11 Mine

 

Ashtoret de Origa

Ashtoret ran, fueled by his fury.

They took my bonded! he silently roared.

Fear for her had him in an unrelenting grip. Providence talked about the horrific experiments her own people would do to her if she ever returned. Now these vile people had Abby.

I shouldn’t have put her in this position.

“The cruisers are landing this way.” Aculus tugged his arm, bringing him to a halt.

“My bonded is going that way,” he roared.

“We can’t catch the vehicles on foot and we’re not equipped to evade the warriors pursuing us,” Aculus rumbled, his red eyes flashing.

Every instinct in him rebelled, telling him they needed to follow the black vehicles. It was hard fighting the driving need as Abby’s scream replayed in his mind. He was so close to her when the humans opened fire, forcing them to retreat. But Aculus was right.

Ashtoret ran faster toward the flickering streaks of the landing cloaked cruisers, ignoring the pain in his muscles. It was nothing compared to the pain of loss gripping his chest. They swiftly boarded and were off the ground again, not bothering to strap in.

“Bring up the location of the trackers,” Aculus barked to the cruiser as they stormed into the control room. “There. That’s where they were taken.”

“I know the Daimio ordered us to avoid conflict, but I’m getting my mate back. Kagan will just have to understand. You can drop me off if you disagree,” he snarled to Aculus and Payim.

“My ass you’re going in alone,” Aculus countered, menace filling his voice. He marched over to a panel on the wall and punched it. The wall slid open to reveal an array of weapons and armor. “Shell up.”

He cast the male a wicked grin. Aculus was full of surprises. The bony warrior stripped then clapped a spiky vambrace on each arm, and similarly rugged greaves on his legs. It seemed a bit like overkill for the naturally armored male, but the Osivoire wasn’t invincible. There were two cracks in the bony plate on Aculus’ chest where the humans shot him with their projectile weapons.

“Thank you for being my shield.” He clapped a hand on Aculus’ shoulder.

“Don’t mention it.” Aculus nodded and passed him pieces of armor.

He stripped off his vestments and slapped the armor in place just as Aculus did. Ashtoret’s eyes widened at the strange tingling in his skin when the armor adhered to his body. Aculus touched a spot on his wrist and things got weirder. The armor expanded, forming an exoskeleton. It was hard holding his composure as it slid over his skin like a living thing. He looked in awe at his arms and legs. The spiky armor concealed him from head to toe. The creepiest part was the shield over his eyes which tinted his vision red.

“You look like an Osivoire merc. All except that tail,” Aculus chuckled as he engaged his own armor.

The male was right. His tail was the only thing that gave him away, but even that was covered in a spiked bony sheath. Ashtoret flexed his fist, then bent his knees. He flicked his tail and it smashed against the hull with an impressive thud. He had full range of motion, no restrictions. The Osivoire shell was amazing.

“Here.” Aculus passed him a weapon much like a disrupter. “It’s set to stun, but this sensor will adjust the strength to a fatal level.”

“They never should’ve threatened my female,” Ashtoret snarled. He would use deadly force without regret.

“Agreed,” Aculus growled.

He tilted his head toward Payim.

“We might as well go in with everything we’ve got.” Aculus nodded.

“You heard our friend, Payim, shell up.”

Payim growled in agreement and grabbed some gear.

Aculus set the autopilot then they headed to the belly of the cruiser, where the bony warrior flung open the hatch. The pull of the whipping wind was intense as he stared down at the earth far below. Ashtoret tilted his head in question.

“We jump,” Aculus replied to his incredulous expression.

This is the craziest thing I’ve ever done. But he would do anything to get Abby.

“Follow me feet first. When you hit, tuck your knees, and roll. The shell will absorb the shock,” Aculus instructed, then launched himself out of the cruiser.

Once the male was clear, he took a deep breath and followed.

“By Kali,” Ashtoret bellowed as he plummeted toward the ground. This was nothing like he imagined, daunting and thrilling at the same time.

He glanced up and noticed the rest of Aculus’ vessels and crew had joined them. A small army was rocketing through the sky, descending on the dishonorable humans’ stronghold. He smiled at his bony friend. The humans raised their ire and now they were going to learn what it meant to tangle with the Cadi and Osivoire.

