by Ava Ryant
“Why is that, then...hmmm?”
He came over and leaned down, until they were eye-to-eye and almost touching. Her breath quickened and he felt her arousal. His annex throbbed in concert, aching to be in her tight sheath. Soon.
“It does not matter because no matter what, I will be wherever you are. If the Alliance is rejected then we will simply stay on the Colony. This is the accepted Coalition visitation center and I am a Coalition member.” He answered and felt her stunned surprise.
“You would...stay here?” She asked hesitantly and he realized, she still didn’t understand what she was to him. Everything. She was everything.
“I would go where you are.” Then he kissed her. Picking her up and carrying her into the bedroom.
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“Are you sure this is safe?” Alexa said staring dubiously at the life pods filled with what looked like lime-green jello. Ryhs gave her an amused look, no doubt feeling her incredulity. When Ryhs had explained to their team about how they would need to travel she hadn’t expect...jello pods. By some miracle the ROE had ratified the Alliance and after that, things had moved fast. One second she was Chancellor, the next she was training her replacement and now she was on the Laren vessel, getting ready to travel to Sarienne in a few moments. Her head was still spinning with all the changes. After watching the debate on the vis, she had been sure it would never pass. But here she was.
“It is quite safe, my Spark. This bio-pod is designed for maximum protection. The gel insulates the body against the stressors of warp acceleration in hyperspace. We do not have a gate nearby. Travel to and from your colony out of hyperspace would take more than two annums to complete to the nearest gate. The bio-pods allow us to travel that distance in a ailon of time instead.” He said confidently. What a choice that was - not - two years versus two months. It was why Earth and the Laren wanted a gate installed in their galaxy. Ryhs handed out folded garments to the group and gestured to an enclosure area off to the side.
The bio-pods were in a large central room, protected on all sides with specialty shielding for safety. Apparently the ship’s crew would be fitted with neuro-responders that allowed them to interface with the ship? Ryhs tried to explain but it was like talking to a Techno, all gibberish to her. Everyone would be sleeping in the pods for the journey while the ships auto-nav steered them towards the nearest gate at warp speed. She giggled. It was such a star trek thing to say that it made her laugh in irony. Who knew, that cult series would be the basis for her current reality.
“Strip off your clothing and change into this. It is a medical suit that will allow the ship to monitor your life-signs under stasis.” Ryhs instructed them.
Alexa went over to the changing area, it looked similar to a mall dressing room, and pulled on the med suit. It was a dark grey color and once she had it on, it sealed automatically. The suit once loose, sucked into her like a second skin. It covered her from neck to knee and looked almost like a diving wetsuit. She exited and saw the others doing the same, wearing the same suit, even Ryhs. He gestured to the first pod and she hesitated. Alexa saw the others, especially Ryker giving it distrustful looks and knew she had to woman-the-hell-up. No way would they enter those pods unless she did first. So it was time to pull on her big-girl pants and get into the jello.
Ryhs held her hand as she stepped in and she gave out a loud,
“Ewww. It even feels like getting into a bowl of jello.”
The tension in the room snapped, the others laughing at her expression of disgust. Ryhs gave her an amused look as she sank down into the gel. He handed her a clear mask that covered her face but didn’t block her view as she went to lay back. Alexa stopped moments before going under, Ryhs next to the pod, staring down at her. His face was calm and...gentle. She felt a soothing assurance flood her, he was sending her feelings of support and Alexa knew he was absolutely confident in this procedure. That he would never put her in any danger, that this was safe. She smiled up and at him and trusted, laying back in the gel completely. Moments later the clear lid closed over the pod and she grew drowsy, asleep in moments.
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Alexa found herself jerked awake suddenly as a loud blaring alarm was going off and her bio-pod lid slid open as a violent shake of the ship knocked her around in the green goo, the gel sliding up and over the side, slopping to the floor. Alexa sat up and and looked around, the alarm was blaring and lights were flashing. She could see the others sitting up in their pods covered in the green gel as well. She looked around confused, Alexa saw the Laren crew racing around in a panicked stated, as another jolt of the ship shook them violently and reached up to the sides of the pod pulling herself out as she realized something was obviously very wrong.
“What’s happened?!” She yelled to Ryhs who was sliding in the gel over to her side.
“We are under attack and have been boarded.” He answered grimly and Alexa’s eyes widened in shock. What the hell did he just say?
“The Kraith?” She asked anxiously as panic and adrenaline shot through her, her Tk jerking at her hold, and Ryhs shook his head.
“No, Yiiane Pirates.” He said and she had no idea who that was but from his tone and expression they weren’t much better than the Kraith. Ryker and the others came over, listening as Ryhs expounded on their problems before they rushed out the door. Everyone was covered in green jello slime, the crew of the ship was racing around and it was chaos.
“The Yiiane are a vicious gang of pirates. It appears three warships are attacking us and smaller raiders have attached to the hull and we’ve been boarded. Security crew are in pursuit of the boarder’s while the Captain is returning fire against the warships.”
“We must get to safety.” Ryhs finished grimly and directed them down a passageway.
