The Barbarian's Captive (2 page)

It was the risk she’d taken on when signing up for the mission.

One, no matter who, never outweighs the good of the many.

It was her captain’s motto, and Eva always snickered when she thought of it; her commanding officer had no clue she sounded like Spock from one of Eva’s favorite ancient space dramas. She
had
told her once, but Captain Magda Vohlmar, her stick-in-the-mud leader, had only stared back at her, the woman as clueless as she was disinterested.

She’d never get it — fun and Mr. Spock something entirely beyond the staid officer’s comprehension. Eva doubted the woman would spare two hours away from plotting, planning, and pouring over sky charts to sit in front of a 3-D vid screen, with a huge bowl of buttery popcorn, and watch a centuries-old movie classic. Still, Magda’s message rang clear: they couldn’t sacrifice the lives of everyone on board the
Odyssey
for a lone straggler — or even a dozen stragglers. The all-female crew, three hundred strong, had to move on, their mission too vital to the survival of the human race to risk exposing themselves to danger.

After another mile, a cramp in her side stopped her short, the pain doubling her over. Stifling a groan, she held her aching belly and sucked air into her lungs, leaning against a tree for support. Listening for threats, she wiped the stinging sweat from her eyes. As she rested briefly, she wondered what had happened to the rest of the landing party. Had they escaped? Were they even now readying for liftoff?

One of eight scientists, and four security officers who had come to the surface not three hours earlier, they’d arrived with great hopes for the small planet; their mission, finding a viable new home to replace the dying Earth. Abused selfishly by the human race for centuries, humanity’s home world had finally been done in.

Overpopulation and misuse of the world’s resources had left them with no other option except to find new sources of energy, food, and water. They needed to find another planet to call home, and quickly.

Such was the grim proposition faced by the crew of the
Odyssey
when it had ventured forth three long years ago.

The advanced countries with space programs had launched deep space exploration expeditions, seven in all, within the past five years. As a geologist, unattached, and with little family to speak of, she had been one of the first to volunteer for one of the science teams. It was what had brought them here, to SperoMP13, the thirteenth minor planet in the binary star Spero planetary system. Preliminary atmospheric readings revealed that the planet could support human life. Surface scans picked up tropical-range temperature readings, dense vegetation, and minimal thermal spikes indicative of life, and potential threats, in the area they had selected for initial exploration. Eventually finding an area that likely consisted of sparsely populated jungle, the Captain deemed the area suitable for further research, sending down the science team.

Due to unexpectedly heavy vegetation in their landing zone, their shuttle had to set down a few miles away from the small lake which was their designated research site. As a result, it had taken them some time to cut a path to their destination. Upon arrival, the scientists had broken up into four research pairs, while the guards patrolled the perimeter. Eva, along with Lana, one of the geologists, gathered water and soil samples, a variety of plant cuttings, and numerous indigenous rocks for mineral analysis. They hadn’t been at it long, when one of the guards spotted movement in the distant tree line. Two had gone to investigate while the scientists continued their sample gathering.

She still couldn’t believe how fast things had gone to hell…

* * *

S
udden shots from one of their guards’ photon blasters echoed through the clearing, followed by panicked shouts and screams.

Then it was nothing but eerie silence.

As the rest of them took cover, Eva heard Rebecca trying to hail the ship.

“Team leader to
Odyssey
, come in. We are under attack.”

The response was garbled and broken, no doubt due to interference from solar flares the
Odyssey’s
crew had previously observed erupting from the twin stars of the system.

“Damn,” she cursed, trying on other frequencies. With no luck, she looked up, her concern evident in her grim expression. “Looks like we’re on our own,” Rebecca said, as she scanned the thick brush behind them. “We’ll move back to the shuttle. If we get split up, whoever arrives first needs to activate the distress signal and prepare to transport.”

