“Trent,” she woke in daze, scanning her surroundings in confusion, “where am I...” she started to question, but her memory returned. She still lay in the deep crevice within the containment cavern, though closer to its entrance then she recalled previous the pain.
“Oh no,” she gasped, the sight of the hatched HDP pod beyond the crevices narrow face, causing her skin to freeze. Thankfully, the HDP infected human had vanished...it must have escaped or been captured by the Schnac'lasis, she thought...either way, she was glad it was gone.
She turned to Trent, who laid beside her, gasping for air. He grunted, face contorting in total agony while flushing a deathly scarlet. A flood of sweat poured off his skin, soaking through his jumpsuit to pool on the rock below. Terra, who had been hiding deep between her bosoms, emerged to hope down to Trent, purring his concern as his tiny hands caressed Trent’s trembling cheek, while Sasha began gently caressing the other.
“Vin, is he going to be alright?” her voice cracked, either from fear of the answer, or the pain and burning of moments before.
“The anti-mutagen protocol of the Eye of the Emperor is able to destroy the HDP spores before they cause irreparable harm,” Vin responded. Sasha felt her heart steady, and the worse of her concern wash away. Tenderly, she continued caressing Trent's grimacing cheek.
“Vin, why isn't it working?” she asked after a few minutes, her voice having regained its composure, but now fully showing her concern.
“Sir Trent attempted to shield Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia from the cloud of HDP spores released when the HDP pod hatched. Theoretically, this could have led to a higher infection level, requiring the anti-mutagen protocol to activate multiple times to fully destroy said spores,” Sasha could only nod, trusting the Program spoke the truth. Trent began to spasm, and it took all Sasha’s strength to hold him steady. Then, like the pain had never existed, his expression calmed, breathing steadied, and skin began to clear.
His eyes shot opened, darting in every direction like a wild beast, trying to rise to his feet, desperate to flee. Sasha held him down with her body.
“Trent, it's alright,” she soothed, “were fine,” she forced his eyes to focus on her. Recognition struck and he calmed, running his trembling fingers over her cheeks, nose, and lips as if he wasn’t certain she was real.
“Oh, Trent,” she leaned in, kissing his lips, cheek, and forehead in turn, letting fresh tears fall like rain upon his skin, “I...I did not think you would awaken again,” she told, unable to hide her sorrow. His eyes shot up, hugging her stiffly.
“I'm alright, Sasha. I...I won't leave you...ever,” he declared, voice cracking unnaturally.
“Please be advised,” Vin interrupted, it’s words echoing throughout the entire cavern, “the TSB Earth Base self-destruct sequence has been initiated,” Trent stormed to his feet, pulling Sasha up alongside. She slid an arm around his waist when he began to falter.
“Vin, what's going on?” Trent wheezed, his question difficult to understand.
“Level One Quarantine agent has escaped the research complex into TSB Earth Base. Containment attempts have failed, evacuation order received from TSB primary Program. All non-contaminated personnel are to evacuate immediately,”
“We’re in trouble,” Sasha looked to Trent, who, ignoring the obvious pain, started shuffling free of the crevice, Sasha matching his every step.
As they moved across the cavern, and Trent become heavier and heavier, she glimpsed the far side of the cavern. On the ground near the hatched HDP pod, lay twelve bodies, a green slime bubbling from their skin; the remnants of Sir Simwa's men. Her stomach screamed, all blood draining to her feet as she desperately turned her gaze away. That could have been them, the horrid thought vanished when Trent collapsed at her side, only 10 meters from the narrow tunnel she hoped lead to the research bay, and waiting transport tube.
“Are you all right?” Sasha kneeled at his side, securing her arm further around his waist while wiping the sweat free of his eyes.
“Doesn't matter I...I need to get you...you out of here...” he stuttered between labored breaths. Of course it mattered! She wanted to scream, refusing to even consider losing him so soon after finding him. But now isn't the time to argue, she knew. So instead, she hardened her resolve, dragging Trent to his feet and into the dark tunnel.
