Authors: Monette Michaels
Prime Obsession (22 page)
“Hi, Linnea.”
“Hey, Mel,” Linnea said, a slight smile on her lips. “I was going to congratulate you on your marriage, but it might be out of place at the moment. I got the word just a bit ago from both Captain Nowicki,” her eyes shifted toward Wulf, “and the other Captain Caradoc that you’re heading back this way for repairs. I’ve already placed Space Dock 14
on standby.”
Linnea and Mel had gone to flight school together, piloted transports in the same unit. Mel had always admired her friend for her A-type attention to details. It made her one of the best Operations officers in the fleet.
“Thanks, Linnea. But something else has come up,” Mel said. “Our long-range sensors show Alliance military activity within three light-years of our current position near the Ursa solar system. Last I heard, we didn’t send patrols into this area of the galaxy unless requested. Is something going on in Ursa space that we need to know about?”
Linnea frowned and pursed her cupid’s bow of a mouth as she clicked keys. “Mel, I’ve got you on the screen. Yeah, I see those transponder codes you’re talking about.” She hummed under her breath as she rapidly keyed in data. Her lips turned down in a frown. “Good eye. They look like ours, but they aren’t.” She paused to talk to someone behind her, off screen. “We’re scrambling Blue Squadron to investigate. Gold will be ordered to increase to maximum emergency speed to intercept you and provide protection.”
Some more mumbled words to someone off-screen. “Confirmed once more. These bogies are definitely heading your way, Mel, but their top speed does not match anything we have. So, whoever was clever enough to mimic our codes has more antiquated vessels. Hold a sec, we have more intel on the unknowns.” Linnea clicked some more keys, her lips pursed in concentration. “Ensign Jo-tah tells me that our sensors are showing that the five bogies are C-Class light battle cruisers.
Probably decommissioned Alliance equipment used by one of our smaller allies and sold for salvage.”
Her blue eyes darkened with concern, Linnea asked, “What’s the
Galanti’s
final damage assessment?”
“Bad enough that we’ll have a hard time defending ourselves against even antiquated C-class cruisers,” Wulf interjected. “I’m sending you the full damage report now.” Wulf keyed in the details and transmitted.
More background mumbling from, presumably, Jo-tah, then Linnea said, “It’ll be close. On your current trajectory and speed, Gold will intercept the
Galanti
in about one to two standard hours
after
the bogies catch up with you. The good news is Garth and Blue Squadron will be so close behind them that they’ll be in danger of riding up the bogies’ as—… um, hind ends.”
“Thank you. That’s what we calculated, Captain Sinclair,” Wulf said.
“Just tell Royce and Garth to hurry up,” Mel added. “As it is, we’ll have to do some fancy maneuvering to keep the enemy on their toes until the rest of the good guys come to play.”
Linnea nodded. “Keep us apprised, Mel. We’ve already notified Admiral Nelson about the situation. He has ordered us to provide anything we can to help you.” None of which, Mel knew, would get to them in time. “Good luck,
Galanti.
Tooh 10 Ops out.”
“Thanks, Linnea.
Galanti
out”
Wulf exchanged a long look with Mel. She didn’t need to read his mind to know what he asked. She nodded. “It’s your call.”
“Go to yellow alert,” Wulf ordered the command deck crew. “When the unknowns are within a quarter of a light-year, go to battle stations.” The once-silent bridge erupted into controlled and smoothly executed activity. Mel sensed no panic.
While the bridge crew went about their duties, Mel watched over Wulf’s shoulder as he quickly scrolled though the star charts in their immediate vicinity. He was looking for something, something specific. She wanted to know what it was.
And, there it was. She felt the small whirl of excitement, then satisfaction, as it crossed his mind, then was gone. Darn it. He’d shuttered his mind. And pretty damn effectively for someone not used to doing so.
But he had done so too late. Mel knew what he’d seen. The point on the chart was that niggling memory she couldn’t recall earlier. And she knew what Wulf intended to do since it was what she would’ve done. The plan would work. It would be the difference between surviving the upcoming confrontation with the unknown ships heading toward them and sure death. And, she was the one to execute the plan. While Wulf knew that, she sensed, he had instantly rejected it. He would have to learn to stop his knee-jerk reaction of protecting her sooner or later.
Mel was drawn from her thoughts as Wulf asked her a question. “So, Melina mine, do you think these unknowns are part of the rebel plan?” Good question. “Maybe. I’m keeping my options open.”
The bogies could be mercenaries hired by the rebels on Cejuru Prime. But the bogies’ presence was too coincidental, coming right after she and Wulf had destroyed the Antarean raiding party on Obam IV.
