Jude (sci-fi romance - The Ember Quest Book 5)

by Arcadia Shield

  Octavia shook her head. She was sure that was the word Jude had used a moment ago. Dinnorms were a myth. They’d died out before true dragons took control of the planet and stabilized the mess humans had made. What did they mean by Dinnorms? Maybe it was a name they used for a mutant creature.

  “Where are the final two Dinnorms?” asked Jude.

  “Fifty yards off,” said Octavia. “It looks like they’re moving through a service panel. They might be in the walls.”

  “I know the one you mean,” said Jude. “I’m looking at building schematics of the bunker.”

  “It’s on the east side of Tobias.”

  “They’re on me!” yelled Tobias.

  “Tobias!” shouted Jude.

  There was silence over the comms link.

  “Is he okay?” Octavia’s heart pounded. She had to help. “What’s happening?”

  “We’re here,” said Abbie. A gasp shot down the comms line.

  “What?” yelled Jude. “Tobias, what’s happened to him?”

  “Fuck!” Solomon cursed several more times.

  “For dragon’s sake, tell me what’s going on.” Jude sounded so desperate. Octavia wished she could be by his side to comfort him. She knew this man. She trusted him. She needed to know he was okay.

  “He’s alive!” said Cliff. “We’ve got him.”

  “But he’s hurt?” said Jude.

  “There’s... some blood,” said Abbie.

  “How bad is it?”

  “It’s hard to tell.” Abbie sounded stricken. “There’s a mess in here. Two dead Dinnorms. Young ones by the look of their size.”

  “Check your right flank,” said Octavia. “There are more creatures approaching.” She dug her nails into her palms as she heard more laser fire and shouting.

  “Those fuckers didn’t stand a chance,” said Cliff.

  “You’ve still got two more out there.” Octavia’s earbud hissed. She adjusted the signal and amped up power. It would drain her battery, but she had backup cells. The squad’s voices fell in and out of signal. “Something is messing with my link. Jude, can you still hear them?”

  “Yes. They’re okay, for now. The State could be on to us,” said Jude. “Be careful they don’t trace your signal. You don’t want them finding you.”

  “They won’t stand a chance,” said Octavia. “I’ve got a four-dimensional chain link engaged. It uses an omnidirectional transmitter. By the time they’ve unwoven the threads of that, I’ll be long gone.”

  “That sounds like a sweet setup.”

  Octavia thought she heard a hint of surprise in Jude’s voice. As a former government agent, she’d worked deep undercover for years breaking through terrorist gangs’ communications. She knew everything there was to know when it came to masking a signal to throw off someone chasing her.

  “We need to get out of here fast,” said Solomon.

  Octavia struggled to hear his muffled voice. “The quickest route is to take the west passage. It looks like an emergency exit. It will take you to a side alley.”

  “Octavia’s right,” said Jude. “There are no signs of State patrols in that area, so you won’t be spotted. Go around the side of the building. You’ll be within five-hundred yards of your vehicle.”

  The group had traveled to Alpha zone seven in a modified Foxhound. It was a lightweight, armored vehicle that came with the latest Invis Tech to ensure they could move around undetected. They still traveled by night, though, using the shadows as their friends.

  “Shit! This is bad,” said Cliff. “Tobias is bleeding out. We’ve only got basic patch-up stuff with us.”

  “Where the fuck’s your first aid kit?” said Jude.

  “In the fucking Foxhound, like it always is,” snapped Cliff.

  “I can guide you out.” Octavia sensed the tension in Jude’s words. “Just listen to my voice. I’ll get you all out.”

  “We always do,” said Solomon. “You get us the hell out of here, beautiful, and I’m taking you out as a thank you.”

  Octavia laughed. “You might like to meet me first. I’m not to everyone’s taste.” Her fingers traced the ridges of a scar on her right cheek. She’d grown her blonde hair deliberately long to use it as a shield. It helped prevent people from staring.

  “You could look like Emperor Endrir. I’d still take you out,” said Solomon.

