Hawk

by Jessie Rose Case

  Give me detailed scans of the planet surface.

  Affirmative.

  Contact the New Horizon on vid screen

  D923 came up on screen. “We are doing surface mapping and scans now, standby for further information.” He gave a nod and the screen went blank.

  Hawk felt sure that D923 and his men would abide by the rules he’d put in place. It wasn’t logical to do anything else, but he couldn’t shift the nervousness he felt at being so close to a possible mate and not be able to see her. His dreams had turned electric in the last few days. So hot, he was permanently hard, and it was driving him crazy. His emotions being turned off, no longer seemed to help in his dream state. Dreams of fucking his mate in every conceivable way flooded his memory, the bliss of shooting his load into her body burned into him, her imaginary taste on his lips. He clawed at the consul in front of him. He needed to find her and soon.

  Scans are ready for mapping.

  On screen.

  The world came up and spun on its axles. There appeared to be a main town, farming, animals, the heat signatures in significant numbers. Then smaller groups up to 30 miles out from that main area. They also had heat signatures in numbers too. Smaller villages maybe?

  Connect me with New Horizon.

  D923 came back on screen. “You see the scans.” He asked him, D923 nodded. “I’m sending you sectors, off-worlders to do vid recon.” He gave him another nod and the screen went blank.

  Send sectors 21 through to 41 to him. Monitor them. We’ll take 1 – 20

  Affirmative

  ***

  Franny sat and stretched out her leg, doing the exercises the medic had told her to build up the weakened muscle. She needed to work it, without tearing anything. He’d looked at her with a very serious expression, when he’d told her that. Franny had rolled her eyes and got moving but he was right, she couldn’t afford to damage it further. Their medical abilities were limited.

  She’d spent days going over files and although it all looked ok, when she’d cross referenced some of the mission reports, there had been discrepancies in some teams. Some of that, she knew, could be explained away by different perspectives on events. Positions and placements however, couldn’t be, you were either where you were supposed to be, or you weren’t. Franny had made a list of what seemed odd. She would be seeing her father later, to show him what she’d found.

  A flash in the sky over the mountains, caught her attention in the distance. It flashed again crossing over in front of her vision. Franny put her hand up to shade against the sun. Was that a ship? Had the soldiers got one in the air? She was about to get up, when she heard the noise coming from in front of her and looked over at it, a scrap of a boot sounded again beyond the rocks. They were coming out of the sun and she couldn’t see their face. She heard the sound of a blade being pulled and saw the figures arm move. Franny looked at the glint of the blade caught in the sun’s rays as her assailant came racing up at her. Franny rolled to the side and bounced to her feet, pulling her own blades as they faced off. The only advantage the other person had, was now gone.

  Franny circled keeping her eyes on the prize. By the size of her assailant, she thought it a ‘him’. He moved heavy footed and was thick set. There were few women that fitted that description but not many. His clothes were non-descript. It gave nothing away. He lunged and struck out with his fist at the same time. Franny ducked and swung her body back out of the way of his fist, he side swiped just missing her and she decided she’d played defensive enough and went on the attack.

  He’d been hesitant at first but he wasn’t any longer. They both knew that. Any concerns about her leg were shut away and she ignored it, she had work to do.

  ***

  Commander, there appears to be a number of skirmishes going on around the main settlement area and outposts.

  Show me. Screen on. The vid screen showed the images from the surface. It showed a couple of small pocks of people fighting each other. One group appeared to be regular army the other, civilians, men and women. Hawk frowned. They were fighting their own people? Had they stepped in the middle of a civil war?

  The next came up, some soldiers were dragging females off, men were fighting.

  The next, a female was fighting what seemed like a male on her own. They were on a rocky outcrop near one of the smaller groups of heat signatures. The male was larger, moved well but the female move better, her shots more precise causing the most damage. The hand to hand was fast, both had blades the female had struck and struck again but the male was stronger. He tried to use his strength to over power the female, but she was fast. Moved out of his way and struck repeatedly. Hawk smiled. She was good. The image of her turning away from his latest blow and rolling around to his back, then striking him mid centre in the back with the perfect move, warmed him. She was fierce.

  His chest clenched, and he look closer. Holy shit. It was her. Hawk felt the recognition hit him as the male went down on one knee. Finish him, his brain cried out, but his female took a step back, she was limping. She’d been hurt, his brain roared. The male got up and charged her. She ducked and rolled out of his way, kicking out at his knee. Several other people came running towards the two fighting and took up defensive positions around them, securing the aggressor. Hawk watched her speak to an older male she clearly knew, and her assailant was dragged off. Hawk saw the pain cross her face as she lifted her leg and the blood running down it.

  Get me on the ground now. He told his second over his neuro net. He started to jog to the landing bay. Communication to D923. I have located my mate, she has been attacked, I am going to the surface. Ground support requested.

  As he boarded his off-worlder, confirmation came back from D923 that he would meet him on the ground. Hawk didn’t know what was going on, on this world, but he didn’t like it one bit. His mate needed him, and he would not fail her.

