Torn (Life Tree: Master Trooper 1)

by Alexa Kim

  The guards at the gate to Sector A have sided with us. I’m still surprised how fast most of the others ally themselves with us, even though they’re not part of our unit. Almost all the unit leaders have joined us, subordinating to Kryo’s supreme command. We got the ball rolling for something that’s become unstoppable.

  Back in the outer zone, we came across another unit who instantly teamed up with us. Most think the same thing we do – that they had enough of Life Tree… enough of living against their true nature. All that’s been missing was a leader brave enough to actually stand up to Life Tree – as simple as that.

  I trust in Kryo… and in Crow. I cast a glance and Strike, wishing he’d been one of the few not to join our cause. I know he will be one of those who abuse their new-found freedom… and I hope Crow will be able to stand up to him. Strike is not just going to accept him as the new leader. He’ll challenge Crow for his rank. In fact, if it were merely about strength, Strike would hold a higher rank in the unit. But he’s aggressive, impulsive, and never thinks things through. He’d be fitter to lead the Crawlers than us. His only shot at improving his status is a complete restructuring as it is happening right now. He might stand a chance against an inexperienced and hesitant leader – and I really can’t help Crow with that. He’s alone in making his new alpha status stick.

  “Let’s move out,” Crow decides and nods to me.

  The fact that no one is expecting us, that there are no troops from Sector C here to stand in our way and try to stop us, can only mean that Kryo has been successful – or that news of our rebellion has spread so fast that no units are left that would defend Life Tree. All troop movements can be tracked from the control center in Sector C, but Life Tree has made a big mistake in basing all their safety measures on the Troopers’ loyalty. If the troops unite and turn on them, they are immobilized. Unless Crow is right and there is someone somewhere who will send backup. Kryo might know, but he didn’t comment on the subject.

  There’s twenty of us moving on the research facility. It’s dark, but I can still make out the logo of the globe with the tree mounted over the entrance. Two Troopers stand guard, but when they see us, they fall in line without asking questions.

  “We’ve been expecting you,” one says in greeting. “Word got around what you’re up to. Our leader has joined Kryo. We’re with you.”

  Crow acknowledges them with a nod. News sure does get around fast among us.

  As we enter the lab, the stench of sterility bites my nose. I never liked that smell. That aside, the only smell I’m interested in right now is Larona’s. Where is she?

  Crow nods to me. We made a deal that he’d take care of the doctors and com room, and I’d go find Larona.

  I look around and see two hallways – one going left, one going right. They look pretty much the same… I can’t detect Larona’s scent, but there’s another one – the same one that was at my bungalow the day she was taken. As it is a female’s scent, it can only belong to Dr. Barner – and where Doc Barner is, Larona is too. So I follow my instinct and move down the left hallway.

  The farther I go down the rabbit hole that’s the research facility, the stronger the scent gets: This is definitively Dr. Barner’s territory. I can even detect a hint of Larona’s aroma now. She’s here! My heart races as I follow the trail left by her scent that keeps getting stronger.

  I stop short when I smell something different all of a sudden. The biting stench of fear hits my nostrils. There’s another scent as well… Musky, but not as strong as my brother’s – a human male. It’s spiced with arousal – and it’s coming from the same direction as Larona’s…

  Adrenaline floods my system and I break into a run.

  Larona

  I jerk up when I hear the door open. I must have fallen asleep, but now I’m wide awake.

  Crank is grinning at me, and when I see Marv coming into my room behind him before shutting the door again, I know all my worst fears were warranted.

  “Hello sweetheart…” An undercurrent in Crank’s voice holds the promise of pain and humiliation.

  I scoot to the edge of the bed and wrap my arms even tighter around my knees – as if that’ll help!

  “We’re all alone… What a lucky coincidence, don’t you think?” Crank grins, and I can see the greed in his eyes, and in Marv’s too.

  They are not as tall or muscular as Torn, but there’s two of them and each outweighs me. I know I wouldn’t even stand a chance if there was only one.

