Ares

by Jessie Rose Case

  Get our men to the off-worlder now. He told him running for the door.

  ***

  Lea called out to Carolin to stop. She could see her people on point had slowed right down part way into the forest. Something was clearly up. If anyone was waiting for them, they’d have look outs. It looked like a perfect ambush. To go around it would take hours. She slowed then started to limp. Sarafina came towards her and raised both eyebrows. “You think it’s a trap?” She knew instinctively Lea wasn’t injured. She smiled.

  “O yeah.” She bent down and tentatively touched her ankle. The other two joined her. Making to look like she had a genuine problem. “I want two with me. You two make a big deal of going wide either side, as if on some mission. Then cut back in and watch for incoming. I’m going in slow, injured lamb needing help to get back. Whistle our guys on point, I want them here.” Sarafina moved on to carry out her orders, Carolin gave some attentive work on her ankle. Lea cringed every now and then to add to the authenticity.

  “You think they have eyes on us?” Lea nodded.

  “I would.”

  Lea heard the whistle and her point started making their way back to them. Lea took a few tentative steps, giving the impression of it being difficult to walk on. Holding up one foot off the ground as Sarafina jogged up.

  “Ready?” Lea asked. Sarafina nodded. “Good.” She turned to the two women who’d been on point. “We’re putting on a show ladies. It’s probably gonna get nasty. Ready for that?” She asked them. They both grinned at her. “Ok, I need one arm, looking to support me, one out in front, we’ll have two behind. Reinforcements will be coming from both sides, trapping them in with us. Quietly does it, weapons check.”

  ***

  Ares looked at the vid screen in the off-worlder. It had images of the ground being relayed from his ship. He’d seen the troop stop, some of the women moving backwards and forwards, those on point being pulled back. Then he noticed Emmilea limping. She’d been injured! His mind screaming for justice. His net already connected.

  On the ground now. He moved to the screen showing the outline of the ground below him and the heat signatures around it. He saw the split of the troop and the small party heading in. Ares zoomed in and lost his patience, hitting the wall with his fist. He would bloody kill her! She was using herself as bate. He would punish her for doing so. He now doubted she was injured at all. She intended to draw them in and then take them out. He didn’t like it. It was dangerous. Could be deadly. Bring us in to here. Cloak on. We will attack from behind.

  ***

  Lea moved with her small party into the forest. They checked this area regularly on their perimeter checks. This was a new move for their attackers. A bold one. They’d never gone for an ambush before. How they’d got there was another matter and she would have to deal with that. Glancing around and ahead, she mulled it over. If Ares had taken out their ships in orbit, had a new one arrived? She knew the planet to be big enough that there were places they did not go. They had barely covered one 10th of it in reality. They had expeditions out in all directions, checking to see if others had made communities, but they’d never found anything. She limped along. Kariden supporting her. The others, providing a guard. She heard movement along the tree line and suppressed a roll of her eyes. Clearly, they didn’t do stealth very well.

  Her people knew better than to crowd her. The two ahead reached for their weapons. They carried guns as well as swords. Lea guessed they’d heard something too. The land around the path rising into the trees. It was an ideal ambush site. Lea had to give them credit for that. She glanced at Kariden and gave her a slight nod. She didn’t want to walk into their ambush but to draw them out. They stopped and she called back her girls on point. They jogged back to them. Hiros bent to her. “Their set up ahead. Movement on both sides.” She whispered to her.

  “Then it’s time to draw them to us.” She turned to Kariden, “lead us back.” Lea watched her re-deploy her team and take the rear. Hiros gave her a shoulder to lean on. “Show time.” She whispered to her, then they headed back the way they’d come. Lea knew, if they wanted to take them, they’d have to scramble now, move out of position and come at them. It gave them time to find some cover.

  ***

  Ares dropped from the off-worlder before the ramp was down. His men dropped around him. He turned to Jedd.

  Take the left. He gave him a nod. Ares turned to Burr.

  Take the right. He looked ahead of him. I’m going down the middle.

  Burr grinned at him. Eager to be the avenging mate? Hero to the rescue? Ares kept his eye on the prize. No. Eager to remind my mate why I’m named after the old god of war and not to piss me off again. Move out.

  ***

  Lea could hear the scramble going on behind them. Any sense of pretence was now irrelevant. They were coming. Seeing good cover on both sides she called out. “Line up.” She dropped the limp and walked forward, taking her swords from their sheaf. She heard two familiar whistles. Her people lined out in a V with her at the head. “Weapons hot.” She heard the sound of guns being cocked. Lea knew her people were coming, they just needed to hold and draw them in. Men started pouring down the sides of the pathway ahead of her. They were going to rush them. That, was a mistake, thought Lea. One she would take advantage of. They headed towards her screaming their intent. Lea waited until they were within range, gave a nod to Karidan, who whistled high and long. Female war cries could be heard from the trees as they poured down after the men moving towards her.

  Surprised, to find themselves out of position and being attacked, the men split, not sure what enemy to attack first. Some facing the left, some the right. Those in the front still came towards her. Lea threw herself into the melee with her own battle cry leading her people forward.

