Space Invaders (28 page)

Rave’s boots gripped the floor as if the anti-gravity locks held him in place. He made Kain come to him.

“Commander.” Rave inclined his head, taking in the new lines etched on Kain’s face.

“Rave—”Kain struggled with his words.

He cocked his eyebrow at the informality, trying to ignore the tingles running through his body hearing his name coming from Kain’s lips. “Is there a reason you’re on my ship, two years too late?”

Shit, why did I say that? Damn it. And why does he look so good.

“Yes, but I don’t have time to go into it. You’re going to have to trust me,” Kain pleaded

“Trust you? That’s classic. Answer my question, why now?” Rave wasn’t going to give Kain an inch no matter how much the man’s voice affected his libido.

“The Alliance needs you.”Kain’s voice sounded stronger now.

“Fuck the Alliance and fuck your cryptic bullshit.”

Kain ran a hand through his hair, betraying his frustration. Well, screw him.

“They’re calling you back to service,” the man whispered, almost as if he didn’t want the words to be spoken.

“No fucking way. They
court-martialled
me!”

“No, they didn’t.”

Rave couldn’t have heard that right. No way could the Alliance fuck up his life again. “What?”

“You were never court-martialled. They staged the whole event. No one told me about it until after it had happened. That day—”

“Stop.” Rave held up his hand. “Tell me why they staged something that ruined my life then get off my ship.”

He clenched his hands at his side, proud at how calm he sounded. He’d dreamed of confronting Kain with the betrayal he felt. How could the man he love disappear only to show up again working for the very system that sent an innocent man to one of the worst prisons in the universe? What he didn’t expect was how hard his dick would get in Kain’s presents. The attraction still held strong, but it was lust, no way could he still love the man in front of him.

“I had no—”

“Don’t finish that sentence. I want to hear about my ‘call’ to service.” There was only so far his calm could go. The rage building in him would explode soon. He was pissed at himself for still feeling attracted to the handsome man before him.

“The Alliance wanted you to get your own ship and set up a trade route. They hoped their enemies would contact you. Once you were established, they planned to bring you into service so you could take down the smugglers.”

“And someone couldn’t have
told
me this?” Did the Alliance arrogance know no bounds? “I would have gone undercover. Before I realised what a chump I was, I would have done anything for the Alliance.” He head ached and his emotions tangled inside him. He didn’t expect to feel hurt, but he did. His life
had been
the Alliance and Kain before he’d been ripped from his world on a whim.

“There’s a leak. No one knows how far up it goes. Right before you were taken into custody, someone murdered Commander Roth. He’d been undercover for a couple of months. The Alliance needed it to be real for this to work.”

“So, why did they send you?” Rave couldn’t keep the anger out of his voice this time.

“We didn’t hide the fact that we were a couple. The Alliance kept me away from you. They told me you’d die if I contacted you before they were ready. I wanted—”

Rave wasn’t going to listen to this shit. He couldn’t care about what Kain wanted. Not now. His emotions were already on edge. “You have to leave. Now.”

“I can’t.”

“What do you mean, ‘you can’t’.”

“My ship has been impounded. The minute I stepped onto your cruiser, I became a target. The official word is you’ve kidnapped me.”

“I see.” He didn’t really, Rave was pissed almost beyond words and couldn’t understand why he got the shit end of the whole deal. “So it’s okay for
you
to go undercover, but I had to be lied to.”

“No. The official word is also that you’ve taken me hostage. The truth is I’ve walked out of the Alliance…to find you, to finally tell you the truth. This was my
first
chance to get to you.”

Rave grabbed for his chair and fell into it. He couldn’t believe what Kain had told him. Could it be true? Had he lived a lie for the last two years? Shock reverberated through his body. Maybe Kain hadn’t deserted him after all. Rave crushed such thoughts. No, the man before him had to be following orders, no matter what he might be saying. And what truth could Kain possibly have for him?

Kain took in the pain and disbelief on Rave’s face. He wanted to soothe it away, but it wasn’t his place anymore.
I told them the kidnapping plan wouldn’t work. Damn it, I
need
this to work.

His thoughts on the matter were never taken into consideration, one more reason to leave the Alliance behind for good.

