Running as fast as she could, she pulled her shirt over her nose and mouth trying to keep as much of the smoke out of her lungs as she could. She felt tears wet her cheeks at the thought that this was how her parents had died. Moving toward the left she went down another level before following the ventilation system to another upward tube. She was growing tired from all the running and climbing combined with the smoke and stress. She grabbed the ring and pulled herself up to the next level rolling onto her back to catch her breath. She was now at least four levels below the shuttle bay. Depending on what other obstacles she encountered, she would be more than an hour behind the others.
Rolling to her hands and knees, she pushed herself up and began jogging. She had to make two more detours, including having to move out of the ventilation system at one point to get to the access she needed. She had surprised two Tearnats during her time out of the ducts and had barely had time to kill them before they sounded an alarm. By the time she made it to the shuttle bay vent she was almost three hours late.
Crawling as close to the opening as she could, she peeked down at the shuttle bay area. With a sinking heart, she saw it was full of activity. She noticed a large group of Tearnats in one section including the huge creature that had killed the one man. Lowering her head she shook as silent tears flowed down her cheeks. She had to know if Jo and Star had escaped. If they had been caught she would have to do what she could to rescue them. If they had been killed…, she didn’t even want to think about what she would do. River ran her wet cheeks against the sleeve of her shirt smearing dirt and soot from the fires across them. Taking a deep breath she pulled herself out of the vent and dropped down to the catwalk. She stayed in the shadows and moved silently down the piping along the wall until she was close enough to drop down on a set of crates. Laying flat for a moment to make sure she hadn’t been seen, she rolled to drop down to the next one before sliding down between two others. She was small enough to get between them. None of the Tearnats would be able to fit. It was also dark enough no one would be able to see her. Crouching down, she walked slowly towards a group of Tearnats standing near the crates. Hopefully they would be talking about what happened.
“The prisoners have been secured for transport?” An especially large Tearnat said. River frowned. She didn’t remember seeing him in all her travels through the vents in the last three weeks or more. Looking closely around at some of the others, her heart sank even further when she realized these were not the same ones she had seen before. It was only then she noticed additional men coming onto the ship from what looked like tubes opening off to the side of the shuttle bay. Biting down on her knuckles she leaned against one of the crates. Re-enforcements, she thought in despair.
She pulled further back into the shadows trying to think. The Tearnat said something about prisoners and getting them ready for transport which could only mean Jo and Star hadn’t made it off the ship. They had been caught. Shaking uncontrollably from fear, stress, and despair River struggled to get control of her emotions. Her going to pieces wouldn’t help the situation. She took several deep breaths before pulling her swords out. She would do what she had to do looking with determination out the narrow opening.
Torak paced back and forth coming to a stop when he saw one of his men approaching. “Have they found anything yet?” He waited impatiently for Kev Mul Kar, his Captain of the Guard, to answer.
“Nothing, My Lord. The men have been searching the vents around the engine room but the fire closed the hatches. If the female did not make it out there is a strong possibility she is dead. The vents are filled with thick smoke from the fire.” The man replied softly. He had been one of the men she had saved from the grisly death Progit had planned and sincerely hoped the female would be found alive.
None of the men could believe what the females had accomplished in so short a time. The one named Jo had shorted out all the lifts above the cell block level preventing any of the Tearnats in the upper levels from getting down to them. The one named Star had sealed all the emergency tubes large enough to handle the Tearnats’ large bodies by blowing the hatches forcing them to seal while the one named River had taken out the engine room to prevent the Tearnats from following them should they escape in one of the shuttles.
Jo and Star had appeared on time at the shuttle bay, River had not. By the time Jo and Star had reached the shuttle bay the Galaxy Quest had made an appearance. What had surprised Torak the most was Manota was not the only one to board the ship. Gril Tal Mod, Supreme Leader of the Tearnats and father to Trolis, had also boarded. He had been waiting to meet with the chancellor to express his concern over his second son’s decision to continue the war against the Alliance. When the distress signal had been received he and his men had insisted on joining Manota. Gril Tal Mod had been furious at the audacity of his son to so openingly defy his orders to return to their home world.
Over the past two hours they had captured the members of the crew still alive, including a very angry Trolis. Torak and his men had dispatched with quite a few of the Tearnats on their fight to the shuttle bay. What concerned Torak now was there was still no sign of River. Jo and Star had finally been convinced they would be more comfortable on board the Galaxy Quest but only after he had promised them he would find River, no matter what and let them know. Jazin had insisted he escort the sisters back to the warship.
“Keep searching. I want the female found.” Torak said tensely. He refused to accept she had been killed.
