Page 4 of Trusting Warik (Hissa Warrior #9)

Chapter 4

Nisha

Maybe you should do as he says , Shift said as Nisha ran after Warik. They’d gotten lucky and were able to take over the ship while all but one of the crew were on Gafican Station. There was only one room that could be locked so they’d secured the Diniki prisoner there.

“They might need my help,” Nisha panted.

Yeah, they’re totally going to need a short, out-of-shape, droid repair specialist, Shift responded.

“Hey, not nice,” Nisha said between taking breaths. When had the ship gotten this big? She’d lost sight of Warik almost immediately, but she knew where the Diniki’s improvised cell was located. “I’m not short, I can do a lot more than repair droids, and I’m only a little out of shape.”

You’re not short by human standards but you’re a midget compared to most other species, including the Hissa. Come on, Nisha, Shift whined. You’re not trained for dangerous situations and that Diniki seemed to hate you.

She wasn’t wrong. At first, Nisha tried to make friends with the Diniki. He responded to her overtures by refusing to tell her his name and insulting her every chance he got. It was obvious he wasn’t going to warm to her, so she gave up. She even let Rakin bring the Diniki food because he wouldn’t insult either of the large Hissa warriors.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Nisha said, slowing to a walk when she saw Rakin and Warik at the end of the hall talking in front of the cell's open door. “The Diniki tried to escape a few times but hadn’t managed yet. This is probably just another failed attempt.”

Then why are the guys standing in an open doorway? Shift asked, her voice pitching high with fear. I think you should turn around and—

Nisha didn’t get what else Shift was going to say because someone grabbed her from behind. One strong, bony arm grabbed her around the chest, trapping her arms at her sides. Something sharp pressed against her neck.

“Scream, worthless human,” the Diniki hissed.

“I’m never going to live this down,” Nisha whispered, regretting her impetuous decision to disobey Warik.

That’s not important right now, Shift said. He obviously wants Warik’s and Rakin’s attention. Scream so they turn around!

“In a moment,” Nisha said, ignoring the pain in her neck and commanded her body to stop pushing blood to the spot where the knife had scored her skin.

“Not in a moment,” the Diniki growled. “Right now!

Nisha asked a question instead. “What do you hope will happen? There are three of us and only one of you. If you capitulate, we’ll release you unharmed. I can’t guarantee your safety if you hurt me.”

Too late! Shift said. He already cut you a little, and I’m sure Warik and Rakin will see it. I hope the guys beat him bloody!

The level of malicious glee in Shift’s tone was a little disturbing. Nisha wished she could talk back to her but couldn’t risk upsetting or confusing the Diniki.

“Those Hissa will get into the escape pod, or I'll kill you,” the Diniki said. His space standard accent was thick, but she could still understand him.

“Since you never told me your name, I’m going to call you Chad,” Nisha said. “That’s not a bad plan Chad, but the guys won’t ever agree. Besides, what makes you think they’ll care if you kill me? I’ve already told them about the Assist and the humans in the growing tanks. They don’t need me anymore.”

“I’ll never understand why you humans are so valuable for breeding,” Chad said. “You’re a weak and stupid species. Why would anyone want to buy one of you?”

“You’re probably right, Chad,” Nisha said, almost wanting to laugh despite the circumstances. “One thing is for sure, Warik and Rakin will kill you. Even with me as a hostage. I think the better idea is to get you to the escape pod. Once you’re inside, you can close the door and leave. Then you don’t have to worry about the Hissa at all.”

“They’re between me and the pod,” Chad reminded her. “I need them to move.”

“That’s easy, let me tell them to go somewhere else,” she answered. “All I need is access to one of the ship’s comms.”

Chad hesitated, then dragged her into a nearby room and pushed her against a wall next to a comms display. “Tell them to go to the forward storage room.”

“How about the control room?” she countered, tapping the comm.

I still think you should call the guys for help, Shift said. I don’t like the idea of this guy getting away with hurting you.

Nisha ignored Shift. “The control room is closer, and it’s insulated so they won’t know you’ve launched until after it happens. In any other room, they might hear the separation motors warming up.”

“Fine, send them to the control room, just do it now!” Chad said, then clicked his sharp teeth threateningly. She didn’t think he’d bite her, but she probably shouldn’t risk it. She tapped the display until it would broadcast throughout the ship.

“Warik, Rakin? Could you guys come to the control room? There’s something you really need to see. I think a derelict ship is heading right for us!”

“Very good,” Chad said. “Now be quiet as they pass.”

Nisha barely kept from replying sarcastically that she didn’t need instructions as this had been her idea in the first place. They stood in the empty room until the sound of running feet passed by, then Chad started dragging her out of the room.

“You can let go of me,” she said. “I won’t run because I know you're faster and stronger.”

“And smarter,” Chad said. He paused in the hallway and slowly let go of her, as if he expected her to fight or flee at any moment.

Once he’d completely let go, she pointed down the corridor. “Should I go first?”

“Yes, but don’t try to escape,” he said, flashing the piece of metal he’d fashioned into a knife.

They walked down the quiet halls until they got to the escape pod. It was a small one with only enough room for two people. Well, maybe three if they were all her size.

“It’s been a horrible date,” she murmured as the door slid open. “Have a great life, don’t grow any more humans.”

She tried to step away, but he grabbed her. “You’re coming with me. I can’t risk the Hissa trying to recapture me.”

Fighting his hold, she started to panic. This wasn’t part of the plan, and she was pretty sure he’d kill her the moment they were free of the ship. Escape pods had limited resources, and it could take days for someone to pick them up. Chad was absolutely the kind of person to kill her to ensure his own survival.

