Knight in Shining Alien?: Athrian Warriors Book One (15 page)

“Ahh, Jarrek. My very old friend. How wonderful it is to see you again. I must say that you are looking much better than the last time I saw you. You are so much prettier when the black and purple starts showing on your skin. I really have to work on your ugly face though. It just begs me for correction. Every time we talk I mean to get started on that, but you look so good in purple, I start with that. My guards have done us both a favor, would not you agree?” Varill questioned after walking around Jarrek and checking the lovely work his guards did. He gestured for a couple of guards to pick him so that he could look Jarrek in his swollen, purple and black eyes. “Where is my pet? Have you brought back my property?”

Jarrek spit blood at Varill. He hoped that his men could hear that he was a captive and had already left with his daughter, brother and the poor other woman they found. “You will never have my Cordisa Varill. I will see you dead first.”

Varill just licked at the blood and enjoyed it. Chuckling a little, he said, “Oh Jarrek, such a manly cliché, how droll. You must have something better than that. Perhaps I should have my men bring your lovely brother in here with us. He has not been as abused as the others with him have, but I have helped him look better. Shall I give you matching looks? No, that would not work on your face. I really must go with the original work I think will make you the most beautiful. But perhaps your brother will help you find your tongue to answer my questions without all of the posturing, hmm?” Varill asked.

“You would have a hard time producing him Varill, as you have been quite lax in your security. There has been no one to challenge me when I came to remove my brother and daughter from your tender care. I have come and gone three times since we last spoke.” Jarrek taunted Varill.

Varill screamed for his guards to verify the veracity of Jarrek's claims, but already could tell that he spoke the truth.

“Dammit, Jarrek. I will rain fire on your ship and kill all aboard. Those who do not perish in the first wave will wish they had when I let my guard have them. I may have been lax in my security and should have anticipated that you would try to rescue your brother, but we have recently found such entertaining vids from my pet's home planet, I was a little distracted. The kind that shows how we can penetrate our enemy's with our shafts while simultaneously causing the maximum amount of pain and anguish to bring our hormones to peak. We may even be able to produce females of our kind again. I will be lauded, heralded with the resurrection of our race. First, though I have to get enough of my own young ready. Once I have my own army, dedicated to me only, and not the crown of Yurzzat. I will return and crown myself King. We will conquer my little pet's planet and keep the females for breeding and the men to satisfy our need for pain and humiliation to keep our hormones at peak.”

Varill began pulling out his knives and laser cutters, in preparation of making Jarrek more beautiful, before he sent him to meet his creators. Walking over to Jarrek, he carefully made his first cut to his face. Precision was key to creating perfection.

“Lurzar here has been telling me the most amazing tale. That the females of their kind can also be used to torture and penetrate, but that they carry their young inside them and not in eggs. He is working on a female to see if that is true and if he can impregnate her. We will see if she can carry our young. If it is successful, I may just take up residence on my Pet's planet and make it my world entirely. I could create a planet of children dedicated to my rule and me. With my trusted guard and Second here to help me create more females of our kind, we could repopulate the race that you and yours have decimated. Why, do you know that we are a race of practically nothing? We have five such ships like my own here and only the rulers of my planet left and they are cryogenically frozen to preserve the leadership of our people.” Varill relayed to Jarrek as he kept his cuts slow and steady.

He wanted to make sure that he got deep enough to really make the changes stick. Varill would have to make sure Jarrek healed with the perfection that he was creating before sending him to his death. He wanted to make sure that Jarrek looked his best for the ridiculous female they worshiped.

“You know my friend; I can already see some improvement to your face. I really feel that you are going to look just perfect when I am through. Let us take a small break and perhaps discuss where my pet is and what you have done while you were on my ship these three different times as you have stated.” Varill asked as his guard came back with the knowledge that Kirrek and the daughter were indeed gone. It seems Jarrek had also managed to take Lurzar's playmate, who was being informed of that fact now. “I have been informed of your brother's rescue along with my second’s female. Perhaps you can save yourself some pain by telling us where they are?” Varill stepped back as Lurzar came up to Jarrek.