  Ares heard Emmilea’s cry. He knew she was engaging. His heart beat picked up. Faster. He cried out over his net and charged forward.

  Lea knew they were outnumbered. It wasn’t the first time. Her people worked with the understanding that they would be. They were used to tactics to pick people off, to surround easy targets and remove them quickly. Take the head out, leave the rest in disarray. On the defensive. Carolin and Sarafina made their way to her. They took up position on either side of her, Kariden protecting their backs and they cut their way through the attackers. Too close for anything other than short swords, her speciality. She cut, slashed, punched, kicked out and pummelled her attackers.

  The leader of the pirates, Lea now knew that was who she was facing, made his way towards her. He pushed his own men out of his way. Lea squared up to him, flexing her neck muscles. Gripping her blades. He held a gun in one hand and a knife in the other. She waited for him to lift the gun, once he got a clean shot. Then flicked out with a sword cutting into the flesh on his hand. He dropped the gun, thrusting forward with the knife. Lea blocked it with her left and thrust forward with her right, her blade taring through his skin. His cry was followed by his fist aimed at her face, Lea pulled back, his fist flying passed her off balancing him. Lea kicked into his knee, his own propulsion sending him over onto the back of his own man. Pushing off him, he came at her again.

  Ares spotted the fight up ahead. The females were outnumbered but fighting magnificently. He roared his battle cry followed by his men and charged the attackers. Those nearest him turned. It was clear by their stance they were surprised to see them. Now not sure what to do. He raced forward before they got any orders and engaged. Lea needed him and he would kill everything in his way to get to her. His men engaged around him with the precision and viciousness they were known for. They quickly made headway, picking up the females fighting in their way and joining them.

  Lea heard Ares roar as she moved around her attacker. He was here. The fighting now took on more intensity at the rear of the pack. She saw the wave of men being pushed towards her. She guessed he’d brought his men to help her. Lea fainted to the right and stabbed with the left. She caught the leader again and he j
abbed out with his knife catching her in the leg. The temptation to withdraw and nurse the injury pulling on her, but she knew better and struck forward driving her sword in deep. He cried out and started to go down. Lea paused and with one final move, he threw his knife straight at her. She moved to the left quickly, but not quickly enough, it struck deep into her right shoulder. Lea gritted her teeth against the pain facing off with the next one who’d stepped over his now dead leader. She wouldn’t be pulling that out anytime soon and couldn’t afford to be anything other than deadly now.

  Her people pressed in around her. She had limited movement in her right shoulder now. She could use both arms equally well but favoured her right. She would have to use it and accepted, it was going to hurt like hell and likely make it worse. She focused as he came at her. Swinging wide, Lea bent at the knee, sweeping his legs out from under him, spotting the downed gun from earlier, she reached for it and shot him dead centre. Turned and started picking off those around her people. She spotted her sister magnificently using her gun and whip. Sarafina using both guns and the wave of bodies started pushing in on them. She caught a glimpse of Ares and his men head and shoulders above everyone else. A wave of deadly force. No one able to stand in their way.

  Her people were holding them back, more of Ares men filtered into the pack before them and started cutting the men down. Ares led the way heading straight for her. Those that had been facing her now turned to see what was coming at them from behind. Unsure what to do they became defensive, focusing on what they saw as the biggest danger. Ares. Lea moved to higher ground so she could see what was going on. Her small group moved with her. Lea saw a small group of attackers peel off and head into the woods. Lea wasn’t about to let them off so easily. She indicated to Karidan and they moved off in their direction.

  She raced along below the ridge, hearing the battle going on, on the other side. Keeping low, they followed the group as they moved deeper into the woods then circled around and back. They were flanking. Lea realised then put on a burst of speed moving towards them. The pull on the knife in her shoulder killing her with every step. She pushed the pain to one side. She knew each pull, would be pulling it open wider. The tissue being more damaged. She could feel the blood pouring down her arm and chest. She realised they were moving faster, getting behind Ares and his men. Lea saw them just below the crest of the hill ahead, re-grouping.

  She pushed her people on. Silence a thing of the past. The minute they saw her coming, they made a break for it. Lea powered up the crest as they went over, her gun was gone. She only had her blades. Knowing what she needed to do, she didn’t give a second thought to the consequences. Screaming out Ares’ name, she crested the hill, spotting her target, threw her sword towards the leader who had been heading for Ares from behind. The blade struck him and he went down.

  Her relief was short lived as intense pain wreaked her body. The effort of throwing the sword, ripping the knife imbedded in her shoulder free, cutting away the tendons and muscle holding it together. Her arm was useless now. The pain excruciating. She held back another scream, watching as Ares’ men moved in on the would be flankers, taking them out. Lea dropped to the floor on her knees. Her breathing difficult. Her vision became hazy. She looked at her arm. It looked to be hanging off, blood everywhere. Her people surrounded her. Well shit, that wasn’t good ….

