Tiva Boon: Heir of Abennelp (Tiva Boon Series Book 2) (16 page)

“What the hell was that?” Hill scrambled back to his chair, holding his side.

“Whatever it was, took out our shield.”

“Activating moisture into the envirosystem again,” Emerala stated. Tiva attached her Timbur, and grabbed her plasma gun. The second gun was safely snug in her boot. She surveyed the room, waiting.

Two appeared near the displayer. She shot one, Aliri and Hill hit the other at the same time. She jumped over her station and landed in the middle of the command center between Hill and Maar’s chairs. The aliens popped up all round the room. Emerala informed the ship of the intruders, and the crew found themselves surrounded. Adam jumped up from his seat and sliced the two nearest him across the chest with Cala. Tiva sensed the sword’s delight. Maar tackled one to his left while Hill attacked another to the right. Raife continued to guide the ship between the enemy vessels, and did his best to duck the blast that neared him up in the navigation hub.

Tiva spun around and fired a few rounds at those neglected by the others. Aliri and Emerala were crouched behind their chairs firing down at the intruders.

“Send reinforcements to the infirmary!” Hino’s voice blared through the room. A couple of the Bujeni shouted at each other in an odd clicking language. Tiva smirked slightly. They were trying to teleport, but were unsuccessful.

“Got it,” Emerala tapped on her console quickly sending word to security.

Tiva glanced at Adam for a moment, and he met her eyes and smiled back.

Suddenly he flapped and rose up into the air, firing at two more aliens. Maar knocked out three, Hill two, and Tiva finished up the last two as they charged at her. She bolted to the door. “Permission to leave?”

“Go, go…we’ll manage here,” Hill shooed. The doors opened and she stepped in.

“I’m going, too,” Adam stated and glided into the lift slowly. She smiled at him. “Nice shooting, m’lady.”

“Thank you,” she said, smirking.

“Ready?” He moved to the door as the lift slowed. She nodded and crouched down this time holding both plasma guns in front. Adam drew his, something he rarely did, but in the tight spot like this, it was the best option. The corridor, however, was vacant. Slowly, Adam crept down the hall; she followed behind, but on the opposite side. They reached the first junction. He nodded to her; she pressed against the wall and peered around the side carefully. No one was in view down either direction, she held up her hand, and opened her senses. She signaled all clear.

You head to the left m’lady and I’ll go right. Take the ladders down to level four if it’s clear, we’ll meet in the next junction.

Tiva nodded and ran off not wasting a single moment. She reached the end of the long hallway, and opened the floor hatch. Climbing down, she paused at the ceiling hatch and opened her mind searching the immediate area below. A few people were in the distance, but no one nearby so she gently opened the door and poked her head through. She could see to the bend of the corridor, and that was enough. She jumped down, and the door sealed itself. Slinking against the wall, she followed the curve and paused, hearing something near the junction.

“We cannot Port.”

“Modify the emitters!”

Tiva crouched down and slid across the floor. As she neared the edge, she sensed four men…no, five. She glanced down the opposite side to see Adam jogging toward her. She held up her hand and he slowed.

Five men, they are closely grouped together, but I cannot determine exact locations.

No problem, Tiva; you take low I’ll take high.
He winked down at her, and readied his gun and blade. She gripped the handles of both guns tight and gave him a quick nod.

She reached around the bend firing at two of the aliens’ legs. Adam fired at the largest one and struck him in the chest. Tiva’s first shot missed; the second scathed someone’s calf. Two Bujeni rushed toward them, each wielding a small curved knife. Tiva fired again, trying to incapacitate the intruders; she didn’t want to get into a hand-to-hand fight, not with Adam near.

Three more Bujeni appeared behind them at the junction. Tiva rolled forward, ducking fire, and when she sprang up to her feet, she twisted around shooting at the men behind her. As she was about to brace her fall, Adam’s hand trapped her wrist. He lifted her up easily and swung her back around. She met his eyes for only an instant and turned her body. He released her and she raised her weapons and fired at the three again. Adam sliced two of the four down and began punching another after tackling him.

Tiva slammed against the ground, but thanks to his quick thinking, she was still facing the attackers. She fired again, one of the plasma guns went dead, and one of the men fell. The other two dashed toward her, she bounced up, grabbed her Timbur and struck the nearest man across the arm. The sting of a knife slice across her back made her stumbled forward, but she recovered with a kick to the kneecaps of another Bujeni. A sharp tug on her braid forced her back against the floor. As a fist came barreling down at her, Tiva kicked up with both feet clipping the man under the chin. She spun around and fired two more shots behind her.

