by Sadie Carter
“How long until reinforcements get here?” she asked nervously.
“Eleven hours, perhaps ten.”
Shit. They were dead meat.
Darac sat silently, calculating the odds. They didn’t have the firepower to fight a troop of Coizils. They had the numbers and the weapons. They had to hold their position for at least ten hours.
“If I tell you to, I want you to run,” he told Willa. It probably wouldn’t save her, but perhaps it would give her enough of a chance.
She gave him an incredulous look. “Beast man, those delusions are getting the best of you. I’m not going anywhere.”
“This is no game, Willa.”
“No, it’s not. Those are my people in there. Children. Elderly. I can fight. And I’m going to.” She gave him a fierce smile. “Don’t worry so much. It hasn’t happened yet.”
But it would.
Kyle stepped up beside him, Rye next to Willa. People moved around them, taking defensive positions.
“We cannot hold them off for long,” he warned.
“Have faith, Darac,” she told him.
“Looks like we’re about to have company,” Zuma stated, taking a position on their right. Kyle and Rye moved over to their left, all of them crouching behind a few boulders. “Think we should offer them some tea?”
“Drat, I forgot to bring the good silver,” Willa replied.
“Best we send them on their way, then,” Zuma stated.
“Kyle, you ready?”
“They’re making it so easy for me,” Kyle answered. “Look at them, standing there like one big fat target. Three, two, one.” Kyle pushed a button on a small tablet he held.
Darac waited. Nothing. Then suddenly the ground dropped away beneath the feet of the first three rows of Coizils. At least one-third fell into the hole.
“How deep is the hole?” he asked.
“Fifteen feet.” She grinned.
This gave them a fighting chance. The rest of the warriors raced around the large hole, heading their way.
“Fire,” Rye roared.
Darac raised his blaster and fired. He lost track of how much time passed. He focussed on killing as many Coizil warriors as he could.
“Fall back,” Rye roared.
Willa tapped his free arm. “Come on.”
“We are retreating? Why?” But he moved. He knew how to follow orders, as much as they might confuse him. Should they not stay and fight?
“They’re too close,” she told him. They rushed down the passage.
“What are we doing? They will follow.”
“We know,” Steele told him. For the first time, the other male looked happy.
“You are enjoying this?”
“It’s a rush.”
Perhaps Darac might have felt the same had he not had Willa to protect.
“Get back. All of you, back into the next tunnel,” Rye ordered. “Kyle, you ready?”
“Yep,” Kyle answered. They raced back to the main cavern. Rye and Kyle remained behind.
“What are they doing?” he asked.
“Improving our odds,” Willa answered.
“Everyone get ready,” Steele roared.
Suddenly there was an explosion and the world around him rocked. Small pieces of the cavern broke away, falling to the ground. He dragged Willa down, covering her with his body. When the world stopped rocking, he sat up.
“Jeez, we have got to talk about a diet,” she complained. “I could barely breathe under you.”
“I apologize. What was that?”
“Kyle sealed the entrance. Hopefully, a few of those bastards got caught up in the rock fall.”
“With an explosion? He could have killed us all.”
“Give me some credit. Is he always a glass half-empty guy?” Kyle asked.
“Yep,” Willa and Rye answered together.
Hours ticked by, eating at him. A communicator beeped and Rye answered.
“They’ve moved around to our other entrance.”
“Yippee, time to blow more things up,” Kyle said, sitting up with a grin.
Willa smiled back and stood, gathering up some weapons.
“And you all thought I was crazy?” He stood, grabbing his own weapons. Their blasters were fully powered once more, at least.
“Like attracts like,” Kyle told him, racing off.
Willa shrugged, following him.
“Now what?” Darac asked a few minutes later. They were crouched at the other entrance. The Coizils had split up into smaller groups. There were only a few dry bushes for cover. But they still outnumbered them.
“Now we have some fun,” Kyle replied.
Darac stared down at one group. What were they doing? They’d stopped, forming a circle.
“They’re assembling a Halo Bomb.” A Halo Bomb was flat, round, and heavy. It had been given its name because it glowed like a halo. It was propelled through the air using a wide, low launcher. “That could blow a serious hole in this rock.”
And crush everyone inside.
“Kyle, buy us time,” Rye yelled. “The rest of you get ready.”
“Are you coming?” Willa asked, tensing.
“Where? What are you going to do?”
“Just bring your weapons and follow me.”
Suddenly bolts of fire flew through the air, hitting the group of Coizils attempting to assemble the Halo Bomb. Other Coizil warriors gathered, protecting those around them.
“Go!” Rye yelled. Willa and the others sped off, leaving Kyle and Rye behind.
Darac followed, having to adjust his stride to Willa’s much smaller one. She came to a halt and pressed a button on her communicator. Out of nowhere a racer appeared.
She climbed into the driver’s side. “Get in the back, we need to get Duke.”
He had barely climbed in before she took off. The door swung wildly as she shot the racer into reverse.
“Grab the door,” she called back.
“What?”