  ***

  Ares sat next to the med bed. They’d taken the field but the cost had been too fucking high as far as he was concerned. He’d heard Lea warning him and his men to the blind attack at their back, then saw the leader go down. They would have been caught with their pants down. His focus totally on getting to Emmilea at the front. He’d heard the commotion behind the hill coming his way and dismissed it. He’d not considered Emmilea involved. Or that they had anything to challenge a Cyborg. He had not considered how well his mate could wage war. He’d not given her her due. He should have known, she would never allow the attackers to get away from her or let them get an advantage. Danger was second nature to her.

  He blamed himself. She’d put herself at risk for him and his men. And, she’d nearly severed her arm in the process. A feeling of sickness overcame him. His logic told him it was irrational. He resented its presence. He wanted to feel his emotions. Understand them, but it often failed him. The reality that his logic had no place here not helping. A number of her people had also been injured. Not one of them complaining but relishing the battle. The med beds were in demand. Luckily none of her people had died. Ares shook his head in dismay. His medic came in and checked the bed. They all knew how lucky she’d been. If they hadn’t been able to rush her to the off-worlder and get her back quickly, she might not have made it. She’d lost so much blood. The fear of knowing that, paralysing him. He was in danger of shutting down. He’d failed his mate. The one person made for him and he’d not been there for her when she’d needed him.

  It was a sobering thought. In fact, she’d fought her way through the ambush without him. She would have been the victor, even if he’d never been there. Yes, with an injury. That was the reality. She didn’t need him. Sure it would have taken months to heal with their medicine or a couple of days with a med bed. But his intervention had made things worse in many ways. It had split her attention, from just the attackers to him and his men as well. She’d taken risks because of that. His intentions had been good but the outcome, very different.

  He was wallowing in his fears. Fears that when she woke, she would reject him. Blame him. Find him unworthy. Irrelevant to her being. His dread of what she might do filled him. His logic kicked in. Defensive rationale poured in. He felt the request on his net. Ares opened himself to it.

  She is doing well. Her recovery will take longer than the others. Ares gave a nod and the medic walked out. He wasn’t going anywhere. His life was right here and when she woke, he would be explaining things to her very clearly.

  Chapter Six

  The Admiral’s ship has landed sir. Ares acknowledged the information and stood. After he’d informed him of what had happened. He’d insisted on attending in person. His wife with him, along with Councilman Dark and his wife, the head of the Medical Centre. She had a speciality in abused females and he hoped she could aid some of the women here. As the medical director of the Space Station, she’d wanted to look at the information on the females on this world and if Emmi would allow it, look at her too. Emmi. He’d started to call her that since the ambush. Only he used it and only in private or to himself. Not that she knew that. It had been a difficult couple of months. Neither he or Emmi had found their stride following the ambush. His good intensions were dust on the floor.

  It had taken her nearly a couple of weeks before the med bed roused her, well enough to leave. On helping her up, the medic giving her the all clear, he’d lost it. All his anxiety, worry and fear, had flown to the surface and he’d raged at her. Telling her he couldn’t have it happen again. Couldn’t have his mate in danger. Couldn’t have her deliberately putting herself in any, danger. Fighting for her life all the time. Endangering herself to save him. Telling her that he, was the warrior. What had she been thinking, he’d ranted.

  Remembering, he couldn’t say her full name without it causing his systems to malefaction. He started calling her Emmi after that. She had sat there blinking at him until he’d finished. He’d known he should stop but he didn’t. He went on pouring out all his worry. Telling her what she could and could not do. When he'd finally shut up, knowing he’d over stepped it was too late. The silence in the room deafening. She didn’t say anything for several minutes and gradually, Ares realised he’d let his emotions get away from him and his logic to rule him. He had said things in the heat of that moment, that he couldn’t take back. Things, she wouldn’t be able to accept. His logic had warned him at the end he was going too far, being unreasonable and he’d ignored it.

  She’d sat there saying nothing, taking in the room. After several shaky breaths, she’d thanked him for his honesty
and the use of his med bed to fix her. Then told him he was right. She needed to focus on her people and their future. She’d then stood and walked out the room.

  And like an idiot, he’d just stood there watching her leave. He couldn’t blame her. He was an idiot. He should have held her and told her how much she meant to him. Told her how precious she was to him. How difficult it had been to see her injured and fighting for him and her people. How it had torn at him to sit and wait for her to recover. How much he and his men had honoured her actions. How much he needed to know she was well and still with him. But he hadn’t. He’d let his emotions get the better of him and he’d blown it.

  She didn’t come out and say she blamed him for the outburst. In fact, any time he’d seen her after it, she acted friendly, always finding time for him, ensuring that he was kept in the loop on things. She’d even voted in a seat on their Council for him or his nominated second but there was nothing more. Their relationship had stalled. He’d asked for time to talk and she’d granted it but they were never alone for long. She’d also made it clear that her house was out of bounds, unless invited or on business. Her responsibilities to her people came first. She had no wish to speak of other matters. In other words, him.

  He walked out of his command centre and headed for the meeting point. In the last couple of months since the ambush, they had scanned the whole planet, set up beacons warning ships of this being a Cyborg Empire world. Set up scanners tracing ships in their space. Cleared the two pirates strong holds they’d found further out and turned them into prisons. Emmi’s council had agreed their creation. They were so far out and on such inhospitable grounds, that it was unlikely they’d be used for anything else.