Communications likely would be down until after sunset when the interference would subside. Another four hours away. The dismal news didn’t do a thing to calm Eva’s nerves, or inspire confidence in their survival. They were essentially sitting ducks.

The remaining guards took up defensive positions around them as the team moved out, traveling as quickly and carefully as they could. Although Eva didn’t see them, she sensed they were out there, following their movements, hunting them like prey.

* * *

W
hen it happened, the attack was swift and sudden, the beings materializing out of the trees as if from thin air. They were human in appearance except they were huge, taller and broader than most Earth males. She only managed a brief glimpse at them as they took out the security detail with ridiculous ease. Undeniably strong, despite their size, the aliens moved with startling speed.

“Run!” Lana screamed at her, before spinning and disappearing into the dense jungle. Only slightly slower to respond, Eva was close on her heels, especially when she saw one of the alien males veer suddenly in their direction.

That had been almost an hour ago. Now, her heaving lungs and cramping calves and thighs rebelled against taking another step. But she knew her very survival depended on staying on the move. Capture was no option.

As she scanned the forest for signs of her pursuer, she squinted through the darkness, offering up a silent prayer that her body wouldn’t give out. Pushing off from the tree, she began running again, her pace a bit slower. She had to conserve some energy to make it to her target destination. Almost immediately though, exhaustion threatened again and she could think of nothing but sinking to the ground and resting, if only for a few moments.

A swath of bright yellow caught her eye in the dimness, and she cut toward it, relieved to see one of the directional markers a team member had tied around a tree hours earlier. At least she was headed in the right direction. The number two printed on the flag told her she was almost there. Eva allowed a glimmer of hope to bubble up inside her, knowing the end was in sight, and she would finally get off the loathsome planet.

As a shadow crossed over her from above, she looked up, barely able to make out the shape looming on a branch overhead. A shrill cry burst from her lips as she spun around, intent on fleeing in the opposite direction. Then the hulking form dropped with a whoosh and landed softly in front of her. Frozen with fear, she stared up at the huge male towering above her. He reached for her, his huge hands curling around her upper arms. Then her feet left the ground as he draped her over his hard shoulder, the jarring thud making her grunt. Hanging upside down, his steely arm clamping her legs in place, her senses returned as he began to move. Pushing up off his back, she craned her head around, watching in horror as the yellow marker disappeared in the dense foliage, the huge alien carrying her away from the shuttle.

In a panic, she began struggling. “Let me go!” she shrieked, kicking and fighting against his hold, beating on his back with her fists. All she could think was that if she didn’t move forward, her only chance to go home would be lost.

A growling voice barked at her, but she ignored it, determined somehow to break free. Frantically, she twisted and clamped down on his side with her teeth.

A roar of anger rang out an instant before a pair of sharp swats landed across her buttocks. Stunned, she let go, blinking back the tears that instantly sprang to her eyes. They weren’t from the sting on her rear, rather from the overwhelming feeling of powerlessness.

“Please,” she cried. “They’re going to leave me behind!”

Her pleas went unanswered. Worse, each time she spoke, the being would hitch his step, sending her flying up in the air so that she landed across his shoulder again, robbing her of breath.

When they moved through a clearing, a break in the canopy allowed a view of the sky. Pink fingers of fading light streaked across the growing darkness. As night rapidly approached, the twin suns had disappeared, which meant her team and the shuttle were likely gone as well.

Hopelessness and despondency set in, escape now impossible.

* * *

N
o match for his superior size and strength, she kicked and pounded her fists against his back, though her struggles were useless. At last, her energy clearly spent, she drooped over his shoulder. He hadn’t expected her to be biddable, although the way she’d fought him like a wild animal
had
been a surprise. Her tenacity was admirable, yet futile. Small and fragile by comparison, he could have easily snapped her bones with the twist of his wrist. He’d exercised great care, however, focusing on gaining firm control of her without damaging or hurting her in any way.

