Worth Fighting For (Little Blue Book 1) (16 page)

“It’s all my fault. I told her to stay with me since Errim was going to be busy. I thought she would be safer,” Kaycee sobbed.

Tasid saw Jeri wipe Kaycee’s tears off of her face.

“It’s not your fault,” Jeri told her. “There was no reason to believe she wouldn’t be. How is she?” she asked.

Kaycee shook her head. “I don’t know yet. Maggie said she’d let me know just as soon as she could. They let her in there because Yebiri is her mate. You should see Maggie. She’s been a huge help and comfort to everyone here. When anyone asks about a friend or something, she goes in to find out for them. Apparently they don’t do that normally, so it’s a huge morale booster for these guys that she does it, even if the news isn’t good. I’ve also seen her comfort others, guys and girls both.” Kaycee’s face crumpled again, and fresh tears fell down the sides of her cheeks.

“Benny would be so proud,” Kaycee continued. “I can’t imagine what it is like for her. She and Benny have gotten real close, and I know she’s got to be just as sick with worry for her as we are, but yet she still puts it aside to help these guys. That’s why I’m helping.”

Tasid looked around. “It doesn’t look like any of the medical personnel are available to look our mates over,” he told Sharrow.

“Why would they need a doctor?” Kaycee asked. She began looking Juno and Jeri over.

“We’re fine, really,” Jeri answered. “They’re just paranoid because Juno was attacked. Five guys tried to grab her.”

Kaycee gasped, and Jeri continued. “No worries though, I killed two of them and kept the other three off her ass until the golem and tarantula got there. I would have been more concerned about the side effects from the concussion after the blast that hit us on our way back to her quarters, but I’ve kept my eye on her, and I think she’s fine. She suffered just some mild shock, but that’s gone now.”

Tasid didn’t know what disturbed him more, what she said, or that she said it as if it were no big deal. Even Kaycee looked unnerved.

Juno turned and looked up at him. It broke his heart to see her watery eyes and the pain within them.

“Tasid, Errim should be here with Benny,” she told him.

Tasid pulled her against him and held onto her as tight as he could, without harming her. “I don’t want to leave your side, my beautiful mate. I am sick about what has happened to you.”

“What does that have to do with Errim being here for Benny?” she asked with a bewildered look on her face.

“Because he’s running the ship right now. There’s a lot of things to do still. We aren’t out of danger yet.”

He saw her look turn to one of comprehension, then one of remorse. “I’m fine, really. You should go and take over so Errim can be here for Benny. You would want that for me, if I was hurt. Please, Tasid, I promise to stay here. I want to stay close to Benny, too, and check on Yewma and Nahsee. I can also help, like Kaycee and Maggie.”

Tasid knew it was the right thing to do, but he hesitated, not wanting to let go of his most precious treasure. Juno meant so much to him, and what amazed him most, was it had taken such a short amount of time. However, guilt ate at him, and he couldn’t deny her plea.

“All right, I’ll go.” He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. It would never be enough, but he finally pulled himself away. He turned a lethal eye on her three guards.

“You don’t want to see the male I become should anything happen to her.”

“She is our priority, sir,” Zada answered.

Jeri looked up at Sharrow. “You should go, too.” She stopped him just as he was going to argue. “I’m fine, seriously. You will do the best good making the ship safe again, for us. We need that, you know. Go make us safe.”

Tasid hid his smile. The female knew how to win an argument.

Sharrow growled. “Will I ever win an argument with you?”

“No, not unless you grow a vajayjay.”

Tasid and the others looked at each other in confusion, as the three girls laughed. He and Sharrow walked away, headed back towards the command deck.

“What is a vajayjay?” he asked.

Tasid shrugged. “I don’t know, but the new ship will have three gardens. Maybe we can grow one for you then.”

Tasid slowed as they neared the command deck. He really didn’t know how to inform his best friend about his mate.

The door swished open. Sharrow went to his station, but Tasid motioned to Errim.

“We need to talk in the conference room.” Tasid didn’t wait for a response. He quickly turned and marched to the indicated room. Errim entered right behind him. The door swished shut, and Tasid felt the silence in the room as if it was a great weight.

“How’s Juno?” he asked Tasid. “I’m assuming she’s all right, since you’re here?”

Tasid sighed. “She was attacked, but came to no harm. What happened is important, but I have something else I need to tell you that is an even bigger concern for you.” He couldn’t hide the remorse in his tone. He turned to face his friend. “Benny was injured severely. You need to go to medical and be with her.”

Errim looked in shock. Then Tasid could see the strength leave his friend. He caught him before Errim fell to the floor.

“I know how you feel Errim. After what I heard what had just happened to Juno, for that brief moment before I saw her for myself, I knew enough to understand exactly how you must be feeling, but you must pull it together. She needs you to be strong right now.”