After only a few steps she bumped into a smooth wall. She ran her fingers over its dark surface, while trying to keep Trent, who had become a deadweight, from falling to the floor.
“Vin, is this a door?” she asked hopefully.
“Yes, Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia,” Vin responded, but the door didn’t open.
“Then open it, now!” she cried, incredulous that she even had to ask. After a few seconds, the door slid open, revealing their salvation; an individual transport tube. Sasha didn't think, forcibly pushing Trent, back first, into the tube transport that appeared within, then squeezed in with him. Terra squealed from her bosom, it being compressed in the narrow tube transport, forcing him free to climb upon her shoulder, squeaking and squawking his complaints into her ear. But she ignored him, concentrating all her thoughts on Trent, whose breathing had become even shallower and his face having turned ashen. She pushed her cheek against his, finding him deathly cold.
“Vin,” she grunted, barely able to keep her growing panic in check, “get us to an escape shuttle, now!” The tube door slide shut and they shot off. She tried to shift her arms around him, but was unsuccessful...there being absolutely no free space in the tube for her to move.
“Vin, what's wrong with Trent? Why isn't he getting better?” she asked frantically.
“Eye of the Emperor reports that anti-mutagen protocol was effective in neutralizing foreign contaminant, but unforeseen side effects of treatment has severely damaged Sir Trent’s internal organs. Recommend emergency tubing, but emergency nanite and calming agent, with full medical workup should be sufficient treatment to stabilize. Life currently not in imminent danger, but may be if recommended treatment is not followed,” she sighed, relieved at the knowledge Trent's life was not in imminent danger. But she knew that could change at any moment. She needed to get him to a medical bay...and fast.
“Vin, how much longer until the base self-destructs?” she asked, hopeful they could stop in medical before fleeing to the shuttles.
“Fifteen-minutes,” Sasha froze.
“How long?” she asked again, trembling.
“Fourteen minutes, 47 seconds,” her heart dropped to the floor. There was no way they would have time to seek a medical bay, she'd be surprised if they could even reach a shuttle in time with Trent in his current state.
“Vin, why were there Schnac'lasis in the lab?” she spoke the question absently, having begun to succumb to resignation, fully realizing it would be impossible to make it across the hanger bay, reach an escape shuttle, and perform an unpowered launch in 15 minutes. But, she thought to herself, at least I found love...real love...before I died. She rubbed her cheek on Trent's, still cool and clammy, trying to transfer the warmth that grew at the thought.
“Information incomplete; the ASU species Schnac'lasis access to research lab 23 should not have been possible. A detailed analysis of logged and unlogged incursions on Earth return only four unresolved possibilities, the most recent being 135 years ago. Current theory in process states that ASU scout ship crashed on Earth and contained ASU Schnac'lasis who had broken through the Wall. In an attempt to escape local authorities, they fled into an underground cave network, finding access to the research complex by chance. After the lab was accessed and the ASU Schnac'lasis understood what was contained within the lab, they moved to release the creature, along with collect samples, in the hopes of returning them to ASU command. This is only a theory and may be modified or restricted as further analysis is completed.” The idea that the ASU crashed on Earth, then stumbled into the underground research complex, was beyond ridiculous. But Sasha wasn't about to question one of the Program�
�s theories...no matter how improbable.
The minutes slowly ticked by and Sasha found tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Moments before, she'd accepted the fact they would die. But now, now it suddenly scared her, for the same reason she had accepted the fate. She'd found love. What she at one time knew would never come again, and that love was about to be forcefully torn away from her. Why did this have to happen? What had she done to deserve this? The thoughts vanished as Trent started gasping for air. She'd been unconsciously pushing closer to him, she realized, and he was too weak to push back, causing his breathing to become ever shorter. She quickly recoiled.
“Oh, Trent, I'm so sorry!” she apologized, sobbing as she pushed herself against the tube wall, allowing Trent more space to breathe. It helped a little, but she was already losing herself in despair. Time seemed to stop as she lost herself in sorrow, along with the tube transport.
