Page 190 of Pets in Space 10

It took every ounce of will power Kari had not to turn back for another look at Luka. She wanted to run her fingers through his hair one more time, kiss him with all the emotions bubbling to the surface and ease the yawning ache in her chest.

“Kari!”

His call sent a rush of happiness through her.

Maybe he felt the same way. Maybe he wanted to keep in touch, see where this road took them.

Relieved smile on her face, she turned. Someone bumped into her on the left and grabbed her arm.

She stumbled back, her foot slipping off the ramp of the transport.

“Not so fast,” a deep voice growled.

The fingers on her arm clenched. She tugged and found herself surrounded by two more uniformed station employees, blocking her view of Luka.

“Let me go!” she snapped.

“Were the Atoro helping you?” the one with the cap pulled low on his brow asked. “Answer me!”

Ignoring his demand, she kicked out and his nails dug deeper into her upper arms, drawing a low grunt from her.

“It doesn’t matter anyway. Luka Bashir put the treaty between the Atoro and Rudurian in jeopardy with his actions,” he continued. “Settle down and we won’t hurt you. Gubu just wants to talk.”

After her earlier experience with Gubu, she didn’t believe for a minute she’d walk away from another encounter without serious injuries. Rather than argue, she braced a foot and slammed her head back.

A sharp cry blasted her ears. She smiled grimly as the one behind her moved back, hands pressed to his bleeding nose. She hiked her knee up and made contact with the one in the cap.

He didn’t release her, instead yanking her close and spinning her around with his arm clamped around her neck. She struggled in the painful hold, working to dislodge him.

“Kari!”

Wincing at the pull on her hair, she managed to shift her head. Luka raced in her direction, the panic on his face matching the adrenaline rush coursing through her veins. The two other men jumped into his path.

One swung and plowed his fist into Luka’s midsection.

Without missing a beat, Luka countered with a fist to the man’s jaw.

Still attempting to reach her, Luka circled around his downed opponent, but the other one charged forward.

He hooked his arms around Luka’s waist, driving them both to the ground.

The fight garnered the attention of several station employees in orange. They stopped what they were doing to converge on the two.

More men spilled from a nearby ship, yelling and waving shock batons in their hands. They headed directly toward Luka and within seconds a dozen men surrounded him and she lost sight of him.

She elbowed the man holding her. His pained screech seared her ears. She shifted her foot, hooked his leg and jerked. They tripped against one another, but it was enough for her to break loose.

Ripping free, she spun on her heels and ran to help Luka. When she got close, an orange clad figure caught her with an arm around her waist. “Whoa there.”

Not again. She punched him in his throat, dropping him where he stood. Another closed in and she lashed out with a forward kick, driving him back from her. Anger swirled around her as she swung, kicked and forced her way closer to the center of the melee to reach Luka.

***

Luka fought with fists and the knife he kept on his person at all times, slashing at the Rudurians attacking him. He noted with satisfaction they struggled to combat his men who leaped into action when they witnessed the attack on him.

Thank the stars Harlo had gotten his coded message and sent Atoro members disguised as station employees to Pega.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the head of the snake.” Luka spun at the familiar voice from behind him and came face to face with Gubu. “It looks like you are interfering in a matter involving the Rudurian. That violates the terms of the treaty.”

Luka sneered. “This is personal and my offer of escort to the lieutenant was not given in my capacity as Atoro.”

“Doesn’t matter. You are Atoro and as such I’ll tell Iban about your actions.

” Gubu laughed and circled Luka, the shock baton in his hand glowing blue to indicate max setting.

“Thanks for that. We have justification to retaliate in our defense in accordance with the dictates you included in the agreement.”

Fuck! Gubu wasn’t wrong. To protect those under him, Luka had added the addendum that if either party violated the treaty, the offended party’s actions were justified in defense. “Be honest with me. What is it about her, Gubu? Can’t get a woman on your own? Are you that desperate now?”

Gubu’s brows drew down and anger lent a dark flush to his ruddy complexion.

“Small minded. That’s always been your problem and why you’ll bring about the downfall of the Atoro.

What can one expect though? Your father was the same way.

Unable to see the vision Cosin had. If Ama Bashir hadn’t been blinded by morals, he could have helped the Atoro surpass the Rudurian. ”

Ice flooded Luka’s veins as Gubu disparaged his father. No, his father hadn’t been the most law abiding, but there was a line he wouldn’t cross. Gubu, Iban, Cosin, and other greedy individuals like them, would never understand that you lost your way if you didn’t have some form of restraint.

“Your mother was fooled into a similar thought process,” Gubu continued as he lunged at Luka.

Luka dodged and kicked out. His foot connected with Gubu’s chest. “Leave my mother out of this.”

The other man stumbled back and charged forward with a malicious grin. They grappled, feet shuffling, neither giving way. Gubu leaned in close to speak between gritted teeth. “If I’d gotten her on my side, she would have convinced you to aid the Rudurian.

“Everyone knew you’d do anything for her. When she refused my offer, it gave me great pleasure to kill her.”

There was no measurement on any scale to account for the rage that spilled into Luka at hearing those words. Red hazed his vision and he drove his fist into Gubu’s side repeatedly. The shock baton flew from Gubu’s hand to hit the floor with a clatter.

They traded blows, moving farther from the center of the fights going on around them until they neared a corridor partially hidden from view.

Luka managed to pin Gubu against a wall, his forearm braced against the other man’s throat. The desire to kill rose inside of him. “Fuck you, Gubu! You aren’t worthy to speak her name.”

