Warrior's Paradox (Cadi Warriors Book 3)

by Stephanie West

  June watched the ground pass, from beneath the tarp. After a minute, the terrain changed as they entered a building with a smooth metal floor. June listened to the conversation between the M’s, who were speaking English, and the demons, who were growling.

  “It was a pleasant trip,” Exo replied in his warbling tenor.

  The incoherent rumbled response was so close to where June huddled, that she almost jumped.

  June sighed when the voices faded. She lifted the edge of the tarp and peered out at the interior of the warehouse. She glanced through the large hangar doors to see Ion and Exo heading back towards the spaceship with the demons. June quickly abandoned her hiding spot and snuck towards the open doors.

  How do I get back on the ship? June bit her lip as the gravity of her predicament started to set in.

  She looked at the airstrip. There wasn’t anything she could run to, or hide behind, between the building and the large vessel.

  Shit, shit, shit.

  June watched as Ion and Exo touched palms, then Exo headed up the ship ramp. Her eyes widened in horror as the bay doors on the spaceship closed behind him.

  Oh god, I’m screwed.

  She was learning firsthand the meaning of; curiosity killed the cat. What started as an exciting adventure was rapidly turning into a nightmare.

  “Dammit,” June cursed as Ion and the demons headed back towards the building, while the spaceship geared up for takeoff.

  June ducked back from the entry, and squatted in a shadowy corner. There wasn’t time to hide before Ion and the demons reentered the warehouse.

  “I am rested and ready to see Giselle and Providence,” Ion spoke to the giant red men.

  They growled in reply, then hitched a hovering vehicle to the palette, June had been hiding under only moments ago.

  Maybe I should risk exposing myself? I need to stick close to Ion, June worried her lip till she tasted blood.

  But before she could get up the nerve to come out of hiding, Ion got on the back of the hovercraft with two of the demons, and sped out of the warehouse. June sat in the dim corner, in shock. She just got abandoned on a planet full of musclebound, growly, demonic creatures.

  At least on New Earth I was with other humans, and we were in the mess together. Oh god, what do I do? June’s stomach twisted in knots as she stared at the open hangar door. What were you thinking? You just had to go exploring. Now you’re stranded amidst a race of violent looking demons, June berated herself. Snap out of it. You’re an intelligent woman. Figure this shit out.

  June heard a sound and realized one of the red men was still with her in the warehouse. As frightening as he appeared, he was her only remaining connection to Ion. June watched him grab a package, then head for a door at the rear of the warehouse. June hustled towards the door, before she lost sight of him too.

  Then you’d be completely screwed.

  She grabbed the heavy door before it closed, and slipped into the hall behind him. June’s heart raced a million miles a minute. There was no place to hide in the hall, if the man turned around. Thankfully he seemed entirely oblivious as he walked with long strides down the corridor. June felt light headed and nauseous as she crept forward. It didn’t help the giant man was disconcertingly growling to himself the entire way down the nondescript passage. At least the sound helped to muffle her steps. He turned a corner and June rushed to keep up. When she reached the corner, she almost panicked, till she saw a door closing. June raced forward and grabbed ahold of it, just in time.

  The sight that greeted her was a wonderland of technology. There were a handful of work benches, all stacked with amazing equipment. June thought she recognized variants of things she had in her lab back home; circuit boards, optics, and analyzers.

  Inductance, capacitance, resistance, oh my.

  June almost forgot she wasn’t supposed to be there, as she gawked at the immense workroom. She quickly ducked beneath a counter along the wall, when she regained her senses. June warily observed the demonic man, while trying to calm her racing heartbeat.

  The towering man hunkered down at a desk and started swiping his fingers across a tablet. A holographic screen winked to life in midair. Swirling script scrolled across the opaque projection in a mesmerizing series of patterns.

  The man pulled his unruly, shoulder length, black hair into a knot on top of his head, then attached something to his ear, and started speaking. A bouncing wave appeared onscreen, that reminded June of an oscilloscope. Each time the demon spoke in his husky, growly voice, the digital wave jumped. His long fingers moved over the tablet recording the results, then he repeated the action.

