Driok
The flyer is at top speed, but the Ulep are still gaining on us.
“You see the three moons and the nebula up ahead?” I point out the various points on the viewscreen to Maggie.
“Yes.”
“One of those moons is hollow, and we’re going inside it, but not before we use your remote for the last time.”
“The last time?”
“It’s a one-way mission, spitfire.” I slide my thumb and forefinger over her chin briefly. “I hope you said your goodbyes.”
Maggie huffs a laugh, but her face is strained. I know bringing her with me was a distinct choice, but where else could she be? Until the Ulep are expunged, nowhere is safe, even a place as lawless as Xracak City.
And we need to be able to find the wormholes once more. Even if we can’t get one to take us back to our galaxy, being able to get out of this one will make a huge difference to all the inhabitants, including the Sarkarnii.
“So, what do you want me to do?” Maggie picks up the headset which swings at her feet.
“When I tell you, send the remote out and set it on course epsilon-alpha-five.”
“Epsilon-alpha-five,” Maggie repeats. “Then what?”
“Then we wait.”
I keep the engines at full power, swinging around the first moon using the gravity as a slingshot to get into the orbit of the second moon and hopefully putting the astral body between us and the Ulep.
The third moon has a hollow center, but it can only be accessed through one crater. I have one chance at this. One only.
The Ulep are still gaining, but they slow slightly as they approach the moons. It’s the gap I need.
“Launch the remote.”
I hear the thing fire away from us.
“Epsilon-alpha-five,” Maggie instructs as we come round into the orbit of the third moon.
The crater is too easy to miss. I rapidly punch in the co-ordinates, and the flyer makes a swift turn, shoving us both back in our seats.
“What was that?” Maggie cries out.
“Nothing,” I lie as the crater rushes up to meet us. “Instruct the remote to release the beacon.”
“Release the beacon,” Maggie says.
And I flip the flyer on its side as we enter the crack within the crater into the cave system of the moon.
“Nev!”
There’s a sheer wall of moon rock directly ahead meaning I have to pull the flyer into a vertical climb, the limited gravity the moon itself offers pulling at the controls as we fire upwards before I can slow us down and we fly into what my instruments claim is a vast cavern.
“Did the beacon deploy?” I turn to Maggie, who has hold of her seat like she is never going to let go.
“It deployed,” she says, her voice shaking. “That was some flying,” she adds.
“I would never let anything happen to you, my sweet mate,” I croon, placing one hand on hers and taking hold of my comm device with the other. “Activate,” I say into it. “Code Driok-four-two.”
For a while, there is simply silence, save for the occasional creak from the hull cooling.
Maggie looks at me and widens her eyes.
“If it worked, the Ulep are now unable to enter the galaxy. Any attempt they make will fry their circuits instantly, leaving them with floating hulks in space.”
“Unable to go anywhere or do anything,” Maggie says.
“And no one will assist an Ulep ship,” I growl. “Not even Gonoz. Not given the predilections of the Ulep.”
“So, how long do we have to stay here?” Maggie asks. “Because if it’s going to be a while, I think we should get more comfortable.”
She looks into the rear of the flyer and then back at me.
“Lord Driok…” The comm crackles into life.
“Foiled by a Sarkarnii.”
“Warrior,” I bark, not taking my eyes from my mate.
“The starnet has deployed.”
“And the Ulep?”
“On the other side.”
Maggie lets out a huge cheer, drowning out anything further my warrior has to say.
“Can we go back to Vorostor now?” she asks as I terminate the comm.
“Don’t you want to go get your horc?”
“Horace!” Maggie claps her hands. “Yes! Let’s go get Horace.” Her face suddenly changes from glee to concern. “What about the baron?”
“As we’ve just averted an Ulep invasion, I doubt anyone is going to let the baron do anything to a Sarkarnii.” I grin at her.
“Perhaps we can stay, for old times’ sake? Just one more night before going back to Vorostor,” she says, yawning widely. “All this excitement can take it out of a pregnant mate, after all.”
I have her out of the seat and in my arms before she can blink.
“I would agree, but I want you back on Vorostor, being worshipped until you birth.” I slide my hands under her clothing, luxuriating in the touch of her skin against mine. “And then being filled with another sarkarnling.”
“I’d like that,” Maggie says. “I’d like it a whole lot.”