A Lost Kitten (35 page)

“Black ship?” John’s interest was piqued. That could only mean there were White Stars on Oceanica.

Marina pointed to herself. “She left me in charge of our people until she returns.”

“If she returns,” inserted Sonja.

“Stop saying that!” scolded Marina. “Hundra will return.”

“Black ship?” John ignored the arguing women and spoke to Sirius. “That means Space Control was right. Sev
is
with the Sea-anan Seacats.”

Sirius fought back a smile. “You need to learn how to trust more.”

John rolled his eyes. “What I don’t understand is, why did they come here? We didn’t even know this planet existed.”

“They came to retrieve the woman who arrived at the castle.”

John was surprised Marina volunteered information, considering how icy she was toward him. “Who was this woman?”

“She was one of them.”

“Marina, I am not sure if I should mention this…” Sonja sought her companion for reassurance. “But I just remembered something Kari had said to me in confidence that might interest the Guardians.” She motioned to Sirius.

Marina dipped her head in consent. “Go ahead, Sonja. Our allies need to know everything.”

“What did Kari tell you, Sonja?” Sirius prodded.

“I am sorry,” she first said to her companions. “Kari said the
real
Seacats were angry with Sev.”

John clenched his hands. He no longer thought the redhead was attractive. In fact, he felt strongly the urge to wring her long neck.

Andros sat forward in his seat. “Why?”

“They said Sev abandoned them for the
half-breeds
.”

John was not expecting to hear that. He quickly exchanged glances with the Guardians.

“Half-breeds?” repeated Vitchu.

“Half Oceanan, half human.” Andros gestured to Vitchu. “You just said Hundra and the others left with Sev.”

“No.” Sonja clarified. “Kari told me Serena said Sev was tricked and seduced by the half-breed Areo—”

“Areo!” John jumped forward in his seat. “She was here? Was she all right?”

He did not care that they called his little sister a half-breed. All John cared about was learning his sister’s status. The last time he had seen Areo, she had been badly injured. He had feared for her life. Deep down, John knew Areo was a tough girl. Still she was prone to getting into trouble. All the women in his family were.

Sonja did not acknowledge John. She continued to speak to the Guardians as if he were not there. John’s lips pulled back over his teeth, but he remained quiet. He needed to know what had happened next.

“Serena said Sev left with Areo and her people, leaving Miko and the others here. They felt betrayed and abandoned. Miko said Sev had no plans to return to Oceanica.”

John’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. “Why would Sev do that?” he wondered aloud.

“I told Kari she must have misunderstood Miko,” continued Sonja. “Kari assured me that was what Miko said to her.” She glanced at her companions. “She also told me that Miko was made the new king of Oceanica.”

“What?” blurted Sirius, John, and Andros.

“Sonja, are you sure about that?”

Sonja nodded. “Yes, Marina. Another ship arrived afterward, while Hundra and Kari were here at the castle. The Seacats and Hundra boarded
that
ship and went after Sev. I believe the Seacats planned to convince Sev to return home.”

Sirius exchanged a puzzled expression with his brother. John’s attention lowered to the table. He reflected hard on what had been revealed to him. What did it all mean? He was not crazy with the answer his mind kept arriving at. Sev left the Oceanans to return with Areo to her home. Sev made Miko the new king of Oceanica. That could only mean one thing. Sev planned to keep his promise to Areo. John gritted his teeth. He hoped he was wrong. He did not want to face the Oceanans in war and fight Daehog at the same time.

Vitchu drew the Guardians’ attention to him. “What do you know about this supposed war?”

His words yanked John out of his thoughts. “Supposed?” John clenched his fists tighter to keep from reaching over the table and ripping the man’s throat out. “Races are being extinguished as we speak!”

Andros and Sirius ignored John’s outburst.

“So there has not been a visit from the Dominion?” inquired Andros.

Sonja shook her head. “We have never heard of them.”

“Guardian Sirius,
is
there a war going on out there?” asked Marina.

Sirius’s face showed how serious the situation was in space. “There is, Marina. And I fear that Hundra will not be home for a long time.”

Sonja and Vitchu shared a worried look. Marina’s eyes showed her fear. She quickly closed them.

John stood in front of the main monitor. He had been happy to see the Amgareans leave. How could Sev be allies with them? Perhaps Sev had changed since the last time John saw him. Maybe Oren’s genes were stronger than Karla’s in the end. It would explain his choice in friends. Then again, Sev left with Areo. Maybe his love for Areo was stronger than his bond with the Oceanans.

“Only time will tell,” murmured John as he turned away from the giant monitor in the Control Room.

“Tell what?” asked Andros.

“Whether Sev took after his mother or father.” He headed toward the door then hesitated. “Andros, what’s parturient and fisicien?”

Andros glanced at John’s ear. “Is that translator on?”

John pressed the tiny button. “It is now.”

Andros repeated the words and the small translator converted them into Earthlish.

“Pregnant and Physician. I see.” John stared at the floor. He realized there was no need for him to fetch the doctor. Asher had already done so.

“Who’s pregnant?”

“Asher claims Jasira is.”

“Congratulations!”

John lifted his sights and saw Andros’ giant smile. “She can’t be pregnant. You’ve seen her.”

“John, Medlothians from the north are never wrong about these things. You are going to be a father.”

