Imperator: A Scifi Alien Romance (Galactic Gladiators Book 11)

by Anna Hackett

  “Actually, she rescued me,” Galen said.

  “We rescued each other,” Sam said.

  Galen smiled. “Sam, this is Varus. Varus, Sam Santos.”

  “Hello.” She held out a hand and Varus shook it.

  “You have a good grip.” He studied her. “I can tell you’re a fighter. And if you’re half as tenacious as the other Earth women, you’re a good match for the best man I know.”

  Sam’s lips twitched. “Thank you.”

  Varus looked at Galen. “You’re letting her fight?”

  Galen smiled wryly. “You probably shouldn’t have said that.”

  “He doesn’t let me do anything,” Sam said. “Besides, this is my fight too.”

  “Sam was the Champion of Zaabha, Varus.”

  The big man’s eyes went wide. “Then not just a fighter, and even more tenacious than all those Earth women put together. Good luck to you both.”

  “We’ll take it,” Galen said.

  “I can lead you into the Forsaken Barrens,” Duna said, chin jutting.

  Galen shook his head. “We know where we’re going, but thank you.” He didn’t want the young girl anywhere near Zaabha.

  She looked like she was going to complain, but Varus gripped her slim shoulder and squeezed.

  It wasn’t long before they were riding out into the desert. Galen was at the lead, riding one of the six-legged tarnids. Sam rode beside him, and his gladiators were close behind. Rillian’s soldiers were flying in on his ship once Galen’s team arrived at Zaabha.

  Nearby, House of Rone and House of Zeringei gladiators, as well as Vek, were jogging in perfect rhythm. The tarnids didn’t particularly like the cyborgs, or the beast-like Zeringei and Vek riding them.

  Galen’s gaze was drawn back to Sam. She looked like a warrior queen, seated like she’d ridden a tarnid a hundred times before.

  She was going back to the place of her nightmares. Her prison. He so desperately wanted to protect her from it.

  Whatever happened, Galen would ensure her safety and survival.

  Raiden came up beside him on a tarnid with dark-green scales. His beast nudged Galen’s.

  “Are you ready to fight?” Galen asked.

  “Yes.” Raiden’s eyes flashed. “I’m more than ready.”

  “Raiden, whatever happens, you protect Sam.”

  His friend, the man who was his family, looked at him. “You know I will.”

  “Raiden—” Galen couldn’t find the words he wanted to say. This man was his closest friend, his family, his charge, his son.

  Raiden reached out and clasped Galen’s arm. “I know.”

  The hours passed, the suns beating down on them. Sweat trickled in a continuous slide down Galen’s back, but he ignored it.

  Suddenly, Sam called out. “Galen!”

  She pointed ahead, and he followed her gaze. In the distance, the imposing shape of Zaabha sat, unmoving, resting on the sand.

  Galen scowled. The hellhole crouched on the sand like some ugly, evil beast.

  Resolve filled him. The Thraxians had hurt too many people and destroyed too many lives. It wasn’t just the humans who’d had their lives shattered. There were far too many to count.

  Today, that ended.

  Chapter Thirteen

  It was eerie stepping back into the arena. Walking willingly back into her own personal hell and torture chamber.

  Sam looked around the place where she had fought to hold on to herself.

  It was empty. Silent. The stands were bare, and below, the cell doors stood open. Abandoned.

  “What the drak?” Thorin’s deep voice.

  “There’s no one here.” Raiden stood with his hands on his hips, frowning.

  Beside Sam, Galen turned in a slow circle, his face considering. “They’re here, somewhere.”

  “They lured us here for a reason,” Sam said.

  “We need to check the labs.” Galen nodded at Magnus.

  The cyborg moved toward a doorway heading down into the tunnels and his cyborgs followed, breaking into a jog.

  “They won’t find anything.” Sam’s heart was a steady beat in her ears.

  “We’ll find them.” Galen looked at her. “Where do you think they went?”

  She shook her head. She didn’t know.

  Galen lifted a small, metallic communicator. “Zhim? Are you picking us up?”

  Scratchy static came through. Then Zhim’s voice. “Connection…not good.”