Everything went silent.

Adam?

I’m right here…
his mind spoke as he appeared behind her. She smiled and glanced at the aliens moaning and grumbling in the corridor. They were all alive.

He moved through the mess and squeezed her hand gently. “You okay?” She nodded that she was. “Good, call the captain, I’ll get the weapons.”

Tiva moved to a clear section and raised her wrist-comm, her eyes never moving from Adam. “Sir, it is Boon on level four, what is our status?”

“All levels are secure, get all serious wounded to the infirmary, those that will live, get them to the detention cell.”

“Under—” An alien vanished from view. Then another. Tiva ran toward Adam. “Take off their devices!” He scrambled for the last three men. She leapt into the air trying to tackle the one nearest her. The man vanished and she slammed onto the ground, she growled and cringed in pain. She rolled onto her back and glanced up at Adam looking down at her. He smiled; she shook her head disappointed and took his offered hand. “Sir, they are gone.”

“We secured two in the command center, get up here stat.”

Adam and Tiva exited the lift and limped to the captain. They waited as he gave orders to Emerala to send out repair teams and all hands to help with injured. He told Raife to get them out of the area as fast as engines would allow, and Aliri was already scanning when he looked at her. Tiva noticed the two unconscious Bujeni.

“They started retrieval before I could get their devices off,” Adam confessed.

“Apparently the long range teleporting isn’t affected by the moisture like room to room.” Emerala grumbled.

“It’s fine, we haven’t lost anyone, and we have two captive. Chief, get them to the holding cell. Have someone on watch; I’ll be down soon to interrogate them,” Maar said. “Cooper, back to tactical unless you need medical attention.”

“I’m fine…” he said, and slipped back into his chair.

Tiva called Axium then picked up the smaller of the two men by the arm, hoisted him against her and dragged him to the lift. He began to moan as they entered the detention cell, she dropped him on the cot, sealed the bars on the door and activated the charge-field. She leaned back against the wall and took a breath. Her back was sliced, and she knew she had several more cuts and bruises over her body. Hino would not see her this time either.

The man woke and rushed the door. The bars sparkled with energy and the Bujeni staggered back.

“Let me out!”

She glanced up.

“I can speak your tongue, let me out!”

“You will have to meet my captain first.” Tiva put her hand to her hip and turned as Axium entered with the other man. He placed him the adjacent holding cell. “Remain here and wait for the captain.”

“Yes, Boon,” he replied and folded his arms over his chest and stood near the control console. Tiva nodded and went back to the lift. She returned to the command center and checked the reports on the status of the ship. They were not in the best shape, but they had partial shields, engines, and weapons. Every sector called in their update, and Maar turned to Aliri.

“Where are the vessels now?”

“Gone, sir.”

“They used the wormhole jump,” Raife added.

“Take us back to the colony.”

“Captain?” Hill said shooting him a sideways look.

“Let’s just say I have a feeling.”

S
cience confirmed Captain Maar’s suspicions. The entire colony of Bujeni’s was gone. The moon was bereft of any trace of people, weapons, or technology. He ordered Hill, Raife, and Emerala down to the planet surface to conduct a search. Storage facilities were barren except for a few scattered and broken pieces of a craft. Nothing else was on the planet.

A closer sweep of the moon colony showed run down shelters. It wasn’t a place of settlement, rather a temporary location to rest and regroup. They had no plans of staying from the beginning.

When shift was near over, Maar and Hill went to talk with the captured aliens. If anyone on the ship was more intimidating than Tiva and her security team, it was Captain Maar. Hill was the perfect match for him during interrogation, she thought, he would help keep the captain grounded. The crew gave orders to their replacements before handing over control. The
Tolox
was heading back to Ovvella Base; many were looking forward to some down time.

Emerala and Raife invited everyone else to dinner as many wanted to get their minds off recent events. Tiva found a window of time to tend to her wounds and take a hot shower.

Together, with her friends, she enjoyed a fine home-cooked meal from Emerala’s family recipes, and some wine and spirits supplied by Aliri and Raife. Before retiring for the evening, Adam asked Tiva to walk with him around the arboretum.

They weaved through the flowers, trees, and brush talking about the Bujeni altercation, and their theories on why the colony was now vacant. She did not like his idea of the looming threat about to reveal itself to the entire Union, but she knew it was possible.

