Beast Planet 2: Captive Salvation (8 page)

“Affirmative.”

Well, now we were getting somewhere, my brain clicked into gear as ideas started forming. I smiled.

“Does the city have some kind of transport vehicle I could use?”

“Affirmative.”

This was looking better and better.  “And these weapons, would someone like me be able to use them?”

“Your weight and body mass indicates you would not be able to use the heavier weapons.”

“Essence, I need your help.” I dressed in the pants and top. They fitted very nicely. “I want you to show me where the vehicles and the weapons are. Then you’re going to teach me how to use them.”

Chapter Nine

“Warning unsafe proximity to the pillar.”

“I know, I know. Stop telling me!” I gritted my teeth, careful not to overcorrect as I glided around the pillar.

“Woohoo!” Success! The air bike, as I’d named it, looked more like a cross between a jet ski and a rocking horse, only way larger. The black, padded leather seat could easily accommodate two larger Zakiu men.

The controls were built into the handlebars which made it easier to use. E, as I’d renamed Essence, also told me it had cruise control. A wicked-looking black disrupter with automatic targeting was fixed to the front of the bike. At least I wouldn’t have to learn how to shoot it. There were hundreds of these air bikes lined up in a big military bunker, along with a variety of bigger flying ships, and other strange looking machines.

I decided on the bike, as they seemed easiest to learn how to use. I’d suffered a few scrapes before getting the hang of the machine. Something called a Put
—
a
liquid crystal powered weapon roughly the size of a submachine gun but with a telescope barrel—packed one hell of a punch. Learning how to shoot the Put and ride the bike had eaten up more days than I liked.

E was always there to remind me of the danger I was putting my child’s and my own life in.

“I think I’m ready. I can fly and shoot straight enough. All I need to do is get into the camp and the men can do the rest. How many weapons can the rocker bike carry, E?”

“With your weight; twenty Put disrupters.” E responded, the voice hollow in the cavernous space.

“I’ll take ten and some supplies.” I set the bike down and swung my leg over the wide seat. “Are the bags I wanted ready?”

“Affirmative. E does not recommend you proceed. There is a sixty-two percent chance you will not succeed.”

“Yes, I know. You keep telling me that, but I’m going to get my husband. We’ve already been apart too damn long. I’ll move heaven and hell to get him back.”

I walked towards the once military barracks where I’d been living and scooped up Lucky, asleep among the black uniforms. “Wanna go get Daddy, Lucky?” He chirped, scuttling up to his usual perch on my shoulder.

“It’s still early. We’ll have breakfast, load up then go.”

“E has pre-programmed the co-ordinates into your air bike. At maximum speed, the journey will take you two hours.”

“And to think it took us around six days walking.” I mused to my Wuzzle. “Thank you, E. We’ll leave in one hour.  I want to get my man and be in back in time for dinner. Prepare the city, E. Your Zakiu are coming home.”

“Affirmative, Anna.”

* * * *

A few hours later I was ready, dressed in a lighter version of Zakiu black battle armour E had designed and created with his particle re-organizer. Helmet on my head and a Put weapon strapped to my back, I flew over the fields, hills and mountains I’d walked across a few days before.

Like hell I’d ever do that again. A flutter sensation bloomed in my chest, as I rode with steadfast determination towards the encampment. It was time to burst the Druel bubble and free the Zakiu. Well, at least get them safely back to the city, then we could decide what to do next.

Gripping the handlebars tighter, my lips pressed into a thin line as I surveyed the landscape. No doubts, no second-guessing. The thought of seeing Morrdrook again, being in his arms, made me push the bike harder, faster.

“Approaching Druel tower,” E’s voice came over the earpiece in my helmet. Essence was determined not to let me totally out of its sight, keeping in audio contact, guiding me.

“Right, let’s get this done. Engage automatic targeting, fire within range.”

The weapon on the front of the bike emerged. I heard the whine of the disruptor preparing to fire. With a quick glance at the monitor, I saw it had already locked on the target. I slung the Put disrupter around, holding onto the bike with one hand ready.

“Firing.” E’s voice came through the speakers. A blue laser bolt shot out, hitting the tower head on. It exploded into heated flames. The barrier sparked briefly, before fizzling out. I pushed the bike up and sailed past.