“Close your door!”
Close the door? Did it not close automatically? But it didn’t matter, they came to a slamming stop that jarred every bone in his body, and the momentum slammed the door shut.
Duke got in the front seat then they were off. This time, Darac had prepared himself for the momentum. Shouldn’t this thing have some sort of safety mechanism to stop them flying about? Particularly as Willa turned and sped up at the same time almost doing a complete 360 before correcting the racer.
They shot forward. Straight towards the group of Coizils who were preparing to fire the Halo Bomb.
“Hold on,” she screamed.
Was that laughter? She thought this was enjoyable?
They continued to speed forward. To the right, another racer headed towards another group of Coizils and one headed off to the left.
The Coizils fired on them, but they continued forward, the blaster fire pinging off the metal.
Ten feet away. Eight. What was the plan? Was she going to ram them?
Suddenly, Willa turned the racer to the left and Duke fired out the window, keeping low. Darac quickly scrambled over to the left side, shooting his blaster out the open window.
They raced away, the Coizils firing after them.
“Keep low,” Duke roared at him. “The racer is blaster protected, but your head isn’t.”
Darac kept low on the back seat, worried about Willa. She had to keep her head above the wheel to see where they were going. That put her in an extremely vulnerable position.
“Hold on!” she cried, slamming on the breaks and turning the wheel sharply to the right. They sped back towards the Coizils. Darac had been in battle. He had strategized, planned, and fought.
But he’d never experienced something like this. It was suicide.
They did another quick race by, but this time, the Coizils were ready for them. They quickly sped off once more.
“They’re aiming the Halo Bomb,” Duke yelled.
“Tell the others
to gather in,” Willa told him. She looked back at Darac then winked. Definitely crazy. “Ready to die in a blaze of glory, baby?”
His eyes widened. But before he could question her, they were off again, the other two racers beside them. Darac glanced around him. They were outnumbered and out-armed.
And out of time.
They were going to die. The only question was how many Coizils could they take with them? Glancing behind him, he spotted something in the distance but couldn’t make it out. Probably back-up from the Coizil warship.
He reached forward and grasped Willa’s shoulder. “I love you,” he yelled.
She glanced back with a fierce grin. “Damn right, you do. I love you too.”
Elation filled him, mixed with sadness. They might die today. But at least they died with honor. And while he would have done anything to protect Willa, she would never have been able to sit back and let him protect her.
The other two racers raced ahead, peeling off to the sides. They fired their blasters, but the Coizil firepower was tremendous and soon had them retreating. Willa continued to drive straight ahead. A Coizil warrior was tossed off the front of the racer and launched into the air. He took out another. Fire bit his shoulder as returning fire hit him. Willa didn’t slow. They were getting closer, but there were still dozens of Coizils between them and the Halo Bomb.
“Ready!” Duke called out.
Willa turned the racer sharply to the left and Duke launched something out the window. Then Willa put her foot down, and they were off.
“Get down!” she yelled at him.
He crouched.
“What was that?” he yelled.
“Our last hope!” Duke replied.
A loud boom rocked the racer, sending it spinning out of control. Willa fought to keep hold of the wheel. Darac glanced out the back of the racer, staring in shock at the huge fireball filling the sky behind them.
Then the racer hit a pothole and rolled, sending him spinning. His head hit the roof with a sickening crunch before everything went dark.
***
“I must go to her.” Darac attempted to sit. Koran shoved him back. None too gently.
“You were knocked out. You need to lie still.”
“Willa.” He reached for her through the bond. “She is still unconscious.”
“I believe she woke up and has spoken. They will let us know if there are any changes. Now shut up and rest.”
“Your bedside manner is terrible.”
Koran crossed his arms over his chest. “You should have waited for us.”
“They had a Halo Bomb.”
“Which you blew up.” Koran’s face grew thunderous. “You could have killed yourselves. What were you thinking?”
They had been thinking to save everyone. Even if they died.
“There was no other choice.”
“There is always a choice. You have just met your mate. You should have brought her with you back to Zerconia instead of going on a foolish mission to win her over.”
Foolish mission? “I am sure Mila will appreciate your opinion.”
Koran froze then glared at him. “Mila was never as reckless with her safety as your mate is.”
Reckless or brave. It was a fine line. One she often crossed.
“I could wish that my mate was less brave and more reliant on me to protect her.”
Koran snorted. “We all wish that.”
“She could have died.” Now that it was over, and they were safe, the thought of losing her made him feel ill. “You arrived sooner than I thought.”
“I pushed our ship as fast as it could go. We arrived just in time to see a ball of fire fill the air. I thought you were dead.”
Darac had too. But other than a few burns and bruises, and a slight concussion he was fine. Alive. They were all alive.
“We need to discuss what to do with them.”
“Who? The Coizils?” he asked. Destroy them all.
“No. They will all be taken care of. Those who are left. I am talking about Willa’s people. Their village was destroyed. The Coizils burnt everything to the ground.”
Darac gaped at him. “Show me.”
