Legend Beyond The Stars (37 page)

“I will have you safe.” Tarak swung away towards the door, his voice cold and remote.

Disappointment welled and spilled over into bitterness. “So you still don’t accept me as your equal.”

The Commander, about to punch in his code, paused. “You are wrong.”

Alana hurried over and placed a hand on his arm. She gazed entreatingly into his face. “Then give me a weapon.”

His eyes squeezed shut, then opened.

She met his molten gaze that turned all her resolutions into so much cotton candy. “Tarak, please. I’ll even wear one of those things you’ve got on.”

He acceded but with obvious reluctance. “Very well. But only on the condition you will obey my orders at all times.” He stabbed a finger into the air for emphasis.

She nodded. Her heart lightened. She flung her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, “I love you so very much.”

Her cheeks were flushed as, not wanting to see his reaction, she pushed past him to come face to face with Jessamine, who was poised, hand raised as if to pound on the door.

Alana’s breath caught in her throat.

Her brief happiness withered.

Jessamine, her face white with shock, her eyes glazed, leaned heavily on Tina’s much slighter frame. Jess’s lips parted as if to speak but no sound passed.

Alana cut her eyes to the other girl. Her condition was scarcely any better. Tina was trembling, her slanted eyes starkly black against the pallor of her skin.

“What is it? What’s happened?”

A low keening wail emerged from Jessamine. The dam burst its barriers and tears flooded over her face. She loosened her grip on Tina and launched herself onto Alana.

“She’s dead! Oh Lord.” Her breath whistled in and out like a compressed steam engine.

Alana braced her feet and returned her embrace as her friend dissolved into hysterical sobs, incapable of coherent speech. Beside her Tarak was already barking questions into his compu.

They heard the sound of booted feet pounding down the corridor and the next moment Cassis rounded the corner.

Tarak ripped Jessamine from Alana’s arms and thrust her at her lover.

“With me!” he spat out and, taking Alana’s hand, hastened towards the nearest chute.

“What’s going on?” She grimaced at the shrillness of her tone. A rapid pulse thumped in her temple.

“This will not be easy, my Alana.”

Together they entered the chute and descended to another level. Milling along the corridor were groups of grim silent Darkon warriors interspersed with weeping women. Alana was unaware the others were keeping pace with them as they came closer to the sleeping quarters. All her attention was focussed on what lay ahead.

At the entrance, it was all she could do to push past her deep reluctance and enter the chamber.

Tarak’s hand slipped from hers to lope around her waist. She firmed her chin and together they crossed the threshold. With a hiss of hydraulics, the door slid shut behind them.

She covered her mouth with shaking fingers to suppress the horrified cry trembling on her lips.

The image dangling from the ceiling seared into her brain with the indelible force of a laser strike. Dangling feet drifted in a slow circle above her head.

Alana forced her gaze upwards over the lifeless body, to fasten with infinite sadness on the dead face of Linette.

Chapter Nineteen

A curious sense of déjà vu teased Alana’s subconsciousness as she once more stood at the edge of the main port, her sombre gaze sweeping the vista before her.

As before, a storm moved across the sharp jagged mountain peaks. At the forefront were curious funnel-shaped cloud masses almost violet in colour. Within the swirling clouds she saw a boiling cauldron of surging energy, smoke and fire. Every now and then, slashing streaks of lightning escaped to rip through the darkening sky towards the ground, briefly illuminating the stark landscape of Cerciron. There was no thunder only the crack of the lightning and the explosions of rocks when the bolts struck the earth.

The whole scenario, dangerous and bleak, aptly reflected the emotions roiling inside her.

So much had happened since they had last stood here. None of them was the same woman who had been smuggled off the planet under cover of darkness. As a whole Alana considered they were stronger, tougher, more determined than ever to gain their objective.

Now they were driven by the hunger for justice.

Retribution.

She lifted her hands and flexed her battle armour encased fingers, her eyes thoughtful.

She had changed. Her priorities had crystallised into a sharp focus. The welfare and safety of her fellow travellers was still of paramount concern and yet her needs gnawed constantly at her heart like the insistent pleas of a starving refugee.

