“Well, I’m new to this adventure thing,” she whispered. Raisa frowned as Dev gestured that they should follow the general.
25
Jackson sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his reflection on the plastic wall. His image was transparent, more ghostlike than solid. He gave no expression, made little movements.
The box that made up his new quarters had lowered from above, locking him in without a door. He knew that poisonous fumes could come down the top shaft just as easily as oxygen. The cube made an effective prison hold. Beyond the plastic was a plain metal room. A chair looked like it had been sitting in the corner collecting dust since the base was first built.
Out of all the outcomes, he had not expected this. Arrested for a crime he did not commit. He would have bet his life that the Federation wanted him to reenlist. Instead, his arrival had caused an emergency fugitive warning. His air carriage had been attacked by the base soldiers who thought to catch him off guard while he was trapped in a carriage. After he leapt from the explosion, he’d been taken into custody. It was a smart play. Not many of them could have taken him on in a fair fight.
Jackson took a deep breath and held it.
Murder.
They accused him of murder.
Jackson tried to think of what he could have possibly done to make him a suspect because he knew he wasn’t a murderer.
It was a good thing he came in. An enlistment, he could avoid. A murder charge was something else. And by helping him escape capture, the crew had committed a serious crime. Raisa had committed a serious crime.
At least she was safe back on the ship. Jackson could convince the general that they’d brought him in when they realized he was wanted. Since they had him, there wouldn’t be a need to pursue the others.
Jackson has stared at his own eyes so long that the reflection began to blur. He sensed movement but didn’t turn to look at the door beyond his cage. General Ogden appeared opposite his reflection. Jackson moved his eyes upward to meet the man’s.
“Good to see you again, Jackson. I wish it was under better circumstances,” Ogden said.
Jackson nodded. “General.”
“You injured?” He nodded toward Jackson’s arm.
Jackson glanced down, seeing blood on his ripped sleeve. The wound hurt, but not enough to cause alarm. Though they could both see the injury, he said, “No, sir.”
“How long has it been?” Ogden leaned forward as if to study Jackson through the barrier but didn’t touch the cube. The view was fairly clear.
“A long time.” Jackson sighed. “Why does the Federation want me, sir? Who was I supposed to have murdered.”
“That business on Trag Seven.” Ogden’s eyes narrowed and his lips pressed together. It was a slight gesture, but enough that Jackson knew he was irritated. “One of the daughters of Diplomat Peeple has raised a concern.”
At that, Jackson stood and walked closer. “That’s not possible, sir. All twelve of the children were killed. I read the report.” Seeing the general’s expression, he took a deep breath. “Which one survived?”
“Sharry, the youngest,” the general said. “She’s taken after her mother and works as a diplomat for the Sevamp. They’ve signed on with the Federation Alliance, but she made it a condition that they punish all those she feels is responsible for the death of her family. They were supposed to have protection and she blames their bodyguards’ lack of action as well as those who pulled the trigger.”
“And I was chosen as the bodyguard who failed?” Jackson shook his head. This couldn’t be happening.
“You are the only inactive member of the team. They had to give her someone.” General Ogden didn’t need to say more. The Sevamp was a big win for the Alliance, and since Jackson wasn’t of value as a soldier anymore, he was expendable.
“After all I have done for the Federation,” Jackson said.
“Yes, after all you have done.” General Ogden frowned. “There is no loyalty anymore in this system we serve.”
“I was ordered away. I wasn’t even there when it happened,” Jackson said. “The reports—”
“Have been lost,” Ogden said. He sighed. “You have visitors. The woman was particularly insistent.”
“Woman?” Jackson shook his head. No. By all the stars, it better not be Raisa.
“Violette Craven Stephans,” Ogden said. “Do you want to see her?”
“Violette?” Jackson repeated in surprise. “Yeah.” He nodded a couple times. “Yes.”
“She has a big red fella with her, her Bevlon husband by the looks of him, and Lochlann of the Draig.”
