Chapter 15 Callie
fifteen
Callie
I sprinted past startled dock crew and leaped through the in-processing bulkhead right before the shuttle imploded.
The blast wave sent me tumbling ass over end across the lobby floor until I slid into the intake windows where the clerks were screaming warnings at people to get down.
I folded my arms over my head as debris peppered me.
A siren went off somewhere overhead and running footsteps pounded the ground all around me as people rushed around for cover.
As soon as the initial percussive blast ended, I popped to my feet and sprinted towards the station access gate, ducking under the grasping arms of the two guards and sprinted for the lift, my lungs straining to get enough air as I pushed myself to go faster.
The air was now clogged with smoke and the sound of panicking people screaming under the sound of the station warning sirens.
Someone was shouting orders, trying to be heard over the chaos.
“Fucking vent the bay! Close the bulkhead!”
I felt a little guilty about all this, but not enough to stop.
I smashed the appropriate commands into the lift control panel and slammed my back into the wall behind me, my breaths coming hard from my sprint.
Adrenaline was making me jittery and the lift seemed to be going slower than usual.
I couldn’t seem to quit tapping my fingers against my thigh in anxiety riddled impatience as I stared upwards at each passing light, counting the floors.
By the time it dinged open at Docking Bay 64 I was a jumpy mess.
I bolted out of the lift as soon as the doors opened and sprinted past the crowd that was heading to the lift under the evacuation orders that were blaring overhead.
A guard shouted at me, but I shoulder checked him hard and sent him sprawling.
The bulkhead of the docking bay had almost completed its odyssey, leaving about a foot of clearance and I picked up speed and hit the deck, sliding under the door just before it clunked closed and sealed with a hiss of releasing air.
I rolled to my feet, looking around wildly until I spotted an open shuttle that had been put on standby, the grappling claw that would lift it to its mooring station paused halfway to the shuttle, frozen in midair when the operator had been ordered to evacuate the area.
The docking bay was empty. My plan had worked.
I laughed rather maniacally, the edge of madness making me louder than I normally was and I didn’t waste anymore time running towards the shuttle and hauling my ass inside.
This one was larger than the one I’d blown up.
It had seating on either side of the cargo hold that was roughly the size of a football field.
I rushed up the stairwell to the pressure door that was already open and sprinted through the halls without seeing anything until I got to the flight deck.
There were four chairs situated in front of the control consoles.
I took the one closest to the door on the right.
I slapped at the controls until the shuttle powered up with a whir of powerful engines and the lights flickered on.
I closed the ramp and sealed all the pressure doors so no one could board even if they wanted to.
I said a fervent thanks to Ohem and Rema for all the lessons on shuttlecraft and pushed the throttle forward until the shuttle lifted off the ground, its belly jets roaring as I poured on the power to get this beast off the ground as fast as possible.
When I was hovering in the air about a hundred feet off the deck of the landing area I ran into my first problem.
The massive bulkhead doors that sealed the docking station from the vacuum of space were closed and I didn’t have the codes to open them, nor were there any workers I could threaten to open them for me.
“Fuck,” I spat, looking around to see if this shuttle had any guns I could use to blast the door.
I had just found the control console for the shuttle's only plasma cannon and was reaching for it when a large black furred hand covered mine, stopping me.
I jerked my head up, and found Rathal grinning down at me, his clothes still smoldering.
My stomach dropped out from under me and I cursed a blue streak.
He waved the pointer finger of his free hand at me, tsking. “That was naughty, my darling. I’m afraid I’m going to have to punish you for damaging my station.” He looked down at himself and huffed. “And my clothes. This shirt was expensive.”
I tried jerking my hand out of his, but his grip only tightened slightly as he met my eyes with his. “You’ve done it this time, you understand. Your little stunt has made you a folk hero in the eyes of the citizens of Erral. You’ll never be rid of us now.”
Somehow he made it sound like a threat.
I willed my helmet up and surged out of the seat, planning on headbutting Rathal, hopefully hard enough to knock him out, but he smoothly stepped out of my way, using my momentum to pull me into his body and locking his arms around me like a vice.
