Chapter 10
Captain Irisek watched on his scanners as the shuttle ascended from the broken jungle.
“Sir, should we send a pursuit?” his first mate asked, watching his own view of the escaping shuttle.
The captain rubbed his jaw, feeling tension tightening his facial muscles as he ground his teeth. “He’ll shut down any pursuit before we can intercept him.”
“Then we shoot him down?”
Purge protocol wasn’t something they took lightly, but in the case of an experiment like Nahash, it was best not to hesitate and risk his escape.
The affliction that cursed their people would once again claim a high cost, as billions of credits and the hope of the empire once again dominating the galaxy would disappear when they disintegrated Nahash’s stolen ship.
Irisek knew that nothing else would have swayed Nahash’s loyalty to his empire. He hoped the scientists could manage to replicate their work, though they’d been unsuccessful so far.
“Fire up the cannons,” he said, withdrawing his override key from the pocket inside his uniform.
It was a pity. Irisek respected Nahash, despite how difficult he was to get along with. Nahash had been a highly decorated soldier with an unquestionable military record. He’d sacrificed everything to give the Iriduans a future. But that all happened before he’d imprinted and found his mate. They couldn’t expect Nahash to ever be as he had been, now that he’d imprinted.
“Sir,” his communications officer said with urgency in his tone. “It’s Command. They want an update.”
The captain sighed, seeing his own demotion coming—provided he didn’t end up behind bars. “Tell them we’re containing the situation.”
After the communications officer relayed that message, the response from Command put even more urgency in his tone. “Oprimo is demanding a transmission link.”
Irisek swallowed, tucking the override key back into his uniform. “Open the link.” Hesitation would only anger the oprimo.
The first emperor appeared in the three-dimensional holographic projector centered on the bridge of their warship. He looked as imposing in the image as he did in real life, his brows lowered over purplish-gray eyes that matched his iridescent skin tone.
“You will not destroy Nahash.” As was typical of the emperor, he didn’t waste time with ceremony.
Irisek dropped to one knee, his wings twitching as he bowed his head. “My Light, we have little choice. We can’t pursue Nahash without risking our ships to his abilities. He has the power to destroy even this warship. We must fire the cannons now, while he’s still in range, before he manages to shut even those down.”
“I’m aware of the situation, and of your failure as a commander. Nahash and his mate should have been secured immediately after he was imprinted.”
“Sir, the mission parameters changed when we discovered the other females—“
“Your men could have handled that without Nahash. Do not bother with excuses. You will face official reprimand.” A thoughtful expression crossed Oprimo’s face. “I believe, with Nahash gone, we’ll need another subject. Perhaps there will be a way for you to make up for your failure, after all.”
Irisek’s insides felt like they’d turned to water. He hadn’t relished the idea of rotting away for the rest of his life in a prison cell, but becoming like Nahash would be worse than dying from the process, which would be agonizing in itself.
“Please, My Light, allow me to make amends. There must be something I can do—“
“Nahash is not as free as he believes he is,” Oprimo said with a slight smile that looked more predatory than amused. “His scientists installed a bio-tracker he cannot detect when they rewrote his genetic code. We have a hunter who can find him anywhere in the galaxy. He’s en-route to you now. You will follow his orders completely. Do I make myself clear?”
Irisek bowed low enough to press his forehead to the floor. “Yes, My Light! It will be done as you command.”
“I want both Nahash and the female returned alive and well. She may be the answer to our problems with producing hybrids with his DNA. Irisek, do not fail me again, or you will be the next one in the laboratory.”
Irisek nodded his understanding, sweat soaking his uniform now as his crew avoided looking in his direction. “I understand, Light of the Galaxy.”