“Head for the village. Better the men have the guns than me.” Ahead I saw the black buildings and the dirt covered mounds. My heart thumped harder against my ribs and chest. The men were already running towards the destroyed tower. Their swords ready as I guided the bike down to land just outside.

I saw Nular, Makkiu and Killiu heading the charge as I managed to set the bike down. I flipped off the engine, studying the wary expression of the approaching Zakiu, ready to defend. They were quite an intimidating sight.

“What is it?” Nular whispered, just a bit too loud. I grinned behind my helmet before yanking it off.

“Hello boys! Did you miss me?” I swung my leg over the seat unhooking the Put disrupters.

They stood in stunned, wide-eyed disbelief and looked almost comical.

“You found the city!” Killiu strode forward, pushing the younger men out of the way, catching me in a tight hug.

I squeaked and Killiu set me down. “Sorry Anna.” He stepped back and I saw pride shining in his pale eyes.

“It’s alright. God knows, it’s good to see you again. You’re right, there’s a whole big empty city but we can’t talk now. Quick take a Put disrupter. I just took out the force-field tower. The Druel defense machines will have been activated and no doubt already homing in on me. We have the weapons to use against them. I brought as many as I could.” I turned around and opened the back compartment under the seat of the bike, handing the first of the Put disrupters to Killiu.

“Do you know how to use these?”

“Yes, do not worry.”

“It is good to see you, Anna. Abby will be happy beyond words.” Nular stepped forward to help Killiu hand out the weapons.

I turned around trying to spot Morrdrook. Where was he?

“Take the weapons, defend your females. We are at last free!” Killiu called.

“Where’s Morrdrook?”

“I’ll get him. He’s down by the lagoon,” said Nular.

“No, I’ll go, you need to stand and defend. Take out Druel machines, once and for all.”

Nular nodded. “Yes, go to him. He has been difficult without you.”

I ran towards the path leading down to the lagoon, wildly shoving plants out of my way.

I jolted to a stop as I spotted him standing by the water’s edge, his head hanging down, staring into the water. His usually tame hair was a wild mess where it hung over his slumped shoulders.

“Morrdrook?” My voice barely a whisper as emotions swamped me. How lost he looked. His head whipped around at the sound of my voice. Lines weighed heavily around his eyes and I swore he’d lost weight.

“Aunna?” His voice but a whisper, disbelief in his blue eyes as his gaze swept over me from head to toe.

“Morrdrook, I found a way back. I…” tears stung the back of my eyes. I blinked rapidly trying to hold them back. “I…found the Zakiu city. I found a way to free us…”

I couldn’t stand it any longer. I ran at him, throwing myself into his arms. Warm strength enfolded me as he held me tightly, his face in my hair. I heard him draw in deep breaths.

“Oh by the moons! It is you, my Aunna, my beautiful Aunna.” He grabbed my shoulders, pushing me back as his intense gaze sweeping down my body. His hands followed, touching every part of me. He traced his mark on my throat with the tip of his finger. When he reached my curve of my stomach, he caressed the swell tenderly.

“You have lost weight, but our bud still grows strong.” His voice was deep with emotion.

“Yes, it was hard, but thinking of you kept me strong. I’ve missed you so much. I don’t ever want to be apart again!”

He hugged me close again, his hands stroking my back as he kissed my hair.

“No, never again,” he choked out.

Tilting my head back, he lowered his lips to mine, kissing me again. I clung desperately to his shoulders giving him everything I had and more.

The loud
zing
sound of weapons fire had us breaking apart. I pulled back from his arms and shoved my Put disrupter into his hands. He looked over the weapon and smile spread across his face.

“Killiu said you know how to use these?”

“Druel have similar disruptors, takes little skill to use.”

I snorted, knowing how long it took me to learn to use it.

“We’ve still got to destroy the Druel drones. I’ll explain everything else after.”

With a nod and his left hand wrapped tightly around my right, we hurried back to the village. Already the Zakiu fighters were engaging the Druel guard drones, and they were dropping like flies.

“Stay!” Morrdrook barked, with a pointed glare he pushed me behind the first hut on the row. I couldn’t help but grin as satisfaction swarmed through me. I nodded obediently. God, I loved having my big alien protector back, bossing me around. Watching as he charged into the fray, taking out two machines as he ran.

