Liberation (Alien Attachments Book 3) Read online

  “Awesome,” Ria said, running her hand across the console. “We’ve got five fighters on the other side of the station. They’re nice, but not as nice as this sweetheart.”

  “Thanks,” Kit said, and meant it. “I’ve upgraded her bit by bit.” She walked them back to the sleeping quarters. Even though she’d modified it to combine two of the original three, the larger one was still a small space. A shower and lav took up a quarter of the room and the bed most of the rest. The thought of sleeping with Corvak hit her hard, and not in a good way. Looked like her fling with Balastar was going to cost her more than she realized. She needed time to think things through.

  She showed them the smaller sleeping chamber. Lying on the bed was one of Thomas’s sweaters.

  “Oh frack,” Kit said. “These are your parent’s things.”

  Dani swallowed hard.

  “Why don’t we pack them up? You can take them with you.”

  Dani nodded. The three loaded up the two small bags her parents had brought. There wasn’t much. That had been part of the deal, no excess luggage. Tiger was small. She hadn’t allowed more than three bags. She felt bad about that now.

  Dani didn’t say anything, and she and Ria didn’t push.

  “It’s a tight room, but they were happy enough,” Kit said.

  “Thank you.” Dani’s voice was rough.

  “I’ve got plenty of space at the villa,” Ria said, probably to change the subject. “Why don’t you and Corvak stay with me while you’re here? You can have as many rooms as you want.”

  Kit didn’t need to think about it twice. “That would be great, thanks. I need to sort some things out with him. He can stay here.”

  Dani and Ria shared a look, but they didn’t pry.

  They left the bags on the bed while Kit finished showing them around the engine, weapons systems, and maintenance access areas.

  “Thanks for the tour, Kit,” Ria said when they finished. “That ship's a beauty.”

  “She’s my baby. I’m going to grab some things to bring down with me. I’ll be there in a bit.”

  The two took Dani’s folks bags and left her alone to get her things. She went to the bedroom and pulled a duffel out from the under-bed storage space. She shoved in a change of clothes and a night shirt along with toiletries.

  She zipped the bag and sat on the bed. Vertan might actually have hope for the first time in her life. It was hard to wrap her head around. She and Corvak should be cautiously celebrating. Instead, she was fighting an almost visceral reaction against him. She didn’t want Corvak touching her. Their relationship had been increasingly rocky over the past year, but they’d still managed to connect on a physical level. Until Balastar. The trip here with Corvak had really sucked.

  She shook her head. There were bigger things to focus on right now. As soon as she heard from Lord Cavacent, she’d contact the consortium. They needed to know.

  Hope. It was an odd feeling. She grabbed her bag but hesitated at the airlock. With a sigh, she connected to Tiger’s AI and revoked Corvak’s authority for anything other than systems needed to live on board. Things were changing between them, and she didn’t need him disappearing.

  She returned through the portal to find Corvak in a heated discussion with Rucon and the rest of the EPs.

  “What’s going on?” Kit asked.

  Balastar leaned against one of the French doors off to the side with his legs crossed. He shot her a fleeting glance, but kept his psi reigned. His body was tense, his expression unreadable.

  “Your pretty boy lied,” Corvak spat.

  Kit felt it when Balastar snapped. He spanned the distance between him and Corvak and smashed a fist in his face before anyone could react.

  Armond and Marco had Corvak restrained in an instant, and Balastar leaned in inches from Corvak’s bloody nose.

  “Do you ever listen? Rucon didn’t say ‘no.’ He said ‘not now.’” Balastar straightened up as though repulsed by Corvak’s presence, which he probably was. “And I’ll tell you. One. Last. Time. This has nothing to do with me. I am not the one that can help you.”

  He spun around to Rucon, running an unsteady hand through his hair. “I’m shipping out tomorrow morning with a load of carnium. I’ll be in touch.”

  He stopped a foot in front of Kit on his way out.

  She felt the tension in his body. It wasn’t only anger at Corvak; it was desire for her. She was fighting the same pull.

