Like a shadow at the top of the cliff, I watched the carnage. The sounds of tearing flesh made my beast want to howl in satisfaction.
I lifted my face to this world’s oddly colored, green star, and closed my eyes. I swayed on my feet. Blood flowed freely from multiple wounds on my body. Even Coalition armor could not withstand the creature’s claws. Hunger clawed through my gut. I ignored it. I had no rations with me, only water. The plants here were toxic, not fit to eat. Not that it mattered.
I’d lost track of the hours I’d been hunting. Killing. My mission was not complete. No matter how many newly created Scouts and Soldiers I eliminated, I would not be finished until I destroyed the Integration Units.
They hid underground and sent these creatures out to fight me in their stead. Cowards.
I wondered how many foot soldiers they had left protecting them. According to the mission brief, our ReCon units had counted no more than thirty. Which meant at least ten remained? Perhaps more?
This planet could not become the newest Hive conquest. Battleship Zeus guarded the system. They’d spent long weeks driving the Hive from this sector of space. The final threat was here. On the ground.
I would end it. Protect the fleet. The Coalition of Planets.
Protect her.
Mate.
I hadn’t argued. She was our mate, the female we had chosen. If we could not serve at her side, we would destroy her enemies. Keep her safe the only way left to us.
Once I eliminated the Hive Integration Units responsible for the newest Hive puppets, I would seek out one of the female creatures and test her.
No doubt, she would kill me.
In the distance, another Hive creature roared in challenge. The sound they made completely different from the bellows of their wild kin. This one was driven by the need to hunt and kill, not survive.
My beast responded in kind.
17
Stefani, Battleship Zeus, Intelligence Core, Restricted Transport Room
* * *
Every bone in my body ached. My knees gave out at the sudden need to support my weight. I stumbled onto my hands and knees, palms pressed flat on the smooth, hard surface I recognized as a transport pad. The energy around me was thick as soup in the air, humming through me and making my hair want to stand on end.
Every time I moved, my polyester shirt crackled with static electricity. Yep. This transporting thing was just as much fun as I remembered.
“Don’t move!” The harsh order was immediately followed by the stomping of more than one pair of boots.
“No problem.” I was going to need a minute. I didn’t know where I was, or how far I had zip-zapped through outer space, but something told me this place was far, far away from home.
God, that hurt! I’d forgotten exactly how much. It had been a while since Adrian and I visited our mother on Atlan. Our mother promised us then we’d get used to it.
I still didn’t believe her.
“How did you acquire the transport coordinates to this pad?” The business end of a space gun slipped under my bowed head. The Coalition fighter holding the weapon decided to use the hard tip to lift my chin.
Rather than argue or try to explain myself, I removed the transport beacon from my blouse and tossed it at his feet.
I’d only seen a handful of Prillon warriors. This one looked startled and genuinely at a loss. His tone, when he spoke to me again, was not quite as hostile. “Where did you get this, my lady?”
“Warden Egara.” The new voice who answered the question was older. Calmer.
“Sir?”
Ah, so this was the guy in charge. Good.
The new arrival, yet another Prillon—did any of these aliens come in less than extra-extra-large?—walked to my side and helped me stand. Took me a minute of staring, but his face was one I would never forget. He’d been there, with Velik, the day I’d lost him. The day he’d nearly died and then forgotten who I was.
