Dazz (8 page)

Chloe

Chloe woke up after one of the best nights of sleep she’d had in a long while.  The other side of the bed was empty, but she smiled anyway.  She remembered the sweet way he’d told her he had to go to work.

After stretching, she laid there a moment longer until her stomach rumbled, reminding her it was time to eat.

She jumped out of bed and headed for the shower.  After going without for so long, a nice shower was one thing she really enjoyed first thing in the morning.

With her teeth brushed, she donned the normal black jumpsuit, and then braided her wet hair before heading out the door.  She expected a guard, but the corridor lay empty.  Strange.  She was positive Dazz had told her to let the guard know she was ready for first meal.

She headed down the corridor toward the Dining Hall.  Before making it to the end, she felt a prick on her neck.  Her hand shot to the inflicted area, and when she spun around, the last thing she saw was a grinning Tureis!  Everything went black.

Dazz

Back on the Bridge, he noted the late standard hour.  His stomach rumbled, and he needed to eat. 
Chloe should be up by now,
he thought. 

“Commander, the program you requested has been up and running for thirty standard minutes without any noted problems.”

“Thank you, Chasse.  Now, let’s see if it works the way we hope.”

His stomach rumbled again, reminding him that he’d told his mate they would have first meal together.  Tapping his com-unit, he said, “Bridge to Dannte.”  No reply.  “Bridge to Dannte,” he said again.  Still nothing.

“Sakku, you have the Bridge.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Dazz briskly walked down the corridor, toward his quarters.  He noticed the absence of the guard first, before he found his quarters empty.  Agitation warred with worry as he thought that she’d probably eaten without him, but he couldn’t discount the threat on board his ship.

Walking into the Dining Hall, he looked around, but she wasn’t there.  He spotted Rannd sitting close by. 

As he approached the table, Rannd started to rise, to stand at attention.  “Stay seated.  Have you seen Dannte, or my mate?”

“No, Commander,” came the answer.  Dazz nodded before leaving the Dining Hall.

Walking back toward his quarters, he tapped his com-unit, “Sakku, meet me in my quarters with a security team.  Chasse, you have the Bridge.”

“On our way,” Sakku answered.

“Yes, Commander,” Chasse responded.

In his quarters, Dazz looked for anything out of place, but everything looked normal.  There were no signs of a struggle.  When Sakku showed up with a team of security officers, Dazz explained the situation.

“Starting here and moving outward, I want everything searched!  They have to be somewhere, and I want them found…her found!”

As they started the search, Dazz stood in his quarters trying to think of an explanation.  His gut told him it was foul play, and dread had started to seep in.

“Commander?” a voice said through the com-unit.

Tapping his, he answered, “Here.”

“Commander, we have a problem in the Brig.”

Now what!  He rubbed his forehead in frustration.  “I’ll be right there.” 

Before he got a chance to head for the Brig, Sakku called out, “Commander, I’ve found Dannte!”

Dazz found his friend down the corridor near a supply closet.  Sakku was kneeling beside the male lying on the floor.  After checking for a pulse, Sakku looked up and said, “He’s dead.”

“Chloe?” he asked.

“Not here.”  When Sakku spoke those words, Dazz hid the relief he felt.  In a time of crisis, he needed to be strong for all to see.

“Commander, this is Chasse.  We have an alert from the program.”

“On my way.”  He looked at Sakku and ordered, “Go to the Brig and find out what’s happened.  Then meet me in my Ready Room in thirty standard minutes.”

“Yes, Commander.”  Sakku headed down the corridor.

Dazz addressed the security team.  “See that he is taken to Sick Bay.  I want to know what happened to him.”  He turned swiftly away with cold, hard iron-determination filling his soul.

Thirty standard minutes later, Dazz met with his trusted officers.  He stood with his back to them, gazing at the stars while looking out the view port.  “What do we know?”

Sakku spoke first.  “Someone killed Charr and released the Tureis.”  Charr had been the soldier on duty guarding the prisoner.

“I found more sensors that were tampered with.  We also have a shuttlecraft missing.” Chasse reported next.

Dazz turned around, and they saw death looking back at them.  Not their death or his, but the death of the traitor!

“You know who?”  Dazz addressed Chasse, his voice low and deadly.

“Yes, Commander.  Trevvin, from the maintenance department.”

“He was on the list.  His entire family was killed during the last attack, while he was on board the
Defender,”
Kainn added.

“Perhaps it’s time he joined them.”  Turning to Sakku, he said, “Find him and bring him to the Brig.  I’ll be waiting.”

