Chapter Eleven
Synge glanced at the late-afternoon sky. By the sun’s position, he estimated he had enough time to inspect the remainder of the perimeter fencing before nightfall. So far, he hadn’t found anything to cause the interference in the virtucom transmissions. He got into the transport and headed for the last of the four buildings containing the control units.
His thoughts kept returning to Ricka. In the short time he’d known her, the spirited woman had managed to reach his heart and make him view the world and his future differently. Until this moment, all he’d cared about was being a hunter and protecting those who needed his help.
Now, he wanted Ricka to share his home and his life. Though he hadn’t told her, he was even willing to take a job at command headquarters as a trainer so he could be close to her. Yet somehow learning he’d initiated the claiming process had upset her.
They had a connection. He’d felt it from the moment he’d first seen her in the bar. His life as a hunter had sharpened his skill to read people and their reactions. She might not have spoken the words of love, but he was sure she had feelings for him. Her response to his touch was too open and real for him to believe she wasn’t his mate. And given enough time, he hoped she would realize they were meant to be together and agree to perform the final act of a true joining.
Checking the perimeter had kept Synge away longer than he’d wanted. He gripped the guidance controls tighter, hating that his family was defenseless and not being able to contact his uncle to find out how Ricka was doing. He wanted to talk to her directly but would give her the time she’d asked for no matter how much it bothered him.
He glimpsed a spot of white belonging to the final control unit through the tall foliage, then drove through a gap in the trees leading into the surrounding clearing. After parking and exiting the vehicle, it didn’t take him long to discover the source of the communication issue. A large tree had fallen against the building and collapsed the corner of the roof. It had also crushed a portion of the fencing, which explained how the bimmaton had gotten onto the property.
Synge almost believed Arno’s theory about the damage resulting from a recent storm until he examined the trunk and found blaster marks along the base. This had to be Molock’s handiwork. It was the perfect way to draw Synge away from the house and isolate him from headquarters. Since the virtucom had worked fine the night before, he guessed the damage was recent.
Warily, he checked the surrounding area for any signs of movement, then approached the front of the structure. The door was still intact, and with a little effort, he could push it open. If the damage to the system computer wasn’t too severe, he might be able to fix it and send a warning to Arno.
The automatic light sensor didn’t respond, so he unclipped a handheld solar from his belt and attached it to the control panel. He found several places where the shielding had been severed. The warrior had deliberately damaged the core device, knocking out a portion of the shield and preventing him from reaching anyone. There was no way to replace it without the correct parts. Parts he didn’t have on hand and would need to get from the city. Knowing the Klorthon would go after Ricka and his family next quickened his pulse and the urgency to return home.
Synge was still inside the building when he heard footsteps behind him and reached for his repeater.
“Unless you would like me to shoot you in the back, remove your hand from the weapon, hunter,” said an unfamiliar male voice. “Then raise your hands and turn around slowly.”
Synge did as he was instructed and found a Klorthon aiming a blaster at his chest.
“Molock was certain you would be foolish enough to come alone. I have been ordered to deliver you to him alive. I am Dron, his second in command.” He stepped forward and removed Synge’s repeater, then tossed it across the room.
“Where is Molock?” Synge asked.
Dron sneered. “He has already gone to retrieve the human female. You can see him when we reach our camp.”
Memories of the way Molock had treated Ricka when Synge had rescued her flooded his mind. The need to get to her was overpowering. He had to find a way to escape before they reached the campsite. Without being obvious, he glanced around, hoping there might be something he could use as a distraction, but didn’t find anything.
Dron tipped his head toward the entrance. “Go.”
Once outside, Synge headed toward his transport.
“Leave it,” the Klorthon ordered. “We go on foot. It is not far.”
Stopping, Synge glared over his shoulder. “Which way?”
Dron waved the blaster toward the left. “Through those trees over there.”
Synge started walking, making a mental note of the direction. This area of his property was heavily populated with numerous forms of plant life. It wasn’t long before he had to lower his hands to push through the thick bushes and shrubbery. It also gave him the opportunity to slow his pace and narrow the distance between Dron and him. Once the Klorthon was close enough, Synge gripped the next low-hanging branch. Instead of letting go right away, he pushed it forward, then jumped to the right after releasing it.
The branch snapped back and caught Dron across the chest. “What the...” He instinctively threw his arm up to protect his face.
Synge dove at Dron, knocking him to the ground. The blaster fired, scoring the trunk of a nearby tree. Before Dron could fire another shot, Synge wrenched the weapon out of his hand and punched him hard in the jaw. Dazed, his head lolled to the side, and he groaned.
Before Dron could recover, Synge rolled him over and pressed his knee to the middle of his spine, pinning him down. The ground was covered with vines, so he grabbed the closest one, then jerked Dron’s arms behind his back and used it to bind his wrists together. After tucking the blaster in the back of his pants, he snarled, “Get up,” and yanked the warrior to his feet. “Move before I change my mind and leave you to feed the animals. ”
“Do what you like,” Dron snarled. “It will not keep the others from coming for me, nor will it stop Molock from retrieving the female.”
Synge returned Dron to the security unit, then jammed the door shut, ensuring that he wasn’t going anywhere. If the Klorthon was right about the others searching for him, it would slow them down and keep them on the planet longer. With that in mind, Synge raced to his vehicle, hoping to reach Ricka before Molock did.