  ***

  Franny had been helped back to the rock she’d been sitting on. The medic had refused to let her walk on the leg, so she was stuck where she’d been sitting, before the attack while her father hovered with several of his guard around her, as the medic got busy. She’d been nicked a couple of times too. They hurt like hell and were nothing. Typical knife wounds. The flash in the sky, was a reminder of why she’d been distracted in the first place.

  “Dad.” He looked over at her and she pointed with her chin. The ship or whatever it was, was coming nearer. Fear assaulted her. If the soldiers had this technology, they were done for. She glanced over to her father. He looked how she felt.

  Someone asked if they should take cover. Franny thought that was a waste of time. Whoever or what ever this was, would be able to end them quickly, if they wanted to. Her father said no and to stay sharp. She guessed he felt the same. They held their ground as the ship came closer.

  Franny held onto her fears. They were on a small plateau, below them another. Then a long climb down to reach the base of the rocks. It soon became clear that whoever it was, wouldn’t be landing on the plateau, it wasn’t big enough. A second and a third ship appeared behind the first. Franny’s first thought, it couldn’t be the soldiers and whoever this was, if it came to a fight, they were done for. Her father gave the order to move the woman and children out quickly.

  “Defensive positions. Weapons hot. No one fires until I give the command.” He instructed. “You should go back with the medic,” he told her.

  Franny dismissed him as she was passed her weapons by Cassidy. Her team took up positions around her. “Ok pops, that’s gonna happen.” She cocked her guns.

  The ships started to lower, they were defiantly coming for them, there was no mistake about that. Franny watched as the ship hovered in front of them just off the edge and a side started to lower. A man walked down the slope and then …… jumped to the ground in front on them. He dropped to one knee taking the impact then got up quickly like it was nothing, as others followed down behind him. He then walked slowly towards them.

>   Had they just jumped from a moving ship 30ft in the air? She was sure her mouth was open and closed it.

  The man came closer and kept looking at her, then her father and back again. Franny got the impression he knew her but that was impossible. He didn’t seem too worried by all the fire power around him either. Franny couldn’t help but take a long good look at him. He was in what looked like animal skin, both the waist coat and the trousers. It certainly fit in all the right places. She could admire the view and by the look of Lorraine and Cassidy they did too. Muscles were bulging all over the place and not just on the lead guy either, they were all stacked. A quick look in the trouser department and her mouth dropped again. The man was huge! There was no missing that.

  She suddenly realised she was drooling and staring. Checking herself, she looked up at her father a little embarrassed. He only had eyes for the newcomer. Franny turned back to him. The man had stopped some metres out. He looked at her curiously taking a deep breath, she thought she saw his eyes flare, then he looked back to her father. Franny quickly glanced at her father again, he didn’t seem worried.

  “I am Hawk.” He told them. “I am a Commander and Councilman with the Cyborg Empire. This planet boarders our space, we only found that you were one of six planets that Earth Corp seeded recently. Most of which, they left abandoned to destiny. We have come to see if we can be of any assistance and to offer trade, commerce or just an ally, in a difficult part of space.”

  Several more men appeared behind the Commander, they’d all just jumped from two of the ships that hovered. Franny swallowed and looked on, as one came to stand on Hawks shoulder. They were huge men. Each one, way to good looking, for what they were, thought Franny. Mercenaries. They were killers and that was in complete contrast to the edge each of them carried, they were deadly, she could sense that. They moved effortlessly, with complete awareness of what was going on around them, she just knew, they missed nothing and that jump, she didn’t know a human who could do that. What the hell was a Cyborg anyway? her mind freezing at the answers.

  Franny’s father started talking, waking her the hell up from her ramblings. “I am Romero Sanchez. This is our world. My father and mother were part of the original colonists who signed up to seed this world under the directive of Earth Corp. They abandoned us, soon after sending soldiers to take this world from us, once they knew we had ore worth billions. They tried to kick us off, but we refused to leave, then when their ships did not come back, they wanted us to work for them. Slaves. We refused then, we refuse now. If you’re here working for them, we will fight you.” Her father told him.

  “We are not here to harm you. We are here to help.” The Hawk guy told them as the other male on his shoulder, who’d been staring at both her and her father the whole time, stepped forward.

  “Your grandfather was General Jose Sanchez?” He asked. Franny found herself weary and nodded. That wasn’t going to be good. What her great grandfather had done was ‘classified’. She knew that as did her father. The Cyborg had a faraway look for a split second, then it was gone. “We knew your father, we owe you a blood debt. He lost his life setting us free. We will honour it. My men are at your disposal.”

  Franny raised both eyebrows and turned incredibly, to look at her father. Holy shit, she’d asked for an army and got one! Who knew it was that fucking easy? Her mind fritzed.