Ryhs headed towards a weapons locker, Laren crew were grabbing weapons and running off. Someone tried to give her some weird silver stick thing and she shook her head no.
“I don’t need it.” She said as he frowned at her. Alexa turned towards her team as another loud crash and jolt of the ship had them teetering. From the looks of things the Laren were not doing well against these alien pirates.
“Ryker, Owen, shift and help the Laren with the...Yiiane who’ve boarded us. DO NOT attack the Laren.” She said and they nodded, turning beast in moments and running off to the wide-eyed glances of the Laren crew around them.
“Take me to the viewing room.” Alexa demanded and Ryhs looked grim but nodded and the rest of them went running as the ship rattled and jolted violently. They were obviously in a fierce battle and she didn’t think they were winning. The ship was taking a beating. Obvious damage was being done to the corridors as smoke and things exploded around them. They ran past the damage, dodging falling shrapnel and slipping and sliding, as they were still covered in the jello and bare-footed.
They came across a group of Laren pinned down by...giant...purple, rock creatures. The Yiiane had four legs and stood at least twelve-feet tall and looked like they were made of amethyst crystal. Rough cut features and super-strong. The Laren were shooting lightning bolts from those silver sticks but it was doing little to no damage to the creatures. Alexa grimaced and thrust out her hand, using her Tk to blast them back. Technically she didn’t need to use her hands but it helped focus her mind. She pinned them to the wall and pressed in on them, their crystal-like bodies contorting in obvious pain and then...shattering into a million pieces as she crushed them to bits. The Laren looked at her in shock but she paid them no mind as they rushed by them.
Ryhs took her back to the massive viewing atrium, the huge window looked out into space and she saw three ships attacking them. They watched the battle go back and forth between their ship versus the other three and...they were definitely losing. Alexa exchanged grim looks between her and Justine, a knowing passing between them. They might be able to help. It was a small chance but better than nothing. Both their abilities worked by line of sight
and over great distances. She had no idea how they would work through literal space but they had to try.
“We’re going to try and help.” She said to Ryhs and saw his eyes widen.
“Guard the door, we’ll be vulnerable as we attempt to do this.” Ryhs frowned and she could feel his worry for her, but he nodded and stood sentry without arguing. There was no time for that. Alexa looked to Anabel, her sister wide-eyed and terrified. Alexa knew what she was thinking, that the last hostile Alien pirates they encountered had killed their entire family, including their parents.
“Do you really think this will work?” Anabel whispered. Not really, but Alexa didn’t say that. She was trying to project confidence against overwhelming odds.
“I think it’s three against one and we’ve already been boarded. Unless we do something, we’re going to continue to get our asses kicked.” Alexa said and Anabel winced. Alexa and Justine both turned to the window. This was going to hurt like a bitch.
Alexa saw one of the Yiiane ships fire some type of projectile - a torpedo? - and Alexa used her Tk and tried to shove it back the way it came. It worked, hitting the Yiiane ship instead of theirs but a lance of pain shot through her head before quickly fading and she knew she would not be able to do this for long. The space between their ships was vast and it was obviously taking a lot of energy to make any kind of effect. Justine with her magnetic ability was focused intently on weakening parts of the pirate ship that had already been damaged. Alexa could see ripples spread over one of the ship's hull and focused the next shot towards that specific spot. And the ship exploded outward. Pain reverberated in her head and she sagged a little forward, her grip on the railing tightening to keep her upright. Justine was doing the same, her face ashen and then she collapsed on the ground. She was down for the count. Alexa could feel blood dripping out her nose and knew time was short.
Alexa turned back towards the pirate ships and was able to direct back two more shots before she too collapsed, her head feeling like it was going to explode and blackness descended.
Chapter 17
Ryhs shot out the door as he saw two Yiiane coming towards them. He would not let them get any closer. His Spark was on the ground and being tended to by her sister, as was the other female. Both had done an astonishing thing and managed to damage one of the Yiiane ships severely. It would not be able to flee now. He rushed the Yiiane in the corridor and shot them with the pulse bar. It hit them and they began to shoot back and forth between each other as he dodged and hid behind fallen debris. He was shocked to see how much damage the ship was sustaining, normally the Laren shielding was far too superior to take this kind of damage. How were the Yiiane getting through their shields? How did they manage to board? As far as he knew the Yiiane had never managed to board even a Laren shuttlecraft, much less a Suuri-class vessel meant to transport dignitaries with military personnel.
A huge roar sounded out and Ryhs looked behind him to see a black monster racing towards him. It took him a second to remember this was...Ryker. He tore into the Yiiane with a vicious growl, his claws ripping into the Yiiane’s almost impenetrable hide much to Ryhs’s amazement. Soon they were nothing but chunks of purple pieces on the ground and Ryker was racing into the viewing room. Ryhs looked in to see Ryker’s giant form bending over the prone figures and it was alarming. But Anabel was petting the snout of the beast and speaking in soft tones.
