by Susan Kelley
The big one lifted his hand and pointed at Emma. “Come with us.”
The other women closed in around Emma as if to protect her. But she understood after one moment of confusion. These weren’t raiders sent by the Underboss. She touched the shoulder of the woman closest to her and then stepped in front of her protectors.
“Don’t hurt anyone.” But where was Moe? How had these men entered the village unchallenged?
The soldier gestured. “We’re leaving now. We can walk or I can carry you over my shoulder.” He lifted his gun and swung it in an arc. “We only want you and will kill anyone who interferes.”
Emma stepped up to them. “No killing. I’ll go with you.” She was glad Vin hadn’t been here when they came. He would have died trying to stop this monstrous soldier, and it would have been her fault.
The soldier grabbed her arm and jerked her outside onto the sidewalk and down into the muddy street. She stumbled across a body. Moe! She bent down to check him but the soldier tugged her along. More soldiers joined her two captors, too many of them for her to count in the rain.
She dug in her heels. “Let me see to Moe. I’m a doctor.” She tried to look back at Moe but already the rain and dark hid him. Where were the rest of the men guarding Hovel Port?
A soldier latched onto her other arm and they started to run. Her feet skimmed across the mud as they forced her to keep pace. The south gate lay open before them with another body sprawled in the mud. How many others had been wounded or killed when these men came for her? Hot tears coursed down her cheeks. The simple folks of Hovel Port had stood no chance against trained fighters.
Two ships sat outside the gate in the open ground between the town and the river. The soldiers bundled her into one of them and pushed her into a room. The door slid shut with a locking click. A soft white light came on automatically. She searched around the door, finding no mechanism to open it. A sinking sensation in her stomach meant they’d taken flight, quickly and probably nearly straight up.
She looked around her prison, the silence profound after the cacophony of rain outside. Containers and sealed military meals sat on a table near the narrow cot. A narrow door on one way opened into a lavatory facility. She was well and truly caught.
Too wet to sit on the bed, Emma sat down against the wall and wrapped her arms around her knees. She curled into a small ball and tried to warm herself. But nothing could stop the harsh images of Moe and the other body in the mud. Dead because of her. Or if they were injured, the town would have no doctor to treat them.
For a while bitter regret occupied her thoughts but eventually her own predicament joined her worries. Only her stepfather had reason to kidnap her and only he could command experienced military men like her captors.
Not even Vin could have protected her from so many men. And now there was no one to help her. Hovel Port didn’t even have a ship capable of space travel. No one could come after her. She wished she had had a chance to say good bye to Vin.
* * * *
Vin flew over the north gate, ignoring the shouts of the men as he zipped down the street. Light spilled from the door of the surgery and highlighted Vannie leaning over a body. He leaped from the hover before it stopped moving.
Not again! Vin couldn’t breathe as he ran up to Vannie’s side. His breath whooshed out when he saw the large body couldn’t be Emma. Moe lay in a pool of pink as the rain diluted his spilled blood. Vin looked past the body into the surgery where three women huddled there. He knew Emma was gone. She would be tending Moe if she was still here.
A strange sound drew Vin’s attention back to Vannie. He knelt beside the big man, not needing to touch Moe to know he was dead. Another sob escaped Vannie, his big shoulders hunching down as if to deflect a blow.
Vin understood what it was like to lose someone as close as a brother. No matter how many of his fellow Recon Marines he had seen die, each one hurt the same. That pain had been one of the first reasons the Recon Marines started to believe themselves as human as civilians. He knew there was no comfort he could give Vannie, but Vin but his hand on his shoulder anyway.
“They didn’t have to shoot him so many times,” Vannie sobbed out.
Vin saw four separated wounds. “Yes they did. He wouldn’t have stepped aside as long as he lived.”
Vannie nodded. “He fought them with all he had. I ran as fast as I could, saw them drag Emma out, but I couldn’t get here fast enough.”