The ground came up fast. He tucked and rolled. Ashtoret was surprised when he came to a halt and all his parts were intact. But there was no time for that. He grabbed the disrupter from his chest and took off with Aculus, the others following close behind.

“You’ve been holding out on us,” he hollered to the bony warrior as they approached the building holding his female.

Aculus laughed then grew grim. A contingent of human warriors were advancing in their boxy green vehicles, weapons aimed. Ashtoret braced himself for the steady spray of projectiles the humans fired, but there was no need. He roared a demented laugh as the bullets ricocheted off his bony armor.

A metal ball bounced at their feet then exploded with a blinding flash. He was knocked back, a spray of black turf raining all around. Ashtoret leapt to his feet and grinned, seeing he was unharmed.

“Brace yourself,” he bellowed when another of the exploding balls launched into their midst.

He and Aculus hunkered down, leaning into the blast so it didn’t blow them back. He remembered to close his eyes as it detonated. The inconsequential heat of the blast and pressure subsided, and they continued toward their goal. The humans’ eyes were wide with fear as he leapt over the hood of their vehicle. Some shot but most just gaped.

Ashtoret opened fire on the uniformed human warriors as he broke through their ranks. He couldn’t have them following. He wasn’t killing them, but it was still satisfying.

Aculus fired on the humans spilling from the building, dropping them instantly. They stormed into the building to find another squadron hunkered down behind a thick clear barrier.

“Who is your commander?” he demanded over the blaring alarms, his words translating through his communicator.

“I am.” A brave looking male stepped forward. The slight tremor in his hand betrayed his true emotions. Ashtoret recognized him from the zoo.

“Remove the barrier and lead us to the females you abducted,” he barked, making the human warrior jump.

“You were the ones who abducted those women.”

“Then why did Abby scream my name when you took her? If you value your life, you won’t stand between me and my female.”

“Many will die if you force us to blow this shield,” Aculus snarled.

“Then we die. We all knew what we were signing up for,” the human countered with more bravado than was wise.

“No need. I’m sure I can get this barrier open,” Scala, Aculus’ second in command, interjected as he stuck his handheld up to a sensor on the wall. “There’s numerous corridors and sublevels to this structure.”

“If we take them all out it’s going to be more difficult to find our females,” Aculus huffed in frustration as the barrier rose.

“So, we take the commander,” Ashtoret growled and lunged forward.

He ignored the blasts as the humans opened fire. A stupidly brave human came straight for him. Ashtoret knocked him back. His tail lashed out at another sneaking up on his back. He grabbed the commander by the neck as the bastard fired directly at his chest. It stung at such close range, but he ignored it and wrenched the weapon from the male’s grasp.

“Where is she?” he snarled in the commander’s face.

The human wasn’t so brave anymore, but he still refused to speak.

“I will ask you one more time. Where is my mate?” Ashtoret lifted the commander off the floor by his neck.

The puny human futilely grasped his arm while choking out incoherent sounds. The commander’s gaze inadvertently darted toward a door as his face turned red. Self-preservation made him slip-up.

“That’s where we need to go,” Aculus barked.

As Ashtoret dropped the commander, he glanced around at all the unconscious humans. Those who were still awake had their hands up and were huddling against the wall.

“Maintain our exit.” He pointed to a handful of their crew. “You’re coming with us.” He grabbed the human commander and tugged him toward the door at the far end of the vestibule.

The blaring alarms and flashing lights in the narrow stairwell added to his foul mood. Ashtoret wasn’t very kind as he hauled the human down the stairs. He knew they were getting close when human warriors opened fire from below.

“Unless you want to be killed by your own people, call them off,” Aculus informed the captive commander.

“As you can see, your weapons have little effect on us,” he added.

“Hold your fire!” the male bellowed as they continued downward.

The human warriors didn’t listen to their comrade and kept firing. Ashtoret wasn’t cruel, despite how incensed he was. He shoved the poor fool behind him as they descended. Sadly, it wasn’t enough. Several ricocheting bullets struck the male and he dropped. Aculus shook his head as he stepped over the body.

It took little effort knocking out the other humans as they reached the lower level. Frustratingly, the metal door that greeted them didn’t have an electronic lock.