John stared at the smiling face unsure if he should allow himself to believe the fates had given up tormenting him. “I better go check on Jasira.” He exited the room.

He kept his translator hooked on his ear, for he was eager to speak to the doctor about Jasira’s condition. On entering his bedroom, he saw Jasira sleeping. She was connected to an intravenous line. The doctor, a member of the vampiric-looking nation, was adjusting the flow.

John had learned the race was named Raven. He had stopped asking questions about them when he was told they were also known as ‘The Bringers of Death’. He had enough on his plate to worry about.

“How is she doing, doctor?”

The doctor released the tube and headed to the corridor. He motioned for John to follow him. They paused just outside the closed door.

“Jasira is severely dehydrated. I am administering the fluids she needs with a small dosage of medication to control her nausea. She should feel better in a few days. And do not worry. The medication is mild enough. It should have no affects on the youngling’s development.”

John was relieved to hear that.
What?
His attention riveted to the doctor. “Youngling?”

“Yes. You do know Jasira is expecting?”

John passed a hand over his mouth. “Asher told me,” were his muffled words.

The doctor nodded. He made no comment as to how Asher knew. He seemed to accept it as if it was a normal thing. Maybe John needed to look into what else the Medlothian race could do besides casting spells and knowing things with a simple touch.

“Jasira is resting. I am headed to the castle’s infirmary. I want to check its inventory. If I find anything missing that you will need, I will have it brought over.”

“You’re not staying?” John pointed to himself. “I’m a warrior, not a doctor. I don’t know anything about medicine.”

The doctor smiled. “Do not worry. Guardian Kahilee Starr has volunteered to stay. She is a doctor trained in emergency medicine. She has been a part of the first-response team for years. She is at the castle’s infirmary right now, going through the inventory and making a list of the things she will need.”

John bowed from the waist. “Thank you so much, doctor. I don’t know how to repay you and the Guardians.”

“We are all friends, Seacat. I will leave you to your mate.” The doctor went around John and headed to the elevator.

John hurried back inside the room. He turned off his translator and carefully climbed onto the bed beside his sleeping wife. He molded his body to hers and gently placed a hand over her tummy. He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled. One by one, his tight muscles uncoiled and relaxed. He sent a thank you to his creator for making his dreams come true. Within minutes, he was fast asleep.

Thursday, the 6th of October

Seven White Stars had escaped Sea Base Ten only to land on an unknown planet two weeks later. Three of the warships were critically damaged. Because each ship overflowed with civilians, the passengers from the three disabled ships could not fit within the four undamaged ships. Left with no choice, the Sea-anan warriors opted to remain with the civilians on the small ice planet.

They did not break radio silence, for they knew the Dominion was conquering planets in their vicinity. They could not risk the lives of those they protected by revealing their presence. It was best to allow the Dominion to think the ice planet was barren.

To their surprise, the Sea-anan warriors discovered that the planet was not empty. The inhabitants they met aided them in finding food. They revealed that their planet, Chevro, had recently been brutally attacked, its ice cities leveled, and most of its children taken by the Dominion. During the initial attack, they had sent an emergency call to the Space Guardians, but they never came. Chevro’s civilization was no more. The few inhabitants who remained had taken to living in caves for fear that the Dominion would return.

For over two years, the Seacats and Sea Rangers felt useless. They knew the war raged on without them. Communications were functioning. They could have notified the empire of their location. But they had taken an oath to protect the innocent lives in their care. Therefore, they remained silent but vigilant, in case the Dominion returned to Chevro.

On June ninth, several Space Guardian vessels had arrived. They were on patrol, answering hails, searching for survivors. They easily spotted the seven black warships amongst the stark white landscape.

The Sea-anan warriors’ joy was short-lived when they learned the best the Guardians could do was place an order for food and spare parts to be delivered to Chevro. Again, the Sea-anan warriors had to wait.

On the sixth of August, the supplies had arrived. The Seacats and Sea Rangers immediately set to work on making repairs. The repairs were extensive and difficult, and still not enough for the ships to fly at full speed. But at least they were leaving the freezing planet and taking along extra survivors.

On board the leading warship, Seacat Ranger Superior Derek Moonstar was speaking to his wife, Dr. Sandra Moonstar, about the recent additions to the ship’s population when a lower-ranked human Seacat named Peyton interrupted.

“Excuse me, Commander. A high-priority alert is being sent over the airwaves by Seacat Bob McCall.”

“What’s the alert?” asked Derek.

The Seacat listened to the message via his headset before speaking. His mouth fell open. “Commander, the Oceanan fleet has been spotted by the Dominion. They have orders to destroy every ship! Seacat Bob is ordering all available White Stars in the vicinity to intervene!”

“Oceanan fleet?” repeated Dr. Moonstar. She looked at her husband. “Oceana Oceanan?”

“It has to be survivors,” answered Derek. He turned his seat toward the Earthling at communications. “Everyone, battle stations! Seacat Peyton, pass on those coordinates to Seacat Tai. Inform the other White Stars that we are answering the call.”

“Yes, sir!” Seacat Peyton immediately started talking into his mouthpiece. He flipped several switches and typed instructions into the computer in front of him.

Derek swiveled his chair toward the back of the ship. He addressed a fellow Mage. “Seacat Tai, get us to that fleet immediately!”