They filed out quickly; leaving him alone with his raging thoughts as he mentally planned the death of all who hurt his mate.

Chloe

Lying on a cold metal floor, Chloe slowly tried to open her heavy eyes.  She felt drugged, and tried to shake off the effects. Her head hurt if she moved too fast. 
What happened?

After she finally made it to a sitting position, she got her first look around.  It only took a glance for her to know exactly where she was…a Tureis holding cell! 
Ah, hell!

When she finally got to her feet, she stared at the closed door and knew one thing for sure; she wouldn’t try to escape this time, at least not right away.  Hopefully, Dazz would find her…and soon. 

Looking around, she could barely see anything due to the poor lighting, but she managed to see one thing---an outline, sitting in a corner.  She cautiously approached and saw that is wasn’t a some
thing,
but a some
one!

Chloe knelt down, and as her eyes slowly adjusted, she could better see the young girl. She looked to be about eighteen or nineteen as she sat huddled up, her arms wrapped around her bent up knees, and was rocking slightly back and forth.

“Hey there,” Chloe said, making her voice soothing.

The girl didn’t reply, didn’t even acknowledge Chloe’s presence.

“How long have you been here?”  Still nothing.  Chloe looked a little closer.  She was dirty, and smelled bad, like most everyone on Earth.  She was also thin; she’d probably had little to eat for a long time.

Chloe sat down beside her and gently stroked her back, trying to offer her silent comfort as she waited…for what, she didn’t know.

Sitting in silence, stroking the girl’s back, she thought of Dazz.  Did he know that she was missing?  Would he know what had happened to her?  Chloe closed her eyes and offered a silent prayer, asking for Dazz to please find her.

Sometime later, the door to the cell opened and a Tureis walked in carrying a tray of food, which he left sitting on the floor.  After he left and the door had firmly closed behind him, Chloe retrieved the tray and brought it back to where she and the girl had been sitting.

“You need to eat,” Chloe said, but the girl didn’t even acknowledge she’d spoken.

She scooped some of the white mushy stuff up on the utensil and held it in front of the young girl’s face. “Listen up,” she started in a confident tone.  “You don’t have to talk to me, or even acknowledge I’m here, but you do have to eat.  My mate will come for me, and when he does, I’m taking you with me.  You’ll be free.  But until then, you have to eat so you don’t die of starvation.”  To Chloe’s surprise, the young girl opened her mouth and accepted the food.

After Chloe finished feeding the girl and herself, she wrapped her arms around her, offering more comfort as they sat together in the corner of a dim-lit room.

Dazz

Standing before the male who sat tied to a chair, Dazz faced him with a grim expression and an intense stare. 

“Trevvin, you’re in a lot of trouble,” Dazz said in a low, deadly-quiet voice.

“Why have you brought me here?  I haven’t done anything!”

“Really?  You’re sweating profusely, and I can see your rapid pulse beating by the artery in your neck.  Thump…thump…thump,” Dazz said slowly, his subtle tactics beginning to unnerve Trevvin.

“Please, don’t…”

“Don’t what?” Dazz asked as he circled the prey.  “You just have to decide one thing, Trevvin.  Do you want to die quickly, or do you prefer a slow, painful, agonizing death?”

“Please, Commander…”

“Tell me what I want to know.”  Dazz took a sharp knife and held the tip of the blade against the prisoner’s cheek.  When he remained quiet, Dazz drew a thin line down his face and let the blood trickle.  “I’m waiting.”

Dazz watched as Trevvin’s face changed, turned to hate before his eyes.  “King Malik is a worthless leader!” he spat. “It’s his fault that my family was killed, and I’ll do anything to hurt him and any of his family!”

Dazz turned to Chasse and said, “Search his quarters, his personal logs.”  Turning back to Trevvin, he demanded, “What have you done with my mate?”

“I guess it doesn’t matter now,” Trevvin’s smile was triumph, evil, when he said, “I released the Tureis, showed him where your mate was, and then took them both to a shuttlecraft.”

Dazz knew that Chloe would have put up a good fight, but he’d found no evidence of it.  “What did you do to my mate?”  He was barely holding on to his self-control.

“She never saw it coming,” Trevvin grinned again.  “I gave the Tureis an injector and it was lights out for her.”

Dazz’s control slipped as rage marred his features!  He slit Travvin’s throat with one powerful slice of his blade, almost cutting off his head.

