Gamma Raiders: Storm Squadron Alpha: Scifi Alien Romance Novel

by Calista Skye

The keypad beeped and flashed green as Reina scanned the ID card and the heavy metal door opened. Kira reached inside and slapped the button that sent the elevator up towards the third floor.

  “Go,” she said as they charged off toward the stairwell. The heavy thuds of their boots echoed off the corrugated metal stairs as they made their way to the top. Kira muttered a silent prayer that the marines at the top wouldn’t hear them coming.

  Rounding the final corner at the top of the stair well, she saw the familiar flashing red strobe from the other side of the door.

  She paused, peering through the small window. Two marine recruits stood on the other side of the door, rifles trained on the elevator, waiting for it reach the top. They didn’t seem to have heard her.

  With a quick nod to Reina, she kicked the door open and fired off a spray of pulse bursts at the unsuspecting soldiers. Their armor flashed and glowed as it froze their bodies in place. The marines hit the ground in a syncopated thud just as the elevator door hissed open.

  “That was brilliant,” said Reina. “Sorry for the ruse, mates,” she said to the recruits as they glared up at her. “Couldn’t have you taking us out, now.”

  Kira bent down and searched the pockets of their uniforms for anything that might be useful. She tucked a fresh pulse clip into the pocket of her vest and grabbed the ID card from the man’s armor.

  “Now, let’s finish this thing,” she said. Kira looked around to get her bearings. Behind the reception area, the floor narrowed into dark hallway. She nodded to Reina. “After you.”

  Reina started off down the hallway, strafing through the entrance, keeping her attention focused on the path ahead, while Kira took up the rear. They hadn’t encountered much resistance yet, and Kira wondered how long their luck would hold. Even with the recruits on high alert, the comm hub was likely to be a hotbed of activity as the marines transmitted orders to their soldiers on the ground.

  As they neared the end of the hallway and prepared to breach the corner, Reina held up a fist signaling Kira to stop. She froze in her tracks, listening intently. The wail of the klaxons was muted here, so too much movement would alert anyone waiting on the other side. No reason to tempt fate by giving their position away.

  Kira surprised herself with her ability to navigate this drill so skillfully. She never expected to make it this far. But by listening to the guidance inside herself, she’d managed to get them through. Ja’al would be impressed. Little victories, she told herself. I can do this.

  Reina crouched low to the ground and peered around the edge, signaling Kira forward. “It’s all clear,” she said with a shrug. “But this is definitely the right place.”

  “You think it’s a trap?” asked Kira.

  “Could be, but …” she pointed to the large screen in the center of the room. The positions of all the marines, indicated by glowing green dots, closed in the gate at the entrance to the base. “It looks like there’s no one else here.”

  “I don’t trust this,” said Kira. “It’s too easy.”

  “Maybe, but we’re in the clear for now. Let’s get into that system and finish this thing.”

  Kira nodded. “Do it.” The pulse beat in her temples, sweat pooling on her brow. “Quickly,” she said.

  Reina moved to the terminal, swiping the guard’s ID card through the scanner.

  The lights flashed red.

  “This guy doesn’t have clearance,” she said.

  No big surprise. Access to high level communications required high-level clearance to prevent unauthorized transmissions.

  “Let me try mine,” Kira said. Reaching into her vest pocket, she retrieved the fallen marine’s access card and held it up to the scanner. A series of beeps and chimes as the lights flashed green and the terminal opened up.

  “Nice work, Thorne,” said Reina.

  “Let’s call base and finish this thing.”

  “Wait,” said Reina. “I need a minute first.”

  Kira cocked an eyebrow. “A minute to what? Let’s end this before they find us.”

  Reina hesitated, searching for the right words. “It’s just … there’s someone back home I need to talk to, and I can probably do it from this station. There’s no way for me to get in touch from our base up in Dennegar belt. They’ve got security locked down way too tight up there.”

  Kira frowned. Something about it didn’t sit right with her.

