Gigi (16 page)

With the shielding down, the Jog’nafan targeted the prison satellite network. She tried sending them a message, but the entire place was cut off to the outside.

“Security chief, we have two colonies approaching fast.”

“Tactical, what’s their ETA?” Her long-range sensors picked up two large Kreeh-noshian colonies entering the star system. She ordered all warriors to battle stations for a hard deploy.

“They’ll be in orbit in less than fifteen minutes.”

Pra’mm Station and K’luk fared better, because most of the Jog’nafans were busy attacking the prison. Mah’yanna knew right away their main objective was Zu’thro’s freedom. She couldn’t allow it. The lives of her sister and children were on the line.

 She reached level three when her scanner read three Pendo’rahn life signs. There shouldn’t have been any other Pendo’rahns on this level, except for Gaal’ya and a guard. Her gut feeling told her T’nbros was there. They were responsible for the attack. Giving her elite warriors a hand signal to split up and search, Mah’yanna charged through the door.

A quick look around the room gave her all the information she needed. The guard was dead, crushed by debris. T’nbros pleaded with his daughter, trying to get her away. She was surprised to find one of her team members, Groo’lat, wounded on the floor. She unsheathed her ro’traal and placed them under arrest.

 The anger she felt for these so-called Pendo’rahn traitors slowed her reaction time. A pack of Jog’nafan flanked her before she could secure the perimeter. The mercs had been originally hired by T’nbros to free his daughter. They’d quickly turned against him, joining the Kreeh-nosh instead.

She tried to fight her way out, but was outnumbered. Suddenly, she became disoriented from a pulse weapon blast to the back of her neck. She watched helplessly as her armor retracted and her biosuit slid off. The mercs attacked from all angles now that she was naked and unprotected. The pack leader collared and maglocked her hands behind her back.

A Kreeh-nosh scientist she was unfamiliar with stepped beside Gaal’ya, who reestablished communications using a portable satellite unit. They wanted to control when and what the council would see of the attack. The prison was cut off even from the planet.

Apprehension filled her while T’zaal addressed the council. She didn’t know what or who Gigi was, but she’d never allow herself to be used by them. The more he talked she became aware of his obsession with the female. To prove his point he ordered her beaten by four Jog’nafans.

Mah’yanna was barely conscious when Zu’thro stepped in. He walked up to her, his one eye glinting cruelly. He grabbed her neck and squeezed hard until she thought it would snap.

“I’m free at last from your so-called prison. You should know I’m coming for the human called Amada. Nothing will stand in my way. I’ll kill her and consume her soul during dh’ram. Her strength will be mine. Her soul will be my fuel. The House of Prahn-kril, we’ll make you pay for interfering with the empire. By the time we’re done, Security Chief Mah’yanna will be nothing but another whore. Filthy Pendo’rahn, I’ll take great pleasure seeing you used by many.”

Mah’yanna refused to succumb to the pain coursing through every bone in her body. She’d rather be dead than let him see her cringe. If they thought to make her beg, they’d be disappointed. Her pride demanded she meet his stare. Her warrior training demanded she die fighting.

Her gaze swept the room, going from Groo’lat’s unconscious form to T’nbros’ lifeless body. Gaal’ya had an insane gleam in her eyes after killing him. She was on her own, and time was ticking. Mah’yanna couldn’t let her family think she was going to die a coward’s death. She gathered the last of her strength and turned to Zu’thro. She spat in his face, and yelled,
“
Drac’yaa, dra’lyaa, dra’ehn!
”

Chapter Thirteen

Hell

Groo’lat lay in a pool of his own blood scarcely registering what had happened. He blamed it all on his foolish infatuation with Gaal’ya. She’d led him to believe she had great esteem and admiration for him. The promise she’d given of becoming his permanent mate was just her way of using him. He’d been blind for not seen her true manipulative nature.

In hindsight, he understood she’d used sex to control him. How was that even possible? Pendo’rahns dealt with each other honestly. He’d thought she’d really enjoyed their sparring, going as far as taking his ro’traal into her mouth several times. Pendo’rahn females considered oral sex disgusting, leaving the task to surrogates. Every time she’d performed it he’d foolishly thought she’d felt deep friendship for him.