Turning to Sakku, he said, “Find out where that shuttlecraft went!”  Looking back at Travvin’s body, he then said, “And get someone to clean this mess up.”

Back on the Bridge, Dazz paced as his mind ran through scenarios, looking for options…answers.  “Commander,” Chasse said as he came rushing back to the Bridge.  “I’ve found the access codes used for communication and traced them back.  I think I’ve found the location of the shuttlecraft.”

“Give Kainn the coordinates and get us a close as possible without being detected.”

As the
Defender
headed toward the set coordinates, Dazz took a seat and kept his eyes glued to the view screen.

“Commander, I’m picking up a ship on long range sensors.  They must have been just outside of our range, avoiding detection,” Kainn informed him.

“Kainn, Sakku, you’re with me.”

“What are your orders, Commander?”  Chasse asked.

“Chasse, you have the Bridge.  Engage them, be a distraction so we can sneak in and rescue Chloe.  If they’re focused on you, hopefully, they will miss us.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Dazz headed to the shuttlecraft, anxious to get his mate back.  As he remembered the way he’d first found her, he worried that she might try to fight her way out again, but fervently hoped that she wouldn’t. 

Chloe

Chloe remained sitting against the wall, giving the girl comfort while she slept.  She could do this one thing while she worried about the both of them.  The girl still hadn’t spoken, but had finally relaxed enough to fall asleep, her head laying in Chloe’s lap while Chloe stroked her hair.

She knew what the Tureis did with females; they sold them to the highest bidder as breeders or pleasure house workers.  She shivered as soon as the thought entered her mind.  Chloe would never let that happen to either one of them, and if Dazz didn’t come soon, she’d have to take matters into her own hands.  With nothing else to do, Chloe leaned her head against the metal wall and closed her weary eyes.

The only sound she could hear was her own breathing.  How long had she been there?  She knew in reality it was just a few hours, but it felt like days.  Why did this keep happening to her?  She was finally happy, and now this.

A small noise outside the cell had her eyes popping open and staring at the door, waiting to see what was next.  Bringing food or taking them to an open market to be sold to…No!  She wouldn’t think about that!

When the door cracked open, she saw someone peer inside, but the room was too dark to see who it was at that distance.  A light suddenly shined in her eyes, and then she heard the sweetest sound ever, “Chloe.”

“Dazz, you found me!” she whispered yelled.  He rushed to her side, and as he knelt down, he spotted the girl.  Chloe still hugged him, happy tears glistening her eyes.

“Are you okay?” he whispered.

“Yeah, they didn’t hurt me.”  His eyes kept darting to the girl in her lap.

“Who is that?” he asked.

“Another human, like me.  She hasn’t spoken a word.”

Slightly shaking the girl, Chloe said, “Hey, wake up.  We’ve been rescued.”

The girl slowly opened her eyes, and when she spotted Dazz and the others, she opened her mouth to scream.  Chloe quickly covered it, and when her terror-filled eyes darted back to Chloe, she said, “It’s okay.  He’s my mate and he’s here to rescue us.  You’re safe, I promise.  He’s one of the good guys.”

When Chloe was sure that the girl wouldn’t scream, she pulled her hand away from her mouth. 

“We have to go,” Dazz said.

As the girl slowly sat up, Chloe got to her feet and offered her a hand.  Surprisingly, she took it.  After they took a couple of steps, it was obvious that the girl---she really wished she knew her name---couldn’t walk very far.  She was much too weak.

“Kainn, you carry her,” Dazz ordered, but when Kainn took a sure step toward her, she backed up with a look of terror.

“Can you understand them?”  Chloe asked the young girl.  When she shook her head
no,
Chloe then said, “Look, we have to get out of here.  You are too weak to walk, so Kainn is going to carry you.  It’ll be okay, I promise.”

Without waiting, Kainn scooped the girl up in his arms.  With Dazz’s confused look, Chloe offered, “No translator.”  He nodded and before heading out of the cell, Chloe said, “Kainn, give me your phaser.”

He looked at her as if she was crazy, but Dazz said, “Give it to her and let’s go.”  Kainn did as ordered, before they headed toward the shuttlecraft.

Luckily, they only encountered two of the Tureis, which they easily disposed of.  Once on the shuttlecraft, and away from the enemy ship, Chloe’s grateful eyes found Dazz, “I was afraid you wouldn’t know where to find me.” 

He pulled her onto his lap; at the same time, she threw her arms around his neck.  He wrapped her in a warm, protective embrace, holding her tight, but still kept an eye on the view screen. 