  “I need you and Ryan to search the system. Zaabha is empty. The Thraxians must have a base or something nearby.”

  “Will…see what…”

  “Say again?”

  “Scientist…signal strong. Need to…”

  Suddenly, the ground started to vibrate. Galen cursed.

  “What the hell?” Harper called out, lifting both her swords. From just behind her, Vek growled.

  The gladiators all pulled in closer. Raiden moved in behind Harper. Saff and Blaine moved to stand back to back. Nero and Lore spread their feet, weapons raised. Everyone fought to keep their balance.

  Ahead, Sam watched as rectangular holes opened up in the arena floor, sand pouring through.

  “Run!” Galen barked.

  Sam sprinted forward, breaking away toward the stands. But as she watched, the stands in front of her started to tilt and topple over.

  Just a few meters away, Harper leaped over a hole. With a flap of his red cloak, Raiden jumped right behind her.

  Galen moved up beside Sam, grabbing her hand. A hole opened in front of them and together, they leaped over it.

  But instantly, another cavity opened up directly below Sam. Her foot hit open space.

  Shit. She yanked her hand from Galen’s. She tried to grab onto the edge of the hole, but her hand slipped on the sand. She tumbled into the blackness.

  “Sam!” Galen shouted.

  Below, all she could see was darkness.

  She heard shouts and the sound of others falling. Sand streamed past her.

  Before she knew it, she hit the ground, pain jarring through her body. Trying to catch her breath, she pressed her face to the rocky ground. Nearby, she heard other bodies smacking into the ground. She groaned, pushing up on her hands and knees.

  She looked up, and for a fleeting second, she thought she saw jagged, rock walls, with burning torches attached to them.

  Then she blinked and felt a burst of pain in her head.

  Everything went black, and when she opened her eyes, everything inside her went still.

  Beneath her were cool sheets and a soft bunk. She was in her bed on Fortuna Station. Confusion swept through her. She blinked again. It wasn’t right, she was… She was somewhere else just before, doing…something.

  Her head hurt and she reached up to rub her temple. She had the overwhelming sensation that she was forgetting something. Something important.

  “Captain Santos, you have five minutes until your duty shift starts,” the comp beside her bed intoned.

  With a curse, she slid out of bed, reaching for her clothes. Everything in her quarters was as it always was—fairly neat and tidy except for yesterday’s clothes tossed over a chair. She pulled on her uniform, fingering the Fortuna Station logo stitched on her chest, and wondered why it felt wrong.

  Feeling uneasy, she touched the door control and headed into the corridor. A large bank of long windows gave a fantastic view of Jupiter below.

  The click of boots. She turned and saw Blaine striding toward her. Her head throbbed painfully again.

  “Hey, Captain.” He fell into step beside her. “I wanted to go over tomorrow’s roster with you.”

  “Sure. Blaine, did anything unusual happen last night?”

  The big man frowned. “No. Everything was normal. Why?”

  She shook her head. “I keep feeling like I’m forgetting something.”

  “Only thing different is that I’ve had a headache from hell this morning,” he said.

  She paused,
discomfited. “Me too.”

  All of a sudden, there was a flash of light through the windows. Sam looked up and watched a small ship whizz past the station. Then another. And another.

  “Madre de Dios?” she whispered.

  Sirens began to wail, and the wall beside them started to glow a deep orange. She and Blaine both whipped up their laser weapons. A second later, the wall collapsed inward, and a being like something out of a nightmare stepped through.

  Alien. A demon-like alien that was huge, with cracked, dark skin and orange veins glowing beneath, a set of horns, and glowing eyes.

  Suddenly, Sam heard screams echoing through the station. Blaine started shouting.

  Sam just stared, horror and fear flooding her.

  Thraxians.

  Thraxians? Why did she know that name?

  She saw Blaine stride forward, firing his weapon and engaging the aliens.

  The aliens laughed—a deep, horrifying sound.

  Zaabha.

  Carthago.

  House of Galen.

  Galen.

  Sam felt another burst of pain and squeezed her eyes shut. She tried to hold onto that thought.

  “Sam, help me fight!” Blaine yelled.

  Galen. Rugged face and eye patch. Black cloak and muscled body. Her Galen.

