Jardun's Embrace: Sci-fi Alien Romance (Ketaurran Warriors Book 1) Page 13

  He moved away from the ledge, then squatted near a smooth area in the loose sand and used the tip of his blade to draw a diagram. “From what my friend told me, the ship has an access entrance close to the point where the ship butts up against this rock wall. There’s a lot of damage, but we should be able to use it to get inside. From there, locating the engineering level shouldn’t be a problem.”

  Burke tapped a spot on the outer edge of the circle he’d drawn. “The lifts won’t be operational, so we’ll have to use the tunnels to reach the upper levels.”

  “What about finding Vurell and the antidote?” I pushed aside the overshadowing dread that we might already be too late to save the physician’s life.

  “That’s where the girls come in,” Burke said.

  Sloane cheerfully bobbed her head. “The three of us”—she pointed to include Celeste and Laria—“used to play in the ducts when we were kids. If the antidote is anywhere on that level, I’ll be able to extract it for you.”

  “I do not understand,” Garyck said. “How do you plan to accomplish the task without being caught?”

  “Let’s just say I’ve always had a talent for acquiring things.” She wiggled her fingers with a mischievous grin.

  Garyck frowned and slapped his hand over his armband.

  “You need to stop making that grumpy face.” Sloane tucked her arms across her chest. “If I was going to take your precious piece of jewelry, I would have done it already.” She waggled her brows. “Besides, there’ll be plenty of opportunities during the trip back to the city.”

  Garyck snorted. “We shall see.”

  Not one to be dissuaded, Sloane jutted her chin. “Yes, we will.”

  “If you two are done…” Burke glanced at each member in the group, his gaze contemplative as if taking his time to choose his words. “Whatever we do, we need to do it carefully and be prepared for anything. The swords the males outside are carrying might be for show. There’s a good chance that the ones inside are armed with weapons other than blades.” He returned his knife to its sheath.

  “What are you talking about?” Laria pinned Burke with a glare.

  “There were cases of laser pistols and blasters stored on the ship. The Earth exploratory council kept it classified. Only certain members of the security team were given the information. Doyle was one of them. If the weapons survived the crash, there’s a good chance he may have salvaged them.”

  “You bastard.” A sob tore from Celeste’s throat. “All these years you knew we had a way to protect ourselves from the attacks, to save people we cared about, and you didn’t tell us.”

  Burke said, “After the crash, those of us who returned to salvage what we could weren’t able to access that area of the ship. I thought everything in those storage areas had been destroyed.”

  “So what makes you think that’s changed?” Sloane asked.

  “A few months ago, I ran into some mercs I occasionally do business with. One of them got drunk and was bragging about how Doyle had taken over the vessel and some of the things he found. The weapons were mentioned.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us then so we could have done something about it?” Laria asked.

  “I was afraid if I said anything, the three of you would have come out here and tried to stop Doyle on your own.”

  “Of course, we would have,” Celeste said.

  “That’s my point.” Burke puffed out a heavy sigh. “I had no way of knowing if the information was accurate, and I wasn’t willing to risk any of you getting killed over a rumor. But now that we’re here…”

  “We can find out if your associate was telling the truth.” I shared a knowing glance with Zaedon and Garyck. Swords were no match against laser pistols. If the weapons existed, they would need to be destroyed. If there was a chance that Sarus was still alive, or if any of those loyal to him found a way to obtain the advanced weaponry, many more ketaurrans, as well as humans, would lose their lives.

  “Was volunteering us to help Jardun an excuse to get your hands on the weapons?” Laria clenched her fists, her cheeks flushing.

  “Hey, just because the war is over doesn’t mean we can afford to be lax. Sarus hated our kind, and he had a lot of followers, some who would do anything to get rid of the current drezdarr. How long do you think we’d survive under their leadership?”

  The fact that my friend was slowly dying from poison was proof of his statement.

  The brief hint of regret on Burke’s face was quickly replaced with irritation. “So, yeah, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep all of us breathing, even if it means not disclosing important information.”

  Burke and I might share a common goal, but it did not mean I approved of his methods. And neither did the females—the evidence was apparent on their angry faces. He had not been forthcoming with me and he’d betrayed the trust of his friends. I would not be opposed, or stand in the way, should Laria decide to exact some retribution for his actions.

  “We’re definitely going to finish this discussion later,” Laria said, then redirected the conversation back to the mission. “Do you have any suggestions on how we should avoid getting shot?”

  “Don’t attract attention, and don’t get caught,” Burke said.

  “Yeah, that was helpful,” Sloane grumbled.

  “Let’s say everything goes the way you planned with the rescue. How are we going to get back to the city?” Laria asked. “We obviously can’t use the chaugwai again. Doyle’s not going to let us leave without a fight, and they can’t outrun gunfire.”

  “While you find the doctor and the antidote, Celeste and I are going to acquire one of those transports.” Burke gestured toward the ledge.

  With three males guarding that side of the vessel, I was not sure I agreed with Burke’s plan. “Why take Celeste? Why not Garyck or Zaedon? They are much stronger and better equipped for battle.”

