Rescue Her Heart

by K C Luck

  “No,” Catherine said. “I won’t leave Nat.” Sal froze for a moment and Catherine could almost feel the hurt run through the other woman’s body. Then she thrust Catherine from her so hard, it sent her sprawling onto the couch. Sal strode to the door to the lounge.

  “Droid! Where the hell is that bottle?” she yelled. To Catherine’s relief, Frederick appeared in an instant.

  “Sorry, so sorry,” he said and held out a tray with a bottle and two glasses on it. Sal grabbed them and then motioned for him to go.

  “Get out,” she said and once Frederick hurriedly departed, Sal opened the bottle and splashed the amber liquid into a glass. When it was over half full, she picked it up and shot the whole contents before pouring herself another as well as one for Catherine.

  “Damn you to hell, Catherine Porter,” she whispered and then looked up to meet Catherine’s eyes. As if just realizing she was still in the room, Sal laughed a little. “Why did you have to come along? Or even worse, why did your Space Ranger girlfriend let you get captured by pirates?” Catherine froze at the words. Sal knew the truth and it made her heart stop to think of what Sal might have done to Nat. Seeing her look, Sal smirked. “Oh yeah, I knew it from the first minute I laid eyes on her. Trust me, I know the look.”

  “What have you done with her?” Catherine asked. “Where is she?” Sal shot the second glass of liquid before answering.

  “In with the others,” she said. “For safekeeping. Probably fetch a good price at the slave auction tonight.” Catherine felt sick to her stomach.

  “So you know I’m not a senator’s daughter then?” she asked. Sal shrugged.

  “Didn’t take much detective work. Especially since the guy doesn’t have a daughter and this spaceship is registered to some doctor,” she said. “You’re lucky Gruden is such an idiot he didn’t figure it out.” Catherine closed her eyes. A feeling of helplessness washed over her. Sal knew the truth and now had all the power. A word to Rog about the lies Catherine and Nat had been telling and there was no doubt he would kill them. I have to find a way to make her keep our secret, Catherine thought and shuddered at the realization there was probably only one way to make it happen.

  "What do you want?" Catherine asked. At first, there was no response, but then she felt Sal drop onto the couch beside her. She winced, not knowing what may be coming next.

  “Relax, Catherine,” Sal said. “It’s not going to be like that.” Catherine slowly opened her eyes and saw the pirate was looking at her. “And as for what I want, well, the list is so long, I don’t even know where to begin.” Sal sighed and took another drink. “So, where did you meet your Space Ranger anyway? Some grand rescue?” Not sure what to make of the change in Sal, Catherine slowly nodded her head.

  “I was flying to Untas and I crashed. She saved me,” she answered. Sal snorted a laugh.

  “Of course she did,” Sal said. “Which is why you are now so madly in love with her. The hero always gets the girl.” She took another drink. “And we all know what happens to the villain.” Catherine was suddenly not sure what to do. Sal was obviously slowly getting drunk and rambling, which meant she might have a chance to escape. If only I can get her weapons away from her, Catherine thought. Then I could try and get to the cockpit and send a distress call out. She shifted in her seat as she considered the best strategy to reach for Sal’s knife and glanced to see what Sal was doing. Catherine froze when she realized the pirate was staring at her.

  “What is in that pretty head of yours?” Sal asked. “Thinking of making a break for it?” Catherine blushed. It was exactly what she was thinking. Sal sighed sounding disappointed. “Catherine, where would you go? Even if you disarmed me, would you run straight back to your Space Ranger and try to get her out of the stock pen?” Catherine lifted her chin.

  “That is exactly what I would do,” she answered. “I’ll do whatever it takes to save her.” Sal shook her head and set down the drink.

  “And then you’d both be caught and locked up until the auction. I can’t protect you if you go that route,” she said. “Is she really worth it?” Catherine considered what Sal was asking her. She thought of everything the woman said and knew it was true. Catherine was madly in love with her Space Ranger and even if it meant risking everything to be back with her, then she would do it.