Gubu strained against his hold. “Listen, Luka. It’s not too late. You can still aid the Rudurian. I won’t share what you did here today.”

Luka snorted. “Oh, yeah. What’s the price?”

“Help me take the woman,” Gubu pleaded. He stretched an arm free and clasped Luka’s shirt in a desperate grip. “We can work together. Her father’s the admiral. With her in our possession, we could demand concessions the USF would have to agree to.”

So that was it. Kari never mentioned her father outside the grief they shared regarding the loss of her mother.

The thought didn’t bother him. He understood why.

If her relationship was widely known, she’d be in jeopardy every time she left a base or battle ship to fight.

Enemies would deliberately target her. Like Gubu.

“No.” Clear and concise. Hurting Kari was something he’d never consider. “The Atoro won’t help you.”

Pleasure twisted Gubu’s mouth into a cruel facsimile of a smile. “Too bad.”

Something sharp stabbed Luka in the back. Pain spread through his torso and his shirt grew damp. He glanced down to see the tip of a blade piercing his side. He dropped to his knees, hands going to his stomach to staunch the flow of blood.

Five Rudurian in gray moved in, their gazes full of malicious intent. Repeated kicks slammed into him. He gasped and braced one hand on the floor to maintain his balance. Above him, Gubu laughed and jeered. “You brought this on yourself.”

Despite the sudden weakness coursing through Luka, fury helped him surge to his feet.

Tightening his grip on his knife and ignoring the one imbedded in his side, he went on the offensive, slicing those closest to him.

Screams and shouts rang out as he turned around and stabbed another in the shoulder.

A lucky slice cut through his shirt, causing him to jump back. Wincing, he kept fighting as two more joined. He was outnumbered and the odds increased against him, but he didn’t stop fighting.

Another slash from an attacker impacted the mobility in his left arm. Shifting his stance, he kicked the attacker in front of him. Running steps approached from behind. He whirled to block the punch aimed for his head. He couldn’t avoid the kick to the hip and stumbled backward.

Panting, he held his ground. Blood dripped in a steady stream down his arm and his midsection. At the sight of the men closing in on him, his lips curled up “The Rudurian need eight to one odds to fight me? Good to know.”

Growling, the one on the left darted forward to jab him with a shock baton. Luka froze as his body jerked to and fro. The rest took advantage and surged forward, beating him until he fell.

As soon as the shock wore off, he rolled to the side. His chest heaved, and sweat ran down his face. Blood loss combined with the jolt to his system left him weak.

But he couldn’t give up. He had to help Kari. He had to make sure she got on the transport and off the station.

Someone leaned down and swiped a blade across his forearm narrowly missing his tattoo. Curling to his front, he moved to tuck his arm under him, but Gubu darted forward at the last second. The next cut sliced across the hind leg of his tattoo.

More kicks and slashes came close to destroying the image of the gathos. If he didn’t do something, Zsusa would be severely injured. “Zsusa, reveal.”

She flowed from his skin and braced on all four, tail up and fur raised.

Gubu’s dark eyes lit up. “A gathos. Throw me a portable containment cage.”

Someone tossed a metal orb toward him. He caught it with one hand, his rapt gaze on Zsusa.

Luka struggled to his feet and snarled aloud, “Kill, Zsusa.”

Without hesitation, she launched herself at the nearest Rudurian. Claws and teeth out, she attacked with a vengeance. Her snarls and hisses rose in volume as she tore at a Rudurian’s neck. She moved to the next. Shrieks filled the air. Blood sprayed from the wounds she inflicted.

He lost sight of Zsusa as she became a white and gold blur, streaking around the group like the deadly feline she was. One down. Two down. Throats were slit from her razor like claws.

Sudden fire seared his side, pulling his attention away.

He glanced down at the gaping wound from a laser and choked off a pained grunt as he staggered back.

Legs unsteady, he collapsed. Steps thudded toward him, revealing a blue eyed Rudurian.

He grinned and aimed his laser at Luka. “The Atoro will flounder without the head.”

Luka caught sight of Gubu easing behind Zsusa. His heart leaped into his throat as he voiced the telepathic command, “Zsusa, leave,”

“I no go,” she refused. Hackles raised, she crouched in the corner. Blood dripped from the gash on her right hind leg. She kept her left forepaw off the floor. Something was broken there as well.

If he died, Zsusa would die with him. Unless, he did the unthinkable. One desperate act he hoped would offer her a chance to escape. Voicing the words to break the bond, he said, “Zsusa, free of skin.”

The tearing sensation from his arm and head left him panting on the ground. Zsusa’s accompanying growl rang out as she shook her head fiercely. “No. I stay. I help.”

Black waves danced across his vision. His lungs labored, signaling broken ribs. Nausea rose at the pit of his stomach. In desperation, he curled onto his side, fighting to stay conscious.

Gubu held the containment cage higher. If he activated it, Zsusa would be caught. The price on the black market for a gathos would guarantee she sold quickly. Her life would be one of pain and suffering.

Luka appealed to the connection he knew existed and his pet’s desire for praise. “You must protect Kari. Only you, Zsusa. You’re the smartest gathos I know.”

Her low whine brought tears to his eyes. “Protect Kari? Kari mistress?”

Freeing her with his earlier command would also allow Zsusa to bond with Kari if she chose to do so. “Yes, you protect Kari. Go.”

“I protect mistress.” With one last howl, she turned on her haunches and took off. Her speed enabled her to weave around the men closing in. No one could catch Zsusa if she didn’t want to be caught.

His head fell back in relief. Kari would see to her safety. The world spun, shouts filled his ears and everything faded to black.