Fighting Chance (15 page)

It had been two days since they landed on T’Kala and Mahoney
had spent most of her time at Mikael’s bedside. The infection had been
contained and cured by the next morning, so Marte and Mahoney had made their
way back to the hospital to keep vigil. Since only two visitors at a time were
allowed, she often found herself having to leave the room from time to time as
his family, friends, and crew members came to pay a visit. During these times,
she and Jessica would either make their way to the cafeteria or to the rooms of
the other warriors who were recovering from their wounds. Thankfully, all
eleven of the critically injured fighters from
The Ax’Sandre
were
expected to make a full recovery.

Many of the families and staff of the hospital seemed to
know who she was as word of the attack spread like wildfire. Mothers and lifemates
of the wounded would hug her, thank her for her help during the battle, and beg
her to come to their home for a meal. The fathers and brothers would eye her
skeptically at first, but quickly warmed up as they peppered her with questions
about her training and what had happened during the battle. The warriors
themselves brightened at her presence in their rooms and pressed her for
information about the commander’s prognosis. Doctors and medi-techs would pop
into Mikael’s room, obviously pretending to look at readouts from the medi-bed,
while shooting her furtive looks and whispering to each other.

She hated the attention and felt like she had done nothing
out of the ordinary that deserved such a response from the T’Kalans. She had
done what was necessary to help her friends and get to Mikael’s side. She was
gracious, though, and tried to avoid any undue praise while redirecting the
accolades to the warriors who had fought and died to defend the ship. In her
eyes, no one was a bigger hero than Mikael. Not only had he led his men into
battle and defeated the enemy, but he had saved her life almost at the cost of
his own.

Jessica enjoyed much of the same attention, but not because
of her celebrity. No one recognized the fresh-faced, makeup-free young woman as
the popular movie star from Earth. Instead, they knew her as the curious and
friendly human woman who spent her days flitting from room to room to check on
“her” warriors, asking a million questions about medical procedures, and
chatting animatedly with family and friends of the wounded. Her bright red hair
and pale skin caused quite the sensation among the darker skinned and
black-haired citizens, and many of them could be caught craning their necks for
a better look as she walked the halls singing a tune.

Late the second day, Mahoney and Jessica were talking next
to the humming medi-bed where Mikael was receiving treatment. His color was
much improved and his injuries were mostly healed with the exception of the
blade wound. A wide, red laser stayed focused on the wound and it was already
showing a marked improvement. Though the medi-bed kept him clean and the techs
checked him over several times a day, Mahoney still wiped his face with a damp
cloth and combed his hair and beard each day, more for her own comfort than for
his.

Jessica was picking at her cuticles nervously. “It’s been
two days since we disembarked, Mahoney, and I still haven’t seen or heard from
the king. What do you think he’s like? What do you think he wants me to do?”
she asked for the millionth time.

Mahoney put down the comb and resumed her seat next to his
bed and picked up his hand. She sighed heavily and responded, “For the
millionth time, Jess, I have no idea. I imagine he is very busy interrogating
the Warfarer prisoners and reviewing security footage from the ship so he will
get a clear picture of what is happening. I’m sure the nobles and their schemes
are the furthest thing from his mind right now. Just enjoy the reprieve while
you have it. Now that our parents are no longer worried that we’re dead, we can
enjoy the hospitality of T’Kala without guilt.”

With Ax’Sandre’s permission and Officer Felonia’s help, they
had sent a video email to each of their parents explaining that they were alive
and safe, but unable to return home at the present. They had apologized for the
abrupt nature of their departure, vaguely stating that it had been out of their
hands, and assured them that they were happy, healthy, and safe and would
contact them weekly with updates. The responses had been swift and full of
relief, anger, joy, and concern. There were questions they couldn’t answer and
pleas for them to come home, but the overwhelming feeling had been one of
supreme thankfulness that they were, in fact, alive and well.

“Well, I just hope he is half as handsome my warriors from
the ship and not some pansy wimp like you see in the movies. I’ve already been
asked out on dates by three different warriors, including Zandar, so I hope the
absent king doesn’t cause me any problems on that score. If I have to be stuck
here for a month, I at least want to have some fun!” she declared with a wicked
eyebrow waggle.

Mahoney chuckled as she twisted her hair back away from her
face. She couldn’t wait to find a hairdresser to have it cut back off in her
stylish, angled bob. “Just be careful, Jess. If this king is anything at all
like Mikael, he may have something to say about you running off with other
males while under his protection. Get the lay of the land first before you make
any hasty decisions, okay? If all goes well with Mikael, I may be making this
place my home, and I would hate to have to injure their king in my first month
here.”

