aHunter4Rescue (aHunter4Hire)

by Clement, Cynthia

  “No problem.” Wilson leaned into her face. “I’m certain your fingerprints will give us the information me need.”

  Fiona lifted her chin. “These cuffs are uncomfortable.”

  The Major nodded at Wilson and he undid them. She rubbed her wrists and grimaced at the soreness. She would have continued, but she noticed Ardal looking down at her. His face was impassive, but his eyes burned with anger. She put her hands between her knees and tried to smile.

  “We’ve got a friend of yours.” The Major walked to the side door and nodded.

  A hooded man was led into the room and seated at a chair in front of them. He was also handcuffed. There was something familiar about his walk and clothing. Fiona looked up at Ardal, but his face remained blank. He would have made an excellent poker player.

  The hood was lifted to reveal Captain Eamon.

  “It seems that you forgot him when you decided to run.” The Colonel laughed. “Not very smart, considering how much the Captain likes to talk.”

  “He has no honor.” Ardal’s voice was full of disdain.

  “Perhaps, but he’s been telling us a fascinating tale about you.” Colonel White moved to stand in front of them. “It’s General Ardal, if I’m not mistaken.”

  “It was rather careless of you to take the bus.” Major Thomas leaned back against the table beside the chairs. “You can thank an astute policeman for your capture.”

  Captain Wilson snickered behind her. “He became suspicious when he didn’t find an abandoned vehicle on the road.”

  Fiona closed her eyes and fought back her tears of frustration. It was her fault. Again. If she hadn’t insisted on stopping, they’d still be free.

  “You really should have been more accommodating,” Wilson whispered in her ear. “When we’re done, you’ll be begging for death.”

  Chapter 15

  Ardal buried his anger. He replaced it with cold calculating focus. It was the same focus that had kept him alive through twenty years of combat. He had failed Fiona. He rotated his hands, twisting the links of the chains that held him. He bent them back and forth. They had taken his weapon, so he would need all his training to get out of this situation. Even if he didn’t survive, Fiona must live.

  “From what I understand you’re quite a legend where you come from.” The Colonel’s words echoed in the hollow steel building. “Why don’t you make this easy and tell us where the rest of your men are.”

  “If that coward Eames told you who I was, then he must have explained that I will not talk.”

  “He did mention that they had tried to persuade you before.” The Colonel paced around Eames. “The Captain is a wise man, though. Once he started talking, he couldn’t stop. Perhaps you should reconsider. You’re not on your homeland anymore.”

  Ardal lifted his head and gave the man a blank stare. He was mistaken if he thought intimidation would work. He was prepared to die. Death was a Hunter’s reward. All he cared about was Fiona’s safety. If he had to die to ensure that, then so be it.

  A Hunter never divulged information.

  Fiona shifted in the chair beside him. He glanced at her and saw her pain and fear. He should have killed Eames when he had the chance, but there was no room for regret. There was only one direction for a Hunter; forward, not backward.

  “Let the woman go.”

  “I think not.” The Major spoke this time. His voice was almost apologetic. “She knows too much. At the very least we’d have to guarantee that she didn’t talk before we free her.”

  Ardal glanced at the man. He was a weakling and obviously unused to combat. “It would be a mistake.”

  The Major shook his head. “I have my orders.”

  “Where are the orders coming from?” Fiona’s voice rose in anger. “Are you sure the government knows about this, or are you intelligence guys running things now?”

  “We do what is best for the country.” The Major crossed his arms. “You should have called the police when you found the wreckage.”

  “Why?” Fiona shook her head. “You would have done exactly what you’re doing now.”

  “You’ve wasted our time.”

  Fiona motioned toward Captain Eames. “After your interrogation, you must know that they mean us no harm.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure.” Colonel White brought a chair up to Fiona and sat down. “They have superior technological advances and they’re at war. What’s to prevent them from trying to conquer our planet?”

  “That’s utter nonsense.” Fiona shook her head. “It was a crash, for goodness sake. They had injured and dead.”

