Chapter Nineteen

LAZ

Gabriella groaned, kicking off her covers in her sleep. I think she was dreaming about cupcakes. She draped one leg over the blanket, rolled over, and her grumbling snores resumed.

I had never been fond of the military-issued inflatable beds we used away from the main base. The twin-sized mattress never failed to do a number on my back, and sharing it with another person was even more painful than usual. But as I crossed the wavering tent to get a drink of water, I noticed that the numbing pain in my temples had disappeared.

Gabriella had given me the best sleep I had in years.

We could hear the faint pounding and drilling from the shuttle restoration crew through the slit of the tent opening. A trace of light was starting to spread through the black skies, hinting at dawn. I popped the cork out of my water bottle. As I drank, I looked at Gabriella again.

Gabriella was snoring louder than a drunken sailor, but she was the picture of serenity. Her hair fanned out across the pillow, and there was a hint of a smile on her face. As my eyes wandered across her exposed thigh and the curve of her ass peeking out from under the covers, I felt blood surge to my cock.

There was a good reason Gabriella was still out. We had been at it for three hours like we were the last people in the universe. I loved pussy of all colors, races, and creeds, but there was something about a tasty Earth woman that was sublime. All the restraint I had built up over the last few days had broken loose. Seeing Gabriella come out of her shell was refreshing. When she ordered me around and detailed how she wanted me to wreck her, it nearly drove me insane with desire.

"What time is it?" Gabriella moaned seductively and stretched her arms, pulling herself upright. She slid her leg back under the covers and covered her bare breasts.

"It's a quarter past four."

Gabriella smiled sleepily and fell back onto the pillow. "I don't think I've ever gotten up this early without wanting to smash my alarm clock. Go back to sleep. Aren't we leaving at five?"

"Yes, but there are still a few matters here that need my attention."

"I'm sure you have time to spare." Gabriella turned her lips down in a pout. She leaned back sultrily, pushing the covers down her body. She shook her body slightly, making her breasts bounce. Gabriella gently massaged the puffy bud of one of her nipples. "Why don't you kill some time here? I promise I'll make it worth your while."

My cock started growing as she slipped her finger between her lips. I imagined her sucking me off as her lovely blue eyes gave me a taste of what was to come. I took a deep breath and averted my eyes from the temptress. I was already running late.

"You know I want to, but I..." Something didn't sound right. I lost my train of thought and wondered what was bothering me.

"Laz?" Gabriella frowned. She sat up and leaned back against the wall. "Is something wrong?"

I turned toward the tent opening, listening intently. Nothing. That was the problem - there wasn't any noise. I heard a howling gust of wind blow past the entrance. Then there was nothing but silence. The sound of my men's drilling had stopped.

"Get dressed and wait here." Play time was over.

Gabriella stumbled out of the cot and slipped back into her jumpsuit. I pulled my shirt over my head. Sliding a gas mask over my face and grabbing a pair of binoculars, I headed outside to investigate.

Outside the tent, I saw the messy remnants of an after party. A breeze carried a hint of smoke from the warning fires coming from a pile of charred logs in the center of the camp. The inexperienced drinkers who couldn't hold their liquor lounged around the bonfire; some had drool coming out of their mouths. Everything appeared to be in order. The tents were undisturbed, with light, rhythmic breathing and an occasional cough coming from within.

Footsteps rustled on my right. Ganto, one of the crew technicians, stepped out from behind a thicket of dangling gray trees. He had red hair, which drew attention to the freckles on his pasty face. Ganto looked ill.

"Greetings, Ganto. What's the status on our shuttles?"

"General." Ganto rubbed the back of his neck. "My apologies – the stew from last night didn't agree with my stomach. I've been running back and forth for the past couple of hours. The last time I checked, the team was still working on the main shuttle's communication systems. We're in the process of getting a signal from Maztek, but there's something causing interference. We can't wrap our heads around it."

"How long will it take for you to figure it out?"

"I can't say for sure, General. I estimate another two hours at least."

I pointed the binoculars at the work site and peered into the eyepiece. The machinery was still operational. We had attached long hoses to the tanks, actively pumping fuel into the shuttles in preparation for the flight home. Half-loaded equipment and tool boxes stood next to a shuttle with an open compartment door. As I scanned the rest of the spaceships, I noticed something was missing.

"Why isn't the crew working?"

A glowing light lay on the dirt ground. My stomach lurched as I swept the scene. I finally saw them on the outskirts of our surroundings.

Someone had piled the bullet-ridden bodies of the entire crew behind a shuttle. They had concealed the corpses to pass a casual inspection. What happened to the guards? I shifted my binoculars to find that the young Maztek soldiers assigned to guard duty were out of commission.

"They must be working. Have you looked everywhere? We're running constant shifts."

"Ganto, I think we need to get down right now." I lowered my binoculars and dropped to the floor, reaching out to pull him to the ground. I was too late.

A steel bullet flew through the air, hitting Ganto straight in the forehead. I never knew what he was going to say to me. He died with words stuck in his throat. As indigo liquid trickled out of the circular hole in his forehead, he fell to his knees and hit the ground.

Even in death, Ganto would still assist his team. I reached out to grab the lakstar tusk from his belt, intended for only the direst emergencies. My cheeks swelled as I blew into the horn. The blaring call resonated throughout the campsite. "We're under attack! Protect the King!"

It was too early in the morning for most soldiers to be awake, but they roused themselves quickly, rubbing their eyes and getting their weapons ready. As some started to form defensive positions, and others made a dash for King Jacquim's tent, the Xylo forces revealed themselves. The distinct red and black colors appeared all around us.