  “It’s not strength he needs.” She flicked her hair over her shoulder and smiled. “It’s a distraction.”

  LARIA

  After removing everything from the chaugwai, we gathered our bags and prepared to make our way down the rocks to the sandy surface below. Of course, we had to wait a few extra minutes so Celeste could say goodbye to Lou. She would never admit it—and would usually throw a punch at anyone who commented—but she had a soft heart when it came to animals, even if the creatures were the lizard variety.

  Traveling to the basin was slow. Some of the ledges were narrow, others steep. Some portions lacked any kind of cover, and we were lucky we made it to the area near the tail end of the ship without being seen by any of Doyle’s men.

  So far, things seemed to be progressing smoothly. We had a decent plan for getting inside, for reaching the lab, but it was the unknown that had my senses tingling. My internal warning system, the instinct that made my skin itch with dread, had been buzzing from the second we started our descent along the ridge.

  I continually glanced toward the corner of the large vessel that wasn’t buried in sand, expecting to see an unfriendly welcome party.

  Burke interrupted my thoughts when he spoke to Jardun. “Celeste and I will stay here, give you time to reach the labs before we take out the guards.”

  “Zaedon, I want you to remain behind with Burke in case more males arrive and he requires assistance.” Jardun issued the order in a tone that refused discussion.

  I wasn’t sure if his decision revolved around being a protective male, or if he didn’t trust Burke any more than I did at the moment. Celeste could handle herself in any situation, but the vulnerable side she kept hidden sometimes appeared at the worst possible times and led to trouble. I was relieved that Zaedon would be staying behind to look out for my friend’s safety.

  Having an additional person outside meant we’d have backup in case things went badly inside. From what I’d seen since we started this mission, I knew the bond of loyalty between the three vryndarr was strong. Zaedon would never leave without his friends.

 
“Fair enough.” Burke turned to me. “Once you get inside the passageway, the access entry to the tunnels should be to your right. From there, you can take it to the upper levels and find the lab.”

  It was a good thing this portion of the ship hadn’t suffered much damage; otherwise, getting inside without security codes would’ve been a problem. Fortunately for us, the exterior hatch wasn’t completely sealed. The thick metal edge was warped in a few places leaving a gap between the seal and the hull of the vessel. Ketaurran males were much stronger than humans, but I didn’t realize how much until I watched Jardun and Garyck pry open the exterior hatch without breaking a sweat.

  “Laria,” Burke said.

  I paused in the entryway and glanced at him over my shoulder. “Yeah.”

  “You guys be careful.”

  Mistrust and the sting from being used again would take me some time to get over. His concern for our safety might be genuine, but it was a little too late in the delivery. “That’s the plan.” I turned and followed Jardun, meeting up with Garyck and Sloane who were already inside and waiting for us.

  We’d left our bags outside, but Garyck had retrieved a portable glow emitter before entering the ship. The small device contained several pieces of zapharite. The stones, used to absorb solar energy, gave off a blue-green glow and produced plenty of light to see down the long corridor in front of us.

  It was obvious from the thin layer of untouched sand and dirt coating the floor that no one had been in this area of the ship for years. We continued along the passageway until we reached the first metal support beam

  “This should be it.” Sloane pointed at the faded red lettering painted above a panel on the wall that said “Authorized Personnel Only.” After leaning forward and retrieving a thin knife from her boot, she used the blade to remove the fastening screws holding the vertical rectangular panel in place.

  Once Sloane set it aside, Garyck placed a hand on her arm to stop her from going inside. “I will go first.”

  “Seriously, you’re going to pull the overprotective male thing with me?” She returned his glare.

  Sloane was tough and rarely backed down from anything or anyone. I was about to mention that we didn’t have time for a battle of wills, when she stepped aside. “Fine, oh big and scary one.” She made a wide sweep with her hand. “You can go first.”

  To me, Garyck’s snorts sounded a lot like his grunts. I thought they were simply noises he enjoyed making.

  It seemed Sloane had the ability to interpret their meaning. “Don’t you female me, you cantankerous oversized lizard,” she said as she climbed in behind him.

  The inside of the tunnel seemed more confining than I remembered, and I was glad I wasn’t claustrophobic. Of course, back then, I’d been a lanky teenager without the additional muscle and curves on my hips. “This brings back memories,” I said to Jardun as I reached for the next rung in the ladder. Voices carried, and since I didn’t want to alert anyone to our presence, I kept mine low.

  “How so?” His hand brushed the outside of my thigh. He’d been in my personal space, never far from my side, since we’d started the climb. Not that I minded. After spending a night in his arms, I continued to crave his nearness. Remembering our evening of pleasure also brought a pang of sadness. I had no regrets about our time together, but falling for him was a bad idea, one that could only end in heartbreak—mine.

  What I did, the risks I took, was hard on a relationship. It was why I’d never gotten involved with anyone. Jardun might believe I was his ketiorra, but it didn’t guarantee a future together.

  I tamped down the disconcerting thoughts, then paused to tighten my grip on a rung before glancing at him over my shoulder. “I’ve been in the engineering tunnels before, but never this far down in the ship. Mostly the ones near the labs.”

