Alien Caged (19 page)

He took her arm and led her away.  “Absolutely.  The Empire will most certainly want an Earther’s perspective on being under siege by escaped and desperate prisoners.”

She went with him, looking flattered to have a famous author’s attention.  Zemos couldn’t help but smile as he watched them go.  Miragin had mentioned many times during their captivity that Elisa might be a worthy subject for a book.  It had driven him crazy that she wasn’t allowed to speak to them.  He was finally getting his chance to draw her out, and that no doubt made him happy despite their desperate straits.  The two of them would be well distracted from knowing how much carnage could be headed their way.

As soon as the pair disappeared into the small office off the cargo hold, Zemos gathered his crew around him.  He turned first to his security officer.

“Oret, I’ve already briefed the men on what we’re looking at:  possibly going into Bi’is space and sold into slavery, the potential of a mutiny against Captain Walker, everything.”

Oret nodded to the cart that had already been divested of much of the weapons he and Miragin had confiscated.  The crew had wasted no time arming themselves.  They were bedraggled, their formsuits tattered at the hems in most cases, but they looked proud and ready to fight once more.

Oret told them, “As you can see, I’ve gotten us some firepower.  That’s what we’ll use to take Engineering and gain control over the ship.”

“We’re not going to try to escape using the shuttles they have?” one of the Imdikos asked. 

Zemos shook his head.  “We lost that option when the alarm sounded.  The bays are exactly where the Earthers will expect us to run, and they’ll have placed their heaviest concentration of guards there.  If there was only half a dozen of us, we might have snuck in and gotten away, but not this many.  Taking over the enemy vessel is our goal now.”

Oret added, “Besides, we don’t know where we are in relation to our fleet, colonies, or stations.  Taking off and flying blind into space will not save our lives or bring these Earthers to justice.  We have to stay on board and fight.”

Zemos answered the grins of the always battle-hopeful Nobeks with one of his own.  “That means we must take Engineering, which I hope is not as well-guarded as the bays.”

“From there, we can learn all the Earthers’ plans in detail, signal the Empire to come after this ship, and find out how much the Bi’is’ leadership is aware of,” Oret told the men.

The big and scarred Nobek Almon asked, “How long do you anticipate us being able to hold this ship, Commander?”

Oret looked over the group, no doubt counting his fighters.  Zemos had already figured out three-quarters of his surviving crew were Nobeks, most of whom had worked in security. 

After a moment’s consideration, Oret answered, “It all depends on the Earther crew.  If they’re organized and ready to follow Captain Walker as their duty demands, we won’t hold out for long.  They’ve got more than three times our number.  If their loyalties are fractured as we suspect, infighting could give us an advantage for perhaps a day or two.”

Almon snorted.  “Nothing brings enemies together faster than a common foe though.”

“I agree.  I think we have to count on ultimately failing to hold the ship if we don’t get help from the Empire.”

Another Nobek pointed out, “We have the female hostage.”

Zemos tamped down the surge of temper that rose at the man’s statement.  After all, he made a valid point.  He told the men, “Don’t count on that as much of an advantage.  Captain Walker and a few others treat her with respect, and I’m confident they’ll try to keep her alive.  However from what I’ve seen here, such men are in the minority.”

Eyes around him widened in disbelief.  Oret added, “There are those Walker has little control over who are undermining him.  That includes his tactical officer, who has countermanded orders behind his back.  To such men, Matara Elisa’s life may mean as little as ours.”

That got some growls and black looks from the crew.  Having so few women of their own kind and teetering on the brink of extinction, most Kalquorians accorded automatic respect for lifebringers.

Oret ignored the outbreak of anger to keep them all on task.  “What is the situation with the computers in this room?”

Almon said, “They are operational, Commander.”

“Good.”  Oret turned his full attention to Zemos.  “I’m going to use the monitoring access and pinpoint the Earthers’ movements.  When I think it is the optimum time to make an attempt at the engineering department, we’ll attack.”