Adam found a bench near the largest tree in the room. He pulled Tiva onto his lap and held her tight. Neither said much for a while.

“Having fun yet?”

“Being with you is relaxing, Adam.”

“That’s good.” He smiled.

“Adam, you know I care for you…”

“Well, yeah...” he replied.

“Cala has said you care for me.”

“I assumed that was obvious by now.”

“Yes, quite...She asked me why it was important I know your feelings for me. The reason is because I believe I love you, but…”

“I know you do,” he paused and looked at her. “But what?”

“In order for me to express myself completely, you must help me.”

“What is it I must do?”

“There is only one way...Break the emotional barrier, Adam.”

“Oh, right, that psionic thing.” He looked out at the grass and squeezed her against him. “I think I’m almost ready... I have to let you in, right? Let you know my true feelings.”

“Yes, what you feel for me,” she said softly. “I do not mind forgoing the courting ritual, but I want to experience this love with you...do you think they are strong enough? Your feelings for me?”

“Never know until you try.”

She touched his cheek. “I think they will be.”

“They better be or I’ll have to find your God and kick his ass.”

She smiled slightly. “It is not the spirits, Adam...it is our physiology. We are empathic from birth, if children felt certain emotional states at such a young age it could be very traumatic. Gigs once said it is similar to human puberty; only it protects us rather than changes us until we are old enough to deal with intimacy. Without the barrier, children’s behavior could be very unstable...”

“I didn’t come here to listen to logic, you know.”

“Then why did you come here?”

“First off, to see how you were after that fight. Second, to get off my feet for a bit. Third, to chat, have a laugh or seven...and fourth, cause you’re really, really pretty.”

Tiva’s markings blushed at the compliment, and it was hard to ignore the feelings he stirred up inside. “And you are the most handsome man I have ever met...”

“I’ve had practice.”

“Practice?”

“Well, I’ve been handsome for quite a while now. One can only assume I got better with practice.”

Playfully, she rolled her eyes, broke from his grasp, and walked away smiling. “If your ego were any bigger the universe would explode, Adam!”

“I don’t have a big ego, I really am this great,” he retorted and leaped into the air spreading his wings.

“You are great in many aspects, but your conceit is not one of your better assets.”

“It’s fun, and that’s what matters.”

“I suppose for you it is. I was taught humility, a much more accepted trait...one can be humble without shedding who they are.”

Apparently oblivious, he replied, “Humility is overrated.”

“Well perhaps one day someone will make you realize that there is always someone greater out there...no matter how strong you are...”

“There’s someone greater, huh? Well, then, I’ll keep training until I can kick his ass to the moon!”

She laughed at his vanity.“So you are willing then? To break my barrier?” she said, serious now.

“Yes, I’m willing, very much so…”

“I am glad.” Squeezing his hand gently, she kissed his cheek.

Lifting her chin, he stared into her eyes. “I’m going to make sure no one hurts you ever again.”

“You cannot promise that, Adam.”

“You just don’t get the whole Knight and Princess thing do you?” He rubbed his thumb across her chin. “I’ll send some fairy tales to your room. Every princess needs a knight in shining armor.”

“I am a queen, not a princess.” She leaned into him. “Though, I am unsure if I want either title. I have much to think about, still.”

He yawned. “Yeah, I bet you do…come on, I’ll walk you home. We’ve had a long day, and you need to rest.” Adam wrapped his arms tight around her and flapped his wings. He rose up into the air, and glided over the tops of the trees. Tiva’s hands locked around his neck, but the flight was short, and he landed gently near the exit. “I’ll take you flying one day, for real, I promise m’lady.”

“I look forward to it.”

~*~

Tiva gasped for breath and bolted upright in her bed. Something was very wrong. Two lives were abruptly gone. Immediately the reaction to the deaths faded, but it still lingered in her mind. There was no way to dismiss it, so she donned her uniform and rushed out of her room searching for answers. When she reached the end of the hall, Aliri was staggering toward her.

“Did you feel it too?” she asked, supporting herself on the wall.

“It tore me from my sleep,” Tiva answered. “I am unsure of the location.”

Emerala and Raife came running out of their room. She looked distraught as she held onto her husband. “Someone’s dead…” the others agreed. The loss of life had strongly affected the empathic individuals, yet as they stood near the lift, no one could pinpoint whom or where. Raife rubbed his wife’s back, comforting her as best he could under the circumstances. “We have to tell the captain.”