“Where my toy? Want my experiment back now!” Lurzar managed to grit through the slit of his mouth.

“I would never return a female to your care. I would not even give you a luzarian worm. They are far away from you and that is all that matters. I have ships headed this way to join me in blowing you to hell.” Jarrek managed to get out from behind a clenched jaw. His teeth were in danger of shattering, so tight a hold did he have on them. They would have to work harder if they wanted him to scream out his pain.

“Perhaps I can help convince you to return what belongs to me. I have watched many of the vids that they have on the little white marble, and they have practices in pain there that are very much to my liking. I think I will share some of them with you.” Lurzar promised him. Looking for permission from Varill, who nodded and sat back in his seat to watch the coming show, his shaft already rising in anticipation.

“Yes, my new King likes that idea very much.” Lurzar said and turned Jarrek's head to show him Varill's rising shaft. Stepping back he removed his clothing and walked casually over to the instruments lined up for Varill's use in making Jarrek's new face. “Let us start by removing some of your pretty red skin, and then I will break a few bones and sink my shaft inside you. You may not enjoy this, but we will I assure you. Perhaps his Majesty will avail himself of your body as well. Would not that be nice?”

No! That was the only word screaming inside his head. Perhaps he was hasty in wanting Varill to kill him. His body began to tingle and he felt relieved all of the sudden. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to sink inside his body to figure out what was going on and found himself with his Cordisa in the Goddesses’ chapel. He felt her confusion and love for him and was so happy to know that she did love him. Jarrek watched as the Goddess came alive and spoke with her, Holy Goddess above! They were beyond blessed that she had come to them. Hailey was going to accept their bond; she just had to save him from being an idiot. Jarrek watched as Hailey spoke to Loku and some of his other warriors about how to work the bond and her relief that she was able to reach him.

“Too late, my love. I am sorry that I failed you, failed to give you time and a choice. I wish that I could escape and come back to you, but they have found a way to kill my symbiot’s ability to morph away from here. I am too late; I love you and will see you on the other side when it is your time to come join me. Please let our daughter know of the love that we have for one another and her.” Jarrek pushed his thoughts and feelings to her along their bond. He ignored all that was being done to the outside of his body; it no longer mattered what they did, he was about to join the Goddess and if she allowed it, watch and protect Hailey and their daughter.

             
Marthos had just completed his secondary mission and was heading back to the ship when he ran into Bruthus and Rometho. Each signaled the completion of their missions and were turning back to the ship when Jarrek’s comm engaged and they listened to his capture and beating. They all raced back to the ship to see if the others heard the capture as well and to come up with a plan.

              There they found a controlled type of chaos as Sameth worked to save the small little female. She looked as though she came from the same marble that Hailey had, but her body painted a clear picture that she was not left unaware of the things happening to her, nor was she spared their torture. She was missing skin from her breasts, stomach and thighs from what they could see. She was not as lush and round as Hailey and her skin was not as dark. In fact she looked almost translucent her skin was so fair. Her black hair did not help darken her skin. The small female had her hair shorn to her head in a spiky style and they wondered if the Krakill had cut her hair off as part of their torture. They felt horrible and said a prayer to the Goddess to watch over the little one.

              “Did you hear the Commander’s capture?” Marthos asked into the frenzy.

              “Yes. Shemrick and I were just discussing what we should do, if anything.” Heathrick replied still watching over the small little female he had saved.

              “I was charged with returning Kirrek and the Commander’s daughter back to the ship with all haste if something should happen to him. I just wondered if we should leave a volunteer behind to rescue him if there is an opportunity.” Marthos said looking around at each face.

              Hearing a sound back at the entrance hatch, they all froze and pulled their weapons. Bruthus and Rometho going back the way they came. Seeing Darthos they let out a breath and released the tension that had turned their bodies into killing machines. They saw the state he was in, turned, and led the way back into the medical bay, re-sheathing weapons as they walked. They knew that he would have to wait for medical attention, but they could get him strapped to a berth and ready him for Sameth’s attention.

