Alien Hostage (22 page)

Nur tensed. “Are they watching the home then?”

“Wekniz is still checking. But they could be. Damn it, Nur! Wekniz and I would have been killed defending you from Ket and his men!” The Dramok’s voice rose in frustration.

Nur cringed in shame. He knew the scenario Falinset described was possible. They had no idea if Ket still lurked about, looking to get in and catch them by surprise. He had been stupid to let lust do his thinking for him.

His face burning, Nur murmured, “I am sorry, Falinset. It won’t happen again.”

* * * *

Falinset’s heart plummeted to his feet as he watched Nur crumple before him. There had been a moment of happiness shining from the Imdiko’s eyes when the Dramok came upon him in the sleeping room, a joy Nur displayed far too seldom. Falinset had robbed him of that stolen sweetness because he let fear overcome him.

The Dramok was scared to death of what Ket would do to his clanmates if Tasha and Noelle’s presence was discovered. Even as imbecilic as his bastard of a brother was, Ket was still a trained killer. Maf’s soldiers were even more dangerous. It was too easy to imagine them storming into the house and hurting Wekniz and Nur.

Things were going to hell in a hurry. It was still no reason to ruin the pleasure Nur had found.

Falinset grabbed his Imdiko in a rough hug. “I didn’t mean to yell at you. I’m sorry.”

“You’re right though. It was stupid of me—”

“No. Wekniz and I were nearby. We would have stopped Ket from coming in and finding you like that. I was just surprised to find you with the Matara, and with everything worrying me – no, you did nothing wrong.”

Nur relaxed against him, transmitting his relief that he’d not fucked up.
Not you, my Imdiko, just this situation
, Falinset thought grimly.

He stepped back to offer an apologetic smile to Nur. “Wekniz is still conducting flyovers, but we should know something soon. If he thinks we can fly the princess and her cousin out of here right away, we’ll do it.”

Nur nodded. “That will make Tasha happy. She’s terrified for the child.”

Falinset sobered again. “We’ll do what we must. You know what that will mean though. We’ll be exposed.”

The Imdiko paled, but he squared his shoulders. He nodded.

Falinset offered, “We can try to warn your fathers. I’ll give them money to hide somewhere.”

Nur managed a sickly smile. “You know they won’t go. They’ll never leave my mother behind. But thank you for offering.”

Falinset sighed. The love Nur’s fathers held for his mother was what had gotten them in trouble in the first place. Maf had turned that very adoration against them for his own gain. More than ever, Falinset felt impotent hatred for his biological father.

Looking for something to keep him from screaming in helpless rage, Falinset asked, “So. Matara Tasha. Was she good?”

Sorrow didn’t leave Nur’s eyes, but his mouth twisted up in a lascivious grin. “She was amazing. If we get through this, I insist we get in on the lottery. I’ve got a thing for Earthers now.”

Falinset laughed despite knowing it would never happen. “Enjoy her while you can with my blessing. It’s good to see you happy.”

“Good enough for us to find an Earther of our own?”

Falinset shook his head, but Nur’s antics kept the smile stretched on his face. “Wouldn’t that be some sweet vengeance against Maf and his desire for a pure-Kalquorian Empire?”

“The best,” Nur agreed. His eyes were twinkling again.

If only they could wreak that kind of comeuppance to the Basma, Falinset thought. Now he was glad his Imdiko had been able to bed Tasha, snagging himself a little joy in this dark time. Tasha’s presence had wrecked what little his clan had, but Falinset could find forgiveness if she’d made Nur happy.

Distracting him from those ruminations, Wekniz walked in. Falinset’s momentary uplift in mood disappeared at the thunderous look on the Nobek’s face.

Wekniz nodded as the Dramok’s shoulders slumped. “They’re here. The drone picked up four men within view of the home. They are armed and armored.”

“Damn it.” Falinset’s dim hopes of getting rid of his unwanted guests vaporized.

In contrast, Nur wore an optimistic look. “Only four, huh? Tasha said Ket didn’t have too many men at his disposal, not with them keeping guard over the other women. If he’s also got some searching for the princess in other places, they’re spread thin for the moment.”