“Agreed.”

Oret eyed the men surrounding them.  “Unless the engineering staff immediately surrenders and lays down their weapons, we don’t have the luxury of taking prisoners.”

Everyone nodded.  They knew the stakes.  No one would hesitate to do his duty.

Oret seemed satisfied.  “All right.  You’ve already noticed Earther weapons are made for their smaller hands.  Familiarize yourselves with them while I monitor the enemy.  Be ready to move when I say.”

The men broke away into groups to go over the stolen firearms.  Lieutenants and squad leaders had already formed teams to make the command structure work at its optimum.

Zemos walked over to the computer banks with his Nobek.  He didn’t miss how Oret eyed him darkly as they went.

“What’s on your mind, Security Commander?” he asked, thinking he already knew where the man’s thoughts were.

He discovered he was right.  Oret said, “May I beg the favor of you not knocking me out should our re-capture become imminent?”

Zemos restrained a smile.  Humor right now would rub his Nobek the wrong way.  “If we are unable to reach the Empire, we are not to be re-captured.”

Oret looked him in the eye.  “Does that include Miragin?”

“Do you want him collared by a Bi’isil master?” 

Oret’s penetrating stare never wavered.  He didn’t answer.  He didn’t have to.  Zemos knew his fierce clanmate would do whatever it took to protect his Dramok and Imdiko.  If death was the only shelter available to keep them from the brutal fate of slavery on Bi’is, so be it.

* * * *

Miragin ushered Elisa into the office.  It was spacious but held little:  a chair and a desk on which sat a computer and ship communications device.  A couple of large placards were stuck on the wall with safety regulations and proper cargo loading directions.  Because several foremen would have sat in here during their shifts, it held no real personality.  No personal mementos littered the space.

Big hands seized Elisa’s waist from behind.  She uttered a little shriek of surprise as Miragin lifted her, turning her around and sitting her on the edge of the desk.

He offered an apologetic smile.  “I’m sorry I startled you.  I thought you might as well get comfortable.  We might be in here for a little while.”

Elisa swallowed.  Looking at him, all she could think was,
I’m his prisoner.  I’m also in love with him.

The crazy mix of emotions concerning Zemos’ clan kept her feeling off-balance.  How could she ever make sense of this?  Seeing Miragin’s handsome face only inches from hers, with his smile as sweet as ever made her want to smile back.  Yet now, without the containment field between them, the Imdiko had taken on the added element of danger.  He might have been the kindest member of his clan, but he was also much bigger and stronger than her.

Elisa was right to be afraid of him.  Yet her stomach insisted on fluttering with excitement.  Her sex was warm with arousal, especially when she thought of how the clan had brought her to climax in the former captain’s quarters.  That particular memory drove a spike of pure, undeniable need deep into her guts.

Put a lid on it, Mackenzie.  You’re in enough trouble as it is
. 

Miragin shook his head, a twinge of conscience dimming his gaze.  “Poor Elisa.  Here you are, caught between Earthers and Kalquorians and feeling like you don’t have a true ally on either side.  Tell me how you’re coping right now.”

She wasn’t about to tell him she was turned on or that she was in love with him and his clan.  Otherwise, Elisa decided to be truthful.  “I felt sorry for you in that cell, I really did.  You didn’t deserve to have your ship attacked.  You didn’t deserve to be taken prisoner to be sold as slaves.”  She drew a steadying breath.  “But these are my people, Miragin.  I know they killed part of Zemos’ crew, but to know they might die too...”  She blinked back the sudden sting of tears.

Miragin blew out a disconsolate breath.  “As few as possible will be killed, if I know my Dramok.  After all, some on this ship are victims of circumstance, just like you.  Zemos knows this and will do his best.”

Elisa thought so too, but that didn’t change the fact innocents would fall.  “It’s still damned hard to deal with, though.  So many have already died.  It feels like the bloodshed never ends.”

“I know.  You and I are not made to fight wars.  We have few emotional barriers to the pain they cause.”