Vin wanted to run down the street after her himself, but it was too late. The ship had left as quickly as it arrived. He had to leave soon or lose his chance to track it. “How many took her?”
Vannie took a deep breath and pulled his gaze from his dead friend. “I saw at least a dozen here on the street, but there was gunfire down near the south gate so I reckon more waited down there. They wore outfits nearly like yours and blended into the dark. I couldn’t fire on them while they had Emma.”
“I have to go.”
Vannie rose when Vin did and grabbed his arm. “What about the men coming at us from the north?”
Vin shrugged off Vannie’s hand. “Less than thirty of them on foot about a mile out.”
“On foot? In the rain?”
Vin didn’t have time to explain. “They’ll be here in twenty minutes or so.”
“You can’t go and leave us alone against them.”
Dillon ran up to join them. “Four men wounded by the south gate.”
“They’re coming from the north.”
Dillon nodded but stayed put as if waiting for orders.
Vannie turned his empty stare back to Moe. “Vin, you can’t leave Hovel Port to those men. We’re weakened already without you leaving. Emma would want you to make sure this town is safe before going after her.”
“She wouldn’t know what the best strategy is for her safe return.” But Vin looked at the terrified women cowering at the surgery door. And down the street men struggled to carry the wounded. Emma would want him to protect this town she loved and was such an important part of. “I’ll take care of the men on the north road, and then I’m going after Emma.”
Vannie shook himself, rain scattering over Moe’s body. “Dillon, take care of Moe for me and sit tight here until I get back. No going to the river or anywhere. Lock down the town. I’m going with Vin.”
“I don’t need any help.”
Vannie eyes blazed. “Maybe you don’t but I’m going along. The men who did this to my friend and stole my lass will answer to me.”
Vin didn’t waste time arguing with him. He gestured for Vannie to follow him. Vannie gave his friend one last glance and then jogged the few steps to the hover. He climbed aboard behind Vin and found a rail to hold onto. The little craft strained under the extra weight but it managed to clear the north gate.
“We’re in a hurry,” Vin said over his shoulder. “Don’t say anything and stay with the hover.”
Vin set down a quarter of a mile outside the gate. He unstrapped his short rifle and hopped off the hover. He jogged along the edge of the road for another quarter of a mile before he heard the incoming force.
Their line had lengthened as more men fell behind. They made no attempt to be quiet, probably unaware of how close they were to their mission target. Vin flying over their heads earlier should have alerted them that their opponents were aware of their approach. The two leaders walked side by side with the same weary gait as their crew.
Vin found a good spot in the soaked greenery east of the road. He waited until about half of the enemy had passed by him. He set his rifle to rapid fire and started his sweep at the front. The thought of poor Russ and his injured leg and perhaps his wish not to be known as a killer, inspired Vin to aim low. His laser powered weapon made little noise as he took out the leaders and moved down the line. The rounds followed one another so fast he didn’t have to aim. He held the weapon steady as he swung the sights from man to man. Four men screamed and dropped to the ground before the rest of them reacted.
/> They milled in a confused tangle and retreated back north. It meant the rest of those in front ran in front of Vin. He shot them all. Only a few managed to raise their weapons. It was a slaughter. An eerie song of moans and cries joined the mournful rain.
Vin didn’t know or care how many suffered serious injuries or death. They no longer posed a viable threat to Hovel Port. He moved back through the jungle until he was sure they couldn’t see him when he jogged back onto the road.
Vannie waited beside the hover craft, his weapon in hand. “Are they coming?”
“No. Get on board.” As they flew over the treetops, Vin radioed Dillon and told him the enemy was wounded and not likely to arrive. “Stay on alert and keep the gates locked. I don’t know if they’ll send more or not.”
After giving Dillon his orders, Vin put Hovel Port out of his mind. Nearly half an hour had passed since Emma had been taken.
