“Fuck! I want Malm!”
“As do we, Sire.”
Vivian’s soft voice asked, “What does he want most? Use it to lure him out.”
Quin, his Psi on full alert from witnessing and coordinating the invasion of Malm’s ship, and from seeing firsthand the conditions the women were held in, the conditions his Vivi had been held in, responded without thinking, “You, he wants you. Do you want to go down and wait for him to show up to claim you?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Have your lost your senses, Vivi?” Quin shouted, jumping to his feet. “There is no way in hell I’m risking you. We will find him another day.”
“No. We will not. We will find him now.”
“We will just destroy the ship; he will perish with it, if he’s on board.”
“And have the rest of my life to wonder if he’s out there, doing the same things to other women, just waiting for the chance to get his hands on me again?”
“He will never get to you again.”
“I need to know that he’s dead, Quin. I need to know.”
A steady rumble had started up in Quin’s chest, a very different rumble from the purr she brought from him in their private times together.
“No!” he growled.
“I’m going to do this. And I’m going to do it now. I need to move on. I need this.”
“No!”
“Then I’ll never be able to fully belong. Part of me will always be that terrified girl trying to climb out from under the healing dome.”
Vivian flung her arm out, pointing at the holograph where it was once again displaying tanks filled with fluid and naked women of several species, human included, floating in them. “That is why I was terrified to be inside that small space. I didn’t know if you’d pump it full of liquid and laugh as it filled my lungs, and I panicked thinking you were drowning me. I didn’t know if you’d rape me, beat me and then send me away to be sold to the highest bidder again and again and again. I didn’t know if it’d be better to die or keep hoping that somehow, someway someone would come for me.”
Quin was watching Vivian as she plead her case. His heart breaking for her even more.
Her voice quieted and cracked when she said, “You came for me, Quin. And you’re going to save them. But what about the others he’s going to do this to if he gets away? What about the others that didn’t survive?”
“Vivi,” Quin whispered.
“You have to allow me to do this.”
Chapter 32
Twenty minutes later Vivian stood outside a heavily-armored battle cruiser. Her guard and Eula’s, with the exception of four who remained with Eula, stood with her as well.
Each of Eula’s guards had stood before her, sworn their protection and allegiance to her as they had Eula when they’d requested appointment to their Sovereigna’s personal guard. Eula had ordered them to accompany her new daughter on this mission and blend in with her guard, so they pledged their allegiance to Vivian as well before embarking on that mission. They, her guard, and an entire elite unit would be accompanying her to Malm’s ship. Zha Quin was fit to be tied. It had been decided that if he went along with her, there was no chance of luring Malm out into the open. He feared Quin, so Quin would be left back on Command Warship 1. Which was why he was making such a nuisance of himself. To the point that Vivi had actually suggested that Doc tranquilize him with whatever he’d tranquilized her with to force her into the healing unit the first day she’d arrived onboard.
“Sirena! I cannot,” Doc objected.
“Why not?” she asked, thinking it really wasn’t a bad idea.
Doc looked at Zha Quin where he stood, in tense conversation with Kol, who commanded the elite unit assigned with escorting her, then back at Vivian, “Because, Sirena, at some point he will awaken, and his realization that he has been tranquilized intentionally, will make that behavior,” he pointed at a barely-contained Zha Quin, “calm in comparison.”
Vivian looked at Quin, where he stood, chest heaving, face a mask of menace, repeating his threat for about the eighth time that if any harm came to his mate, he’d blow the entire damn ship out of existence along with anyone who was responsible for allowing her injury just as soon as he got her back in his arms. “Yeah, perhaps you're right. I hadn’t thought of that. Okay, we’ll ditch that idea.”
“We’ll what?” Doc asked, completely out of touch with any slang she chose to use. He was very old school and followed proper protocol at all times.
“Never mind,” Vivian said, leaving Doc standing alone while she rushed to meet Vor, who was hurrying toward her. “You have it?” she whispered.
“Yes, Sirena. But allow me to make myself clear. You will have only one chance. I will be at your side, and if I believe for one single instant that it may be in vain, I will take the kill from you. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I do. Thank you, Vor, for believing in me.”
Vor inclined his head in answer as he helped her into a spare flak-jacket, the smallest he could find aboard ship. It was still too large for her, but it fit her better than any regular-sized ones would. He zipped her up and buckled the straps over the zipper. Then he handed her a spare helmet, also a smaller size. She wore a jumpsuit, the same as the medical staff wore. The idea was to make it look as though she was trying to blend in with the medical team. Her curiosity and desire to free the other women forcing her to accompany the medical team on their mission. She’d rolled the legs up and the sleeves, well, Quin had while the whole time muttering about what a mistake this was and begging her to give up this idea. She’d taken his head in her hands and kissed his lips, before telling him, “Part of loving someone is allowing them to do the things they need to do in order to be happy. You cannot protect me so fully that you keep me from living, Quin. That would be the same as keeping me a prisoner. And if you don’t let me do this, you’re keeping me from doing what I need to do to be able to live fully.”