“Yes, I’ll see them.” Jackson sighed in relief. Thankfully Lochlann and Dev had kept Raisa away from this place. He knew he could depend on them to keep her safe.
The general crossed to the door and Jackson found himself walking along the cube to follow him. He reached the corner and stared at the entry.
Dev entered, followed by Lochlann. Jackson started to smile at them—but then stopped when he saw Raisa, not Violette.
Raisa hurried to him. “What’s going on? Why is he in a cage?” She pressed her hand to the plastic wall and looked him over. “Why has he not had medical attention?”
Jackson shook his head, wishing he could convey all his thoughts to her with that one look.
Sadness and worry crossed her features as she leaned her forehead against the plastic. Her lips moved, and he saw her mouth, “What’s happening?”
He shook his head again, unable to answer her.
“We sail under the banner of Var royalty. Jackson is a valuable member of our crew, and as such, is not subject to Federation law as we are not part of the Alliance,” Lochlann stated. “Under what right do you lock him here?”
“Multiple murders.” General Ogden moved to the door and shut it. When they couldn’t be overheard, he said, “Wrongfully so.”
“If you know he didn’t do it, why is he locked up?” Raisa demanded. Her face turned from sad to angry. She placed her hands on her hips and faced the general. “Release him.”
The general eyed Jackson. “Do you trust them?”
“As much as I trusted you,” he answered.
“I didn’t lock him up. When he contacted the base, I was not the one to process him,” Ogden said. “By the time I was told he was on his way, one of my captains gave the command to apprehend the dangerous suspect. He’s been reported. It’s out of my hands. He’ll be processed.”
“No!” Raisa shouted. She turned to Jackson and placed her hand on the glass. Quieter, she said, “No.”
Jackson placed his hand up against hers. Her fingers worked into the plastic. He wished that he could feel her. Murder of so many? Of a diplomat’s family? There was only one sentence for a charge like this. Death.
He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to leave Raisa. But at least he’d known her before the end. He tried to smile. His hand moved as if to cup her cheek. He didn’t need to touch her skin to remember what she felt like.
“No,” she insisted again, as if that word could change the course of events. “I told you not to come here.”
“I met your father once,” the general said. “General Stephans was a good man. He helped me when I needed it.”
“No,” Raisa mouthed to Jackson, shaking her head. Her expression pleaded with him to tell her what to do, only he couldn’t. Moisture gathered in her eyes and she glanced up, as if trying to figure out how to free him. Louder, she said, “Jackson is innocent. Release him. You have no right.”
“You’re demanding like your father, too.” Ogden chuckled. “Jackson, you could have done worse than a general’s daughter. I’m sorry I assumed she was married to the Bevlon.”
Jackson eyed Dev. The man gave a subtle indication that he was not about to correct anything the general was assuming. Maybe it was for the best they didn’t know who Raisa was, in case the soldiers had reported what she’d done to them.
He didn’t necessarily like lying
to Odgen by omission, but then again, the man had him locked up in a cell for murders he didn’t commit.
A knock sounded on the door and the general shouted, “Enter.”
A soldier in black appeared and handed an electronic clipboard to the general. Ogden read the screen and frowned. He pressed his thumb to the top of the device as if authorizing something and when he drew it away, blood dotted the tip of his finger.
“Send the report. I’ll take care of this one myself. Leave us,” Ogden ordered. The man nodded and quickly left. When he turned to Jackson, his expression was regretful. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I’m sorry, Jackson. It was an honor working with you.”
Jackson lifted his chin. Tension rippled over him. He nodded at the general and turned to Raisa. “Dev, get her out of here.”
“What?” Raisa demanded. “Why?”
“Dev,” Jackson insisted, “please.”
Dev placed his hand on her shoulder. She jerked away from him. “Why?” Her tone had become slightly shrill.
Jackson pressed against the plastic. “Look at me.”