  Crank stands in front of me, looking down at my face. “Don’t play coy now… we just wanna have some fun. Besides, since you’ve already done it with a Trooper, it won’t be so bad…”

  Before I can say anything, he grabs my hair and yanks me close. I scream – from the pain, but also revulsion. His erection is pronounced in his bodysuit, and he tries to press my face against it.

  “Get a move on, Crank… I want to have a go at her, too,” Marv eggs him on impatiently, licking his lips. “Who knows how much time we’ll have.”

  I’m almost relieved when Crank lets go of my hair, but he only does so to push me onto the bed and yank on my clothes. I’m only wearing the top and cotton shorts I usually sleep in, and now I curse my wardrobe for making it even easier for them.

  Crank rips off my top and grabs my boobs, squeezing them painfully, and pinches my nipples. I scream again, but it just turns him on.

  “You like that, huh, slut? When I’m rough?”

  I shake my head. “No!” I manage to scream, but Crank just laughs.

  Marv grabs my arms, and together they turn me around so I’m face down on the bed. Then one of them – I’m guessing Crank – rips off my shorts, and a moment later I feel his erection pressing against my butt.

  “Come on, Crank… bang her good,” I hear Marv’s hoarse voice. That scumbag likes watching Crank assault me.

  “All in good time… In a moment, darling here’s gonna have the best fuck of her life.”

  I have no idea how Crank got his junk out of his bodysuit so fast… I’m trying to squirm out of his grip, but I don’t have a chance. Marv is still holding my hands, while Crank nudges my legs apart with his knee, and presses a hand into my back to keep me on the bed. Tears stream down my face, I sob and ball my hands into fists. There’s nothing I can do while Crank tries to force himself on me.

  “If you struggle, you’re only gonna hurt yourself,” he hisses.

  I close my eyes, hoping to pass out. But it doesn’t happen. I’m forced to endure it. The next instant, everything changes: The door flies off its hinges with a bang, and a moment later Crank’s weight is gone from my back.

  “What the hell,” I hear him say, followed by a sharp crack and he falls silent.

  Marv has let go of my arms and tries to hide in a corner of the room. “Please! I’m sorry… It was all Crank’s idea!” He whimpers like a little kid, and a wet spot appears in his crotch. Marv peed himself!

  I turn around and spot… Torn! He advances on Marv like a predator on prey. Torn’s body language screams tension, aggression… Crank is down, his neck at an unnatural angle – broken – and it is obvious Marv isn’t going to survive this encounter either.

  Torn is here! The revelation slowly sinks into my brain, which is still frozen in shock. He is wearing his field attire, including his weapons’ belt, and a thin sheen of sweat is covering his arms. He must’ve just gotten back from active duty… But why? The four months aren’t over yet. Then it hits me: He’s come for me.

  Although he doesn’t even notice I’m in the room right now. Instead, his hands wrap around Marv’s throat and squeeze, crushing his windpipe. These are the same hands that caressed me, held me, loved me… and I’m appalled by their show of cruelty. A second later, Marv’s body crumbles to the ground, his neck broken. Torn turns around and stalks over towards me. I stare at his hands and stumble back until I make contact with my bed.

  “Don’t be scared, doll.” I hear his deep voice as if he’s far aw
ay. His arms wrap around my waist and pull me close. In my panic, I try to get free of his hands, but it merely results in Torn pulling me closer to him.

  “Torn… I… can’t breathe,” I manage to choke out. He’s holding on to me so tightly I’m afraid he’ll actually suffocate me.

  His hold loosens, and his hand cups my cheek. “Stop struggling, little one. You know how that makes me react.”

  I stare at him. “You– You killed them.” My brain unfreezes only slowly.

  “Of course! Aside from the fact that they were scum, they also tried to rape you!”

  “But… did you have to kill them?” I know my objection doesn’t make any sense – no one is going to miss Crank and Marv – but my mind hasn’t caught up to reality yet.

  His gaze is serious. “Larona… You’re mine. You know what that means by now. I only defended my territory. They attacked me when they attacked you… and the baby.”

  I swallow, and the last of my shock is finally gone. I wrap my arms around Torn’s sturdy neck and cling to him. I’m not scared, not of him! He’s not the monster, I recall.

