A Forgotten Kitten (Sea-anan Saga Book 2) (25 page)

After Sea Ranger Superior Bill Stevens was scanned in, he asked the overtaxed officer, “Where is Captain Rider?”

“I don’t know, sir. I can find out for you if you would like,” the birdman politely replied, despite his obvious exhaustion.

“Please do,” said Arnold.

“Just a moment, please.” The Ave contacted the bridge via a small monitor to his right. It took him a few seconds to locate his commander. “Captain Rider is in his office.”

“Thank you,” said Bill. He passed unharmed through the green energy field that separated the security hall and the rest of the space station while Arnold placed his hand on the DNA scanner.

The officer’s main monitor displayed a picture and a short personal biography of Arnold McCall surrounded by green light. The officer glanced up. His tired features turned hopeful. Arnold grabbed his hood and revealed his face only to the officer. The Ave’s shoulders drooped in relief. Arnold smiled and re-covered his face. He was given permission to enter.

Arnold moved aside. Before he could speak, Sev placed his hand on the DNA scanner. Arnold knew that the word ALERT
would flash in bold red on the monitor. The officer responded immediately. He grabbed his gun, stood, and aimed his laser blaster at Sev’s chest. The gun hummed with energy, ready to kill.

Several aliens noticed and pointed at the tall, hooded person trying to enter the station illegally. They yelled in their native dialects. Now always fearful of an attack, many aliens cried out to the station guards while others tried to get far away from Arnold’s group.

Sev, startled by the Ave’s sudden, swift behavior, was slow to understand what had happened and to raise his wristguards. Mike, however, proved how fast he could move. Before the gun could fire, he moved from the end of the line of ten aliens to stand in front of Sev with his right hand raised toward the officer.

“It’s OK!” he exclaimed.

Station guards surrounded the group with their guns drawn.

“Relax,” Arnold told the Ave behind the desk. He pointed to Sev, then Jugar. “These two are with me. They are not in the system yet. Let them pass.”

The Ave relaxed. “Of course, sir.” He addressed his fellow guards. “False alarm. New arrivals.” He glanced at the many alien faces. “My apologies. Everything is all right. Please proceed.” He returned his gun to its holster and sat back down.

The station guards were hesitant to leave their defensive positions or lower their guns. They continued to surround Arnold and his group.

The Ave noticed. “I said it was a false alarm. There is no danger. Return to your posts.” He pressed a button that switched off the electromagnetic field within the metallic doorframe.

The station guards suspiciously eyed the two hooded beings who passed unquestioned. The Ave fingered the translator device hooked around his right ear as he watched the guards slowly walk back to their posts. Seeing the newcomers were safe on the other side, the soldier quickly switched the grid back on.

Mike placed his hand on the scanner. The Ave glanced at the image on the screen. He looked up at the hooded male. Mike exposed his face to the Ave only. The soldier’s shoulders and wings no longer drooped; his tired features seemed to have gained
energy. Mike inclined his head politely and walked through the energy field.

Areo was next. She placed her hand on the DNA scanner. Her picture appeared on the monitor. The Ave’s eyes doubled in size.

Before the officer could react, Mike and Arnold telepathically spoke in his head. {Don’t say a word!}

The officer quickly glanced their way. He hesitated for only a moment before nodding his understanding. He allowed his leader to pass without making a scene. He then addressed the next alien with a smile.

“This way.” Arnold led the group to the captain’s office.

“That was unexpected,” whispered Jugar.

Mike shook his head. “Actually, we’ve always had tight security. Now with the war, they expect another attack from the Dominion any day. We can’t blame them. They’re doing their jobs.”

Sev placed a hand on Mike’s right shoulder. “Thank you, Mike. He was fast. I wasn’t expecting his reaction.”

Mike nodded. “I told you, you have to be faster. He was an Ave. They’re as quick as the wind and as deadly as vipers. Next to the Mages, they’re our closest allies.”

“Why were the colors on his insignia light blue on blue surrounded by light gray?” asked Jugar.

