Page 32 of Advance and Retreat (Dark Empire #6)

Not just his fault. Mine too. We all dropped the ball when we should have been vigilant. We have so much on the line, and a lapse of a few seconds can ruin it all.

Forcing himself not to grind his teeth at a sudden flash of anger, Piras repeated, “What are you doing here?”

“I appreciate a man of strength and ingenuity. Getting the secretary-general away from the Darks...such a coup, Dramok. You’re an incredible example of your breed.”

He refrained from speaking. He watched her carefully.

Her eyes rolled. “Don’t insult my intelligence. The day you had us piloting you throughout the city and along its borders was the same day Mereta disappeared. I don’t know how or where you’ve hidden him, but it’s obvious you were behind it.”

“You want me to buy your silence.” He was almost relieved.

“Money? Do I resemble an Adraf or Dantovonian?” She uttered a low, disdainful laugh.

“Hardly. If this isn’t blackmail, why do you need to speak to me?”

“Speaking wasn’t on my agenda.” She looked him up and down. Her tongue peeked out to lick her silver lips. “In fact, if you order me to be silent, I’ll do so. I’m eager to do whatever a controlling Dramok expects of his slave. Especially a Dramok like you.”

A Dramok like you. Ancestors, there was a joke fit for hysterics.

The sick feeling from before surged. A rush of guilt accompanied it as the image of Hope’s face rose in Piras’ mind.

He was certain he’d done nothing to encourage Ivad’s interest. He’d made it a point to ignore her cloaked insinuations and lustful scrutiny.

He’d gone as far as to display overt affection with Hope in front of her.

Still, Ivad had shown up in search of a tryst. Obviously, Piras would have to make his feelings clearer on the matter.

“I’m clanned. I have a Matara whom I love and would never betray.”

“Her? When you could have this?” Ivad smoothed her hands over her prominent breasts, down her waist, along the vee of her sex, then back across her impressively curved ass.

“I’m committed to my clan. I realize such faithfulness isn’t the norm for Beonids, but it’s the Kalquorian way. I ask you to respect it.”

“Only blood ties matter. Try respecting my view of sex, Admiral. You’ll be happy you did.” She parted the front of her top, displaying an impressive amount of cleavage...at least it would have been impressive to a less devoted man.

“No.” His tone was final, bordering on a snarl. Careful, Piras. Handle this carefully, or we could have a major problem.

She paid no attention to his refusal, opening her top wider. “You can’t tell me you don’t lust for a woman when all you have is that vagina attached to a boy’s body. You crave a woman who’s ready to indulge your demands, to follow your every command as if it’s her dearest wish.”

Her denigration of Hope had Piras’ blood boiling. The part of him aware he had to handle the situation delicately due to the mission was fighting desperately for control when an enraged voice spoke behind him.

“Bitch, I guarantee you his dearest wish is for you to fuck off, and right now. Otherwise, I’ll cause an interstellar incident by kicking your ass so hard, all Beonids will feel it.”

Hope stepped forward and shoved the wall hiding the space wide open to confront Ivad. Her dark eyes blazed wrath that had the nearly foot taller silver-skinned woman shrinking from her and clutching her top closed.

“My Matara—” Piras began.

Hope ignored him. Fists clenched, she snarled at Ivad, “I’ve overlooked you prancing around and trying to get your claws in my clanmate because we’re trying to save the dimension, which your useless ass is part of.

This shit is done, Ivad. You come anywhere near Piras.

..if I catch you even appear as if you’re thinking about him, I’ll tear your head off and use it for a silver bowling ball.

Now get the fuck out before I decide I should go ahead and do so. ”

Piras heard both Lokmi and Kila snort behind him, unable to suppress amusement at Hope’s letting her have it. Ivad’s features clenched in embarrassed fury.

She shot Piras a final glare as she stormed out. Instead of any trace of lust, she displayed sheer loathing. If he hadn’t known better, he’d have believed there was promise of retribution in her vicious scowl.

A quick check on Mereta verified the secretary-general was just coming out of phase. “I activated the device as soon as I heard her speak.”

Piras nodded, then turned to Hope. He met her furious gaze. “I didn’t encourage her—”

“I know.” She inhaled deeply, visibly trying to calm down. “Some don’t need encouragement. What they need is a punch in the face. If I see her in here again, it’s exactly what she’ll get, and damn the consequences. She’ll leave you alone or be sorry she didn’t.”

Piras’ heart swelled with love for his fierce Matara. At the same time, he hoped they wouldn’t end up regretting the Beonid’s unwanted lust more than they already did.

––––––––

T wo days passed. Neither Ivad nor her brother made any appearances. Piras couldn’t decide if it was an ominous or hopeful sign.

His concerns over the Beonid woman faded to the background when Kila called them together, excitement making his typical grin larger than usual.

“Our escape ship just reported in. It’s orbiting Jedver as we speak, and its cargo shuttle is in port.

They’ll be taking on a shipment today and tomorrow, then leaving. ”

Hope sagged in relief while Lokmi pumped a fist in delight. Mereta simply nodded.

Piras’ mind ticked through the obstacles they’d have to surmount to reach the shuttle. “Did you alert the captain to our plan?”