  “According to Captain Eamon, these are vicious rebels who were slated for execution. They overpowered his crew, killing hundreds with their bare hands. They caused the vessel to crash. Surely you can see that we can’t have creatures like that living on our planet. They must be hunted and destroyed like the animals they are.”

  Ardal sensed Fiona’s revulsion. He should have been prepared for it. She was too gentle a soul to understand the ways of Hunters and combat. It was a couple of seconds before he realized that her disgust was not with him. She was repulsed by what her people intended to do to his men. His bond increased tenfold in that moment and he sent a surge of love toward her.

  She swayed a bit under the onslaught, but at least her shock was gone. In its place he had sent her hope, belief that she would survive, and confidence that she would escape. Her compassion and faith in him made it possible. He would not fail her.

  “You’re not getting away with this.” Fiona straightened her shoulders.

  The Colonel chuckled and stood. “We’ve been getting away with it for decades. You don’t honestly believe these are the first aliens to land on our planet.”

  “But they’ve never harmed us.”

  “You don’t know that.” The Major leaned back against the table next to Eamon. “There are quite a few incidents that we can’t explain away. If they didn’t mean harm, they would approach us openly.”

  “And be killed for the effort.” Ardal did not hide his contempt.

  Did these men think Hunters were idiots? He might not have heard of this planet before yesterday, but he knew the type. He had seen plenty of primitive worlds in his thirty-five years. There was no reasoning with the inhabitants. They reacted out of fear. Fear of the unknown.

  Fear of change.

  Fear of growth.

  It was all too common. It was not his job to explain, only to follow orders and win. He had seen too many battles in too many war zones to believe that peace was attainable. Peace meant sharing and there was always someone who thought their needs were greater and more justified than anyone else.

  Only power was understood and respected.

  Ardal straightened in his chair. The time for talking was past. He focused his mind connection and sent a warning to his men. They would continue without him if he died. He flexed his neck from side to side and lowered his heart rate. He glanced at Eamon and saw the man pale. It was good that the Captain knew his minutes of life were limited. A coward without honor was lucky to be put out of his misery.

  “I see our visitor is getting restless.” Major Thomas pushed away from the table. “It won’t be long now. We’re setting up a lab. We’ll get the information we need.”

  “It will not work.”

  “Pain has a way of loosening the tongue.” The Colonel’s voice held a hint of anticipation.

  “It is primitive.” Ardal twisted his hands behind his back. The links of the chain were almost broken. “Only a weak man would be affected by it.”

  “Oh, we don’t intend to use it on you.” The Major walked over to Fiona. “I’ve found that even the strongest of people cannot bear to see others in pain.”

  “You speak of honor. Is there honor in allowing another to suffer?” White came close to Ardal. “I have to wonder at what kind of man would let a woman suffer for his sins.”

  Rage seared his body.

  With a quick snap t
he handcuff was broken and Ardal had the Colonel by the throat. He squeezed his esophagus making it impossible for the man to breathe or speak. The Major rushed at him, but Ardal slammed the base of his hand up into his nose and then chopped his adam’s apple. The Major slumped to his knees clawing at his throat before dying.

  Captain Wilson grabbed Fiona and used her to shield himself.

  Ardal snapped the Colonel’s neck and threw him down. “Hiding behind a woman holds no honor.”

  “Guard,” Wilson yelled.

  Wilson backed away with Fiona firmly in front of him. He was headed toward the door. “The MP’s will be here within seconds.”

  Ardal kept pace with them. He glanced down at Wilson’s knee and back up to Fiona. She looked at him for a second and then she acted. She heaved back her foot and booted the man’s leg. He stumbled, but before he could recover Ardal had his hands around his throat. His neck was broken before Fiona could move away.

  Ardal pulled her close.

  He could hear men running in their direction. He had to make Fiona safe. He grabbed Wilson’s weapon from his side before taking the other two men’s guns. He handed one to Fiona.

