by S. E. Smith
“Time to die,” Manota snarled out.
He rushed into the few pirates who were a little slower to realize what was happening. The others were already scrambling trying to get back to the transport that was docked with the Seeker in the hopes of escaping before they were left behind. Manota knew it was already too late. He listened as more of his men reported blowing connections to the shuttles docked on this level and four others. The only one still attached was the one on Level 4.
Fear for his mate drove Manota to be even more ruthless as he cut a path through the remaining pirates. He had to get to her. Something deep inside him told him she was in trouble.
Chapter 18
Jo followed behind Sasha and Mushie. Nugget walked beside Katarina. Jade followed up the rear. Both tigers froze suddenly as if they were a statue captured in motion. It was amazing watching how they could be trotting one moment and frozen like stone the next. Katarina paused as well, watching – waiting. The tigers took a slow step forward.
Jo looked at Katarina who was staring intently at the two tigers, her right hand gently stroking the smaller spotted leopard at her side. If she didn’t know better, she would swear the large cat trainer was communicating with them. Jo moved into position when she saw Katarina’s shoulders stiffen. A moment later, five huge alien males rounded the corner of the corridor.
Jo recognized two Tearnats immediately. Their multi-shaded color scales, elongated head, and long tail were burned into her memory from when she and Star were captured back at the cabin. These were not the same as Madas and Gril. Her two friends might be Tearnats but they didn’t have the same savage, menacing look as these two. The other males Jo did not recognize. One was a molted, red-skinned alien with yellow eyes while the other two were a very pale color with dark gray eyes and long ash white dreadlocks that hung down their backs. All five men stopped in surprise when they saw the three women.
“Females!” The molted red-skinned male growled out in a low voice. “There was no mention of there being females on board.”
“I claim the dark haired one in front,” one of the pale males grinned.
“I’ll take the other one,” his partner replied with a lecherous smile.
“I guess we get the light haired one,” the molted red skinned alien told the two Tearnats with a sharp-tooth grin. “I get her first as you two will tear her apart.”
Jo raised her eyebrow as she looked at the ugly bastard who was grinning at her. “I’ll see you in hell first, asshole,” she growled out. “Katarina?”
Katarina grinned as her hand went to the long whip she had wound up at her waist. She let the long length unfurl until it lay like a serpent running down her leg. She nodded to Jo and Jade before she growled out in a low voice to the two larger tigers that were still frozen.
“Sacha, Mushie, убить!” Sasha, Mushie, kill! She ordered in Russian at the same time as she pulled the whip back and snapped it at the men.
The two tigers burst into action as if released from a spell holding them captive. The huge Tearnats cursed loudly as the tigers charged at them. They raised their arms in unison to fire at the big cats. Katarina snapped the whip again. The tip wound around one of the pistols and she jerked it out of the Tearnat’s hand at the same time as Sasha hit him with the speed of a train hitting a car sitting on the tracks. The force of the blow knocked the huge male off his feet and into the two pale men standing slightly behind him.
Jade reacted as the other Tearnat raised his arm. She pulled her nine millimeter semi-automatic from behind her and opened fire. The first two bullets thudded against the huge Tearnat’s chest before harmlessly bouncing off. It was enough of a distraction that Mushie was able to attack him.
“What the fuck?” Jade muttered as she stared in disbelief.
“You have to aim for their head,” Jo yelled out.
She needed to protect Katarina who was trying to help Sasha. The white tiger was raking at the huge Tearnat who had his tail wrapped around her. He used his powerful legs to throw the huge cat off of him. Sasha hit the wall with a resounding thud before lying still.
“NO!” Katarina cried out, rushing to her beloved pet.
“You sorry ass son-of-a-bitch,” Jade growled out in fury.
Jo watched out of the corner of her eye as Jade walked forward emptying her handgun into the Tearnat who was getting up. This time she aimed for his head. Three shots hit him; one in the left eye, one between the eyes, and the last one went through his jaw. He fell backwards, unmoving.
“I like a woman with fire,” the pale alien said as he stood up from where he was crouching when he saw that Jade’s weapon no longer fired. “You will keep me entertained as my pet.”
Jo watched as the red-skinned alien jumped over the dead Tearnat. She was pretty sure the other Tearnat was dead or would soon be. Mushie had him by the neck and was holding him. The huge lizard’s legs and tail were still moving but the movements were jerky - clumsy.
“Katarina, look out behind you,” Jo called out even as she turned toward the red-skinned alien walking toward her with a grin.
Jo twirled the staff in her hand. She didn’t extend it as there wasn’t room in the narrow corridor. At the moment, it was the same size as the baton twirlers in high school use. She pressed the button releasing the sharp blades. Moving into a defensive stance, she glared coldly at the alien male. She was getting tired of these assholes messing with her friends and family. She still needed to find her parents and she wasn’t about to let some red-mottled beetle stop her.
“Back off,” she demanded as he took another step closer.
“Now I have you all to myself,” he grinned nastily. “I look forward to fucking you. I have never had your species before.”