“Caught you, my prize. I believe that means I win our game of tag, does it not?” he purred next to my ear, and the hot wet heat of his tongue running along the front of my helmet had me throwing myself backwards.
I braced my free arm against his chest and tried to push out of his hold, but he only laughed and dipped me like we were dancing.
I cursed and tried kicking him in the balls, but he blocked me with his leg, jerking me upright and spinning me before drawing me back to him in a classic waltz pose, my hand in his and his other around my lower back to hold me firmly against him.
I willed my helmet away and tried to bite him when his face got closer to mine.
He jerked back with a laugh, and tilted his head for me to see a now healed cut over his eye, the blood dried in his fur.
“You are the first to make me bleed in many, many years, my darling. That’s quite the feat. In Rijiteran culture, this is a courting love tap. You bested me, proving you are my equal. I’m afraid I have to marry you now, it would besmirch my honor to let such a worthy female go.”
“Just try it. See what fucking happens, motherfucker,” I snarled, struggling in his grasp. He pulled me flush against him and bent over me, his hot breath brushing against my neck like a caress. “Keep wriggling, my prize, even in your armor it is exhilarating.”
That stopped me cold and I stared up at him, his fur a little singed and the smell of smoke rising from him.
“How the fuck did you survive?”
He cocked his head at me. “Did you truly think one measly shuttle explosion was enough to kill me? Please. It didn’t even kill any of the docking hands, much less me.”
A tight coil inside me loosened at those words and I stared at him suspiciously. Did he know I felt guilty that I might have killed someone trying to escape?
He gazed back at me, the picture of innocence and I knew I was right.
I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of thanking him out loud but I was grateful nonetheless.
I’d do it again even if someone had died, but I’d still feel guilty about it.
I didn’t want to have to hurt any innocent bystanders in my escape, but if that’s what it took to get back to my friends, then so be it.
He spun me around suddenly, tucking me tightly into his side and pulled me along with him out of the shuttle. “I must thank you, though. If you hadn’t decided on that particular shuttle, I wouldn’t have had the excuse to dispatch its owner.”
I quit my attempts at elbowing him in the side to stare up at him. “Oh, please. Like you need an excuse to murder someone.” My tone was exasperated even to my own ears.
He hummed. “That is true, but it helps to have one. If I went around murdering everyone who I found unpleasant the people would revolt against me. As it stands, as long as I have a good excuse, they shrug and look the other way. So, thank you.”
He pulled us through the docking station and back onto the lift, where I dove for the knife tucked into his pants. He blocked me and secured me against him, my back to his front with one of his big hands holding my hands secured in front of me while his other arm banded across my stomach.
My kicks to his shins went ignored.
The lift stopped and Rathal pushed me away from him.
I rounded on him just for him to duck and before I could blink his shoulder was in my stomach and my world spun as I found myself once again thrown over his shoulder and walked through the crowded station.
This time the masses didn’t ignore us. People shouted praise and patted my back as we passed them.
Rathal chuckled as he pushed through yet another clapping gaggle of onlookers.
“I told you that blowing up the shuttle had earned you a few fans.”
I braced myself with my elbows digging into his back and glared at everyone. “Why? That makes no fucking sense.”
He laughed again, patting my butt with one of his big hands. He ignored my hiss.
“This is a refuge for the outlaw, the pirate, the consummate professional criminal. That you went to the extreme to be free is both expected and venerated. Congratulations, my prize, you’ve earned your place here.”
I rolled my eyes and flopped back down. He’d moved the knife he usually kept tucked into the back of his pants so my groping for it only made him moan mockingly. Asshole.
I ignored his incessant chattering all the way to the palace. The twins met us at the door, their glaring eyes burning a hole in my back as Rathal moved through the halls to my room. It was a relief when the door closed us in away from their ire.
“Whew, they are mad at you. Did you feel the tension? I would certainly hate to be you right now,” Rathal teased after throwing me onto the bed.