Gigi (7 page)

At first, he wasn’t sure what was so important about a holovid of the
Toq’ma’lal’s
security bay. He realized what it was when he heard the voices as it zoomed in. There, in all his naked glory, was the supreme commander of the Protectorate Armada frackking a female in a security bay cell.

The person manipulating the video feed zoomed in again. Briq saw a female like…well, she was very tiny with long, dark hair. They talked to each other in a very sexual way, moaning and panting. The jid’rahal reached between their bodies and rubbed a spot there. It was the same pleasure spot on Mor’u’s body. Briq snapped back to the present and barked at Fael to disconnect the module.

“If that doesn’t beat all. That was the high and mighty commander of the armada frackking a small female like a common thief,” Fael said in a tone full of both surprise and derision.

“You’ll not breathe a word of what you’ve seen. If you do, so help me goddess, I’ll find and gut you.” Delivering the module to its intended recipient was out of the question. Just his luck, he was going to renege on a job and lose a lot of credits.

Briq hated to think what would happen if the holovid ended up in the wrong hands. That left him with one other option—the one person he swore never to contact again. He was backed into a corner. Mor’u needed medical care. There was no other way out. He had to risk it. He left Fael’s shuttle, concealing the module inside his cloak. Briq took a transport to the station’s upper levels where the
Toq’ma’lal
was docked.

Knowing his way around a heavily guarded station was essential in any smuggling job. That was why he studied the schematics of a place before going on a run. He found the Labonian tech working on the Protectorate ship. This particular piece of scum had no scruples, selling illegal devices to anyone with credits. Briq had no proof, but suspected he was a Kreeh-nosh sympathizer.

Comm in hand, he quickly sent an encrypted message to his contact. This was the second time in less than two months Briq had reached out to him. If the message was intercepted, it couldn’t be traced back to him. He didn’t worry about the tech, because he was dead. The critter tried to extort more credits after recognizing him.

* * * *

The room he’d rented for the meeting was disgusting. Its furnishings a clear indication of the depravity practiced there. Customers who frequented the cheap surrogate house were the bottom feeders. Only a strong decon-cleansing would get rid of the things he felt crawling around his body.

 “What took you so long? I’ve been waiting for over an hour. You know I hate to wait. You’re late on purpose.” He growled at Dru-lah, who looked at him as if he’d seen a ghost.

“It’s good to see you too, old friend. Why haven’t you contacted us before?” Dru-lah exclaimed looking surprised to see him alive. Briq stayed in the shadows, keeping the hood over his head.

 “I think we both know the answer to that. Let’s not waste more time reminiscing about the past. There are far more important things to deal with than my fate.” His friend tensed slightly as Briq reached inside his cloak and removed the data module.

To the untrained eye, nothing amiss happened. Dru-lah recovered quickly. Briq was not like others. He was a seasoned warrior. Under different circumstances he might have taken offense. Given the nature of their meeting, he understood the moment of tension.

 “What’s in this module?” Dru-lah suspiciously eyed the device. “It looks like one of ours. Where did you get it?”

“It looks like your technology because it came from the
Toq’ma’lal
. Someone on board conducted an illegal surveillance. I was hired to deliver it clandestinely to the House of Mal’cious.”

“I take it you’ve seen its contents? What did you find so important you risk everything to get in touch with me?”

“You’re welcome to watch it. I brought a portable viewer, anticipating your need to know everything. Before I leave you to it, I need to ask you a favor in exchange for the module and the name of the person who hired me. I need access to a medical vessel, one staffed with Glaxians, and two million credits transferred into my account.”

“Why don’t you come back with me? I’m sure whatever the Kreeh-nosh did to you can be reversed.”

“No, right now there’s more at stake than me or my desire for normalcy. I’ll repay the two million credits as soon as I can, but now I need to leave. The person who hired me was Gaal’ya. She conducted an illegal surveillance and hired me to deliver it to her father. I don’t know why, but if I were you, I’d place her under arrest.”

