Chapter Twenty-Five
Determined to break through to the stubbornly closemouthed Lana, Maggie approached her the next morning in the dining room. She brought reinforcements, figuring if her superior officer couldn’t get her to talk, maybe two of the other scientists, who were also close friends, could.
“Spill,” outgoing, bubbly Mila ordered without greeting.
Lana glanced up from her plate, where she’d been moving the food around but not eating it. She frowned as Mila took the seat beside her, and Maggie, the one across from her. Then her head snapped around to Saige who slid in on her other side, the three of them efficiently hemming her in.
A shadow of sadness crossed her face as she set her fork down, and dropped her hands in her lap. Her eyes followed and stayed fixed there as she answered in a flat tone, without the slightest inflection. “There is nothing to spill. I want to go home.”
“To what?” Saige demanded to know. “You’ve got no man pining away for you, and no family, except your brother who is assigned to another ship. And aren’t you the girl who was always talking about having a family, someday?”
“Was he mean to you, honey?” Mila asked quietly.
Lana’s head shot up—finally a reaction—when she answered. “No, Trask wouldn’t.” She looked away, as though realizing she was giving herself away. “He was very kind to me.”
“Then why not stay?” This came from Saige who stared at her, baffled.
“Circumstances have changed with this treaty,” she replied. “I decided life on Primaria as the general’s mate isn’t for me.”
“Have you seen him?” Mila posed the ludicrous question.
Lana’s eyes narrowed at her friend. “Naturally, I’ve seen him. I spent the past three weeks sleeping and bonding with the man.”
“I don’t think you really saw him, either that or you’re blind,” Mila suggested. “’Cause the general is one smoking-hot alien.”
This earned her a scowl. “What about you?” Lana demanded. “I didn’t see you or Saige rushing to sign up for a whole new way of life.”
“That’s because I’ve got shitty luck,” Mila replied matter-of-factly. “I wouldn’t get a sexy warrior to sweep me up in his arms and carry me off to a life of luxury. I’d get a working-class male who’d send me out to slave in the fields, or underground to mine that green ore.”
“Uladite,” Maggie supplied.
“Yeah, that stuff. I’m not into manual labor, and since there are no guarantees of sexy generals with this game of mate roulette, I decided to pass.”
“Women don’t work in the mines,” Maggie enlightened her. “And, if you did get matched to a service-class male, he’d treat you as good as a warrior, or a merchant, would.”
“But they also spank, which means, with this mouth, I’d spend most of my time bent over his knee. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m as much into kink as the next girl, though not for real, as in ouchie punishments. Uh-uh, no thanks.”
“Can we not talk about this?” Lana snapped, a crimson blush on her cheeks.
Maggie was about to put a halt to her plan, which was backfiring spectacularly when a loud crash rang out in the crowded dining room. Conversation ceased as fifty heads turned toward the galley entrance.
“Send for help. One of the warriors has collapsed,” someone called.
On her feet in an instant, Maggie pushed through the women gathered at the galley door. One of Roth’s warriors was lying on his side on the floor, dishes and food spilled everywhere. Two of her crew were already on their knees beside him, giving him first aid.
“What’s wrong with him?” she asked as he let out a groan and pulled his knees up to his chest.
“He grabbed his stomach suddenly and keeled over.”
“Don’t anyone touch any of the food,” Maggie ordered. “And someone call for the medics.”
“I already did, Maggie,” Lana said as she came up behind her. “Do you think it’s the food?”
“Their meat is green,” Saige commented dryly.
“Yes, but it’s normally that way.”
More male groans had them whirling in the opposite direction, where two other males were doubled over.
“Yes,” Maggie murmured with a troubled frown, “I think it’s definitely the food.”
***
“I’m out of beds, Captain,” a frantic Juna called to Maggie, who stood in the sickbay entry surveying the chaotic scene.
Every medical bed was full, and the warriors who were unfortunate enough not to have one were lying on blankets on the hard floor. They all looked as green as the meat they consumed for breakfast, and a familiar, foul stench of sickness permeated the room.
“Is it food poisoning?”