She continued, “It could be the Antareans. They don’t like their ships being blown up and their plans spoiled. Before we nailed their asses, the attackers of Obam IV could have put out a call to one of their allies. Most likely the Erians, who’ve have been known to scavenge, or pirate, old Alliance military equipment. The Erians also have the knowledge of how to fake Alliance military codes—they use fake IDs when they are hijacking ships in the space lanes.”
“The codes didn’t fool you,” Wulf said softly, pride glowing in his eyes. “Why?”
“Just a gut feeling,” she said, “along with the knowledge that the Ursa solar system likes to police its own space—and only calls for help in extraordinary circumstances.
Being on the edge of the Cygnus-Orion spiral has taught them to become more self-reliant than the solar systems in the more densely populated parts of the spiral.”
“So, it was an
educated
gut feeling?”
“Yeah. Wulf—Donte and Regin,”she frowned, “didn’t—couldn’t—sabotage the shield array. So—if the unknown ships are part of a rebel plot—then their rebel bosses sent them on a suicide mission, don’t you agree?”
“Yes.” Wulf smiled, grimly. “In the rebel leaders’ minds, Regin and Donte would be martyrs to the cause.”
“Exactly,” Mel said. “I’m betting they didn’t sign on for that. Think they might answer some questions now?”
Wulf showed his teeth in a fearsome smile. “We can only try,
gemate lubha.
”
* * * *
Questioning the two rebels got them nothing but the sense the two were surprised at hearing the shields were sabotaged. It also became clear they were more afraid of the rebel leaders than of their own deaths.
Now more than ever, Mel wanted to get to the bottom of the real reason behind the rebel movement. Donte and Regin might be purist fanatics, and even that was doubtful since neither of them were as adamant about their cause as Prolow and Ullyn had been, but the leaders of the rebellion need not be. They could have far more base reasons; she was betting on power or money—or both.
Leaning against the wall outside of the containment unit, Mel sighed. “Well, that was useless.”
“It was a good idea,” Wulf leaned forward to brush some hair off her face, then gently cupped her jaw. “You look tired. Go, grab something to eat, then rest.” Mel covered his hand and brought it to her mouth and kissed his palm. “What about you? Huw and Iolyn can handle things until we go to red alert. This might be the last quality time we have alone until we get to Tooh 10.”
His eyes smiled at her. “You believe we’ll make it through this, Melina mine?”
“Absolutely,” she grinned. “After all, we are the first battle-mate pair in hundreds of years, right? Who would want to mess with us?”
Wulf chuckled. “Are you beginning to believe the legends also?”
“No. It’s just that we both know how to kick ass.”
Wulf threw back his head and laughed. Mel smiled.
“So,” she whispered as she cradled his hand against her jaw, “would my
gemat
like to come back to our quarters, take an, um, shower, eat and then rest on the bed with his
gemate
?”
Wulf leaned in more closely and brushed kisses over her forehead, cheeks, nose and then lips. “He would.”
Wulf woke with a smile on his lips; memories of the best sex he’d ever experienced had him reaching for Melina in the hopes of revisiting that sexual bliss. He turned and found her gone. The depression where she’d lain was cool to the touch. He sought to touch her mind and found it closed off with thick and impenetrable shields. Sitting up, he checked the time. He’d been asleep for ten standard hours. He’d never slept so deeply or long—ever—while on board ship. Especially not under a yellow alert. He shook his head.
The combination of the warm shower, the sex, the food, and then even more sex was better than any medication ever prescribed for sleeplessness.
He was vexed Melina had blocked her mind again. He thought after all they had shared she would have learned not to cut him off like this. Obviously, she had yet to realize how important it was to remain open to her bonded mate. The mental walls were unacceptable, especially now that they’d bonded fully. He needed to know where—and how—she was at all times, or he wouldn’t take responsibility for his resulting unstable disposition.
Yes, that’s the way to present it to her. She needed to let him in for the safety of the crew and all others. That is something she would understand—the duty to do whatever it took to protect others. Now, all he had to do was find her and explain her responsibilities to her mate. One or the other of his brothers would know where she was.
Hitting the com unit by his bed, he spoke, “Bridge, this is Wulf. Status and whereabouts of Captain Melina.”
“Wulf,” Iolyn spoke over the link. His brother’s voice seemed strained. Any remaining lethargy from just waking disappeared at the disquiet in Iolyn’s voice. “We expected you to sleep longer. Melina said you were particularly tired.”
“Where is she, brother?” Wulf growled. He would have to explain to his brothers that they were not to cover for Melina. It was their duty as well as his to protect her.
“Um, well, you see—”
“Where. Is. She?” Wulf asked, forcing an icy calm he didn’t feel into his words.
“She’s outside the ship with Huw,” Iolyn breathed out in a rush, then added, “—
fixing the shields.”
“What?”
So many emotions hit Wulf at once that he’d be hard pressed to single out any particular one. But of them all, anger, fear and hurt churned his gut the most. He took a deep calming breath in an attempt to control the emotions before they controlled him.