“I love you, Trent. I want to live, live with you, for years upon years,” she sobbed, “I found you and I...I don't want to lose you...” she felt as if the end had already come.
“Then...lets...live...” Trent responded weakly.
Sasha's heart leapt in her chest as she felt a pulling sensation on her back. She tried to turn, but ended up tumbling from the individual tube transport. Her head struck first, stars exploding within as everything went white. A thump told her Trent had fallen alongside. She dragged herself to her feet, eyes clearing, unable to fathom the sight appearing before her.
At the end of a short, narrow hallway in which the tube had brought them, stood a tiny room. A yellow light flashed within, revealing what looked like two oversized anti-grav seats placed on the walls, aiming, whoever sat within, at the ceiling.
“Vin, where are we?” she asked with wonder, her hope renewed.
“Emergency high-level evacuation vehicle launch room created for situations requiring evacuation over safety. The vehicle will lift Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia and Sir Trent to high Earth orbit to await rescue by TSB or ABF forces,” she buried her face in her hands...they were saved.
She dragged Trent down the hall and into the escape shuttle. It took all her strength to lift him into the seat and strap the oxygen helmet over his head. She climbed into the adjacent seat, pulling on the helmet the moment Terra hoped within.
“One-minute till base self-destruct, request permission to start launch sequence,” the lack of any emotion in Vin's voice seemed completely out of place for the words it spoke.
“Of course you have permission! Launch!” she shouted incredulously. A moment later, her seat started bucking violently, while a flickering viewscreen appeared in the air before them. She reached to her side, grasping Trent's ice cold hand to interlock their fingers. We will be ok, the thought repeated as she looked from Trent to the viewscreen, now displaying a tunnel vanishing into the distance.
The shaking began to subside as the pressure grew, and it felt like she was being forced through anti-g gel that began to encase her. Then, after about 30 seconds, they started bucking back and forth violently, like the Earth itself was collapsing around them.
At the moment Sasha thought they were doomed, the viewscreen vanishing and the lights going dark, they having been too slow to escape the base’s destruction, the world steadied, and a bright light assaulted the steadying viewscreen. Once her eyes cleared, a majestic blue sky spread before her, wispy white clouds drifting casually through...the blue sky of Earth.
Gradually, the blue shifted to the black darkness of space as the emergency launch vehicle angled as they safely reached orbit.
Sasha pulled herself free of the restraining gel, glancing towards the Earth turning slowly beyond the viewscreen while floating the short distance to Trent. Sweat covered his pasty white skin, but his breathing had calmed and he appeared to be asleep. She lowered herself onto his lap, placing her head down upon his shoulder and closing her eyes.
They had survived against all odds. Their future being returned to them, and she planned to make the most of it.
*********
“What now,” he groaned, the TSB Ero’Cia’s battle stations alarm once again dragging him free of much needed sleep. Daniel pulled himself upright, forcing his stiff limbs to move, trying to untangle the sheets of an unfamiliar bed. It took only a moment for the confusion of sleep to clear, but when it did, the memories began to return. He couldn't help but squirm.
He'd been violated.
Being forced to endure things no man should ever have to endure from the moment he entered Lt.-Commander Xi's quarters. It was then that he finally understood what Xi was planning, that in exchange for her silence he now belonged to her, to do with as she pleased. At first, he thought it might not be so bad. But then he was drugged, with the same aphrodisiac, Noble's Delight, he'd been so fond of using on others, tied to the bed...and the rest was a blur.
Xi was already on her feet, smoothing out her combat uniform. She turned to him with a devious smile Daniel knew would become part of his everyday life...and his nightmares.
“Remember our agreement, Daniel...not a word,” she told, voice of menace, his skin crawling with every word. He had no idea how to act around her, he having always been the predator when it came to women and this being the first time he'd become the prey. He sighed his frustration, rubbing his swollen wrists while watching her rush into the busy corridor.