Errim took a moment to collect himself, then nodded. “How bad is it?”

“I’m not certain. I wasn’t able to get in to see her. Juno and the other sisters are there now. Kaycee was the one who told us, and she said she hasn’t heard any update yet.”

Errim silently nodded, and turned and left. Tasid sat down heavily on a nearby chair and held his face in his upper hands. That was one of the hardest things he had ever had to do. His wrist beeped.
Oh, we finally have personal coms back up,
he thought, and opened the link. It was Burren.

“Sir, Ambassador Jurresh wants to speak with you.”

Shit, correction, telling my father and mother about Benny is going to be the hardest thing I have ever done.

“Put it through in here.”

“Yes, sir.”

Immediately a holo-screen popped up over the table, and his father’s fierce face greeted him. “I have some disturbing news. We were fortunate that there was a cruiser from the CROWN near one of the ships, and they were able to overtake it right away. They found humans on board, both male and female.”

Tasid’s face must not have shown enough of an emotion, because his father’s face grew angrier.

“Did you hear what I said?
Human females!
”

“I heard, Father. I was concerned that was what they were doing, and that was why I sacrificed so many of my flyers to tag the ships.”

Jurresh’s face only softened the barest amount. “I understand the losses can be difficult, but it was smart on your part, and it was a noble sacrifice. You need to focus. The CROWN is in an uproar and has responded as fiercely as our own alliance has. The Oblivions just declared war on our two alliances, and I have word that the Torch is joining the rescue efforts.”

Tasid’s gut twisted, a lump forming in his throat. He tried to say something, but would have to stop when he felt himself losing control over his emotions. He coughed a couple of times before he was able to finally speak.

“Juno was attacked, and even though she’s all right for now, Benny was hurt seriously. I just sent Errim down to be with her.”

His father’s face fell, and he could see his fight and anger decompress from his body. Jurresh’s face began to show an emotion Tasid had never seen before. He looked like he was about to cry. Suddenly his mother was there.

“Tasid! Tasid? What happened? How are they?” Without waiting for an answer, she turned to Jurresh. “You turn this ship around and take me to my daughters right this instant. You hear me, Jurresh? Right this instant!”

Tasid couldn’t remember when he had ever seen his mother so agitated.

He heard his father’s near watery reply more than he saw, because his mother was standing mostly in the way. “I hear you, my love, and I agree. They’re my daughters, too.” His father’s head appeared from around his mother. “We’re on our way back. I’ll have the captain fly us at his top speed. When you get a moment, I would like to hear about this attack on Juno, and please keep us updated on Benny’s condition.”

“I will do what I can.”

The screen disappeared as the call disconnected, and the room was silent once again. It felt too silent for him, so he got up and headed back to the command deck. No doubt there was plenty there for him to do to keep him busy.

Chapter Eighteen

Juno’s eyes felt like they had sand in them, but she refused to stop doing what she was doing. She understood now why Maggie continued to help people, even though she had to have been just as concerned for Benny as the rest of them. The simple act of helping someone else, even if it were to just give them water or a friendly pat, gave her a sense of purpose. She also witnessed several things that touched and inspired her, filling her with strength to carry on without falling into a puddle of grief and worry.

She noticed Errim as soon as he arrived. He looked panicked and pale. She rushed over to him, to try to give him support and comfort.

“How is she?” he asked her in a rough and worry filled voice.

“She’s still in surgery,” she answered. Maggie had appeared right as Tasid had left, and updated them on her condition, and on Yewma’s and Nahsee’s.

Errim leaned against a wall and slid down it until he was sitting on the floor. He placed his face in his hands. Juno knelt down beside him, and rubbed his shoulder.

Errim looked up at her with sorrow-filled eyes. “What if they can’t fix her? What am I going to do without her, Juno? She’s my whole life, already.”

“You guys have better medical care than we do on Earth. I have confidence that everything, and more, is being done for her,” she said.

Errim leaned his head against the wall. His battle wings were pinned behind him, but his guardian wings were wrapped around his front. Jeri and Kaycee joined them on the floor. Errim only glanced at them.

“It usually takes males some little time to bond with their mates—some longer than others,” he told them. “But with Benny, it was instant, and more powerful than I ever thought possible. She’s so beautiful, and full of life and love.”

Juno could see the love in his eyes, as he stared up at the ceiling, as if picturing her.

Just then, Maggie came out of the room, looked around until she spotted them, and hurried over. Her eyes were wet with fresh tears, but her face expressed joy.

“She’s out, guys. She made it through. Come on.”

Errim leaped up and was halfway towards the door before Maggie finished helping Juno up. The girls hurried after him, and caught up with him just inside the door as he tried scanning the room for her. Maggie pulled on his hand, and they all followed where she led.