  “More moving, less talking.” Jude’s tone was cold. “Get my brother the hell out of there.”

  “We’re on it,” said Cliff. “Octavia, show us the way home.”

  “Jude. Send me the building schematics,” said Octavia.

  “It’s on its way.”

  She opened the blueprint and double-checked her data. “Take the left tunnel nearest to you. Follow it for twenty yards and then take a sharp right.”

  Octavia watched as the group moved, their little red dots bouncing on the screen.

  “Is there any sign of the last two Dinnorms?” asked Cliff.

  Octavia’s gaze flicked to two red dots. “You’re good, for now. Why do you keep calling them Dinnorms?”

  “You don’t know?” asked Abbie.

  “Know what?”

  “Leave that for another time,” said Jude sharply. “Focus on getting out. Explanations later.”

  Octavia sucked in a breath, his harsh tone unusual. “Of course. Carry on down that passage for another fifty yards. You’ll feel it slope upwards.”

  “We do,” said Cliff.

  “You’ll find a door in front of you,” said Octavia. “You need to get through that to get outside.”

  “Freaking hell.” Solomon cursed some more. “It’s not just a door. It’s a damned iron gate.”

  “Use your pulse laser,” said Jude.

  “The lasers won’t cut it,” said Abbie. “We don’t have enough time.”

  “Hold on, let me check Tobias’s backpack,” said Cliff. “He’s usually packing something.”

  Solomon whistled. “We’ve got two sticks of something spicy here. This will do the job.”

  “You need to hurry.” Octavia’s eyes widened as she spotted two red dots change course and move in their direction.

  “The last two Dinnorms?” asked Abbie.

  “They must have heard you.”

  “How long have we got?” asked Cliff.

  Octavia pressed her lips together. They didn’t have long enough. “Thirty seconds.”

  “Fuck! I’ll deal with the explosives. Abbie and Solomon, you hold off the Dinnorm bastards.”

  Octavia could do nothing but wait and watch as those two red dots grew closer to people she considered her friends. She’d listened to so many of their conversations over the last two years. And, although she’d never met a single person from any of the bunkers the Ember brothers ran, she trusted them all. She considered herself one of them. They could not die.

  “They’re here!” yelled Abbie.

  Octavia worried her bottom lip as she saw the two red dots leap on top of what must be Abbie. “No!” The word flew out as her hands clenched.

  “Fucking Dinnorm scum!” Abbie sounded pissed.

  “Are you hurt?” Octavia felt sick as she saw two red dots blink out of sight.

  “As if a baby Dinnorm could hurt our Abbie,” said Solomon. “I didn’t even need to take a shot.”

  “I’m fine. But I’ve got their gross, rank-smelling blood all over my new boots, and I lost the pod sample,” said Abbie.

  Octavia choked out a laugh and ran her hands through her hair. “You’re all okay?”

  “I’ll be okay after a few hot showers,” said Abbie. “Their blood stinks. Cliff, fire up those damn explosives and let’s get out of this place.”

  Octavia smiled wistfully to herself. A shower. That was something she hadn’t had in such a long time. Living in the converted van, she made do with limited water supplies. She’d grabbed a couple of showers in the last year by sneaking into abandoned homes where the water hadn’t been cut off. It had been such a luxur
y, but a tense one. Getting naked when you never knew what was creeping up on you would never be pleasant.

  “The door is open,” said Cliff. “We’re heading outside.”

  “Good work,” said Jude. “I’ll see you back at base.”

  “You can count on it,” said Cliff.

  “You did good as well, Octavia.” Jude sounded tired.

  She felt her cheeks heat. It was crazy; she felt shy around a guy she’d never met. “I’m glad I could help.”

  “You saved their lives,” said Jude. “Your comms system is so much better than the junk we’ve got down here.”

  “It’s not so good.” Octavia’s gaze drifted to the patched-up and jacked circuit boards that surrounded her. She knew her way around a comms network, but most of the equipment she was looking at was held together by wishes and too much soldering. It could break any time and that would be it. Her radio broadcasts would stop. She wouldn’t be able to help the Ember brothers and their fight to destroy the State and bring back the dragons. The thought made her stomach churn.

