Page 9

Mated Bliss

Hel was sore. There was no denying she had enjoyed it. Even being sore was just a reminder of the excellent night that they had spent together. She knew why he did it. It would cause bonding that she couldn't overcome or prevent. While he had taken the choice away from her, she wasn't sure she wouldn't have given in anyway. For so long, she had wanted him, and now she had him for better or for worse. After Ranni, he was the most powerful and respected warrior on the ship. Even in the quadrant, no one came close to either of them. The emperor himself didn't have much respect, and no one liked him, but they feared him because of the power he had been given when he took the crown.

Someday, if he survived, Ranni would have that power, too, and Flander would move up into the most trusted position. That meant that they would all move to the capital. Another thing she didn't think she wanted to do and would have forced on her. There was little to be done to prevent those things she dreaded, but at least it would be a while before they happened. Her sister might not want any of those things, and she would be forced along for the ride. They said women had some equality, and maybe they'd had more in Radvar’s day, but they had lost some of it when this new emperor had taken over.

That's why there weren't more females on board this ship. They weren't accepted into the military. There were very few, and no one was sure why he chose those he did, but he did it personally. She had the impression that he was some kind of pervert, and his romantic life certainly supported that. He never had exes because they died when he was done with them. The only good thing about being on the ship is that they didn't have to be at the palace where the emperor was. She needed to get her mind on her work because they were about to land, and a crazy crowd had gathered. This might be the most people that had ever been waiting for them when they landed. What worried her was the gang members that could be seen at the crowd's edge. Were they here to attack the ship or the refugees trying to get off the planet? They wouldn't know until it was too late to plan for it.

The robots would go first, giving them a level of safety, but it wouldn't help those in the crowd, and she saw many children. Gang members didn't care who they killed when they killed. A few gang members had turned into refugees and refused to return to the planet, which was a good thing. Cutting enemies by turning them into friends was a good thing. It just didn't happen enough. Most of the gang members were so scared of the leaders they worked for that they wouldn't even consider leaving.

The door opened, and the robots blocked the way as they headed out one at a time because the robots were huge. People swarmed them, and she worried someone might get hurt because the robots wouldn't stop. They moved people out of their way gently, which was a surprise for such huge creations. Kasey must have programmed them to care about people not shooting at them. The problem was that as soon as people began to get on board the ship, the gang members began to shoot, and the robots returned fire. The robots firing wasn't the problem because they were extremely accurate. Gang members firing was a problem because they hit more people than robots. Several of them had been shot, and some of the other ones looked scared and like they wanted to retreat, but they refused to.

Hel suspected that they'd been told if they were treated, other gang members would shoot them, and they would die anyway. If they died because they were cowards, their people would go after their families, and most of them did have families of some sort. If you entered that kind of life, there would be no winning, no matter what you did. Even if you died, you knew that someone you cared about would die after you. What kind of choice was that?

The ship slowly began to fill, but the pushing and shoving were hard to control. Flander decided they could load more quickly. It helped, but it wouldn't be long before they had all they could take, and the rest would have to stay behind. Their ship was loaded and ready to take off, but the gang members attacked those left. Flander ordered the crowd to disburse, but when they didn't, the ship sprayed the crowd with ice-cold water. They all ran for cover, and the ship took off. Things seemed to be getting harder as more people were moved away.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the base and unloaded their passengers. A few buildings were available for families, but little progress has been made toward singles and couples. Sometimes, it seemed like they would never have enough places for people to stay. Still, at least the services were improving because a small hospital would be added on as needed, a cafeteria, and supply buildings would provide whatever was needed. That was something, and she knew, in time, it would be a thriving town, possibly even a city. Once everyone was off the ship, the squad followed and went in the direction of where they were going to work.

She had an assistant who took names and found out what people were talented at. Eventually, they would get more information about all the people staying here, but that was enough for now. Under these circumstances, they only did the basics, and other things were put off until later. This would be a hard day with many people to sort through. It was time to begin, so she joined her group, and they began to go through people one at a time. There was hope that they would find people to fill the positions where they desperately needed someone. It always made her happy when she found people, especially for the more difficult positions to fill.

Trained warriors were impossible to find, but sometimes, she could find someone willing to be trained to become a warrior. It was an average load. Of all the people on it, only two looked good to be trained as warriors. Since they both had families, she was sure they would agree because who didn't want to make life better for your family? Hel found someone who had been a trained chef, which was unusual because most of those had left the planet as soon as the attack occurred. A good chef could find work anywhere, and she wasn't sure why they had remained, but she wouldn't question it too much. They would start in the cafeteria, but eventually, they might be able to start a restaurant once this became more of a town.

