Chapter 4
Security Breach
Duggin kept all the strangers in sight. Duke had a newbie monitoring cameras because unfortunately, he was off today with his mate. They were going to see a healer, they were probably about to be parents. Duke hadn’t said so, but Duggin was pretty sure that’s what this was all about. These guys were upstanding Mazlans. They were from a noble line that had pissed off the emperor. It wasn’t hard to do from what he’d heard.
He’d looked at the files which told him any woman would do well to nab one of these guys. Gayle had started to circle them, putting them off right away with her mercenary questions. Duggin hoped Sandy got the guy because she was a sweetie as well as being one of Sharon’s friends. Sandy was shy, so she’d not gotten close to anyone yet, but given time she’d have many friends.
It had surprised him the way she’d managed to talk to Golir, the oldest brother. He was second in the mine only to Razar’s brother. There were so many, Duggin couldn’t keep them all straight. Razar also used him occasionally for minor ambassadorial events or negotiations. His position was exactly what Gayle was looking for, which was ironic since she’d chased him off after dismissing his value. The only way she could get someone with more power or wealth was one of Razar’s family. Problem was, they were all already taken. Bonded Mazlans never strayed. They simply weren’t able to do it.
The bond was so strong, many female mates had followed their husbands to their banishment on Oison. Sometimes if one died, the other lost the will to live. If they managed to survive, it was rare that they ever mated again. Duggin wanted to know more about this bond because it was so strong. It was the kind of mating he wanted, but wasn’t sure anyone outside of the Mazlans could ever have.
Sharon had slipped away to the library would be his guess. In a few minutes, he would check on her. It wasn’t just because he liked her, it was also because she’d been a target before. They had no way of knowing if or when the mercenaries might strike again. He was about to go see about her when he saw Duke.
“So, how did the checkup go?” Duggin asked. Duke flushed both embarrassed and happy.
“We’re expecting a baby.” Duke grinned.
“Congratulations! Where is Clancy?”
“She went to tell Sharon.”
“Let’s go find them so they can join us. This is a reason to celebrate.”
Had they not headed toward the library, they might not have heard the scream. The noise in the cafeteria would have drowned it out. But they did hear it so they ran to the library where once inside, Clancy was fighting Ralph.
“What the hell is going on here?” Duke asked.
“I tried to help Sharon. They got her. Someone go get her back,” Clancy observed.
“I couldn’t let her get taken too,” Ralph explained.
“Damn!” Duggin yelled as he turned on his heels heading to the space ship.
“Come, Clancy!” Duke said as they followed.
Duggin didn’t blame him for not leaving her behind. Someone had just been taken from inside these walls and Duggin realized that female meant the world to him. Jumping up the steps, he opened the door getting into the ship. Duke and Clancy were just steps behind him. He started the engine running through the preparations for takeoff before Duke had the door closed.
The second Clancy’s harness was on, they took off with all the equipment scanning for anything unusual. Heat signatures or signs of emissions from ships would give him something to follow. Duke monitored the equipment as he flew the ship. An alarm went off indicating something had been found. A ship had passed here recently. If they hurried, maybe they could catch them. Duggin sped up as much as he could without affecting their ability to track the trail they followed.
“See anything?” Duggin asked slowing down as the stream of emissions they followed began to dissipate.
“No, not yet. They have to be nearby,” Duke declared.
“Why here?” Clancy asked.
“I don’t know,” Duke replied.
“Call a local and see what’s nearby that would hide a ship,” Clancy suggested.
Duggin felt stupid. He’d let his fear for Sharon mess with his ability to find her. Duke made the call as he swept the area. ”Razar?” Duke asked.
“Yeah, I’ve heard. Where you at?” Duke read off the coordinates. “Some caves in that area have sink holes too, so be careful. I’m sending troops to your location.”
“We’ll be watching for them,” Duke replied. Yeah, they might as well because the ones they were chasing had disappeared into thin air.
Duggin circled the area, but it didn’t look like they would find anything, at least not from the air. Duke started to pull out hand scanners that searched for emission or could be switched to look for body heat. He looked for a place to land, finding a good one.
“We need to look on foot. You’ve got to stay here. Don’t open the door for anyone but me,” Duke told Clancy. She started to protest. “Think of the baby.” That shut her up. Now they could land then got on the hunt.
Setting the ship down perfectly, they didn’t even bump the ground. Duke quickly explained how to lock or unlock the door before they opened it to head out. They were in a desert area, heat hit them from above then came off the ground in waves making it nearly unbearable. Clancy would have found it hard to manage. It was good she was staying behind.
Noise in the distance alerted him that their backup was getting near. It sounded like several ships. Razar had said troops, so that should be no surprise. “Should we wait since they’re here now?” Duggin asked.