River stood just inside the narrow passage between the crates waiting for the huge creatures to move off. She would try to work her way around the shuttle bay to see if she could find the prisoners they were holding. Just as she was about to make a move to another strand of crates she heard a familiar voice.
“Torak?” River called out softly.
Torak swirled around when he heard his name spoken softly. Running his eyes around the crates near him he paused to listen carefully. “River?” He called out.
River shook with fear. Torak was standing out in the open with the other creatures but he didn’t seem to be worried about them. He had been walking around calmly with one of the other men from the cell block. Moving cautiously out of the shadows between the two crates, River kept her swords drawn in front of her in a defensive stance.
Torak drew in a breath when he saw her soot streaked face and the obvious evidence of dried tears. He had never felt as overwhelmingly protective of another being as he did right then. Striding towards her Torak paused in front of her staring down into her dark blue eyes.
“You had us worried, little one.” Torak said softly not missing a single detail as he studied her. He could see the exhaustion in her eyes. “Sheath your swords we have control of the ship.”
River looked at him a moment more before letting her eyes roam around the shuttle bay. She was still standing near the crates in case she had to make a break for it still not trusting what her eyes were seeing.
Looking up at Torak with uncertainty, she asked softly, “Jo, Star?”
“They are safe. Jazin has taken them to my warship. I promised I would notify them as soon as you were found.” Torak replied waiting to see how River handled the information. He could tell she was ready to flee.
Looking at the huge Tearnat she had heard talking she nodded toward where he was standing watching her and Torak. “Who is that? Isn’t he like the others?”
“That is Gril Tal Mod. He is the Supreme Leader of the Tearnats and a member of the Alliance council. He and his men were aboard my warship waiting to meet with the chancellor. He will take control of this ship and its prisoners.” Torak answered. He could see the distrust flash through River’s eyes before she nodded slowly lowering her swords to her side.
“Lord Torak, would you introduce me to the female?” Gril Tal Mod asked behind Torak.
Gril Tal Mod had been startled when he had seen the female come out from between the crates. He had met the other two females, apologizing for thei
r capture by one of his people when they had told him how they had come to be on the ship. He had enjoyed the brief talk he had had with the two of them before Torak’s brother, Jazin, had become overly protective and insisted on taking them to the other warship. This one though was totally captivating. He had listened as one of the men from Torak’s group had explained how a blue-eyed female had killed three of the Tearnats’ most feared warriors. Progit had been known for his cruelty. The fact this small, delicate creature had slain him defied all reason.
Torak turned as River tensed, openingly staring at the huge Tearnat in front of her, “Gril Tal Mod may I present Lady River.” He said with a slight bow.
River stared at the huge creature before slowly taking a hesitant step forward. She bowed her head slightly before replying, “Sir.”
All of the sudden a noise behind them caught River’s attention. Trolis let out a roar before he broke free from the two Tearnat warriors who were leading him across the shuttle bay toward a shuttle. He flung the two Tearnats to the side charging at Gril Tal Mod and Torak with one of the double-edged battle swords he had taken from one of warriors. River didn’t even think she just reacted. Stepping in front of the two men she threw one of her swords with deadly accuracy striking the huge Tearnat right between the eyes. He jerked back suddenly, the force of the sword stopping his forward motion before he collapsed in a heap several feet from them.
River wasn’t sure what would happen now. She held her other sword up in front of her turning back and forth ready for anyone who would dare to attack. She swung it around as a group of both Tearnat and Kassis warriors rushed towards her. Shaking, she moved backwards slowly trying to get to the crates. She would go up the pipes to the ventilation system again, she thought wildly. She was breathing heavy as she watched the group of men stop and stare at her in amazement. She took another step backwards running into a hard body. Arms wrapped around her trembling form as she started to struggle.
“Hush, little one. You are safe.” Torak said wrapping one arm around River’s waist while the other gripped the wrist holding the sword. “Release your sword.” He whispered in her ear.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I thought he was going to hurt us. I’m sorry.” River kept saying over and over the shaking in her body becoming uncontrollable as stress of the past three weeks finally took control.
“You saved our lives, Lady River. My son would have killed not only me but Lord Torak and any number of others as well.” Gril Tal Mod said with sadness.
“Your son?” River choked in horror looking at the huge creature in front of her.
“He was to be put to death for his act of killing the chancellor. You have given him a more peaceful death than he deserved. Have no regret for your action, child.” Gril Tal Mod said looking into River’s deep blue eyes.
Gril Tal Mod nodded to Torak, “I believe we will not have any more problems from the other prisoners. Take your female and go in peace. One of our warships will be here shortly to help with repairs. I will return to the council chambers as soon as possible.”