Mike continued in a hushed tone. “He’s a station guard. You’ll understand everything better as you go along. There are only three main color affiliations: red for castle, green for empire, and blue for space station. There are a few different color combinations— those signify rank—to learn within each, but you already know the main ones: the red on dark blue worn by the Seacats and the dark red on emerald worn by the Sea Rangers. The leading Sea Rangers carry the title ‘Superior.’ Their badges are surrounded by gold.” Mike shrugged a shoulder. “It’s easy enough to remember. Several Seacats wanted dual careers as Rangers, so their titles are Seacat Ranger Superior. You’ll know who they are by their insignias.”

Sev spotted another male’s insignia as he passed him in the corridors. “And the light blue on blue surrounded by dark gray?”

“A station fighter pilot. Remember, the color blue indicates that he works aboard a space station. Green is for the empire and red is for those who work at one of the royal palaces.”

Sev nodded. “But why? What’s the purpose of it? We Seacats never had a use for all these ranks. You are either a Seacat or not. And why was the shape of the pupil changed?”

Sea Ranger Superior Bill answered this time. “Not everyone can become a Seacat. That’s the highest honor. And we certainly can’t make everyone a Sea Ranger Superior. That’s the second highest position here. These are the two most difficult ranks to obtain. The training is rigorous. Besides, it takes more than warriors of brute strength to make an empire run smoothly. We work as a team; therefore, all warriors are identified by their color combinations. As for the new shape of the eye, we felt the feline’s eye contracting to a slit more appropriate for a new brand of feline warrior. After all, we didn’t want to be considered copycats.”

Sev twisted his lips at the pun. The group made their way through the corridors. Sev was extremely aware of all the chaos and added security. The fear in the air was unmistakable. They entered the captain’s office in single file. Sev saw Areo reaching for her hood. After what he had just experienced with the guard, he moved beside her with the intention of protecting her if need be. He relaxed a bit when her hood remained on.

Arnold spoke. “Captain.”

Startled, the forty-year-old captain turned around and pulled out his laser gun. Sev immediately jumped in front of Areo to shield her.

“Who are you?” Captain Rider squinted at them, trying to see beneath their hoods.

Sev felt Areo’s small hand on the curve of his back. {Thank you.} Her words entered his head. He nodded in return, but kept his focus on the captain. He watched on as Arnold took his time revealing his face.

The captain released a long breath. “Thank God you’re back. What the hell took you so long?” He returned his gun to its holster.

“Didn’t you get our message?”

“About the Acondas?”

Arnold nodded.

“I did, but that was seven and a half months ago. You have no clue what’s going on here.”

“So how about filling us in?” interjected Mike, calmly removing his hood.

Rider walked around his desk and sat on its front edge. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

Sev’s gaze swooped over the human’s neatly pressed black-andgray uniform. The overhead lights danced off the well-polished blue on red insignia surrounded by blue that Rider wore on his belt. It was odd to see a human wearing a Seacat insignia, even if it was altered.

“Start from the beginning. Where are the Seacats?” questioned Mike.

“Scattered. They are trying to make sure none of the stations fall into the Dominion’s hands.”

Sev felt Areo shift nervously at the captain’s words. He grasped her elbow and gave her a reassuring squeeze. He hoped she understood that his gesture meant she was no longer alone. Knowing there were traitors amongst them, Sev scrutinized Rider’s mannerisms, trying to discern if the male was genuine or not.

“What about our family?” inquired Arnold.

“I’m not sure. I only know of the ones who made it back.”

“What do you mean, the ones who made it back?” Mike’s voice held no emotion.

“I’m afraid only a handful of your relatives have checked in. Some already fear the worst.”

Areo’s small cry interrupted him. Sev escorted her to the small office sofa.

“Are you trying to tell me that members of my family are dead?” Arnold said, his voice strained.

Rider’s green eyes pulled away.

“That’s impossible,” insisted Mike. “They’re Seacats. Mutant Seacats. They’ll use their powers if they have to. They won’t give up and die. And they’re too powerful to be killed easily.”

“Maybe so, but you guys have your weaknesses. You’re not invincible, especially your younger relatives who haven’t mastered their powers.”

“No!” Areo covered her face with her hands.

“Who are they?” inquired Rider, suspiciously eyeing the couple.

“Never mind who they are,” barked Arnold. “Have you found any more traitors? Has Sea Base Five been secured?”