As they flew unnoticed, Chloe found comfort in Dazz’s strong arms.

“We’re clear, Commander,” Sakku stated as he expertly flew the shuttlecraft.

“Contact the
Defender;
tell them to destroy the ship!”  Dazz said in an unbending, commanding tone.

They watched as torpedo after torpedo flew through the air, everyone hitting its intended target.  When the ship exploded, the shuttlecraft rocked slightly. 

Once the shuttlecraft landed, and they were standing in the Cargo Bay, Chloe wanted to devour Dazz, never leave his arms, but that wouldn’t be the case, at least not right now.  Chloe needed to help the girl she’d found on the Tureis ship.

He held her in his arms, in a tight embrace, as he whispered, “I was so worried about you.”

“I’m glad you came after me.”

“Always!”  He leaned back and took her lips in a deep, passionate kiss.  She could feel the desperation, the fear he’d felt while she was missing.  She knew the feeling.  She didn’t hold anything back as she kissed him just as passionately, promising things yet to come.  To hell with anyone watching!

He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers.  Both of them breathing heavily, he sighed as he closed his eyes shortly.  When he opened them again, he said, “I wish I didn’t have to go, but I’m needed on the Bridge.”

“And I need to take care of the girl I found.  I think she’s in shock.”

“I’ll have Sakku assign her Officers’ Quarters close to ours.”

“Thank you,” she said, as she let the heat of his body warm her soul. 

He kissed her lips one last time before turning to Sakku.  “Escort them there and guard the door; Trevvin may not have been alone in his thinking.”  Looking back at Chloe, he said, “Be safe, mate.  I’ll see you soon,” he gave her another passionate kiss, and then turned and briskly walked away.

Chloe watched as he left the Cargo Bay.  Looking back at the girl, she asked, “Are you ready?”

The girl just stared at the floor.  Chloe sighed, and then said to Sakku, “Let’s go.  Can you carry her?” he nodded, so she turned to the unknown girl and said, “It’s a long walk.  Let him carry you.” 

After carrying the girl to Officers’ Quarters, Sakku left them inside while he stood guard in the corridor outside the door.

Alone with Chloe now, the girl’s eyes bounced back and forth, taking in her surroundings, at least what she could see without moving her head.

“I’m Chloe.  What’s your name?”

She didn’t answer, and Chloe sighed.  “Look, I understand that you’re in shock, but I can’t just call you ‘Girl’.  Please, just tell me your name.  I promise I won’t ask any more questions.”

Chloe waited, and then barely heard her say, “M…Ma,” the girl visibly swallowed before trying again.  “Mara,” she barely rasped out.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mara.”  Chloe smiled, but she didn’t return it.  “Okay, let me show you the bathroom.”

Chloe led her to the small bathroom and showed her how to use the controls.  When she turned the shower on, Mara just stood there with her arms crossed, looking at the floor.

Chloe took her arm and gently steered her into the warm spray, clothes and all.  When she just stood there, Chloe said, “I’m going to help you undress.  After you wash, I’ll give you some clean clothes to put on.”

When she made no sound or protest, Chloe slowly took Mara’s clothes off, not minding that she was soaking her own.  She kept her face impassive, not wanting to show the concern she felt.  Mara was thin, and Chloe could count her ribs.  The only odd thing was the belly bump she sported.  “Mara, are you pregnant?”

When she got no reply, Chloe placed a finger under Mara’s chin and gently raised her head so she could look into her dark eyes.  Mara didn’t have to say a word, her tear-filled eyes and quivering chin said it all.  “Oh, Mara.”

Chloe pulled Mara’s small body in for a warm, loving embrace, and for the first time, Mara cried…

When her sobbing slowed, Chloe took some of the cleaning liquid and washed the young girl’s hair and body, just as a mother would do for a child.

After she dried Mara, Chloe gave her the standard jumpsuit.  It fit everyone like a second skin, but it fit loosely on Mara’s thin frame.  Chloe’s heart hurt for the girl as she combed Mara’s long black hair.

“Mara, I’m going to have someone bring you some food, and I need to get the healer here to check you and your baby,” Chloe said, but got no response of any kind.

Chloe went to the door and found Sakku standing right outside.  She told him her request and then went back to Mara.

“Just lay down and rest until either the doctor or food comes.”  Chloe guided her to the bed and helped her lie down.  She looked small and fragile, lying in a fetal position. 

