The Pack-Retribution (3 page)

“C’mon, none of us saw that coming. Not even Cal.” Valens stepped closer and put his hands on her shoulders.

She tensed. “I’m not making excuses for this.” She stepped back from him. But he held firm. “I’m…just give me some time to deal with this, okay?”

His shoulder’s dropped and he stepped in closer. His thumb teased her cheek. “Okay. I love you. You know I’m here when you need it.” Valens dropped his hands from her shoulders.

“I love you too….and, thanks for understanding.” She went to the car.

The others quietly piled in. Valens got in and pulled her onto his lap. This time though, she didn’t resist, but relaxed into his hold.

Dion did the same with Hedi. But Shamira couldn’t stop her eyes from watering as she reached out to touch Kurt, who was slumped over in the front seat. Mitch rechecked the trailer and Cal’s body before he climbed on his motorcycle.

Anthony nodded at Mitch’s wave to follow as he led the way back to the Security Force Headquarters.

Chapter 4

A maelstrom of thoughts flashed through Shamira’s mind as she fought to keep her composure. She couldn’t show weakness. Wouldn’t give into her feeling of self-pity and disappointment like she wanted to deep down. The last year had been the best year of her life. After the dismantlement of Monev and the news that Renu, its leader was dead, she was able to relax a bit. She’d trained with Cal and her respect for him grew each day.

He’d taught her to rely on her wits to survive, taught her to suppress the fierceness of her power that had become her burden over the years, and to rely on her skill alone. With that restraint, came calmness. Besides, once they’d gone to Earth to be dipped and their technosuits became part of their bodies, she discovered that her hidden energy could hurt her. Not only could it short out the suit, it could kill her if she didn’t release her power in subtle waves. The invisible suit that was a second skin on each Elite officer could never be taken off. If she released the electrical stream she harnessed within her, the suit would push it back into her body and possibly cause her to implode.

It was decided that Cal should teach her to control her inner strength so the suit could do its job and protect her body from external attacks such as laser fire or knives. Although the suit gave the Security Force Elite officers super strength, it just improved her already enhanced strength, making her ten times stronger than even a fully mature Security Force Elite officer.

“How did they kill him with his suit on? They practically took out Kurt too,” Dion said.

Shamira’s lips turned up in disgust. “Yeah, great. If the suit worked so well, how was Cal killed? It was supposed to keep us safe. With the leader of Monev dead we have to figure out if he sold what he knew about the Security Force and our suits. And to who? Who would want to give up the struggling rebuilding of Mars to kill the ones that were created to protect it?”

Valens tightened his arms around Shamira’s hips. “There are a lot of people out there that wanted Renu’s power—Monev’s kingpins had it all. And Renu had been dipped in a technosuit himself, maybe he sold the secret to making it to someone we don’t know about? Then there is the other deal he had that someone would kill for. Remember the owners of the technology that runs the air filtration system here on Mars? They wanted to cut a deal with Renu.”

Hedi touched Shamira’s arm. “Yeah, George Cruz and his family. The owners of Telwell Industries were never prosecuted in the shut down of Monev. They got off with just a fine. Since they created the technology to make the air on Mars breathable, they were basically untouchable.”

Anthony grunted, “Yeah, only because the bastards could shut down Mars and kill us all if they cut off the air filtration system. Man, politics suck!”

Valens leaned up. “I got coms up. You want to talk to your father?”

“Not really. But I don’t have a choice. Shamira grabbed the tiny coms earpiece from Valens and stuck it in her ear. Briefly, she closed her eyes to brace against telling the deputy security force leader, and her father, that she had failed.

“Deputy Elite Officer, Nelson Nobel,” her father answered.

“It’s cadet Shamira Nobel. We have two men down.” She paused, “We’re on our way back to headquarters.” She swallowed.

Her father fell silent for a moment, “Situation details.”

“Security Force Elite Leader, Cal Long—dead. Cadet, Kurt Johnson, alive and unconscious.”