“I did everything I could possibly think of to secure this station.” Rider shook his head. “I have to say, Arnold, I wish we had your cousin Glenda here. We could sure use her power of extracting the truth. I don’t trust anyone here, except for you guys. I keep my office door open to show that I have faith that everything is going to be all right. But in truth…” He shook his head again.

“We would use her on you. You do know that, don’t you?” said Mike without hesitation.

“I know,” replied the captain calmly. “I have nothing to hide. I swore my allegiance to the Seacats a long time ago. There isn’t anything that would make me change my mind.”

“Not even money?” Arnold suggested.

Rider smiled. “Money can’t give me the sort of life I’ve created here on Sea Base Five with my family and my true friends, the Seacats.”

“You’re only saying that to save your skin,” Bill sneered.

“If that’s what you think,” Rider said, placing his weapon on the desk, “then arrest me.” Mike, Arnold, and Bill stood in front of him, studying him. “Well, go on. I won’t fight you.”

Bill smirked. “You would be foolish if you did.”

“True enough, but I’m no traitor. I didn’t leave Earth to become a Judas and hand her and Guildhall over to some demon set on total domination. I could never live with myself if I was part of the horrors those monsters are wreaking across the galaxies. My wife is pregnant again. You know I have two daughters and a son. I know what those monsters would do to each of them. I would never turn my back on the Seacats and risk their lives.”

Arnold turned around and sat beside Areo. “It will be all right.” He patted her knee. “I’m sure they’re fine.

Rider watched Bill rotate on his heels and lock the office doors. “Can someone tell me what is going on here?”

Mike remained where he stood and crossed his arms. “Which members of my family have been in contact?”

“Not many, I’m afraid.”

“Which ones!” he angrily snapped.

Rider sat taller and proceeded to answer him. “Besides the two of you, Gillian Jr., Jessica, Jayna, Johnny, Bob, and Sphin.” He stopped speaking.

Areo’s head popped up from her hands.

Mike’s arms fell to his sides. “That’s it? Only six?”

The captain woefully nodded.

Another painful moan escaped Areo. Sev pulled her into his arms and became instantly worried when she did not fight him.

“Hold on a second,” said Rider. “Who is that?”

“We wanted to make sure we could trust you.” Mike stepped closer to him. “We have a little surprise.” At Rider’s questioning look, he revealed their secret. “We brought help.” He addressed Sev first. “Sev, this is Captain Jonathan Rider, the Commander of Sea Base Five, and our loyal friend.” Mike slapped the captain hard on his back. “Captain, this is Sev, the Lord of the Seacats.”

Sev stood up to greet the six-foot-tall captain. Once he had finished coughing, Rider digested Sev’s height for the first time. His expression became comical. Sev decided to intimidate him further and removed his hood to expose the deadly gleam in his copper eyes.

Rider gulped and questioned Mike. “Did you say,
Lord
of the Seacats?”

Mike nodded once.

“How’s that possible? We have a queen, not a king.” Sev sat back down and placed his arm protectively around his wife. “We do now.” Bill paused on the other side of Rider. “He’s Areo’s husband.”

“Husband!”

Sev prepared himself to hear Areo’s protest. He was genuinely surprised when none came.

Rider scrutinized the body Sev embraced. “Is that—”

“You can’t say a word about this to anyone,” Arnold instructed from beside Areo. “Sev and Areo must be kept a secret. Areo was nearly killed. They attacked Sea Base Ten because she was there. Daehog apparently wants her dead. If he finds out that his Dominion failed to kill her and that we now have a king, there’s no telling what he would do.”

“But her presence is exactly what we need here,” Rider protested. “You don’t know what happened to the Alliance.”

“What happened to the Alliance?” Areo weakly asked.

Rider snapped out of his daze and jumped to salute her. “Your Highness, it’s fallen apart. No one wants to protect each other anymore. After nearly two years of fighting the Dominion with no true leadership, the nations have turned their backs on each other. They feel they can fight the Dominion more effectively alone. They are all leaving for their homeworlds.”

“Bailing out.” Bill scoffed. “It’s every man for himself.”

“Basically, yes. They’ve lost their faith in the Alliance. They believe the royal clan is dead, and with them the strength and guidance required to stop Daehog. They’re scared, your Highness. And truthfully, I don’t blame them. I’m scared, too. I’ve tried everything to keep the Alliance together, but without a member of the royal clan here to lead them, they won’t listen.”