Desert World Savages: The Complete Series (20 page)

He pushed hard, filling every part of her, and she whimpered.

"Rev!"

He moved at a steady pace, a gentle rocking that flared her desire but did not fill it. With urgency, Tracy grabbed his hips and pulled him into her.

"Now!"

He bent his head and kissed her, his tongue filling her mouth. He moved faster inside her. She could only whimper as he built the heat in her, every part of her crying for release. Her heart beat hard in her chest, and she tossed her head, feeling the start of a fire that began where Rev joined with her. She cried out his name, and a few seconds later, he cried out hers as he let go within her.

The sickbay was quiet. The lights were dimmed. Tracy lay next to Rev, but she lay straight, her hands clenched to her side. Everything she learned the past couple days swirled in her head. She glanced over at Rev who was peacefully sleeping.

"He'd do it," she thought. "He'd give up everything in his life for me."

Despite his protestations that she was more important to him than anything else, Tracy could not let Rev make that sacrifice.

Tracy noticed a movement at the door, and she sat up.

"Hello, Noc Walsh." It was the Nurse.

"Yes, what do you have there?"

"Clothes for you and tracker Ar-Reven."

"Thank you." Tracy noticed her clothes were a plain shirt and slacks, while Rev's clothing was an official uniform. She'd like to see him in that uniform. He'd look hot.

"Noc Walsh, let me help you to the showers."

"If you point me to them, I'll go myself."

"It's the sickbay rules. I must accompany you."

Tracy shrugged. "Then let's go." She slid to the floor and followed Nurse S'den through the hallways to the showers.

Inside, Nurse S'den handed her towels and soap.

Once the shower had started, and no one could over hear the conversation, the Nurse whispered in Tracy's ear. "I'd like to help you," she said.

"I can handle a shower myself."

"That's not what I meant. Counselor Ja-Idin Du's people are more than a little invested in their place in the galactic government. Despite how they act, they are very powerful. Some of us believe the Dus are corrupt, and they do not want another race to usurp them. Your presence is a threat to them, and they will do everything they can to make that threat go away."

"Are you telling me that they are bullshitting me and Rev?"

"The words they say are true. The intent, however, is not."

"All the more reason for me to go home."

"No! Listen, please. Among my people is a story, a prophecy, if you will. It says this:

One who comes from a distant star
From ancient royalty
Will come to take
The Galactic Seat
So that all people may live
In peace and harmony

"That's very nice," said Tracy, "but that isn't me. I'm just a paper girl, and you folks seem to have things pretty good here."

"For some of us, Noc Tracy. Many people suffer. You've seen yourself how people are abducted and put to slavery, and the government does NOTHING."

"They have trackers, like Rev."

"The trackers do not have enough resources to do their job correctly."

Tracy shook her head.

"Ja-Idin Du is right. My being here is just stirring up trouble. You folks have to work out your own problems. I have enough of my own."

When Tracy returned to sickbay, she found that Rev was gone, to her disappointment.

"He has gone to the trials to give testimony." said the Nurse. "Would you like to watch?"

"Can I?"

"Yes, public trials are televised for all to see."

Tracy nodded and got up on her bed while Nurse S'den activated a holographic display.

Tracy felt as if she was sitting in the hall. She saw Rev standing next to Captain Sa-Moten and Counselor Ja-Idin Du on the floor of a majestic room. The hall was circled with concentric rings of seats filled with many different types of strange looking people. Against a high glass wall that looked out over a great city was a long bench. Six stern looking humanoids sat behind it.

Jaal, Bris, and Grenta were brought into the hall, hands and feet in shackles. Jaal and Bris looked a little worse for wear, while Grenta wore a defiant look on his face.

"Who is that?" asked Tracy, pointing to a black robed man standing with the prisoners.

"That is their Counselor. He was assigned to make sure that they receive fair treatment."

Tracy snorted, crossing her arms.

One of the judges looked at the assembled men.

"The charges against citizens Jaal, Bris, and Grenta are abducting women from non-aligned worlds, a high felony, abduction with intent to sell, a high felony, genetic manipulation of the genomes of non-aligned world sentients, a high felony, and the murder of tracker Ar-Teven, an officer of the Enforcement Wing, conviction of which carries a sentence of immediate lifetime incarceration."

"That's a lie," called out Bris.

"Counselor, control your client."

"It's a lie. Ask the Captain here. That tracker is alive!"

"Counselor!"

The Counselor which stood with the criminals spoke quietly and urgently talked to Jaal, Bris, and Grenta. Finally he turned back to the court.

"Your honors, the accused are prepared to offer proof of life for the tracker Ar-Teven."

"For what consideration?"

"Withdrawal of the murder charge."

"That is fair. The charge will be withdrawn upon receipt of proof of life. Let's proceed. I see we have tracker Ar-Reven, the brother of Ar-Teven, to give testimony. I understand there are witnesses to these crimes as well."

"Your honor," said Ja-Idin, "With respect, we have discovered facts that make producing the witnesses impossible."

"And what facts are those?"

"Medical reports are in the case files forwarded to you this morning. We ask for your honor's discretion as this information is highly sensitive."

The judges immediately brought up shimmering screens full of information. The images appeared blurred to Tracy. Some of the judges looked at other with surprised looks on their faces.

"Very well. The prosecution will make its case on the testimony of tracker Ar-Reven. Proceed."

Rev started his narrative, sparring no detail about everything that he witnessed while he was in the company of the accused. He told them how he fought Cax in the hotel room, stealing his identity and thus being able to gain entrance to the restricted sections of Jaal's ship. Rev spoke about the abduction of Tracy and Carol, the conversion process, and what Carol and the other women were forced to endure. He detailed delivering the women to the Staukub mining camp, his escape from the angry miners, Bris and Jaal beating him and dropping him to the desert, and the final attack by Bris and Jaal.

