by Vivian Venus
“Elsa!” Richard shouted, running over to our area. I covered my mouth in shock as I saw her body lying face down next to the research operation table that was charred and overturned on the floor. He grabbed her shoulder and shook her. “Elsa!” He grabbed her to turn her over.
“Wait!” Reylar shouted.
It was too late. He flipped her body over and watched helplessly as she morphed, her arm changing from human to a long, dark, spear-like tentacle. It happened in slow motion, the thing whipping out, driving itself through Richard…I watched his body tense up, go rigid, then collapse as the creature morphed completely into its horrific natural form.
“RICHARD! NO!!” I shrieked and rushed forward but was immediately pulled back by a powerful hand. Reylar practically threw me back against the wall as he stepped between me and the monster.
“Veldarian scum,” he hissed, raising his knife. “Let's go.” Reylar charged at the thing, clashing with it, smashing against walls and hurtling through fallen desks. I screamed and shielded myself from flying debris, evading the two battling aliens to get to Richard. He was unconscious but still alive, blood streaming from his chest.
“Richard,” I shouted, pushing my hands onto his chest. If he didn’t get proper medical attention he wouldn’t survive. Reylar and the Veldarian monster clashed again, Reylar dodging out of the way as it shot out its spear tentacles, and swung his knife to cleave off one of the appendages but it didn’t even seem to phase the monster. I was completely helpless to do anything other than watch and keep my friend from bleeding out. I looked around frantically for something, anything that could help, but the lab was completely destroyed. It was then that I saw that the preservation storage area where our precious Veldarian specimen had been kept was blown open, flames licking out from the charred hole. My heart sank. That was what the thing had been after.
Reylar smashed against the wall, grabbing at the Veldarian’s appendages with his hand and smashing it away from him with a powerful kick. He dove after it, thrusting his knife forward and dodging out of the way as it tried to stab him with its arms. He crashed into it and jabbed it with the blade and the monster let out a banshee like howl, throwing out its arms wildly.
“Reylar!” I shouted when I saw one had sliced past his face, cutting his cheek. He had dodged just in time. He went in again to attack but the Veldarian dodged Reylar’s knife, flattening itself onto the floor and quickly flowing along the ground like a puddle of mercury rolling down an incline. Reylar went after it, but before he could catch it the creature flung itself out the hole in the side of the building and disappeared. “Damnit,” he said, panting.
I sat there motionless, waiting for it to pop back in and make another attack, but the creature was gone. Reylar ran up to me. “Liliandra, are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. But Richard…”
Just then the shouts of men and the thunder of boots filled the room as MSE soldiers stormed into the laboratory, spotlights shining from their rifles. Reylar sheathed his knife. “Took them long enough. We have a critically wounded,” he barked, his voice booming. The soldiers swept through the room with their energy rifles, and one man came up to Reylar and saluted. “Sir. Medivac is on its way.”
Reylar pointed to the gaping hole in the wall. “The Veldarian escaped. Have your men sweep the area, double time!”
“Sir!”
The soldier ran off. A medical team approached and pushed me out of the way to get to Richard. I watched as they placed a respirator mask over his face and medi-gel over his wound to seal it and stop the bleeding. Time seemed to slow down into an echoey haze, and I could only sit there on the floor and watch as Richard was loaded up on a stretcher and carted off. Everything had happened so fast…
I jumped when I felt a hand on my arm. It was Reylar. He helped me up and held me by the shoulders, eying me up and down. “Richard will be fine,” he said.
“The Veldarian…”
“Don’t worry. I’ve contacted high command, he’ll have an Ezrok warrior guarding him day and night. He’s safe now. Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
Reylar walked me out, his arm around my shoulder like a protective wing shielding me from the chaos that had taken over the EzRan tower. Squads of soldiers rushed past as we moved through the hallway and out of the airlock. The rooms had been taken over by MSE men, many with their faces hidden behind combat helmets, big bug-like eye lenses glaring as they turned to look at me when I walked by. Reylar was shouting to make way. At the security room, two MSE officers saluted and ushered us into the elevator. In the quiet descent back to the ground, the reality of everything swept over me like a solar flare. My body began to shake, and I threw my hands around myself, rubbing my arms, but the trembling wouldn’t stop. My legs wouldn’t carry my weight and found myself falling forward into Reylar’s arms, and big, heavy tears rolling down my cheeks.