  She thought he might say something but he turned and left instead. As he blinked out, it was like a door slamming shut. She might never see him again, and the thought twisted her insides.

  Armond scowled at Corvak. “Are you going to control yourself or is this going to get unpleasant?”

  They’d already crossed that bridge.

  Corvak struggled, but the EPs had a firm grip. “It’s obvious we’re not getting any help from these crags,” Corvak said to her. “I’ll be in the ship, Kit. Assuming these piles of gordak let me go. It’s time for us to leave.”

  Kit winced at Corvak’s behavior. She liked these people, but she needed to go home. “We’ll leave tomorrow. Let him go,” she said to Armond and Marco. “He’ll stay on the Tiger. Right, Corvak?”

  He shook off the two EPs. Wiping blood from his face, he cursed all the way to the portal. Kit hoped Balastar had gotten to his ship.

  “I’d like to apologize for my…friend.” Kit dropped her duffle by the side of the couch. She wasn’t sure if she was still welcome. “Would someone please fill me in on what set him off?”

  Rucon motioned for her to have a seat, and he joined her. “I just spoke with Supreme Commander Anantha. He’s never heard of Vertan, but is willing to investigate.”

  “That’s great,” Kit said, sliding forward on her seat. “So what’s wrong with Corvak?”

  “The commander is willing to investigate, just not now. As I said, the military is spread thin, and they are currently heavily deployed in the far side of the galaxy. There’s a massive insurgency there trying to undermine everything the GTO stands for. Multiple worlds are enslaved. He promises he’ll get to Vertan, but it may be awhile.”

  Kit was disappointed, but it was still good news. Fracking Corvak. The thought of going back to the Tiger and dealing with him wasn’t an appealing one. “Thank you, Lord Cavacent. It’s the best news we’ve had.”

  “Call me Rucon, and you’re welcome. And don’t worry, Vertan will be freed.” He stood, and she followed suit. “Leave your contact info with Ria.”

  “I will,” Kit said. Vertan freed. A surreal feeling washed over her.

  Rucon placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “Hang in there.” He turned to Dani next. “Ian said to tell you he’s back on Cat Island.”

  Armond and Marco followed after Rucon. She found Armond to be overbearingly arrogant but really liked Marco. He was like a big kid with an infectious smile.

  “I’m out of here, too,” Dani said, clutching the bags of her parent’s belongings. “Promise you’ll stay in touch, Kit?”

  “I promise. Good luck finding your parents, Dani. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”

  “I will,” Dani said. “I’d give you a hug but my hands are full.”

  Kit laughed and wrapped her arms around the blonde. “I’ll do it for both of us.”

  Ria waved goodbye and turned back to Kit when everyone was gone. “What are your plans now?”

  “Is it still okay if I stay here for tonight?”

  “Of course. Stay as long as you like.”

  “Thanks. I’m not sure I want to deal with Corvak right now.”

  Ria gave her a sympathetic look. “Men can be a real pain.”

  Kit laughed, glad Ria wasn’t pressing the issue. She hadn’t realized how tense she’d been. It would be good to have some time alone. Maybe explore the town.

  “I’ve got to oversee some incoming shipments on the station.” Ria strapped a sleek leather holster to her right thigh, a laser dart
nestled inside. “Make yourself at home. Dinner will be ready around seven-thirty. You’ve already had some of Gina’s cooking. She never fails.”

  “Perfect. Thanks.” Kit picked up her bag, and Ria showed her to one of the guest rooms. Kit wondered fleetingly if Balastar would stay at the villa, then realized that would be pointless. His ship was far better than any guest room, but once Ria opened the door, she questioned if that was true. The space was spectacular. A massive four poster bed and a balcony overlooking the lake. Just what she needed. She tossed her bag on the settee.

  When Ria opened the double French doors, a crisp breeze blew inside. “So where you off to tomorrow, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  “I don’t mind. I’m scheduled to deliver the distorters I have to some of our people on Wenarth. They’re gearing up to start a new colony. And then I’m going home. I need to see my family. Tell them what’s going on with the GTO. I can’t believe it.”