Vannie cursed as they arrived at Vin’s cruiser. The cargo bay opened at Vin’s remote command so he could fly the hover inside. As soon as it settled on the deck Vin ran to the pilot’s chair. He had them airborne before Vannie settled into the copilot’s spot. It took only seconds to circle around Hovel Port’s southern gate. The scanners picked up the scent of burnt iron immediately, left behind by a modern star ship using crystallized iron as fuel. He set his ship’s course to follow the dissipating trail.
The enemy ship had taken off as a sharp angle and left Merris Fiver’s atmosphere in half a minute. Once they cleared the planet’s pull, the solar system spread out before them. They flew past the outer four planets sharing the medium star and entered deep space.
The trail didn’t spread out much in the emptiness of space and the only concern was intersecting with trace left by other ships. Vin set his speed to the maximum his ship could maintain without frying his own crystallized iron fuel.
Vannie broke the quiet on the bridge. “Did you actually came to Merris Five in your own cruiser?”
Vin didn’t bother with the obvious answer. He redirected the sensors from the way he’d used them to protect Hovel Port and focused them all forward.
“Moe and I met thirty years ago right after I left a planetary guard unit. We’ve been adventuring through the stars ever since.”
Vin stilled, listening to Vannie sharing the eulogy for his friend. Moe had been a kind man in Vin’s limited experience. Vin had envied the friendship between Vannie and Moe. It made him miss his brothers.
“We intended to be done packing up and searching new places when we met up with Emma. Took us only a day or two to figure out the lass needed our help. She was smarter than both of us put together and sweeter than real bee tree honey. Like the daughter neither of us would ever have.” Vannie rubbed his hand over his eyes. “My best friend, my partner, is dead and my little girl kidnapped by those she gave up so much to escape. How could I let this happen?”
“You didn’t let it happen. It was done to them.” Vin checked the engine readings and then pulled up a star chart. He couldn’t run his ship this hard for long. The heads up display showed four more star systems nearby in this galaxy that had habitable planets along with three moons that were possible destinations. But if Emma’s kidnappers rendezvoused with a larger ship Vin might not be able to keep up with them if they left the galaxy.
“Nothing will ever be right again.” Vannie’s voice broke.
“We’ll take care of those that did this.”
“And will I feel better then?” Vannie stared out the front viewing panel.
“No.” Something blinked on the very edge of the sensors. It lined up with the perfectly straight flight of the kidnappers. “It will give you a momentary peace but after the hunt is over and your prey is in your grasp, the same place inside you will be empty.” Vin thought of Emma’s slim body pressed against his and the trust in her eyes when she looked at him. Even though she knew what he was, she saw him as a person. “Unless you can find something else to fill that emptiness.”
“I can’t think that far ahead.” Vannie dropped his head back against the cushioned head rest. “All I want is to get our Emma back.”
Vin liked it when Vannie referred to Emma as our. And they would get Emma back. He pointed to the steady blinking on the heads up display. “Emma is right there. Let’s go get her.”
Chapter Fourteen
Emma didn’t struggle as the hired thugs led her out of the ship. She had no idea where they were and no skills to fly a ship out of there if she did break free. They hustled her through a high-ceiled space that could only be a ship bay before entering into a military style hallway. After enough turns to confuse her, they stopped in front of a door guarded by another of their kind.
“You’ll find clean clothing and whatever else you need inside. The admiral expects you in one hour.” The mercenary pushed the door open and gave her a firm shove. “Let your guard know when you’re ready. If you don’t come out on your own, we’ll come in and get you.”
“What’s your name?” Emma wasn’t intimidated by soldiers, especially one like this one. He’d probably deserted to avoid being convicted alongside the admiral. These ex-soldiers types must have followed her stepfather into exile.
“You can call me captain.” He smiled but not in a friendly way.
She returned the expression in kind. “I can think of something better to call you.” It wasn’t much of a parting shot but she went into the room and shut the door behind her. A spacious suite of rooms welcomed her in typical military fashion, meaning no decorations or personal items of any sort. A sitting area with two dull green chairs flanked a composite table and a metal lamp. A door on the far wall probably led to sleeping and bathing areas.