  “Please. This is important. I don’t have anyone else. One message, just to let him know I’m okay.”

  She didn’t like the idea, but how could she prevent her friend from getting a message out to someone who cared about her? What kind of friend would deny the only chance to communicate with the outside world? Besides, she reasoned, there’s nothing to worry about. The system would more than likely have additional layers of security preventing outgoing messages from moving to unauthorized channels. The terminal would deny her permission, and Kira didn’t have to be the bad guy.

  “Sure, Reina. But hurry. I’m ready to end this thing.”

  “Thanks, Kira.”

  Reina slid into the chair and waved her hands in front of the holopad, initiating the communication channel. Reaching down to the keyboard in front of her, she hammered out a series of instructions on the keypad beneath her.

  The display flashed and chimed as a long string of data written in a language Kira didn’t understand scrolled through the air.

  As Reina continued typing, a series of images flashed by too quickly for Kira to process, then the system flashed an error message.

  “Looks like it’s not going to work. I’m sorry, Reina.”

  Reina smiled, and reached down inside the top of her boot, retrieving a small green and brown data chip. “Not to worry,” she said. I came prepared.”

  She plugged the chip’s connectors into the terminal’s data port and waited as the system downloaded the data. When the crawl bar completed, the system flashed “access granted”.

  “Holy shit, what was on that thing?” said Kira. “Where did you learn how to do that?” She realized how little she knew about Reina’s background.

  Reina smiled with a shrug. “What, a girl can’t be a techie? You, of all people, should know better.”

  “No, you’re right. I didn’t mean to …”

  “I studied encryption tech back on Viran Prime. Who knew it’d end up being so useful?”

  “You hacked into that system like it was nothing.”

  She shrugged. “The Rebellion’s system security is pretty old, and I’ve been working on this algorithm for years. It’s gotten me out of trouble a few times.”

  Kira felt a lump growing in her throat. None of this sat right with her, but she was probably being paranoid. And besides, who was she to judge her friend for keeping secrets when she was having a relationship with the squadron leader? She tried to push her suspicions aside.

  Reina continued tapping away at the keys as streams of data whirred around them in mid-air. With a satisfied final thump on the keypad, she closed the program and retrieved her chip. “Well, that’s that,” she said. “Let’s call in the cavalry. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to get back that lovely little hunk of rock back in the belt to take a nice warm shower.”

  “Hell yes,” said Kira. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Reina swiveled around in her chair, turning back to the control panel in front of her. “Let’s see,” she said. Running her finger across a touchpad on the metal desk, she dialed in the comm frequencies to open a channel with Ja’al.

  His shimmering figure appeared in the holodisplay before them. Kira’s skin flushed as she looked at his glowing golden skin. She did her best to hide her reaction, but she couldn’t wait to get her hands on that perfectly sculpted body. Luckily, Reina was focused on the image and didn’t seem to notice.

  “Commander, we’re in the comm room, requesting immediate evac.”

  “Cadet Blackwell,” he replied. “Well done. I expected nothing less from the t
wo of you.”

  Kira saw that she wasn’t the only one fighting to hide a smile. She’d make sure he had plenty of reason to smile soon enough.

  “You’re the only two that made it?” he asked.

  “I have no idea where the others are now,” said Kira, “but if all these gods damned sirens are any indication, the marines know exactly where they are.”

  Ja’al nodded in understanding. “Not to worry. We’ll get the final report soon enough. You two stay put—we’ll send a shuttle and get you back to the transport.”

  “Copy that, Commander,” said Reina. “The sooner the better.”

  Ja’al punched his console to end the transmission.

  “Alright,” said Kira. “I guess we wait.”

  “Hey Kira,” Reina said. “Thank you. We wouldn’t have made it this far if it wasn’t for your little ruse with the elevator. I wouldn’t have been able to contact my friend without your help. You’re a damn fine rebel.”

  Kira shrugged. “Yeah. Thanks, Reina.”