“Why didn’t Melina speak to me about this?” Wulf asked his brother.
“You’d have to ask her that, brother,” Iolyn replied.
“I will—as soon as I pull her back into the ship.” Wulf had a sneaking suspicion the answer to that question would be very important to the future of their relationship.
He surged to his feet and headed for the door before he realized he was naked.
Changing direction, he went into his closet and grabbed some clothes, which he pulled on as he left the bedroom, barely remembering to pick up his personal com-unit. “What’s the
Galanti’
s current position?”
He was afraid he knew.
As he hit the door leading from his quarters to the corridor, he had his pants on, only partially closed, and was pulling on his shirt.
“An abandoned Volusian space dock orbiting the fourth planet of the star RC888.” Damn her. She’d snuck into his head, figured out his plans, then distracted him with shower-sex, food and more sex. He’d underestimated her. He thought he’d mentally blocked his plans from her. For her own protection, of course—not that she would view it in that light.
He stopped suddenly, swearing viciously. That was the crux of the matter and the answer to the question he’d posed to Iolyn. Melina had been afraid he wouldn’t listen to her, that he’d say “no” to her doing the space walk to make repairs. And, to be honest, she would’ve been correct. His reasons for wanting to do the job himself were excellent and might have convinced her, but she hadn’t trusted him enough to confront him and argue the matter.
“
Ansu bhau
,” he swore once more, angry at her for her lack of trust and at himself for causing her to feel that way. He signaled Iolyn. “I’m on my way to the Extra-Vehicular Inspection staging area. Connect me to the EVI team’s com-units so that I can monitor their communications.”
He all but ran into the opening elevator, then snarled the word “engineering.”
“They aren’t talking much, Wulf,” Iolyn said. “But I’m patching you through.”
“How long have they been out there?” he asked.
“Two standard hours and counting.”
Wulf growled. “You should have awakened me.”
“Melina asked me not to,” Iolyn replied, “she thought she would be done before you woke up.”
“
Ansu bhau
, Iolyn,” Wulf snarled, “don’t ever cover up for Melina again.”
“She outranks me. Should I have disobeyed an order?”
Wulf mulled that over. “No, she is your superior officer … but—”
“That’s what I thought. You’re connected.”
Iolyn must have told Melina and Huw he was awake and now connected, because the first words he heard were Huw addressing him.
“Wulf, your
gemate
is amazing. She repaired all the defective couplings in less time than I ever could and now she’s making sure the others are sound.” Huw paused, taking a deep breath. “We’ve accomplished so much, so fast that she decided to do a quick external scan of the weapon systems arrays to make sure nothing more was done to them than draining power. We should be done here soon, if nothing comes up.”
“Are you spotting her?” he asked, his voice low and shakier than he would’ve liked.
Diew
! All the things that could wrong skittered across his mind like leaves in the wind.
The space dock was long-abandoned. The super-structure consisted of rickety metal girders and other pieces of equipment that could fall apart from a lack of maintenance.
With no active shields on the dock, anyone working outside could be hit by an errant meteor or showers of space dust and rocks, especially in this region.
The main, and only, reason he’d selected this particular dock was because it was close and the best option, not because it was in the best shape. And, of course, he’d expected to be the one outside the ship with his brother—not Melina.
Wulf ran shaking fingers through his hair. Roiling emotions still churned his gut. He was close to losing all semblance of calm. He wasn’t proud of it, but couldn’t help it. No matter how upset he was that she’d felt the need to sneak behind his back, his primary concern was for her safety. She was out there, in danger, and he could do nothing about it. He felt helpless—and that was a feeling he had never experienced before.
“Yes, he’s spotting me,” Melina answering his question to Huw. Her voice was calm, but breathy from her exertions. Zero-G work was exhausting for a large, well-rested male—and she wasn’t large or male and couldn’t have had much rest. “Wulf, don’t be mad at Huw, Iolyn or the crew. I ordered them. I was the most qualified to do this—and you know it.”
Wulf left the elevator and ran down the main corridor dividing the engineering level into halves. Reaching the staging area door, he strode into the control room, his eyes fixed on the large monitor displaying the exterior view of the ship as the robotic cameras followed the EVI team.
“I know you’re qualified,
lubha
, but this space dock creates more risk than most EVIs,” he said. The words came out more calmly than he felt; his voice was only slightly husky from the tension trapped in his throat. “I want you to come in now. I’ll come out and help Huw with the rest of the external examination.” He wanted her frail body inside, away from any stray meteor that might hit her.
The two figures floated along the surface of the ship, tethered only by one cable to the ship. The falling apart and pockmarked docking bay was worse than he remembered.
Streams of meteors streaked past the space dock, visible through the many holes made in the superstructure of the docking bay by previous hits.