  “You could see what the squad were doing,” said Jude. “You saved them.”

  “Well, I need to do something in between choosing the next music to play for my loyal fans.”

  Jude chuckled. “What’s the next song?”

  “I’m not sure.” Octavia eyed the three data chips she stored her enormous collection of music on. Music brought her alive. She’d been in a dark place after the attack that had nearly killed her. She’d spent weeks lying in a darkened room, earbuds in and her favorite rock tunes on full blast. Music had saved her. It had made her feel positive again. Feel something other than despair and grief. She hoped some of the music she played now made others feel the same and gave them something positive and hopeful in these chaotic times.

  “Maybe you can dedicate it to me?”

  “To you?” Octavia’s mouth felt dry. Jude always said things like that. He always made her think he cared. But how could he? They’d never met. They’d shared hundreds of messages. She felt like she knew him, but if they met in person, he’d pull back. He wouldn’t be able to see beneath her scars, wouldn’t be able to get past the damage on her flesh. She was still broken. She couldn’t meet him before she healed, until she could see the rejection in his eyes and accept it. That could take a lifetime and then some.

  “I don’t think you’ve ever dedicated a song to me,” said Jude. “It might be nice.”

  She had. Hundreds of them. She’d just never told him. “Maybe I should dedicate the next one to Tobias. He’s in a bad way.”

  “Once we get him back here, he’ll be fine,” said Jude. “I was worried earlier. I didn’t know how badly hurt he was.”

  “It sounds like he’s got a serious injury.”

  “We’ve got dragon serum at the base. They’ll have some in the Foxhound kit, as well. He’ll be healed in a couple of days. All he’ll have is a scar and a great story to tell over a beer.”

  Octavia would love to get her hands on some of that serum. Ever since dragon hybrids—people who were half-human and half-dragon—had revealed themselves to the Ember brothers and they’d begun working together, they’d developed serums to heal injuries in record time. She had to rely on the old-fashioned, grit-your-teeth-and-bear-it version of pain relief. Occasionally, she got her hands on basic pain meds, which she stored zealously for fear of getting sick or injured and not having any way to treat herself. That was the risk when you were alone. You were always vulnerable.

  “So, about that next track?” Jude’s voice had a curious tone to it. He could always sense when she was thinking about things. She had a tendency to overthink. Being alone made that easy to do.

  “Pick something positive,” said Octavia. “Maybe your medic can play it to Tobias when she treats him?”

  “Sophia doesn’t allow music in the medical room,” said Jude. “She says it’s distracting.”

  “It’s supposed to be,” said Octavia. “That’s why music is so amazing. It removes your worries and sends you off to a different world. It brings joy.”

  “I’ll suggest it to her when I go see Tobias,” said Jude. “If she chews my head off, I’ll have to come and find you and you can take the blame.”

  “I’d like to see you try.” Octavia prided herself on remaining a ghost. It was how she’d survived on her own for such a long time.

  Jude was silent for a few seconds. “So would I. In fact, I’ve been thinking.”

  Octavia worried her bottom lip between her teeth again. “About anything in particular?”

  “About you.”

  She swallowed, her pulse racing. “Are you going to tell me what those thoughts are?”

  “I don’t like to think of you out there alone.”

  “It’s the safest place to be.”

  “It isn’t,” said Jude. “I think it’s time.”

  The air in the van suddenly felt thin. She swiped the sweat from her forehead. “Time for what?”

  “Time for us to meet.”

  Chapter 2

  Jude knew he shouldn’t ask again. He’d been hinting at meeting up with Octavia for months. She always deflected his offers, and had a reason for them not to meet. But he wanted it. He needed to meet her. If she was as extraordinary as he thought she was, then he’d be lost to this incredible woman. He wanted to be. She was the only woman he’d been fantasizing about in what felt like forever.