  ***

  Loc positioned himself by the podium as the new inductees strode toward the altar. The solemn and reverent look upon their faces made him ill. Nearly twenty-five years ago, it had been him making that trek. And, oh, had he believed in the power and the privilege inherent in becoming a Portal Master. Servant to the one holy God of portals. To be chosen, they'd told him, was to be superior. It was a fate that could not be denied. Swearing his loyalty to God and church, forsaking any chance of marriage and family, had been easy for him. He'd fallen to the seduction of the guild.

  Lining up before him now was the latest group. Sacrificial animals hastily thrown together in order to start replacing the masters who had forsaken the guild and fled with the Cavacent clan. Their betrayal fed his anger. Durgan Serred was their leader. Did he know? Had he surmised the truth? The thought that another had guessed that which he never would have suspected was salt on an open wound.

  And here he was, propagating the lies and deceit in order to carry on the work for the Portal Masters' Guild. He had desired this position since the day he'd stood in front of the altar and the then-head of the guild, Beore Warroc, who had lied just like all the masters before him. And now Loc himself spread the poison. Change was coming, and Loc Zorton was going to make it happen.

  Merrin and the other elders stood off to his left, waiting to greet the newest PMs after the induction. Merrin shot him a look that brought him back to the present.

  Loc straightened his back and removed the scowl that must have been on his face. He hated the old man even though none of this was his fault. The guild was old. The foundation for lies and deceit had been laid down long before their time.

  The men, mere boys, were so young and naïve. They were about to swear away any chance of a normal life. As they approached him, one by one, he performed the sacred ritual of induction. Loc barely paid attention. Five hundred years. He glanced out at the pews where the rest of the guild sat, then up at the ancient stained glass. If there was a God, surely it would condemn what the guild had been doing to an entire planet. Loc thought of the Vertans now being gathered at the new remote compound. It was hardly any worse than what had been done already. They would reestablish the portals. It was a start.

  He finished the rite for the last boy and waited as they filed past the elders. The music that had accompanied the induction for the past hundred years filtered through the church. The slow, dramatic tempo spoke of power and destiny. He almost laughed. He wondered who had come up with that flourish.

  Change. The word echoed through his head.

  ***

  Later, Loc paced in his chambers, waiting for the new President of Sandaria, Gordat Prayda. A few weeks earlier, the Supreme Commander of the GTO, Torril Anantha, had ordered the president’s arrest. Something about an attempt on Lord Cavacent’s life on a planet best known for its Summer’s Ball. Loc had agreed to apprehend Prayda, but the commander over-estimated the guild’s power, and although Anantha’s family lived here on Sandaria, he seemed unaware of the deepening political unrest. Probably because his family lived far from the capital of Ardos. Even if they could arrest the president, shuffling the deck and removing Prayda at this time would only further the disorder. What they needed now was stability. And security. Especially in light of the crowds that had started forming on a regular basis at the main entrance of the guild’s compound. They demanded to know the cause for the portal failures. Loc frowned. Never had the citizens of Sandaria presumed so much. The guild answered to no one.

  His assistant buzzed his com. “President Prayda is here.”

  “Send him in.”

  Gordat Prayda was not a pleasant sight. He’d lost his old councilman robes in exchange for flashier attire. Billowing pants under a thigh-length bejeweled tunic did little to disguise his fleshy appearance. The man constantly licked his lips and had a revolting habit of staring at women’s breasts. For some unfathomable reason, the media had made him their darling, and he could do no wrong. The man’s sense of entitlement only grew. Still, he was a known entity, and for whatever reason, the majority of the population supported him.

  “Mr. President,” Loc said, “it’s good to see you.”

  “Yes, I suppose it is.” Prayda sat on one of the chairs by the windows, leaving Loc no choice but to join him. He’d prefer the separation afforded by his desk, but the ego needed stroking.

  Taking the other chair, Loc said. “I asked you here to discuss the unfortunate crowds at our gates.”