Miragin stroked Elisa’s hair, smoothing it back from her face.  She knew he only tried to comfort her but the contact, as innocent as it was, brought arousal surging into her gut.  She flinched.

“Don’t.”

Miragin’s brows drew down.  “Why not?  Is it because my touch reminds you that you are attracted to me?”

She batted at his hand as he continued to caress her hair.  “Don’t flatter yourself.”

He captured Elisa’s hands in his and brought them to his lips to kiss.  “I’m not.  I smell your arousal, as I am sure you can smell mine.  Why should we not enjoy each other as we want to now that we have the opportunity?”

He thought she could smell him wanting her?  Elisa blinked at him.  Was that why she kept thinking she smelled cinnamon?  The spicy-sharp scent had been pungent when the clan had played with her earlier too.  Did Kalquorian men give off an aroma when sexually excited?

It made her wonder what they tasted like.

Elisa tried to shut down that traitorous part of her mind that insisted on taking advantage of being alone with Miragin at long last.  She tugged to free her hands from his.  “Do you know what this would mean if you’re re-captured and I’m rescued?  Please, Miragin.  I’m probably as good as dead as it is.”

“Then what does it matter if you take sexual pleasure while you can?”

The Imdiko gathered her in his arms, holding too tight for her to struggle.  Looking into those riveting purple eyes, Elisa felt her will to resist slipping away.  Why was she fighting what she wanted more than anything, especially when the Earther crew would assume she had done the worst?

Miragin’s mouth covered hers, and every sense lit bright.  Elisa moaned, softening to him.  At last she was with one of the three men she’d fallen in love with, a love so taboo it would destroy her.

Let the destruction come
, an insidious voice whispered in her head. 
The alternative is to live your quiet, uninspired life never knowing what you missed.  Is mere existence really worth continuing on this way?

Elisa felt the wet, scratchy warmth of Miragin’s tongue slide along the parting of her lips.  She opened to him and he took the invitation, deepening the kiss, stroking her tongue, tasting her.  For the several seconds he kissed her, Elisa forgot to breathe.  When his mouth released hers, she was lightheaded.

She looked into that strong face, softened by Miragin’s untamed curls falling over his forehead.  Damn it, she loved him.  She was ready to risk her life just to be possessed by his clan.

Elisa whispered, “Why am I so weak when it comes to you, Zemos, and Oret?  It’s wrong, I know it’s wrong, but I can’t stop feeling I need to be close to you.”

Miragin smiled.  “Attraction is not weakness; in fact, love gives us strength to dare when we otherwise would not.”

“I am weak though.  You can pretty it up all you like, but I am.”

The Imdiko shook his head.  “One woman, alone on this ship, who insists on persevering against the stares and comments of fellow shipmates.  One woman, struggling through an unkind life that never let you realize your dreams ... you are the definition of resilience, my dear.  It is a provocative element that has seized my interest from almost the moment I first laid eyes on you.  You have a strength many men only aspire to.  Yet I would have you find shelter in my strength rather than watch you fight your wars alone.”

He kissed her again.  Elisa melted against him, molding her body to his, lost in the security he offered.  When his hands wandered over her body, leaving fiery trails that set her insides churning, she let him.  She touched back, finally able to feel one of the men who she’d given her heart to.  Who she’d give everything to.

Miragin’s hands moved beneath her blouse, smoothing over her soft skin.  He pushed her back, making her lay on the desk’s surface while shoving her shirt up and over her breasts.  Those magic lips of his brushed over her stomach.  Elisa went pebbly with gooseflesh at the sensation, as delicate as a hummingbird’s wings.  His tongue, rough like coarse velvet, was a stomach-clenching counterpoint to the careful kisses.

Elisa stared down at the black curl-topped head moving over her torso.  Was this really happening?  Was she giving herself to Miragin, surrendering to his seduction?   Or was she tucked in her lonely bed, dreaming the sweetest dream she’d had yet?