Raisa turned to him. Tears spilled down her cheeks and she shook her head. Her eyes begged him to make it all stop, to do something. She went to the barrier and put her hand against his.
Jackson wanted to say so much to her, wanted to express his feelings so she understood the depths of his emotions and how much he valued their time together. He knew that he didn’t always show what he was feeling with his expressions, but she always seemed to know from the very beginning. He should tell her to find happiness.
A tear slipped from his eye and everything he felt boiled down to, “I love you.”
“Jackson Burke,” General Ogden stated. “You have been found guilty of murder in the Sevamp-Trag Seven classified incident. Your execution is to commence forthwith in accordance with Federation law.”
“You can’t do that! He has a right to be heard. He has a right to a trial,” Raisa protested. She struck the side of the plastic as if to break him out.
“Not in classified military cases,” Lochlann said. His entire body stiffened as he met Jackson’s gaze. All he managed was a nod in his direction.
The general went to the wall and placed his hand on a scanner. Light flashed three times. The green glow colored Raisa’s features. A control panel opened on the wall.
Dev growled and surged forward. He hit the cage as hard as he could. Blood smeared from his knuckles, but he didn’t care as he hit it a second time. It did nothing.
“Release him,” Lochlann ordered. He had shifted into dragon form and aimed a taloned hand for the general’s throat.
“You will never make it out of this room if anything happens to me,” General Ogden warned.
“Lochlann, don’t, he’s right,” Jackson said. “He has a heart alarm. If you injure him, others will come. You will never fight your way off this base. They’ll kill you. And, if you kill him, the room will lockdown and we’ll all be poisoned. Don’t forget your promise to me.”
Lochlann glanced at Raisa and retracted his talons. His eyes burned yellow with anger. Jackson knew if she had not been there, the two men would have taken their chances in a fight.
Dev frowned at him. “This is not a proper end for a warrior.”
“Thank you, friend.” Jackson knew that was as close as Dev would come to affection. They had spent many hours together in battle and he knew Dev better than anyone.
“Dev,” Jackson insisted. “Don’t let her watch.”
Dev placed both hands on Raisa’s shoulders. She struggled against him, kicking and slapping to be free.
“Dev, don’t listen! Fight them. Let me go. I don’t care if they come. Let the soldiers come. Dev!”
The general pushed a button on the panel. Raisa struggled so hard she broke free from Dev. She ran at the general, dodging Lochlann as she slammed her elbow into the man’s chest. The attack winded him and Odgen crashed into the wall. She kicked him, barely missing his groin.
The sickening sweet smell of poison misted over Jackson. He held his breath and looked up. It filtered in from the vent above.
Raisa punched the panel, breaking it. The general didn’t move to stop her.
She ran to the cube and put her hands against the plastic. “Jackson, no! Don’t leave me.”
He stared at her as long as he could, until his lungs burned, and he had no choice but to breathe. He managed to say, “I love you,” as the numbness took over his body. His knees gave out and he fell against the plastic and slid down.
Raisa followed him to the floor. “I love you. I love you! Jackson, no, don’t leave me!”
He lost control of his body, falling to the side. His vision dimmed and the last thing he saw was Raisa screaming at him to stay.
26
No.
Raisa stared at Jackson on the floor, and all will to move left her. Tears wet her face and her throat burned from screaming. She lay on the floor, facing him. His eyes had mostly closed but she could still see an edge of green. His parted lips didn’t move.
She heard movement behind her but didn’t care. Nothing mattered. She pressed her fingers to the cube.
“It’s done. Send the death recording to command and then seal all files,” the general said to someone.
“Jackson,” she whispered, “open your eyes.”
Raisa didn’t move. The mist that had fogged the inside of the cell was pulled up into the ventilation shaft like the lifting of fog.
Someone touched her shoulder and she pulled away.
“Raisa,” Lochlann whispered. “Come on.”
“I’m not leaving him.” She didn’t care if she ever stood again. “We should never have let him come here.”