Benny was in a separate room, all by herself. The lights were low, but even so, her skin looked extra pale against large dark bruising. Bags of fluids dripped down tubing that was connected to her arm. As Juno approached, she could see the right side of Benny’s face was swollen, scratched, and bruised. She wore a gown made of a shiny metallic looking material, and a blanket, made of the same material only a different shade, was lying atop her. Her black hair was wet and combed back. Above the bed was a large display that showed vitals, and other information, as well as a live 3D view of her lungs and beating heart.

Errim sank to his knees beside her and gently lifted her hand. He held it against his cheek as his other hands reached out to touch her leg and arm.

Yebiri walked into the small room. Everyone looked up at him expectantly. He smiled at them as he checked the readings on the display.

Juno turned and questioned him. “You guys have all this tech, so why did it take so long in surgery?”

Yebiri nodded at her. “We do, however she was riddled with shrapnel, and her injuries were extensive. We are still learning human anatomy and its physiology, and we were having a difficult time controlling the bleeding.” He stopped and gave Errim a slight smile. “She’s a tough female,” he told him. “I am optimistic that she will recover.” His smile died as he looked around at them, settling his sights back on Errim.

“We do have a concern, however. As I said, her injuries were extensive, so we are unsure if our healing efforts were enough to regain her reproductive abilities.”

Errim looked positively sick. He turned to look at Benny, before turning back at Yebiri.

“When will you know? She wants lots of young. She deserves as many as she wants.”

“I will run more tests when we have more time. Right now, she’s stable and healing. She was the only female seriously injured, so I made sure she had her own private room. Everyone else is either sharing, or out in the open. And you can all visit for a short time, if you wish, but medics will be in periodically, to do upkeep on her care. I do not want any others in here, except,” he looked around at the girls, “perhaps your mates. I am sure I don’t need to warn any of you to take care not to overtax her. Errim, you will be allowed to stay consistently. If you need me, press that button on the screen.”

Yebiri pointed to an oval circle on the bottom of the display over Benny’s head. Then he turned and left, giving Maggie a kiss on her cheek as he did.

The girls hovered around the bed for a little bit until Benny’s blue eyes fluttered open droopily, and she looked around with a slight smile.

“Hey, guys.” Her voice came out rough and quiet.

Relief washed through Juno and tears threatened to escape, but Juno fought them off in fear they would make Benny unhappy to see. She and the other girls all smiled back down at her, but they didn’t get a chance to say anything before Errim threw his head against her neck.

“I’m so sorry, my blue star. I have failed you.”

Juno’s brows rose, and she could see the other girls’ did as well. Benny looked at them curiously as she bent her arms up to hold her distraught mate.

“How did you fail me? I’m the one who chose to stay in the cafeteria, instead of heading back to our quarters.”

“Actually, Errim,” Juno interrupted, “in spite of what happened, Benny was probably safer where she stayed. You two live right across from me and Tasid, and we were hit by explosions, and five thugs with nefarious purposes, on our way there. I may have come out of it fine, but she could have just as easily been hurt, or worse.”

Jeri agreed. “Yeah, you should have seen the blast that hit Yewma and Nahsee. It would have killed me if I hadn’t been just around the corner. If Benny had been with us, I would have insisted she be ahead of me, to protect her, but it would have ended up being the opposite. Kaycee, you keep fretting that it was your fault, but I’ve been thinking about it and I think she’s alive because of you. At least with you, she got help right away.”

Benny’s eyes grew big as she looked at Juno. “I think I’m having a bad reaction to the drugs they doped me up with, ‘cuz I’m sure I didn’t hear you right. Five thugs? Nefarious purposes?”

Errim pulled back and looked up at Juno. “I’m sure you’re right. It was crazy from the start.” He turned back to Benny. “I’m just happy you’re alive. I can handle anything, so long as you’re with me.”

“Uh, speaking of challenges,” Juno interrupted again. She decided it would be easier for both Errim and Benny if she was the one to tell Benny the news about her injuries. Benny looked up at her, but Errim’s face was planted, once again, against her neck.

Juno gentled her voice. “I’m sorry, Benny, but the doc came in and said that because of your injuries, they weren’t sure if their efforts were enough for you to still have kids. He’s going to run more tests later, when he gets more time, so don’t lose hope. I think with all the tech they have, that everything will be all right.”

Benny didn’t say anything, and Juno could tell she was weakening.
Right, probably too much, too fast.
Juno turned to the others.

“I think we should let her and Errim have some privacy and rest.”

The girls agreed, and each gave Benny a kiss on her head before exiting the room.

The place was still a bit frantic with injured, and medics rushing around, but it felt like it had calmed down considerably.