They should have brought another medical officer with them. Sameth was only one person and with the little human, Kirrek and now Darthos injured and needing attention, he would need a few extra hands. Fortunately, although they were both severely injured, they were not in danger of dying and Sameth could spend all of his energies on saving the female.

When the other warrior’s did not hear fighting but instead them returning back to medical they wondered what is was they had heard before Darthos came into view, slowly dragging his battered body into medical. Marthos turned to Bruthus and said, “I believe that you should get us out of here, Captain. We must return to the ship in all haste. I want our Princess safe and the small female may need more attention than Sameth will be able to provide on the small amount of medical supplies that we have.  I am charged with their safety and have agreed to follow his directive.” Marthos hoped he was up to the challenge that Jarrek had given to him. Kirrek would probably be the hardest to convince.

Bruthus looked at Marthos, not really surprised by his Commander’s directive. When you were lucky enough to find your Cordisa you made plans for every contingency. Taking one last look at the small female who continued to capture his attention, he went to get them back to the Sh’dow al D’th. “Poor little thing, Goddess protect and watch over her.” Bruthus prayed as he took his seat and began his stealth maneuvers to get them back home.

The return trip seemed to go by so much faster, even though Marthos was actually tenser than when they started out. Sending a small bubble of encrypted messages when they were ten verls from the ship, he hoped they would have enough time to complete the directives. He had alerted Loku that their mission was successful and that medical needed to be alerted to the little humans’ needs along with Kirrek, Darthos and the Princess. He had included the news of Jarrek’s capture and the directive given to him from Jarrek as regards Kirrek, Hailey and the Princess. He was sure that he would need help in keeping that promise.

              “There is an incoming message for you, sir.” A voice said through the speaker of the comm, situated at the head of the table in front of Hailey. Looking down at the speaker, than up to Loku, she said, “Jarrek has been captured by Varill and is hurt pretty bad. Now his second in command, Lurzar or Lazur or whatever he’s called is hurting Jarrek for information on a female that our guys may have rescued, but they have hurt very badly.” Hailey blinked rapidly, coming out of the dual experience. It was going to take some getting used to, without making her want to hurl. It had made her a little dizzy.

              Loku leaned over the table and pushed the response button. “Please send it to me here.” He commanded. Two seconds later a beep came through and Loku pressed a button and put the message on the big screen to the left of the table on the wall. They all read the contents quickly, and cheered for the successful retrieval of Kirrek, Darthos, and her daughter, who it shocked her, to realize was these men’s Princess. The condition of the woman shocked them all. Hailey was suddenly grateful that she was not awake or aware of what happened to her and felt horribly guilty that she had not suffered like this other woman. Which was silly, she thought to herself, but she felt it just the same.

              Loku looked over at the older men seated at the table and thanked them for their service and then dismissed them. He then summoned his aid into the room and began issuing orders for medical to meet the incoming ship with three gurneys to transport the wounded and their best medical personnel to meet the ship to transfer the Princess to the suite set aside for her care. Second Senior Medical Doctor Krases B’el Whalekin would be overseeing every moment of her care as soon as she touched down. Not only was he an excellent medical healer, but Sameth had chosen him to study every single document that they had in the data chips for infants, women and embryonic development. He now possessed all the knowledge that they would need to keep the Princess alive until she could be born, and he would make sure, down to the cellular level that she was perfectly healthy. They were all terrified that the Krakill had managed to harm her somehow. It was something those evil bastards were certainly capable of. Every warrior was holding his breath and saying prayers to the Goddess to let her be healthy and strong.

              “Would you like to go meet the ship?” Loku asked Hailey.

              “No, I would like to speak to Sid for a moment and then you.” Hailey told him.

“Then if you will excuse me, I will call for refreshments and return.” Loku said and gave her a small bow with his hand over his heart.