“Get these humans out of blast range,” Aculus commanded as he placed a charge on the door.

They each grabbed two unconscious human warriors and hauled them up to the next level, then descended again. The metal portal blew off its hinges, flying into the corridor, crushing the stone wall beyond. They stormed into the hall before the dust could settle. He growled in annoyance seeing more of the stubborn humans.

“Give up. You’re not keeping me from my mate.”

Beyond the squadron, people were fleeing down the corridor in both directions. His team fired on the human warriors, ignoring the ones who were unarmed and not in uniform.

“The females are this way.” Aculus looked at his handheld and pointed down the hall.

As they stepped over the unconscious humans, a faint but recognizable roar captured his attention and his head swiveled around.

“Vintor!”

“We’ll go get him. You find your bonded,” Terentius said, then he and Cerdic ran toward the barely discernible sound.

The rest of them continued forward, taking a left down an intersecting passage. No sooner had he turned the corner when an undeniable scent gripped him.

Abby!

He raced down the hall with Aculus and three others hot on his tail. He no longer needed the locator to tell him where his mate was, the conjugo bond led the way.

 

Abby

Abby jumped when the alarm started blaring.

“What’s going on?” she asked her father.

“I don’t know, Peanut.” Brennan pounded on the door, but there was no answer. “Dammit, someone let us out!”

None of the people they heard running past the locked door bothered to stop and help them. Her father cracked his knuckles several times and she knew this was bad.

“Abby!”

Her head shot up hearing the muffled roar.

“Nadzia.”

“They really came for us.” Hope jumped up.

“We’re in here!” Abby pounded on the door.

“Stand back!” Ash bellowed.

“The cavalry’s here, Dad.” Hope tugged their father away from the door.

“We are, but it’s a small room,” she yelled.

There were several blasts that deformed the doorframe, then the door swung open.

“Abby!” Ash rumbled as he stormed into the room.

She rushed forward then stopped when the smoke cleared.

“Ash?” She tilted her head as she eyed the bone-armored behemoth. That was his voice, but the figure looked more like Aculus.

He engulfed her, careful not to jab her with the spiky ridges on his forearms. She relaxed seeing his tail flicking behind him.

“What the hell?” Her father tried to tug her back.

Ash snarled menacingly at Brennan, and her eyes widened at the frightening sound.

“Ash, are you okay?” She stared up at his armor-covered face, wishing she could see his expression. His eyes were a creepy red, like Aculus’.

Ash nodded curtly as he swung her into his arms and possessively squared off against her father. She wasn’t sure what was going on with him; he knew her Dad.

“Nadzia.” Aculus made a grab for Hope.

“Whoa there, bonehead. You guys are freaking my dad out.”

“I am freaked out,” Aculus mimicked with a rumble. “You were abducted.” He snatched Hope in his big bony arms.

“It’s all right, Dad,” Hope sighed. “Meet Aculus.” Hope rapped her knuckles on Aculus’ armored chest.

“And you remember Ash.” Abby patted her Cadi hero.

Brennan looked dubiously at the two men holding his daughters, then to the door where more armored aliens waited.

“We need to leave now,” Ash insisted. He didn’t sound like himself. His voice was more gruff and snarly. “Wrap around me.”

She was so elated to see him, she forgot what it took for Ash to get to her. The terrifying realization that he just fought his way through an entire army stabbed deep, making her heart cry out. No wonder he was acting weird, he’d just done the impossible. She frantically looked him over for injuries. Finding, thankfully, the armor kept him whole. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and gripped tight.

“No argument here.” Abby gave him a watery but eager smile.

Brennan didn’t argue further as they fled the cell. The corridor was disturbingly empty as they raced past the unmarked doors and hallways.

“This is a new look for you. You’re a two-ply bonehead now,” Hope tapped Aculus’ forehead.

“Your sibling is rather disrespectful,” an Osivoire commented to Abby.

“She does that when she’s scared,” or all the time. But she wasn’t about to admit that her sister was irreverent and caustic on her good days. Hope deserved a pass for everything they’d been through.

The bony man nodded and continued down the corridor.

Brennan eyed her sideways.

“What?” she mouthed with a shrug and a sheepish smile.

Her dad shook his head then turned his attention back to the hallway ahead.

