Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
SLAVIC
I am not shocked to hear raised voices when I approach the helm. The moment Falon and I walk through the door, they all turn toward us.
“ Bikar , did any ships launch in pursuit?”
“ Negative , the Korgon ship is powered down for repairs and the Jynrel cruiser that is docked is too small to take on the Zenith . I suspect they had teamed up together temporarily in order to have a better chance of taking us there.”
Einar turns snarling at me, “ How the frack did they figure out we were the ones who took the females?”
“ Well , apparently, they could smell them on us, Einar . It did not help that the Velgriddix put a huge reward out for their return and half the frackin galaxy is out looking for any sign of them. Like untried youths, we put ourselves right in their sights rather easily, as I am sure they contacted any and all spaceports within their ship’s last known location.
“ Ruarc , you and Falon go through those crates and separate the items acquired for the females. Einar , before you sneak off, you will tend to the other females hiding in Falcon and Bikar’s room. I do not care how you do it, but get it done. All females are precious, and we will not neglect them. Falon , I need you to verify that those translators are working. Do you know if they are the temporary or permanent ones?”
“ From my understanding Slavic , they are permanent. But my informant told me that implanting them could be painful.”
“ Einar , do we have anything that would assist with this?”
“ Not really, and I fear they will only be more distressed when we subject them to the procedure.”
“ Frack , these females have been hurt enough, the very thought of us harming them once again has me torn.” Shockingly enough, Murgul is the first to voice his opinion about what we should do.
“ Fear is caused from lack of knowledge brother. They will be temporarily upset, but will calm quickly once it’s finished and they can understand us.”
The entire helm goes quiet with Murgul’s words, as this is the most I have heard him speak in rotations. His words flow through my thoughts, but we have other more pressing issues to deal with. “ Bikar , where is that Pyrkyne ship?”
“ They left right after we did. I kept us cloaked once we departed Navale , now we are following behind them just out of their scanner’s range. At this speed, we will overtake them in a few ticks.”
“ Murgul looks like we are going to have to do this alone, suit up. I will be down momentarily. Bikar , hold back until I return to the helm.”
I leave the room before anyone can question my whereabouts. My long legs quickly eating up the distance from the helm to my personal quarters, the moment the door slides open, I know she is gone. Roaring , I return to the hall wondering if I was in her place, where would I have gone? God of Ruk , what if she snuck off the ship while we were on the Navale ?
“ Bikar , my mate is missing!”
“ Your outer door opened only a few ticks ago, so she can’t be far. I would check the med bay.”
“ Frack .” Rubbing my hand across my bald head, I should have known to look there first. Only every other word out of her mouth has been about her sister. My emotions and this drive to protect her from everything has my thoughts scattered. I find myself in front of the medical area without even remembering walking this way. Instead of barging in like I want, I step around its main door and enter in through Einar’s private wing.
Walking through the back entrance, I approach the primary chamber slowly, curious to see what she is doing. I stop just short of going in when I hear her singing softly. Peeking my head around the side of the separation, I find her sitting on the bed next to her sister, rubbing her hand up and down her back gently. When her voice quiets down she rearranges the heated covering over her a little and then turns to look right at me.
“ It’s not polite to stare Big and Grouchy . You are about as stealthy as a bull in a China shop. I could hear you breathing all the way over here.”
“ You need to rest.” I’m forcing myself to remain where I am.
“ Yeah , yeah … growl … growl. We didn’t stay at that last place very long, and the ship moving is what woke me up.” She looks away from me and back down to her sister. “ I know I haven’t said this before but thank you for helping us. I have no idea what your plans are for us now, but I would’ve lost her if not for you and the green giant.”
Her words are soft, and I can tell she is still scared.
“ The plans I have for you little mate would shock the gods if said them out loud. Maybe it is a good thing that our mate bond is not completed, because you would run if you knew how much I desired you.” The door sliding open halts my words.
Einar walks in with two small containers in his hand. “ Slavic , you may have to hold her. I will forever hear the screams of the others while I inserted theirs. Falon had to physically hold each of them, and the last one ran when she heard the screams of the others. Of course, she ran right into Murgul as he was coming out of the armory, then passed out the second his large hands grabbed hold of her.