Jo sneered at the ugly creature as he came almost within reach. She blocked out Katarina and Jade for the moment, hoping they could handle the other two males. She backed up slowly. She wanted to draw the male further away from her friends. She didn’t want to take a chance of hurting them. It also would make the male think she was afraid which she was deep down. She was terrified but there was also a burning fury building inside her.
So much had happened over the last few months. It all began with her decision to return to the circus and their kidnapping and traveling to a strange new world, almost losing River and Star and falling in love with Manota had stretched her orderly life beyond her comfort zone. The emotions of burning fear that she had buried under the iron control that she always maintained over her emotions disappeared at the triumphant look on alien male’s face. All the fear erupted as hot fury. Her body trembled as she waited that last second until she felt like she could release it without hurting anyone but the male stalking her.
“You are mine,” he grinned as he reached out to grab her.
“Wrong choice, you bastard,” Jo hissed as she erupted into action.
His startled yelp of pain only fueled her fury. She attacked with cold, calculated moves. She twirled the staff, the sharp edges a blur as she struck again and again. Blood splattered the walls and her as she sliced into his leathery flesh. The male roared in pain as she sliced a long thin path across his arms. Jo gritted her teeth when he countered her attacks with his own long, curved blades. She blocked a downward slice while bowing back away when he came up with his other hand from underneath. Kicking out, she caught him in the groin. Unfortunately, it was a glancing blow that did little more than made him take a step back.
Fearing he would surge forward, she took the offensive and jabbed the staff as if it was a spear. She shook as she felt the blade go deep into the flesh of his side. A cry burst from her lips as he swung his beefy arm around. The blade cut through her thin shirt along her left side. She could feel the warmth of blood as it soaked her shirt. She bit her lip and kicked out.
“Bitch! You are going to die a long, slow death,” the male snarled at her as he grabbed the staff as she held it up to block another blow.
Jo gripped the center of the sta
ff with both hands and fell backwards bringing the huge male with her. She tucked her legs up under her, placing both of her feet firmly in the center of his stomach as he came down on top of her. She used the momentum of the fall and her legs to throw him over her. The move stunned the male giving her time to roll back onto her feet. She swayed and resisted the urge to grab her side that was throbbing horribly.
Jo looked down in shock. The male had a long laser sword sticking out of the center of his chest. She looked up, swaying dangerously to gaze at the man who had come to her aid.
“Daddy,” Jo whispered, as her legs gave out under her.
“Jo,” Tami Strauss cried out, wrapping her arm around her daughter’s waist. “Alan! Help me.”
Jo vaguely felt her mom and dad’s arms as they guided her over to the side of the corridor. She slid down the wall suddenly feeling very shaky. She looked over to where Jade stood over the dead body of one of the pale bastards. A laser sword sticking all the way through his body from stomach to back. Katarina was kneeling next to Sasha, rubbing her hands loving over the soft fur of the large tiger. The smaller ocelot and Mushie were dragging the body of the other pale male away from their mistress. Both male cats were very protective of both of the females.
“Jo, honey, let me look at your side,” she heard her mother say.
Things blurred in and out of focus for a moment before she shook her head to clear it. She needed to get up. Her side was burning like a son-of-a-bitch but she refused to let it stop her.
“I’m fine,” she gritted out. “We have to get back to the storage bay. There are probably more pirates.”
She pushed up against the wall in determination, leaning heavily on her mom and dad for a moment as the world spun for a second. She nodded to them as she straightened. Bending gingerly, she picked up her staff.
“Katarina, get them out of here,” Jo ordered through gritted teeth. “Mom, you and dad follow behind Katarina. The cats can sense the pirates.”
“Honey, your side,” her mom started to protest, looking worriedly at the blood coating Jo.
Jo gave her mom a strained smile. “Not all of it is mine,” she replied softly before turning to look at her dad who was glancing back and forth. “Thanks for saving me, dad. I’m sorry I got you guys in this mess.”
Alan Strauss glanced at his oldest daughter, his expression softening. “There are pricks no matter where you go in the universe,” Alan said gruffly. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world if it meant being with you, your mom, and your sister.”
Jo just nodded, pushing away from the wall. “Let’s get back to the storage area before we get more company.”
The small group moved back the way Jo, Katarina, and Jade had traveled a short time ago. They paused when they heard the sound of unfamiliar voices coming toward them. Sasha and Mushie quickly took out the two pirates that came out of a side corridor, startling them.
They had just rounded the last corridor leading to the storage bay when they encountered more. Two Kassisan warriors were locked in battle with four pirates outside the doors. The small group surged forward, Jo cutting down one pirate who turned as she approached. Katarina had wrapped her whip around another pirate’s neck, pulling him off his feet where Sasha and Mushie made quick work of him. Alan moved forward as one of the warriors stumbled back from a blow he received, stopping the blade that would have ended the warrior’s life with his own. Jade was helping the other warrior. Soon, the corridor was quiet once again.
