HeartStorm (HeartFast Series Book 3) (7 page)

            Challenger chuckled. "Don't worry about it. I think Sender and I both knew you'd want to get back to base as soon as this mission was cleared."

            "Thanks." Hunter stepped away a few steps to prevent accidentally enclosing one of them within his shield. "I'll see you back at—"

            "Halloooo! Guardians!"

            The call came from the other end of the corridor. Hunter paused as Challenger wryly remarked, "What, again?"

            An older man soon appeared, half-running, half-limping toward them. One look at the man's sweaty, flushed face, and it was evident the guy wasn't accustomed to running, much less rushing for anything.

            He slowed as he neared them, finally stopping a few meters away to bend over and gasp for breath, hands braced on his thighs. "Oh, thank the gods I got to you before you left."

            Sender was first to approach the man, reaching out a hand in case he collapsed. "Are you all right? Are you needing help?"

            "Yeah. On both counts." Still breathing heavily, he managed to straighten up. "Actually, I'm hoping you're on your way to Guardian Command."

            Challenger lifted a questioning eyebrow. "Yes, we are. Why were you wanting to know?"

            "Take me with you."

            The man's request was more of a command than a plea, and its tone rankled Hunter. A quick glance at the other two Guardians confirmed the fact that they were equally unimpressed with the stranger.

            "Excuse me," Challenger spoke. "Why not fly your own ship to Synaria? If you're unsure how to get there, the Stellar Police would be more than happy to upload the route to your computer."

            "I don't have a ship," the man replied. "Well, I did, but the damn thing's beyond repair, and I ain't got the creds to buy me even a second-hand blowout. I've been hopping junk cruisers for the past month and a half, working as a crew member to pay my way."

            "Is Synaria your final destination?" Sender asked.

            "Yeah. In fact, I need to go to Guardian Command. I can't believe my luck that I ran across you three."

            "Why do you have to go to Guardian Command if you said you didn't need our help?" Sender questioned.    

            "I don't need your help. I need to see someone there."

            The man's brusque demeanor was irritating, to say the least. It was obvious he was accustomed to getting his way, and the longer they questioned him, the more curt he became.

            Warning sirens went off in Hunter's head.
The man is impatient. He's too anxious, too eager to get to Synaria. And being this close to his goal, he's becoming agitated the longer we stall.

            "Who are you needing to see?" Hunter spoke up.

            "StarLight. At least, that's what I've heard she calls herself."

           
What she calls herself?
His announcement knocked the wind out of Hunter. This guy was demanding to see Star? Why? For what purpose? For that matter, what did he have that was so important that he felt he could simply stroll into Guardian Command to speak with her?

            Something wasn't right. Something didn't add up, and that creepy feeling he'd felt earlier became a black, oily ball in the pit of his stomach.

            It was Sender who managed to regain her composure first.    "You need to see StarLight? Who are you, her number one fan?" She gave a half laugh to show she was jesting, when in truth Hunter could tell she was on the defensive. Challenger went along with her.

            "Sorry, buddy, but because of the nature of our jobs, we can't allow people to simply walk onto the base. You'll need to get the proper clearances. Besides, StarLight is indisposed for the time being. She's not taking visitors."

            "Oh, she'll see
me
all right." The man was cock sure of himself.

            "And why is that?" Hunter asked, unable to help himself.

            "Because my name is Aginthon DiMackerlyn. I'm her father."

Chapter Eight

Warning

            Hunter sensed the shock coming from Sender and Challenger, but theirs combined couldn't match the cold dread coursing through him.

            “Her father?”
The words blurted out of him before he was aware of it.

            DiMackerlyn grinned crookedly. Hunter immediately knew the man was acting, faking whatever emotion he needed to show in order to make whatever story he was about to tell them sound more believable.
Well, the man had better think again.
Hunter turned on his hunting abilities.

            “You see, when she was younger, she and I had a falling out. Teenagers. You know how they can be. They think the rules don't apply to them. They rebel. They run away from home.” DiMackerlyn shrugged. “Except, the last time was over six years ago. When she didn't come home, I started searching for her, and I've been searching ever since.”

            The man was lying. However, a glance at his fellow Guardians confirmed they were buying the guy's story...so far.

            “Could you excuse us for a moment?” Hunter asked. Gesturing for the other two to follow him, he put a little distance between them and DiMackerlyn, to keep what he wanted to say out of earshot.

            Challenger leaned close, speaking in a soft voice. “What's going on, Hunter? Something tells me you're honed in on this guy. Is he the real deal? Is he Star's father?”

            “Yes, he's her father, but the story he's giving us is completely fabricated.” He started to say more, then chose to hold back. If Star wanted her life story exposed, it would be her choice. It wouldn't come from him.

            “Why do you think he's really looking for her?” Sender asked.

            “I have no idea,” Hunter admitted. “But we're not getting the truth from this man. At least, not all of it.” He ran a hand through his hair.

            “You don't think he's trying to get Star to go back with him, do you?” Challenger wondered.

            “Star's an adult on any planet,” Sender said. “He has no legal recourse. Besides, if what he says about her running away is the truth, do you think she's going to want to see him? After all this time?”

            “Something else is puzzling me,” Hunter admitted. “Did either of you notice it?”

            The other two Guardians paused to think. It was Sender who glanced back at the man standing several meters away, his arms crossed over his chest, a scowl on his face.

            “He knows we're Guardians,” she murmured. “But he doesn't
know
us.” Her eyes grew wider, and she looked at Hunter. “He doesn't know
you
.”

            “No, he doesn't,” Hunter confirmed. “And I'll bet that if you mention the Ombitra, he won't have the foggiest idea what you're talking about.”