A bitter smile twisted her lips. She yearned so much for a future where she could stand side by side with Tarak, facing together the challenges of this fascinating life he inhabited. But how could she stay with him? His world was disintegrating and the only future he could offer was a certain early death.

Death by either a slow acting disease or war.

Hah!

She blew out an angry breath. Not to mention the unpalatable fact he was promised to another should the Darkons vanquish their foes and bring peace to their galaxy.

If she decided to take her chances and remain here, she would be condemning the other women to a similar fate. Her very soul revolted at the thought. No, she had to get them away from this world. In her mind’s eye, she could still see that tragic figure. Linette’s death would haunt her for the rest of her days.

Rubble crunched under feet as Jessamine joined her. A heavy sigh escaped her friend. “What a freaky lookin’ storm! I sure wouldn’t want to be tryin’ to dock now. Think Atolo’s gonna be here?”

“If he had any brains he’d be far, far away by now,” Alana answered drily.

“Damn. I sure was lookin’ forward to seein’ him again.”

Alana glanced at her companion. Jessamine’s face held a feral light she had never seen on her pretty features before.

“I’m kinda lookin’ forward to kickin’ his arse.” Jessamine extended an arm and eyed in wonder the Darkon technology now covering her body. “This armour is seriously cool. Hard to believe, we’re now officially Darkon warriors.”

“Don’t get your hopes up too high,” Alana warned. “It remains to be seen whether we’ll be allowed to see any real action.”

“I’m sure you’ll be able to get the Commander to see reason.”

Alana grunted, refraining from giving an answer.

Jessamine kicked at a pebble. Alana watched as it arc into the sky before disappearing into the ravine below.

Overhead a warning siren screeched out. Startled, they stumbled back from the edge and headed further into the cavern as a disembodied metallic voice intoned a caution on the deteriorating weather.

Massive doors rolled down and clanged into place. From outside Alana heard the muffled explosions of lightning strikes. She sniffed the air and smelt an acrid whiff of singed metal mingled with sulphur. Her lips pursed into a soundless whistle, glad she was indoors well away from the tempest now raging outside.

They hurried back to the shuttles where the last of the Darkon warriors were disembarking. Alana paid no attention to the way the warriors stepped back from her path,
but their actions were registered with intense interest by her friend. Ahead was Alana’s objective, standing feet apart, conversing with his band of officers.

Their eyes met and Alana experienced the now familiar jolt of heat which suffused her from head to toe. She aimed for a demeanour of cool disinterest which she must have achieved as a fleeting expression of irritation twitched his brows together. She smirked.

“Helmets fastened,” he said, his obsidian gaze sweeping her body.

True to her word not to question his orders, Alana fumbled with the controls on the compu imbedded into the armour on her forearm. She heard Jessamine’s gasp of alarm before her shield clicked into place. She hoped her friend and the other women who had chosen to participate in this foray would have no difficulties with the alien technology. Alana was used to the various guises of battle but this form of nano armour was seriously mind-boggling. She flinched with the shock of the sensors as they connected with her brain—her head spun. She steadied her breathing and waited for the prickly sensation to abate.

Alien data flowed in a river of information before her face, and through her ear piece she could hear the Commander’s terse voice as he gave final instructions to his warriors. The data disappeared.

“Aaaah, our welcoming committee,” Tarak purred. He swung round, his body forming with fluid grace into the casual Darkon warrior stance before he strikes.

A group of warriors emerged from the curve of the entryway and strode with military cadence towards them. Alana’s eyes narrowed and she stiffened as she recognised the two men at the head of the contingent.

Lord Barid and that bastard who had delivered them to the hell hole on Isla!

Quick as a fired bullet, she gripped Jessamine’s arm, stopping her before her friend bounded forward.

“Wait,” she ordered.

The
‘welcoming committee’
halted a few feet away. Alana snorted with amusement at the complete astonishment on Barid’s face as he stared at her armour-clad form. He waved a dazed hand in her direction and stuttered, “This is against our laws, Tarak.”

