aHunter4Rescue (aHunter4Hire)

by Clement, Cynthia

  “So you’ll be at home here. Why doesn’t that comfort me?”

  She already lived in a world of chaos. She didn’t want to think that she’d contributed to it becoming even crazier. What if they decided to go on a killing spree? If they were as deadly as they claimed, how many innocent humans would be killed? Protecting them might not be such a good idea.

  “You worry we will be dangerous. There is no need. We fight with honor.”

  “How does that make a difference?”

  “Most people fight to gain something, or for power. That is not our reason.”

  “It might be if you hope to live on this planet.” Fiona’s heart sank. These men would not last long without a means of support. How could they possibly blend into western society?

  “We will find a way.” Ardal motioned for his men to gather closer. “Our services are always needed.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of,” Fiona muttered under her breath. She watched Ardal gather his men in groups of two and three before turning back to her.

  “Is this city of Toronto a good place to meet together?”

  “It’s big enough that your men will get lost in the crowds.” Fiona shrugged. “If you want true anonymity, then I would suggest a larger city in the United States like New York.”

  “We will gather in Toronto first.” Ardal turned back to his men. “It is decided. I will give each of you a direction and you will follow that trail for a week, cover your tracks, and then turn south.”

  Fiona went and sat on the couch. There was no point in interfering with these men’s plans. She had to make decisions about her own life. She’d put a call into the Women’s Underground and ask advice. She couldn’t risk David finding her. If she had to move on, so be it. She’d done it before. She could do it again.

  Once Ardal left the house, she pulled out her emergency gear and rifled through it for her contact Beatrice’s telephone number. There was no answer. She dialed the main office’s number and again no answer, but this time an answering machine connected. She left a brief message about her situation, leaving out all details of the men who’d landed on her fields. She just said that there was probably going to be publicity in the area.

  All that was left for her to do was wait.

  Too nervous to sit, she cleaned up the evidence of her visitors. Still too restless to sit, she flicked on the radio. The announcer’s voice shot through her like a knife.

  “Giant fireball tracked over the northern skies last night.”

  Chapter 6

  This planet, Earth, was similar to where he had been bred and trained, Beligia. It was an outer moon of a large planet in the same solar system as Cygnus. Cygnus was barren of trees and the atmosphere artificially maintained because it had been destroyed eons ago. Here each breath he took filled his lungs with energy. To gaze at the trees gave him joy. This would be a good planet to stay on.

  Everywhere he looked there were lush greens and blue sky. Where the ship had crashed there had been a pond with clear water in it. Water had been one of the first things to be depleted after the ancient destructions. Now it was imported from other planets. To bathe in water was a luxury that only the elite of Cygnus were afforded. There weren’t as many people here, either. That was a good thing. Fewer people meant fewer witnesses.

  That meant less people to kill.

  It was his duty to keep his men safe and Fiona protected. He had left her sitting on the couch, frowning. She did not believe he would protect her. In time, she would learn to trust the word of a Hunter. For now he must focus on his men.

  “We need to disperse. Darrogh and his men have cleaned up the debris.” Ardal handed the first group of Hunters his personal reader and they took the map from it and downloaded onto theirs before passing it to the others.

  As the last man finished, Darrogh and his crew drove in from the field. They stood at attention and waited for Ardal’s signal before giving their report.

  “There was very little salvageable. We gathered the useable clothing and weapons.”

  Ardal pointed to the rear of the truck. “Each group take what you need. You have your orders. Firbin and Jehon stay with me.”

  They would obey. If there was a problem, they would contact him by mind connection. Each group left in a separate direction. Darrogh and his group of four were the last to leave. They were uninjured. Their mission was to head straight to Toronto in the hope that any search parties would follow them. That should give the others a better chance of survival. Once Darrogh’s group was gone, he turned to Firbin and Jehon.

  “We will be taking the woman with us.” Ardal’s voice was low. “We have put her life in danger. I promised her my protection.”

  Firbin and Jehon nodded their acceptance of his decision without question. There would be four of them traveling together. Firbin’s injury and Fiona’s inexperience would hinder their escape. Their one advantage was that the woman knew the people of this strange land. She could guide them if there was a problem.

  Ardal took a look up at the sky. There was only one sun on this planet and it was well past the midpoint. They must start their journey soon. He glanced at the barn. He had one other thing to do.

  The Captain must die.

  At that moment Fiona walked out of the house. She glanced around and frowned back at him. For a second his mind froze as he gazed into her green eyes. Never had he found himself attracted to a woman. It was forbidden for a Hunter to mate. The Sacred Code was too ingrained for him to disobey, but still he could not deny that this woman affected him.

  “Where are the men?”

  “They have gone.” Ardal waited for her reaction and wasn’t disappointed. Her mouth dropped open and she ran down the driveway looking in all directions. In a couple of minutes she was satisfied that everyone had disappeared.

  “Do they know where they’re going?”

  “They have their orders.” Ardal took her arm and turned her back to the house. “Now we must clear up one last loose end.”