  More pain, like her head was going to explode. When Sam opened her eyes again, Fortuna Station was gone.

  Her chest hitched. She was in some huge, cavernous space carved from rock. Ahead lay the entrance to what looked like a maze, with twisting, open tunnels spread as far as she could see. The only light came from the burning torches attached to the walls.

  All around her, Galen’s gladiators were on their knees, staring sightlessly ahead.

  She scrambled onto her feet. Fuck. It was some sort of mind-interfering tech. Harper was kneeling closest to Sam, and Sam quickly ran over to the woman.

  “Harper.” She gripped the woman’s shoulder and shook her. “Harper! Snap out of it.”

  Harper blinked and sucked in a breath. “Sam?”

  “You okay?”

  “We were on Fortuna?” She looked around, confused. “Aliens were attacking.”

  “We’re on Carthago, Harper. Do you remember?”

  The woman blinked again. “Carthago.” Then a fierce look crossed her face. “Raiden.” She leaped up. “Where’s Raiden?”

  “Over there.” Sam pointed. “Go wake him up.”

  Kace was next closest to Sam, and she quickly shook him free. His face was covered in sweat, but he nodded at her. They were all being forced to relive nightmares.

  She looked around desperately, and spotted Galen. She sprinted to him. He was on his knees, his muscles tensed and veins popping out of his neck.

  “Galen.” She cupped his cheeks. “Galen.”

  “Have to save Raiden.” His voice was harsh. “Have to save the royal family and Aurelia.”

  “Galen, it’s Sam. We’re on Carthago. Come back to me.”

  His hands clamped down on her arms and he yanked her closer. Suddenly, she was somehow in his memories.

  She felt sunshine on her skin and stone pavers beneath her knees. She looked over her shoulder and gasped.

  In front of them, she saw Thraxians fighting with armed guards in rich red uniforms. Galen stared at the fight, face hard. It was a younger Galen, with a handsome face and two glittering-blue eyes. He wasn’t in uniform.

  “I was hiking in the hills,” he whispered. “It was my day off. I left Raiden alone. While I was strolling through the trees, my world was being torn apart.”

  Her heart clenched. Then Galen raised a sword and leaped into the fight.

  Nearby, a very young Raiden was battling with another Thraxian. The ground shook, and Sam looked up. They were outside a beautiful palace, like something out of a fantasy story. But as she watched, a tower toppled, crashing to the ground and breaking into chunks of rock.

  Then Raiden stumbled. “Galen!”

  The young prince’s bodyguard charged toward his young prince, his tattoos flaring blue-green. Sam’s gut churned. She knew there was no happy ending for this scenario.

  “Your family is dead, boy,” the Thraxian yelled at Raiden. “And you’re next.”

  “No!” Enraged, Raiden rushed at the alien.

  Galen charged at them. “Raiden, stand down. Get to safety!”

  The Thraxian lifted a huge, clawed hand and sideswiped the younger man, sending him flying. Raiden collapsed in a pile and didn’t get up.

  “No.” Galen skewered the Thraxian with his sword. The Thraxian fought back, swiping at Galen. His claws slashed up Galen’s shirt, opening up several deep wounds on Galen’s chest.

  Pain made Galen’s face spasm. He fell back, and the Thraxian fell on top of him.

  The Thraxian pushed to his knees, yanking Galen’s sword out and throwing it away. Gold blood oozed from his gut wound. Then he roared and gripped Galen’s head, his claws hovering right over Galen’s left eye.

  “You are a failure,” the Thraxian said. “I’ll make you watch while I gut your young prince.”

  Emotion poured through Sam as she watched and felt everything Galen was feeling—pain, despair, helplessness.

  Galen twisted and jerked, but the Thraxian was heavier and stronger. He had Galen pinned.

  The Thraxian kept talking and behind them, another palace tower toppled over.

  Then Sam saw the knife in Galen’s hand. He was desperately trying to stab it up into the Thraxian, but the Thraxian’s arm was long, putting him just out of reach. Galen only needed another inch, and he could sink the knife into his attacker.

  Suddenly, Galen went still. Then, before she realized what he planned, his tattoos flared and he reached up with his other hand. He yanked the Thraxian closer.