Fear speared his heart, causing him to gasp.
“Don’t bother suiting up. We’re almost through.” Melina’s voice held a hint of exasperation and, damn her, amusement. There was no evidence she was even aware of the large rocks whizzing all around her. Although she had to be.
“You’ll be happy to know, Captain Wulf,” Melina said as her suited figure turned to follow the ship’s surface back toward the air lock, “that the weapons look untouched. All the main shields are now fully functional. We’ll have a much better chance of surviving to make it to Tooh 10 now.”
“Captain Wulf?” growled Wulf. “You shouldn’t poke a stick at a Prime warrior when he is justly concerned over his
gemate’s
safety.”
“
That’s
the Wulf I love so much,” Melina said with a laugh. “Those growls of yours kept me going that time in the tunnels.”
Melina took a deep and shaky breath. She missed a handhold but quickly recovered the slow, painstaking motion that would bring her back into the ship.
“Get in here now, Melina.” She was weakening. “Or, do I have to come out and bring you in?”
Wulf turned to order an EVI suit prepared for him when she spoke. “Calm down,
gemat
. We’re coming in. Just one short leap and we’ll be in the air lock.” The two figures shoved off the ship to make the short journey toward the exterior access and safety. Two suited crew members stood in the open hatch, monitoring the winch that retracted the two’s tethers and making ready to assist the EVI team inside once they were close enough.
Wulf let go of the gut-wrenching fear that had completely engulfed him since he’d learned Melina was outside the ship. She would be inside soon. She was safe, or she would be only until he delivered some blistering home truths about closing her mind and her lack of trusting him enough to discuss her plans
before
she executed them.
Several large thuds resounded through the ship.
He’d relaxed too soon. The view screen showed multiple large rocks, bigger than a full-grown Prime male, and definitely bigger than Melina, streak across the view provided by the robotic cameras paralleling Huw and Melina into the ship.
“Sensor reports on the meteor shower.” His horrified gaze locked onto the screen. He winced as one rock whizzed through the space just vacated by Huw. “Winches on top speed,” he ordered.
“Already are, sir,” the technician monitoring the two space-walkers’ suits and connections to the ship.
“Shower is two kilometers in width. No way is the space dock going to avoid getting hit. No end in sight. A large number are getting through the dock’s superstructure. So far the hits on the ship are minor. No breaches reported.” Another tech said, then turned from his monitor. “Sir, we need to raise our shields. Potential hull damage is a high probability.”
“We’ll wait. As soon as the EVI team is on board, raise the shields.”
“Yes, sir.”
Wulf, along with every other man in the EVI staging area control room, held their breath and watched the progress of the two fragile figures making their way back to the ship. The silence was fraught with tension.
Finally, Huw entered the air lock then held out a hand to help the others pull Melina inside. At the last minute, she kicked away and toward the aft of the ship as far as her tether would allow.
Gasping sounds of shock escaped each man in the room.
A large space rock hit where she would have been if she hadn’t moved. Now, a small hail of rocks and dust bombarded the area where the air lock opened into the space dock bay. Through the dust, nothing could be seen. Nothing was heard but static and the rat-a-tat-tat and thuds of rocks and dust hitting the body of the ship.
“Melina!” His cry echoed in the once-again still room. Wulf turned to enter the staging room air lock. Two crewmen grabbed him and held him back. “Let me go.”
“Sir. It is still depressurized. You have to wait.”
Wulf took several deep breaths. Shrugging off the hands of the men, he let out a shaky breath. “You’re correct. Thank you.” He turned to the crewman monitoring the two spacwalkers’ com devices. “Any communications?”
“Communications are disrupted, sir. Electromagnetic disturbance from the dust.”
“Life signs?” Wulf didn’t even recognize the strained voice as his own.
“Still online, sir. They are both steady,” replied the technician monitoring the suit operations. “Balcon’s balls, sir, neither one of their pulses has even elevated. It’s like they were taking a walk on a beach on the home planet.” Wulf let out the breath that had stuck in his throat.
“Status at the door?” he asked, his tones sharp, but more calm now that he knew her heart still beat.
“Ensign Roh has reported that both are inside and safe. Dirty, but safe.”
“Dirty?”
“Roh reports that the suits shredded somewhat, sir, but the damage was nothing the resealing fabric couldn’t patch.”
“Get the room pressurized, now.” Wulf paced the area in front of the door that led to the hatch. As he paced, he commed the bridge. “Navigator, get us out of this tin can. Full shields. Plot an intercept course for the rest of our squadron at top speed.” Iolyn entered the EVI staging control room and joined him as he paced. Wulf shot him a narrow-eyed look. “I’m going to spank her and tie her to the bed.” After he made sure she wasn’t hurt—and he kissed her senseless.