Legend Beyond The Stars (39 page)

Chapter Twenty

Alana collapsed into the chair Norman shoved her under her legs. She was experiencing a peculiar sensation—not painful, rather disembodied, as if she was floating somewhere outside her skin, listening to the drone of the Jurian’s voice as he went on and on and on.

She held up a shaking hand to stop him. “Norman, please!”

The alien stopped his flow of words. With the tips of his fingers he elongated his lower lip pulling it into a pout, then releasing it.

Over and over.

She clutched her head with both hands. “God, I need to think. Are you positive?” She winced at the high pitch of her voice.

“Of course,” Norman whined and fidgeted with a flap on his flight suit. “I would not tell you untruths, Alana.”

“I never thought this would happen! I thought the IUD I had inserted would protect me.”

Norman cocked his head.

Aware she was rambling to avoid thinking about this latest development, Alana added, “An IUD is a device inserted into a woman’s uterus. Here.” She patted her lower stomach.

He held up a bony finger. “Err, you are referring to the non organic device we found inside some of the females?”

He shuffled at few paces backwards, cringing when Alana stared at him in mounting outrage.

“We?” Even she heard the anger in that one softly, spoken word.

Norman’s gaze darted about the room. He spread his hands wide and shrugged. “The Scaleen traders’ medic and I. Anything non organic was removed during a routine examination whilst you were in hiatus.”

“And you didn’t think of telling us?”

The Jurian shook his head, his eyes puzzled. “What function could they serve?”

“What if someone had a pace maker installed?” Alana shuddered at the thought but it served no purpose ranting at Norman, who showed no sign of understanding the ramifications.

“Strewth! I’ve got to warn the others.” She sighed, but didn’t move only laid her head back against the chair. She gnawed at her lip for a moment, while deep down inside an ember of buoyant joy flickered into life. “This changes everything,” she mumbled.

”How? The Commander has given us our freedom. The voyager is ready and waiting only for us to gather our belongings and leave.” In his anxiety, the alien wrung his hands together.

Her head still reeling from this latest revelation, Alana struggled to focus and gazed at Norman with sad eyes. His thin lips trembled.

“You can’t come with us Norman.”

“I do not see why not!”

“I’ve told you, it wouldn’t be safe for you on Earth. Hell, I can only imagine what they’d do to an alien in their midst, after the UEC was lied to by the traders. God only knows what they’re going to do to us and we’re from Earth!” She half rose from the chair only to collapse back again, and blinked like a stunned mullet at the ceiling.

The last few days had gone past far too quickly. There had been little for them to do in order to prepare for their journey—as Norman had said, gather their few belongings together. They had spent their time helping with the wounded. Lost in her misery, Alana had been barely aware of the other women’s doings and even less interested in what had occupied Norman’s time. She knew he had been closeted often with the Healer Char, and had taken little notice of their muttering and insistence on taking blood samples from her and the other women. She had vaguely assumed it was being used for blood transfusions with some of the injured.

Of Tarak, she had seen nothing.

A course of action which had suited her just fine. She felt like one of those poor bastards stretched out on a rack in the bowels of some dungeon while some sadist oh-so-slowly turned the wheel. She did not think she could bear being anywhere near him. If he looked at her, touched her once more, she was terribly afraid she would cast her responsibilities to the four winds and leap into his arms.

Then where would they be?

Her mind tumbled with a mish mash of half formed thoughts, wild ideas and turbulent memories.

But this—could she? Dare she?

Unbidden, a sudden memory invaded her mind. Scott with his oh-so-confident smile, the one that had had her falling for his lies and protestations of love. He had broken her heart with such callous disregard she had vowed never again to seek out a life of love and family, burying deep her secret longings by throwing herself into a challenging career.

Alana pressed a hand against her stomach.

Tarak was nothing like her ex —it was laughable to think otherwise.

She chewed a blunt fingernail and wondered whether her family had given up hope of her return. Did they still live?

She remembered the chaos her world had descended into and wondered whether the UEC had found any solutions to the problems besetting her home planet.