“Might be best. They know the area, especially sinkholes. I don’t like the thought of being swallowed whole by the sand,” Duke admitted.
They stood still as the ships started to land near theirs. Moments later, Razar jumped out of a ship from the top of the steps to the sand below. It was obvious he was angry and looking for a fight. Mazlans enjoyed a good fight as much as the average hunter did. There was no shame in that. Many times, a fight was necessary to restore order. This would be one of those times. They’d gone through a lot to get Sharon, they wouldn’t want to let her go.
That was too bad because he wouldn’t let her go either. Once she was back in his arms, he intended to pursue his claim. He wasn’t even sure what he had waited for. Had he gone for it, maybe she wouldn’t be in this situation. Razar approached them.
“We’ll get her back from those assholes. Don’t worry, Duggin,” he promised. “Just over that dune,” He pointed, “is the entrance to a cave system. We’ve not had the chance to map them, but several of us have gone in them before.”
Hopefully, Razar could lead them to the mercenaries who had taken his female. He moved in front of them to take the lead. His males fell into line behind them. Two sentries remained behind to guard the ships. There was no way to surprise these guys, they were expecting them to chase them. Even though they hoped to avoid detection, they had to be prepared just in case.
The entrance was small, they had to squeeze in but it opened up as soon as they got in. The ceiling was low as they moved down a tunnel. It opened up into a cavern. The damn thing was huge. Razar kept moving until they came to another tunnel. This one went two ways. He sent a group of males down the other route while they went down the main one. No one spoke, because sound traveled fast as it echoed off the walls of the cavern.
Under other circumstances, this place would be interesting. Someone should be studying it. No sooner had he thought it, then he saw signs someone had been here. Since they were being quiet, they picked up on the sounds of their prey. Two of them were arguing.
“Damn it, Paul. We can’t get off this damn rock,” A man argued.
“When the time is right, there’ll be a diversion. Then we’ll go,” Paul answered.
“Just in time to be shot down,” the man declared.
“Not with her on board,” Paul promised.
“They always get their enemies,” the man insisted.
“Why the hell did you even come with us, Ned?” Paul asked.
“I thought we could bribe someone. How can they demand that much loyalty?” Ned wondered.
“By paying well,” Paul observed.
“I guess that don’t hurt,” Ned agreed.
“No, loyalty can be bought too,” Paul suggested.
“I still think we’re going to die trying to get out of here,” Ned admitted.
“They won’t kill her, and if they do, at least we won’t die alone.” Paul laughed like a crazy man.
“You’re nuts,” Ned observed.
“That’s why they hire me for these impossible jobs. Now, go check on the bitch,” Paul ordered.
Duggin was beyond pissed. They were insulting his female after abducting her. Her life was hanging from a thread as these mercenaries attempted the impossible. Razar would never let them off his planet alive. Once they freed Sharon, these guys needed to die. Especially Paul. The guy thought he was special hiding behind a female. Coward! He was lower than space slime.
Razar was making hand motions to his males. That’s when Duggin noticed the small group that had gone the other way were on the far side of the mercenaries. When they hit them, it would be from two directions. He still wondered where the damn ship they’d been on was at. It had disappeared. There was no way he could see to get it in here so it was still out there. Did they have camouflage abilities? He’d heard such a thing existed, but he’d not seen it.
Everyone was in place just waiting for the right moment. Duggin would make a beeline for the place Ned headed to since he was sure that’s where Sharon was being kept. Paul settled down on a sleeping mat without setting a guard. Maybe the guards were elsewhere? They really couldn’t wait any longer. Razar gave the signal so Duggin ran past Paul knowing Razar already had him. He jumped over a rack landing easily on the other side.
This is where the other guys were all at. He had a dozen ragtag mercenaries much like Ned. None of them tried to engage him as he headed to Sharon who laid on the cold ground trussed up like a game hen ready for cooking. Ned was nearest to her but he held his hands up like he was giving up. Duggin moved to where Sharon lay, then dropped to his knees to release her. Razar’s males were moving in and one dropped Ned where he stood. The fool had pulled a gun to shoot Duggin.
Did he think he’d come there alone? These men had no heart and no loyalty. They also had no courage. The only way they could have gotten away, was to fight a winning battle. This fight had ended quickly. If his males had been hoping for a good fight, it had let them down. Half had died quickly while the other half were pleading for mercy. While they deserved none, who was to say what Razar might grant. After all, Sharon was in his arms, she had been frightened, but unharmed.
It made no sense for those who ran the labs to continue to send failures after those who’d finally escaped them. If they didn’t pay anything up front, maybe they weren’t out of anything. Repeated attacks might be thought to weaken them, but it only strengthened their resolve.