  June was a bit surprised to discover the violent looking creature was some sort of scientist.

  Prejudice much, she admonished herself. Of course, a sentient race with this much technology would have its scientists.

  Though she was frightened the words of Marie Curie bolstered June’s courage. “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

  Just approach this situation like you would any other problem. Learn what you can, since god only knows how long you’ll be stuck here.

  June studied the fiery skinned man critically, to see what she could glean about him. He wasn’t outfitted with a bandolier of knives, strapped across his chest, like the others had been.

  That seems to reason, since he holds an intellectual occupation. The whole race can’t be aggressive. The other two men were probably military or something.

  He was shirtless, like the rest of his comrades.

  These people are obviously comfortable showing skin.

  That wasn’t too unusual. There were many cultures on Earth, who wore little to nothing. Although it was usually the more primitive groups that tended to do so.

  From where June hid, she admired the man’s broad back, which was covered in sprawling black tattoos. She could name the various muscle groups that were clearly defined. Deltoids. Trapezius. Obliques. There didn’t appear to be an ounce of fat on him. June bit her lip as she realized she wasn’t immune to biology.

  He’s certainly not hard on the eyes. I never met a scientist built like that back home. The only muscle most of them flexed, was their brain.

  The giant man wasn’t what she’d expect from the stereotypical science minded individual. He looked like the leading man straight off the set of some bizarre Hollywood gladiator movie, leather kilt and all. Back home, any man wearing a skirt, who wasn’t Scottish, would’ve made her giggle. But his choice of apparel made sense, considering the tail.

  June grinned as she watched the long appendage swish and twitch, much like a cat. She wondered if it reflected his mood in a similar way. The ornery side of her wanted to reach out and tug it.

  The wayward thought instantly vanished when a deep feral growl reverberated through the lab. The giant man tore off his earpiece, and slapped it down on the desk. He surged to his feet, knocking over the stool with a clatter, and began pacing. June shrunk back in her hiding spot, and hugged her knees to her chest. As he growled a string of menacing sounds, his lips bared a long pair of sharp fangs. June’s eyes widened in horror.

  Scientist or not, benign species don’t evolve fangs. Oh god, what have I gotten myself into?

  June was certain she’d betray her location if she couldn’t get herself pulled together. Every sound echoed in the small cubby, seeming louder than it hopefully was. June bit her fist to muffle her ragged breath and attempted not to hyperventilate. She tried desperately to still the uncontrollable tremors wracking her body, but couldn’t seem to get her fear under control.

  Calm down, please calm down.

  June warily watched the incensed demon stalk towards an empty area in the middle of the room. He continued snarling as he gestured wildly with his hands. She wondered if he was about to take his violent temper out on the equipment of the lab.

  The man stilled. The fists at his sides relaxed as
he rolled his head, cracking his neck. He closed his coal black eyes and took several slow deep breaths. His palms then swiftly thrust out, pushing at the air, as he began a routine that reminded June of Tai chi. His corded arms moved with a fluid grace that highlighted just how much power those limbs possessed. The muscles of his thighs, and washboard abs bunched and flexed as he crouched and turned.

  Her breathing calmed as she watched the giant man. There was a savage beauty to the way he moved. Besides his skin color, the tail and fangs, the large man wasn’t physically that different from humans.

  June’s mouth hung open when the demon bent and did a one-arm handstand.

  I’ve landed among a race of special forces ops. I don’t care how similar they are, these are creatures you don’t mess with

  She almost fell out of her hiding spot when his kilt slipped. June swiftly clamped her eyes shut.

  There are some things I don’t need to analyze.

  June nearly screeched in surprise when something pinged nearby. The demon stopped his routine and grabbed a device that reminded her of a smart phone. He was animated as he spoke into it. Without as single pause in conversation, the giant man quickly hurried from the lab. Before June could scramble after him, the door closed with an ominous thud. She tugged at the metal handle, but it refused to budge.