The doctor, who was bent over a groaning man while starting an infusion of fluids, glanced her way with a slight shrug. “I’m almost certain that it is—99 percent—but haven’t had time to complete testing to be sure. It could also be an intestinal virus we aren’t susceptible to. In either case, I wasn’t prepared to treat an outbreak of illness affecting so many at the same time. I need more beds, more supplies, and a lot more medical staff to treat them.”
“None of the women have reported in?”
“Not a one.”
“Good thing, I have them manning all the vital stations, including on the bridge.” Her gaze swept the men, searching for one handsome face, above all. “Have you seen the commander? He wasn’t on the bridge, or in our quarters.”
“Third cot down on the left. I started his fluids and gave him some meds a bit ago. He might be groggy. Hopefully, this will pass quickly.”
She was talking to Maggie’s back as she rushed toward the cubicle she indicated.
A groan sounded from the unusually pale man on the bed.
“Roth,” she exhaled in relief, a palm pressed over her heart, as she quickly moved to his side. As she placed her hand lightly upon his warm cheek, his eyes opened. What she saw in them: anger, disappointment, and—something she prayed desperately she was misreading—accusation. The raw emotion rocked her back on her heels. She would have withdrawn from the force of his wordless indictment, but his fingers wrapped around her wrist and prevented any retreat. His strength, even in illness, was breathtaking.
“Tell me you aren’t behind this, Maggie. That you didn’t poison us.”
Her head twisted sharply to hide the hurt that he would think this, despite as far as they’d come. “Why would I do such a thing?”
“You’ve tried to escape twice before. If you incapacitate us, you could do so again.”
“To what end, with the Dauntless shadowing us? And those two times were different. We were captives. Now we are entering an alliance that will benefit both our people. The doctor believes it’s food poisoning or a virus, not sabotage as you think.”
“I’ve had a food illness before, this does not feel like that, but a million times worse.” A shudder shook his large frame as he writhed on the bed, distinctly in agony.
“Bridge to Captain Vohlmer.”
“Maggie, here.”
“There is an unidentified vessel coming into range.”
“Did you send another ship?” she asked Roth.
He acted as though he didn’t hear, moaning hoarsely.
“Roth, try to focus a moment. Did you send a third ship?”
“No,” he groaned.
“Have they spotted us, bridge?”
“Not yet, ma’am. I activated stealth as soon as they were a blip on our screen.”
Maggie glanced down at Roth. “You reinstalled it?”
“Yes, for the trip.”
“What about the Dauntless?”
“We didn’t have time to replicate it; besides, our ship is well equipped to take care of itself. Yours is slower, less capable, more at risk.”
“Bridge, stealth is no good. The Dauntless isn’t equipped, and heaven knows that colossus won’t be missed on a scan. Deactivate stealth and go with full shields. I’ll be right up.”
“Contact Dayne and Trask,” Roth rasped.
“Dayne is out of commission. All your men are ill, and they have overwhelmed our medical capabilities. Trask will know something is up since our stealth was activated.”
“Tell him you need a pilot, warriors to protect you...”
She stiffened. “The tables have turned, Commander. We are the dominant gender now. And you’ll have to trust us to be able to hold back your hair while you puke, and at the same time, defend your asses from this new alien threat.” Although she was angry at him, she bent and kissed his temple. “I’ve got to get to the bridge.”
He caught her wrist and stopped her. Gazing up at her through bleary eyes, he barely managed to whisper through his dry lips, “Purrada.”
“I can’t believe you would accuse me of doing this. We’re mates.”
“You’re right, and I shouldn’t—” He had to stop to swallow, his dry throat making him hoarse. “I shouldn’t have jumped to that conclusion. I’m not thinking clearly.”
“Yes, and that’s the only reason I’m still speaking to you.”
“Captain, the Dauntless is hailing us. Their captain isn’t happy about being summoned by a female, and is demanding to speak to Captain Dayne or the commander.”
“Tell them they’re incapacitated, and I’m on my way up.”
“I don’t like this, Maggie,” Roth whispered. “Feeling so helpless, and leaving you unprotected.”
She swept her cool fingers over his cheek, watching him turn into the touch. “I’ve got this, Roth, and I promise, we are neither helpless nor unprotected.”
“We boarded you and took you captive, twice.”
He had a point. “What did you upgrade?”
“What?”
“You spoke of upgrades. The engine I know of, what else?”