“Location?”

She bit her lip. “Leaving the Mons.”

“Got it, we got a connection for Cal’s suit. His distress signal just went out. Help is on the way. Copter on the way now. And Shamira…I’m on my way.”

Warmth filled her chest. Her father, champion and rock, would always be her backup. Her eyes watered because he constantly found a way to make her feel special—even when she’d been handicapped. He’d cheered her beyond her depression and taught her she could be more than others thought a blind girl ever could—more than she’d wanted to believe.

She sat back into Valens chest and took a deep breath. “They’re on the way. Keep moving. They are coming with air transport.”

Valens tilted forward and whispered into her ear. “You’re doing great. We’ve got your back against the elite. It’s not your fault. We’ll get the guys who did this to Cal and Kurt. We’ll do it together.” He rested his chin on her shoulder and softly kissed the exposed skin just below her neck.

Tendrils of warmth took her mind off the interrogation ahead. She loved Valens more than anyone besides her family. He calmed her, encouraged her…but she hated that she was starting to crave his support like a drug. She needed to do this herself and was afraid that she’d one day have to make a choice that she selfishly couldn’t make.

“Yeah girl, you know we’ve got your back. Always. Road dogs to the end.” Anthony gave a weak chuckle.

“Ditto.” Dion reached over to tap her arm.

“Yeah.” Hedi bent over and hugged her.

Shamira allowed their pats and touches. Unfortunately, she’d still felt a bit uncomfortable with their physical contact. It was as if they sensed that about her and worked together to get her to loosen up and show her affection. For that she loved them. Without realizing it, they constantly gave her something she’d always wanted, but was too afraid to hope for. True friendship.

“Okay guys, too much touchy-feely going around for me. Let’s get our game faces on so we can find the creeps who did this to Cal and Kurt without the old guys pulling us back.”

Ready now for her father and the other Elite officer’s questioning, she smiled.

Chapter 5

It seemed like only seconds passed before the skies filled with flying cars and helicopters. Sirens blaring, they landed. Anthony pulled his vehicle to a stop. Shamira opened the door and hopped off Valens’ lap. Her father’s car slammed to the ground and the twisting sand kicked up with the winds around him. Special Nobel bolted out his car to run toward her with Elite Officer Finch at his heels.

“Where is he? Where’s Cal?” Elite Officer Finch demanded.

Shamira’s father rushed up and grabbed her in quick hug. She pulled back and knitted a brow at the concern on his face. His usually kind dark brown features, highlighted by deep dimples, were washed away by concern for her. “There,” Shamira pointed, “on the trailer. Kurt is in the front seat.”

Officer Finch nodded toward the trailer and the medics rushed to the car.

Shamira expelled a deep breath. “We were blindsided by an attack. And couldn’t see them. Even I wasn’t able to penetrate their camouflage. It was like they were invisible. The only thing we could see was the light from their laser fire when they fired around us. Kurt took off after what he thought was an attacker and Cal followed.”

Her father’s arms crossed in front of him. He gave Officer Finch a slight nod. “Hmm, sounds like Elite Officer Cal was trying to get Kurt to pull back.” He put his hand on his chin. “Did you see anything—anything that can clue us in on who did this?”

Valens and the others walked up behind her. His hand pressed on the small of her back. “I fired one dead-on, but my bullet ricocheted off of it.”

Shamira chimed in, “When he connected, I saw a flash. Like the device hiding them shorted for a brief moment. Someone in a sand-colored helmet…then it recovered and that’s when they took off and stopped their attack. We couldn’t even hear their engines revving.”

Anthony growled low in his throat. “The bastards ran. We stopped, but Mitch was down. Kurt and Cal were out of sight.”

Deputy Elite Officer Nobel put up his hand. “Hold on a minute. They split up. Left you? That’s not like Cal. Something must have tipped him off. Who knew you were coming here for your final training session before your promotions?”