“Anna!” The squeal of Abby’s voice, I saw her running the perimeter of the village, steering clear of the fighting. Close at her heels was Joan. Both women dived behind the building and caught me between them, squashing me into a tight embrace. I squeaked struggling to breathe, until they let me go. I couldn’t help notice how swollen their stomachs were.

“Jaysus woman, you’re back! How? You look like some bad ass biker chick!”

“No more like Sigourney Weaver from the Alien movie.” Joan put in with a grin. “She brought big bad guns.”

“What happened to ya?”

I laughed at their mixed expression of delight and confusion.

“I found the lost Zakiu city. It’s a long story. I’ll tell you when we get the hell out of here.”

We waited out the firefight for a good ten minutes before there were no more Druel defense machines left. They lay smoking and sparking on the ground. A cheer rose up from the men.

Morrdrook’s grin was as wide as mine as we emerged from our hiding spot. He strode towards me, caught me up in his arms and swung me around.

“My Aunna, the savior of our people!” Everyone surrounded me, shouting and cheering.

“What is the city like? Is there anyone else there, how did you find it, what did…” the questions flew at me from all directions.

“Calm down.” I laughed. “You’ll see the city for yourself soon. I didn’t know how to drive the bigger ships, so I brought the air bike. I don’t know about anyone else, but I want to get out of this place.”

“Go gather your belongings,” Morrdrook ordered everyone present.

“Only if you want to. Everything you’ll need is right there. The city has been running itself for God knows how long. Morrdrook, put me down.”

He did so and I headed back over to the bike. Picking up the helmet, I slipped it on.

“E, is there any way to transport fifty-two people to Morradi City Prime?”

“Affirmative. E is sending an automated transport to your current location.”

“And why the heck didn’t you tell me about this automated transport earlier? I wouldn’t have spent all that time learning to fly the air bike.”

“You did not ask.” Well it made sense. I didn’t think to ask about anything bigger. My main goal was just to get back to Morrdrook and break free from the Druel’s hold.

“E, you and I are going to have words when I get back.”

“Affirmative, Anna. The transport will arrive in two hours.”

Removing the helmet, I glanced back to Morrdrook and saw a jealous scowl on his face.

“E? Is there someone else in the city?”

“No, there isn’t. E or Essence is the program invented by a Zakiu scientist to guard and protect the city. Oh Morrdrook, all of you, there is so much you have to catch up on.”

“Lost through the generations,” Killiu spoke up. “The Druel forbade us to speak of our people and our heritage when we were younger. Many suffered terrible torture at the hands of the Druel when the order was disobeyed. Still, my father would whisper it to me.” Tears gleamed in the older Zakiu’s eyes. He stepped forward, taking my hand. “Thanks to you, I will now see what he spoke of.”

“It was your guidance which got me there. Thank you, Killiu. Soon the transport will come to take you all home. This is your heritage and it’s time to take back what the Druel took from you.”

Morrdrook wrapped his arms around me from behind, his warmth and presence comforting.

“I have missed holding you in my arms.”

“I’ve missed being held by you.” I turned in his arms to gaze up into his eyes.

Morrdrook leaned in and kissed me reverently, before pulling back. “We have time. Come sit. I want to know everything that happened.”

Chapter Ten

Warm breath on the back of my neck made me smile, along with the hard erection poking into the curve of my ass. My lips tilted up into a grin, even before I opened my eyes.

The mattress felt soft and the sheets silky. But none of that mattered as long as I had the heat of Morrdrook’s body pressed against mine and his possessive arm draped around my middle. I didn’t care where I slept.

His fingers gently pushed aside hair from my neck and I felt his warm lips press against the back of my shoulder. I heaved a contented sigh.

“Where are we?” My whisper echoed in the large room. I opened my eyes and saw a spacious bedroom. From the grand swirling patterned ceilings and rich furnishings, I could only assume we were back in the palace.

I remembered loading the air bike onto the transport after everyone had boarded. Morrdrook had pulled me into his lap and I’d rested my head against his shoulder. Safe and secure in his arms, exhausted from the events of the day, I’d quickly fallen asleep.