“Do you have a data pad ready? I’ll transfer the credits and give you the coordinates to the
Fy’kul
in the Ottara System. I wish there was more I could do to help, but you know how to contact me if you ever need me.”

* * * *

Briq changed course, heading for Quiinlyx. He had to talk to someone there who knew more about the old ways than anyone. He needed information. He was sure the little one in the holovid was somehow from the same planet as Mor’u. Even if their coloring was different, they both spoke the same unknown language.

Were there more females like them? Briq couldn’t believe his eyes when the holovid had zoomed in. The couple was branded around their necks. He didn’t know anyone in modern times with such markings. He’d only seen it on another a long time ago.

Turning the holovid over to Dru-lah was the right call. The House of Mal’cious wanted absolute power. Why else had Gaal’ya record them? He could’ve destroyed it, but the House of Pran-kril might need proof of treason. Briq hoped the officer was charged with the crime. Politics on Pendo’rah was a delicate balance between five houses.

Was the way the jid’rahal behaved with the female reason enough for treason? The leader was caught in a very compromising position. Pendo’rahns, especially warriors, never talked during sex. Yet there he was, talking intimately with a strange female.

True, the law didn’t forbid Pendo’rahns from exchanging sex with other races. Warriors loved a good fight and a good frackk. What was considered a crime was forming emotional bonds with other species. Charges of misconduct or worse could be filed against him.

There was only one person who could answer his questions. It would mean a delay in plans, but Briq decided it’d be worth it. The old one was one of the few non-Pendo’rahns familiar with true mates. He’d contact the
Fy’kul
after speaking with Mol.

The
Fy’kul
was staffed by the one of the best scientific minds the Glaxians had to offer. It was the most advanced research ship in the twin galaxies. The crew on board was the best in their respective fields. Their gly-urq was the most sophisticated credits could buy. They didn’t accept payment, which went against their beliefs. Briq knew they could help Mor’u.

After exiting the decon unit, Briq called Xy. He owed his friend for offering his home to them. Xy didn’t feel comfortable around his people.

Galadonians were cold beings who had sex once in their lifetime. For the most part they pretty much ignored each other. They didn’t have males and females like others. They had no visible genitals. During reproduction stage some of them developed a penis, others a womb which disappeared later. Until then they were pretty much androgynous.

The Kreeh-nosh had changed Xy. He was now a full male with a raging libido. Galadonians considered his friend polluted, yet he faced rejection to help him.

“Briq, is everything all right? Have you finished the job already?”

“I didn’t. Something came up. I’m on my way to Quiinlyx. I’ll explain later. How’s Mor’u?”

“Her vitals are weak but stable according to the medic.”

“I’m forever in your debt for protecting and caring for her.”

“Don’t worry, my friend. I’ll remind you for the rest of your life.”

“I’ll treat you to the best Trac’xian surrogates credits can buy after I return.”

“I’ll hold you to that. It’s hard hitting on someone colder than the planet.”

There was nothing else to do until he reached his destination. After stopping at the supply room for a protein drink, he headed to his quarters. He’d never noticed how lonely he was until now. Her absence hurt more than any torture the Kreeh-nosh had put him through. Briq didn’t mind, because with her, he felt more alive than he’d ever been, even before his capture. She was his life.

“You have a saved holovid message,” the A.I. announced as he walked in. “Do you wish to play it?”

Strange. He didn’t remember saving anything recently. “A.I., who’s the vid from?” He was always careful with all his communications, saving only vital information. In his line of work the less he kept the less evidence there was against him.

“Xy,” replied the A.I., leaving him with more questions. He’d just spoken to him. Unless there was something wrong with Mor’u and he was afraid to tell.

“Play it.” Briq smiled when her image came to life. “A.I., change parameters to full display.” He wanted to see her as she was in real life, not a smaller compressed image.

“Umm…Xy…where’s the camera?”

“Just speak. The holovid is recording. Just speak from your heart.” Xy’s voice came from somewhere in the room. When had this been recorded? He recognized the cruiser’s command center. It must’ve been shortly before arriving at Galadonia.