Shift must’ve come to the same conclusion. Scream, kick, run! Don’t let him get you in that pod!

“I’m trying,” Nisha said as she grabbed hold of the arm holding the knife with both hands. “Help!” she screamed, pushing the arm away at the same time she tried to kick Chad.

It was too bad he was so much bigger than her. Not only did he easily pull his knife hand free of her grip, but he swept her legs out from under her, sending her tumbling to the floor.

This was a nightmare. A situation she couldn’t think or talk her way out of!

“Help! Over here! Hurry! Escape pod! Escape p—”

Her words were cut off when Chad tried to bring his foot down on her head. She rolled away and came up against the wall. He lifted his foot to try again, but a sudden blur of green motion tackled him backwards. They both went tumbling into the small escape pod and the closing door alarm sounded.

Suddenly, Warik was there, kneeling next to her. “Nisha, are you hurt?”

“I don’t think so,” she said, trying to sit up.

“No, you should remain still until I can assess you,” he ordered, putting a hand on her shoulder. Another sound came from the pod, and she gasped.

“Rakin! He’s trapped in there with Chad!”

Warik stood and rushed to the display next to the closed hatch, but the sequence had already started. Nisha got to her feet and stood beside Warik to see Rakin’s face in the small hatch window. She could just make out Chad lying unconscious behind him.

Rakin spoke, but they couldn't hear him and then he was moving away. The last thing she saw was his surprised expression before the escape pod rotated the small window out of sight.

Damn, that’s bad luck, Shift grumbled. He was nice too, unlike grumpy Warik.

“Control room,” Nisha said and started running. “We can make contact with the pod.”

“Can’t we collect them?” Warik asked, easily keeping pace next to her.

“Not really,” she said. “This ship doesn’t have a bay because it’s meant to attach to the body of a large station section with plenty of bays.”

“There must be a way to retrieve Rakin,” Warik argued.

“Sure,” Nisha agreed. “All we have to do is follow the pod until it’s picked up or lands. Then we can figure out how to get Rakin back.”

“That’s not optimal,” Warik said.

“Chad getting loose and causing havoc wasn’t optimal either,” Nisha pointed out.

“Did the Diniki give you his name after he’d captured you?” Warik asked as they entered the command room.

Nisha sat at the first workstation and looked for the escape pod beacon. “No, that’s the name I gave him. If you knew anything about Earth names, you’d know it was fitting. Ah, there’s the pod!” A moment later, Rakin’s voice came clearly through her comm.

“...don’t have control.”

“Rakin,” Warik said. “We have an issue.”

It turned out that Rakin was much more familiar with this type of ship than Warik. “I know, just my luck isn’t it? We end up on a ship with no bays or umbilical.”

Warik was silent for a moment, staring hard at her display. “This isn’t optimal. Taking over Assist will be more difficult without you at my side.”

Nisha was annoyed that Warik was focused on what losing Rakin meant for the mission instead of the man’s safety.

“We can follow you, Rakin,” she pointed out. “Then we’d be right there for a transfer once someone with a bay picked you up.”

“No!” Rakin responded without his signature good humor. “You need to carry on with the mission. We don’t know how long we have until the children are Decanted and sold off. They could end up scattered across the universe if we delay even a day.”

Nisha frowned at the display even though there wasn’t a vid feed. “I don’t want to leave you stranded. You could die if you’re not picked up.”

“I’ll be fine,” he assured her, his voice returning to the more easy-going tone she was used to. “The pod is already heading to the nearest inhabited planet; I’ll be there in a day. Once there, I’ll contact Steadfast and Ardent to find out where I need to go to get picked up.”

In the background, the Diniki groaned.

“What about Chad?” Nisha asked. “What if he tells the authorities we stole his ship?”

“Chad?”

“She’s referring to the Diniki,” Warik said. “She gave him an insulting name.”

Rakin chuckled. “When Chad wakes up, we’ll have a talk. I’ll make sure he tells the authorities exactly what they need to hear.”

“Good,” Warik said. “He should also learn not to hurt small, helpless humans.”

“Not helpless,” she grumbled. Warik didn’t respond to her comment but static sounded in her ear from Shift laughing at her.

They talked to Rakin for as long as he was in range. After the connection broke, Warik frowned at her and crossed his arms over his chest.

She smiled up at him, hoping to look innocent. “I guess that didn’t go as bad as it could’ve.”

“Did Chad break into your workroom?” he asked.

She ignored the question. “How do you think Chad got free?”

“Chad is no longer an issue,” Warik said. “You willfully ignoring my order and putting yourself in danger is still a concern.”

“Not really,” she answered, standing up so he wasn’t looming over her any longer. Or at least not looming over her as much as before. Undaunted, she lifted her chin and met his gaze. “I don’t think—hey, stop that!”

Warik was gripping her jaw to hold her still and examining her neck. “He cut you!” Warik’s voice dropped to a harsh whisper. “I wish I’d known that before, I could’ve told Rakin to kill him!”

“It’s nothing,” Nisha said. “I don’t even feel it.”

Oh, back to the med bay! Shift said with a static laugh. I bet you’re going to get a really long lecture about following orders too.

“I don’t need the med bay,” Nisha said even as Warik reached for her. She tried to slap his hands away, but it didn’t work. Soon she was cradled in his arms again as his long legs covered ground quickly.

“When I give you an order, it's for the good of the entire mission,” Warik said as he walked.

Told you!