Page 36 of Scars & Starlight (Of Blood and Conquest #1)

TARA

M y nanites tell me it’s been five days since I last saw Kairen.

Five days and nights of staring at the walls or bars of my prisons, not knowing if I ever will see my prince again.

On the third day, we landed on a planet the nanites told me was Tyren, one mostly lost to the war with the Ghorvek invaders.

I was moved from my cell on the ship to one in a building on the planet.

Interestingly enough, it seemed like it was done during the cover of the night, with next to no witnesses.

That tells me the general is afraid of his own crew’s opinion on my abduction.

Everything is easier to bear now that my baby is well again.

After my scare, the nanites stopped the bleeding and fortified the sprout, making sure it’s healthy.

Since the general hasn’t been letting me clean myself up, I asked the little robots to do whatever they can.

They dissolved the blood and grime on me, but a faint residue is still left behind, making me just a bit uncomfortable.

Thankfully, I got used to not having access to water to clean myself with regularly during those first few months after the invasion.

Guess I should consider myself lucky they threw in a portable toilet.

Likely to avoid having the bad smells when they come to gloat.

I hate their villain monologues, but someone shows up without fail every day.

Either the general or his shrew of a daughter.

It's Zeriah who pokes her head in next, wrinkling her nose at the state of me. Yeah, my clothes are wrinkled and stained, and my hair hasn’t been brushed in days.

It came loose from the braids it was in until it was half up, half hanging down, so I just let it go.

I spend a lot of time sleeping, and they’ve been giving me the bare minimum of food and liquid to survive: just a nutrient shake a day.

My stomach growls loudly at the thought of food.

I’d commit heinous crimes for pancakes right now.

“You look dreadful,” the general’s daughter says in a nasal whine.

“You know what would help?” I ask in an upbeat tone. “Letting me the fuck out of here.”

Zeriah frowns. “You think you’re so funny, don’t you?”

I pull my knees up and lean my elbows on them. Even though I’m on the ground and she’s looming above me, I still stare her down. “No, I know I’m funny.” I wave an idle hand. “There’s a difference.”

“You’re in no position to be glib,” she sneers. She looks a bit confused, though. Probably expected me to be a crying, sniveling mess. But as tempting as that might be, I’m not going to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break down.

Unlike me, Zeriah looks radiant in a white dress that reminds me of the Grecian style, her dark hair pulled back into a sleek bun. She’s still looking at me like I’m something she stepped on with her shiny golden slippers.

“I’m just exercising whatever rights you people have left me with,” I mutter.

Leaning my head against the wall, I close my eyes, suddenly so tired.

It’s felt like Groundhog Day ever since they took me, and I can’t escape this repeating nightmare.

I don’t even bother to talk to Korvann anymore.

Every time it’s his turn to gaze at the zoo animal they’ve captured, I pretend I’m too weak to talk and feign sleep.

I don’t want to set him off again. The next time he draws his weapon, my sprout and I might not make it.

“Have you contacted the queen with your demands yet?” I ask the statuesque Avaren. For some reason, the female blushes, the tips of her revealed ears turning pink. What’s that about?

“That’s none of your business,” she replies breezily.

“Then why are you here, Zeriah?” Exasperation shines through my voice. Or is it profound exhaustion from the constant state of fear?

“Just being a gracious host and checking in,” she replies, inspecting her perfectly manicured nails.

I don’t think you’ve been gracious a day in your life , I think to myself, but keep my mouth shut. I don’t see a weapon on her, but that’s no clear indicator with Avaren and their nanites. I feign a yawn and use the tactics I normally reserve for her father on her.

“I’m actually really tired,” I mumble. I almost add that it’s probably the pregnancy taking it out of me, but I don’t necessarily want to remind her of it.

You know, in case she missed the stains from the near miscarriage her father caused.

When she just stares at me, I lie down, turning my back.

It’s not long until a frustrated exhale is followed by the sounds of her retreating steps.

Alone again, I roll over. This cot on the ground is hardly better than the cold floor, and my whole body aches from just lying around for days.

Have you thought of a way to escape?

I can’t stick around waiting for a rescue when every moment could be my last, depending on the general’s moods.

POSSIBLE ACTION: OVERHEAT CELL SECURITY PROMPTING A SAFETY RESET.

Huh. That’s one of the better ideas we’ve had. But what happens once the door is open?

Are there eyes on the cell door? Who would get the alert?

TYPICAL PROTOCOL CALLS FOR A TWO-PERSON MONITORING TEAM AT ALL TIMES.

Can I take down two people with my nano suit’s pew-pew hands ?

CHANCE OF SUCCESS AGAINST TWO MILITARY-TRAINED PERSONNEL: 19%.

I wasn’t asking you, just talking to myself, but thanks, that’s super comforting.

YOU ARE WELCOME.

Ugh.

Do you know the plans for this building and what’s around it? Could you guide me to freedom?

