by Reagan Woods
Inside the camp, the uninterrupted glowing blue film of electricity continued to have a calming effect on the Earthers, Warriors and administrators. Without the tempting door to freedom, the mayhem slowly subsided.
The Doranos civilians who had confined so many Earthers to the barracks immediately released them and sent those in need of attention to the infirmary. Dorit, the camp’s administrator, claimed his males were doing their jobs. Calyx figured the Doranos was in for a rude awakening when Skylan got around to questioning him about the unauthorized weapons. Rumor had it Skylan possessed a particularly terrifying talent for extracting answers.
Those Earthers who had been rioting to escape had immediately ceased their efforts upon seeing the energy barrier made whole. The weary Warriors under Miknel’s command had been happy to deescalate the situation, but their unit had sustained heavy injuries as they’d been charged with keeping the peace while being attacked from all sides. Many were getting much-needed treatment.
All those things were positive in the moment, but Calyx knew there would be a reckoning and he wasn’t looking forward to it. What might seem to the rest of the universe like an opportunistic raid on a backwater planet was so much more. For better or worse, whatever happened next would re-frame the innerworkings of the CORANOS Galactic Alliance.
Overall, his mood was tense when he reported to Skylan back at the sabotaged section of the western energy barrier. Under the faint glow of the dome, Skylan’s striped face was set in an impassive mask as he listened intently to whatever Domik was saying. The hulking Warrior gestured earnestly as Silex looked on with a thoughtful expression. The discussion came to an abrupt halt as Calyx approached. Domik and Silex stepped aside to make room in their small circle.
“We’re reconstructing a time line of today’s events,” Skylan skipped the greeting in favor of business. “How did you know resetting the energy field would restore communications?”
“I didn’t,” Calyx answered candidly. “I hoped resetting the energy field would close the hole in the field. I set this barrier up when I was on the collection team, so I knew where the generator for the energy field was buried,” he explained.
“Whatever you did worked,” Skylan’s tone turned cool. “That’s handy for a Warrior looking to increase his status and Claim a female.”
Calyx poked a finger beneath his riot helmet to scratch his itchy scalp. Surely Skylan didn’t suspect him of sabotaging the energy field and putting his brother Warriors at risk for personal gain? Sky had always been paranoid, but this was a stretch even for him.
Silex shot Skylan a sideways look before clearing his throat. “Was there anything odd about the generator?”
“Yes.” Calyx fumbled in his pocket. “This black crystal was jammed in with the clear ones in the generator.”
Domik leaned closer and examined the crystal. “It looks like orsithium,” he rumbled. “Lab grown orsithium can be used as a signal jammer when powered appropriately.”
Calyx tilted his head to the side. That was news to him. “How do you even know that?”
“I listen and learn.” The big male said dismissively. “Bram could probably tell you more, but well…”
“He’s dead,” Skylan finished darkly, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Exactly.” Domik didn’t appear phased by Skylan’s mood.
Silex redirected the conversation, “To be clear: the orsithium wasn’t in the generator when you set up the field?”
“I did a visual inspection on each crystal per protocol,” Calyx replied. Given the situation, he couldn’t even be offended by the question. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.” He placed the crystal in Skylan’s outstretched hand and was glad to be rid of the thing.
“So, to sum things up: we have no idea how the emergency lockdown was triggered at the eastern perimeter.” Sky ticked the points off on his fingers. “We don’t know how the hole in the energy field was opened – and I think we can all agree that was a perfectly shaped door.” Everyone murmured agreement when he paused. “And we have no leads on how this crystal got into the field generator. The General is going to be thrilled.”
“It’s obvious whoever was behind this was very organized,” Domik put in thoughtfully tapping his lower lip with a finger. “But what did they really gain? We torched one of their marauders before we realized firing on them would likely endanger the abducted females. They launched roughly ten ships capable of holding five people, maximum – and that’s assuming four of those people are Earth females. Five wouldn’t fit if more than one Doranos or Corian were inside.”