She’d schemed, using her body to turn him into a traitor willing to bring shame to his family. He couldn’t go back home. By now everyone believed he was part of the plot to attack the prison. Of that crime he was innocent. No one in Pendo’rah would show him mercy once they learned of his disloyalty.

He’d misappropriated sensitive information concerning the branded couple. Gaal’ya had convinced him it would prove her innocence. What he’d done was considered a crime punishable by toq’ma’lal. The jid’rahal wouldn’t kill him so easily. He was a superior warrior. His days might be numbered, but he’d die trying to restore his honor. If he survived his injury, he’d make sure Gaal’ya paid for ruining his life.

Time slowed as he fought to stay awake. He didn’t know how long he’d been unconscious. He sat up gingerly and touched his chest, feeling the wound. It was closed, but by no means healed. It was partially covered by a patch of gel that didn’t belong to him. Memory of Gaal’ya’s attack rushed back. Groo’lat should be dead, but T’nbros had saved him.

 He stood on shaky legs, then made his way to the comm panel. The council needed to be alerted before it was too late. After reaching the comm, he discovered a portable satellite with a holovid on standby. The transmission had been programmed with a forty-eight-hour delay, giving the fugitives a headstart. Security Chief Mah’yanna’s time might be running out. Working as fast as he could, Groo’lat activated the signal.

On his way out, he saw T’nbros lying on his side. Groo’lat noticed the scorch mark left by a pulse weapon. It was a horrible way to die, organs dissolving inside. Pendo’rahn warriors used their ro’traal for hand-to-hand combat. Only a merc or coward would possess such arms. The irony of it was T’nbros died by his own daughter’s hand. Perhaps there was justice after all, because of the way his life had come to an end.

Lord T’nbros was beyond his help. He needed to find an escape pod. Flying to Pra’mm would be dangerous, security would be tight. He didn’t know how he was going to stop the Kreeh-nosh, but he had to try. Restoring his family’s honor was all that mattered. One way or the other he was as good as dead. For Groo’lat this was a suicide mission. He’d reached the point of no return.

* * * *

The council chambers were packed to the limit the following morning. It was all so new and exciting like one of those spy movies. To avoid the holo-heads the warriors took them through a series of underground tunnels. Ooh-Baak’s office had a hidden entrance. How cool was that?

Gigi and Amada sat near the windows, which shielded them from prying eyes. They could still see the entire capital city, but the holo-heads—as Gigi liked to call them—couldn’t see inside. Ju’nii constantly took readings of her, which according to Amada, was just normal for Glaxians. Apparently, Ounna had done the same while she was pregnant.

Yesterday’s family reunion after ten years had been hard on Briq. It’d taken Gigi’s voice a little longer to relax him. He was edgier since breaking his addiction to the chemical inhibitor. She’d just kissed him and caressed his chest while singing his favorite aria. An hour later, he’d fallen fast asleep with a peaceful look on his face.

 Now she and Amada waited in Ooh-Baak’s office while the men had their meeting. She was surprised to see Dru-lah so upset this morning. He was a very easy going guy. When she asked the reason, her sister mentioned something about Mah’yanna’s mission to the maximum security prison.

According to Amada, Dru-lah had the major hots for their sister-in-law, Mah’yanna. He expected to become permanently mated to her when he got back. Instead, she’d been sent on a recon mission. They were now hashing it out, because time was running out for Mah’yanna to complete her mating cycle.

“I’m so excited! I barely enjoyed my joining ceremony. It happened so fast.” Her new sister didn’t do anything halfway. She was either really mad or ecstatic. She wasn’t mellow.

“What do you have in mind for them? I’d like to help Dru-lah. He’s been very kind to us.”

“You’re not doing a thing, Gigi. I’m planning a double joining. It’s going to be one for the books. Mark my words. A thousand years from now they’ll still be talking about it.”

“Now I’m scared. Imagine the strokes my Briq, your giant and O’frahm will have trying to keep us safe. That’s a security nightmare in the making.”

Her sister grinned impishly, and said, “I know Zaaq-niq is so freaking cute when he gets in defense mode. Teasing him is easy, but I enjoy it, if you know what I mean?”

They kept talking in their corner while Amada fed the babies. The Glaxians hovered nearby with their scanners always on hand. The meeting with Dru-lah seemed to take forever. Gigi wanted to do something for him since he’d been there to plead their case.

