Shield [New World Book 1] (2 page)

“For four days?” Grace asked, appalled.

“I’ve gone longer,” Stacie replied with huge sad solemn eyes.

Grace could imagine. Stacie was about five foot two but couldn’t have weighed more than a hundred pounds…maybe. Her gaunt cheekbones were prominent. Sticklike arms and legs were visible under tattered material and for just a moment, Grace wondered why Adams would think to save her. When Grace looked deeper into the woman’s eyes, she knew why. The woman was a fighter; she was nowhere near defeated. She was born to live and she had survived—just like Grace. Grace stuck her hand out.

“My name is Grace. I’ll share what I’m given. If we die, we can go together.”
Why not?
No matter what she had been through, or would be through, her morals would never change. She owed her parents and herself that.

“Deal,” Stacie said and grinned.

“Are you on here alone?” Grace asked her.

“Yes, none of the stowaways have anyone. We all promised Adams undying loyalty in exchange for our lives. I believe there’s already a power struggle going on at the new planet. How did you get to be chosen? I mean except obvious reasons.”

Stacie stared pointedly at Grace’s face and then generous breasts.

Grace grinned somewhat wryly thinking it was beginning all ready. She couldn’t help the way she looked. She imagined everyone thought the same thing. They all most likely thought she was chosen because the captain and co-pilot were hot for her. She had long white-blonde hair and clear blue eyes. She had been told she was gorgeous, even by the captain.

“I’m afraid it’s nepotism, plain and simple,” Grace said then sighed. “Adams found out he and I are related. Second cousins of second cousins kind of deal, a real shock to us both. Same deal with me about the loyalty. I think you’re right about the power struggle.”

“Sure you’re related. I can see the resemblance,” Stacie said sarcastically.

Grace just shrugged. It was the truth; Stacie could believe what she wanted.

The shuttle lights suddenly began to dim and the captain stood up to address them. For a second his eyes settled onto Grace before assessing everyone in general.

Stacie snickered.

“We need to conserve all the energy we can. With you new people onboard, we might not make it.” The captain’s glare settled onto each individual stowaway.

Grace felt Stacie shudder.

“Believe me, if I could, I’d open the hatch and send each one of you out by force.”

“Real personal type of guy, huh?” Stacie whispered.

“I hope Adams has the balls to go up against him if he has to,” Grace whispered back. “Chase is a real hard ass.”

“Time will tell,” Stacie said. “So the captain really isn’t your boyfriend?”

Grace gave her a look filled with distaste.

Stacie summed her up and nodded her belief.

“When we reach the planet, Ulsy, you will immediately find your assigned quarters,” the captain said.

His booming voice in a confined space made Grace want to cover her ears. The man was huge, at least six foot three and built like a machine. He could have been handsome if he wasn’t so ugly on the inside.

“That is for those chosen ten. The rest of you will be found places and put on work detail for your crime of endangering the lives of others.”

There were many grumbles and groans that followed his statement.

Grace saw the captain’s jaw twitch. He was a cold bastard. His hands balled into fists. His eyes narrowed onto two men in a far corner quietly talking in hushed tones.

“Mutiny is a sentence that carries swift actions,” Captain Chase warned. “It’s punishable by death. Immediate death. Don’t make the rest of us have to put up with your stinking corpses.”

“Gotta love subtlety in a man,” Stacie said.

“Something tells me this is going to be the longest four days of my entire life,” Grace replied.

Stacie nodded in agreement.

“Well at least we have each other,” Stacie said. “I’m afraid I could talk the leg off a chair.”

Grace grinned at her.

“Oh no, this is my seat you’re sharing. I get to go first; you can listen to my life story. I was a happy baby my mother said…” Stacie laughed.

Both women jumped when oxygen masks fell from overhead. The captain reached up and put on his. Adams held his in his hands. Grace and Stacie looked worriedly at one another. Grace had a bad feeling in her gut. This time Adams rose and addressed everyone. Grace studied him. He was a nice-looking man, neither tall nor short. He was perhaps in his early forties with thinning hair. Stacie was right; she bore no family resemblance to him.

“The air is about to thin so listen carefully,” Adams began. “Those of you with masks put them on now.”

Grace hesitated; Stacie gave her a nudge and nodded. Grace looked apologetically at Stacie and slipped her mask on.

“For those with masks, you will find you will be getting sleepy. There is no need for concern. The trip is better if you sleep most of the way. For those who don’t have masks, we need to control your breathing. The shuttle will flood with gas shortly. Do not panic, because you will wake up. We need to conserve oxygen, so we need to stop as much air intake as possible.”

Grace felt Stacie’s hand slip into hers.

Grace squeezed it.

“You’re knocking us out?” a man yelled, incredulous.

“It was explained that there isn’t enough food and water onboard and you all agreed. It will be less painful for you if you are unconscious,” Adams said. “There is to be no fighting over food. Starvation can make a person do dangerous things. It would be impossible for you to watch day after day while others eat and drink. There would be too much animosity. Let’s all get there in one piece.”

“You’ll kill us!” the man yelled. “We have the right to eat, too…at least a little.”

To Grace he looked guilty. No doubt the man had come aboard with the intension of bullying food from others to sustain his own life. He was a large man; if he wanted her rations, Grace would have no choice if she had no protection from him.

“Easy, Dustin, I swear it’s for your own sanity and safety,” Adams reasoned.