Up ahead, Trask, his warrior commander, entered the path and gave the signal call to alert the camp of their approach. He had caught one of the small females early on and sent her to the camp with some of the other men. Then, as always, his friend had taken position close by as Kerr continued his hunt. Not that he needed his help, but he was there to guard and protect as befitted one of his station.

Upon entering the clearing, he eyed with distaste the cage that had been set up on the far side of the camp. He counted seven females inside, the struggling wild cat over his shoulder making their total count eight.

What a blessing the Maker has gifted us with today!

They had come to hunt big game… and found a quarry much more valuable. He could hardly wait to get her to his tent and test their compatibility. If they were a positive match as he expected them to be, and at first glance her form and features appeared remarkably like a Primarian’s, he could move forward with the breaching and mate bonding. As her soft form shifted on his shoulder, her full breasts rubbing against his back, Kerr’s body stirred, giving him even more hope that the females would be the answer to their prayers.

A cheer went up as twelve of his warriors came out to greet his arrival. “Max Kerr has caught a female of his own,” one shouted.

Another called, “Maker be praised!”

“The time to rejoice is when we get them home,” Kerr warned. “They may have protectors about.” He looked to Lothar, Trask’s second in command. “Have you set patrols?”

“Yes, Princep. We have established a safe perimeter of one hundred gradions.”

Kerr nodded in approval as he set his female down, keeping a firm grip on one of her arms to keep her by his side. Although the chase had been exhilarating, he’d expended too much energy capturing the little nymph to let her escape him now. As if sensing his worry, Mordrun, his kinsman and one of their elders, called to him.

“We have cages set up for containment, Kerr. After hearing how they mewl and carry on, I ordered them placed on the other side of the camp. I didn’t want them disturbing your rest.”

Glancing at the detested cages intended for animals, not potential mates of warriors, he noticed that most of the small creatures were huddled together watching them warily, some whimpered, while a few sobbed unrestrainedly. One stood at the bars, the female taller and more muscular than the others, but no less beautiful. She silently stared out at them through glistening eyes. He sensed anger and hostility, more so than fear; this one would warrant watching.

Glancing down at his own female, he noticed her eyes were dry. As one of the smallest of the women, the top of her head only reached the middle of his chest, yet she bravely faced her enemy without weeping. Her gaze was filled with wariness as it darted around the encampment, openly sizing up her situation with a shrewd calmness. It was fitting that this intrepid female should be his.

The instant she spotted the cage, she sucked in a horrified gasp of air and began pulling against his grip.

“Be still, mate,” he murmured in her ear, both of his hands firmly restraining her as he drew her against his much larger body. Perhaps understanding his tone, if not his words, she quieted.

Escape being a prime concern, he knew a cage would be the safest place for her, though it bothered him greatly. She didn’t deserve to be punished for running and fighting for her freedom, an instinctive response in all creatures when threatened. In her place, he would have done the same — except he wouldn’t have run, instead battling with all of his strength, never giving up until the Maker himself had claimed the life from his body.

His gaze returned to the cage and homed in on the angry female. She grasped the bars in a white-knuckled grip, as though barely holding her emotions in check. Kerr knew the humiliation of treating them like cattle was not going to aid their cause in making them biddable.

“Caging them may not be the most prudent approach if we mean to mate with them, Mordrun.”

“We would be blessed if that were the case, but the prospect is highly unlikely. Look at them. They are so small. I doubt they would be able to safely deliver a warrior’s offspring. I don’t see the appeal.”

“If that is true, I think your palm has been your consort for entirely too long,” Trask declared with a hearty laugh. “Open your eyes. They are softer and more rounded than any of our females. Imagine curling up against those curves as you sleep, or having that beauty welcome you home with warm, willing arms and spread thighs after being away. I, for one, find that very appealing, and like our leader, plan to keep mine with me in my tent tonight. I’ll need no tests to see if we are congruent. My hard rod being enveloped by a warm, tight sheath is all the compatibility testing that I need.”