a gasp and the edges of a nightmare-filled dream she’d had fell away. She winced at the feeling of pain in her temple, and when she touched the area she felt a bandage, as she tried to remember how she’d gotten to the bench and been covered up.
Her thoughts flashed on Bo’s dark blue eyes and the way he’d been looking at her right before he’d said he had to go find a med-pack. She wondered how long it had been since then.
The lights in the alcove were dim as she struggled to sit, while she felt as if a long time had passed. Out of the shadows, she had a memory of a Variant with a knife, and then Simon’s leering face. Cassie shivered at the memory of Simon’s cruel hands touching her.
Quickly, she looked around feeling a pressing need to find Bo, which made her stand, bringing the blanket around her shoulders as she stepped forward. Then she realized she wasn’t wearing shoes as her gaze settled on the bench across from her.
Bo.
Cassie saw Bo stretched out on the seat, asleep under a navy blanket. She made one hesitant step toward him, and then her need to be closer had her moving until she stood over him. Bo was resting with one muscular arm bent up under his head, and she remembered his strength and how secure she’d felt when he’d held her. So many times, he’d been there to save her, then comfort her.
Shadows deepened around her, bringing the chill of uncertainty about her future. She needed Bo’s closeness and she felt it build inside her so strongly that she touched his cheek and whispered his name.
Bo’s eyes flashed open and his hand caught hers so fast, she gasped while still touching the bristle on his jaw. She was amazed at his Variant speed, which he was hiding less and less.
“Cassie?” His dark eyes searched her face and he seemed to register some inner thought. Then he pulled on her hand as he moved over on the bench, and he raised his blanket. “Come here.”
She gave him a grateful look, as he pulled her down into his arms, where she fitted her body to his. His lips touched her temple, and she settled her head on the firmness of his arm. She lifted an arm across the tightness of his bare waist and whispered his name.
“Sleep, baby,” he murmured. “You need rest.”
“Thank you, Bo,” she whispered, as he gently brushed the hair around her face and she fell asleep with him holding her.
Hours later, Bo opened his eyes to feel something he’d not felt in a very long time, and that was the closeness of waking in an intimate embrace. Feeling Cassie’s soft curves against him, he knew she’d become impossible for him to ignore.
He shifted position, gently laying her down on the bench so he could look at her as she slept. He desired her—he wouldn’t try and fool himself that the feelings weren’t there. He desired a natural born woman—half-natural born—something he’d said he wasn’t going to do again. But it had happened.
His problem was one tangled by many things, because he wanted more than a lustful fantasy with Cassie. Gruffly, he realized how much more. The feelings he’d held inside since his divorce wanted to overrun him as he looked down on Cassie while she slept.
He shook his head, swiping a hand over his temple. He wanted more than what he’d let himself have with his rigid way of life, and he wondered what his commitment to fight and protect were worth, if he didn’t have anything real to hold onto.
He’d been single-minded to be the best soldier and pilot a man could be, who was labeled “Variant.” His idea that being a soldier was all he’d ever be good for wasn’t enough for him any longer. He thought when he looked into Cassie’s eyes he might see what men fought for—when he felt her closeness, he knew what wars were meant to protect.
“Events like this can change a man,” he muttered.
He wondered who was on Cassie’s side. She had to know what a dangerous position she was in. Grimly, he remembered how hateful Langley had talked about her, as if she was a lowly obje
ct.
It left him angry, and he was troubled what it meant for Cassie. Then there was the military’s deceptions, especially in the intelligence branch—he knew how easily officers of the military could convince themselves that one lone woman’s life was nothing equal to the higher goals they’d set.
Finally, there was her father. A grim thought. If Dr. De La Fluenta’s past crimes were signs of his character, Bo didn’t think Cassie would find concern for her wellbeing from him.
And Bo had an incredible desire to keep her safe. Over and above his damn orders. He knew he wouldn’t be able to sit back while others threatened her life.
Bo reached down taking a strand of Cassie’s dark hair between his fingers, feeling the silkiness. His gaze remained on her lips, which were pouted in sleep, and he remembered how she’d tasted—how passionate she’d been as they’d kissed.
He thought about “I don’t even know her” and “It’s impossible ... we’re in the middle of a war.” But none of that mattered, because he’d opened up to take the chance.
Forcing sleep, Bo woke hours later, instantly missing Cassie’s warmth beside him. He wondered if he’d only dreamed that she’d come to him in the night as he looked at the bench seat across from him. The space was empty. Absently, he ran a hand through the spikes of his hair.
Hell, he knew he hadn’t dreamt feeling her soft curves pressed so close to him he could still feel them and remember the emotion in her brown eyes when he’d opened his to see her standing over him.
“She could be doing anything,” he muttered. He wouldn’t worry right away.
He knew Cassie had slept more hours than he had, so she would have woken first. Still, he didn’t like feeling as if a piece were missing when she wasn’t close to him. But he shrugged it off and stood to stretch, loosening his aching muscles, while he covertly checked around him with enhanced hearing and sight for any signs of her.
The automatic lighting system was still on night dimness, but his enhanced vision pierced it nearly as if daylight and he thought it had to be very early morning by earth standards.