  The Thraxian’s claws sank into Galen’s eye.

  He didn’t scream or flinch. Instead, he rammed the knife deep into the Thraxian’s chest.

  Oh, sweet Lord. “Galen,” she said in a broken cry.

  Then jarringly, she blinked, and the images dissolved. Sunlight gave way to flickering shadows. The paved courtyard gave way to an underground cavern.

  Galen was on his knees, staring at Sam, the same deep groove in his brow, and agony in his eye. She leaned forward and kissed him.

  He blinked.

  “Sam?”

  “I’m here.”

  He blinked again and one strong arm snaked around her. He pulled her close. “Sam.”

  “We’re okay, but we have Thraxians to beat.”

  His face turned to stone. “Thraxians.”

  She nodded. “It’s time to save the day again, boss-man.”

  Galen focused on Sam’s eyes, shaking off the past. His gut was churning.

  The feel of her warm fingers on his skin helped him pull himself together. He glanced around and saw Harper, Raiden, Kace, and Lore working to wake the others.

  His gladiators were all caught in the grip of some strange tech. Galen scowled. He’d seen this before, being tested by insane tech genius Catalyst, and Carthagoan scum, Gabriez. It looked like the Thraxians had made it even stronger.

  “Get the rest of them free,” he said.

  Sam touched his jaw. “You sure you’re okay?”

  He nodded. “I’m fine now.” He pressed his hand over hers. “Help them.”

  With a nod, she raced off, headed toward Saff.

  Slowly, Galen pushed to his feet. Everything hurt. Sam had seen his worst failure. He blew out a breath. She’d seen what had left the scars on his soul.

  Shaking it off, he moved to Nero, gripping the man’s shoulder. “Wake up, gladiator.”

  Nero blinked at him, his face set like thunder. “Galen.”

  “Yes. On your feet, Nero.”

  Once Nero was up, they moved through the rest of his team, waking them from the tech. Soon, they all stood, white-faced and shaky.

  “Drakking Thraxians,” Thorin snapped. “I’m going to kill them all.”<
br />
  A deep howl echoed around them. They all spun.

  “Now what?” Saff yanked a net device off her belt, ready to throw it.

  Several beasts slunk out of a dark tunnel, drool dripping from their fang-filled mouths, and their gazes locked on the gladiators.

  “This way,” Kace yelled.

  They all sprinted toward the wide entrance to the maze. It was the only place to go.

  “We could take them,” Nero yelled.

  “There will be more,” Galen said.

  They headed into the maze tunnels.

  “We need a way out,” Sam said.

  They sprinted through the twisting tunnels. The walls were carved rock, with several dead ends. Suddenly, a wild screech echoed through the tunnels.

  They all stumbled to a halt. Galen heard the pounding of hooves on dirt. More creatures were coming.

  “This way,” Harper called.

  She’d found a small trap door in a side wall. Dropping to her hands and knees, she crawled through it, Raiden right behind her.

  They all squeezed through, and came out in another wide, maze tunnel.

  As one, they jogged through the twists and turns. But it wasn’t long before they were met with a shouting crowd of Zaabha fighters. Swords clashed. Galen rushed forward, slamming his blade against a fighter’s sword. Beside him, Thorin swung his axe, and Kace’s staff moved in a blur. His gladiators fought hard, and nearby, he saw Sam leap into the air, taking down a fighter.

  “Down here,” Raiden yelled.

  There was an empty tunnel leading away and they followed Raiden, leaving the Zaabha fighters groaning on the rocky ground.

  As they turned a corner, Galen’s instincts were screaming at him.

  “We’re being herded,” he said.

  Sam’s face tightened. “You’re right. Beasts and fighters popping up and driving us in a certain direction.”

  Moments later, they broke into a circular space with a sand-covered floor. They all stumbled to a halt.

  It looked like an arena, except for a circular hole in the very center of the floor. Vek growled.

  “What the drak?” Blaine stepped forward. “This reminds me of the underground fight rings.”

  “What’s with the hole?” Raiden asked.

  Blaine looked up, his face dark. “Usually something lived in it, and the Srinar liked to feed it losing fighters.”