Jessica’s tinkling laugh floated across the room as a knock
sounded on the door. They both looked up to see a handsome younger T’Kalan
warrior standing in the doorway. He was roughly about 6’4” and thicker across
his shoulders than most of the warriors that they had encountered. His hair was
also slightly longer than the shorn locks that the ship’s crew sported, and his
black locks waved gently away from his sculpted face. His clothing was plain,
but clean, with a skin-hugging hunter green shirt tucked into creased black
slacks. The most arresting part of his appearance, though, were his eyes. They
were also the same ghostly pale as the rest of the citizens, but they were a
lovely shade of pale lavender.

“I am sorry to intrude. I am a friend of Mikael’s and was
hoping to visit with him for a moment. Is now a bad time?” he requested
politely, his eyes glued to Jessica’s.

The young actress popped out of her seat and bestowed a
killer smile on the handsome young man. “Not at all. I was just going to walk
down to the cafeteria for some drinks. You can come in and keep Mahoney company
since she’s probably getting tired of mine!” she laughed, ever the consummate
flirt.

A slow, devastatingly sensual smile creeped up his face as
she brushed past him. “I look forward to our next meeting and wish you a happy
visit on T’Kala,” he replied with a deep rumble. She winked saucily and sailed
out of the room with her vivid red hair flipping behind her.

Mahoney chuckled and said, “Please forgive my friend. Being
surrounded by all this testosterone has sent her hormones into overdrive,” she
explained. “Would you like me to go so you can have some time alone with the
commander?”

He shook his head in the negative as he approached the bed
and peered down at his friend. “No, please stay. I am here to see you as much
as him. I have heard so much about the famous Katsuko Mahoney that I had to
come meet her for myself.”

“More like ‘infamous,’” she countered with a deprecating
shake of her head. “I don’t understand what all the fuss is about, to be
honest. Commander Mikael and his warriors are the ones who did all the hard
work. I was just trying to help any way I could.”

He studied her carefully with his hands held behind his back
and his head tipped to the side. “That is not the story I heard. I heard that
they were grossly outnumbered by the enemy and were in danger of losing the
ship until a squad of training bots arrived equipped with a protocol that
you
had designed and downloaded into their programming. I heard that you followed
behind them with more of those bots and fought with speed, skill, and
determination while stopping to aid the wounded. I then heard that you gave the
commander stun flares to disable the enemy reinforcements so that the hull
could be repaired before you took command of the ship after the commander’s
injury,” he summarized accurately, his gaze like a laser focus on her own.

Her face flooded with color. “I’m sorry, who did you say you
were again?”

His eyebrow quirked. “I didn’t, actually. Please allow me to
introduce myself. My name is Korian Alexi Ak’Falin, Warrior King of T’Kala.”

Mahoney jumped to her feet and stood awkwardly while trying
to decide if she had said anything embarrassing in front of Mikael’s king. “I’m
not sure what to do here,” she confessed. “Do I curtsy or bow? Should I call
you ‘Your Grace’ or ‘Your Majesty’?”

He laughed lightly and waved her back into her seat. “None
of the above. I am only another warrior who happened to born into the right
family. I believe that you have more than earned the right to call me Korian.”

“Okaaay,” Mahoney drawled suspiciously. “Then, please, call
me Mahoney. Only my mother, Mikael, and his
gamma
call me Katsuko. Let
me be frank here, Korian. Am I in some kind of trouble?”

He shot her a confused look. “Why would you think you are in
trouble, Mahoney? You have done our people a great service with your deeds. I
have spent the last two days interviewing witnesses, reviewing the ship’s logs,
and interrogating the prisoners and I have seen a clear picture of what has
occurred over the last two weeks. It is clear to me that had you not been on
board
The Ax’Sandre
, we would have not only suffered a mass casualty,
but we would still be ignorant of the stolen cloaking tech that the Warfarers
have acquired in order to launch another attack on our world.”

Her eyes widened at this latest development. “What will you
do? How can you fight against and enemy that you can’t see?”

He rubbed his temples, the past few days of stress beginning
to show on his young face. “We have contacted The Great Alliance with our
intelligence and are awaiting a response. Our interrogation leads us to believe
that this attack was not planned and that the raiding party took advantage of
the situation without the knowledge of their leaders. Now that they have shown
us their hidden daggers, we believe that they will bide their time until a more
opportune moment to launch a full-scale attack.”

Mahoney puzzled over the odd phrase, before she brightened.
“On Earth, our expression for that situation is called ‘tipping their hand.’ 
It refers to card games where someone inadvertently reveals their strategy in
the middle of a game. I think I actually prefer the T’Kalan way of stating
that, though,” she added thoughtfully.