Torak nodded at Gril Tal Mod in gratitude. He knew the large creature would mourn the lost of his son privately. Increasing the pressure on River’s wrist until she released her sword, Torak waited until it dropped with a clang to the metal floor before sweeping her shaking body up into his arms.
River looked at Torak with unfocused eyes, “I…I…” she began before her eyes closed and she sank into blissful darkness.
Chapter 4
Torak held River’s unconscious body tightly against his own as he made his way to the waiting shuttle. He called out for the rest of his men to follow. There was nothing left for them to do on the Tearnat’s warship. He moved to a seat securing himself and River as the pilot slowly undocked. Looking down into her pale face, he couldn’t help but wonder where she had come from and who her people were. She seemed so small and delicate, fragile even. He ran his hand over her cheek smearing some of the soot. It was amazing she had made it out alive. From what he had understood the engine room was a mess. It would take several weeks to get it in any type of shape and months before it would be operational again. The explosives she had set did their job in destroying the ships ability to move. He had not had time to question the other two females. He had been too concerned with finding the one named River. He thought his heart was going to explode when she did not meet up with the other two as planned.
Now as he stared down at her, he knew with certainty he would never let her go. Torak pulled River’s body closer and kissed the top of her head holding her face against his shoulder. No, he would never let her go. She had made him promise to take her home and he would, to his home. It would now be hers. She belonged to him.
Manota met the shuttle as it docked with the warship. Once the shuttle docking bay had been pressurized the platform at the back of the shuttle lowered.
“Welcome, brother. The female is hurt?” Manota asked with concern noticing how tightly Torak held the female to him and her pale complexion.
“I would feel better if the healer were to examine her. I believe she is just exhausted.” Torak replied moving swiftly toward the lift.
“Where did you find her?” Manota asked.
He knew Torak had been reluctant to leave the other warship until the female had been located. He did not know much except that Jazin had brought two other females over earlier while he had been on the other ship fighting for control of it. He had yet to meet any of them. Looking down into the soot covered face of the female his brother carried he wandered what had happened to her.
“She found me. She made it to the shuttle bay. I have not had a chance to talk with her about why it took so long for her to make it there. I suspect she had to find another way after the ventilation system she was traveling through was blocked.” Torak said impatiently waiting for the lift to stop at the medical level.
Striding down the corridor, Torak walked into medical yelling for the healer. He gently laid River down onto one of the medical unit’s bed smoothing back her hair.
“My Lord, how may I help you?” Shavic asked. Shavic was the resident healer on board the warship. A tall, slim man in his mid-thirties, he had a gentle, calm manner that worked well with the crew. His ability as a healer was often sought after by commanders of warships traveling for long periods in space.
“I need you to examine the female and make sure she is unhurt.” Torak answered roughly. He needed to know she would be alright. Until he knew he would not leave her side.
Nodding, Shavic pulled a large cylinder cover over River’s body. “Do you know what species she is?” Shavic asked curiously as he studied the female’s soot covered features.
Torak frowned, he hadn’t thought about that. He would need to find out from the other two females what species they were. He had assumed since she looked close enough to theirs she was compatible. He could not imagine being so attracted to a species that was not.
Shaking his head, he replied softly, “No, I do not know. I assumed she was close to our own from her general appearance. She is smaller, more delicate looking than our women but other than that she seems similar to our own.”
In general, women in the Kassis system were taller by almost a foot averaging around the same size as the males. The women normally were given duties within the household and did not work outside of their houses which were made up of many different family units. Devoting themselves to the arts, family, and taking care of the needs of the men, the women accepted it was the males who were the warriors and protectors. The females rarely left their house without the escort of a male. It was just safer that way. A female could request a house to accept her into it. If the house accepted her, the female was given a specific job to do. Never before had Torak seen a female warrior such as River and her sisters.
“I will do the best I can to see if she has any injuries.” Shavic replied.
Shavic ran several scans over River not finding anything that looked too unusua
l. She had no broken bones or other injuries. He was a little concerned about her lungs as she appeared to have suffered some smoke inhalation. He went ahead and did a repair to clear them.
“Other than exhaustion, I believe the female is well.” Shavic said with a smile as he watched the look of relief flash over his commanding officer’s face.
Torak listened in relief as Shavic gave his report on River. He turned when he heard her moan, softly walking over to stand near her.
River moaned again softly, turning her head from side to side. She was so tired but she felt like she had to wake up. Something had happened. She moaned again as she tried to remember. She had been trapped in the ventilation system. She remembered having to find a different way to the shuttle bay. The shuttle bay, she remembered it and Torak. He had been there along with another of those huge creatures then she had thrown her sword.