Falinset paced as he thought the issue over out loud. “The way I see it, we have two options. One, try to sneak the princess and Tasha out past the spies. We could put them in bins and get them on the shuttle, go to Nalta City, and turn them over to the authorities there. Lobam’s governor would be the logical person to contact.”

Wekniz mused, his face brutish as he concentrated. “Not even try to take them to Kalquor itself. That might indeed be the best chance. I see a couple potential problems, however.”

“Such as?”

“The large military presence in Nalta City. It’s widely acknowledged that the Basma has men working for him in the troops, though no one can say how many have turned traitor. Even high commanders and admirals are suspect at this point.”

Falinset scowled, but at the situation and not his Nobek. “If that’s true, the governor would have to keep a tight lid on the princess’s presence until he gets her back to Kalquor. He has a military guard, doesn’t he?”

“Yes.”

Falinset woofed out a breath. “That could mean trouble if any of the traitors are part of his security. What’s your other concern?”

“If we try to put anything on our shuttle, even for a hop to Nalta City, it’s likely Ket will demand to inspect it. He’ll dump any bins we hide our visitors in.”

Nur had an idea of his own. “What about getting them out of here on foot?”

Falinset snorted. “All the way to Nalta City? Over a hundred miles?”

Nur gave him a look of reproach. “Do you think I’m that dumb? Of course not. Wekniz could sneak them out, and you and I could get on the shuttle without loading anything on it. Then we land and pick them up a few miles away. Sure, we’ll get yelled at for the unauthorized landing, but only until the authorities see our reason for it.”

The Dramok thought Nur’s idea had merit. He looked hopefully to his Nobek. “Wekniz?”

Wekniz sighed heavily. “Again, that large military presence in Nalta City as well in other parts of Lobam gives me pause. The Basma’s men within the troops may have already been alerted. They surely will be if we make it out of here. We have to anticipate they would intercept us.”

Falinset frowned at him. “I never thought you were one for conspiracy theories. You make it sound like we’re under an enemy power.”

“We may be. We’re not talking about just Ket here, my Dramok. We’re not even talking about Maf as the blackmailing bastard we thought he was. We’re talking about the Basma, the leader of a growing revolt.” Wekniz’s fierce demeanor grew more intense. “Who knows how many men he’s got and where he’s got them? Maybe this moon is a base of his operations. He’s got those women here, doesn’t he? What else does he have on Lobam?”

“We don’t know any of that. For all we know, the extent of what’s here is a few AWOL soldiers and that pen of Earthers.”

“Are you willing to risk the life of a three-year-old girl on that?”

Falinset felt sick at the idea. “Of course not. I hear you and concede what you say makes sense. For fun though, let’s say you’re wrong. How hard would it be to get the princess and her cousin out of here using Nur’s idea?”

Wekniz considered in his methodical way before answering. “The vantage points the spies have on our home are pretty good. It will be hard to escape detection, but not impossible.”

“What about sneaking out at night?”

Wekniz pursed his lips. “If Maf’s men are as smart as I’m afraid they are – not counting Ket, of course – I’m betting they’ve set up those heat-detection eyes in case we try to pull such a stunt.”

Falinset sighed. It was as bad as he’d anticipated. “We have to assume they’ve got us netted up pretty good. Which brings me to my second option.”

The unscarred side of Wekniz’s mouth twitched up. “Sit and wait them out?”

Falinset kicked a seating cushion to vent his irritation. “If Tasha and Princess Noelle can stay out of sight for long enough, Ket will eventually call his men off. He’ll keep monitoring our coms and leave the sensors in place as a precaution, but we can at least get them to our shuttle and fly them out of here.”

Nur nodded his agreement. “I also think waiting them out is the best option until we know the state of affairs in Nalta City. You have to go in to report to work there anyway, Wekniz. You can have a look around, maybe get a meeting with the governor. At the very least, try to com Kalquor. See if you can raise someone in Global Security to send help.”