“She’ll be okay, they both will. They’re just exhausted. They managed to disable that pirate ship.” Anabel said softly waving to the view screen and the smoking ship. The beast - Ryker - gave a low grumble and Anabel spoke again, still petting the beast like he was...well...a pet.
“I’ll watch out for them. Go make sure those things are all...gone.” She said in a shaky voice and Ryker gave a vicious growl and stood. He ran from the room, completely ignoring Ryhs’s presence. Ryhs saw his Spark on the floor and longed to go to her but he would not abandon his post. Anyone could come down the corridor and this time Ryker might not be close by to help.
The battle between the Laren and the pirates raged for several more hours, more and more raiders dispatched to attach to the Laren vessel. The Yiiane ships were ill-equipped to put up a sustained fight though, their M.O. usually a quick, deadly frontal attack that distracted while raiders boarded and took over the prize cargo or vessel. But they had not factored in the Praesidio presence and their effectiveness in killing the Yiiane who came aboard. As such the Laren were able to turn the tides when the Yiiane ran out of arms to launch. Their ships were badly damaged and the Yiiane fled, leaving behind the third ship that Alexa and Justine and taken out.
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Alexa awoke in the medical bay, Ryhs by her side. The room was filled with injured Laren but Ryhs was insisting that Healer Simin treat her first.
“I’m fine, Ryhs.” She growled at him but Ryhs stubbornly ignored her as he dragged Simin over to her. The Healer gave him a furious look but gently laid her hands on Alexa. Alexa felt a...charge go through her before the healer pulled away.
“She is fine. She needs fluids and rest. Now I must treat the more serious injuries.” Simin huffed out and left them. Ryhs turned back to her and pulled her into a tight hug. His relief flooding her.
“I take it we won?” She asked and he growled a little before pulling back and telling her everything that happened. All the while his hands caressed her gently, it was as if he needed the assurance of touch to confirm she was alright.
“How did they find us? I thought once in warp the ship was almost impossible to detect.”
“It is. They must have been in this sector and found a trace of our trail by sheer chance.” He grimaced and she scowled. Talk about bad luck. Alexa sighed and looked around. The infirmary was one of the most protected areas in the ship and thankfully had taken the least amount of damage. However it was filled to the brim with injured patients.
“Where is the rest of my team?” She asked anxiously. Justine was still unconscious in the bed next to her, a naked Ryker leaning over her petting her hair softly, whispering to her. She prayed Justine was okay, Ryker would not survive losing her.
“Your sister is helping Simin with the most severely injured. Owen is with Noelle, they are checking the ship for any Yiiane that may be hiding. Justine is resting, she is just exhausted. Ryker is...well...he is Ryker.” He answered waving to the uninjured male hovering over Justine. Alexa nodded. It took alot to take down Ryker in beast-mode.
“Your father?” Alexa asked hesitantly. Please let nothing have happened to him. Ryhs hugged her tight.
“He is well, do not worry.” He said softly.
“Come, we must meet with him and the Captain.”
He helped her up as she teetered, her head was pounding and she was a bit dizzy. Ryhs picked her up and lifted her into his arms, carrying her from the infirmary, bridal-style. She didn’t even protest, she was too tired. Alexa closed her eyes and revelled in his strength and warmth.
Ryhs carried her to his father’s suite through the mess of the interior, debris was littered everywhere and emergency lighting was flashing in the corridors. They found a disheveled Ambassador pacing the wrecked suite, looking far from his usual calm self. He looked up and held up a silver weapon towards them in alarm at their entrance, before hurriedly dropping it and racing to them.
“My son! Alexa! Are you well?” He said anxiously as he fluttered around them. Ryhs laid her down gently on the chaise, smoothing away her hair as he did so, sitting next to her.
“La’Ro, my Spark needs fluids and rest. Can you please get her some vitamin water from the nutri-generator?”
“Of course. Of course.” Ambassador Lyric said and rushed to a built-in machine and pushed some buttons on the display, a cup of liquid appeared. He brought it over to her and handed it to Ryhs. Ryhs held it to her lips, helping her to drink. It was thick, almost like syrup, but it was only slightly sweetened, tasting like water infused with fruit. She drank it down and imm
ediately her head’s throbbing lessoned. Alexa sighed with relief.
“Captain Neroine is on his way to report.” Ambassador Lyric said to them once she had finished. The door opened and Captain Neroine entered moments later. He was grim-faced and Alexa had a bad feeling about his news. And she was right. God, she hated being right!
“Our warp drive is offline. We only have thruster capabilities, our remaining armaments are few. We used a great deal of our stock driving off the Yiiane ships.”
“What happened to our shielding? How were they able to do so much damage so quickly?” Ryhs demanded angrily. The Captain looked even grimmer.
“We don’t know. A malfunction in the system it seems. We were knocked out of warp by their weapons. The bio-pods initiated an emergency revival protocol but by then they were through our shields and boarding the ship.”
“A malfunction in the shields?” The Ambassador asked in a shocked voice and Ryhs too seemed stunned. The Captain just looked at them in that stiff, stark demeanor. His yellow Metallics flashing in agitation. The only sign that he was disturbed by this news as well.