He promptly handed her over to Falon , but I was shocked that he stayed while I inserted the translator. He even snarled at me when she whimpered slightly from the pain before waking back up. Falon was distributing the clothing and a few other items he found on the Navale when I left. I had a crate delivered to your quarters as well.”
“ She is going to fight me, Einar .”
“ I would expect nothing less from any female mated to you Slavic . She has to be tough for the gods to have given her to you. The quicker you do this, the better.”
“ I do not see you running right over to yours with the intent to cause her more harm.”
“ Mine is still sedated and will not recall the procedure at all, but in her condition, I believe she deserves some kindness. Try to explain what we are doing and hopefully yours will not fight us too badly.”
I approach Ruby slowly, taking the small device out of Einar’s hand, hoping she will recognize what it is.
“ Do not touch that with your skin Slavic , or it won’t work.”
“ I know Einar . I may not be a medic, but I am not stupid.”
Stopping just out of her reach, she looks up at me and then toward my hand. I motion to my mouth, then my ears, before pointing back at the translator. She just looks at me like I have lost my mind. Despite my repeated attempts to show her what this does, she only sighs wearily.
“ I think I’ve covered the fact that I suck at guessing games.”
I motion from the translator to her, and she frowns when Bikar’s voice comes over the speakers. “ Slavic we are in range, Murgul is waiting for you.”
Einar walks past me toward the other female on the bed and I stiffen up when he approaches my mate, as she is still sitting on the bed next to her sister. “ We don’t have all rising Slavic ; hold on a tick. She might be more receptive if she watches me give this to her sister.”
Einar looks up at Ruby before brushing her sister’s long red mane out of the way. Gently he takes the translator out of the case with a pair of surgical tweezers. The entire time my Ruby hasn’t moved, but her eyes watch him intently. The procedure only takes a few seconds, and thankfully the sister does not move or seem to be in any kind of distress.
While her focus was upon Einar , I move up right behind her so that I can easily subdue her if needed. When Einar straightens up, she glances back at me. He motions to the one in my hand and then back to her.
“ Let me get this straight. You want to put that in my ear?”
Both of us nod.
“ I had a feeling you were going to say that, and even though you are being patient, you’re really not going to let me say no, are you?”
I shake my head, “ I am sorry little one.” The words come out even though I know she can’t understand me. I am hoping she will submit on her own, because I certainly don’t think forcing her to cooperate will gain me any favors.
“ Ok , let’s do this then. Rowan seems to be alright, so do it before I change my mind.”
Before she realizes what is happening, I grab her and pull her close. How Einar got the translator out of its packaging that fast, I have no clue, but his large, green hand practically envelopes her entire head as he tilts it gently against my chest. I feel her tense up and even though I know it’s coming; I am unprepared for the tortured scream that escapes her lips. It takes everything both Einar and I have to hold her as she fights against us.
My throat is so tight I cannot even get any comforting words out. Einar takes her head in his hands, making her look right at him. What feels like a lifetime later she collapses in my arms, small tremors wracking her tiny, unconscious form. Einar nods at me right before releasing her.
“ She will be fine, the translator didn’t attack her optical nerves, which means it merged with the Cochlear nerve successfully. Half a rising or so, she will recover fully. You can leave her here with her sister, while you and Murgul take care of our fuel issue. I will suit up just in case you need me.”
He turns on the warming sheets as I lay her down. Brushing her long mane away, my heart hurts at the pain still showing on her face. “ Did the others react the same?”
“ They all responded differently, but at least this unfavorable business is over. You should go before Murgul heads out without you.”
“ Easy for you to say, you can remain with your mate.”
“ If you only realized the trauma mine has delt with you would not speak with such flippancy and would look at the spunkiness of yours in a different light. The body always heals quicker than the mind, and unfortunately mine is dealing with both. I am hoping the translators help. They need some peace in their lives after all that has been done to them. I will guard her with my life Slavic , you know this. Now , go get that fuel, so that we might find a safe haven in which we can become more than what we are. Someplace we can reach our true potential.”
“ Dreams like that, brother, are dangerous.”
“ True , but now I have a reason to want more.”
With his words echoing through my mind, I leave my heart behind and walk out of medical.