Shamira released an aggravated sigh, “No one. Elite Officer Cal didn’t even tell me until we got into the car. I didn’t tell the others. All I knew was that we would be going to the Mons and that we were going to check out the landmines to make sure they were all deactivated.”

Officer Finch was pensive. His hand tapped the gun at his waist. “Why would he need to do that? Did he say why he wanted to check them out?”

“No. He didn’t. He told us that our final training session would be the one to conquer all our fears. It would take us to the next level and make us invincible against anyone that would try to bring another Security Force Officer down.”

A flash of grief crossed her father’s face while Cal and Kurt were rolled away and placed on the copter heading out to the Security Force Elite Medic center. Shamira stifled a sob and swallowed, then blinked. God, it hurt. Felt like a punch in her chest to see them being taken away. The others quieted in silent respect until the copter left with their fallen comrades.

Her father was Cal’s 2nd in command, and easily slid into his lead role. Fury flickered within his eyes. “I don’t know who would do this, but we will find them. Go to headquarters and get checked out. Officer Finch will lead the way and each of you will be questioned before you can leave today.”

Shamira stepped forward. “We want in. We deserve a chance at finding out who killed Elite Officer Cal.”

“I understand. I’ll bring it before the board. Until then, check out for the summer and we’ll decide if your team will be promoted and put on the case.” Her father gave a brief nod and turned to go.

Officer Finch crooked his finger at them before he left. They followed and piled in to Anthony’s car to make their way to headquarters. Shamira had a sinking feeling this wasn’t over. That someone had purposely killed Cal. Now her team had to prove they were not involved. And hopefully confirm that they should be promoted. With a sinking feeling, she realized her year of peace had ended. But deep down, her simmering powerful beast rejoiced—hungry for a new fight.

Chapter 6

Headquarters came into view. The paved road was back-dropped by sand, houses with rock gardens and streetlights. Cars stopped allowing Anthony to plow his way towards the Security Force Headquarters following Officer Finch’s sleek black patrol car. The facility held the main security force offices, hospital and underground training facility. It stood over thirty-eight-hundred feet tall and had been expanded within the last year to include an orphanage of sorts for the kids that had been retrieved from Monev, and who were awaiting adoption by parents on Mars or Earth. Various cars flew into and out of the rounded dome of the tall tubular building. And Anthony sped by them to park.

Shamira tapped her fingers on her knee waiting until they stopped. Interrogation was never one of the fun things that went with the job, but it was necessary. Maybe if she played her cards right, she’d find out if there were something more to this incident and Cal’s murder.

“Well, we’re here. Y’all ready for the beat down inspection from the old boys?” Anthony shut off the car and watched Officer Finch walk toward them.

Shamira started to open the door. “Ready as ever. Just tell the truth and ask some questions of your own. I want to know if something was up before now.”

“Well, I sure don’t want Finch questioning me. He never liked me, and the feeling is mutual.” Dion got out and turned to pull Hedi out by her hand.

Hedi laughed. “Dion, please, you don’t like none of the guys in authority. You’ve got serious issues with management.”

Valens smirked. “Uh, Hedi, I think that’s the pot calling the kettle black. You go rogue on your instructors all the time.”

Hedi pursed her lips, “Humph, so do you.”

Anthony leaned on the car. “Well, here he comes.”

Finch stood in front of them, his thick blond hair spiked up in a crew cut, his arms crossed, and an angry scowl on his face. “Questioning starts in five minutes. Stow your gear in your lockers and report to the Intog rooms where I’ll assign you an investigator.” With a quick once-over, he turned and walked away.

“You heard the prick. In five.” Dion shrugged, dragged his hand through his thick curly hair and walked away.

“Hedi, your man has serious attitude,” Anthony said and trailed Dion.

Hedi threw a long red curl over her shoulder, “Just like I love ’em.” She winked at Shamira before leaving with the others.

Shamira faced Valens. “You ready for the inquisition?”

Valens gave a weak smile. “I guess. Cal gone…now this.”