The older orbiters always did have overheat problems. Ever since the control systems in them had been upgraded. All those ships should have been scrapped long ago. They just couldn’t handle the newer technology. Still, that didn’t mean he was discarding the possibility of sabotage.
He’d volunteered for this job because he wanted Erik’s full concentration to be on fixing the transport-connector for Alexa and the triplets. Braden trusted Erik more than anyone else with his family’s safety. Erik knew specialty codes better than most. Torque and Kam were also skilled with codes, and Halah too, but Erik knew handheld device programming inside and out.
Braden knew how Erik felt about Alexa. The three of them held a unique bond, forged on Earth during the Initiation of Alexa and it hadn’t waned since. Yes, Erik loved Leila with all his heart. They were predestined breeder-mates who’d seen breeder visions, just as he and Alexa had experienced. But Braden had no doubt that Erik would protect Alexa with his life.
As he passed near the ventilation equipment, he frowned. He didn’t see or hear Halah. Maybe she’d found a possible leak from the panel readouts down here and had gone to check it out. He hoped so, for that would be one less worry if they could get the atmospheric levels fixed. Fixing the oxygen would also give them more time, which they desperately needed right now with all the problems cropping up.
He strode past the subcontrol area and immediately stopped. Halah was sitting at the computer, typing frantically. Maybe she was reprogramming the ventilation software. He’d barely heard the noise, since the atmospheric units had kicked on shortly after he arrived. Fortunately a Xylon’s hearing was quite acute. A gift that came in handy on many occasions.
His eyes narrowed as he approached her from behind. Whatever she had up on the screen didn’t look like ventilation code. Not that he was a coding expert but he’d dealt with ventilation code as an engineer and it looked to him as if she were examining communication codes.
Being only half Xylon, her hearing wouldn’t be as good as his, which worked in his favor, for she didn’t hear him approaching. As he got closer, he not only verified his suspicions about the code but he couldn’t believe what he was actually seeing on the screen. Erik had been right. He grabbed her upper arms and jerked her out of the chair.
“What the hell!” She struggled, until she saw who it was. “Braden? You scared me to death. What are you doing?”
He kept her arms pinned behind her, knowing she could zap him with her electrical powers if he didn’t. “You’re working for Frost!”
“What? No!”
“I saw her ship’s identification code on the screen, Halah.”
“I know. It was there when I came down. I was checking into it, trying to figure out who had contacted her and how.”
“You’re working for her and Daegal, just like before.” He pulled her over to some insulated piping and tied her wrists to the tubes with his belt. She didn’t struggle, only looked at him in frustration. But then, if she had struggled, she’d look that much guiltier.
“Braden, I’m loyal to the Warriors. I only worked for Daegal because I had to, so I could get Josella back. You know that.”
“I also know that you switched your alliance back to the Warriors only after you found out that we had located and retrieved Josella from one of the banishment zones.”
“That’s right, which proves that I had no real alliance to Daegal.”
“I blackmailed you into it, Halah. If you hadn’t switched back and helped us, she wouldn’t have been released to you. So it doesn’t really prove much, does it?” He flipped a comm switch on the wall. “Torque, I need you down at the subcommand station immediately.” He stared at Halah long and hard. The proof was on the screen.
She’d said it was someone else but he had a hard time believing that. Who else would it be? “If you weren’t responsible, why didn’t you alert me about the message when you came across it?”
“I thought it more important to find out what I could quickly, before any data was lost by the system.”
He saw her visibly swallow hard. She was scared though trying to hide it. Scared that she’d gotten caught or scared that he wouldn’t believe her? That was the question.
He didn’t want to believe her guilty. “I’ll assume that Kam has sensed you’re in trouble and is on his way.”
“Most likely,” she mumbled.
He wanted to question her more before Kam arrived, so he could do so without interference. “If you’re not the one in contact with Frost, who is? What did you find out? How did a message even get out from here?”
“I don’t know the answer. To any of those questions. You stopped me too soon.”
“Why should I believe you, Halah, given your history?”
“Because I’m mated to one of your best friends, Braden. To your own mate’s brother. That makes us family.”
True. But what did family mean to Halah? He knew she loved Kam and she loved her sister. Still, catching her in the act was hard to ignore. How could he have been so wrong about her?
He wondered what Frost had been told. Was she coming for them now? Planning to destroy them? If Frost knew about the triplets, she’d definitely come for them.
No other reason existed for Halah or anyone else to establish contact with a known enemy except to pass on Xylon secrets, so Frost must have been told. They’d all have to be extra alert and prepared for an attack that was now most likely imminent.
He’d already informed Laszlo of the oxygen problem. Laszlo had sounded confident that it wouldn’t cause a problem. He’d said the Initiation wasn’t far off. As long as Torque got the decontamination room ready and the ceremony went smoothly, everything would be all right. After the orbiters took off, they could conserve more oxygen by keeping it channeled into the decontamination room for those left behind until rescue arrived. It sounded like a good plan but Braden feared the oxygen leak might be worse than any of them suspected. The sensors hadn’t registered anything beyond the original findings but his brain and body told him otherwise.