He held me tightly as I sobbed against him. “I will protect you, Liliandra,” he said. “I will never leave your side until you are safe. I promise.”
FIVE
REYLAR
I WANTED to get Liliandra as far away from there as possible, to keep her safe and to give me time to figure out what our next move should be, but the MSE demanded she be brought in to the local station for questioning. The MSE had proven useless up till this point and so I had no faith that they were capable of doing anything to protect her, but without the go-ahead from Ezrok high command there wasn’t much I could do. I knew one thing – I sure wasn’t going to let her out of my sight with these jokers on watch.
“This way ma’am,” one of the soldiers said, pulling open the door of one of their black security shuttles. “You’ll be safe.”
Liliandra looked up at me and I crossed my arms over my chest, stepping between her and the shuttle. “I’ll transport her,” I said.
“Sir, I have orders to—”
I narrowed my eyes, channeling my ferocity into them and gave the soldier a hard glare. His body tensed up, and though I couldn’t see his face behind his helmet I could see his spirit leave him. “Go right ahead, sir. We’ll meet you at the station.”
“Come on, Liliandra,” I said, guiding her to the hoverbike. I helped her up onto the back, her small, warm hand pressed into my palm. I mounted it and activated the engine, the bike surging to life between my legs, and spoke to her over my shoulder. “Grab ahold of me.”
Her arms couldn’t make it around my entire waist so she ended up grabbing fistfuls of my jacket at my sides, and I felt her soft breasts press up against my back. I gritted my teeth, my cock unexpectedly reacting to the feeling of her warmth against me. Not now, I told myself. Now is not the time.
I gunned the engine and kicked off the altitude limiter and the bike the rose up into the air. Floodlights danced overhead and I looked behind me to see fire ships hovering up by the hole blasted in the building, their red siren lights flashing as they doused it in fire retardant foam. The MSE shuttles lifted off around us. I twisted the throttle and hurtled us away from the building, Liliandra clutching at my waist, the wind whipping at us.
The MSE station headquarters was located several miles away, just by the border wall that separated the inner citadel from the outer city. It was a long, black building that looked like a bunker with a rooftop landing zone for their ships, hoverbikes and shuttles. Plenty of security, I noted, but conspicuous. Having her here was like having her out in the open. I preferred meeting the enemy in direct combat, but with her life to protect staying hidden was a better option.
I brought the hoverbike down on the pad and two soldiers came out to greet us. “Leave the bike here,” I commanded, wanting it to be easily accessible. I wasn’t taking any chances.
“Sir,” the soldiers said, saluting in unison. “This way.”
I slid off the bike and helped Liliandra down. Her eyes were red with tears, but she walked tall by my side, denying the offer of a wheelchair from the soldiers. “I’m fine,” she said, wiping her face. “I’
ll be okay.”
I could tell from her voice that she was frightened, but I admired her resilience. Yes, I sensed fear, but I also sensed her spirit. She had a fighting spirit, a warrior’s tenacity. Liliandra was definitely no ordinary woman.
We descended through a set of metal doors and down some stairs into the building, past a suspect processing area and up to a security checkpoint. Liliandra passed through the weapons scanner first, a green light flashed and the guard waved her through. When I walked through, the light flashed red and a tone sounded. The security guard came up, craning his neck to look up at me.
“We're going to need to relieve you of your weapon before you enter the station, sir,” the soldier said.
“Of course,” I said, grabbing the handle of my knife and pulling it from its sheath, the blade as long as the man's arm. His eyes widened as he saw it. “But of course you know that by binding law, to take a weapon from an Ezrok warrior you must first defeat him in single combat.”