That was the longest Calyx had ever heard Domik speak, and his point was valid. Had this chaotic raid been a cover for something else, or had the Warriors foiled the plot?
“Have they found any evidence of other marauders out there?” Silex waved an arm westerly.
As a group, they turned to peer through the energy field. The cleanup crew scurried around the skeleton of the charred marauder while search lights bobbed here and there in the darkness.
“Nothing so far,” Skylan told them. “And our ships in space never saw them to intercept the ones that launched. They’ve vanished without a trace.”
“How is that possible?” Calyx asked. Marauders weren’t like regular shuttles. They were sub-orbital. That meant they could achieve escape velocity but needed to quickly dock with a larger ship or return planet-side. Sustained space flight wasn’t possible for a Marauder.
Domik frowned, eyes shooting heavenward. “It’s not.”
“They are the General’s worry now. We have other issues,” Skylan’s cold eyes rested on Calyx. “The Earthers must be fed and seen by the medics, the livestock from this sector needs to be found, and we need to identify exactly which Earthers and CORANOS are missing.”
No one wanted to be the one who mentioned only Doranos males were seen fighting against Earthers, Corians and some of their own people. It could be they missed some of their own committing acts of treason, so everyone wisely kept quiet as they assessed the situation.
“I can have Keble see if Tara is up for working in the kitchen,” Calyx volunteered, seeing it as a win-win. He would find the opportunity to look in on her and she would get to do what she loved after this upsetting day.
Silex and Skylan shared and indecipherable look. “Silex, take half the Warriors who held the perimeter under Domik and search for the cattle. Domik, take the rest of your males and start a census. Coordinate with the medical teams and the Doranos.”
Domik had lost the sunshades he habitually wore to keep from alarming the Earthers. His eyes appeared to swirl a mirrored black and silver as he watched Skylan for a beat.
Sky sighed. “Trust…but verify. Double check every bit of information that comes your way.”
Both Warriors moved quickly to fulfil their duties leaving Calyx alone with Skylan. For a moment, Calyx wondered if Skylan regretted placing him in charge of so many Warriors, but he was prepared to argue against any demotion. Respectfully, of course.
“We need to talk about Tara.” Skylan couldn’t have uttered a more unexpected phrase.
“Er – what?” Calyx’s heart stuttered in his chest.
“She was the first victim of the raid,” Skylan stated matter-of-factly. “Luckily, she knew to fight back. Tara is the reason we discovered the eastern perimeter alarm was a feint so quickly today.”
“But…no.” Calyx shook his head, nausea rolling through his gut. Hands braced on his knees, he stared hard at the dusty earth beneath his boots. “Keble said she was safe.”
Skylan’s hand squeezed his shoulder. “Physically, we think she is fine.”
Straightening, Calyx fought to control the reactionary anger coursing through his blood. “You think she is alright?” He growled, forgetting himself as he snarled challengingly at his commander.
Sky’s eyes narrowed in warning, but he didn’t push Calyx back. “I believe Tara has a phobia related to medics.”
Calyx dropped his balled fists to his sides and stepped back, appalled that he didn’t even recall moving into Skylan’s space. “I apologize. That was out of line.”
The need to see Tara, to assure himself of her safety, roared to the forefront, but he needed to get hold of himself first. She didn’t need to deal with an angry Warrior, she needed a reassuring friend.
“I’ll give your behavior a pass this once.” The cold control in Skylan’s voice made the rumor of his extracurricular work as the High Council’s assassin completely believable. “You will talk with her and make sure she is mentally competent. I will send someone to clean up the kitchen before she arrives.”
Skylan arched a brow. “She’s in your personal quarters. I felt she would be safest there… under the circumstances.”
Real fear layered on top of Calyx’s anger. “What circumstances?”
“Shirok went for her again and she nearly killed him. He’s in a regen bed now.”
That honorless scum. Apparently, yesterday’s warning hadn’t found its mark. “I should kill him,” he growled.