Many of these people volunteered to do whatever work was available for them to do. It was important in building a new town that people were willing to work. That was not true of all the people because some wanted to be taken care of until they ran to the end of the time when the warriors would take care of them, and then they wanted to leave. Majuri had policies in place for dealing with refugees. Those with children would get the longest time, two years. Singles got six months, and couples got a year. After that time, they would ship them off somewhere, and they would have to take care of themselves.

Hel got distracted, but she was still going through the paperwork, picking out people, and putting them in a pile so she could talk to them later. The problem was she couldn't stop thinking about her mate and what they needed to do to get their life on the right track. It was possible. It had to be because she wanted to be with him, and since he had mated her, that showed he wanted to be with her. If two people wanted something badly enough, she believed they could achieve it. Her parents hadn't been a perfect match because they had been interested in different sciences and had often argued about where they should go and what they should do because her mother often liked remote locations. Still, her father needed to be at the hub of technology for his work. They eventually agreed, and that was when they moved to Purgatory. It had been a remote location, but eventually, it had become a high-tech hub, even if only because of her father's company.

All she could do was hope that she and her mate would eventually work things out and figure out what would work best for both. She knew that he was bad at expecting everything to go his way, and that was what she would have to overcome. Her assistant came in to remind her it was lunchtime. Reba knew Hel would work through lunch if she wasn't reminded. She called the office daily to tell her it was lunchtime. The base cafeteria was packed, but her squad was there claiming a table. Getting her tray loaded with food, she sat with them.

A seat was always left for her next to her mate. She never had a choice about where she could sit because she was usually the last one there. Hel ate a bit less than the guys, but she still never managed to be the first one done. The food seemed to get better every time she ate at the cafeteria, and it might even get better yet. They couldn't afford gourmet ingredients, but a good, solid cook with talent was all they needed. Experienced kitchen help from Purgatory was hard to find since so many had fled when the attack occurred. It was a surprise that she had managed to find a few.

She was sure the kitchen manager would be pleased since she was always overworked and never had enough people to do what needed to be done. The squad finished individually and left the table, leaving only her and her mate behind.

“I need a kiss before I go to sustain me until the end of the day," Flander said.

It was a surprise that he could be romantic, so she gave him a kiss and sent him on his way. He's shown her a side lately that had been warm and gentle. Yes, he was still a warrior, but now he was also a lover. That made her more hopeful that they would find a compromise to please them both. Especially since she thought she might be pregnant. It was a surprise that he hadn't known first since warriors could often smell that change. She planned to go to the doctor, and then she would know. Hel wouldn't tell him until she knew beyond a doubt that it was true.

How would it be to have a child with her mate? She knew pregnancy could be rough and remembered that her sister had difficulties of her own at that time. The birthing process itself was painful and messy, but everyone said that as soon as that baby was laid in your arms, you forgot all about that. It might be true, which might be why so many populations flourished. Hel also wondered if it might be a boy like his dad or a girl more like her. She wasn't sure she wanted to know until the baby was born.

On the other hand, it might help to know what colors to choose when buying equipment and clothing for an infant. It was also possible that Flander would want to know. If that were the case, then they would both know.

She finished that last bite on her plate and cleaned up her area before returning to her office. Her life was so regimented that she didn't know how to fit a baby into it. Yes, there were people available to watch children, but it had to be hard to leave them behind while you went to work for the day. Babies were so lovable, and even toddlers were cute as hell. Sometimes, when they got older, their behavior was a little difficult. Sitting in her chair, she was lost in daydreams.

"Hel, it's quitting time," Reba observed.

She was a perfect assistant, keeping her on target and letting her know anything she needed. If she had an office she oversaw, Reba would be her personal assistant. Maybe she should recommend her to her sister to get her a better job and out of this place. She knew that Reba was single and had no ties to the camp other than that the planet below was so dangerous. Maybe she was selfish because, right now, she needed help to get this place organized. Later, she would help Reba get a better job.

It was time to head to the ship and load. When she arrived, her squad was already there. As soon as she was onboard, they headed to the ship. She sat in the back and tried to stay awake but failed. When she woke up, someone had their hands wrapped around her throat. How embarrassing for a warrior. Flander immediately seemed to know and headed to the back of the ship.

“Stop right there!” the man yelled.

“What do you want?” Flander asked.

She could smell a terrible odor. This guy never took a bath. Hel could see a reflection in the window. This guy was a gang member. His hands relaxed. She was tired of what he was doing. There was more than one way to deal with this, but the easiest way was how she decided. Relaxing her body, she slammed her head back into his, and he immediately let go as blood gushed everywhere. Hel had a terrible headache. Flander rushed up, grabbed the guy by the back of his neck, lifted him, and threw him across the aisle, where he hit the plane's wall. Ouch! That had to hurt. She knew that because her head hurt too. Maybe she should have picked one of the other ways.

“Who are you?” Flander asked.