  “Weapons down.” Her father called out, reaching out to shake hands with both men. “You are welcome here, set up camp below, you’ll have more room. I’ll call in the other team leaders and we can discuss what’s been going on here and bring you up to speed. Maybe it’s time to end this ‘dispute’. If you wish to check our records, I’ll be happy to supply you with an upload.” Both men shook hands with him, Franny thought they looked awkward in doing so. More the second one than the first, she realised. They spoke and acted different too and wondered if they came from different places.

  Her father held on to the one that knew his grandfather. “When there is time, I would like to talk about my grandfather.” He told him. The man/Cyborg gave him a nod. Franny blew out a breath. What the hell is going on? Four men appeared on his shoulder.

  “I am D923. These are your guards. Are their any other family members we need to protect?” He asked.

  Her father calmly shook his head. “We are all that’s left.” Pain creased in Franny’s chest. Thoughts of her mother and brother surfaced, she pushed them away.

  The first man, Hawk came over to her and bent down. He was still taller than she was. Franny lent back for more room. It seemed too personal and she tried to lean back more.

  “I can taste your pain,” he told her. “Do you need assistance? We have a med bed that can fix you, you should come on board my ship.” Franny sat stupefied then realised what he’d just said. Did she look that stupid? Franny shook her head numbly looking up at him. What she needed was some space. “She will not need guards when she is with me.” He told the other man turning his head slightly but keeping eye contact with her.

  Franny frowned and found her roots. Hell no. Who said she’d be spending time with him? Things were getting a bit creepy and she didn’t have enough information to make any decisions. She wasn’t a toy to be passed around or to be clamed like the soldiers did. Her resolve kicked in. She needed answers.

  “You have upset her.” D – what’s his number stated to Hawk. Franny had heard enough and stood, she gave a shove to the Hawk guy to give her some room. It was like pushing a rock until he chose to move. Franny hadn’t missed that. She didn’t like people reading her and flinched when she put her weight on her leg. Dam it! Hawk moved lightening quick and went to reach for her when she’d flinched, she slapped his hand away moving her body away from him at the same time. She’d had to put more weight on her leg to do it. Fuck.

  She gritted her teeth against the pain. “Never, touch me without my permission or you might lose something valuable.” She told him, the knife in her other hand dug into his crotch. Hawk looked down and saw the blade. “We clear?” She asked him totally pissed off. Hawk could sense all her emotions. It had gone from shock to surprise to wonder, then a flash of desire, quickly over taken by concern, anger and determination.

  He nodded slowly at her. “I have waited a very long time for you mate, I can wait for as long as it takes.”

  Chapter Four

  Franny walked off doing everything she could not to limp too much and look like she needed her cane. Her dam leg was killing her. She’d looked back to see Cassidy and Lorraine struggling to leave the newcomers. She shook her head, muscles weren’t everything.

  In fact, in her experience, they got you into trouble you didn’t want. She’d seen some of the bodies on the men over the years. Both their own and the soldiers. She’d been attracted to a few of them too. Only it was never a good thing, you could lose your focus very quickly around them and …… things happened.

  Franny didn’t like not being in control. She worked better having all the information. She was good at figuring things out when she had all the information. Could find a way forward, make the next more, in her experience, the more cards she had, the better the outcome.

  She limped into the cave complex and headed back to the bunk section. She needed to shower then get some rest. It was only then she noticed that people were staring at her strangely. Franny checked her clothing. Did she have something on her? People were now actively moving out of her way….. What the fuck? She was too tired for this shit and kept going ignoring them. She reached the showers and sat on the rock bench in relief, getting there had been a killer, she was covered in sweat.

  “You should let me bring the med bed down here, it will heal you in minutes, if that leg is all that’s wrong.” His voice told her. Franny stilled. He’d followed her? No wonder people were acting weird. She turned slowly towards him, with what she hoped was a ‘what the fuck’ look. She hadn’t heard him move at all. Had no idea he was even walking with her. Then she noticed there were tw
o more behind him. For fuck sake! This guard shit was real?

  Franny narrowed her eyes on Hawk, then remembered what he’d said. Med bed here, fix leg in minutes. It might even get him out of her hair, she thought. “Ok, go get the med bed thingy.” She waved him off.

  Hawk stared at the female and cracked a smile. She didn’t like him crowding her and when she’d held that knife to his balls, hell, he was tempted to let her cut him, just to feel her hand so close to his balls. He wanted to feel that contact badly. His skin itched for a feel of her. She thought to get rid of him. Wanted to send him packing like a puppy. She might as well have said ‘go fetch’. Her dismissal of him fired him up. She needed to learn that wasn’t happening.

  He connected with his ship and ordered a med bed be brought down via his neuro net. “I do not need to leave to do that.” He told her. Her eyes narrowed on him more. He could sense her annoyance.

  “Look buddy, I don’t need or want your protection. You need to take the hint and get lost.” Hawk liked her determination.

  He turned to D923’s two men. “Outside. No one comes in.” They turned and walked out. Hawk started stripping off his clothes.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” She called out to him.

  “You want to shower, you can barely stand on that leg, I’m going to help.” He told her throwing his waistcoat to one side, he started on his trousers.