As he spoke, the background chatter of the people in the hall died down until the only voice speaking was Rev in his clear, deep voice. Tracy thought he never looked or sounded more impressive.

"Tracker Ar-Reven, thank you for your testimony in this matter."

Rev nodded and stepped back.

"Testimony is accepted by a trusted source and recorded for the record. Judgement is rendered. Captain Jaal, Bris, and Doctor Grenta, you have two choices. The first is the permanent stripping of travel rights through the Aligned Worlds and being restricted to the Aligned World of your choice. While on planet, you will have no access to relief services, and you will be expected to support yourselves. You will report regularly to a case officer to report your whereabouts and activities for the rest of your natural lives. Your second choice is ten to twenty years in a prison facility determined by the Aligned Worlds Corrections Wing. You will be incarcerated here until your decision is made. Take away the prisoners."

"Wait," said Tracy to the Nurse. "They get to choose their punishment?"

"Of course! The restriction of a citizen's rights is a grave matter."

Tracy shook her head. She had her own notion of what kind of justice these men deserved.

"Our next trial, that of the activities of tracker Ar-Reven, will be conducted in private due to the classified nature of those activities. We will return at sentencing."

The screen went blank, and Tracy stared at the space where the hologram projected.

"They can't do that, can they?"

"I told you," said S'din, "the Du do not want your existence known. Here is some food for you, Noc Walsh. You should not go without eating."

Tracy picked at her food, despite the fact that it all looked delicious. She wanted to know what was going on with Rev. Minutes stretched into hours, agitating Tracy. She paced the sickbay, flopped on her bed, and paced again.

Finally, the hologram flickered, and she saw Rev standing next to Ja-Idin Du. His grim expression filled Tracy with dread.

"Tracker Ar-Reven, testimony is given and accepted. Because of your record of service, your sentence is not commensurate with the charges. Therefore your choices are take treatment as discussed and resume your duties with the Enforcement Wing or six months incarceration in a facility to be determined by the Corrections Wing of the Aligned Worlds. You'll be detained until a decision is made."

"Your honor, I choose to state my sentence now."

"Go ahead."

"I choose the treatment as discussed."

"Very good, tracker Ar-Reven, you will report to available medical facilities for treatment. Thank you for your service."

The holographic display collapsed and with it so did Tracy's hopes. She sat feeling punched in the gut even though she knew it was the best thing for him. Tracy just didn't expect Rev to give up on them so easily.

She wiped away the tears in her eyes to see Ja-Idin Du watching her silently.

"Noc Walsh, I am here to escort you to the ship to take you to your home world."

"Where's Rev? I want to say good-bye to him."

"I'm sorry, Noc Walsh, you can never see tracker Ar-Reven again. It will do neither of you any good."

Tracy crossed her arms and looked straight ahead.

"I'm not going anywhere until I see Rev."

With movements so swift they shocked her, Ja-Idin was on her. His eyes blazed, his breath was so hot it flushed Tracy's skin. "You will leave this ship as quickly as possible. I've had enough of you!"

Tracy never heard so much menace in any man's voice. His mouth opened revealing large fangs that dripped liquid.

Tracy gasped and pushed him away.

Ja-Idin fell to the ground, startled. He picked himself up and jumped at her, his fangs flashing. Tracy fell onto the table that held her food tray. It crashed to the floor.

"It would be a service to us all if you did not live," he hissed. He moved forward, fangs exposed and ready to bite. Her heart pounded and her back was against the bed. She gripped the edges and kicked out her right foot as he advanced, catching him in the chest. Ja-Idin flew backward, falling on the floor in a daze.

Without a backward glance, Tracy ran from the sickbay and down the halls.

"Help, help!" she called.

Tracy was in a panic. She didn't know where anything was on the ship, didn't know where to go, or who to trust.

The only one she could trust was...

"Tracy!" It was Rev's voice. She whipped her head around to see Rev rushing towards her from down the hall. Behind Rev was the Captain and several men in pursuit.

"Stop, tracker," called Captain Sa-Moten.

Rev swept her up in his arms. "What's wrong, Tracy?"

"PUT DOWN THE SENTIENT," boomed the Captain.

"Ja-Idin Du. He had fangs. He had-"

Rev whirled around to the Captain. "I am charging Counselor Ja-Idin Du with assault with intent to commit harm to a non-aligned world sentient. Go arrest him."

"Tracker Ar-Reven, if you do not release that sentient, I will be forced to make charges of my own."

"Then do so and get out of my way. It's obvious that her care can not be entrusted to you."

"Tracker-"

Rev turned away, grabbed Tracy's hand, and raced down the corridor. There was a big commotion behind them. When the noises died down, Tracy had to ask Rev a question.

"Where exactly are we running?" gasped Tracy.

"We're going to steal a spaceship."

"Steal a spaceship? Are you crazy?"

"Crazy for you, apparently so, but I told you that I wouldn't give you up. If that makes me crazy, so be it."

"But you said..."

"What? That I would take the treatment? That was only to get back here to you. Otherwise they would escort me to a transport for prison."

She gave him a wide smile.

"Okay, space cop, where are we going?"

"Home."

"Home, to Earth home?"

"No, Tracy Walsh, I'm taking my mate home to my planet. It's time you meet my family, but first we have to make a little stop."

"What kind of stop?"

"We have to rescue my brother."

The sound of boots pounding the hallway greeted their ears.

"We better get moving."

Tracy took Rev's hand and they ran.

Tracy's story will continue in QUEEN OF THE SAVAGES. The first part will be released on July 10, 2015!

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