“Ashtoret.” Two bony armored Cadi approached from an intersecting passage.

“We attempted to follow Vintor, but he was taken through another exit before we could reach him. We were unable to break through it with blast rounds.”

Ash snarled.

“We need to leave. The females and their sire are vulnerable,” Aculus rumbled.

Ash gave Aculus a curt nod and they started running again. Sadness filled her that they were forced to leave Vintor behind.

The guys took the stairs three at a time. Her eyes widened when they emerged on the ground level. There were bodies lying everywhere. She didn’t know what she expected, but somehow the sight was more horrific than she imagined. Abby hid her face in Ash’s armored chest.

“What the fuck?” Brennan bellowed. “You massacred all these people just to get us?!”

“The majority of them are stunned. We did not use lethal force. Your people are the ones responsible for the dead you see,” Aculus replied, sounding disgusted.

“Sorry,” Brennan apologized to their rescuers with a shake of his head.

“I think the humans have brought their entire force, but we have an extraction plan,” Scala reported.

“We’ll wait for your signal, Captain.” Aculus nodded to his Osivoire friend.

They hung back against a wall. She couldn’t see around Ash’s large body, but it sounded like pandemonium outside. The chaos grew then oddly became quiet.

“Hold on tight,” Ash rumbled to her.

She glanced out the window before tucking her head into his shoulder. Five silver spaceships had landed in a tight semicircle around the entrance, forcing the Air Force to retreat to a safe distance. One was positioned with its ramp close to the door.

“Go,” Scala instructed.

Ash guarded her back and head as they made a break for the cruiser. She didn’t breathe till they were finally up the ramp.

Abby screamed when a blast rocked the ship, knocking her and Ash to the floor. He shielded her body, but she still felt the searing heat rushing through the entrance. The flash was blinding, and her ears rang from the explosion. He swiftly picked her up and continued running.

“Are you okay?” Ash bellowed as he set her down, his hands turning her head left and right to check for injuries.

“Yeah,” she murmured and blinked in shock.

Before the stars in her vision cleared, he’d disappeared. She found herself sitting against the cruiser hull with her stunned sister nearby. Hope’s clothes were crumpled, her hair in disarray.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know,” Hope stammered.

Abby staggered to her feet and entered the small loading bay. The door on the cruiser was already sealed, so she couldn’t see what was going on outside. There were several armored men standing over something on the floor.

“Get her out of here,” Ash roared.

“Wait. What happened?”

“I’ve got the females.” Aculus quickly approached her.

She caught a glimpse of blood and pale charred skin.

“Dad!” The agonizing scream ripped free as Aculus scooped her up and rushed out of the bay. “Let me see him! What happened?” She batted at the bony man’s chest.

“Abby, it’s not a good idea. We’re going to get him back to the ship and into the sanative capsule.”

“Where’s Dad? What’s going on?” Hope asked when they reentered the short corridor leading to the control room.

The horrific sight of her injured father lying on the floor kept replaying in her mind as Aculus set her down.

“No. No!” Hope cried, seeing the expression on her face.

“We will do everything we can,” Aculus replied softly as he led them to the control room and helped them into their seats.

“Why are you saying it like that?” Hope demanded. “Somebody tell me what happened!”

“Hope! Please stop.” She teared up.

Hope’s eyes widened further, and she gripped Aculus’ hand. “Tell me he’s going to be all right. Tell me!”

Aculus knelt in front of Hope. “Nadzia, I will do everything in my power to make sure your sire is fine. Cartil is tending him now.” He was sincere, but the grim expression on his face said it all.

“Oh God,” Hope sobbed and reached for her.

It’s bad, really bad.

 

Ashtoret de Origa

“Hold on, sire,” Ashtoret prayed as he stayed by Brennan’s side.

Brennan was barely holding onto life. If it wasn’t for Aculus’ medic, Cartil, the male would be dead already. Brennan’s left side was badly charred, and he was missing his leg below the knee.

May Kali rain torment down on you, he cursed the human warriors responsible for this horrific act. He couldn’t believe the dishonorable bastards launched munitions at the building, disregarding everyone’s lives. Providence and Giselle spoke of how their people were warmongers, but he never imagined they’d so cavalierly sacrifice their own.