“Sid, I know that you want to get to the ship or medical to meet and check on your man, but I want to ask about the message from Marthos. He has specifically said that these instructions come from Jarrek and outline that Kirrek is to take my daughter and me to your planet and she is to be taught what is needed to rule. Is this something that is necessary? Why will I not be able to take her home with me?” Hailey questioned Sidhawk as he had stepped into her confidant role and had been honest in all he said. He had taken the time to get to know her and let her get to know him. Jarrek hadn’t even done that. To be fair, they had been caught up in this mess, but still.

“Jarrek is your Corduva, and must make plans for every contingency, including his death. He is ensuring you are taken care of and that you have all you could possibly require. Of course you will have to come to our planet Hailey, do you keep forgetting that your daughter is a Princess and Jarrek’s heir? He is the next ruler of our planet. When he passes to the next plane, his daughter will rule after him. If he passes to the next plane before she has come of age, then Jarrek appoints a guardian to teach her how to rule the throne and takes care of that throne until she is of age to take over those duties. I am quite sure that you are part of that ruling body as you are his Princess now that you are bonded. Kirrek is his brother and can be trusted to rule for your daughter without trying to usurp her place, or yours.” Sidhawk explained as patiently as he could while inside he was ready to race off and kick Kirrek’s ass. He heartily approved of Jarrek’s provisions. It would force Kirrek to stop his rush towards death and keep him safe. Not that he wanted Jarrek to die. Goddess no, but perhaps he could order his brother to refrain from missions and help train his daughter. Sidhawk was tired of space. There was nothing to see, even when they found a trading post or moon to search and they could stretch their legs. Very few planets were capable of sustaining life, so there were not as many where they could spend a few weeks in the crisp air.

“Thanks Sid. You can go to Kirrek. Kick his ass sweetie. Doesn’t matter if he is hurting, kick him more. That way he can do all his healing at one time. I doubt you would go so far as to kill him, but he needs to see you fierce honey, or he will walk all over you.” Hailey told him, standing up to give him a gentle hug. She only reached his collarbone.

“You are a wonderful woman Hailey. Jarrek was really lucky that the Goddess gave him you.” Sidhawk said and kissed the top of her head.

Hailey blushed, but was pleased with the compliment. “I think we both got lucky. I hope you do as well, Sid. Don’t worry too much. I remember all that you told me about bonded couples and it will be all right.” She watched him walk out the doors to chase after his man. She hoped he did kick Kirrek.

“He is correct, you know. Jarrek did get lucky that the Goddess gave you to him.” Loku said from the opposite doorway, surprising Hailey.

“What? I thought I was Satan incarnate, or the great big evil, inconsiderate and uncouth.” Hailey replied, trying not to show her surprise at his watching her talk to Sidhawk.

“I was angry and panicked that my best friend of the last fourteen hundred years was inconsolable when you broke his heart. Jarrek was talking about killing himself or letting Varill kill him so that you could be free. I did not stop to consider your side. I did not care about your side. I only wanted to help my friend, and yes, my past lover. I am apologizing to you, that I did not stop to think of all that you had gone through. You have my most heartfelt apologies, my Queen.” Loku said in his most solemn tone and bowed deeply with his hand over his heart. He held that pose for a moment before straightening his spine.

“Look, Loku. I get it, really. I would have probably done the same thing if I were in your shoes. If my best friend came to me and cried on my shoulder, then I would rip the person to pieces. I wouldn’t care if it was her fault or his fault, or all a big misunderstanding. If she was crying and hurt then I would hurt him just because he made her cry. You basically did what I would do. It hurt. I cried and then I thought about it after I talked with the Goddess. We’re cool. No need to apologize, but I accept it and give my apologies to you. I am sorry Loku.” Hailey told him and then stepped closer to give him a big hug. Once she stepped back she looked up at him and said, “Let’s sit back down. You alien bastards are too tall for me to keep looking up, it hurts my neck. At least at the table it is a little better. I don’t feel as though I have to strain my neck to look at you.” Hailey sat down and continued.