  “Son of bitch. Seriously?” June cursed her luck for losing him.

  As frightening as he was, he was her only connection to Ion.

  “Well this is his workspace, he has to come back. Right?” she reasoned.

  It could be worse. You could be stuck in the hallway instead.

  With the demon gone, June took a better look at her surroundings. Like the ship, the lab was filled with tech that had her salivating. This was an exciting, albeit nerve racking, change of venue. June slowly meandered between the work benches, ready to hide again, if he suddenly returned.

  As intriguing as it all was, June already missed her partner in crime. Having Riley around had bolstered her courage, and that was when she only had the sober Miran Sona to contend with. June closed her eyes and sent up a prayer that Riley was okay by herself on the M’s ship.

  She’s probably in better shape than you are, dumbass.

  As June circled the room, it occurred to her that the demon might have surveillance cameras or something.

  “Too late now,” she laughed nervously. “I’m bound to be discovered eventually.” The thought was frightening, considering her conflicting observations about the alien. “Maybe he won’t freak out and maul me. He seemed okay with Ion and Exo. Exo even left Ion here. The demons can’t be that bad. He’s a scientist after all. That means logical,”

  June tried to calm her mind by weighing out what she knew about the man. But her thoughts kept circling around to how huge he was, and the disturbing fangs. She distracted herself with the magnificent equipment around her instead.

  Everywhere she looked there was something going on. There wasn’t a single surface that was free of clutter.

  “Jeez he’s messy.”

  June glanced at a spool of wire on the counter. Without a second thought, she put it in the glass cabinet alongside the other spools, then moved on. She came to a door that was ajar, and peered inside.

  “He lives here.”

  A large bed, covered in blue crumpled blankets, sat along the right wall. There was a wooden table and two chairs on the left, near a kitchenette counter piled with dishes.

  “Oh lord, there’s a science experiment growing in one of the bowls,” she commented as she perused the apartment.

  On the back wall a beige furry rug warmed the floor, in front of a leather upholstered chair. June glanced through an open door near the armchair.

  “Thank god, a bathroom.”

  She hustled into the room and took advantage of the facilities. Using the tall pedestal toilet was an acrobatic feat, and it took a good minute to figure out the sink, but she eventually got it.

  When June wandered back into the one-room apartment, she noticed a box sitting on the table.

  Food.

  Her stomach grumbled as she eyed the orange-colored plum. She and Riley hadn’t starved on the Miran Sona’s spaceship, but she hadn’t eaten since yesterday either.

  “He won’t miss a few.” June grabbed a piece of fruit, and something that looked like a granola bar. “Maybe just one more,” she mumbled as she snatched another plum.

  June cleaned one of the cups, along with a few others for good measure.

  “I doubt he’ll notice from the look of this place,” she commented as she got herself some water.

  June sat at the table and ate her pilfered meal, as she considered her predicament. On one hand this was exactly where she wanted to be, an awesome lab filled with technology and equipment that was both foreign and familiar. It was much better than New Earth, where she was bored out of her mind.

  Besides Riley, she hadn’t made a ton of friends at the colony. June had never been a social butterfly. Most of the colonist had formed little cliques, jockeying for some contrived social hierarchy. June didn’t have the energy for it. She preferred to occupy herself with more productive tasks.

  But despite the tempting surroundings the prospect of approaching the demonic creatures unnerved her.

  “You’d be like a tiny snack. That man could break you without trying.”

  Tytus quo Munitor

  Tytus rushed to the manor after Daimio Kagan hailed him on the handheld. Ion wanted to deliver Giselle’s young early, and they needed help setting up an incubator the Miran Sona brought. The news snapped him out of his foul mood faster than the floor exercises he’d been doing.

  I need to figure out that damn translator, he groused. Let it go. Giselle needs you.

  Tytus entered the manor and headed towards the medical suite.

  “They’re inside.” Dagaa gestured towards the surgical room.