They reached Aculus’ vessel on the moon and docked. He quickly moved Brennan out of the cruiser before the females could see their sire.

“Thank you,” he said grimly to Scala and Cartil.

“No need,” Scala replied as they moved Brennan through the large ship to the clinic.

“Place him here in the sanative capsule.” Cartil pointed to the sterile pod, then began tapping on the console.

Scala aided him in placing Brennan in the capsule then it sealed shut.

“The humans are similar enough. We should be able to save his life.” Cartil patted Ashtoret on the back.

“Thanks.” He nodded in appreciation as he stared at the poor male.

Abby’s going to be devastated. His heart ached as the machine worked to stabilize Brennan.

“The females are getting anxious to see their sire,” Aculus commented. He hadn’t even heard the armored warrior enter the clinic.

“The capsule is still stabilizing the human and assessing his vitals, although it might help the male to hear his offspring nearby,” the Osivoire medic replied.

“What’s your honest outlook, Cartil?”

“The damage is too extensive to repair with what we have here. If we were home he’d have a chance.”

“Will he make it that far?”

“If we keep him in stasis inside the capsule,” Cartil replied.

“We need to let Abby and Hope know.” Ashtoret dreaded this conversation.

“Let’s go get them,” Aculus sighed with just as much enthusiasm.

It was a long walk to the lounge. Payim and Thunder sat with the females, keeping them company and distracting them with conversation.

“I remember your sister’s arrival on our dying world. She was fearless,” Payim translated Thunder’s hand gestures.

“Pro is pretty fearless.” Hope smiled wanly.

“She guaranteed our safety when we were sucked into the pale one’s ship with her mate, Dagaa. If it wasn’t for her help, I never would’ve seen my own sister again.”

“I’m so glad she could be there for you, Thunder.” Abby patted Thunder’s furry arm. She glanced up and saw him. “Ash!”

Abby was instantly by his side, squeezing him tight. It was hard seeing her like this, with her eyes red from crying. She’d suffered so much these last few days.

“We’ve come to take you to your sire,” he husked past the lump in this throat.

“Okay.” Abby twined her fingers with his as they left the lounge.

Aculus stopped before they reached the clinic, turned to Hope and gripped her shoulders.

“Your sire was severely injured when the incendiary struck. Before you see him, I wanted you to be prepared.”

Hope nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. She tried to speak but no words came out.

“But he’s alive?” Abby asked, her voice wavering.

“He is alive, but just barely. If he is to survive, we will need to take him back with us.”

“Oh God.” Hope’s hand flew to her mouth.

“I will do everything I can, and will bring him back here once he’s healed,” Aculus reassured Hope as he wrapped her in his arms.

“I’m sorry.” Ashtoret gripped Abby tight against him.

“We need to find Mom,” Abby sobbed. “She has to know what’s going on.”

“We will get her. You all can come back with us. I wouldn’t think of separating you,” the bony warrior promised.

“Thank you,” Hope whispered.

They stepped into the clinic and the females were instantly at their sire’s side, peering into the capsule.

“Oh, Dad,” Abby cried as horror transformed her face.

“He-he looks…” Hope’s chin trembled.

“He’s in stasis,” Cartil assured the females.

“How can you fix this? His leg is gone. His face is…” Abby wailed. The mournful sound was crushing.

“His injuries are extensive, but we have the ability to fix this.”

“We need to leave soon if Brennan is to survive. What do you want to do about Vintor and the cloaking array?” Aculus asked him quietly as the females hovered by their sire.

Ashtoret closed his eyes, the reminder adding to the burden he already felt.

“I’ll lead one team to set up the array, then pick up Abby’s mother at first light,” he bit out.

I’m sorry, Vintor. The thought of leaving his friend behind was indescribable.

“No, I’ll head up one team and Terentius will lead the other. You need to stay here with your bonded. We’ll leave immediately,” Payim insisted.

“Agreed,” Thunder gestured.

“Vintor is not entirely lost, my friend. I will be returning again.” Aculus gripped his shoulder.

Ashtoret watched his bonded hug the capsule as devastation sent tremors through her body. He wanted to console her but couldn’t bring himself to approach. It felt like a lie, when he was to blame for putting her and her family at risk from the moment he landed on Earth. And this time Abby nearly died.