His arms ached to cradle Rave. Their time apart had felt like a lifetime. Rave had changed in their time apart. He’d bulked up. Kain could see the muscles ripple when he gripped the chair. Rave’s brown eyes flashed from anger to shock and pain before the wall came back up. Then Rave’s gaze held determination. His body hadn’t been the only thing to change. Rave’s face had a steely quality. Kain missed the smiling man from the past. The only thing really that had stayed the same was Rave’s short military hair cut. Kain took a step forward, wanting to run his hands through his old love’s hair, but Rave’s glare stopped him. The hurt in the man’s eyes made his heart twinge. He’d put that look there, whether he’d intended to or not.

Kain swallowed and moved forward to stand in front of Rave despite the frown marring that beautiful face. Before he could halt his movement, Kain caressed Rave’s cheek. He almost lost it when Rave closed his eyes and leaned into the touch. Kain fell to his knees in front of Rave, grabbed his ex-lover’s head in his hands then took his mouth in a kiss. Rave stiffened, but Kain didn’t let him think. He licked Rave’s lips until they opened for him. He heard a groan, but he wasn’t sure if he’d made the sound or if Rave had as Kain poured every ounce of the loss from the last two years into that kiss.

Rave thrust him away and left his chair. The shock of the ship’s metal-grate flooring smacking his ass surprised Kain. He pressed his fingers to his lips, the taste of Rave still lingering, as he looked up at the angry face of his former lover.

“Fuck you, Kain! You can’t waltz in here after all this time and expect me to fall all over you.” Rave wiped his hand over his mouth as if rubbing off the kiss.

Kain bowed his head.
What did you expect?
Going into this situation, he’d known it would be difficult. A dull crash reverberated through the room, and he lifted his head. His jaw dropped. Rave’s fist had made a dent in the wall.

Kain jumped to his feet. “Are you okay?”

“Stay away from me, Kain. I’m not going to tell you again.”

“I’m sor—”

“I really don’t want to hear your apologies.” Rave turned to glare at him.

Kain stepped back at the hatred in Rave’s eyes. He’d changed in the years they’d been away from each other. Rave had become what the Alliance had wanted him to be—a cutthroat trader.

“Will you do it?” He hated the weak tone of his voice, but if he had to beg, he just might.

The laugh that echoed around the bridge caused Kain to cringe.

“Brilliant, just brilliant. I have no loyalty to you or the Alliance. Why should I help? Give me one good reason.”

“Melanie.” He knew putting Rave’s sister’s name out there would give the man pause. He hadn’t changed enough not to care about family.

Rave clenched his jaw and closed his eyes.
“Explain yourself. Now.”

Kain knew the calmness in Rave’s voice hid the anger racing through him. He reached into his uniform to pull out a vid stick, which he tossed to Rave.

“The cargo you’re picking up on Seid II is a T-15K Laser.” Kain nodded towards the stick in Rave’s hands. “Watch the test if you don’t believe me. It’s a planet killer. The Royalists are using you to smuggle it to the New Moon colony. They plan on launching it in two weeks to show the Alliance that they’re ready to take over.”

“How do I know this isn’t another fucking trick?”

“I wish it were. But it isn’t. If we don’t stop this, Melanie and New Moon will be dead.”

“What’s to stop me from taking her off planet?”

“Nothing, but I know you, Rave. You may have changed some, but there’s no way you’ll let a whole planet of innocent people die because you’re pissed off.”

The alarms on the
Retribution
blared out in warning.

The computer generated voice cut through the noise. “Captain, an Alliance ship has locked weapons on the
Retribution
.”

“We have to leave, Rave. Now.”

“Why? Just tell them you’re on board. Plus, my crew is still on planet.”

“What you don’t understand is not everyone is aware of the plan. We need to keep on schedule, and getting detained here is not an option. Is anyone on board?” He rushed through his explanation.

“Just Sela.” Rave sounded put out.

“Damn it, we need to get her off ship. The two of us should be able to man the
Retribution.
Your crew would be safer out of this anyway.” He needed to get Rave away from port before something else went wrong. He wouldn’t put it past the Alliance to change plans mid-mission.

“Goddamn it, Kain. So help me god, if this is another trick and I end up going back to prison, I will kill you.” Rave hurried to the com. “Sela, get your ass to the bridge.” Rave turned to him. “Are you planning on standing there or helping?”