  “Word has spread fast about the failing portals.”

  “It is nothing to be concerned about,” Loc lied. “Simply an adjustment that occurs every few hundred years.”

  Prayda eyed him suspiciously.

  “We have never answered to the public and will not do so now.”

  Prayda’s wet-lipped grin was nauseating. “As long as you continue to work with me, I think we’ll do just fine. I will make a public statement with regards to the guild.”

  Loc bowed his head and kept his face neutral. Change. As the anger that burned inside him grew, so did his determination to change the guild. The only question was how.

  ***

  Kit wandered around the small village of Bellagio. It was charming, to say the least. She loved the lake. Ferries crisscrossed the water, and lush green mountains towered high above. She took a deep breath. So many delicious aromas from the cafes and restaurants. She walked without direction or purpose. There was a light chill in the air, but the sun warmed her skin.

  What was she going to do about Corvak? She tried to think it through, but her brain balked every time. She was going to have to face him eventually, but for now she let her feet lead the way. She wound away from the center and down more private, less crowded streets. A narrow cobblestoned alley led her to a small beach landing. An old stone wall tapered down below the water’s surface. A lone boat, white with a single red stripe of peeling paint, sat beached nearby. She perched on the exposed portion of the wall and stared out over the lake. Her parents would be glad if she and Corvak split. They’d never liked him. She laughed at the thought. They’d only met him once, and it was one time too many.

  His abrasiveness hadn’t bothered her before, but seeing him act like such a jerk today had embarrassed her. Which in itself was strange. She wasn’t prone to caring what others thought. She used her psi to pluck a small rock off the ground. Hopping off the wall, she aimed and managed seven skips on the water’s surface. Her dad had taught her how to select the right stone. He’d like Balastar. So would her mom. She blew out a breath. It seemed like everything was shifting. Normal wasn’t normal anymore, and she felt lost. Geez. Get a grip. She shot another rock across the lake, frowning when it sank with a depressing plop.

  Her com pinged. Corvak. She didn’t want to talk to him but should at least let him know she wouldn’t be back to the Tiger tonight. “What’s up?”

  “Get back here,” he said. “I want to get out of this hell hole.”

  “This isn’t a hell hole. I told you, we’re not leaving until tomorrow.
Just deal with it.”

  “You deal with it. I’ll find my own way out of here.” The connection dropped.

  Kit stared at her com. The only thing she felt was relief. It was time for them to part. Question was, would he be able to hitch a ride? She called Ria.

  “Hey, girl. What’s up?” Ria’s cheerful voice made her smile.

  “Any chance Corvak can get a ride with one of the transport crews up there?”

  “Probably. I’ll have to check. You okay?”

  Kit thought a minute. “Yeah, I think I am. Or I will be. I’ll head up, see if we can’t get Corvak the ride he wants.”

  Twenty minutes later Kit stood next to Ria who was talking to the captain of the transport ship that had arrived from Sandaria.

  “It ain’t fancy,” the man said.

  “He doesn’t need fancy,” Kit replied. “When are you departing?”

  “Should be clear in another fifteen minutes or so. We’re in bay one. Have him come to me.”

  “Great. I’ll let him know and send him over.” She thanked Ria and went to her ship. Least she could do is say goodbye.

  She opened the airlock and stepped inside. Corvak stood in the cramped space by the dining table. The surface was littered with his things, stuff that had been stored throughout the ship over the past two years.

  “You could wait until tomorrow morning you know.” Please don’t say yes.

  “We both know where this is headed. Ever since your pretty boy showed up, you ain’t been the same.”

  “Corvak, I…” What could she say? It was true. “Look, you’re right. Things have changed, but there’s no need to be an ass.” She felt bad for him, but guilty because her stronger emotion was relief.

  “Piss off, Kit.” He looked at her a moment. “We both know we weren’t going to last much longer, and I got plenty of women ready to take your place.” He shoved the rest of his things into a bag. One of her bags.

  He can have it. She shoved her hands into her front pockets. He was right on both counts.