“Did you tell Frost about my children?” His thoughts raced faster than a comet through space, turning over idea after idea on how best to keep his family safe.
Halah pulled against his belt, her first show of trying to get free. “I didn’t tell her anything! Do you really think I’d work for that bitch after she turned me into a sex slave?”
Another good point. Braden heard boots approaching quickly. He turned to see Torque coming up on them. His brother’s brow crinkled when he saw Halah tied to the pipes.
“Somehow this looks kinkier than I figure it is. I’m doubting you called me down for a three-way. What’s going on?”
“Check the computer.”
Torque sat down and stared at the monitor. “What the hell is this?”
“That’s what I want to know. I found Halah at the keyboard.”
“It wasn’t me, Torque. I found the connection already on the system. I was just trying to get the details when Braden came across me.”
“Yeah, right.”
“If that’s what Halah says happened, then that’s what happened,” a voice behind them said calmly.
They turned to see Kam standing there, not looking happy. With determined steps he strode over to Halah and reached to untie her.
“Hold it right there, Kam,” Braden ordered. “Leave her as is.”
Kam looked as if he might ignore the order but then his posture relaxed. He laid his hand on her shoulder and spoke softly. “It’ll be all right.” His gaze switched to Torque and the tone in his voice changed, turning hard. “What did you find on the computer?”
“Nothing. The connection’s been broken and the system down here has no auto-log for text communications. It has to be turned on manually to record. That wasn’t done as far as I can tell. So we’ve got no record of the actual transmission, only this one screen shot.”
“How was the connection made to
begin with?” Braden asked.
“I don’t know. There would have to be some sort of direct comm channel already set up between here and Frost. Something separate, which probably only uses pulses or code, otherwise there’d be no reason to tap into the computer for further communication. Once set, with the correct channel and frequency info, the computer could work off the wireless feed to establish a line our system could recognize to send and receive alphanumeric messages.”
“But it would have to be a Xylon device,” Braden said. “Otherwise, the system would alert us, right?”
“This isn’t the Lair. With this equipment, I wouldn’t count on the facility sensors picking up a Marid or Sand Moon signature.”
“Search me for a comm device,” Halah replied. “I don’t have one.”
Braden looked over at her when she spoke, then turned back to Torque. “Could Halah in any way rig that with her electrical powers and special equipment, even without a dedicated comm device?”
“No way. The circuitry is totally different.”
“Let her go, Braden,” Kam said. “She didn’t do this. Search her.”
Braden stepped over to Halah and looked into her eyes. He saw a lot of different emotions directed back at him, including disappointment. Somehow that particular emotion affected him the most. He did a quick body search, already knowing what he’d find. “Nothing.”
“It could be small, Braden,” Torque said. “You should get Leila to do an internal.”
“Like hell,” Halah spat. “I’ve been put through enough. Let me loose.”
What a fucking mess, Braden thought. Whoever had a separate and most probably non-Xylon comm device was their traitor. Finding that device would take time they didn’t have, for it could be hidden anywhere in the facility. Unless they found it in someone’s possession, proving ownership would be nearly impossible.
“Why did I know you’d refuse,” Torque answered, a hard look on his face. “You’re guilty.”
Braden held up his hand for everyone to be quiet. “I’m not going to order an internal search.” He looked into Halah’s eyes. “But I am going to confine you and Kam to your quarters for now until I get to the bottom of all this.”
“Are you kidding?” Halah protested. “Now is not the time to cut us off. You need our help. At least leave Kam free. He didn’t do anything.”
Braden addressed Kam. “Sorry, Kam. Truthfully, I don’t trust that device in your throat. Even though Leila has said it’s deactivated. I’ve seen how it’s bothering you. I can tell your headaches are worse too. The pain shows on your face. You’re not much use in your current state.” When Kam visibly stiffened, Braden softened his voice. “I know you’ll set Halah free if you’re not in there with her. I can’t guard you around the clock. So take the time in confinement to rest. This will all work out.”
“Rest.” Kam shook his head. “Laszlo will never stand for this, Braden. You know that.”
“Exerting your family connections, Kam?” Torque chided. “Convenient threat when needed.”
“It wasn’t a threat. Just a statement of fact. Now get the fuck off my back!” Kam’s glare faded. “We’re on the same side here, Braden. I’m getting tired of constantly having to defend myself, as is Halah.”
“If we’re locked up, who’s going to look into the oxygen leak?” she asked, her voice laced with frustration. “We’re wasting time with this. I was just about to locate the signature of the external comm device, which might have led us to who the traitor is, when you came up on me, Braden. This could have been over and done with. Torque must have broken the connection when he took over.”
Kam’s eyes widened. “There’s an oxygen leak? How bad?”
“I didn’t break any damn connection. I do know what I’m doing.”
“So do I.” She tugged at her bindings.
“What’s going on with the oxygen? Does Laszlo know about this?”