  “You came back,” I whisper, nestling my head against his chest.

  “Of course. I would’ve fought for you with my last breath.”

  I look at him and a bitter taste is coating my tongue. “What if it hadn’t worked? What if you’d died trying to safe me?”

  “But I didn’t. I’m here, with you… and we’ve taken over the facility.” He caresses my shoulders, my back, down to my still flat belly. His gaze is determined. Ultimately, he gets up and moves to the dresser that holds the few items I have at my disposal. Torn pulls out a t-shirt and shorts, and brings them over to me.

  “I’m taking you away from this place, but there’s something we have to do first.”

  9.

  Torn

  I hold Larona’s hand while I walk her out of the lab. Adrenaline is still pumping through my veins, but at least I wasn’t too late. I could stop those scumbags before they could do to her what they’d planned.

  My first thought was taking Larona right there in her room to re-stake my claim on her. It’s not the best idea to turn up with a woman amidst so many hyped up Troopers… but I don’t even want to imagine what she would’ve had to say about me pushing for sex right after she’d almost been raped. My first instinct might have been to do it, but I’m human enough to reign myself in. My territorial claims and baser urges will have to wait.

  As we round a corner, Dr. Barner almost bumps right into me. She stops, first staring at me, then turning to Larona. “Torn…? What’s going on? I don’t understand…”

  A fortunate coincidence we meet her here, because we’ll need her. She’s a doctor, and we want to ask about a few of our genetic details. Possibly change some things, too. Crow gave specific instructions regarding her.

  I grab Dr. Barner’s arm. “Doc… better you come with us.”

  She tries to pull away, but of course she’s not strong enough. Although I don’t react to her defiance the same way I do to Larona’s – because I don’t have a claim on Dr. Barner – I do respect the instructions given to me by my new leader. To me, Crow is already Alpha of Sector A.

  “Torn, what are you doing? Why aren’t you on assignment?”

  “Leslie,” Larona tries to calm her, “please stay calm. The facility is no longer under Life Tree’s command. They’ve taken over.”

  Dr. Barner first stares disbelievingly at Larona, then at me. “You won’t get through with this. Be reasonable, Torn. They’ll send troops from Sector C.”

  “We’re taking over Sector C as we speak… and all the units are with us.”

  Still, Dr. Barner tries to fight. “UG won’t stand for this… you know that. Tell him!” she implores Larona.

  I look at Larona, who closes her eyes tightly for a moment. “Leslie… You made a mistake once. Now you have the chance to make the right choice.”

  I’m surprised to hear Larona address Dr. Barner with her first name, but it’s obvious her words affect the doctor.

  “But… what’s going to happen? When I choose to help you?” She looks at me. “What exactly do you have in mind?”

  “We’re taking over Terra Alpha,” I answer truthfully.

  “But there would be no more supply shuttles from Earth… Terra Alpha would have to sustain itself… if UG even leaves you be.”

  That’s the second time I wonder who or what UG stands for. Larona seems to know, so I decide to ask her about it later. That aside, we’ve thought this through. “The planet has enough resources to supply us. However, we’d have to learn to plant and harvest fruit, vegetables, and grain.”

  “We?” Dr. Barner asks doubtful.

  “We need you, Doc.”

  Larona chimes in again. “Leslie, you told me yourself that there’s no way back. UG wants to keep Terra Alpha and Life Tree a secret from Earth’s citizens at all costs. UG sentenced me for a crime I didn’t commit. At least here I have a chance to start over – and now you do, too!”

  I see Dr. Barner’s resistance crumble. “You’re not the only innocent here, Larona… many others are, too. UG only wanted the best genetic material for INBREED – they never would’ve used women with criminal tendencies for it. It was a common tactic to plant false evidence on those they wanted, so they could be sentenced and brought here.”

  The truth almost makes Larona collapse, so I wrap an arm around her.

  Ultimately, Dr. Barner nods. “Okay… I’m on your team.” Then she adds in a thoughtful tone, “It’s not like there’s anything left for me on Earth.”

  “We have to get to the com room,” I tell her.