            “That's crazy!” the woman whispered. “Anyone who knows about Star knows about the Ombitra, and about you.”

            “Well, he doesn't, and for the time being I'd like for him to remain in the dark. Look, I'm going to pretend I need to stay here a bit longer. You go ahead and return to base. And take DiMackerlyn with you.”

            “Think that's a wise move?” Challenger queried.

            Sender grimaced. “Something tells me that if we deny him passage, he'll find a way to get to Synaria, now that he's finally located her. One way or another, he'll get to Star.”

            “No. He won't get to her,” Hunter refuted. “He may find her, but my wife's a strong woman. He won't be able to control her like he did when she was younger. And even if by some chance she caves, which I can promise she won't, DiMackerlyn will have me to face.”

            “What do you think Star will say when you tell her who we're bringing back with us?” Challenger asked.

            “I have no idea. And, frankly, I'm almost afraid to tell her.” At the surprise expressions on the other two Guardian's faces, he took a deep breath and exhaled it noisily though his mouth. “If you're guessing there's no love lost between father and daughter, you're right.”

            “Then why are we allowing him to hitch a ride with us?” Sender asked.

            “Because we are her best defense. Because I'm curious to know what the man has planned. And because maybe it's time for Star to let her father know exactly what she thinks of him. Then maybe he'll realize everything's all right. That she's happy, that he's not wanted in her life, and that'll be enough to satisfy his curiosity to where he'll go back to where he came from and leave her alone.”

            Sender snorted, making it clear she highly doubted it.

            Challenger gave Hunter a little push. “Go on. Get out of sight before you pop out of sight. We'll be right behind you.”

            Nodding, Hunter turned and hurried away, as if he'd been summoned elsewhere. The moment he turned a corner and he was no longer visible to the others, he threw his shield around him and left the station.

* * *

            Star was in their quarters. He watched for a moment from within his protective bubble as she sat in one of the chairs facing the huge window wall.

            She wore a simple sleeveless blouse and casual pants. Her long, thick black hair was gathered on top of her head. One strap had been lowered, revealing a glistening breast grown fuller during pregnancy. Their daughter lay in her arms, asleep within the white blanket wrapped around her.

            Star leaned her head back against the seat, and a smile graced her lips. “I know you're there, Udo. I felt your presence the moment you arrived.”

            Hunter dropped the shield and knelt in front of his wife, his eyes drawn to the tiny bundle in her arms. This time he could see the baby's face. The features that were so much like Star's, yet at the same time hinted at his own. Before he could ask, Star answered.

            “Her eyes are like mine.”

            Violet eyes. Beautiful eyes.

            He hesitated slightly, and again Star second-guessed him. “Here. You hold her.”

            “I...uhh...” He held out his arms, and Star handed the infant over to him. Gingerly, cautiously, he gathered the baby against his chest, unable to take his gaze away from the little miracle.

            “She's...so small!” His voice cracked at the realization that he had a daughter. That he was a father. After the horror of losing their first child, and the dangerous demands of their job, he had almost given up hope of having a family.

            Leaning forward in the chair, Star ran a hand through his short brown curls, then did the same for their daughter. She chuckled softly. “My two curly tops.”

            He lifted his face to meet her lips in a soft, sweet kiss. A kiss that spoke of love, but without the fiery prelude for lovemaking. Reluctantly, he watched as she sat back and watched his interaction with the baby.

            “I had a feeling you would ditch the transport to arrive before the others. How did the mission go?”

            “It went well. Successful.” He grinned. “We may have a new Guardian prospect on board.”

            “Oh?” She gave him a quizzical look.

            “He's a young man named Wooly.”

            Star giggled. “Wooly? Is that his first or last name?”

            “Last, as far as I know. The kid's a genius when it comes to communications and all. Commander's going to be quite shocked to discover what all he can do. Terrin, he juiced the emergency signal through the crashed ship's lone surviving engine's power coils in order to break through that ion storm. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been able to be with you when you gave birth.” He glanced down at the sleeping infant. “Callaura.”

            “I'm looking forward to meeting him,” Star admitted.

            "I would have been back sooner, but I stopped by Mom and Dad's to tell them about their grandchild." He gave her a trembling smile. "They're anxious to meet her."

            "When Doctor Perlakian says it's all right for me to travel, why don't we go for a short visit?" Star suggested. "Or maybe they'd consider coming here."

            "I think we may be seeing them sooner than that. Mom was going to call the starliner port to get departure dates after I left."

            Lifting the baby to his shoulder, Hunter searched for a way to broach the next subject. Their love, their friendship, and their marriage was based on honesty and being forthright for each other. Knowing it would be best if he told her now, rather than wait until
Transport Three
was due to dock, he spread his internal sensors around the woman and prepared himself for her reaction.

            “There's another person on board. Someone we were reluctant to bring with us, but there are mitigating circumstances.”

            She lifted an eyebrow at him but remained silent.

            “Terrin, he's your father.”

            Her first response was denial. “Who? My father? Can't be. Are you sure?”

            Hunter sensed the slow crawl of dread overtaking her as she continued to think about it. About having to face the man who had deserted her. He reached out to place a hand on her knee. “He told us he's been searching for you for the past six years.”

            Her anger was quick to surface. “That's groll shit! He walked away! He just walked away and never looked back after he s−..." For a heartbeat her façade crumbled, but she quickly recovered. "What does he really want? What's his real purpose? Why is he looking for me? And why now?”

            “I can't fathom his reasons, but I can tell you this. The entire time he was giving us his story, I read nothing but deceit from him.”

            “Then why are you bringing him to Synaria?” Her anger increased, for which Hunter was happy to see. An angry StarLight was a formidable enemy. She wasn't mad at them for transporting the man. She was mad at the man for tracking her down.