Another groan escaped as he clutched his abdomen, fighting through a wave of pain.
“That’s okay, baby, don’t try to talk. I’ll get it from Trask, or Captain Allon on the Dauntless.”
He closed his eyes, looking thoroughly miserable.
“I don’t want to leave you like this.”
“I know, love, but you must.”
With a gentle glide, her fingers sifted through his hair, brushing it away from his face. Maggie kissed his temple once more and although she hated to, left him to get to work, seeing to his safety and protection for a change.
***
Stepping onto the bridge was like déjà vu, except Trask’s angry face was on the twenty-foot-tall view screen.
“Are you telling me all one hundred of my warriors are sick in bed, including the captain and Commander Roth?”
“Yes, sir,” Teagan replied, an audible tremor in her voice as she stared—unblinking—at the fuming, imposing male.
“We’re shuttling over, prepare for boarding.”
“No, our shields are up,” Maggie advised while moving forward. “We’re picking up an alien ship. Do you see it?”
“Yes, we’ve been tracking it also. It’s made no sign of aggression. I’ll send men over. Once onboard, we’ll change course and see if they follow. If not, it’s simply another passing ship.”
“We’re picking up a second ship, ma’am.”
“Damn.”
“And another. Three in all,” Teagan called out. “They are coming into range, have changed course, and are heading directly toward us at increased speed.”
“I don’t know about you, General,” Maggie drawled, “but I’d call that aggression.”
“Faex,” Trask swore. "You can’t risk lowering your shields with this threat.”
“I need to know about the upgrades to the Odyssey. If we’re going to have to defend ourselves, I can’t operate in the dark.”
“In preparation for this trip we upgraded your shields, navigation, weapons—including an EMP—and as you know from before, the engines were already improved.”
“Can we outrun them?”
“The Dauntless, likely, but your ship still has limitations, Maggie. We couldn’t work miracles.”
“They’re very fast, ma’am, and will be in weapons range in less than thirty minutes.”
She looked at the man on the screen; he was her mate’s superior, and by extension, now her own.
“Your orders, General.”
“I don’t like this. You are females, left unprotected.”
“We are Earth females,” Maggie corrected. “Very capable of holding our own with your technology in our corner, sir. You take the lead, and we’ll provide support.”
There was a pause. “Agreed,” he replied at length, although with visible reluctance. “We’ll attempt to make contact. Stand by, Odyssey.”
His image faded out.
“Can you open a channel, Britta. Put it on speaker in the bridge, only.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
After a few moments, they heard Captain Allon’s voice overhead.
“Dauntless of Primaria to unidentified spacecraft, your rapid advancement is deemed a threat. Stop immediately and identify yourselves.”
After a pause, where they didn’t slow, he repeated his message, adding, “This act of aggression will not be tolerated.”
“Give us the females,” came a gravelly response.
“Identify yourself, speaker.”
“We have no quarrel with you, Primarians. But the ship and the females are ours; we have been tracking them for some time.”
“You are too late; they belong to us. Stand down.”
Another long pause. “What do you mean they belong to you?”
“We have mated with them.” He didn’t hesitate before telling that partial truth.
“Not acceptable,” came the angry reply. It was followed by a smattering of non-English, which even her translator couldn’t decipher.
“This is Trask of Primaria,” the general’s authoritative voice suddenly interrupted. “We have identified your ships as Denastrian. I demand to speak to Commander Ti-zod.”
A few moments later, a voice warbled. “General Trask?”
“Commander, what is the meaning of this? We have a non-aggression treaty with your people. This violation is an act of war.”
“Wait, no, we don't want war. We only want the females.”
“Impossible.”
“But, General, you know our circumstances are dire.”
“Not as extreme as ours; besides, as the captain explained, the females and their ship have already been claimed. Stand down now or prepare to be fired upon. Persist, and you will also nullify our supply contract for uladite. You have ten seconds.”
“But, General, we cannot function without the ore.”
“That is not my problem. Eight seconds.”
“And where else will we find females to meet our needs.”
“Not here, not our females. Five seconds.”
“But—”
“Four, three, two—”
“All right. Standing down.”
“They’re slowing, Captain,” Teagan said softly.