“I’ll go,” Aliri answered and took off down the corridor.

Moments later, the doors to the lift opened, and Hino stepped out. He acknowledged the others and asked what was going on. Raife quickly explained and Hino called his support staff on his wrist-comm. “I should probably get to the infirmary if your suspicions are correct.”

“They are, Doctor,” Tiva confirmed. He moved to the door, but Aliri and the captain came down the hall before he stepped in. Maar was speaking with Hill, via his comm.

“I have Hill running a sweep from the command center, anyone have further information to offer?” he asked his crew.

“No, sir, all I know is I felt them die.” Emerala shivered in Raife’s arms.

“It is not someone I am familiar with, captain, either a new person to the
Tolox
or…” Tiva paused, her eyes went wide, Aliri gasped, and the others stared waiting for an answer.

“Chief?” Maar grabbed her arm.

“The Bujeni.”

Hill’s voice shot through the captain’s wrist-comm as the group exited the lift and walked toward the detention cell. He confirmed life readings were two short, adding weight to Tiva’s theory. Maar entered the room first. Hemko, who was standing watch turned to him and nodded, then upon seeing the others blinked and moved forward.

“Is something wrong, captain?” he asked.

“Has anyone been in here this evening?”

“No, just me, sir.”

Tiva peered into the cells. Both men appeared to be sleeping, but neither was alive. She deactivated the charge-field and stepped in, hand on her gun as a precaution. Finding no pulse, she motioned Hino to enter and he began scanning. Hemko stared in disbelief and walked up to Tiva.

“They went to sleep after the captain left, they didn’t eat or drink anything…I thought they were just tired. I apologize, Boon.”

“I doubt it was your fault, Hemko.” Tiva glanced back at the captain, then moved to the next cell and repeated the check on the second, though she knew he was gone.

“His death wasn’t traumatic; I don’t see any exterior damage. I’ll have to move him to infirmary to do an autopsy.” Hino exited the cell.

“I don’t think both died of natural causes, that’s very unlikely,” Raife added.

“No, it wasn’t natural. It was sudden and painful,” Emerala squeaked.

“Sir, what information did they give you?” Aliri asked.

“Now is not the time,” he grumbled. “But suffice to say, it wasn’t enough to warrant suicide.”

“Suicide?” Hino repeated.

“It is common to take ones own life when in the hands of an enemy,” Maar answered. Tiva nodded her agreement; she almost did just that on Uucor. Hino shook his head in disgust and checked the second man. Hemko shifted uncomfortably near the wall, and Raife escorted Emerala and Aliri outside. “Boon, Hino, and Hemko we have work to do, we’ll regroup first thing in the morning.”

Hemko and Tiva spent the late hours of the night checking logs, and running internal sweeps on the ship to ensure foul play was not involved. Many people on the ship had reason, cause, and means to do harm to the Bujeni, and the captain wanted to rule that out first. They searched the room foot by foot, covering everything including the walls, all access ports, and both cells. The science and medical teams would sweep the entire room for residual chemicals or bioelectric readings. Sealing off the detention cell for them was the last thing she did before heading to see Maar.

Hino and Maar were in the back medical suite when Tiva entered. She waited near the door and listened.

“Cause of death is simultaneous respiratory acidosis and myocardial infarction.”

“Meaning?”

“Basically their hearts and lungs stopped working, but I don’t know why, yet. Skin and tissue scans show no damage, so there is no risk of contaminating the crew. I’m waiting for the blood toxicology, it should be done in a few moments, if that doesn’t work I’ll have to do a cellular scan.” Hino rubbed his cheek and fell back in his chair. “Do you really think they killed themselves?”

“Most likely,” Maar rumbled and began pacing. “I should have known better. My people would have done the same thing. They probably had capsules, infusers or something hidden that we couldn’t find.”

“Possibly,” Hino answered. “I just don’t understand that mentality.”

“You are a doctor, you heal people. These Bujeni are vagrant survivors. Who knows what they have been through? They see us as the enemy, and we are to an extent, but the Union wants peace. We’ll never get answers or peace this way.”

“Ah.” The doctor turned his computer screen around and read the display. Tiva stepped inside the room, but did not interrupt. The medical monitor had several different graphs and charts; none she was familiar with so she waited for an explanation having a feeling the captain was unaware as well. “It seems our Bujeni here took a toxic nerve agent to end their lives. I’ll have to run the properties through the database it’ll take a while, I’ll get back to you.”