And what about the time continuum issue? What if they screwed up the final jump through the black hole that existed in the very middle of the Milky Way? The final jump had
to be calculated with exact precision. They could arrive back home and find everyone they had ever cared about had lived out their lives a long, long time ago!

Norman gazed longingly at her with the entreating eyes of an abandoned puppy, albeit a strange puppy with three eyes.

She heaved out a deep, long sigh. “I still don’t understand how this could happen. I thought the Darkon race is unable to reproduce.”

He wagged his finger and puffed out his thin chest. “Aaah, we believe this to be true only with incompatible species. Medic Char and I discovered a genetic sequence which is similar in both your races.”

Alana’s mouth dropped open. She snapped it shut. “Do you mean, we’re like—related?” she squeaked.

“We believe it is possible sometime in the past, both races intermingled.”

She whistled soundlessly.
Alien conspiracy theorists and the origins of human life on Earth, eat your heart out!

A short burst of female laughter broke into her jumbled thoughts. The other women were lounging about the spartan room in groups, chatting. Numbly, Alana registered the evidence of their forthcoming departure from Cerciron, the scattered holdalls, a few wrapped parcels, the miserly sum total of their possessions. She fingered the compu on her wrist and transferred her gaze to the old fashioned dial where the second hand ticked relentlessly away.

Counting down.

Beside her Norman now scratched at the scab on his forehead. A frown furrowed deep lines above his eyes made him resemble a wrinkled, hairless gnome. She knew in her bones she would have to do something about him. As soon as her back was turned, no doubt he would be scuttling off and hiding somewhere on the voyager. She dared not risk his life and freedom. Tarak had promised one of his ships would take the Jurian to a safer planet. All she had to do was ensure he was kept away from the departure bay until the shuttles had left Cerciron, and they were on board the ship.

Alana’s gaze returned to the women.

Jessamine was talking to a small group not far from where Alana sat, and she couldn’t help noticing the respect on the other women’s faces as they listened.
Her second-in-command
, she thought with pride.

No, she was more than that!

Life beckoned.

It crooked its little finger in enticing invitation to a destiny she had long believed denied her.

Long believed she was unworthy to live.

She frowned deep in thought. For just one split second, she was back there—a child of ten clinging to the side of the rock face, the sound of her father’s voice echoing in her ears. She could almost feel the crisp winter wind chilling her skin and smell the hint of rain sweetening the mountain air. Hear remnants of a child’s shrill scream. Her father never should have taken a young child on such a difficult climb and in treacherous conditions. It had
been her father’s hand that slashed through the rope tying them together.
His
decision to die, so she could live.

As for her last mission?

That was war and in war, tragically lives were lost. All any soldier could do was his or her best to ensure success with minimum loss of life.

This time, this mission would not fail.

She raised her chin and smiled. The dragging anchor of guilt which had existed inside her soul for years, evaporated like mist soaked up by the new dawn.

A calm acceptance flooded her turbulent mind and resolution flowed with renewed strength through her veins.

She seized the armrests and shot to her feet as if propelled by rocket boosters and beckoned her friend closer. “Is everyone ready?”

The other woman huffed out a breath and flicked her black braids over her shoulder. Shadows darkened her brown eyes. “I guess.”

“Good.” Alana reached out and grasped Jessamine’s hand, gripping it tightly. “There’s something I have to do.”

The two women’s eyes met in mute understanding.

Alana nodded. Determination forged her spine into steel even as her heart drummed a quick heavy beat. As she strode away with quick measured steps, she heard Norman snivelling and her friend responding with soothing murmurs.

She didn’t look back.

After an exhausting search of the Imperial Hall and the Command Centre, finally Alana located her objective. She paused in the centre of the immense hangar, oblivious to the curious eyes of the silent Darkon warriors who were lined up in military precision before the waiting shuttles. Her pulse hammered with frantic haste, every nerve ending in her body as tightly drawn as post-tensioned steel.

This was it
.

He stood at the end of the main runway, his bulky figure outlined against the skyline. Far beyond him, another storm front was lashing the jagged mountains with lethal forks of fire. She read isolation and fierce determination in his rigid posture.