  The grim warrior stood in the hall with Madhava, and their shared human mate, Providence. Giselle’s friend Jolana, was fidgeting nervously. In contrast Petal, the hairy Toufik, was sitting calmly in a nearby chair, nursing her fuzzy baby, while another little young played at her feet. Everyone who cared for Giselle and Kagan were present.

  “I’m so glad you’re here. Make sure they get that equipment set-up right.”

  When Providence hugged him, Tytus could feel her shaking. She was worried about her friend. They all were. Tytus made a silent promise that he would record everything and work with Jorg, so Providence didn’t suffer like this when she bore Madhava or Dagaa’s young.

  “Don’t worry,” he assured her, then headed into the room.

  Kagan was pacing as the medic, Jorg, and Ion conversed.

  “Good, you’re here, Tytus.” Jorg pointed towards the incubator.

  “Are you sure the young is ready?” Kagan asked Ion, looking beside himself. “It is too soon.”

  “Human gestation isn’t as long as a Cadi’s.” Ion patted Kagan’s arm. “She is also smaller than your people.”

  “Cadi young have survived when born this early,” Jorg encouraged their Daimio.

  “This is why I brought one of our incubation units, but I am confident the child will be fine,” Ion explained.

  “Kagan stop pacing. You’re making me nervous,” Giselle insisted from the bed.

  The Daimio jumped and rushed to her side. It was kind of amusing to see such a large warrior come to attention at the tiny human’s command.

  “Jeezelle, what can I do?”

  “Nothing big guy. Just stay with me,” Giselle replied sweetly, then grimaced in pain.

  “Always.” Kagan gripped her hand.

  Tytus smiled at their interaction. Their affection for one another was clear. He then turned to his task, connecting the incubator to the manor’s power grid. It took a bit since the Miran Sona didn’t use the same interface as the Cadi.

  “Stick around in case we need your help. Is that okay?” Jorg asked Giselle, who nodded.

>   Tytus noticed Giselle was sweating profusely as her face contorted.

  “Is she okay?” he whispered to Jorg.

  “Yes. Ion gave her a medicine to induce labor.”

  Tytus spent the next several hours in awe and horror as his tiny human friend struggled to push a new being into the world. He’d seen vids of Cadi females giving birth, it didn’t seem this difficult. He wondered if all humans had this much trouble. If so, how did they ever proliferate? The way Giselle cursed Kagan as the contractions struck her, put the foulest mouthed warrior to shame.

  The strident squall heralding a brand-new Cadi child, jerked Tytus from what he was doing. He kept out of the way for most of the birth, but Tytus couldn’t help move forward to see the young.

  “Congratulations, Daimio.” Jorg held up the naked little female.

  Kagan stood in shock, as he stared at his daughter. It was the first time Tytus had seen his Daimio overcome this way.

  “She is perfect,” Giselle exclaimed with a heaving cry, as she reached for her babe.

  The child was not perfect in Cadi terms. When the babe calmed down, at the sound of Giselle’s voice, her skin went from angry red to a paler pink. Like Cadi children her hair was black, but turned blonde at the tips, which was abnormal. Bright, dark blue eyes peered wondrously at Giselle, as the medic finished cleaning her.

  So far, the little female was an equal mix of her human and Cadi parents. But she did inherit one unique trait from her sire, a long impressive tail. A Cadi’s tail was a point of pride. The moment Jorg passed the child to her sire, she wrapped the little appendage around Kagan’s hand. As Kagan cradled her, a look of adoration transformed his face.

  “Yes, Graca is perfect,” Kagan spoke, pride filling his voice.

  Tytus thought the name they had chosen was appropriate. The hybrid child might be unusual, but she was beautiful, like her name implied. Tytus had no doubt the Daimio would have his hands full when she matured.

  Graca cooed a sound that melted everyone’s heart, then she proceeded to urinate all over her sire.

  “Oh my, Graca,” Giselle laughed as tears streamed down her cheeks.