“Enough!” Braden ordered. “Torque, take them to their quarters and lock them in for now. Disengage the communications in the room. I don’t want them pleading their case to Laszlo. Be sure to keep Halah’s hands secured so she can’t zap you.”
“You’re making a mistake, Braden,” Kam said, his eyes narrowing.
Braden took a step toward him. He glanced at Halah, then back at his friend. He kept his voice low and steady. “I need proof, Kam, because right now she’s looking damn guilty. I’d rather be wrong about locking you two up than wrong about a traitor.
If in my position, I think you’d do the same.”
Kam looked about to argue but then his eyes changed. “Perhaps. But since I know the truth, I’m not happy about this.”
“Noted.”
“What about the oxygen?”
“Laszlo has been informed. We’ll handle it.”
“And if Laszlo asks where we’re at?”
“I’ll handle that too.”
“There’s going to be fallout if you do this. You understand that?”
“There’s going to be fallout no matter what I do.” He stepped back. “Torque. Can you handle them both?”
“Yeah, I’ll secure them together. It won’t be a problem once I get them up top. I’ll need assistance going up with them though.”
Braden nodded. He hated doing this but the evidence didn’t look good for Halah.
Now they needed someone else to look into the oxygen levels and someone to try to figure out exactly how that transmission was made to Frost, who made it and how long ago it went out. Damn.
Chapter Eleven
Brianna stared up at Sam, hardly believing how handsome and sexy he was, with his brown tousled hair and dreamy coco-ale eyes. And it wasn’t just his appearance that made him sexy. His self-assurance, intelligence, bravery and the deep caring and commitment to his duty as a military officer were irresistible assets in her eyes. She’d known a lot of compelling men in her life but he was definitely someone special.
Someone who stood out above the rest.
With his muscled arms surrounding her so protectively, she felt safe. She felt—
damn. A disturbing thought suddenly occurred to her. A thought that should have occurred way before now. She squirmed uncomfortably.
“You want up?” he asked.
“Don’t you dare move.” She didn’t want him to ever let her go.
A smile tugged at his lips. “That sounded very close to an order, I think, and I always obey orders.”
“Yes.” She chuckled. “I’m sure you do.”
She didn’t know why she hadn’t thought to ask about his personal status earlier.
Perhaps she’d avoided the issue on purpose, her subconscious blocking it out so she wouldn’t have to face the truth if it turned out to be something she’d rather not hear. Or maybe all the stress was just making her forgetful.
Brianna rubbed her temple. She’d developed a touch of a headache. Dull and light, but there. Odd. She never got headaches. Everything was out of whack, including her body.
“What is it?” Sam asked. “Something’s bothering you.”
She dropped her hand. “Just a little headache.”
He studied her closely. “I’m thinking it’s a bit more than that. Tell me.”
Sam was getting to know her too well. Even her facial expressions. She supposed it was best to settle it in her mind one way or the other by getting everything out into the open. “Well, actually, I never thought to ask you but…”
When she hesitated, a look of concern crossed his face. “What, Brianna?”
Certainly he would have said something. Even Xylon men, with their open attitude about sex, would at least let their partner know. “Do you have a mate or someone special back on Earth?”
The expression on his face changed as he looked down at her and his brow furrowed. “Do you think I’d be here with you, like this, if I did?”
“I don’t know. Would you?” He was on an alien planet, wi
th the opportunity to fuck an alien woman. Why wouldn’t he? Not that she thought he was with her specifically because she was a female of an alien species, but…
“No, Brianna, I wouldn’t. I would never do that. I don’t know how things work on Xylon or what’s proper behavior, but on Earth, a man with integrity doesn’t have sex with another woman if he already has someone special in his life.”
“An Earth man without integrity would though?” She’d heard the bond between human mates wasn’t as strong as the bond between Xylon mates. She’d been to Earth for brief periods of time and had seen both strong relationships and weak. It amazed her how Earth mates could just part ways and find someone new, almost in the blink of an eye. Once a Xylon female was Branded by her mate, it was for life. She wasn’t certain which was the better way. One offered a deeper commitment, the other more freedom of choice.
A slightly sad look crossed his face. “Unfortunately, yes. There are a lot of men, and women for that matter, without integrity, who don’t care what they do or who they hurt, as long as they’re getting what they want. But I have integrity. I would hope you’d believe that about me.”
She didn’t hesitate in her response. “I do.” She stroked his cheek. The roughness of his unshaven face, with just a touch of dark brown beard, gave him a very roguish look, but she knew Sam wasn’t a rogue. He was a man she could trust. A man who did what was right, regardless. “It does makes me feel better, having heard you actually say it though.”
Somehow the thought of him with another woman bothered her. More than it should. Socially, on Xylon, sexual freedom was the norm. It had been necessary to create the tight bonds for their survival. But not all Xylons completely embraced the idea.
She’d attended her share of Joining Parties, engaged in public sex, had multiple partners penetrating her at the same time, but now… For some reason, it didn’t appeal to her so much anymore. “I admit that I don’t completely understand Earth’s values and perceptions about sex and their relationships.”
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