He nodded his head in agreement before continuing, “I hope
to learn more about your culture on Earth while you stay with us, Mahoney. Am I
correct in thinking that your stay may be permanent?”

Her eyes swung to the bed where Mikael rested peacefully.
“I’m not sure yet, Korian. Mikael and I had a nasty fight right before the invasion.
He may no longer wish to have me,” she replied, her voice clogging with tears.

The king’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “I have known Mikael
my entire life and I think of him as a brother. I know how stubborn he can be,
and from the footage I have viewed on the ship’s server, I would say that you
have nothing to fear. He will not let you go so easily.”

Mahoney groaned and hid her face behind her hands. “Please
tell me this footage didn’t include his quarters.”

His laughter was loud in the small the room, but he hurried
to assuage her fears. “No, but it did include the training room, conference
room, hallways, and several meeting rooms. Have no fear, Mahoney. Officer
Felonia has assured me that any compromising footage will mysteriously
disappear from the record.”

“Thank God!” she exclaimed, her face flaming with
embarrassment. “He never told me that there were cameras everywhere!”

“I would say he was not thinking clearly for most of the
journey when it came to you, so I hope you do not hold it against him,” he
commented. “It has been my honor to meet you, Mahoney, but I must take my leave
to attend to other matters. Please give Mikael my best wishes on a speedy
recovery, and I expect to see you both at my compound soon.”

A sudden thought had Mahoney shooting to her feet. “Wait!
What about Jessica? What will you do with her?” she asked, her body vibrating
with tension.

His gaze moved to the empty doorway where her vivacious
friend had recently departed. “For now, she may remain at your side until Mikael
has been discharged from the hospital. That should give me time to address the
current situation and prepare for her arrival. She will be treated with the
utmost respect and care at my home. I give you my word as a T’Kalan warrior on
this.” When Mahoney seemed satisfied, he tipped his head to her and saluted her
with a clenched fist to his chest. “May the stars bless your union with many
young, Warrior Mahoney. T’Kala is ever in your debt.”

Mahoney placed her hands on her thighs with fingers touching
and bowed low at the waist. “The honor is mine, King Korian. Thank you for
gracing us with your visit.”

The following morning, Mahoney was in a fit of anticipation.
Dr. Bak’Nar had informed them just two hours earlier that Mikael’s prognosis
had improved so quickly that they were terminating the stasis protocol. His
stomach wound was still healing, but it had shrunk considerably as the
corrective treatment regenerated the cells and tissue. The wound had closed
from the bottom and was now just a deep gash that got smaller with each passing
hour. The doctor had cautioned Mahoney not to get excited if he didn’t wake on
his own for some time. In severe cases like his, it could take up to 24 hours
for the patient to regain consciousness. She encouraged Mahoney to talk to him
or share memories since T’Kalan studies had shown a marked increase in the time
a patient had awakened when loved ones were vocal. After the doctor left,
Ax’Sandre had seconded her opinion, and could not hide the glint of happiness
that lit up her pale green eyes.

After giving her son a kiss on the forehead and whispering
her love into his ear, she departed the room to report for duty aboard the ship
where repairs were being made and the medical ward was being upgraded with
better equipment. Mahoney promised to send word as soon as Mikael woke if it
should occur before she returned. Marte was on her way to join Mahoney, but was
stopping at the air dock to pick up his other grandparents who had retired to a
tropical city halfway across the planet. She hoped that the arrival of so many
people that loved him would pull him out of his slumber all the quicker,
because she couldn’t wait to see his beautiful eyes again.

Mahoney had never talked so much in her life as she did for
those two hours. She covered everything that had happened in the last few days,
how his crew were faring, and how much she had grown to love his mother and
grandmother in such a short span of time. She told him about Japan and her
parents, and how beautiful the cherry blossoms were when they bloomed in late January
and how they picnicked beneath their colorful blooms each year. She even spoke
in Japanese and recited poems from her youth.

Growing weary, Mahoney laid her head on the bed next to his
arm and encircled his large hand in hers. Very softly, she began to sing. Her
voice was not star-quality, but it was light and pleasant to the ear. She
reached her favorite verse and sang quietly, “
If I had a box just for
wishes/And dreams that had never come true/The box would be empty except for
the memory of how/They were answered by you…”
Her voice trailed off when
she thought she felt his hand twitch in hers. She glanced at his face, but his
eyes were still closed. She leaned toward him and ran her hand down his face
and started the whole song over again.
“If I could save time in a bottle/The
first thing that I’d like to do/Is to save every day till eternity passes
away/Just to spend them with you.”

His eyelashes fluttered against his cheeks and Mahoney’s
voice dropped away. “Mikael?” she whispered, afraid that he would fade away
again. “Mikael, can you hear me?”

