Page 185 of Pets in Space 10

Crouched low, Kari followed Luka as he led her through tunnels she never knew existed directly under the lower level of the space station. Another benefit to his less than honest background.

Security lights flickered along the floor and ceiling of the hallway as they moved through. Due to the lateness of the hour, very few travelers crossed their paths. Most aircrafts launched in the mornings. Passengers and crew members preferred to spend the night hitting the bars at the station.

Less than twenty feet away was the ship Luka had identified as their way out. She still had doubts about the plan. From the little she’d overheard in his conversation with his brother, they were taking a big risk on trusting this guy.

“Are you sure your friend will help?” she asked.

“Friend is a loose interpretation of our relationship. Tagar is a pirate first and foremost. If it has a price, he’ll sell it, including information about others,” Luka said.

That didn’t fill her with confidence. “What’s to stop him from double crossing you?”

Luka paused near a door and peered around the narrow hall. “I have something he wants.”

She started to question what that was and decided against it. The less she knew about his criminal leanings, the better, especially when it pertained to the details of a pirate smuggler’s life. Plausible deniability would have to do a lot of heavy lifting in this instance.

There was still the matter of Jinx and Havoc. Her teammates had to know she was missing by now. Per protocol, they would have alerted the USF. Once she failed to report to the shuttle, the tracker in her foot would be activated. Her father would also be notified during this process.

Admiral Culvin would remain calm on the surface, but put the weight of his position behind discovering her whereabouts.

She wanted to tell him she was alright and on her way back to the Aranea, but Luka insisted they had to keep her presence under the radar.

No one could know where she was due to the bounty Gubu put on her head.

The risk of someone finding her before she was safely returned to her ship was too great.

“Come on.” Luka waved her forward.

Together they crept along the way. Laughter came from the left. She glanced behind them. Station security officers huddled in a corner, heads down, watching something on a tablet. While she frowned at their lack of vigilance, the taller one held her attention.

After a closer inspection, she recognized Zair in the blue and black striped uniform. She had to give him credit. With his hair slicked back from his face, the pressed uniform and established camaraderie with the others, if she were anyone else, she’d assume he belonged with them.

A few minutes later, he broke off and headed toward a battered ship with the word VIXEN engraved on the side panel. The young woman he met at the ramp grinned as he drew near and they leaned together to whisper intently.

“This way,” Luka said.

They stayed in the shadows and avoided the notice of any station guards.

A few feet ahead of them, a man in a gray ankle length hooded cloak waited next to the ramp of the sleek ship parked on the last apron.

The late model CF-X3 drew a hum of appreciation from her.

Capable of top speeds with low grade weapons and geared toward a four-man crew, it was an ideal cargo transport vessel.

When they drew near, the cloaked figure opened the hatch.

Several maintenance workers moved around the outside of the ship, checking off items on a tablet and speaking with one another.

Her heart pounded expecting someone to call out to them at any moment.

She kept her gaze on a swivel and watched Luka’s back while he exchanged words with the man.

At the end of their conversation, the stranger turned in her direction. His skin was a deep red and three stubby horns dotted his forehead in a straight line. Something in his blue gaze made her want to reach for the laser tucked in the back of Luka’s pants.

“Is that her?” he asked, pushing the hood from his head to reveal a mane of silver hair that fell below his shoulders. He was quite attractive with his stern features and inscrutable countenance.

Luka placed a hand on her lower back and ushered her up the lowered ramp. “You got paid, Tagar. The agreement was no questions.”

Halfway up the ramp, Tagar grabbed Luka’s elbow and leaned in close. “Don’t forget Vita. I don’t care about you or this female. The only thing I care about is getting my daughter back. If I find out you lied to me, I’ll make you regret it, Bashir.”

Luka stilled. Aggression simmered in the air between the two. Kari tensed and prepared to strike if the pirate made a wrong move. She and Luka were temporary partners in this insane situation. Better the criminal she knew, than the criminal she didn’t as far as she was concerned.

“I think you’re forgetting who you’re dealing with, Tagar,” Luka said in a deep undertone. “Remove your hands from me now before I show you why I’ve been in charge for the last nine years.”

Tagar jerked his hand away, the flash of fear on his face startling her.

Luka reached back, grabbed her wrist and tugged her with him onboard.

As if he knew the way already, he led her through two sharp turns and stopped at a closed door.

When he opened it, there were metal containers piled to the ceiling, some heavy equipment with tags on it, and a large drum shoved in a corner.

“The container on the right is empty, it has a delto lining so scanners won’t be able to detect your life signatures.

” Tagar spoke from behind them, standing in the doorway.

“Once inside, I’ll place the delto on top of you.

There’s a vented hole at the bottom of the container itself to allow air in. ”

Luka nodded. “Gubu is definitely going to demand to search every ship’s storage area and confirm your cargo listing before departure.”

“We’re ready for him. You have ten minutes until we announce our time slot. Guards are sure to check what I’m running.” Tagar smirked as if the idea amused him. She guessed it did if he had a reputation for smuggling. “I’ll be back in five to secure the lining.”

Once the pirate left, Luka steered her toward the long container and lifted the lid. She peered inside and estimated it to be around three feet deep and six feet long. It would be a tight fit and Luka would have to bend his knees.

“Do you have a problem with closed in spaces?” he asked.

She didn’t but that didn’t mean she wasn’t appropriately wary of being locked inside a storage bin. “Remind me again of this great plan.”

Losing the intense expression he’d worn since they arrived at the space station, he smiled and ran his knuckles down her cheek. His thumb lightly pressed on her bottom lip. “You’re going to be fine. Trust me.”

She huffed. “I’ve been doing a lot of that lately.”

“Has it steered you wrong?” he countered with a twitch of his lips.

Well, no, but she didn’t tell him that. “Do I go in first or you?”

Another twitch of his lips. “If you went in first, I’d crush you.”

He climbed in without hesitation, laying on his back, knees bent and spread open.

She sighed again, unable to believe she was really doing this.

Gently, she lifted her legs over the side then slid in on top of him.

He guided her into position between his thighs, every inch of their bodies pressed together.

Kissing her forehead, he whispered, “Don’t worry, Kari. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She didn’t get the chance to respond. Tagar returned, peered down at them and held a long black piece of material.

“The delto lining will hold up against any of the advanced scanners on the market. I’m going to pile a bunch of illegal chips and components on top to throw anyone off the scent if they insist on looking inside. Ready?”

Luka nodded against her head. “Do it.”

As soon as Tagar dropped the sheet of delto over them, she tensed.

Her pulse sped up and she squeezed her eyes shut.

Thumps sounded above her head as Tagar piled stolen goods over them to create the illusion of a container filled with merchandise and finally the solid click of the lid to the container being closed.

“Remember not to talk,” came Tagar’s muffled instructions.

The door to the store room clanged shut a moment later.

She buried her face in the hollow at Luka’s throat.

His scent immediately eased the frantic beats of her heart.

She drew another breath and concentrated on him and only him.

Heat from his body, the memory of his bite on her wrist, his gentle kisses.

The passionate way they’d explored each other’s body.

If she could maintain her composure in the close confines of a Mirage cockpit, this tiny box wouldn’t defeat her. At least, that’s what she told herself.

“Hey,” Luka whispered, his words stirring the hair at the top of her head. “Everything is going to be fine. Hang in there with me.”

There wasn’t a lot of room to maneuver so she squeezed his sides in acknowledgment and focused on remaining calm. In a short while this would be over and she’d be safe among the military.

Until then, Luka was her lifeline.