“Those are our best options. Especially the com idea.” Wekniz smiled approval at his Imdiko. His expression suddenly froze and he took a step towards Nur, inhaling deeply. His eyes went wide.  “Matara Tasha was grateful? For the rescue, I mean.”

Nur tried not to smirk and failed. “For that and other things.”

Wekniz shook his head, glancing over at Falinset. “Only our Imdiko.”

The Dramok couldn’t share in the humor. He had the Basma’s valuable hostages, and he was sure being Maf’s son wouldn’t keep the revolt’s henchmen from exacting revenge if they discovered it. 

Chapter 14

After Sitrel delivered the news, Dramok Maf sat frozen in his chair. Even when his twisted body began to complain of being in one position for too long, he did not move. He thought if he did, he might explode in fury.

Not even in front of his most trusted aide did Maf like to display a lack of control, not unless such an act would impress others. Descending into a mindless fury of shouting and throwing the items on his desk, while satisfying on a bestial level, would underscore how he’d lost control of the situation. Flinging about his computer, com, and various tokens of esteem from former constituents would not serve his image, nor would it reclaim Princess Noelle. Though rage burned hotter by the second, Maf knew he must find refuge in calculating an advantageous outcome.

The only vent he gave to his churning feelings was to mutter, “Damn that fool Ket.”

Sitrel stood on the other side of the carved blackwood desk in Maf’s home study. Despite the muted lighting Maf preferred for his surroundings, he saw his aide’s expression was grave and eyes sharp. “He is reasonably sure Falinset’s Nobek has them hidden somewhere on their property.”

Maf snorted, his clawed hands clenching so that the swollen knuckles whitened his dark skin. “There is nothing reasonable about that idiot. Why are the most loyal the dumbest? Besides you, of course.”

The corners of Sitrel’s mouth quirked at Maf’s amendment. He didn’t comment on it however, his focus remaining on the most important issue at hand. “Guards and sensors have been posted around the perimeter of the property. Clan Falinset’s com system is tapped, as it has been since we put in the detainment facility. None of them has attempted to contact anyone thus far. Ket is also ready to storm the home and search again if you order him to.”

Maf scowled. “I don’t want Falinset forced into anything. It will ruin any chance I have of winning his allegiance.” Not to mention the affection Maf desired above all else. He’d devoted a lot of time and resources into the attempt to win the son who would continue his legacy.

Silence, broken by the low hum of the room’s anti-bugging device, stretched long as Maf mulled over his next move. His perfect plan on the eve of striking against those who led Kalquor was in danger of being ruined. Still, as long as the princess and her cousin remained on Lobam and none of the enemy knew they were there, he could proceed as planned.

It was a big gamble however. Maf needed to secure Princess Noelle and get rid of Natasha Salter before their presence on his stronghold was noted by the wrong people.

Then again, he could eliminate those who were foolish enough to try and stop him. Perhaps it was time to let Lobam know who was in charge. The governor and those of his assembly not in Maf’s pocket would have to be taken care of sooner rather than later. So much could go wrong, but Maf had been planning this for a long time. Would starting the revolution a couple weeks early make so much difference?

He asked Sitrel, “Are my squadrons on Lobam alerted? The moon’s com system monitored and ready to be taken offline early if need be?”

The Dramok aide nodded. “They are. No one can move or make contact with the enemy if we wish. Any shuttle not belonging to our people leaving Lobam could be searched under the guise of cracking down on the drug trade.”

“We need to keep a close eye on Falinset’s clan in particular,” Maf said. The thought he could not yet count on his son was a heaviness in the pit of his stomach. Maybe it should have been this way all along, though. Maybe when Falinset saw the power his father wielded and the glory to be attached to Maf’s name, perhaps at last his notion of honor would be altered in Maf’s favor.

Sitrel was speaking again, and Maf dragged his thoughts from the happy dream of being a real father to his son at last. “I’m sending in more men to surround his home and keep an eye on things. If we learn the princess is on the premises, how would you like us to proceed?”