***
Smoke filled the air, making his eyes water. Buildings smouldered. There wasn’t a building still standing, despite his fellow warriors’ best efforts to salvage something.
“They had so little to begin with,” he muttered. What would they do now?
He spotted Rye ahead of him, speaking to Zuma and headed over. Koran moved silently beside him.
Rye turned towards them, nodding at Koran. “Thanks for your assistance.”
“I am sorry we could not get here sooner and prevent this. But by the time we arrived, everything was gone.”
Rye looked pensive, and beside him even Zuma had lost his characteristic grin.
“What will we do?” Darac asked.
Rye raised an eyebrow. “We? I thought you would head off with your people?”
“This is Willa’s home. Therefore, it is my home. Could you not use the help?”
Zuma snorted. “We could use a lot more than that. We could use a new place to live.”
“I may have a suggestion to help with that,” Koran told them.
“I’m listening,” Rye replied.
***
Willa woke slowly, groaning as she struggled to open her eyes. Her head pounded, nausea bubbling in her stomach.
“Willa? Are you awake?” Darac asked
“Please stop bellowing,” she whispered, opening her eyes.
“What?”
“Stop yelling. It’s making my head thump.”
“I am not yelling.” But he quietened his voice to a much more acceptable whisper.
She heard another voice talking quietly. Then a blurry figure leaned over her, shining a bright light in her eyes.
“Hey! Are you trying to make my head explode?” she grumbled, attempting to shove the arm away.
She moaned as her head throbbed and closed her eyes, massaging her temples lightly.
“Willa, this is one of our healers, Lon. He must examine you.”
“How many fingers am I holding up?”
“No idea, wanna guess how many fingers I’m about to hold up?”
“What does that mean?” Lon asked.
“I know not,” Darac replied, almost sounding tired.
Opening her eyes, she carefully turned her head so she could look at him. For the first time she could recall, he looked exhausted.
“What is it? Is someone hurt? My brothers?” Panic filled her.
“Everyone is safe. I promise you.”
He wouldn’t lie. She gave a sigh of relief.
“Let Lon examine you. Please.”
Her mouth gaped open and she snapped it shut. “Did you hit your head?”
“Yes, but I was only unconscious for a short while, why?” He frowned.
“Because you just said please.”
“Willa,” he rumbled warningly. Concern filled Darac’s gaze and she could feel how close to the edge he was through their bond. They’d almost died.
An injury to the head or brain was about the only thing a regen chamber couldn’t help, so she was left recovering on her own. Still, all in all, she counted herself extremely lucky to walk away alive.
“Fine, Doc, do your worst.”
“I hope I shall do much better than that,” the handsome doctor replied. After checking her over and leaving instructions for her to rest and take a pain inhibitor, he left them alone.
“Okay, spill. What’s happened?”
“Spill?”
“Darac, just tell me.”
“The village has been destroyed. The Coizils set it on fire.”
“Destroyed? It’s all gone? Everything?” Willa struggled to sit, ignoring the thumping in her head.
Darac frowned but helped her sit, placing a pillow behind her back. She grasped hold of his arms with a gasp. “The bed moved.”
“It
is a masic.”
“A what?”
“It is sentient. You can command it to move, but it also moves on its own.”
“Creepy, but not the freakiest thing I’ve heard of. They really burned everything to the ground?”
“Yes. I am sorry to have to tell you such bad news.”
“Hey, it wasn’t your fault.” He glared down at his clenched hands. “Darac? You okay?”
“I should have known they would seek revenge.”
“There’s no way you could have known they’d figure out where we lived. How did they figure that out?”
“I can only guess that I said something I should not.”
While they were torturing him. She wouldn’t blame him if he had. She’d probably have sung like a canary. “Or they put a tracker on our ship.”
“Why would they do that?”
She shrugged. “Insurance in case something happened. We can soon find out.” She sighed. “What will we do?”
He cleared his throat. “Koran suggested a solution.”
“What? Are your friends gonna stay and help us rebuild. We can’t let them do that.” Besides, feeding the huge Zerconians would bankrupt them.
“No. He suggested that your people move.”
“Move. Move where? Build somewhere else on Joyadan? Why?”
“Not move somewhere else on Joyadan. But move to Zerconia.”
“Zerconia?” She gaped at him. “Why would we move there? Why would your people want us to move there?”
“We feel some guilt over what happened. Koran feels he should have guessed the Coizils might plot revenge. He thought they would seek revenge on us, not your people. He does not like to be wrong.”
“You guys have nothing to feel guilty about. Shit happens.”
“Umm, yes. Well, Koran spoke to the Crown Prince. He has issued an invitation for your people to live on Zerconia. Or we will help move them to wherever they wish to go. However, we cannot guarantee the Coizils will not return here.”
Oh crap. She hadn’t thought of that.
“What did Rye say?”
“He’s about to put the idea to your people.”
“I need to be there.” She swung her legs to the edge of the bed, gasping as the room spun.
“You are going nowhere. You need to rest.”