Kain appropriated the pilot’s seat to plot the course to Seid II, with a stopover at the New Moon colony. If he did nothing else, he would make sure Rave’s sister stayed safe. He’d already done enough to hurt the man he loved. He wouldn’t risk his family, too.

“Well, what do we have here? How have you been, you bastard?”

Kain looked over his shoulder at his cousin, Sela. “I’ve had better days. You have five seconds to get your ass off this ship, and your time started three seconds ago. Go.”

“What the fuck did you two do?” She went to the computer and punched some keys on the dash. “And, I’m not leaving, so get over yourself. I don’t take orders from you anymore.”

Same old Sela.

“Long story, cuz. Since you’re staying, how about we talk after we’re airborne? Buckle up. I have the coordinates locked in.”

The computer broke through. “Captain Anders, the port authority is hailing us.”

“Computer, block all calls and initiate take off procedures.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Kain, engage auto. Lock it on my mark. Mark.”

It felt like old times—the three of them, working in harmony. Kain had missed this, but he knew it wouldn’t last. Once they were out of orbit, Rave would remember he hated him. But Kain would do whatever was necessary to keep Rave in his life. He couldn’t lose him again.

Damn the Alliance and their schemes. He hadn’t signed up for this. If it wasn’t for Rave, he’d have said, “fuck you very much” and resigned. He took a moment to watch Rave in action. The man knew his way around a ship. Kain wished Rave would touch him with half the reverence he showed the metal heap hurtling them through space.

I’ll win him back. I have to.

Chapter Two

“The
Retribution
has left port, sir.”

“Thank you, Ensign Hart. Retract weapons and set a course for Seid II. Patch me through to Commander General Fritz. I’ll take the call in my quarters.”

Commander Seth Davidson headed to his living quarters, glad that the mission would be over soon. For two years, he’d been on call for the day Rave Anders would kidnap Kain Sims. Now, he could kill two birds with one stone, as the old saying went.

Being a double agent required finesse. The Royalists paid him for his information, and the price would double with the deaths of Anders and Sims. Now, he had to pacify Fritz. Why the man thought anyone would believe a boy scout like Anders would steal from the government was beyond him and the Royalists. Of course, it had worked in his favour. If everything went as planned, Seth would soon be on Earth III spending money he’d earned from the Royalists.

As he entered his room, his com beeped. He sat on his bunk and answered the call. “Good evening, General Fritz.”

“Why are you bothering me at home, Commander Davidson?”

“Commander Sims is aboard the
Retribution
, sir.”

“A little ahead of schedule, isn’t he?” General Fritz inquired.

“I’m not sure, sir.” Seth hated reporting to this moron.

“Did you set a course to follow?”

“Yes, sir. We are on our way to Seid II as I speak. As soon as Anders picks up the cargo, we’ll arrest him and confiscate the weapon.”

“Good, good. I’ll put the kidnapping on the wire. We have those Royalist bastards right where we want them. Once we bring Anders in, we can clear his name, and he’ll be indebted to us.”

The old kook was off his rocker. Did he really believe the bullshit he dished out?

“Yes, sir.”

“Keep me posted.”

“Yes, sir.” The communication ended.

“Computer, switch to classified mode and contact Jefferson Peters.”

“Please confirm clearance code.”

“S-D-two-five-two-five-eight-nine Charlie two.”

“Code confirmed.”

“Peters,” the Royalist commander answered.

“Jefferson, the mission is a go. Anders and Sims are aboard the
Retribution
, heading your way. Do you have the fake T-15K Laser in place?”

“Thank you, Seth. Everything is set on our end. Once I have confirmation of their deaths, you accounts will be credited. What’s your ETA?”

“We dock tomorrow at twenty hundred hours.”

“Don’t contact me again until your mission is complete.” Jefferson ended the transmission.

Seth waited a moment before contacting the computer. “Computer, erase last transmission from your data port.”

“Please confirm delete code.”

“S-D-two-five-two-five-eight-nine Delta one.”

“Communication deleted.”

He lay on his bunk, savouring the thought of killing the lovers. He wanted to do it himself, face to face. They wouldn’t see it coming. And when Earth went boom, he’d be laughing on sunny Earth III. The fools at the Alliance thought New Moon would be targeted—as if the Royalists would obliterate a nobody planet on Zep prime. He would ride out the shift of power over the universe and land on top.