“Laws can be broken.”

Barid’s jaw sagged then snapped shut, his expression settled into concerned lines.

“I see the alien female stands at your side. I am glad she is safe.” His troubled gaze travelled over Tarak’s men. “You have disobeyed the royal command. We have heard you have taken Isla by force and destroyed the planet. Now you return to Cerciron. Why?”

“Do you really need to ask, Barid?”

A sudden sweet smile spread across the Darkon lord’s face. He folded one arm across his chest and inclined his head. “Long have I waited for this day, Tarak. Until the house of Barid is no more, you have and always will have my clan’s allegiance.”

Officer Ulric, who had been keeping a watchful silence, proffered his plitza stunner to Tarak. His cold voice rasped, “The Royal Guard is now under your command. I surrender myself and take full responsibility for the incarceration of the female aliens. I will accept what punishment you decree.”

”Your sentence will be issued, doubt me not, but later Ulric. Until such time, you will perform your duties as a member of the Royal Guard under First Officer Magar’s command. I will have your sign of allegiance.”

Ulric bowed his head in acceptance and crossed his chest with his left arm. “Until the end.”

“What others will stand with me, Barid?”

“You may be surprised, Tarak at how many have long been uneasy with the direction our lord has taken the Darkon people.”

Commander Tarak’s fist clenched. “Not uneasy enough,” he said harshly. “No dissent has reached my ears.”

“True. If one wished to continue to exist it was wiser to remain silent. Your loyalty to your father was never doubted. But we were waiting and now we will stand firm, Tarak. Do not distrust us.”

“Very well, Barid. For the sake of one I considered as close as a brother, I will rely on your word. We will now greet my father. I know he waits for me. Magar, you and the others have your orders.”

The warriors split up and moved out. Tarak swung around to lean towards Alana. He stabbed the air near her face with his forefinger. “You, my Alana, will remain close. You will keep silent. You will obey my orders instantly. I will hear your assent.”

“Yes sir!” His continued concern for her welfare glowed in her heart. “I’ve already told you, several times if you’ll recall. Don’t worry, I’ll follow your commands.”

Tarak emitted a grunt of satisfaction and stalked towards the corridor indicating to Barid and Ulric to walk at his side. Alana and Jessamine fell in behind. A contingent of the Commander’s warriors surrounded them.

Alana voiced a question which had been troubling her for some time. “Lord Barid, do you know of the whereabouts of the Jurian, Norman ?”

They crowded into one of the chutes.

“The Jurian is in my protective custody and has come to no harm. He is eager to meet with you once more. I for one will be happy to release him. A most vocal alien.”

Jessamine squeezed her arm and despite the circumstances, Alana could not keep the smile from her lips. “Oh good. Thank you for keeping him safe. He is a good friend.”

The Darkon lord’s eyebrows rose. “Most curious, this concern for such an inferior race.”

“I do not consider him inferior!”

Barid stepped back from the ferocity of Alana’s voice. She wondered how much of an asset he’d be should an actual fight erupt at the forthcoming confrontation. Better to keep a close watch on him.

And that snake Ulric—it would be a cold day in hell before she’d give him any change!

Her nerve endings tightened the closer they came to the underground city. Nothing had changed; though instead of the dank air of hopelessness permeating from the damp walls, she sensed an air of tense anticipation. The streets were lined with a mixture of Royal Guards and Darkon warriors from various Royal Houses. Her heart froze then pounded an
urgent rhythm at the grim faces and at how their hands hovered over their weapons. She swallowed hard. It would take very little for this planet to be engulfed in a war of divided loyalties.

And the outcome hinged on one man.

Would the rest of his people side with him? Would they step out into a certain future of honour and death? Or would they follow Rajan’s descent into madness?

Her stomach rolled over as they mounted the steps. The guards allowed them to pass. She followed Tarak’s long measured strides down the hall towards the dais.

The soldier within her emerged.

Her nerves steadied.

This was it!

Alana searched the group of attendant Darkons surrounding their lord but Atolo was not amongst their number.
Well, he’d just have to wait his turn
.