  “Do you know how to use this?”

  She nodded before explaining.

  She held it away from her. “Release the safety.” She pushed a button in.

  “Cock it.” She pulled back on the upper end of it.

  “The trigger releases the bullet.” She put her finger on a curved area.

  “All you need to do is point and shoot.”

  Ardal shoved one of the guns in his waistband before following Fiona’s instructions. Primitive it might be, but as long as it stopped the men, he was not going to complain.

  “You can’t leave me here.” Eamon’s voice was a low whine. “They’ve threatened to dissect me.”

  Ardal turned and pointed the weapon. One shot and the Captain was out of his misery. Fiona’s gasp concerned him, but there was no time to deal with her wishes right now. Her safety was all that mattered and as long as these men lived, she would not be safe.

  “Come.”

  He grabbed her hand and headed toward the rear door. They reached it just as the first soldier entered the building. Ardal shot him and then pulled Fiona outside. It was a large camp, with at least twenty buildings. Men were streaming out of only three, though. Ardal pushed Fiona behind him and started toward the first group.

  He raised his gun, but before he had a chance to fire, there was large roaring from the sky. Dust and gravel were twisted and blown into their faces.

  It was another helicopter.

  Ardal pushed closer to the steel building, ensuring that Fiona was completely covered by his body. He moved to aim for the incoming aircraft, but its weapons started spitting bullets all around. Within seconds the first wave of soldiers were lying on the ground.

  A surge of mind connection hit him like a brick to the head. It was crude but effective. We’ve come to help. Ardal acknowledged the message. He had no idea who these people were, but their thoughts felt like Hunters. He stayed in place, keeping Fiona behind him. He could not trust these new warriors. It might be a trick to lull him into letting his guard down. If so they would be disappointed. A Hunter never relaxed his guard.

  Another wave of soldiers was gunned down before the helicopter landed. Once on the ground, six men jumped out with weapons and spread out in a circle. Ardal kept Fiona behind him as he moved to the aircraft. The newcomers shot any soldier who obstructed his path. He felt Fiona’s fear. He blocked it as he focused on their escape. By the time he reached the helicopter, there were no other soldiers standing.

  The men who had come to their rescue were now checking all of the buildings. There was the odd report of a bullet being fired, but other than the helicopter blades, the area was quiet. The bodies of at least fifty soldiers littered the ground. Ardal waited with his weapons ready. One by one the newcomers walked back to the aircraft, their guns lowered as they approached.

  All six of them stopped in front of Ardal. They looked to be in their late twenties, dark hair and dark eyes. There was coldness in those eyes, though. One of the men raised his gun at Fiona. Ardal pushed her behind him and aimed his weapon for the kill.

  “Who are you?”

  The man with the gun lowered his arm. “I’d say a thank you was in order. We just saved your butt. The human needs to die. She is too dangerous as a witness.”

  “No.” Ardal kept his weapon aimed. “She is with me.”

  One of the other men moved his hands as if to surrender, but a weapon dropped down his sleeve. He whipped it up and pointed it at Ardal’s head.

  Ardal was quicker.

  He grabbed the arm holding the gun and bent it so the pistol was pointing at his attacker. His other hand still had its weapon pointed at the first man.

  “I am Ardal, elite Hunter and last of the clan Rioge. One move and both of these men are dead.” Ardal let his gaze focus on each man. “Who are you?”

  The men lowered their weapons, but Ardal continued to hold his captive. Fiona was still hidden behind him and he could feel her body trembling. By Cygnus and Warrior, he would rather kill these men than have her upset.

  “Answer.”

  “Are you really of the clan Rioge?” the man Ardal was holding asked. His voice held a hint of awe. “We’ve never met a leader before.”

  “So far all you have done is anger one.” Ardal loosened his hold slightly. “How long have you been here?”

  “Thirty years.”

  “Impossible.” Ardal tightened his hold on his captive.