The sound of her boots heralded her approach, and she watched him turn with studied slowness to face her. Bleak lines were chiselled into his hard face. His wide shoulders were braced as if to weather a blow. His dark eyes scrutinised her every move as she strode towards him. Her heart swelled until it felt full to bursting.

God, how she loved him!

She stopped so close she could feel the heat emanating from him, smell his unique scent. Words bubbled and churned like nuclear fusion, jamming her throat but she doubted they’d make much sense so she surrendered to the yearning in her heart. Reaching up, she cupped the hard planes of his cheeks with her hands.

So softly, so tenderly Alana touched her lips against his mouth, expressing all her aching loneliness, all the love she had to offer in a kiss which seemed to last a lifetime. Slowly his arms encircled her, holding her firm in his protective embrace. She deepened the kiss, hungrily nibbling then sweeping her tongue against his, demanding entry which he gave as he met her challenge, taking control, stealing the very breath from her body. Conflagration engulfed her in fiery passion. She flung her arms around his neck and a little sob escaped her as she pressed closer.

The world faded into obscurity.

“You are making this very difficult, my Alana.” His voice tumbled over her senses causing her toes to curl inside her boots. He eased her away with gentle hands, and her heart ached anew at the anguish she read in his eyes.

“There is no difficulty because I’m not going, Tarak.” She grinned cheerfully at the look of consternation crossing his face.

He scowled, his grip tightened on her waist as if preparing to thrust her from him. “This is not open to negotiation. You and the others will leave this planet.”

“The others yes, but me, nope. I’m staying right here, but there are a few conditions.” She wagged a finger under his imperious nose, ignoring the furrowing of his brow and the tightening of his jaw which signalled rising frustration. “First, we’re gonna have to rethink this whole banzai attack idea. Second, I’m not so keen on a military dictatorship so that’ll have to be overhauled. Oh and did I mention you have buckley’s if you think you’re gonna be married to anyone else but me?”

The Commander sucked air, his nostrils pulsing dangerously. “Enough! I do not find this amusing!”

“Neither do I.” Alana smoothed a hand over the deeply etched lines in his forehead. “Read my lips, Tarak. I—am—not—going!”

“You cannot stay. I will not allow you to place yourself at such risk.” His voice vibrated with emotion.

Alana hesitated. Her eyes searched his implacable features.

Well, it was all or nothing. She either trusted him completely or not at all.

She held fast to her hope.

“There is no longer any risk. You see, Tarak, during the last few days Norman and Char have been busy taking blood samples from us and doing tests. They’ve found out we’re immune to the virus. Completely. All of us. So there is no way I will fall ill. There’s nothing to worry about. They’ve also begun to work on a vaccine.”

The immense chest beneath her spread fingers was rigid.

“Lord Char has informed you of this Intel? Do you not think if this was true he would first advise me?” he growled. The yellow flame in his eyes which had been dim and barely visible of late, flickered and flared.

She stared fascinated, then with a shrug struggled to recall her scattered thoughts. “Well, you can ask him yourself as I’ve brought him along.”

Alana turned and smiled at the healer who stood scant metres away. Lord Char nodded with vigour. He opened his mouth as if to speak but stopped as if he had received a silent message. Or order. A faint suspicion entered her mind.

“This is a momentous discovery and one which I hope will prove to be true. I have been concerned your time on our planet may have exposed you to harm.”

“Nope, it’s all good. Apparently your super bug is some kind of variant or cross-over of two viruses quite prevalent on Earth. Hence, to us it’s similar to having a dose of the flu mixed with the measles. At least, that’s what I think it means.”

“I have no knowledge of this flu or measles of which you speak, but the gist of your words I comprehend.”

Tarak’s eyes glowed, a fiery mixture of darkness and golden light. His lips curved ever so slightly up at the corners. Tarak widened his stance, shifting one hand to slide up her spine to the nape of her neck, the other to slip lower to the curve of her bottom. His posture signified a protective possession, Alana found both arousing and comforting.