  “Take me back to her,” Catherine said. Sal shook her head and drank the last of the liquid in her glass before setting it down. She looked at Catherine and her eyes were filled with sadness. And regret? Catherine thought trying to read the mixture of emotions in the woman’s eyes.

  “Things are not like you think,” Sal said as she stood up. “I hope you will remember that.” Catherine nodded although she was not sure what the pirate was telling her. Wanting to understand, Catherine stood up too and started to ask when there was a tap at the door. Sal whirled around at the sound.

  “What?” she asked and Frederick slid open the door. He looked nervous.

  “Excuse my interruption,” he stammered. “But are you Sal?” Catherine saw Sal frown. “The reason I ask is they appear to be looking for you,” Frederick continued in a rush. “It’s coming over the comm link.” Sal puffed out a frustrated breath.

  “Oh for crying out loud,” Sal said as she pushed past Frederick and went to the cockpit. Catherine rushed to the door to stand beside Frederick.

  “What’s happening?” Catherine asked him. Frederick shrugged his metal shoulders.

  “This is Sal. What the hell is the problem?” Catherine heard Sal bark into the comm link.

  “Where the hell are you?” Catherine heard Gruden fire back. “You need to quit banging your new girlfriend and get back to business. The chick’s bodyguard has escaped.” Catherine felt her heart leap. Nat’s free, she thought with excitement and relief. Suddenly, Sal slammed her fist into the console so hard it made Catherine jump.

  “That meddling bitch,” she growled to herself. “I knew she was going to screw everything up.” She pressed the comm link again to talk to Gruden. “I’m on my way. And if you catch her before I get there, wait for me,” she said and stormed out of the cockpit only to stop in front of Catherine. “Stay on the ship. I mean it,” Sal said. “And don’t try sending any long-range messages. Rog has it blocked somehow. Understand me?” Catherine nodded and grabbed Sal’s sleeve.

  “If they catch her, please don’t let them kill her,” Catherine begged and Sal paused. Their eyes met and again Catherine saw a flicker of regret.

  “No promises,” Sal said and turned to stride off of the spaceship.

  CHAPTER 25

  NAT

  Nat stayed hidden among the dense foliage at the edge of the jungle which surrounded the village and watched the door of the large domed structure where she hoped Catherine was inside. People came and went, but none were Catherine or even the pirate Sal. Shifting uncomfortably to relieve the pressure on the cuffs which still bound her wrists, she contemplated trying to sneak closer to the building and see if there was a way to peek inside. It would mean leaving cover, but the day was slipping away. If only I knew for sure where Catherine was, she thought and tried not to think about the possibility Catherine was actually alone somewhere with Sal instead of inside at the celebration. Whenever her mind drifted there, she felt rage start to build up in her and she knew letting her anger takeover would be a mistake. I need to keep a clear head if I’m going to be any help to her and hiding here is not doing any good either. Making up her mind to act rather than wait any longer, Nat stood up into a crouch and after waiting to make sure the coast was clear, she sprinted for the building. As she made her way through the dangerous open ground between the jungle and the wall of the shelter, she suddenly heard shouting. Looking around to see where it was coming from, Nat realized she was discovered. A pirate who Nat guessed was actually searching the perimeter for her started running in her direction. He had his plasma gun drawn and was yelling for her to stop.

  Not hesitating, Nat took off in the other
direction and hoped she could circle the building and get back to the jungle before the pirate had a good shot. She was almost in the clear when a second pirate appeared and blocked her path. Veering away, Nat was forced to run into the village, but her gait was slowed by the fact her wrists were locked together. Scanning as she went, she looked for a place to hide and raced toward some of the smaller domes. As she sprinted as best she could for cover, a shot rang out and she ducked as a plasma blast went over her head. It was a near miss and Nat realized if she did not find a way out of the village and back to the jungle soon, she was going to die. And then what will happen to Catherine? she worried. The thought gave her motivation to run faster. If she could just get past the next row of buildings, she was sure she could get away. Another shot fired and this time she zigzagged. The blast missed, but only by a hair. Go, go, go! She rounded the last of the structures with relief and saw the edge of the thick, green bushes not far in front of her. She knew she was going to make it and then a figure stepped out into her path. It was the last person Nat wanted to see and she slid to a stop. The new pirate was Sal and she had her gun pointed right at Nat’s chest.