  Fiona dug her feet into the ground and refused to move. “What’s that?” Her tone was suspicious. “Everyone is gone.”

  Ardal had never lied to a woman before and he would not start now. He remained silent instead. Jehon and Firbin kept their gazes on the ground. They knew what their next orders would be.

  Fiona’s eyes narrowed. “Your men are gone,” she muttered under her breath. “Who else is there?” It took her a second before she shouted. “The Captain. Where is he?”

  “In the barn.” Ardal cleared his throat. “We had to persuade him to remain silent.”

  “Now you want to permanently silence him.” Fiona tilted her head at him. “You’re so transparent. You just kill everyone who gets in your way. I’m surprised you didn’t kill me or am I next on your agenda?”

  Ardal released her arm as if her words had burnt him. He stepped back. Shock and disappointment rocked through his body. Firbin and Jehon bodies stiffened in revulsion. The air crackled with the horror of Fiona’s suggestion. She seemed unaware of it though, as she stood glaring her defiance at them.

  “Never,” he swore. “That would be against the most sacred of our codes.”

  “Well I’m glad for that. How come the Captain doesn’t fall into the same category?”

  “He is the enemy.” Ardal straightened his shoulders. “He is not a woman.”

  Fiona’s face scrunched up. “That makes no sense.”

  “It is forbidden for a Hunter to kill or harm a woman or child. That is the first rule of our Sacred Code.”

  “You never disobey this code?” Fiona raised an eyebrow.

  “It is what we live by.” Ardal took her arm and led her back to the house. “We are wasting time by arguing. We should have started on our journey.”

  “Well you can go. Leave me with the Captain. I’m sure he’ll be no problem, especially once I threaten him with the police.”

  “The man is dangerous.” Ardal felt a familiar determination strengthen h
is muscles. “You are to come with us. I promised.”

  “Whoa, just a minute there. I don’t need anyone else’s help, especially not a man’s.” Fiona pulled away from Ardal and started to back up. “I have contacted the Underground Network and they will place me again.”

  “There isn’t time. Your military is within a couple of miles of finding us. We need to move now.”

  Ardal stood with his feet spread and arms crossed. “The decision has been made and you will come with us. Go and gather a small bag of necessary items. It would be good if you could bring the paper map also.”

  “Let the Captain live. Hasn’t there been enough death.” Fiona touched his crossed arms, her eyes looking up at him, pleading. “Besides, it will be the military who find him. They can decide what to do with him.”

  “He will give us away.”

  “Do you honestly think they’ll believe what he says? They’ll think he’s a lunatic.

  “So you want him left here for the others to find?”

  “Yes.” Fiona moved close enough that he could see the dark ring around the green of her eyes, “He won’t know where you are, and you’ve covered up the debris, so anything he tells them will look like a lie.”

  “This is not a good decision.” Ardal felt a tightening in his stomach. Years of training told him that leaving the Captain alive would only mean trouble later on. What was he to do though? If Fiona insisted he must obey. “He will hurt us in the future.”

  “If that happens then you can deal with him then. He’s on a new planet, too. Give him a second chance to prove he’s not a monster. Let him live.”

  “This is your order?”

  “Yes.”

  Ardal glanced back at Firbin and Jehon. They both nodded their understanding. A Hunter would not leave the man alive. He knew too much and was dangerous. There was no arguing with a woman’s instructions though, even if that woman was unfamiliar with the ways of war. She was not in direct harm, so there was no reason to countermand the order.

  He stepped back. “As you wish. Now prepare your stuff. We leave in five minutes.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Ardal was pacing outside the house when he heard the distinct sound of a flying machine. He motioned his men into the house. It would be best not to be caught outside where they might be identified as strangers.

  “Is that a helicopter?” Fiona rushed up from the lower level of her house. She carried an odd shaped pack that was stuffed full.

  “Whatever it is, we must keep out of sight.”

  “That’s for sure.” Fiona dropped her sack at the door. “What if they have thermal imaging equipment?”

  Ardal grunted. Why could this planet not be more primitive? It would make it easier to blend in. Thankfully his men were gone. A large group of Hunters would have been suspicious.

  “What other ways do they have to detect people?”

  Fiona frowned. “I know they have infrared stuff, night vision, and satellites that are orbiting the planet that can see you and hear you. They have to be in position though. As far as I know they can’t see through walls.”

  “This is certain?”

  Fiona shrugged. “That’s what all the conspiracy shows say.”

  Ardal’s eyes narrowed. “What is a conspiracy show?”

  “It’s when people start seeing the bogey man around every corner. They think that the government is lying to them, every news story is false, and little green men…” Fiona’s voice trailed off.

  “What?”

  “…have landed on earth.” Fiona looked at him with widened eyes. “They were telling the truth.”

  “What are green men?”

  “Aliens.” Fiona sank into a chair as if the life force had been drained from her. “People from other planets,” she whispered.

  Ardal fought the urge to reassure her. It was primitive in its intensity. He clenched his hands into fists and turned away. He must fight this connection with Fiona. It was unnatural for a Hunter to feel such things for a woman.