  She wondered what other secrets her new friend might be keeping up her sleeves. But she supposed that she was entitled to her privacy. They’d only known each other for a couple of weeks. She probably just hadn’t had a chance to open up yet. Getting to know someone takes time, and the Storm Training didn’t allow much opportunity for bonding.

  But she’d need pretty advanced systems knowledge to bypass that security protocol. Dated tech or not, it was impressive. And a little bit scary. Kira was just glad Reina was on their side.

  Chapter 10

  The sun descended over the horizon, blanketing the sky with an ephemeral tapestry of orange and purple as Kira watched from the makeshift camp that the crew had established. With the training exercise behind them, the cadets were scheduled for some much needed off-time, and the crew had elected to spend the night camping on the planet’s surface, savoring the open air of the surrounding forest. Such luxuries were scarce out in the cold, black space of the Dennegar belt.

  Kira sat on a fallen tree, looking up at the setting sun as the myriad hues of violet gave way to a blanket of stars. In the distance, a massive bonfire burned brightly as the Storm cadets and the marines they’d skirmished earlier in the day laughed together, the tension and conflict of the exercise behind them.

  The smells of cooked meat from the afternoon’s hunt wafted towards her, and her mouth watered in anticipation of the meal. But she wasn’t in a hurry to join them. Moments like this were rare, and it was important to appreciate them. To be able to forget, if only for a moment, the pressures of training and the war with the Kamaran Empire.

  For the moment, there was only the forest and the night sky.

  She leaned back, resting her body comfortably on the log, letting the wood dig into the knots in her back. Her body was sore all over, aching in places she didn’t think were possible. Kira never shied away from physical activity, but carrying a pulse rifle all day, strafing her way through the base in a crouch, had taken more out of her than she’d expected.

  She took a deep breath to release the tension from her muscles and shut her eyes when she felt a presence above her.

  “Didn’t expect to find you here,” said Ja’al. “Don’t you know there’s a party going on?”

  Kira opened her eyes and smiled, taking in the sight of his body, glowing faintly in the starlight. He was dripping wet, the water highlighting the muscular lines of his flat, ripped abs.

  “You’re not there either,” she said as she sat upright. “Besides, I thought I’d take the time to myself. Who knows when we’ll get to see something like this again. I thought I’d take it in while I could.”

  Ja’al smiled warmly and sat down beside her, heat radiating from his body. “A wise thing to say. Life in space can wear on you.”

  “You seem to be handling it alright,” she said. “But then, I wouldn’t expect anything less. You never let anything get under your skin.”

  Ja’al looked off into the distance, gazing out at the Orvatalia nebula’s diaphanous web of color in the sky. “You handled yourself pretty well out there, too. You and Reina were the only two to survive the test,” he said. “Don’t let the pressure get to you.”

  “How could I not? It comes so easy for everyone else. I was never a soldier. I was never a leader.”

  “That doesn’t matter, Kira.” He pulled his gaze from the horizon and stared into her eyes. She’d never noticed how blue they were. How beautiful. “You’ve got more ability than you give yourself credit for. You should be proud of the work you’ve done.”

  Kira smiled. It felt good to succeed. One small victory at a time. “I am proud,” she said. “But I’ve got a long way to go.”

  Ja’al grabbed her chin and turned her head back to him. The touch of his strong hands sent warmth surging through her body. “You deserve to be here just as much as anyone else does, Kira. And today, you proved it. I respect your courage.”

  Her skin flushed, embarrassed by the compliment. She didn’t feel courageous. She felt scared out of her mind. But there was no use in arguing with him. She needed to be strong. Soldiers of the Rebellion, especially Storm Squadron pilots, needed to keep their cool. “Thank you, Ja’al,” was all she could manage.

  Tracing his hand down her shoulder, the water from his still wet skin left a trail of moisture that cooled in the breeze. Her breathing deepened as she leaned into him, resting her body against his solid, muscular frame. “How do you do it,” she asked. “How do you stay so calm? In the face of all this?”

