Wray (2 page)

Her parents had been at a loss at what to do.
Warrior wasn’t the dog they had planned on. He was... well... huge
but they couldn’t argue with what they had seen, for some reason
Kim was supposed to have
this
dog. Kim hadn’t realized until
just now how much her parents must have loved her to allow her to
bring Warrior home.

For the next four years, Warrior never left
her side. He slept in her bed. He laid on her feet at the dinner
table and sat on the front steps, every day, rain or shine, waiting
for her to come home from school. It was how he saved her. It was
why he died.

One of the older kids in the neighborhood was
showing off his new car and hadn’t seen the school bus stop sign.
Warrior had jumped their fence and pushed her out of the way of a
speeding car. He had died in her arms.
She
was the last
thing he saw.

Was that Warrior she was hearing? She liked
that. Her Warrior, coming to save her one last time. Blindly she
reached out and weakly thumped the wall, letting him know where she
was.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Wray tossed the map across his desk, and then
leaned back in his chair running tired hands over his face. What a
wasted trip. He had hoped that meeting with Liron, the Emperor of
the Kaliszian Empire, would produce better results. The Kaliszians
had been at war with the Ratak for over three years now. The Ratak
were trying to claim several Kaliszian planets close to their
border. Those planets were rich in mineral resources the Kaliszians
desperately needed to support their civilization.

Since the great infection, many species have
been on the brink of extinction, including the Tornian and
Kaliszian civilizations but for different reasons. For the
Kaliszians, the infection had targeted their ability to produce
enough food to support their people. The majority of their food
bearing plants had perished, and no transplanted vegetation would
survive
. B
ecause of this, the Kaliszians
were dependent on the Tornian Empire to feed their people, trading
their vast supply of minerals for food.

For the Tornians it had affected their
females, causing them to produce more and more males. It had been
celebrated at first, for they were a warrior race, but it quickly
became apparent that there was a problem. Now males
outnumber
ed
females, two hundred to one,
and if breeding compatible females weren’t found soon, they would
all die.

It was why he had such high hopes for this
meeting. The Ratak Empire was on the far side of the Kaliszian
Empire, and there were rumors that they had found a new species,
one that might successfully breed with a Tornian warrior. Wray had
hoped that because of the war Liron would know if these rumors were
true. Liron had insinuated as much when he insisted that he and
Wray met personally on matters of great importance. It was the only
reason Wray had traveled this far outside his Empire.

After a great deal of hedging Liron had
finally admitted he didn’t know if the rumors were true, that he
had wanted to meet with Wray to discuss the difficulties he was
having with Lord Reeve in maintaining a steady flow of food
supplies for his people. Wray had barely controlled his rage at
Liron’s deception, even though he understood it. He had wanted to
gain Wray’s attention without alerting Lord Reeve.

Well, he had it and soon Lord Reeve would
too. Wray would personally let Reeve know his displeasure at his
handling of the Kaliszians. A steady supply of food was vital for
both Empires, for without it, the Kaliszians would suffer and in
return, they would stop the shipments of the power crystals the
Tornians needed along with the jewels their females demanded.

The ringing of his comm pulled Wray from his
dark thoughts.

“Yes?” He demanded.

“Sire, we’ve detected a Ganglian freighter
leaving Tornian space.”

“Are we still in Kaliszian space?”

“Just barely.”

“Intercept, Captain.” Wray ordered and headed
for the command center.

“Yes, sire.”

Wray hated the Ganglians. They had become a
vicious species with no loyalty or honor. They lived off the pain
of others. They thrived on it. They would capture smaller, weaker
species, enslave and torture them. The males that survived were
sold to work in the mines and the females… well the few that
survived were sold to pleasure houses or private collectors.

It enraged Wray the way they mistreated
females. Females were the most valuable resource in all the known
universes. Even if they couldn’t save
his
race, they might
be able to save another, for more than just the Tornians were
looking for compatible females.

“Sire, they are refusing to stop, stating we
have no authority.”

“Show them our ‘authority,' Captain.” Wray
ordered striding into the command room.

“With pleasure
,
M
ajesty.” Captain Veron grinned at his Emperor. He was
always ready for a good fight, not that the Ganglians would give
them one. They were cowards.

Targeting the Ganglians engines, Veron sent
off a shot and watched the freighter shudder before coming to a
stop. “Authority shown
,
sire. Life support
intact. We are preparing a shuttle for boarding.”

“Nicely done
,
Veron.” Wray smiled at his longtime friend and Captain.

“Thank you, sire.”

Wray followed his men as they
exit
ed
the shuttle. The stench hit him
first. He had forgotten how bad Ganglians smelled. In the open air,
they were barely tolerable; in an enclosed ship, they were
overwhelming.

The blast from a stunner had everyone ducking
in shock. The Ganglians were
resisting
? Ganglians
never
resisted. Especially not the Tornians, for Tornians
were the most-feared warriors in all the known universes and for
good reason. Not only did their size intimidate as most were seven
feet of solid muscle, but so did their reputation. They were known
for being deadly and brutal when it came to battle.

“Something isn’t right
,
Veron.” Wray said.

“I agree. You need to return to the Searcher,
Majesty.” Veron nodded to two of the warriors with them.

“No.” Wray told him angrily, he knew Veron
was just doing his job, protecting his Emperor, but he wouldn’t
scurry away at the first sign of trouble. He was Emperor Wray
Vasteri, and he scurried for no one.

“Emperor.”

“Enough
,
Captain!
Let’s find out what they are hiding.”

Sighing heavily
,
Veron nodded. “Yes, majesty, just stay close
.
Grim will have my head if anything happens to
you.”