“Okay, here goes… Briq, my champion, I wanted to leave this message in case something happens to me. I’ve always known my life would be a brief one. I accepted my fate a long time ago. I just wanted you to know how much I love you. This is so weird.”

She’d smiled, a beautiful smile full of mischief. Briq took all of her in—her big green eyes and mass of shiny red hair cascading down her back. His heart tightened as he remembered how sweet it smelled.

“Saying those words and really, really meaning them. You see, for years I was trapped in a very bad relationship. I never knew how beautiful true love could be. On my planet when people say love at first sight they usually refer to physical attraction. They fall in and out of love so many times. Not that you’re not handsome….you are…obviously, very much so. When I looked into your eyes back at the pit, something in me came alive. It felt as if I were transported to a magical kingdom from one of my father’s tales. The way you moved, the way you fought those things was so brave. You were my avenging angel, my champion coming to rescue me from the monsters. I
knew
you…my soul recognized you…as if it were waiting for you to come. Please be safe. I can’t wait to be in your arms again. But if by chance I don’t make it, thank you for showing me a glimmer of true love. Be happy, my champion. Find someone to love. Don’t look back. Don’t be sad. Always remember you deserve to be loved. You’re good and decent. No one can take your brave, generous heart away from you. Not even you.” She sang a beautiful song about eternal love.

Her voice was powerful. He’d never heard such wonderful sounds before. Pendo’rahs had music, but they were limited to military or religious. Her song was different. It didn’t have the monotone characteristic of a chant. It wasn’t harsh like a military battle song. Her melody was pure, her voice rich and comforting. The anguish he felt at the thought of never seeing her again was lessened by it.

“You’ll not die, Mor’u. Not while I have one last breath in my body.”

Chapter Six

Rag’mar

After depositing the very loud and feisty female in the back, Briq opened a commlink with Dru-lah. He found some protein packets in his bag and dissolved two in a bowl of warm water. It thickened into a gooey paste.

“Incoming transmission, captain.”

“Put it through for my ears only, A.I.” Briq redirected it to his ear commlink.

“My brother, it’s good to hear from you again. Thank you for the valuable intel. What can I do for you?” Dru-lah asked.

“I have her with me. Meet me at the coordinates I’m transmitting. I don’t have to tell you to come alone.”

No further explanation was needed, both knew who she was. Their communication was on a secured channel, but even the most secured ones were jumped by techno pirates or Protectorate patrols. Briq couldn’t risk being found before turning her over to his friend.

He ended the transmission and headed back were he’d left her. She was still there, sitting with a peaceful look on her face. Seeing her like this brought deep yearnings to the surface. At rest, she was so beautiful with a sensual smile. She reminded him of Mor’u. How he missed her. As soon as Dru-lah retrieved his guest, Briq would get back to her.

“I brought you some nourishment. It’s not much, but it’ll help you keep up your strength.” Not sure what she liked or even if she was hungry, he offered her some protein paste. She took the bowl, sniffing it suspiciously, then quickly devouring all the contents.

How could a female talk that much? All he asked was if she came from Earth. She wouldn’t tell him anything until he told her Mor’u’s story. After that she just opened up and talked until exhaustion won her over.

Amada gave him her solemn pinky-swear she would keep everything secret. The jid’rahal was very fortunate. His mate was brave, sometimes even reckless. He was going to miss her sharp tongue and dry wit. He even had a few new words no one knew…
hijo de puta
topping the list.

“Incoming transmission on a secure channel,” the A.I. chimed in.

“Open channel.”

“This is the shuttle,
Ly-shra
, requesting permission to dock, captain.” It was Dru-lah, right on time.

“Permission granted, my friend. I see the Protectorate upgraded their shuttles.”

“No, it’s the jid’rahal’s personal one. I just borrowed it.”

“Well now, it’s just the right price for the return of a kidnapped mate.”

Dru-lah grinned, transferring all command codes over. They knew the supreme commander would do anything to get her back.

“I have to ask how you found her. We’ve been looking all over, unsuccessfully.”

“Remember Fael?” Dru-lah nodded “He took her and the holovid to Quiinlyx for a private auction.”