“Alan!” Tami cried out in fear as Jo swayed briefly before she collapsed.
Alan rushed forward to where Jo lay unconscious. One of the warriors moved forward as well. Tami was peeling Jo’s blood soaked shirt from her side. A long gash ran just under her ribcage. What worried Tami was the long red tentacles beginning to branch out from it.
“What is that?” Tami asked as she tried to rip a portion of Jo’s shirt away so she could use it to stem the blood.
“Poison,” the warrior said with a dark curse. He looked up at Alan and Tami. “How long ago was she wounded?”
“I… ten minutes,” Tami whispered looking from the warrior to her husband. “Maybe a little longer.”
The warrior called out over his shoulder to the other warrior who nodded. The second warrior spoke quickly into his comlink. The grim look on the face of the warrior scared Tami.
“You said it was poison. Do you have a cure?” Alan asked harshly.
“Yes,” the warrior said with a nod as he looked grimly at the human male who had saved his life. “But it has to be given within thirty minutes or less for it to work.”
“Where is the antidote?” Alan asked.
“Medical, Level 6,” the warrior said grimly. “There is intense fighting between here and there. There are not enough warriors to make sure you get there safely.”
“Like hell there isn’t,” a gruff voice said from behind them. “Marvin, Martin, get the crew together. We have to create a clean path to Medical,” Walter yelled out. “Now!”
Marvin and Martin, their faces clean of the face paint, nodded and spoke quietly to Suzy and Curly. Suzy turned and whistled loudly. In seconds, a group of forty circus members stood around them.
“Let’s go,” Martin said in a smooth, slightly accented voice. “We will take the lead. The clowns will surround Jo. Shakira and Adam will follow. Katarina, you and your cats will stay and help protect the others with Marcus.”
“I’ll carry Jo,” a soft voice came forward.
Tami looked up into Tony’s concerned eyes. “Thank you, Tony.”
“Let’s move out,” Walter said, pulling a small pistol from his waist.
Jade touched the ringmaster on his shoulder. “If you see any of those ugly lizard-looking bastards with tails, aim for their head,” she said quietly. “I’ll stay to help secure this level.”
Walter nodded sharply. “Let’s go, people! Time is running down.”
Katarina, Jade, and the remaining warrior watched as the misfit group of circus warriors headed down the corridor. Never had there been a stranger cast of characters so determined to succeed. Jade felt her lips curve up in a wry smile as she thought they didn’t teach her about this shit in the academy.
“Do you think they will make it?” Jade asked out loud, not really expecting an answer.
Katarina turned with an arrogant tilt to her head. “Of course, they will succeed. We are the Cirque de Magik. We do not fail,” she said before calling out to her pets.
Jade watched as the tall Siberian walked away, the large cats trotting beside her. The doors closed behind her. She turned to look at the warrior who was staring at her with a question in his eyes.
“Well hell, I can’t expect you to guard the damn door all by yourself, now can I?” Jade muttered as she bent over to pick up some of the weapons from the dead pirates.
The warrior just shook his head. These had to be the strangest species he had ever encountered. His thoughts were interrupted as three pirates emerged from the end of the left corridor.
“Stay behind me,” he growled out before he realized he was talking to the back of the female as she yelled out a loud war cry as she swept past him, charging the surprised pirates.
Chapter 19
Jo drifted back from the dark, swirling waters of unconsciousness in slow waves. Rising closer to awareness before sinking back down. The last wave felt like it had slammed her against an immovable cliff.
It is a good thing I don’t suffer from seasickness or I would be tossing my cookies right about now, she thought vaguely right before she did lose them.
She had to admit a few minutes later, she felt much better once she was done. She just hoped she didn’t totally disgrace herself in front of half the circus, or… Manota. She struggled on the next rise of the waves, forcing her eyes to open.
A low moan escaped her as she stared into the amused dark brown eyes of Tony. “Please…,” she started to say. She swallowed and licked her lips before trying agai
n. “Please tell me I didn’t just puke all over you,” she croaked out.
Tony’s lips curved into a huge grin. “Naw, you didn’t.”
“Thank God,” Jo whispered and closed her eyes briefly.
“You puked all over He-man,” Tony said with an amused laugh. “Caught him right in the center of his chest. Made it all the way down the front, too.”
Jo’s eyes popped open at his words. “Oh God!” She groaned in mortification.
“I thought it was pretty cool,” Tony chuckled before he grew serious. “He hasn’t let me near you in almost three days. I’m glad you did it. Otherwise, I’d still be waiting in the hallway.”
Jo’s eyes softened as she saw the worry in his. She had thought he had outgrown the crush he had on her. From the dark shadows under his eyes and the lines of strain around his mouth, it was obvious that he hid his feelings behind the jokes and teasing.
“Tony,” she started to whisper, stopping as he touched her lips.
“I know,” he replied quietly. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t still dream. You scared the hell out of all of us. I just wanted to make sure you were really going to be alright. Shavic has been giving us all updates but when you didn’t wake, well, let’s just say it was scary.”