“Four Alneusians and their luggage will arrange for passage in the port while the shuttle is loading. He’s agreed to the cover story.”

Lokmi added, “The suits are assembled, tested, and ready as of last night. All we require is the bin.”

“Elcoger said he’d have the luggage to us this afternoon. He can’t wait to see us go.” Piras allowed himself a slight smile. The timing couldn’t have been better.

Inspired by Mereta’s ruse involving the stolen Alneusian exoskeleton, Piras had arranged for Elcoger to procure three additional exosuits.

The task of emptying the outer chasses hadn’t been a problem for Lokmi.

Concocting vid simulations of Alneusian entities to mask their faces in the bubble masks hadn’t either.

The problem had been making it so the Kalquorians could see through those vids in order to move around in the suits.

Ever the engineering miracle worker, Lokmi had managed to figure out a solution.

The face of their biggest hurdle to getting past Dark-ridden port security guards scrunched. “I do not look forward to being jammed in a travel bin again.”

“We don’t have any other option,” Piras said, his tone sympathetic for Hope’s coming trial. “You aren’t tall enough to be an Alneusian in its exosuit. The only species we could hope to make you pass for is a Beonid and—”

“And they always travel in pairs. I know.” Hope scowled. “Is it wrong for me to feel they’re being hatefully inconvenient in their bond? I mean, they die at the same time, even if it’s due to one having an accident.”

“I’ll lodge a complaint with their ambassadors on Kalquor when we get home.” Piras winked at her, earning a laugh.

“You do that.” She shrugged. “Truth be told, I’ll do almost anything to get off this planet, including folding myself like a blouse in the luggage. We’ve way overstayed our welcome.”

Piras straightened and assumed his admiral persona. “Yes, we have. Let’s get ready to go the instant we get the bin.”

* * * *

E lcoger himself flew them to the spaceport where the Adraf shuttle awaited. Piras thought he did so because he didn’t trust his underlings to keep Mereta’s present whereabouts quiet. Whatever the reason, it was a relief to avoid the Beonids.

They were soon in the spaceport, making their way to the dock where Kila had been assured their escape vessel awaited.

Piras was reassured no one offered them a second glance in their Alneusian disguises.

The hover bin floating next to them, which contained their gear, the Dark in its containment, and most importantly, Hope, also received no attention.

“There it is,” Lokmi breathed as the octagonal Adraf shuttle came in sight. “We’re getting closer to the finish line.”

Piras wasn’t so eager to count the hurdles to rescue. They had too many more to go.

The Adraf captain himself was attending to his crew as they loaded a shipment into the shuttle’s cargo bin. His gaze was sharp and speculative, Piras noted, as they approached.

“Impressive disguises,” he muttered as they drew close enough to hear him. His long, furry neck wove as he inspected the group. “I’d be interested in how you managed to accomplish the one-way vid projection. I don’t believe it’s ever been done before.”

Piras could sense negotiations...or rather, bribery...afoot. Lokmi’s new tech would be considered proprietary by the Kalquorian Empire’s fleet, not available as a bargaining chip. And he simply wasn’t in the mood.

“Non-negotiable,” he growled. “You named your price to get us off Jedver. No doubt the reason you postponed responding to our call was because you insisted on receiving it in full from my government in advance.”

“That was before I knew the secretary-general had managed to disappear. There are four of you, and your Earther is too small to be disguised as an Alneusian. My guess is she’s in the bin.

” The Adraf smiled, his massive block teeth an unattractive sight.

“The reward for Mereta and those who helped him get away is astronomical. Why shouldn’t I ingratiate myself to the All and fatten my account, Kalquorian? ”

“Asshole,” Kila snarled. He stepped toward the Adraf, but Piras’ glare skewered him. He halted.

“Can you see Darks? Can any of your crew?” Piras fought to keep from speaking through clenched teeth. He’d expected a play by the avaricious Adraf captain, but the callous disregard for their life still infuriated him.

“Sadly, no. I’m sure we’re surrounded by them, however, since they’re still searching for your friend. Why don’t you share that tech before we attract their attention?”

Piras let a dangerous smile twist his mouth, wishing the Adraf could see it.

“Too bad you can’t detect them. If you could, you’d know the spiritual member of my party.

..whom you’ve already named...has tamed his.

He’s able to put it to sleep while monitoring activity from the All.

He can even speak to the All.” Piras stepped closer to the blinking Adraf.

“If you’re leaving us no options, he can let the All and the Darks in the area know you’re about to help us leave ahead of you alerting anyone to our presence.

You’ll collect execution as your reward. ”

“You’re bluffing,” the Adraf sneered, but his gaze darted nervously at the other “Alneusians,” trying to pick out which might be Mereta.

“He doesn’t need to,” Mereta said. “We’ve been detected.” His bubble-masked head nodded to indicate a number of security guards heading their way.

Piras’ stomach lurched to see the Beonids, Ivad and Ershma, leading the force. Ivad’s teeth were bared in a vicious leer, shockingly similar to the Adraf’s smile when he’d demanded the vid tech.

They’d been betrayed by the Beonids. Kila snarled, pulling a blaster from a large pocket on the exosuit. Lokmi did as well.