He’d snarled viciously, his frustration for all to hear, then turned on Kol, threatening him with repercussions if Vivian was injured in anyway.
When finally it was time for her to depart, Quin had rushed over to her, picked her up in his arms and told her hoarsely, “I cannot let go.”
“You only have to let go for a little while. I’ll be right back. Just pet Kitty for me — he’ll be very upset when you let him out of the bathroom. And before you know it, I’ll be right back.”
“I love you, Vivi. I cannot live without you.”
Vivian had never told Quin that she loved him. She smiled at him, kissed his lips and looked directly into his eyes, “I love you, too, Quin. I promise, I’ll be right back. You won’t have to live without me.”
“Then don’t go,” Quin said desperately.
Doc and two of his assistants had boarded the cruiser, Kol’s elite unit had boarded the cruiser, her personal guard stood around waiting for her, Kol stood with them. “Sire, we must go. It is time,” Kol urged.
“If she is injured, do not come back. Do not even bother coming back,” Quin growled.
“I will gladly give my life for hers. She will not be injured, Zha Quin,” Kol answered sincerely.
Quin put Vivi on her feet and said, “Be very careful, do not get distracted for one single moment. Do you understand?”
“I do. I’ll be fine.”
“She will not be injured, Sire. We have all sworn to give our lives if necessary,” Vor said.
Eula stepped forward, gently moving Quin away from Vivi so that she could hug her. “Go in safety, daughter. We shall be anxiously awaiting your return.” When Eula stepped back, she intentionally placed herself between her son and Vivian, keeping him from reaching for her again. “Go. Now,” Eula instructed.
Vivian turned and hurried aboard the cruiser, Kol immediately behind her, and her guard behind him.
The doors closed, and Quin stood on the observation deck, watching his life fly away from him, on her way to confront the monster that ha
d stolen her life from her. It went against every grain of his being. She should not be leaving, and if she was, he should be beside her.
“This is wrong,” he croaked out.
“This is needed,” his mother countered. “And she is correct. He has to be stopped. She believes she has the power to stop him. I believe she has the power to stop him.” Eula leaned forward, catching her son’s eyes as he stared at the empty space the cruiser last inhabited before it had flown away. “Do you not believe in her?”
“Of course I do,” he snapped. “But I should be there.”
“It will not work with you there. It is a good plan. Be patient, Zha Quin.”
Quin glared at his mother, spun on his heel and stalked away, headed back to his quarters to free Kitty as Vivian had asked, then back to the conference room to await Vivian’s arrival on Malm’s ship.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Quin sat at the head of the conference table watching as his men one level at a time confirmed their control of the ship. Vivian’s transport was on its final approach and ready to dock.
“Permission to dock, Sire,” her pilot asked for the third time.
“Granted,” he snarled.
The cruiser docked, and Vivian’s elite military unit exited and secured the area first, which in fact didn’t take much securing since there were already several teams aboard Malm’s ship. One of which was waiting for their arrival. Kol was inside the ship with Vivian, “I’m trusting you to make rational decisions, Vivian. I have to focus my attention on this mission. You will follow orders and above all, stay with your guard. Do you understand? Stay with your guard.”
“I do. I will.”
Kol escorted her to the exit of the cruiser, then stepped out ahead of her, allowing her guard to fall into place around her and escort her off the small battle ship. Jhan waited at the door that would take her from the transport dock into the ship. He was to escort her and the medical team down the corridors, make it known that their Sirena was aboard, then take her to the room the other women were in.
As the medical team approached Jhan, surrounded by the royal guard, it was evident that they were more important than just a medical team. But still, Jhan had his instructions. He bowed deeply, his weapon held at his side, “Sirena, welcome. I wish that you had opted to stay aboard Command Warship 1, but I fully understand your need to help free the females we’ve located.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Vivian answered.
“You will be able to understand all that is going on around you, this ship has extensive translators, all have been activated. Now, if you will, come, allow me to escort you to the room we have dubbed, the sleeping chamber.”
“Thank you,” Vivian whispered. She followed Jhan in a daze. She knew that Quin had lectured her on keeping her focus and staying alert, but just being on this ship, knowing that this was where she was kept, where her horror began, had her shaken so badly it was hard to stay focused.
Vivian walked along with Jhan, her guard surrounding them all. Each time he passed a group of warriors, he would make it a point to call her by her title, which would result in the group of males immediately saluting her. She took a deep but shaky breath as they neared a double set of doors up ahead. She knew this was where she was headed.
“Are you well, Sirena?” Jhan asked.
She nodded.