  That was part of the reason he hadn’t pushed it. Was he ready for this? Life in the bunker was dangerous and unstable. Should he bring in someone he cared about? But Octavia’s life was anything but safe. As good as she claimed to be, it was only a matter of time before the State finally cornered her. And when they did, she’d be dead.

  He cleared his throat. “What do you think?”

  “It’s not safe.”

  “Nothing is safe in this world,” said Jude. “You’ve done so much for us. I’d like to repay that.”

  “Are you asking me on a date?”

  Jude blinked. Was he? He wasn’t sure what he was asking her. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to know everything about her. “It could be a date. Would you like it to be?”

  “I... well, maybe I’m not available.”

  It was the first time she’d used that excuse. “Are you with someone?”

  “No. I mean, I’m just saying, I could be. You shouldn’t assume anything.”

  Jude frowned and scratched a hand through his short dark hair. “I’m not assuming anything. I want to help you. You’re out there on your own. You never talk about anybody else. I figured you might appreciate a helping hand.”

  “I don’t.” The words were abrupt.

  “Maybe we’re the ones who need the help.” Jude kept his tone level. He could already sense she was withdrawing. She did it every time he got close and started prodding, trying to bring her nearer. Tried to get her closer to him and let down those barriers she kept so firmly in place.

  “You do okay,” said Octavia.

  “Not tonight we didn’t,” said Jude. “I’d have lost a brother if it weren’t for you. I owe you big time.”

  “You owe me nothing,” said Octavia. “Your friendship repays me a hundred times over.”

  Friendship. Jude grimaced. She was more than a friend. “That’s good to know. It wouldn’t be so bad if friends met now and again. I’d like that. Wouldn’t you?”

  “Haven’t you got more important things to worry about?”

  “You mean Tobias?” Jude shook his head even though she couldn’t see him. “He’s in good hands. When he gets back, Sophia will sort him out.”

  “I actually meant the weird signals. The State are up to something.”

  In the panic to get the squad safe, he’d forgotten why Octavia had reached out to him. Jude forced his frustrations away. He would meet with her. He would not stop pushing until she agreed to it.

  “What do you think it is?” He plugged back into the channel they’d been listening to. �
��The sounds have gone.”

  “This happens sometimes,” said Octavia. “They channel hop like I do. It makes it harder to listen in and get a complete message.”

  “Have you any idea what they’re talking about or signaling?”

  “Not a clue,” said Octavia. “I’ve got a question for you, though. Why do you keep mentioning Dinnorms?”

  “That’s what I was going to tell you,” said Jude. “We found out who the State really are.”

  “I know little about Dinnorms,” said Octavia, her words coming out slowly. “Aren’t they a dragon of some kind?”

  “That’s right,” said Jude. “If you come here, I can share much more with you about them.”

  “Jude, I don’t know. I mean, maybe.”

  “Say yes. We can arrange a meet-up. We’ll pick a safe space if you don’t want to come to the bunker.” He’d beg if he had to, but he wanted her here, with him.

  The comms room door opened. Heath, his older brother and unofficial leader of the squad, stood in the doorway. “Danni wants you in the briefing room in five minutes. She wants to know what happened.”

  Jude cursed quietly under his breath. “I’ll be there.”

  Heath nodded. His green eyes narrowed. “Is everything okay with you?”

  “Everything is great.” His finger touched his earbud. It would be once Octavia was here.

  “Tobias will be fine if you’re concerned about him. I’ve spoken to Solomon. They’ll be here in two hours.”

  “I’m not worried about Tobias,” said Jude. “The guy survived being buried under a ten story building for three days. He can survive a little chewing by a baby Dinnorm.”

  “He’s a tough one,” said Heath. “Are you coming now?”

  “I’ll be there in a minute.” Jude hadn’t finished with Octavia.

  Heath took another look around the room. “I’ll see you in there.”

  Jude turned back to his screen. His lips pressed together. He could see by the tiny red light in the right-hand corner of his screen that Octavia had gone off-line. She was hiding from him.

  He kicked away from his desk and stood before running his hand across his face. He needed to get his thoughts together before facing the others. He wasn’t in the mood for being teased about Octavia this evening.