Dustin looked terrified. He screwed his face into an angry glare and suddenly rushed forward with a below of rage. A woman screamed and Adams snapped his mask into place and flipped a switch as the captain stood ready to fire his weapon.

Grace knew it was a stun gun but the power had been increased. It would kill. Suddenly Grace felt Stacie’s head slip to her shoulder, and the hand in hers went limp. The woman was out cold.

The man about to attack Adams dropped to his knees a mere foot away from his goal. Dustin’s hand rose to his throat and he clawed at the co-pilot’s pant legs gasping for breath. The man slumped heavily and lay on his side unmoving.

“Cold bastards,” the man beside Grace said. He had made no attempt to lower his voice.

“Damn right we are!” the captain shouted in response. “We’re also the ones in charge of your lives. Sleep now. In a few hours we will wake you and give you water and dry fruit. Then you’ll sleep again.”

“What about the others?” Grace asked.

“If they survive, they will be welcome on Ulsy,” the captain said. “If not then they will be buried on Ulsy.” The captain leered at her then flopped into his chair.

Grace felt cool air invade her mask. She blinked and struggled to stay awake, it was a battle she soon lost. She drifted into sleep with a lone tear trailing its way down her cheek. Good God what had she gotten into?

* * * *

Grace woke slowly; her eyelashes fluttered open then closed in confusion. She felt a hand at her neck tilting her head forward. She looked up into Adams’ concerned gaze. She once more wore the oxygen mask. She knew she would be out again soon. Adams had informed her the gas-filled shuttle decompressed for only a few moments. Just enough time for them to have water and a mouthful of food. It didn’t give the others a chance to wake from their deep drug-induced slumber. The last time Grace had come to, Stacie looked dead. Her lips were parched and dry. Her eyes were rolled into the back of her head. Grace couldn’t stand it. Stacie was the first friend she had made in a long time. She liked the feisty tiny woman and respected her courage. Grace had begged Adams to let Stacie wear her mask and they would alternate food and drink. Adams was reluctant, but Grace pleaded until the man relented.

When Grace had gone under without the mask, she had been terrified. The air had thinned to almost nothing. She had felt as though she were suffocating. It was mercifully quick and Adams had held her hand.

The next time she awoke, the captain had been there. He had been furious. From the look on his face Grace knew the man wanted her. She was forbidden to take her mask off again. Grace had glared at him; she had known him less than a week but well enough to know he was a bully. His eyes had followed her around their camp. Chase had been more than suggestive. It seemed the more she blew him off, the more persistent he had become. It occurred to her Adams wasn’t the only one who had a hand in her coming aboard. It would seem Chase had other plans. Grace had defied him and was surprised she had once more woken to be fed and given water. More horrifying was the fact Stacie was no longer beside her.

Grace choked down some water. “Where?” she muttered.

“She’s fine,” Adams whispered. “She’s near the front with the captain. He wants to make certain you reach Ulsy alive.”

“When I’m asleep, does he…” Grace stammered.

“I swear he hasn’t touched you,” Adams said. “But when we get there, you need to stay close to me. Chase has his sights set on you so beware.”

“Will he hurt Stacie?” Grace asked. Stacie was tiny and pretty and out cold, vulnerable.

“No, he isn’t interested in women with little to no breasts,” Adams said grimly. “Did you take a look at the other women he chose?”

Grace hadn’t but did now. Her eyes narrowed. All five women given seats were beautiful and big-breasted. The five men chosen were all Chase’s cronies. Out of the eight stowaways five were women. Curiously she glanced at Adams.

“Chase let those people stowaway…at least he let the women. The bastards who established Ulsy miscalculated and the ratio of men to women is too large, but something else is going on and Chase either knows what or knows someone high up who does. I have been trying to stack the deck with more honest men. Chase has been stacking the deck with his own men and promises of power. The situation on Ulsy is volatile. The planet is filled with strange beasts that they hadn’t noticed before. I’ve never seen one, but others have caught glimpses. They are elusive but dangerous. Women have gone missing, and men have been gutted. Our housing is pathetic and little protection. The planet is so raw. Food is gold.”

“I thought it was filled with food,” Grace whispered.

“It is for those who can get it.”

“Then why keep bringing more people if it’s dangerous?”

“It’s better there than on Earth, Grace. Something is going on but I’m not sure what. There are even rumors floating around that some men are working with these beasts. In the meantime don’t worry about your friend. One of the men Chase chose for a seat on the shuttle has his sights set on Stacie. You’ll be happy to know she is also getting water and food. I can’t go into it now, but the three stowaway men are lucky he hasn’t killed them. Even on Ulsy we have rules about murder—to a small degree. Now I’m still asking for Dustin’s life. The women of Ulsy are being given to men with power so Chase wouldn’t dare harm one no matter what they did or do. Chase said Dustin was about to commit mutiny, punishable by death. He’s an expendable man. We all saw him charge us. I’m afraid there’s no hope for the man once we land.”

Grace was horrified. “Why, why would you tell me this?”

“So you will be afraid and stay sharp. Stay away from Chase, girl,” Adams snapped.

“Are we really related?” Grace asked.

Adams bowed his head. “No. I just wanted to try and keep Chase in line while aboard the shuttle. He would have brought you aboard one way or the other. My ruse was the only way to protect you. I guess I have more of a conscience then I like to admit. You remind me so much of my niece. She went missing on Ulsy months ago. She’s about your age. Her mother, my sister, is beside herself with worry.”

He then shoved her mask back over her face. Before Grace could say anything, she was out cold.