“Can we discuss another trade agreement, perhaps. A few of your females, two or three dozen. We would pay handsomely.”
“We have addressed this before with our Primarian females. The answer was no, is still no, and will forever be, no. Do not bring it up again.”
“You are an intractable man, General.”
“We are protective men, Commander.”
He sighed. “Our shipment of uladite will arrive as scheduled?”
“If you abide by our agreement, we shall, as well. Trask out.”
Waiting anxiously, they watched for several minutes as the three ships changed course and moved beyond the range of their scanners.
“Maggie?”
“Yes, sir?”
“You did well.”
“Thank you, sir. We did as we were trained.”
“I mean you personally, Captain. You remained calm, decisive, and you followed orders.”
“Also, as I was trained, sir.”
He smiled, only slightly. “Roth should be pleased to have such a highly-accomplished mate.”
“I am, General, believe me.”
Maggie spun at the sound of his voice. On the observation deck in the rear of the room, Roth stood with Dayne and two of his warriors, looking drained and still a tad green.
“When…?”
“About the time you said, ‘your orders, General.’” His eyes shot to Trask’s on screen. “If only she were so agreeable with me.”
The general’s mouth twitched slightly.
“Why did they want to buy some of us? For breeding?” Maggie asked, ignoring his levity.
“You don’t want to know,” Roth answered with a shake of his head at the same time Trask replied, “Breast milk.”
Grimaces erupted as a chorus of “ew” rippled through the bridge.
“Our feelings exactly,” Trask replied. “Their species has a weak immune system, been plagued with illness. They’ve found breast milk gives them the immunities they require.”
“They could buy it,” Roth put in. “Several worlds are willing to trade with them. But they insist on owning the females and mass producing it.”
“Like cattle?” Teagan exclaimed.
“More like a dairy farm,” Maggie countered.
Sounds of disgust burst forth from the women again.
“And that is why our answer will always be no,” Trask concluded.
“And you thought we were overprotective,” Roth murmured. “There are even worse threats out there.”
She glanced over and saw him sway, bumping into Dayne beside him, who gripped the rail to keep from toppling over. “You should be in bed,” Maggie chided as she moved toward him. “All of you should before you fall flat on your faces.”
“On screen, the four of you look like death,” Trask concurred.
“They don’t look much better face-to-face,” she remarked honestly.
This prompted more of a smile from Trask, although his tone was still serious when he said, “Get back to med-bay and get some rest, Roth. I’m shuttling over our physic, some additional med-techs, and supplies. In the meantime, I think Maggie and her crew can handle things until you are ready for duty.”
“I do, too. But I need you to send additional warriors to provide assistance.”
“Roth.”
His eyes cut to her. “It’s not that you’re not capable. We have a traitor onboard and need to begin an investigation into who, how, and why?”
“A traitor?” she repeated with a frown.
“Yes, it wasn’t tainted meat, rather a chemical in our morning beverage, something that isn’t favored by your females, so it wasn’t offered.”
“Someone is sabotaging the mission,” she concluded.
“Exactly,” Roth replied, his eyes locking with hers. “I imagine they expected us to suspect you immediately.”
Maggie read the regret in his eyes. Drawn to him, she moved another step closer.
“We’ll be over within the hour. Trask out.”
She took the last tread up to his level and moved along the rail until she was in front of him. Her hand rose to his face, checking for fever because although still pale, red flags of color streaked across his cheeks.
He caught her hand and held it in place, the contrast between his hot skin and the coolness of her palm substantial.
“Who do you suspect?”
“I don’t know, mate, and we shouldn’t speculate until we have reviewed the evidence and discussed it further with Dr. Juna and our physic. She’s been busy and still is. When her relief comes, we’ll meet.”
Maggie nodded, flushing hot herself when he angled his face to the side and pressed a kiss, with a small tickle from his tongue, into her palm.
“Roth, you should rest.”
“I intend to, because this, as you earthlings say, has really kicked my ass.”
There were giggles around the bridge.
He and the three others moved slowly to the door. Roth, the last to exit, turned and called softly, “Little captain?”
“Yes?”
“You have command of the Odyssey.”
Her eyes stung as she gazed at him, seeing the approval in his tired, feverish eyes, and barely managed to choke out, “Aye, Commander.”