ALL ON-OR-OFF WORLD SCHEMATICS TO MILITARY STRUCTURES MUST BE UPLOADED TO THE CENTRAL KNOWLEDGE BASE. ALL INFORMATION FROM THE CENTRAL KNOWLEDGE BASE IS KNOWN.

Okay. So far, so good.

Do we know if the general added features he didn’t report?

UNKOWN.

Great. Lovely.

I’m in, I tell my little tenants. Let’s do this.

We wait for what my nanites tell me is evening and my daily nutrition shake – who knows how long I’ll be in the wild, foraging whatever the tiny robot mites tell me is safe for me and my baby.

I eye the aliens who bring me my food. They look bored and sluggish.

I bet they resent being posted here, having to keep an eye on a captured pregnant human woman.

If they show any signs of being uneasy that I’m their new princess, I’m missing them. Pricks.

Once it gets a bit later and the day shift is surely done, I stand up and suit up.

My shiny new armor covers every inch of my skin below my throat, and I wish I could’ve used it sooner.

I didn’t want to tip my hand, though. Chances are that they don’t expect me to have military-grade nanites.

A visor lowers over my eyes, displaying an overlay of stats I can’t read.

Any chances you could translate that ?

The symbols shift into letters and numbers that make more sense to me. They even translated the measuring units into ones I’m used to.

Perfect. Let’s fry this bitch.

POSITION YOUR HAND OVER THE LOCK.

Right, right. I aim the aperture on the palm of my armor at the fancy-looking lock on my cell bars, made of an alloy similar to the Talon’s exterior.

UPON REBOOT, YOU WILL HAVE TWO HUMAN SECONDS.

Two seconds to open the door, get out, and close it back up? No biggie.

Understood.

I see the voltage climb with my stylish new glasses, going up into levels that make me wish I were standing further away. The smell of ozone permeates the air as crackling sounds come from the mechanism. Finally, the lights on the keypad blink twice before shutting off completely.

NOW.

I push the bars and scramble out of the cell that’s been my home for the last unpleasant few days, then close it behind me.

INCOMING HOSTILES. TWO AVAREN MALES.

My heart beats wildly at the prospect of violence, even though I expected it and thought I was prepared. But for my baby and my future with Kairen? I’m willing to bare my teeth.

As soon as the two males burst into the holding area, I’m on them, waiting next to the door in an ambush.

Only knock them out! I instruct my nanites.

STUN SETTING CONFIRMED.

I mimic Kai’s signature move, moving my palms to the side of the first male’s head, taking advantage of the element of surprise.

He just starts turning when he goes down, almost bringing me with him.

This gives the other guard time to realize I’m outside of the cell and raise his own weapon, and I let out a juicy curse.

His eyes widen when he takes in my armor, and I duck and ram into him, a move he thankfully didn’t expect.

We both go down, his back hitting the wall first, then his head, and I narrowly escape being headbutted on the recoil.

Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I use the guard’s dazed state to my advantage, placing my hands at his temples and ordering the nanites to knock him out.

“Okay,” I breathe, scrambling off the unconscious soldier. Can you use their communication devices to send an all-clear to anyone who might be waiting for a report?

DONE.

I could kiss you.

No reply, not that I expected one. Kai did warn me they don’t have a sense of humor or even a personality, not like my Kiko.

Which way?

EXIT THROUGH THIS DOOR. TURN NORTH.

I don’t have an inbuilt compass , I say as dryly as my inner voice can manage. The instant I’m done speaking – or rather thinking – a compass appears on the visor’s overlay. Nifty.

Is there surveillance?

I don’t see any cameras, but from what I’ve seen, the Avaren can get a 3D replay on their little cubes.

SURVEILLANCE THREATS NEUTRALIZED AS PER ESCAPE DIRECTIVE.

These nanites really are the gift that keeps on giving.

I creep out of the prison, looking left and right like a thief in the night, though my mites would probably alert me if someone approached.

Once I see I’m alone in the corridor, I turn north and jog down the hallway as soundlessly as I can.

Three turns and one close call later, the nanites lead me to a back exit.

What’s out there?

A rudimentary map appears on my visor’s screen, the building I’m in and the surrounding canyons outlined in thin, glowing gold lines.

A red dot marks my current position. Looks like I’m at the most advantageous place for an escape, closest to the rock cover.

Blue dots show patrolling guards. Not as many of them as I’d expect.

Guess the general is overconfident or understaffed.

Once I’m outside, can I contact Kairen? Or any Avaren not in cahoots with Korvann?

NEGATIVE. COMMUNICATIONS DAMPENER IS PLANET-WIDE.

Shit. Guess I’m on my own until Kai finds me. Or, well, as alone as I can be with countless little robots helping me survive.

I take a deep, bracing inhale.

Okay. Make sure the door doesn’t alert anyone when I open it. And let me know when the guards have their backs turned.

Here we go.