  “You are a real pain in my ass,” Sal growled and Nat saw her pull the trigger. She was too close to miss and as the energy of the blast hit her, Nat fell. Catherine! her mind screamed as pain racked her body. I’m so sorry. Nat hit the ground with a thud and could not move. Everything hurt, both through her body and in her heart. She waited to die and then realized Sal’s gun had to have only been on stun. Things had not blacked out and she was still breathing shallowly. Thinking the pirate had made a mistake, Nat stayed still and did not open her eyes, hoping against hope the woman thought she was dead. Nat felt Sal step over to her and then she was whispering in her ear. “Whatever happens, don’t move,” she said. Confused as hell, but doing what she was told, Nat stayed frozen. She heard the sound of pounding feet and guessed it was the two other pirates who were chasing her. They stopped when they saw Nat dead with Sal over her.

  “Well there you go,” one of the pirates said. “Should have known you’d get the job done, Sal.”

  “Considering she almost got away, somebody had to do it,” Sal snapped back. “You realize how pissed Rog would have been?” The two pirates shuffled their feet and did not comment. “Go get a damn cart so we can take this bitch to the pit,” Sal instructed.

  “You sure you don’t want us to just drag her?” the other pirate asked. Nat heard Sal snort a laugh.

  “What? Through the middle of the village where everyone is celebrating? And look like idiots because we let a stupid captive get away?” she answered. “Just go get the cart and we can sneak her around.”

  “You’re the boss,” the first pirate said and Nat heard them jog off. After a moment, Sal was kneeling down beside her. With a click, Nat felt the cuffs on her wrists release.

  “Get up, Ranger,” Sal hissed. “We don’t have much time.” Nat rolled over and looked at Sal. She had no idea why her enemy was helping her, especially if she knew Nat was a Space Ranger, but all she wanted was to make sure Catherine was safe.

  “Where is she?” Nat asked. Sal smirked.

  “I almost killed you and the first thing you ask about is Catherine?” she said and shook her head. “Well, your fair maiden is on the Avalon Mercury waiting for you. I suggest you follow the edge of the jungle back around to where all of the captured ships are sitting and get the hell off this planet.” Sal put her plasma gun back in her holster and then tilted her head at Nat. “I’m assuming you can fly well enough to get away before they scramble some fighters to come after you?” Nat nodded.

  “Damn straight,” she answered and tried to get up. Her muscles still twitched from the stun blast and Sal actually held out a hand to pull her to her feet. It was so out of character along with the other things she had done, Nat had to know what had changed.

  “Why are you doing this?” Nat asked as she shook out her arms and legs to get them working again. Sal looked Nat hard in the eye and Nat could tell she was considering how to answer. Finally, she chuckled wryly.

  "One riot, one Ranger, all planets, all danger," she said. Nat's mouth dropped open with surprise. It was the time-honored Space Ranger motto and emblazoned on every Ranger's patch. Is she saying what I think she is? No, it can’t be true, Nat thought almost in shock. Sal, the pirate, was actually one of them. Sal was a Space Ranger.

  "But," Nat said and then closed her mouth as her mind started putting pieces together. Sal had spent four years with the pirates on their space galleon raiding the galaxies. Four years waiting for them to finally dock back at their hidden base. "You've been deep undercover all this time?" Nat whispered. Sal let out a long breath and nodded.

  "And now you're about to screw it all up," Sal said. "So, if you don't mind, get the hell off my planet."

  Nat shook her head. "I won't leave a fellow Ranger behind," she said. "Come with us."

  Sal laughed. “I’m hardly still a Ranger after all I’ve done and you know it,” she said. “I’ve had to kill in order to make Rog believe in me.” Nat saw a look of sadness sweep over the woman’s face and then Sal shook it away. “Including fellow Rangers. And if things were different, I would have killed you too if it meant keeping my cover.” Nat stiffened at the information. It was hard to hear but stopping the horror of the pirates and the rape and pillage of the galaxies was a priority objective, regardless of the costs. I would have done the same if it was me, Nat thought. She knew it in her heart.