His eyes opened slowly and blinked lazily as he tried to
focus. His lips moved, but no words came out. She reached over to the table and
brought a cup filled with the
zala
berry-infused water that his mother
had left and carefully fit the straw into his mouth. He drank clumsily at
first, but had soon emptied the cup as his eyes finally focused on her face.

“Little warrior,” he whispered, his voice fractured from
being silent for so long. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Where are we?
Is the crew safe?”

Tears ran down her face and splashed against his chest and
she struggled to contain her emotion so she could reassure him. “We’re at the
hospital in P’Hartha, my love. We made it to T’Kala and your crew and ship are
safe. You were seriously injured while saving my life. Do you remember?”

His eyes searched hers for several moments as if drinking
her down into his soul. “Am I your love, Katsuko?” he answered instead.

She laughed through her tears, happiness bursting from
within, and leaned down to press her lips lightly to his for a soft, lingering
kiss. “Yes, yes, yes,” she whispered into his mouth. “You are my love, my
heart, and my soul. You are my everything.”

His lips met hers for a deep, heart-melting kiss. He pulled
back reluctantly, his head having grown heavy on his shoulders, but his grip on
her hand was strong. “I thought I would never hear those words from your lips
and my heart despaired, for I knew I would never love another as I do you, sweet
one.”

She cried harder and peppered his face with kisses. “I’m so
sorry, Mikael. So very, very sorry. I was on my way back to tell you when the
alarms sounded, and I thought I would never get the chance to tell you how much
I love you.”

His free hand drifted up to push a lock of her hair behind
her ear. “Shhh, do not cry. There is nothing to forgive. Such is the way with
lifemates. The more we love each other, the more we will fight. But the making
up part will be all the better for it and I cannot wait to get out of this bed
and into my own to make up with you.”

She laughed joyously, relief and giddiness radiating from
her every pore. “You know, your mother told me much the same thing,” she
revealed. Her face froze and she jumped from the bed. “Oh, no! I told
mina
that I would call her when you woke up. Let me go get a medi-tech to check on
you and contact her and Marte.”

“Not quite yet, Katsuko. I just want to be with you for a
time before they all descend upon me like slavering
vlarneks
,” he
pleaded. With a grunt of effort, he moved his body slowly over to the side of
the bed, and the red corrective laser followed him. He patted the empty spot
with his hand. “Come and lay with me for moment. I want nothing more than to
feel your body pressed against mine once more.”

She started to protest, but changed her mind when his face
turned mulish with stubbornness. Very slowly, she eased her way onto the bed,
careful not to jostle him. She cushioned her head on his chest and he pulled
her in closer to his side with his arm. Her hand rested over his heart and she
could feel its beat strong and sure against her palm and it made her smile.

They spoke quietly in fits and spurts, interspersing words
of love with news about the aftermath of the attack. He asked about the
warriors that had died in battle, and she told him their names reluctantly.
Though he was full of sorrow at their loss, he commended their bravery and
wished them rest with the stars. She told him about the king’s visit in detail,
and though he remarked about the news concerning the Warfarer’s plans, he was
most intrigued by Korian’s final actions.

“And you are sure he saluted you with a clenched fist to the
heart, Katsuko?” he asked for the third time.

She leaned up to shoot him a curious look. “Yes, Mikael.
I’ve already been over this three times. It’s the same salute I’ve seen your
men give to you. Why do you keep asking me that?”

He pressed her head back to his chest and replied, “It is
very simple, my sweet one. It is called The Warrior Salute and it is the first
lesson we learn in training. It is a symbol of respect, loyalty, and honor and
each time we clench our fists to our hearts, we are saying ‘Our heart for our
king.’ That salute has never been given to an off-worlder, much less a female.
And it was given to you by our king himself.”

Mahoney’s heart swelled with pride. “I am more than honored
to be counted among you. I could ask for no better reward than to be considered
as equal to a T’Kalan warrior. Well, I could ask for one thing that would be
better,” she hedged.

“Name it and it shall be yours if it is within my power to
grant it, sweet one,” he promised.

She leaned up once more and her exotic brown eyes locked
onto his pale green ones. “I wish to be the lifemate of Commander Mikael R’Varsel
and to one day have his children. I wish to travel across the galaxies with
him, fight alongside him, and make love to him every day. I wish for him to
love me forever, even when I am angry and unreasonable, and to forgive me when
I do him wrong.”

He sucked in a breath and lifted a shaking hand to her
cheek. He stroked her lips tenderly, love and emotion in every touch. “As my
lady wishes, so will it be granted,” he replied softly before pulling her lips
down to his once more.