  “This atmosphere changes our metabolism.” The man grabbed at Ardal’s hand. “We crashed here when we were children. Some of our instructors lived, but most died. We have been here ever since.”

  The planet had strengthened him, but to age slower seemed crazy. He searched each of the men’s eyes and mind and found no subterfuge. There was sadness, loneliness, and ruthlessness, but no deception.

  “The woman is to be left unharmed.”

  “That is dangerous.” The man who had first threatened Fiona took a step forward.

  “A true Hunter follows the Sacred Code and does not kill women or children.”

  “She is from earth.” The man motioned to the bodies around him. “They kill Hunters on this planet.”

  “She is not the same.” Ardal’s voice was a growl. “I need your word as a Hunter and your allegiance to the Sacred Code that you will obey my order and protect her.”

  Ardal waited as each man gave his vow and then he released the man he was holding. The man gave him a grin and rubbed his neck. “You are truly strong.”

  Ardal grunted. “Too many years fighting and training. Did you have a plan when you came here?”

  “We go by the seat of our pants.” The man held out his hand. “I’m Catal. We’re all from the clan Saidir.”

  Ardal shook his hand. “You use the customs of this planet.”

  “It is all we’ve known.” Catal pointed to the other men. “This is Gur, Kerm, Turlo, Ern, and Lorcan our leader.”

  Ardal moved aside so that Fiona could come out from behind him. The men’s eyes widened when they saw her. There was no doubt that she was beautiful, even by this planet’s standards. That is not what Ardal saw though. She had a kind and giving soul that had accepted his men without question.

  “Are you sure you can rely on her.” Lorcan’s voice was doubtful. “Women are seldom what they seem.”

  “I’ve dealt with the Kaladin and the Holman.” Ardal raised an eyebrow. “This is not the first woman I have met.”

  “True, but you are secluded from them.”

  “That does not mean that I am ignorant of their ways.”

  Ardal looked down at Fiona who was shifting from foot to foot. These men made her nervous. It was a risk to trust them, but one he had to take. They were Hunters like him. He had made his own men aware of the new developments and they were concerned. They had wanted to send
in a recovery team, but he had stopped it. They must not linger, though.

  “We need to leave.”

  “We’ll take the helicopter. Climb onboard.”

  Fiona hesitated. Ardal sensed her fear. “Where are we going?”

  “We have a hidden spot about an hour away. The military has yet to find it.”

  “We were headed south.” Fiona’s voice sounded hoarse.

  “It’s only a slight detour.” Kern held out his hand for her.

  Fiona took the help and climbed aboard. Ardal followed and sat beside her. She fidgeted with her hands and he clasped them together in his. The other men were already seated and looked at Ardal’s actions with raised eyebrows. He ignored them and pulled her close to his body. She sighed and leaned her head on his chest.

  They landed in a thickly wooded area that had a small landing pad for the helicopter. Dense forest was on one side and on the other was a lake of clear, blue water. It was a paradise. The only thing ruining the image was the military equipment and weapons.

  Ardal sent the direction and mileage they had covered to his men before climbing down from the chopper. Then he helped Fiona. They pulled a netting cover over the aircraft and then headed to a building that was partially covered by the trees.

  Once inside Ardal could see that this was more than a temporary headquarters. There were maps, electronic equipment, and along one wall, floor to ceiling weapons on shelves. These men were serious about protecting themselves.

  Now was the time for explanations. Ardal pulled out a chair and let Fiona sit. He then turned to the men who were taking seats around a large table. He cleared his throat.

  “How did you know where to find us?”

  “Chatter.” Lorcan started taking off his gun belt. “The military was hot on the trail of someone.”

  “Did you guys really take apart a group of FD Warriors outside Timmins?” Catal put his elbows on the table and leaned toward Ardal.

  “They were offensive.” Ardal shrugged. “They attacked first.”

  “What happened to them?”

  “They are dead.”

  “Not a wise move when you’re trying to blend in.” Lorcan sat. “I’m assuming that’s what you’re doing. The radar suggested that your ship crashed.”