  “Follow me,” she points into a direction, and we follow her.

  I can already see from a distance that Crow was successful. One Trooper has Dr. Dave in a choke hold, who’s so pale I’m afraid he might pass out any second.

  “Leslie!” he calls out. “They attacked us!”

  Dr. Barner ignores him and puts her hand onto a scanner in the wall. Welcome, Dr. Barner, a female computer voice chirps, and the doors slide open without a sound.

  “We have to turn off the live feed to Earth straightaway. I can do that from in here… but ultimately, the shutdown of all communications has to happen in the control center in Sector C.“

  “We need a com line to Sector C,” Crow says and steps next to her.

  Dr. Dave gets even paler. “You’re helping them? Are you crazy?”

  “I was crazy getting involved with Life Tree,” Dr. Barner replies coolly. “Life Tree is insane… all of this is disgusting!”

  “Traitor! Damn bitch!” Dr. Dave screeches, and it’s the most emotional I’ve ever seen him.

  “Go and lock him in Larona’s room for now,” Crow orders two other Troopers.

  I feel the need to intervene. “The two lab assistants’ bodies are in there.”

  Dr. Barner whirls around, looking incredulously at me. “You killed Crank and Marv?”

  “They were about to rape me,” Larona answers instead of me.

  I can tell Dr. Barner doesn’t want to believe her, but ultimately her face turns hard. “I thought I had everything under control.”

  Larona steps forward to comfort her, but Crow steps in between her and Dr. Barner. For a second, his eyes light up – and a lot of things suddenly make a lot of sense. I pull Larona back to my side, and she looks up at me confused. Imperceptibly, I shake my head.

  Then Kryo’s voice comes in over the com line, and his face appears on the large com screen. “Sector C is ours.”

  “Sector A is all clear, too,” Crow replies and pushes Dr. Barner in front of the screen.

  The way his hand rests on her shoulder is a clear statement – all of us can see it. I wonder if Dr. Barner can tell, too. His transformation into an Alpha has begun.

  Crow turns around to me. “Maybe you want to take her out of here now, Torn. Dr. Barner will come check on her later.”

  I nod relieved. The need t
o get Larona away from all of this is all-consuming. “Come on… we’re going home,” I say to her and am happy when she follows me without argument, absolutely trusting me.

  Larona

  Torn got us one of the electro cars. Otherwise, the walk from the facility to the bungalows would take over thirty minutes. While I’m sitting next to him, leaning my head against his shoulder, I feel tired but also relieved.

  Torn has kept his promise. He protected me – saved me even! One man had cast me into an abyss, another one has pulled me out. I’m reconciled with my fate – thanks to Torn. In that moment, I also realize we’ll be leading a perfectly normal life now – at least, as normal as life with a man like Torn can be.

  I place a hand on my stomach. No one will take our baby away. On our way from the facility, we passed by two Troopers who were taking away Brianna. She glared at me, but I didn’t care. Now she’s never going to get her hands on my baby!

  My gaze wanders over the landscape… the lush vegetation, all the plants… Everything here is much more beautiful than on Earth. Terra Alpha is alive and – now that it has cast off Life Tree’s shadow – absolutely breathtaking! A good place to raise a child.

  Torn seems to sense my thoughts, because his hand joins mine on my stomach. “He’ll have parents… something I’ve never known.”

  “It’s not all settled yet, is it?” I ask cautiously. “I mean, things could still go wrong, right?”

  Torn doesn’t answer right away, and puts his arm around my shoulder. “Crow is a good leader for Sector A, and Kryo for Sector C. Everything else… Only time will tell.”

  “What about UG?”

  He gives me a puzzled look, and I remember that he has no idea what United Governments is, and what they planned to do with the Master Troopers. So the rest of the way, I tell him everything I heard from Leslie, and he just listens.

  When we reach the bungalow, Torn still hasn’t said anything. I take his hand. “You didn’t know any of that, did you?”

  He shakes his head, and I can tell by his expression that he’s holding back rage. “No, I didn’t. But it doesn’t matter anymore. They won’t get what they want. We’re not animals, or property.”