Chapter 10 #2
“There you are.” Her voice was a shaky whisper. “Okay, now?”
He gave a curt nod and set her aside. He yanked the Taskmaster up by his vest, wrapped his hand around the man’s neck, and held him several inches off the ground. “Where is the Antikythera?”
The Taskmaster shook his head, his face turning red.
Xander tightened his hold. The Rahl made a choking noise. “You are responsible for a lot of death and destruction on my planet. You facilitated the theft of something invaluable to my people. And you keep our women prisoner. You do not want to disobey my order.”
Mal wondered how someone with such an impassive face and icy voice could come across so damned scary.
He lowered his voice. “You know I can kill you in an instant. Crush your throat with my enhanced strength, electrocute you with my implants, break your neck…should I go on?”
The Rahl made a gurgling sound.
Xander set the man on his feet. “Talk.”
“G-Gurion gave it to someone in return for weapons.” The words came out breathless and garbled.
“Who?”
“Don’t…know.”
Mal saw the muscles in Xander’s arm flex, his hold tightening again.
The Taskmaster’s eyes bulged. “No. No! I don’t know.”
“Where then? Where did he send it?”
“A planet called Technis. That’s all I know.”
Mal had never heard the name.
“Why do you have Centaxian women here?”
“Payment.” His voice was barely a whisper. “Rexon Dax is paying part of our fee with women.”
Mal felt her stomach turn over.
Xander landed another punch to the Taskmaster’s face, then gripped the man’s head. With a vicious twist, he broke the Rahl’s neck, and tossed him on the floor.
Then Xander was striding to the nearest cage and breaking the lock.
Mal rushed to the next cage and used her multi-tool to pick the lock. “You’re safe now.”
The women were wide-eyed and beyond scared. Stars only knew what they’d been through.
She helped one thin woman who was incredibly weak. Her silver implant looked enormous against her frail neck. “You’re free.”
Mal heard Xander talking to the others as he freed them. She passed the woman into the arms of another, then she met him at the last cage, and watched him rip the lock away with his mechanical hand. The women inside tripped over each other to get out.
One woman stopped in front of them.
She was older and very attractive, with skin the color of melted chocolate. A silver-gray implant sat above her left eye. “Thank you, General Saros.”
The muscle in Xander’s jaw ticked. He nodded.
The woman’s gaze landed on Mal. “You’re Malin Phoenix.”
Mal blinked. “Yes. Do I know you?”
“No.” The woman paused, pressing a closed hand to her throat. “You know my husband. Traxan.”
Mal felt a cold sensation wash over her. “You’re Trax’s Xalla?”
“Yes.”
Mal touched the woman’s arm, needing the contact. “How did you end up here?”
“They—” Xalla’s voice broke, her face fell “—the mercenaries came for Traxan. They blamed him for your escape, General Saros.”
No. Mal’s grip tightened on Xalla’s arm. “Is he okay?”
The Centaxian woman’s lips trembled. “They tortured him. And our son.” A tear slid down Xalla’s cheek. “They loaded me onto a ship to come here. I have no idea if Traxan and Pax are still alive.”
Nausea choked Mal, making her dizzy. Trax. Crusty, tough Trax who’d helped her and Xander escape. “We’ll make them pay, Xalla. All of them.” She gripped the woman’s hand. “I promise.”
Xander was staring at Mal. She lifted her chin. This was her fight now, too.
“Can anyone pilot a shuttle?” Xander asked.
A tall, sturdy woman stepped forward. She was naked and her dark hair was matted, but her face was steady. “I work for Trade and Commerce. Cargo pilot.”
“I need you to get these women to the landing pads. Steal a shuttle and then make contact with a ship called the Infinitas. They’ll help you escape.”
The woman nodded and looked to the others. “Let’s find some clothes and get out of here.”
When Xalla squeezed Malin’s hand, Mal looked back at her.
“Thank you. Both of you.”
Xander dipped his head. “Don’t thank me until I’ve restored order on Centax. You cannot return yet, Xalla. Our planet is still under the control of the Rahl.”
Mal gave the woman an impulsive hug. “Trax will be all right. He’s the toughest old salvager I know.”
The woman nodded, her lips trembling. “He is.” Then, she moved to join the group of women.
Mal watched as the Centaxian women searched for clothes and comforted each other. She saw their strength despite their ordeal.
Xander touched her shoulder. “They’ll be okay.”
She nodded, and knew that Xander was seething under his cool, calm mask.
She reached up and traced a hand over his jaw. The need to comfort him welled from somewhere deep inside, surprising her. She was a mechanic. Offering comfort wasn’t something she was good at. “You saved them.”
His hand cupped hers and held it there. He drew in a breath. “How many other Centaxian women have been taken? Sold to slavery? Abused? Tortured?”
“We know where the Antikythera is now. We’ll find it. We’ll save them.”
He tilted his head. “We?”
“Trax is my friend. He helped me—us—get off-world. I won’t rest until we make his attackers pay and Centax is free.”
Xander was silent, and Mal looked back at the women. Many of them were staring at her and Xander. Most were staring at Xander with wide eyes and mouths hanging open.
Hmm, she might be ruining Xander’s tough guy reputation.
He took another deep breath. “Thank you, Malin. Without your help…”
She winked at him. “Not too shabby for a distraction, huh?” She pulled away, but in one of his lightning moves, he grabbed her hand.
“You are a beautiful distraction. One who erodes my control.”
Her breath hitched.
Then he stiffened and touched the implant at his temple. “Go ahead, Dathan.”
Mal listened to Xander’s side of the conversation. Watched his jaw tighten and his eyes narrow.
“We’re on our way. Also, there will be a shuttle of Centaxian women hitting orbit soon. Help them get away.”
“What is it?” she asked.
“A huge group of enraged Rahl is headed our way. We need to get to the shuttle. Now.”