  Confusion furrowed his brow. “Why would you purposely want to be in such a cramped area?”

  I understood why he asked. His broad shoulders were inches from touching the walls on either side of us, and he probably felt confined. “Let’s just say Celeste, Sloane, and I weren’t always good at staying out of trouble when we were younger.”

  He chuckled. “It does not appear that things have changed much since then.”

  His attempt at humor warmed me. The risks he’d seen me take over the last couple of days were far bolder than any of my teenage antics. “I would have to agree with you.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Jardun

  Using the tunnels was not the first time I had experienced discomfort at being in a confined area. During the war, infiltrating tight and uncomfortable places overtaken by Sarus’s males was commonplace. Though I enjoyed the constant view of Laria’s backside, I was greatly relieved when we arrived on an upper level where we could utilize a passageway.

  I thought about the exquisite night I had spent with Laria in my arms and knew with my entire being that she was my ketiorra. Over the last few days, I had witnessed her fighting abilities and she had earned my respect. It did not mean I would stop doing everything possible to protect her. I did not know what dangers awaited us once we reached the labs. After instructing Garyck to take the lead, I stayed at the rear of our group, so we could ensure the females remained between us.

  “Is anyone besides me surprised that this level has power?” Laria paused in the middle of the passage, her gaze focused on the illuminated panels running along the metal floor.

  “Is that a problem?” I asked.

  “Actually, yes.” Sloane glanced at me over her shoulder but kept walking. “These shouldn’t be functioning. The loss of power and communications was a big problem after the crash. It was one of the topics the council members discussed with all the families before everyone was relocated.”

  “It appears someone has discovered a way to make the power work.” It was fascinating to witness the human technology I had only read about. Had we been in a different, less threatening situation, I would have asked more questions about their functionality.

  Sloane frowned and shot Laria a sidelong glance. “Makes you wonder what else we’re going to find, doesn’t it?”

  “Yeah,” Laria answered with trepidation.

  When it came to technology, humans were far more advanced than my people. While some of their inventions were admirable, such as this space vessel capable of traveling to other worlds, there were other, more treacherous things I feared. The ability to design deadly weapons and toxins were at the top of the list.

  “Which way?” Garyck slowed his pace. The passageway ended by connecting with two new corridors, one leading to the right, the other to the left.

  “I’m pretty sure the labs are on the right.” Sloane scooted past Garyck.

  “Little one,” Garyck growled under his breath when she ducked away from him and eased toward the adjoining passageway.

  Sloane’s movements were quick and silent. She held a finger to her lips, then knelt on the floor, pressing her body against the wall so she could peek around the corner.

  She ignored Garyck’s glare and spoke directly to me. “There’s two guards posted in front of the door to the labs. And, big surprise, they’re armed with laser pistols.”

  Vurell must still be alive. There was no reason for armed sentries to be outside the lab unless there was something, or someone, inside they wished to prevent from leaving. I knew if we engaged the males directly, we would not be able to get close to the room without one of us getting injured. I rubbed my nape. “Is this the only entrance?”

  “I’m afraid so.” Laria tapped her chin. “Although, there is an air supply duct that runs along the ceiling. We could access the room that way. Then maybe we could draw the guards inside and disarm them.”

  “Do I want to know how you are aware of this system?” I asked.

  “Sloane had a crush on one of the guys, er, males, who worked in the agricultural lab, so we…”

  Sloane pinched Laria’s arm. “I’m sure they’re not interested in hearing ab
out our teenage exploits.”

  Garyck’s grunt earned him a glower from Sloane.

  We headed back the way we came. Once inside the engineering tunnel again, Laria showed us the duct hidden behind a panel in the wall. After the cover was removed, Garyck held the glow emitter so we could see inside.

  “The space looks pretty tight. Are you sure you guys want to go in there? Sloane and I can go and check out the lab.”

  “We will be fine.” I appreciated her concern, but I was not letting her go anywhere without me, not when I didn’t know what she’d be facing.

  This time, Garyck did not have a problem letting Sloane lead the way. We crawled on our hands and knees through the tight space, an anxious twitch running along my tail. When we reached an area where the metal enclosure narrowed further, I was forced to skim the smooth surface on my belly. The fear of getting stuck was overridden by having Laria a hand’s reach in front of me.

  “Here it is.” Sloane’s whisper echoed back to me.

  Fortunately, the duct in this area was considerably wider, providing room between my shoulders and the cold metal. By the time Laria and I reached Sloane and Garyck, they had scooted to the other side of a vented panel that covered the opening leading into a room.

  “We can’t see much from here. This vent accesses a storage alcove next to the lab,” Laria said.

  I leaned past Laria and peered through the thin metal slats. There was a large structure beam located on the left side of the vent, and she was correct—from this angle it was difficult to view the remainder of the room.

  “The main area is around the corner to the right. If we enter here, we should be able to see what’s going on without anyone seeing us.” Laria retrieved a thin blade from her boot and used it to remove the vent covering.

  Once she pushed the panel aside, Garyck moved in front of Sloane. “It is a long way to the floor. I will go first and catch you.”