“Let us proceed, then.” He stepped forward, causing the doors to slide open. Vivian saw inside the room for the first time with her own eyes. The scents, the sights, the very feel of the room was familiar to her. She now had absolutely no doubt this was where she’d been kept. Vivian’s feet felt leaden as she followed Jhan into the sleeping chamber, as he called it. Doc and his assistants entered with her and immediately went to the first tank, pressing buttons and making notes of the readouts they received. Vivian walked slowly among the women, taking time to personally look at each and every woman there. When she came across two human females, she stopped, placing her hand against the tank of each. “We will get you out of there. I'm so sorry I didn’t find you sooner,” she whispered. Vivian realized that she was no longer surrounded by her guard. Though this was the plan, it still unnerved her. She swiveled her head back and forth, almost in a panic, until she caught sight of Vor and Zahn four feet away, pretending interest in another of the women. They were, in fact, loudly discussing which of them deserved the female more. Again, part of the plan to make it appear that she was unattended, the attention of her guard elsewhere. Some of them had remained outside the ‘sleeping chamber’, and others were scattered throughout the very large room she now stood in. Vivian wandered toward the back of the chamber, she took her helmet off, and tucked it under her arm as she went. Stopping to pay her respects to each female she passed. She knew she was watched surreptitiously by her guard. She didn’t know that she was watched by another, who hid himself away above the tanks his females were kept in.
Malm shook with a rage barely contained. How dare these arrogant animals invade his home. Dare to even look upon his females. They were his prized possessions. He played with them at his leisure, on occasion leased them out for capital gain, but always brought them back home to rejoin his collection, to be awakened at his whim, for his own pleasure. They even shielded him with their bodies now, as they slept awaiting his attentions. He’d simply slid the ceiling panel aside, hidden inside it and replaced the panel. He knew full well his vital signs would be disguised among those of his females. He’d simply wait the intruders out. Then once they left this room, he’d make his way though the crawl spaces to the docking platform. Once there, he’d steal a transport and slip away unscathed. But it pained him to leave his collection behind. The medical team checking each of them, preparing to wake them, irritated him. But none more than the small one who wandered about, placing his hands on them as though intimately connected to them. And speaking to them as though they could hear. None spoke to his females unless he so deemed, and none touched them without paying whatever price he demanded — be it in service or literal credits. He watched as the small medical assistant wandered to yet another of his collection, stopping to speak to her as well. Then she took her helmet off, revealing herself to any who could see, and his breath caught. His heartbeat sped up, It can’t be, he thought. She seemed to realize she’d wandered away from her group and looked worriedly back and forth for them. Yes, it is her. My human! Surely it is a sign, she has returned to me after all.
All of Vivian’s guard had been instructed to appear to stay focused on other things, to make it seem that she was available for easy taking. She wandered a little further on her own. She knew they were all watching her, Vor and Zahn in particular keeping an eye on her from the back of the room where they ‘argued’ over the female in the tank nearest to them.
It happened so fast that had Vivi not been prepared, she’d have missed it and been in trouble. There was a scraping sound a few feet away from her. It came from above her, but she resisted the urge to look up. Instead she stood her ground, her back to the sound. She slipped her hands in the pockets of her flak-jacket, locking eyes with Vor where he stood watching her through the translucent liquid in one of the tanks. He nodded imperceptibly at the same time she heard a high pitched growl from behind her and an arm wrapped around her throat. She used one hand to slip her fingers between the arm and her throat, trying to keep any additional pressure from being applied there.
Malm shouted, “Stay back, or I kill her where she stands. You will make a path for us to escape, or she will die while you all watch.”
Her guard reacted — shouts, the sounds of weapons being cocked and readied, the frightened voices of the medical personnel as they were led away from the scene. He wasn’t supposed to get his hands on Vivian; she was only to lure him out, and then they’d take him down. Everyone panicked.
Everyone except Vivian and her personal guard who were in on her plan. In slow motion, she smiled at Vor, then wrapped her hand around the syringe in her pocket, using her thum
b to push the plastic cover from it. She pulled it from her pocket and aimed it toward her own face.
Vor panicked at that point, “Nooooo!” he shouted, rushing toward Vivian and Malm.
Vivian didn’t see him, though, she was busy taking aim at Malm’s arm, plunging the very old-styled needle into his arm and depressing the plunger. She watched in satisfaction as the silver pearlescent liquid rushed into Malm’s flesh, causing him to scream in shock and pain. He let go of her, shoving her away from him as he snatched the syringe from his arm where it was still standing upright. “What did you do? You stupid bitch! I gave you immortality and this is how you repay me?”
Vivian, now standing between Vor and Zahn, watched Malm calmly. “Immortality? Is that what you call this?” she asked, indicating the women surrounding them still in stasis.
“They will live forever! That is immortality. You could have been a part of it, had you behaved. Even sending you off to be properly broken did no good. I should have just allowed that damned Cruestaci to keep you! You were not worth the trouble or the risk to reclaim you.” He moaned, crying out as he cradled his arm, “What did you do?” he whimpered again, pitifully.
“I’ve won. That’s what I’ve done.”
“You will never win. You’re not smart enough to stop me. Commander Tel Mo’ Kok isn’t smart enough to stop me. You may stunt my collection, but I’ll just begin again,” he shouted.
Haven 1: Ascend Page 29