“I…didn’t know that, sir,” he stammered. “You, uh, you’re all checked out. Go ahead.”
I smiled and nodded, thrusting my weapon back into its sheath and rejoining with Liliandra. The security door slid open, and we entered the station which was a bustle of MSE officers and soldiers, some in combat armor, others in clothed uniform. On one side was a control station setup with rows of men and women working at computer terminals, a holo-display projected on the wall with multiple data feeds tracking the attack on the EzRan building. An older officer hurried up to us, saluting me.
“Master Ezrok,” he said. “Doctor Cast. Welcome to MSE Citadel Station. I’m sergeant Rocco, I’ll be your liaison.”
“Warrior Reylar Ven Erz,” I said. “Can you get me in contact—”
“Richard Howardson,” Liliandra said, pushing past me. “What’s Doctor Richard Howardson’s condition?”
“Doctor Howardson is stable, however he is in a medically induced coma until his condition has improved further. Your assistant, Gina Beltran is with him at the hospital.”
“Gina, thank god she’s alright.”
The sergeant shifted, his expression strained. “I don’t know how to tell you this, Doctor, but we discovered the body of a doctor Elsa Marquand in the parking lot of the EzRan building. It seems like she was just leaving her shift when she was attacked by the Veldarian.”
Liliandra covered her mouth in shock. “Oh, God,” she murmured. “Oh no.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am.”
She hung her head and shook it.
I gave the Sergeant a glance that told him to “leave it”.
“We uh, we have a room made up for you, Doctor Cast. Guest quarters, for when off-world officials come in. It hasn’t been used in a while, but I think you should find it comfortable.” He gestured to follow him. “This way.”
“Thank you,” Liliandra said, wiping her eyes. I followed behind as we walked through the station, officers stopping what they were doing to get a glimpse of the Ezrok warrior passing through, most eyes nervously drifting down to the handle of my blade. Though we Ezrok had conquered the human worlds many decades ago, our warriors had a limited presence on Mars until just three years ago when commander Grahf, myself and the others were posted here. Most humans had never seen an Ezrok in person before, they only knew the stories that they’d heard from their parents and grandparents about the war, or the things they read on the holo-net or saw in movies.
We were feared. Hated by some, even. I understood why. To many Ezrok, it was a fight for glory, and glory meant total and complete conquest of the enemy. The high command had done some to change the training of our warriors to see that the atrocities committed during the war with Earth would not be repeated – but ferocity and brutality in battle was simply the way of the Ezrok warrior. The humans were weak and soft compared to us. Their battle spirit lacked a resolve. Most of these soldiers were weak too – I could tell just by looking at them – they wouldn’t stand a chance against an Ezrok warrior, much less a Veldarian. I could break them with just a stare.
I decided to test one for my own amusement. I singled out one man who was watching me with a hard eye, his hands resting on top of the rifle that was slung around his neck. He was a large man with an impressive build for a human male, and I knew he must’ve seen himself as hot shit. I locked eyes with him and he stared back, meeting my challenge. I channeled my battle energy and all my killing intent into my glare and focused it on the man, giving him the same eyes I would an enemy who would meet my blade.
The man had a visible reaction – he staggered a half step backward. I kept my glare on him, daring him to challenge me. His forehead glistened with the sweat until finally he looked down at the ground and fiddled with his hands like a child that had been caught doing something bad.
Weak.
The sergeant led us out of the main office, back past an armament room where soldiers gearing up peeked their heads out to watch us go by, and around a corner past a set of offices to an unmarked door. The sergeant scanned a key card and pushed the door open, revealing a small room with a single bed, a desk and a fake potted plant.
“Like I said, nothing much,” the sergeant said. “But you’ll be safe here.”
I held my tongue.
“Thank you,” she said, going into the room. “I’m so exhausted.”
“Get some sleep,” he said. We’ll post a guard outside the door, just let him know if you need anything.”
“That won't be necessary,” I said. “I’ll stand guard.”