  He tightened his hand around her palm and closed his eyes, drawing a slow, deep breath. “One moment at a time, Kira. There’s nothing certain about what we’re doing. The Empire could discover our location at any moment. There’s no safety in the life we’ve chosen. So the only way through it is to accept it, appreciating every moment we have. And spend it with the people we care about. The people who give us meaning.”

  She absentmindedly traced her fingernail in a small wave up and around his arms as he spoke. Feeling his muscles tense, she lifted her head and looked up to him. “You’re fighting for them,” she said. “For the people back on Kamara. The ones you left behind.”

  “Yes,” he said. “They make it personal. I didn’t want to leave my family. My friends. The people I cared about. But I saw what life had become for them. And when I saw that Prince Adaar was willing to do something different, I had to follow him. I saw something better for all of us, and I had to act. No matter what the costs.”

  “I would have given anything to know my family,” she said. “I couldn’t imagine leaving them behind.”

  Ja’al grabbed her wrists and pulled her in close, his mouth hovering inches from her. “Your family isn’t your blood, Kira. It’s the connections you make. The bonds you form,” he said. “The people we care about are worth fighting for. No matter the costs. I’m sorry you never knew your parents. But you can still experience the strength that comes from knowing someone and being accepted for everything you are. The good with the bad.”

  “It sounds beautiful,” said Kira. She closed her eyes gently as he pressed her lips open and kissed her. She wanted the life he offered. Releasing her body into his touch, the tension melted away as a surge of warmth flooded her core.

  He parted her lips with his tongue, hungrily exploring her mouth as his hands traced down her body. Cupping her breasts in his hands, Kira felt her nipples harden against the thin layer of cloth between them.

  She drew in a breath as she nibbled on his lower lip, tasting his skin, savoring the warmth of his touch in the cool night air. Her hands ran along his muscular thighs and up towards the bulge that grew in his shorts.

  Ja’al traced his mouth down her neck, to her collarbone, sealing his lips around her skin as he sucked her flesh into his mouth. Kira felt his lips tighten into a smile as a faint moan of pleasure escaped her lips.

  “I want you,” he said, lowering her body to the ground. “I’ve wanted you since the moment we m
et.” He drew his mouth lower onto her breasts, pushing the thin layer of fabric aside as his tongue circled her skin.

  Kira’s back arched as the breeze drew across her skin, cooling her body where his mouth had been. He seized the moment to pull her shirt out of the way as he kissed his way down her body.

  She parted her lips in a moan as he worked his hands gently over her, guiding her arms up over her head and pressing them to the ground as he slid her shirt up over her head. As he floated over her, she admired the lines of his body, glistening in the starlight. The hard muscles flexing as he held her. The hungry look in his eyes as he took in the sight of her body. “I have to have you. Now.”

  Ja’al was a man who went after what he wanted, without hesitation and without apology. And now he wanted her. Kira didn’t know how it would end. Didn’t know whether she’d be able to do what was necessary to keep them together.

  But for the moment, it didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was the feeling of his hands sliding their way up her thighs, pressing his fingers into her hips. The bulge of his cock pressed between her legs. The heat and wetness of desire flooded down through her until the desire blossomed into aching need.

  She reached for the button on his pants, freeing him from the fabric. “I want you inside me,” she said.

  Ja’al descended onto her, kissing her with ferocity as he held his body against hers. “I thought you’d never ask,” he said.

  He pulled her pants free from her body as he held her against the soft ground. Hovering over her still, she quivered in anticipation as he traced his tip around her entrance. Kira felt the surge of warmth, the rush of wetness as he held himself near her.

  He entered her with a smooth, slow stroke, parting her lips and pushing himself deep inside her. She tightened around him as he filled her body, pausing for a moment that lasted longer than she could stand.

  Her body loosened as he drove inside her, each penetrating thrust filling her with pleasure. Kira shut her eyes tightly. A moan escaped her lips as she leaned her head back against the soft ground.