“There will be no killing, Warrior,” Skylan barked. “That’s a direct order. Leave the Doranos to the General.”
It went against every instinct he had, but Calyx grinded a less-than-heartfelt, “Yes, sir.”
Satisfied, Skylan nodded. “Alright, I can spare you for an hour. After that, you will have Tara in the kitchen ready to work. I will have your Warriors take over security for Micknel’s team. You will assume responsibility for scheduling camp security upon your return to duty.”
“Yes, sir,” Calyx responded, overwhelmed at the promotion. This was an unexpected boon, a cosmic hand up, in his quest for Warrior greatness.
“Go,” Skylan made a shooing motion. “Be ready to work in one hour. You won’t come off shift again until we’ve sorted this out.”
Chapter 23
Tara dropped to the sleep surface in the tiny room where Keble had deposited her. No matter how she strained her ears, going so far as to press the side of her head to the sliding door, she couldn’t hear anything from the corridor. She had no idea how long she’d been here, pacing the cramped floor and listening at the door. In fact, she wasn’t one hundred percent sure exactly where ‘here’ was.
This definitely wasn’t the prison cell she had expected, but then, any prison might well have been reduced to rubble if the injured people she’d glimpsed running around the camp were any indication. Keble had refused to give her any information on what had happened while she engaged in her stand-off with the medics.
The close-mouthed jerk dragged her to the alien barracks and shoved her into the tiny room with the admonition to stay out of trouble and that someone would come for her. He didn’t specify a time or who that someone might be, but now that she was calming down a bit, she recognized Calyx’s familiar musky scent.
Was she finally seeing his personal space? The idea was enough to distract her from fretting about the state of things.
Curiosity – and a desire to get out of her own head for a moment – had her scanning the cramped room with interest instead of fear. It was the same size as her own quarters in the Earther barracks. The place seemed so much smaller because the sleep surface was that much bigger than her own meagre mattress.
Unable to help herself, she buried her nose in the slick, patterned cover and inhaled deeply. Images of the way he looked the night before, passion glazing his silvery eyes as he stared down at her, had heat washing over her. She could imagine him here with her, his striped body flexing over hers, their skin slick with sweat.
Tara shook her head to dislodge the carnal images from her mind. Her brain went on a one-way trip to hornyville whenever she thought too much about Calyx. That had to stop. It might seem a harmless fantasy, but she couldn’t imagine getting close to him only to have him push her away again. That would break her heart - not to mention end their friendship.
She was clinging to the hope they were still friends because she really needed one. Something told her Marta hadn’t been rescued, and Francesca had been determined to find a way out of the camp. Tara desperately hoped both women were safe after the swarms of limping, bleeding people she’d seen out there.
With herculean effort, she pulled her thoughts together and resumed her inventory of Calyx’s quarters. The dingy, earth-toned walls and ceiling were made of the same smooth panels the rest of the camp was built with. It was some sort of modular construction kit, if she recalled correctly. The floors were the same material but had a bumpy texture over the top.
In one corner, there was a tri-legged stool like the one in her room but, again, it was made of the slick, plastic-like material rather than wood. Calyx had piled his dirty uniform atop the stool instead of sticking it in the laundry refresher, and a spare pair of boots stood haphazardly discarded nearby.
There were no other personal articles readily visible. Though, he might not actually have anything personal left since his permanent quarters had been destroyed with the Horizon. The thought made her a little sad for him. He was on Earth, a mind-boggling distance from his home, without a single item of comfort to his name.
Maybe the horror of the day was getting to her, but it seemed she was destined to be either depressed or turned on. Rather than stew about things she couldn’t control, she decided to do the sensible thing and take a nap. Everything would be better after a nap, and if it wasn’t, at least she’d be rested.
Tara toed off her shoes and blood-smeared pants and snuggled into Calyx’s satiny blanket with a sigh. Within moments, she dropped into a dreamless sleep.
“Tara, wake up.” Calyx was so close she could feel his breath stir the loose tendrils of hair above her ear.