“Yes, sir. Well. Goodnight ma’am.” He moved to pull the door closed.
“Wait!” Liliandra called, spinning around. “Wait, Reylar.”
“I need to speak with the sergeant, and then I’ll be outside your door.”
She looked around nervously. “Can you come inside? Just for a little bit?” I could see that despite her attempt to put on a strong face she was terrified. I was impressed by her composition – Liliandra fully knew what was after her, probably better than any of the men here did, but she still held face.
“I will return,” I reassured her. “Just wait for me.”
She nodded and sat on the edge of the bed. I slowly pulled the door closed.
“Sergeant,” I said. “She’s not safe here. Having her here puts both her and your men in danger.”
“With all due respect, Warrior Ven Erz, I don’t know of a safer place she could be on Mars. She’s got the entire MSE force guarding her here.”
“The entire MSE force isn’t enough, sergeant. Not against that thing.”
“It’s orders from the top, warrior. I can’t do anything about it, even if you made any sense. Where would she go? Who could keep her safer than an entire armed security force?”
“Me.”
* * *
I gave the door a quick knock and then opened it. Liliandra was still sitting on the edge of the bed, her expression strained.
“I…I’m sorry about your friend,” I said stiffly. I wasn’t used to comforting a woman, but I felt for her. She wiped her cheek with her finger and brushed her hair behind her ear and gave me a weak smile and a nod.
“The specimen,” she said. “It was destroyed. Everything we had been working on, destroyed. If only she had just gone home…”
I leaned against the wall by the bed, crossing my arms over my chest. “There’s no use in thinking that way. Now we must concentrate on keeping you safe so that you can continue your research. Honor her name by doing that.”
She nodded. “God knows if we’ll ever get our hands on another specimen like that one. That may have been our best chance at ending this war.”
“And the Veldarians knew it. But all is not lost, Liliandra. There is a way to obtain another specimen – one even more elite than the other.”
She looked at me, her eyes wide with realization. “The assassin.”
I nodded. “It will not stop trying to find you until its mission is complete…or until it's dead. And I have
no intention of letting it get to you.”
I sat down on the edge of the bed next to her, the mattress sinking from my weight. Her expression had changed now, an energy restored and a fire sparked in her eyes. “Let it come,” she said. “I want its body on my research table. I want payback for what it did to Elsa and Richard.”
Her words sent a spark of excitement through my veins. I wanted to protect her and keep her safe, and I wanted to lay the body of that vile creature at her feet. “I promise you that I will get you your payback,” I said.
She put her hand on the back of mine. “I know it was your mission to protect me,” she said, “but thank you, Reylar. I would…I would be dead right now if it weren’t for you.”
This woman…
It was my mission to protect her, but what I now felt went beyond that. I wanted to keep her safe, but I also wanted to do everything I could to please her. Her desire for the enemy’s blood had engaged a passion deep within me. This woman, who had the power to defeat the enemy which the Ezrok had been struggling against for so long with nothing but her mind, had set my warrior’s desire ablaze. Liliandra Cast was more to me now than just a beautiful female whose body called for me to dominate – she was a powerful woman, someone who I would draw my blade and lay down my life for.
SIX
LILIANDRA
VENGEANCE.
The attack on the lab had me numb the entire time, my mind reeling from what had happened. News of Elsa’s death had shaken me, and I was determined to get payback for her…but I didn’t know how. Not until Reylar voiced his intentions.
He gazed at me with those huge Ezrok eyes that shimmered gold, and I was surprised to find them enchanting. Wild. Powerful. The Ezrok had always taken a dark form in my mind. I hated to admit it, but I suppose I was prejudiced against them. What I knew about their culture I just didn’t understand or didn’t want to understand. My mission was to find peace, to help bring stability to our Galaxy and the universe, but the Ezrok were a race of warriors. From what I knew about them, they only craved violence, like they were the epitome of the worst in men. I saw that need in Reylar. When he had fought with the Veldarian he had carried this look of excitement on face, like there was nothing he would rather do than fight to the death.