“Guys, I’m going to go back to the kitchen and help my mate prepare some food,” Kaycee told them. She gave them all a quick hug and made her exit.

“If you guys don’t mind, I have something I want to work on back in my quarters,” Juno told Maggie and Jeri.

“I don’t mind. I’ll see you later, then,” Maggie told her. Maggie quickly melded into the rush of medics.

“I didn’t see her make one clumsy mistake the whole time. You think it’s because of her mate, or because of space living?” Jeri snickered.

“Both?” Juno giggled. “I want to stop by and see Yewma and Nahsee before I go.”

“It’s up to you. I’ll just follow you, not so subtly, unlike those other three,” she said sarcastically and pointed a thumb behind them.

Juno didn’t have to look to know who she was talking about. Creeleek, Krog, and Zada never stayed farther than five feet from her, with the exception of Benny’s room, where they had stood outside the door.

Juno made her way through the lines of beds, and found the two she was looking for. She recognized Zanzazzi looking over Nahsee.

“How is he?” she asked him.

Zanzazzi looked up at her and gave her a grim look.

“He is stable for now, but his vitals keep fluctuating. His injuries were severe, and it took rescue crews a long time to get to him. If he survives, he will have deformities and possible limitations. Excuse me, I need to continue my rounds.”

Tears burned in Juno’s eyes as she heard the dour news. She nodded in answer to him and stepped aside as he passed. She looked down at Vessa, who was sitting on the floor between both Nahsee and Yewma.

“What’d they say about Yewma?” she asked him, and turned to look at Yewma’s large frame filling the bed on her other side.

Vessa’s voice was positive as he responded. “They will not know the full extent of his injuries until he wakes, but he is improving rapidly, and they said there is a large chance he will make a complete recovery.”

Juno looked once again at the two males, before turning and leaving. She was now more determined than ever to see her plan become a reality.

When she made it back to her quarters, Jeri followed her into her room, while the other three stood guard outside her door.

“Ok, girly, talk to me. What do you have cooking in that head of yours?” Jeri asked as she plopped down on the bed, leaning back on her elbows.

Juno started pacing. Doubt started to creep in. It sounded perfectly fine in her head, but now saying it out loud made her doubt herself.
But if anyone can be straight up with me, it’s Jeri.

Juno began telling her what she was thinking. She continued to pace, and Jeri kept quiet until she was done. Juno turned and looked at her.

“Well, what do you think?” she asked.

“I think it’s perfect,” Jeri answered with a smile. “It’s exactly what everyone needs, but it will be a lot of work, and we’re already stretched thin. We lost a lot of people.”

“But that’s exactly why this is so important,” Juno said, giving her a pleading look. “Please? Will you help me?” she asked.

“Of course, but I think we should keep it quiet until we can confirm that we can actually pull it off.”

“Agreed.”

****

It was late when Juno finally made her way up to the command deck, where Tasid was still working. She approached him and noticed how tired he seemed to be. However, when he looked up and saw her, his appearance brightened considerably. He drew her into his arms and onto his lap as soon as she was within reach.

“It is good to see you, my treasure,” he said as he rested his forehead against hers.

“I missed you,” she told him. “I know you must have tons to do, but I wanted to see you. Is it ok?”

“Yes. Unless we are in the middle of a battle, you are always welcome up here with me. How is Benny? I have not heard anything.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I had no idea you didn’t know, or I would have informed you. She made it through surgery, and they think she will be fine, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Their only concern is that they aren’t sure if she’ll be able to have kids anymore.”

Tasid looked very sad. “Damn, I’m sorry. I’ll remember not to tease Errim anymore, and warn the others not to as well.”

“Tease him? How?”

Tasid gave a sad chuckle. “He would go weak and pale every time Benny would mention having lots of kids. There was more to it, but I’ll tell you about it another time.”

“Okay.”

Burren interrupted them. “Sir, Councilman Adam Nuntz is asking for a private word with you.”

Tasid sighed. “I’ll take it in the conference room. If Horo gets up here before I return, have him join me.”

Tasid led his mate to the conference room. Zada, Creeleek, and Krog stayed out in the hall, as Tasid and Juno entered the room.

“Where’s Jeri?” he asked, as he sat her down on his lap after he seated himself.

“I sent her to check on the guys in medical. I wanted her to take a break, and she refused. I think she was too upset to just sit still, so I just gave her something different to do.”

Tasid brought up the communications and connected with the councilman. Juno thought he looked even more tired than Tasid.

“Adam, what news do you have?” Tasid asked.

Juno stayed quiet as she listened to them talk.

“We announced that one of the invading ships was captured and the humans on board recovered. That has given people hope that their missing loved ones might be amongst them. We have also informed the people that you guys have suffered many casualties in defense of our planet, and in tracking the ships. This was a huge boost in your favor.”