“Wha-?” Blurrily, Tara pulled away from the warmth wrapped around her body – which was quite an effort since she’d apparently fallen asleep next to an octopus.
“Let go!” Sitting up, she turned to glare down at Calyx’s handsome face. His intent gaze went to her exposed hip and she snatched the quilt to her chest. So, taking her pants off before she went to sleep in a strange place wasn’t her brightest idea, but she couldn’t sleep in Shirok’s blood. “Were you holding me while I slept?” She accused shrilly. Part of her liked the idea, liked it far too much. On the other hand, he needed to keep his distance if he expected her to control her urges.
Calyx grinned unrepentantly up at her and turned on to his back, showing off his impressive and – what the hell? – bare chest as he stretched. “Yes. Did you know you mew in your sleep?”
Her eyes lovingly – okay, lustingly traced every striped inch of his ripped body. Perfect pecs descended to two rows of ab muscles aligned more perfectly than sweet rolls in a pan. All that smooth skin made her mouth water, especially the muscular thigh carelessly winging out from the strategically-placed swath of blanket.
Her first thought was, Oh, shit! Calyx is naked. Then, she found herself cursing the blanket. Wait, what was that awful noise he was making?
“Is that supposed to be me?” Tara snapped, embarrassed, appalled and confused at the same time. “I don’t sound like that!”
“You do,” he insisted, pillowing his hands under his head in a cocky male pose clearly designed to short-circuit her remaining synapses. “It’s cute.”
Running a hand over her face, she decided to chalk current circumstances up to weird alien behavior and start again. “What’s going on? What are you doing here?”
“Commander Skylan knows we’re…friends and gave me an hour to talk with you and see if you were up for preparing a late dinner for everyone?” He phrased it like a question. “That was forty-five minutes ago,” he added unhelpfully.
“Are you sure you’re not here to take me to jail?” She asked skeptically, valiantly ignoring the fact that they were both bare from the waist down beneath the thin cover.
“Why would I do that?” His brows drew together in a puzzled frown as he scratched his fingers through his short hair. “You’r
e probably going to be able to do anything you want for the next few days. Er – within reason.”
“I’m not, like, under arrest for attempted murder?” It felt like the sun was rising in her chest, so strong was her hope. She’d been desperately trying not to think about the repercussions of fighting off Shirok’s attempt to hurt her - his second attempt to do her real harm.
Calyx snorted dismissively and sat up, snagging his pants from the foot of the bed. Tara hurriedly averted her gaze but not before she got an eyeful of taut backside.
“You’re probably up for an award. From what I heard, you were one of the first people targeted for abduction. You kept your head, fought off your attacker and sounded the alarm. Without your bravery, today’s losses might have been much heavier.”
“That’s not what Kebler said,” Tara responded petulantly. The idea that the aliens were just going to pat her on the back and say ‘well done’ seemed a bit too good to be true.
“Piffftt,” he sputtered, tossing her pants to her as if it were the most normal thing in the world. “His name is Keble. Keb-leee,” he sounded it out as she slid the pants beneath the blanket to preserve modesty. “And he was wrong.”
Her mind seized on another important fact and she paused mid-shimmy. “Abduction? Like, take-from-the-kitchen abduction or take-from-the-camp abduction?”
“Try, ‘take from the planet,’” Calyx answered, the smile melting off his face to be replaced with a thunderous scowl. “We haven’t been able to trace any of the missing people. Hell, we don’t even know who all is missing.”
“I saw a Doranos grab Marta,” Tara answered, slowly resuming her efforts to dress. “That’s why I wouldn’t let anyone in the kitchen to help Shirok. I was holding him hostage until they brought her back.” She felt ill at the thought of Marta and Franny being hauled to some foreign planet as slaves or worse. Why hadn’t she done more or acted faster?
Calyx’s warm hand closed over hers and he pulled her to her feet, completely at ease with his shirtless, barefoot state. “No one blames you for what happened today,” he growled huskily, using the hand he’d yet to release to draw her closer.