Emma had spent many days in such accommodations in her years serving military clients and before that as a young girl traveling with her mother and stepfather to different military outposts. The familiarity didn’t spawn many happy memories. She and her mother had designed their best, most elaborate plot in a room much like this one. They’d been successful beyond their hopes. But now Emma must face the admiral alone without her mother’s quiet courage or Vin’s steely strength at her side.
While she indulged in a hot bath, she worried about Vin and Vannie. Moe’s death would devastate Vannie. Vin would blame himself, his overinflated sense of duty filling him with guilt that someone under his protection had been injured. If only she could send him a message and tell him not to worry.
Clothing in her size hung in the wardrobe but none to her liking. Her stepfather had always liked her and her mother dressed up like display dolls in a toy store. The three dresses of choice included one long one meant for a formal dinner and two calf length dresses suitable for the idle rich spending a day socializing. She wished she could put on the simple shirt and pants she’d arrived in but they were mud-covered and damp. She put on the light blue dress and used a towel to brush the dirt off her boots. The heeled shoes sitting beneath the dresses looked like torture devices.
After running a brush through her hair and giving some order to the wet curls, she went to the door and ordered the guard to take her to the admiral. His gaze swept her in a disrespectful manner, but she only stared at him down her nose. Despite her petite size, she knew how to deal with men of this type. “You go first.” She made it an order. Despite the smirk on his face he obeyed.
They snaked through the windowless halls. Numbers and letters marked doors and wings but nothing to give away the location of what she suspected was an outpost. They passed no one on their way to what became wider halls and a few open spaces. Emma’s heart pounded as they came to a set of wide closed doors. Time to face the serpent.
Her guard opened the door but stayed back as she strode down the carpet runner to the table on the far side of an office-like room. Admiral Ben Lester stood to greet her, using the old fashioned manners he thought covered his monstrous personality with a glossy camouflage. He used the disguise to move undetected in the social circles he needed to advance his a
genda.
Ben was still a handsome man, his posture straight and his eyes as sharp as ever. Only the dark circles beneath his eyes and the tightness around his mouth hinted at his outlaw status.
Emma knew the signs of stress, and happy though she was to see them in her stepfather, she didn’t think he was likely to drop over any minute. She and her mother had planned this meeting though not for Emma to face Ben alone. How far would her stepfather go to get what he wanted?
He came around the desk and opened his arms as if this was a greatly anticipated reunion instead of a kidnapping. “I’ve missed you, Emmy.”
She stopped and folded her arms in front of her. A quick glance told her an armed man watched from each corner of the room. Probably more outside the door behind the desk and the one she’d left outside when she entered. No less than six men plus the admiral. “You’ve been looking for me, Ben, but not because you missed me.”
His smile hardened but didn’t fail. He gestured toward a chair, waiting until she settled before taking one near it. “I see you don’t want to bother with civilized pleasantries.”
She snorted and crossed her legs, enjoying his disapproving glance at her boots. “Since when is murder and kidnapping civilized?” Grief tightened her voice though she sought calm and confident. “If I had any wish to speak with you I could have contacted any of the hundreds of investigators you sent to find me.”
Ben gave up his pretend smile. “Did you think I would never find you on that useless scrap of a world you were hiding on?”
Emma smiled for real. He didn’t know about the iridium deposit. That find would nearly equal Emma’s share of the Hadrason Mining Empire though it wouldn’t be more than hers and her mother’s combined. “I liked it there. I’m content to spend the rest of my life on Merris Five.”
“You’re welcome to go back.” Ben picked an AI unit off his desk. “Your mother was very clever in signing her shares over to you in such language that I couldn’t challenge it in court.”
“Especially now that those same courts want to speak with you. How is your friend, Geoff Hadrason, doing?”