  “Like you said before, Sal,” Nat said. “You do what you must to survive. There’s still honor in you regardless what you’ve done.” Sal chuckled.

  "Dear God, you and Catherine are definitely made for each other," she said. "Both good through and through." Sal turned to leave. "Go be with her and stop wasting my time." Although Nat's heart beat faster as she thought of Catherine, she clenched her jaw at the dismissal. No doubt seeing her mixed expression, Sal waved her off. "Besides, I can't leave now. I'm not finished," she said. "Until I can take out those cloaking towers, none of my sacrifices are worth it. I sure as hell won't quit now."

  "I'll help you," Nat insisted and Sal gave her a long look.

  "No," she said. "Go get Catherine to safety. But I do want one thing from you."

  "Anything," Nat said, still having trouble getting her head around what Sal was telling her. The woman looked off into the distance with a wistful expression on her face.

  “Don’t tell Catherine,” she said.

  Nat frowned. “Why?” she asked.

  Sal ran a hand over her face. “Let’s just say it’s because I don’t want to put her at risk with the knowledge. You’re a trained Ranger, I know you can hold up under questioning, but I worry about her if you get caught.”

  “I won’t let her get captured,” Nat said. Sal raised an eyebrow.

  “Really? Because you’re not doing so well so far,” she said and then shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. I need to keep my secret a little longer and if she is associated with a Space Ranger, they will kill her.” Nat nodded.

  “What is your plan?” Nat asked. Sal shrugged.

  "Wait until they start the auctioning of the captives tonight. Slaves are always popular and everyone will be distracted," she said. "I am hoping to have time to disable the cloaking towers and then get out a call to the cavalry. We'll see how it goes." Nat nodded thoughtfully and held out a hand to Sal. Sal stared at it and then slowly took it to shake.

  "Godspeed, Ranger," Nat said softly. Sal yanked back her hand as if the words burned her. Her face was twisted with anger, but Nat was not sure if it was at Nat or herself.

  "Get the fuck out of here," Sal growled and walked away. Nat watched her go and was filled with indecision. She needed to protect Catherine and take her to safety. But I can’t leave a Ranger behind, no matter what she has done, she thought.

  After a moment, Nat heard the sound of the other pirates returning with the cart and knowing she was out of time, she
ran for the jungle to circle around to the Avalon Mercury. For now, she would make sure Catherine was okay and get her someplace away from danger, but they would not be leaving the planet in the spacecraft yet. There was more work to be done and, in her heart, whether Sal wanted it or not, Nat knew it was her duty to help.

  CHAPTER 26

  CATHERINE

  Catherine paced the lounge in the Avalon Mercury and could not decide what to do. Somewhere out there, Nat was on the run and she did not know how to help her. If she left the spaceship, she had no idea where to even find Nat, but also worried Nat would never think to look for her on the ship. Biting her lip, Catherine was sure of at least one thing, and it was she could not just wait around for Sal to return. Something was going on with the pirate, but Catherine could not put her finger on it. One minute, Sal was all cocky and mean, and the next, she was almost friendly and sweet. And a little sad, Catherine thought remembering some of the things she said about heroes getting the girl. It was clear Sal knew she was not the hero in anyone’s story. Not like Nat is in mine, she thought. If only I can find a way back to her. The idea she might never see Nat again tore at her heart. She was so worried about what would happen if she was caught. Will Sal kill her? Catherine was not sure. It was clear Sal wanted her and Catherine thought of the passionate kiss Sal forced on her earlier. She remembered how the wanting had rolled off of the woman like a wave of heat. Yet she stopped when I told her too. Catherine was grateful for that if nothing else, but it did not translate to not fighting Sal if it meant saving Nat. So that is what I will do. When Sal returned, Catherine had to be ready to disarm her and force Sal to tell where Nat was taken. And if Nat is dead? Catherine pushed the image of Nat hurt or worse out of her mind. Surely fate would not be so cruel.