“JC. I'm part of the gang, but I wanted to negotiate for a place in the refugee camp.”

“I think you picked the worst possible way to negotiate. Why should we let you join the camp after you've shown your tendency to violence?”

“I didn't plan to hurt her. I just wanted your attention and to have something to deal with. The life down there isn't worth having, and I don't have a family yet, so they have nothing to hold me in place," JC admitted.

"You'll be locked up while we check out your story, and my boss will decide what we'll do with you."

Hel had sat down while she waited for her headache to ease, and she listened to the gang member who had taken her. If he was telling the truth, this man could help them. He would have information on the gangs that might help speed up their attempts to get rid of them. Knowing their weaknesses and strengths is important when you are waging war against a group like this. She wouldn't have any say in any part of this, but the discussion gave her hope that they could speed along reclaiming Purgatory. Some might say she shouldn't care because it was no longer her home, but in her heart, it would always be her home, and once the planet was cleared, she would want a place there that they could visit for vacations.

Kasey had mentioned the same desire, and she was sure they would claim one of the places her family owned. Hel had to do everything she could to ensure that Purgatory was returned to its former glory. She didn't know how she would do that, and she wasn't sure that the empire would do what was necessary to get it done. All she knew was that they had to try and that right now, she could only continue as she had been.

Ranni decided the next day that they would go forward with working with JC and see what they might do with the gangs. They would watch him closely because trust took time to develop, and all they had right now was an agreement that they hoped would benefit all of them. JC seemed relieved, as he should be, because had he not been accepted, he would have ended up in a horrible prison, which would have been even worse than living on the surface of Purgatory. Empire prisons were generally not bad because prisoners were usually given hard labor. If you didn't mind working, good work got you out early. Only the worst and most dangerous were thrown into prisons, and few survived in for long.

He would have been given hard labor, but he would not have managed to have a good life until he was released. While he said he didn't have any family or anyone they could hold against him, she didn't believe him. Someone in his life made him want better things, and once they got going, she had a feeling that he would have someone he wanted brought to him. She understood his need for secrecy regarding a relationship that could be used against him. Hel would have done the same thing, but she was interested in how he reworked his agreement to include this mysterious person.

Her squad would be the major group working with him, and they would plan and carry out everything that they determined from the information he gave them. A meeting was about to take place in one of the soundproofed and secured rooms, so no one else would be getting this information.

“I hope you are doing well in the quarters that we gave you and that you're finding the food and other things satisfactory," Hel remarked.

She had been placed in charge of making sure that he cooperated fully and that he was kept alive, which could be a problem since many people on board knew that he was a gang member who had turned. That placed a target on his back because gangs were the enemy, and there might have been a gang member that had come up here that was hiding and waiting to see what they could do to cause grief. If they were caught, they would be destroyed painfully, but until then, if they managed to hide, they could cause a lot of difficulty.

“Are you kidding? This is almost like heaven compared to where I was. I've heard that the refugees are being treated well, although not as well as I have been. I hope this means we'll get a plan so the planet can return to what it once was. I've heard wonderful stories about the lives that the people on the planet once had. I believe your family was at the center of prosperity, and hopefully, it will be again. There are also rumors about what may have happened to your father and that he may not be dead.” JC admitted.

“Until we get information one way or the other, there is little we can do about that," Hel offered.

“I understand, but maybe once we get a little work done and things aren't so chaotic on the surface, I can track down some information about your father.”

“I would greatly appreciate that. Meanwhile, it is time for us to work out our first mission so that we will get the most result from it.”

“Agreed. I believe that the first thing we should do is knock out the leaders of the world's largest gang. That is the gang that I was involved with, and they go by the name of Blues. No one knows why, but they think it may have had something to do with the original leader. If this is not satisfactory, please tell me what information you prefer.’ JC observed.

Hel knew they had gotten to the point where Flander would take over as he was the squad leader and highest-ranking warrior present. She also knew that Ranni and Kasey were watching from the other side of what appeared to be a wall, but it wasn't. There was no way a project like this would go forward without the big boss ensuring he was well aware of everything happening. It would be crazy not to. She watched Flander’s expression, and he seemed to find what was being said agreeable. He had an earbud to tell him what the big boss was thinking.

“Where do you believe that this gang's leadership congregates?” Flander questioned.

The table was covered with a picture of the map of the planet’s surface laid out flat. JC stepped up to a certain area, put his hand on it, and tapped. “Right here is where their base is. Leadership rarely leaves. That means ten percent of that gang will be here anytime we attack. Most of them will be leaders. If gang number two realizes that part of the Blues have been destroyed, they will immediately attack them, hoping to take out the gang and claim lower-level members. That gang is called Ortegas, and according to most people, that name came from the planet from which the leadership came. This battle should take a large toll on both of these gangs and may even have members defecting in the hopes of becoming refugees.”