The plastic against her hand moved and the cage lifted. She scrambled forward to be next to him. Jackson’s skin was clammy to the touch. She pulled him into her lap, struggling to move his lifeless weight.
“I’ll arrange a transport to take you back to your ship,” the general said. “You have no more business on this base.”
Raisa caressed Jackson’s cheek. Nothing felt real. Her entire world was numb. “I’m not leaving him.”
“I’ll have him transported to your ship so that you may make arrangements.” General Ogden left.
“Raisa, I…” Lochlann’s voice broke and he didn’t continue.
“Why didn’t you stop him?” Raisa demanded. She glared at Lochlann. “It was your job to protect your crew!”
The man looked as if she’d stabbed him. He inhaled a sharp breath.
“He was doing as Jackson made him promise to do. Jackson wanted to protect you.” Dev took a deep breath and looked as if he mentally braced himself to stay standing.
“You guys and your stupid honor!” Raisa started to sob. She rocked Jackson back and forth, not knowing how long they let her sit with him. Her sobs turned to whimpers, and she knew her heart would never love another. Life as she knew it was over. All that was left was a shell.
She didn’t register anything happening around her. Voices sounded far away. The only way she managed to move was because two men lifted Jackson out of her arms, placed him in a dark container, and walked him off the base to a transport.
When Dev and Lochlann carried Jackson up the cargo loading bay of the ship, Alexis and Rick were there to greet them. Dev hit the button to close the door a little too hard.
“What did you scavenge?” Rick asked, looking at the container. “Anything fun?”
Raisa stepped out from behind Dev and went to where they had placed Jackson on the floor. She knelt beside the container and placed her head on it.
“What’s going on?” Alexis asked, her tone nervous.
“Where’s Jackson?” Rick demanded. “He is coming, isn’t he? Or are we going in after him?”
No one answered him, but Raisa heard Rick swear under his breath.
“Oh, no,” Alexis said softly. “Not that.”
“Those bastards. Who ar
e we killing?” Rick demanded.
“Raisa, I’m so—” Alexis’ voice caught. “I’m so…”
“I’m blowing up that entire base,” Rick swore.
Raisa opened her eyes in time to see Rick punch the metal wall. The angry thump vibrated through the cargo hold to the point she felt it where her cheek pressed to the container. She started to nod in agreement with him, but someone else punched something. She lifted her head as she felt the second vibration.
When she looked, everyone was staring at her. No one else had moved.
A loud bang vibrated the container yet again, and she gasped, jumping back in shock. She stared at the box, unsure she could trust her hearing. Raisa held her breath. Silence filled the cargo hold.
“Hey,” a muffled shout came from within the container, followed by the sound of Jackson striking the side of it.
“Jackson?” Raisa yelled in disbelief. She grabbed the lid and clawed at it in an effort to pry it open. “Jackson!”
Dev, Rick, and Lochlann joined her.
“Hold on, buddy,” Rick shouted.
“Got it,” Dev said as he pushed at the side of the container. The lid opened a few feet. She thrust Dev aside only to find Jackson’s feet. His boot kicked the side of the container. It was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen in her life.
“Get me out,” came his muffled command. Several thuds sounded as if he tried to push the lid. Rick grabbed one side and pulled while Dev pushed. The lid made an awful grinding noise as it slid off.
“Jackson!” Raisa couldn’t wait. She climbed into the container, putting her knees along his hips. She took hold of his face, feeling the warmth back in his skin. His green eyes focused on her and he gave her a small smile. “How…? I don’t care. I don’t care how.”
Raisa pressed her mouth to his. She knew she murmured incoherently but she didn’t care. The joy bubbling inside her could not be said in words.
Suddenly, she gasped and looked at Rick. “You need to fly us out of here. Now. Before they suspect anything.”
“Gladly.” Rick winked at Jackson and ran to the cockpit.
His Earth Maiden AE Page 17