Maybe she could arrange a soiree. It’d be an evening of dinner and songs for the couple. Her sister nodded in agreement at the idea and they settle in to plan the party. Gigi lost track of time. The men came back late in the afternoon. Ooh-Baak apologized for the delay, but after the meeting with Dru-lah they’d gone directly to meet with the Council of Six.

Mention of the council made her so nervous. O’frahm explained how the council represented the maximum authorities in the Protectorate. They were either the original founders or a direct descendent of one. The number six was due to the original six races who had founded the Protectorate—Glaxians, Quiinlyx, Trac’xians, Labonians, K’luk and Pendo’rahns.

The beliefs that Labonians were all smugglers without morals and Trac’xians surrogates or nannies were a misconception. Like Earth, every race had their good and bad. Many of the races were law-abiding members of the Protectorate. Just as many countries on Earth, some people were just out for themselves and didn’t represent what the majority stood for.

The Trac’xians, for example, lived by a strict class society. It was their way. No one had the right to dictate their traditions. Theirs was a warrior society much like Pendo’rah, but unlike Pendo’rahns, their females weren’t allowed in.

Trac’xian females served three basic roles—caste breeders, nannies and sex surrogates. A female born from the surrogate caste wasn’t allowed to take a mate. Sometimes a female from another caste could be indentured by a male in their family to pay a debt. It wasn’t fair in Gigi’s eyes, but who was she to judge an entire civilization?

The Labonians were considered by most as smelly and amoral. Reality was, they were excellent builders and engineers. When the Kreeh-nosh first invaded their home planet, many had been used as a food source and others as hard laborers. Their society had been sinking deep into anarchy by the time the Glaxians had found them. Order was restored, but those who were scattered throughout the galaxies survived by becoming mercs and smugglers.

“I apologize for the delay, but the Council of Six decided to move up the meeting. They were anxious to learn more about the conspiracy threatening the Protectorate.” Ooh-Baak explained how upon receiving preliminary reports they’d sent Mah’yanna on a factfinding mission and to gather more intel.

“The council should’ve waited for us to arrive. For all we know she could be walking right into a trap.”

Dru-lah’s outburst was unexpected, but they all knew why he acted out of character. Mah’yanna needed to complete the purification ritual and mate with him, but it was deeper for him. He was in love with her. Even knowing she was a skilled warrior didn’t matter. His instinct was to protect her.

“Brother, you know my sister is the best security chief in the armada. She won’t go blindly into a situation she can’t handle.” Zaaq-niq patted Dru-lah’s shoulder.

A contingent of warriors headed by O’frahm rushed in, bringing their discussion to an abrupt end. Something was extremely wrong, judging by their solemn expressions. Briq wrapped his arms protectively around Gigi, giving her all the strength she needed.

“My lords, please follow me. The council is calling an emergency session.”

Gigi had a feeling things were going to take a turn for the worse.

* * * *

Briq looked around the room, feeling the tension mounting with each step. The council rarely called emergency sessions.

“Hear all, the emergency session of the Protectorate council is now in order. You have been summoned because we’ve received an urgent message from K’luk’s moon’s prison.” The prime minister’s voice rang through the cavernous chambers. The holovid hummed to life and the message played out in front of a shocked crowd.

The images were too disturbing to be believed. Briq’s intel had been correct. A pack of Jog’nafan mercs had been hired to attack the prison that held Zu’thro and Gaal’ya. It clearly showed T’nbros’ and his daughter’s involvement in the strike.

 What angered the assembly the most was T’nbros’ death by his own daughter’s hand. She’d fired on him in cold blood after he’d tried to take her away. She refused his offer, killing him with a pulse weapon.

“Protectorate council, I’m T’zaal, scientist and overlord of two powerful colonies. This message is for the House of Prahn-kril. Relinquish the Earth female in exchange for Security Chief Mah’yanna’s safe return. If you don’t comply, I’ll make sure her death is a shameful one. Her body will be used for my experiments. Just ask Briq how persuasive I can be. Yes, I know you and your mate requested sanctuary on Pendo’rah. My spies also reported she’s breeding. Briq, I’ll be waiting for you at the badlands. The sooner you bring Gigi, the less torture the security chief will endure. Gigi, her life is in your hands now.”