Page 4

Trex

OUR SHUTTLE LANDED in a field next to a vast forest. We were close to the building’s location, allowing us to reach there quickly without the Zinids noticing.

We inspected our weapons before I ran a hand across my jaw. I glanced at the three crew members accompanying me.

“If there are only Zinids here, the rescue should be quick.”

Commander Krin, my first officer, had his hands on his hips. “Scans only showed Zinids on the surface, but I am sure the Krilex are not far away,” he said with an angry frown.

The Krilex were reptilian aliens, and a vile race who had always exploited a narrow passage between Imperium and Alaran space for criminal activities, and the Imperium opted not to intervene.

In recent cycles, they’d been bold enough to enter Alaran space and had been caught in the act of stealing minerals and other resources from some of the planets.

The Protectorate Alliance Forces were committed to ensuring that no illegal activities occurred within Alaran space.

We were not willing to look the other way and let the Krilex go unpunished for their crimes.

It was well known within the Alliance that a weaker race called the Zinids helped the Krilex by procuring slaves of all sexes from all over the galaxy to sell to the reptilians.

“I know they are behind the abduction. Their presence within our borders is becoming increasingly problematic. The more they encroach on our space, the more resources we need to fight them off,” I stated, still annoyed at the lack of success at our recent diplomatic meeting.

An emergency meeting of the Protectorate Alliance council on Targus 4 did not turn out quite the way I expected at all.

First, the Ixul leaders, despite having the same issues with the Krilex, refused to join the Protectorate Forces, claiming they could look after their own planet without us.

Then we were about to leave the station when an alarm went off, and we were informed of the Drakkari Calti’s abduction.

It was my job as Commander of the Protectorate Alliance to find her and report the incident to the Drakkari people.

They were not thrilled to learn that she’d been taken from right under the noses of her guards.

Previously, no one had dared breech the security on the station let alone take someone against their will. Until now.

Fortunately, with the help of witnesses on the space station and the implanted trackers on all diplomats, we were able to locate her signal to an uninhabited planet on the edge of Alaran space and the neutral zone.

It had taken ten rotations of searching by several ships, but we had located the Calti. Now all we had to do was pick her up from the planet and deal with her captors before returning to our current mission, which was to convince more planets within Alaran space to join the Alliance.

“Captain, the scanners indicate five female life signs in the building closest to your location. One of them is Drakkari,” stated helmsman Dril over our communications from our main ship, which remained in orbit.

“It looks like we will be rescuing more than the Calti,” I announced.

“I wonder if any of them are looking for a mate?” grinned Aza. His tail moved in the air as if excited at the prospect.

We all let out a snort.

“That’s doubtful,” said Krin with a snarl. He struck his palm to the panel next to the door.

It slid open, lowering the ramp to the ground.

We left the ship and made our way to the Zinid camp, then walked until we came across the building where the Drakkari Calti was being held.

A handful of Zinids were chatting with one another outside as we approached the compound.

I ordered them to give up the females.

Naturally, they denied having any captives inside the building.

The slavers began firing at us before an all out phaser battle waged for several minutes.

Their weapons were useless against ours, and they had no clue how to fight hand to hand, which was why the flutzing griks began tossing explosives at us.

Krin made a run for the building to free whomever was inside.

He sent me a telepathic message while I fired at one of the Zinid aliens in front of me.

‘It’s empty,’ he said, emerging from the building and taking out another one of the creatures.

All Alarans could communicate with each other telepathically, which was useful when keeping the enemy unaware of our upcoming actions.

I was about to grab one of the ugly griks to question him when our shuttle warning system alerted us to someone being aboard our ship.

Tossing him aside, I cursed and ordered everyone back to where we’d left the shuttle.

When we reached the area, we could see the shuttle wobbling in the air. ‘Flutz! Who would be stupid enough to steal our shuttle?’ I sent the thought to Krin who shook his head but didn’t respond.

The ship suddenly lost altitude and plummeted toward the ground then skidded to a stop near the forest’s edge.

The shuttle door swung open, and the ramp extended downwards. Five females quickly ran down the ramp seconds later.

To my relief, one of them was Calti Joele.

However, she wasn’t the sole focus of my attention.

Among the four human females, I saw a luscious red-haired beauty and my chest ached.

Her eyes locked with mine for a split second, sending another wave of warmth through me.

Her skin tinted a sweet shade of pink before I pulled my eyes away.

My mating marks, which lay dormant for my entire adult life began to tingle. I lifted one of the straps that crossed my chest to look at my exposed skin.

My brow furrowed.

This is not possible.

I swallowed my amazement.

The possibility made my whole body come alive.

Is there a chance it’s true? Did the gods bestow upon me a cherished gift?