Soon the door chimed and Chloe called out, “Come in.”  The healer walked in carrying a medical bag, and behind him, Sakku carried in a tray of food.

“Chloe, it’s good to see you again.”

“Thanks, Stavven.”

“Now, what did you need me for?” he asked while smiling at her.

“I’m sorry, Stavven, I thought you knew.”  Chloe stepped aside, and Stavven’s eyes widened when he spotted the young girl lying on the bed.

“This is Mara.  I think she’s in shock---and she’s pregnant,” Chloe informed him in a low voice.

“Pregnant?” he asked while staring at his patient.

“Yes, pregnant, carrying a child---young.”

“Oh, I see,” he pulled out his hand-held scanner, and they both slowly approached the bed.

“Mara,” Chloe said, but she was fast asleep.  “Mara, wake up.”  When her eyes popped open, Chloe continued, “I didn’t mean to startle you.  Stavven’s here.  He’s the ship’s doctor and he needs to examine you.”

Stavven carefully approached the female lying on the bed.  “I’m the ship’s healer.”  He smiled tentatively at Mara, but she didn’t return it.  “I am here to check your health and help you if I can.”

“Mara doesn’t have a translator.  Can you give her one?”  Chloe asked Stavven.

“I can if you will explain it to her.”

“Mara, Stavven needs to check you over to make sure you and the baby are alright.  He can also inject you with a translator so you can understand everyone.  Is that okay?”  Chloe waited for some kind of sign.  Her heart hurt for the young girl.  She couldn’t imagine what she’d been through.  When Mara gave her a slight nod, Chloe gave her a warm smile.  “Okay, then,” she said.

Chloe gave Stavven a nod, indicating to go ahead.  Mara laid perfectly still as Stavven ran the scanner over her body.  When Stavven grabbed the injector, Chloe saw the fear in Mara’s eyes, so she took her hand and said, “It’s okay.  Just squeeze my hand.”

After Stavven injected the translator, Mara fainted. 

“What happened?  Is that a normal reaction?”  Chloe asked, concern lacing her voice.

“Everyone has a different reaction.”  He ran the scanner over her body once again.  “She should be fine in just a few standard minutes.”

Still holding Mara’s hand, Chloe turned her attention to Sakku.  “Thank you for bringing food for us.”

“You’re welcome,” he smiled, and she felt her heart lighten now that she was getting along with Dazz’s friend.

After Stavven put his scanner away, he came back over to them.  “How is she?” Chloe asked.

“She is extremely malnourished, but otherwise healthy.  The youngling is small and also malnourished, but otherwise healthy.  The youngling seems to be taking all the nutrients from the mother.  Another standard day or two and I believe neither of them would be alive.  Make sure the female eats and drinks a lot.  If she’s unable, I may need to put her in the medi-chamber.”

“I’ll make sure she does.  Thanks, Stavven,” Chloe said with relief and determination.

Chloe hated asking the next question, but she needed to know what the Tureis had done to the Mara.  “Is the baby…is she human?”

“Human, you mean from Earth?”  When Chloe nodded, Stavven answered, “Yes, the youngling is human.”  Chloe let out the breath she’d been holding as she closed her eyes in relief.  “I will give her something to help her if she’d gets anxious, and something else to help her heal.  Don’t worry, it’s a fraction of the dose I would give an Azziarin female.”

“Thanks, doc.”  At his confused look, she added, “That’s what we call healers on earth.  Doc or doctor.”  He smiled, before grabbing his bag and heading out the door.

Sakku uncovered the food tray before resuming guard duty outside.

“Mara, wake up.”  She was once again sound asleep.  Chloe shook her small shoulders.  When her eyes slowly opened, Chloe said, “There you are,” smiling at her.

Mara slowly sat up, and as Chloe went to the table and the tray of food, Mara’s eyes followed her every move.

“Sakku brought food for us.  Do you want to eat on the bed, or at the table?”

Mara didn’t answer, but she slowly rose from the bed, deciding to eat at the table.  As the two sat across from each other, Chloe started explaining the food.

“This blue one is called Bana, and is very sweet,” and pointing to another, “this one is called Tul, and is kind of salty…umm…well, there’s nothing bad on here.  It’s like eating a tray of vegetables back home.  You should just try them all and see what you like.  There is a red vegetable called mucchal, and I’m deathly allergic to it.  It’s not on here, but if anyone ever offers it to you, just say no.  It’s very bitter.”

Mara’s eyes would dart to Chloe’s while she ate, and Chloe could tell she was listening.  That was a start.