Wray smiled at Veron’s reference to his
brother. Since he was correct
.
Grim
would
have Veron’s head if Wray were to die. Grim had
absolutely no desire to become Emperor. All he wanted was to be
left alone on Luda so he could train his warriors.

The battle wasn’t long
or
brutal,
disappointing all. The Ganglians shot and ran, shot and ran until
those that remained were cornered in the command center of the
ship. Once inside, they found only five remaining Ganglians,
including one wearing the Captain’s collar.

“What did you find?” Wray demanded of
Veron.

“There are slaves in the cargo hold sire, all
Jerboaian males.” Veron informed him.

“Slavery is illegal
,
Ganglian.” Wray’s eyes were hard as he looked at the smaller
male.

“You have no authority here, Tornian.” The
Captain hissed. “This is Kaliszian space. You will die for this
insult.”

“
I
will not die, Ganglian scum.
I
am Emperor Wray Vasteri, and you have passed through
my
space with slaves. If you had carried females, it would
be punishable by death
. I
nstead, your
cargo will be freed. Your ship will be taken and you will pay for
your crimes by mining for the Kaliszian.” Wray leaned down,
grasping the Captain by the throat, lifting him off his feet. “Tell
me Ganglian, why did you resist? Why did so many choose to
die?”

“None chose to die.” The Captain hissed at
him, frantically clawing at Wray's hand. “You murdered them,
Tornian scum. It will be known that you attack
ed
for no reason.” A muffled thud had the Captain
releasing a high-pitched squeal, the hairy creature's equivalent of
paling.

Wray’s eyes narrowed at the reaction and
dropped the male, his eyes scanning the area. They were in the
command center of the Ganglian ship. It contained only control,
communications and navigation
consoles
.
Where could that sound have come from?

“You will leave my ship!” The Ganglian
Captain started to demand, without turning Wray’s fist struck him
in the throat, silencing him. Advancing closer to the
communications
console, he
heard it again,
but fainter this time. Leaning down, he tore off the unsecured
cover of an access hatch and roared.

Every male in the room jumped at the sound of
the Emperor’s rage, for he was the controlled one of House Vasteri,
to hear it unleashed was something rarely heard.

“Sire.” Veron quickly moved to his side.

“Get a Healer! Get him now!” Wray ordered as
he carefully eased out what he had found.

Wray carefully laid the tiny female on the
deck, his eyes quickly assessing her injuries. She was battered and
bruised, her coverings
nonexistent. I
t was
obvious she had been abused, the heavy bruising and shredded skin
on her thighs a testament to it.

His eyes flew to the Ganglian Captain, who
shrunk away, seeing his death. Rising
,
Wray drew his sword.

“You did this! To a
female!
” Before
the Captain could even squeak
,
Wray’s
sword split his belly open. “Suffer and die!” Wray commanded moving
to the next Ganglian. A weak moan stopped him, drawing his
attention back to the female. “Finish this.” He commanded
Veron.

Returning to the female, Wray dropped to his
knees, carefully brushing aside the thick, dull hair that covered
her face to reveal the pain filled emerald eyes. He was surprised
when instead of shrinking from his touch, she lifted torn and
bloody fingers to his cheek and whispered something he couldn’t
understand. It was then that the full horror of what had happened
to her sunk in. Not only had she been abused, she had been denied
the learning program
. S
he hadn’t even
underst
oo
d her captors. The light in the
eyes that held his began to fade, and her hand fell away, leaving a
bloody smear in its place.

"Bring the portable repair unit! Now! And an
educator!" He ordered.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Kim looked up at the handsome creature
growling above her. "Warrior." She whispered, reaching up to touch
him. So this was what Warrior would have looked like if he had been
huma
n;
strong, powerful, commanding. His
long, thick, hair pulled away from an angular face. God had let him
keep the beautiful dark gray eyes, she'd loved and the massive
muscles that had protected her
,
covering
them all in beautiful bronze skin. Feeling the last of her strength
ebbing away, she let her hand fall. At least she wasn't alone.
Warrior was with her.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Wray roared when the female closed her eyes.
"Run the repair unit!" He ordered.

"Sire, we don't know what species she
is
. I
t could kill her."

"It won't matter for she will die without
it."

Wray waited several tense-filled minutes as
the unit scanned her. This unit was meant for battle. It quickly
healed the most life threatening wounds a warrior received until he
could get to a deep repair unit. It was never meant for one so
small
. I
f it refused to treat her…. The
unit ran up and down her body several times before it activated and
began to concentrate on her lower half, revealing where the most
serious of her injuries were.

"Sire." Veron knelt beside him holding out
the educator. "It is programmed with language only.

"It will be enough for now." Taking the
device, Wray carefully placed it over the female’s eyes then
activated it. With it only having language, it wouldn’t take long.
"Get into their navigational system
,
Veron. I want to know where she came from."

"Yes
,
sire." With
one last look at the little female, Veron rose.

Seeing a shiver run through her small
frame
,
Wray realize
d
that the coolness of her touch was not normal for
her. Ganglians with their thick fur kept their ships cool. It
didn't bother Tornians for their bodies could
compensate
;
apparently, hers could not.
Shifting
,
Wray removed his shirt, giving
her what warmth he could while concealing her body from the curious
gazes of his warriors.

After several more minutes of the unit moving
up and down the female, it shuts off, signaling it had done all it
could. Any more healing would have to be done on the Searcher.
Removing the educator
,
Wray carefully
lifted the unconscious female in his arms worried he would hurt
her
. I
nstead, she pressed closer to his
bare skin, instinctively seeking his warmth. Looking down at
her
,
Wray felt something in him shift.

Tornian females didn’t seek comfort from a
male; they didn’t press against them. Not unless it was during
Joinings and even then it was only to seek their own relief. For
this one to do so, even unknowingly, brought out every protective
instinct in Wray.