“Damn,” he cringed while rolling out of bed, the bruises over his skin a testament to Xi’s sadistic nature. Trying his best not to move too quickly, he pulled on his dirty uniform.
As he began to meander down the empty corridors, he started thinking on how he could find his way out from beneath Xi’s thumb. Unfortunately, nothing came to mind, one word from her and he’d be thrown in the brig for treason, and more than likely, spaced, if not worse. So in the meantime, he would let his resentment grow; joining the nasty lump of hate inside his heart, expanded by one the number of people he would now destroy.
Reaching the bridge, he found he was indeed last to arrive. But to his surprise, Captain Aysi ignored him, her expression of iron. He took his seat at tactical and quickly brought up his display. Rescue shuttles were still combing the wreckage that had continued moving on its momentum in the direction of the TSB Fleet Base. But the main fleet of TSB and ABF starships had altered course, heading in system, beyond the asteroid belt.
Daniel felt a tinge of surprise, knowing powered starships were forbidden within the inner asteroid belt for fear they may be detected. But in the end, he didn’t really care anymore. After about 15 minutes the captain stirred and stood.
“Communications, give me all hands,” she said gravely. Daniel glanced to the normally stoic woman, whose face had turned white as the stripes on her uniform.
“Communications open, ma'am,” a chill crept up Daniel's spine as he heard Xi's response.
“Attention crew of the TSB Ero'Cia. Earth Base has been destroyed,” the bridge officers gasped as one, then began whispering in disbelief. Daniel stared at the captain, dumbfounded. How could Earth Base have been destroyed? It was underground beneath the Atlantic Ocean, sunk deep into solid rock. It would take weeks of orbital bombardment or a planet killer to destroy it.
“Preliminary reports are vague, but it appears that a level one quarantine event took place and the TSB primary Program decided to self-destruct the base to stop its spread. Initial reports state the ASU may be responsible for whatever agent was released,” horrified shouts filled the air in response, all thoughts of protocol gone.
That’s impossible, Daniel’s mind screamed. The ASU had been kept behind the Wall, watched by the massive Emperor's Wall Fleet for the past 400 years. But even if they did break through; why had they come to Earth? It contained no strategic importance and was just a stupid experiment by a crazy old emperor who died thousands of years before, he wondered.
“We've been ordered to accompany the TSB Reverie in the duty of escorting the Alutia Battle Fleet to Earth's orbit. Lt.-Commander Xi, bring us
to standard alert, I want all bridge officers back in four hours.” Daniel leaned back, staring up at the metallic ceiling.
He found that he felt a tiny twinge of regret about Earth Base’s destruction...his home for much of his life...but it quickly faded. The TSB was finished and there was no way Earth's governments would not realize their existence after such a massive explosion...even if occurred miles under the Atlantic Ocean. He would finally be able to leave this insignificant rock and join some great noble house. A tap on his shoulder brought him back to the present and he cringed when he saw who it was.
“Let's go grab some grub and then back to my quarters for a little “exercise” before we reach Earth,” There was none of the menace in Lt.-Commander Xi's voice that Daniel had come to expect. He nodded and followed her off the bridge, resigned to his current fate.
*********
“...and that ugly ass of his was wagging back and forth from under the covers. That was the first and last time I ever entered his bedchamber,” Vickie threw her arms in the air with an exasperated sigh, having just finished the story of the first day she'd been “given” to Sir Simwa, and Tiana couldn't stop shivering.
From what Vickie had been explaining over the past couple hours, Sir Simwa was the absolute worst type of traditionalist paramour, and coming from Vickie, an admitted realist romantic, that was saying something.
Apparently, for their first night together, Sir Simwa had insisted on the inclusion of a few of his male and female personal servants. But when Vickie arrived, the festivities had already begun and she was informed her presence would not be required.
“Those poor servants...” Gil'Da whispered from Tiana's side. Vickie's eyebrows rose, a small laugh escaping her lips.
Alutia Rising, Anniversary Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 1) Page 38