  “So now you believe these things?” He forced the words through his clenched teeth.

  Fiona sighed. “Obviously some of them are true.” She stood and went to the window and craned her neck upwards. “It’s definitely a helicopter and it’s flying low.”

  “They are searching.”

  Fiona turned away from the window. “What do we do?”

  “We stay put.” Ardal gave his orders to his men through mind connection. “Ready yourselves for battle.”

  “We can take the truck.” Fiona went to the kitchen and poured water into a kettle. “At least we can make good time that way.”

  Ardal frowned. Once his men were in populated areas they would find transportation to get them to their destinations. Initially, he had planned the truck to remain here, but things had changed. The Captain would be left alive and that meant that he would have transportation when he escaped. No. The truck could not stay.

  “We will take the truck as you suggest. That way the Captain will have to walk into the wilderness.” Ardal allowed himself a half smile.

  “You’d like that.” Fiona shook her head and set the kettle on the stove. “You think he’ll die.”

  “It would be best.”

  Fiona turned the burner on. “You have a devious mind.”

  “I am a Hunter.”

  Suddenly the house shook and the sound of propeller blades overhead made it too loud to think. Fiona put her hands over her ears. Ardal went to the window and watched the helicopter land on the field nearest the house.

  They had visitors.

  He motioned Jehon and Firbin into one of the back rooms and then shut the door. They had already played this game once with the neighbors, so it should not be too difficult. He touched Fiona’s arm and pulled her behind him. If these men came in with weapons, then at least she would be safe.

  The noise subsided to a low roar.

  “We should go and meet them.” Fiona’s voice was a whisper. “Can they find anything?”

  “No.”

  Ardal moved to open the door, but Fiona yelled “Wait.”

  She went to the stove and turned it off and then picked up her sack and threw it into a closet. She gave the room one last look before nodding. “I don’t want to give them a reason to search the house.”

  Ardal sent a mental message to Jehon to do reconnaissance and then he focused all his energies on dealing with the situation outside. Fiona must not be hurt no matter the outcome. They would take out the men and the helicopter if need be.

  He opened the door and grabbed Fiona’s hand. He kept her at his side as they walked into the field. The long summer hay was being flattened by the rotating blades of the helicopter and he hesitated to go much closer. The blades started to slow down and the engine quietened just as the doors of the helicopter opened. Four men with guns stepped out.

  “Crap.” Fiona’s hand tightened around Ardal’s.

  “There is no need to fear.” Ardal eased himself in front of her. “These men can be handled.”

  “They have guns.”

  “So do I.” He took a step toward the men. “Can we help you?”

  The lead man ducked beneath the blades and walked toward them with his rifle resting across his arms. “We’re looking for survivors from a plane crash.”

  Ardal relaxed the tension in his body. He forced his breathing and his heart rate to slow. He did not want these men to suspect anything. If he had to attack, he wanted the element of surprise on his side.

  “We have seen no strangers here, unless you count the neighbors that came around earlier.”

  He felt Fiona move to his side. By Cygnus and Warrior if these men threatened her, he would have no recourse but to kill them. Jehon had better be in position.

  “Did Marshall and Clyde send you here?” Her voice held a note of disgust. “I told them nothing had crashed last night. If it had, it was probably just a meteor or space junk.”

  “And you are?” The lead man’
s voice was devoid of expression.

  “I live here.” Fiona took a step forward before Ardal could stop her. “Who are you and what are you doing landing a helicopter on my property?”

  “We aren’t at liberty to discuss that with you.”

  Fiona crossed her arms. “Then I’m not at liberty to discuss anything with you.”

  Ardal inhaled deeply and banked back his irritation. Aggravating these men would only bring others. He held up his hands in a conciliatory motion. “They are only doing their job.”

  The first man seemed to relax a fraction. “We need to ask a few questions.”

  Fiona’s eyes narrowed and then she threw up her arms. “Go ahead.”

  The lead man motioned for two of the others to follow him. Ardal led them away from the noisy helicopter and in the opposite direction. Jehon was good at blending in, but he didn’t want to make it any more difficult for him.

  “Why do you think a plane crashed here?” Ardal asked once they were out of earshot of the noisy blades.

  “We don’t.” The man eased his rifle a bit lower in his arms. “There was a radar inconsistency and we sent out a plane to investigate and it disappeared.”

  “It disappeared here?” Fiona shook her head. “I would have heard something that loud.”

  “It happened during the night.” The man turned unwavering eyes on Fiona. “It’s possible that you were sleeping.”

  Fiona started to fidget under the man’s gaze. Ardal cleared his throat and drew the man’s attention back to him. The man was a trained soldier and he was suspicious. If he had to kill these men, more would follow. He dare not risk Fiona getting hurt.

  “We will help you as much as possible.”

  The man raised one eyebrow. “We’ve already searched the property from the air. Now I want to look into the buildings. We’ll start with the barn.”

  Chapter 7

  “No.” Fiona was too startled to stop her response. “You’ve no right to search here.”

  “We have whatever rights are deemed necessary.”