We outmanned the small Xylo strike force, but we were unprepared and had foolishly spent the night celebrating. Those of us who still had booze in their systems were the first killed. Sniper shots caught them off-guard, sending them toppling to the ground.

Dallas' Herculean frame lumbered through the chaos, heading straight for the brides' quarters. I ducked back into my tent to arm myself.

"What's going on out there? It sounds like a war is happening right outside the door."

"Synic and her men found us." I pulled out my laser pistol, checking the charge and turning off the safety.

"Why would she do that? We captured most of her team already. Whatever misfits she scraped together aren't going to have a chance against your forces."

"Normally that would be true, but they have the element of surprise. But I think it's a suicide mission." I handed her a spare laser. "Stay here. Don't try anything stupid. If you ever think about listening to me, this would be the time to stay here and not go wandering off."

"I will." Gabriella nodded. She stood on the tips of her toes, wrapping her arms around my head and kissing me on the cheek. "Be careful."

Outside the tent, the world was a cacophony of blaze and gore. I felt calm and ready for battle. Distinct sounds called out to me, directing my shots as I fired laser blasts at the enemy.

Around me, soldiers took cover behind raised shields and carefully aimed their weapons. It had taken a few minutes, but the imminent danger had finally focused the men. A separate group of soldiers engaged the Xylo forces in hand-to-hand combat. King Jacquim fought in the thick of battle. He disarmed one of the Xylo, snatching his opponent's laser. After smashing the enemy in the head with the butt of the Xylo's weapon, he pulled out a knife and sliced it cleanly across his attacker's throat.

Three Xylo equipped with spears and lasers charged towards me. I managed to shoot two of them before they had time to pull their triggers. I lunged at the remaining guard, twisting the pike out of his slippery hands in one swift motion. As I gutted him with the long spear, his eyes swelled out of their sockets. I growled, driving the skewered Xylo into the trunk of a tree.

I started to look for the next enemy to engage, but an unseen force ripped my laser out of my hands. It sailed through the air, landing about a hundred feet away from me.

Synic stood at the foot of the hill, without a mask. She gathered her long black hair on one side of her neck, letting it flap in the blowing breeze. Her right hand was raised and the corners of her mouth curled in a thin-lipped, sinister smile.

I leaped toward my weapon, but I was thrown off my feet once again. It was difficult for me to think. I needed a weapon. Anything would do. I lunged for a dagger next to a stiff Xylo corpse. Even though it wasn't a throwing knife, I tested the weight and launched it at Synic. She dodged my clumsy attack, and the blade penetrated into the bark of a tree next to her.

Maybe I didn't need weapons. I made a fist and ran straight for the despot. Unprepared for my foolhardy assault, she let me spring on top of her and pin her hands. My hair knot collapsed when I collided with Synic and hung loosely over my face. Synic smelled horrible. The stench of rot leaked out of her mouth. When I positioned her cold wrists together to apply the restraints, she freed her legs and hooked her boots around my neck, forcing me off of her.

I flipped over in the air but managed to land on my hands and feet. As I started toward Synic, I felt my body slowly lifting off the ground. Synic's shoulders bounced as she snickered, her steady hands pantomiming an invisible choke-hold. It felt like someone had their hands wrapped around my neck. I was finding it difficult to breathe, and my vision was beginning to go dark.

For some reason, I still tried to speak. "You...you'll..."

"Save your breath, General." Synic turned out her bottom lip, batting her eyes at me. "You're pathetic. My parents said I wouldn't succeed in a man's world. I wish I hadn't cut out their tongues. If they could see me now, they would be able to tell me how wrong they were."

As I impotently brushed my throat, gurgles were the only thing that came out of my mouth.

"Any last words?"

While Synic was distracted talking to me, King Jacquim crept up behind her. He carried a large rock and bashed it against the side of her head. I plummeted to the ground, gasping as fresh air surged back into my lungs. The King crawled toward me, stretching out his hand.

I looked past the King and saw movement. Synic was slowly sitting up on the ground. A stream of blood was pouring down the side of her face.

She reached for a fallen rifle and aimed the barrel at us.

I didn't want it to be the King's time to die. "Get out of the way, sir!" I tried to leap to my feet, but I was too late.

Synic fired two shots. With an expression of peace on his face, King Jacquim slumped to the ground.

"No!"

The shriek came from Gabriella, who dashed out of the tent. She ran to King Jacquim, miraculously evading live fire as she dragged him inside. I felt numb as adrenaline took control of my body.

I yanked the dagger out of the tree branch. As Synic hysterically laughed, I pulled her off the floor. Pinning her up against the tree, I looked into her glossy black eyes, shoving the blade into her gut. I twisted it violently until I made sure I saw her struggling, short-winded breath fade into the wind.

I tossed the empty husk aside and raced back to my tent. Gabriella was on the ground with King Jacquim's head elevated on her lap. Her hands were wrapped around his when she looked up at me with teary eyes. She shook her head sadly.

"King Jacquim. Hold on. We're going to get you help."

"Don't bother." Even in his predicament, the King could laugh. "I'm aware there isn't much time left. You've got a good woman here."

"It's not over, my King."

"Stop. That is an order." His voice grew softer with every word, and his eyelids were taking longer and longer to open. "Promise me something, Laz."

I got down on one knee, bowing my head.

"Look after my beautiful planet, but most of all, take care of Ayala for me. With Synic's reign at an end, do everything you can to keep the peace."

"You have my word, King Jacquim."

"Good, good. Be kind to one another, naimas."

The King breathed out deeply, shutting his eyes for the last time.