It was hard to deny that that sounded like a good plan. A single surgical strike would start a gang war, but what would the other gangs do once this war started?

“What about the others?” Flander asked.

“There are about a dozen gangs and the top two count for a quarter of the people on the planet. I believe the other gangs will stand back and watch, hoping that numbers are reduced enough that one of the others can take in survivors. If not, and they were stupid enough to get involved, they would lose large numbers, too. I see no way this can turn out badly, only not as good as we hope for.”

“I have to admit that it sounds like a good plan. Limiting the casualties to confirmed gang members is what we were looking for. We will have to confirm that those present are gang members and determine the best way to take out many of them.” Flander explained.

Now, they would move to the next step: to send down listening devices, which were drones the size of insects. They would look like insects, too. Listening to those in that area, their specialists would determine if the information was accurate. A plan would be set up but not carried out until they confirmed JC’s information. Her squad would be the only ones to know the whole plan from beginning to end. Among the others, this information would be compartmentalized. That way, they would know where the information had come from if the word leaked out. Since they were leading the plan, if they were suspected of leaking information, the odds were good they would all be killed. Majuri justice was harsh and swift when it came to their soldiers leaking information or making mistakes. You learned, or you died.

Even stupidly sharing information could get you killed. Soldiers were taught young to keep secure information to themselves and tell no one, not even their mates. JC would probably never get the whole story about this mission and how it had been carried out. The first thing they needed to do was go to the planet's surface near the area that he had selected and release the tiny drones. No one could tell the difference between them and the local insects. The only way they might be caught is if someone whacked them and then realized there was a difference between them and something living. Hel wasn't sure that had ever happened because people just didn't look that closely at small things. They didn't realize the danger that something so small could have.

This plan would be initiated in the morning. The rest of the day, they would get off to do whatever they wanted to. A squad was rarely given time off or in the middle of a mission. She would spend time with her mate, and he was the only one on the squad who would not get time off today because he would be working with the big boss and setting things up for tomorrow. Hel went to the apartment she would probably always think of as his and decided to be a slacker for the rest of the day. Everyone should get some time to slack off and relax. This would be her time, and she would pig out on food she ordered from the cafeteria, play games, and look for a good book.

Hel did all those things, and at some point, she drifted off to sleep only to be woken by a gentle hand and a soft kiss.

“What have you been doing?” Flander asked, and she could hear the smile in his voice.

“I think what I was doing was obvious. I ensured that from the time I got done with work, I did nothing of any value to anyone but me.”

“I can see that, and I hope you enjoyed it. A day such as that is good occasionally.”

“My thoughts exactly," Hel agreed.

Her mate seemed more interested in getting her turned on than talking, and she was turned on now, so why not? People always said that sex was what anchored the mate relationship. This was a good time to check it out.

It was morning. Hel knew it would be a busy day. They were implementing the plans that Ranni and Flander had made. They met with the rest of the squad in the cafeteria to eat breakfast to fuel their day. Once that was done, they all headed to the ship where whatever they needed to carry out this next part of the plan would be loaded and ready to go. All Flander had told them was they would go to the surface to pick up a group of refugees. Hel wasn't stupid. She knew the listening devices would be released while the refugees were loaded.

That was exactly what happened. They stopped in an area with limited refugees, so loading was not an issue. However, Hel could hear the buzz of the insects as they flew past her and out the door. There was nothing to say, and Hel would not pay attention to it. At least this part of the plan had gone smoothly as far as she could see. Knowing that it wouldn't be long before they knew the next step. They might not be informed or end up in the middle of it. It was possible that since they would be using a weapon for the next step only, a couple warriors would take that step. She felt that all hell would break loose on the planet below when that step was taken.

They went to the planet to drop the refugees, which took less time than usual. At that point, instead of doing what they usually did, they headed back to the ship. She figured it was because Flander wanted to check on the incoming information. A special team handled that part, but those who supervised the mission could check in and find out what information was sent. Hel fully expected to get off the rest of the day. They began to process the refugees the same way they usually did. Because the numbers were low, she finished well before lunch. Hel let Flander know, and the squad met her at the shuttle.

It was lunch time when they arrived on the ship. Once lunch was done, Flander dismissed the rest of the squad for the day, but his work was not done. She was sure that Ranni and him would work on the mission in whatever capacity they could. It was odd to have time that she didn't know what to do with. Usually, they worked a lot, and the little time left was spent eating or sleeping. Wasting another half day seemed like more than she should have done. Hel went to find Kasey and see what she was doing. Her sister was rarely hard to find because she worked on robotics in the technology lab.

Kasey’s passions encompassed several sciences, but robotics were the priority because of the work the robots would do on the planet below.