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One week later
Dawn opened her eyes and gazed at the sterling white ceiling above her. Blinding light beamed down on her. There was a single ding to the left of her head and then a mechanical voice intoned, “Patient has awakened.”
A door swished open, followed by the shuffle of shoes on a floor. Dawn blinked and tried to push up. And couldn’t.
Glancing down at her naked body, she noted what looked like blue energy bands wrapped around her wrists. When she attempted to move her legs, she glimpsed similar bands. Someone had her restrained.
“What’s going on?” Her question came out in a scratchy rasp from her dry throat.
A tanned face leaned over her and peered down. Deep seated black eyes with no sclera, a ridged brow and a sloped head with clipped dark hair.
Vassi. The word for the alien race came along with her last memory. Zombies. Forget not having on any clothes. Dawn gasped and jerked her arms against the restraints. “Let me up!”
One of the horde had scratched her. Had she changed? Was she going to eat people for all her remaining days until someone killed her? Dawn twisted and jerked about again, but there was no give in the odd straps of energy keeping her in place on a...bed. Where the hell was she?
The last thing she remembered was the creature attacking her. She’d fought and won. Then she’d collapsed on the ground in relief only to notice the deep gouge on her arm where the infected had grabbed at her with a dirty nail. How long had she sat there wondering at her twist of fate?
Vaguely she recalled her relief when Venik found her. The shock and disappointment in his black eyes as he held up her bleeding arm.
“Get these restraints off of me!” she snapped.
“Calm yourself,” the Vassi beside her bed said in a soothing tone.
He spoke English with a distinct growl. She’d know that gritty pattern of speech anywhere, but this wasn’t the alien she trusted. “Where’s Venik? Get Venik!”
“Retired Commander Avar is unavailable right now. We will help you.”
A second face joined the first to gaze down at her. Being stared at by strange aliens she didn’t know increased Dawn’s growing feelings of concern and anger. She wanted them away from her. Their lack of urgency ignited her temper. “Listen, get Venik right now, or I will scream this place down!”
Dawn didn’t make the threat lightly. She refused to be experimented on or whatever plans they had for her. Venik might not be fond of her, but at least she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. It was a promise he’d made and upheld.
“You are not yet yourself. Relax.”
As if adding truth to his words, her vision hazed and Dawn arched upward as much as the restraints would allow and screamed. She screamed over and over and banged her head on the bed beneath her. Fury, rage—it all boiled over and she wasn’t sure what she yelled. Spittle built in her mouth and soon she was choking and grunting.
“This always happens after she awakens. We will sedate her,” the one on the left said.
“Agreed,” the one on the right said.
They both disappeared from view. Oh, hell no. That quickly, calm returned and Dawn fell back on the bed, her body weak and trembling. “Come back! I don’t want to be sedated. Help! Please.”
Something was placed against her forearm. A hiss quickly followed. The ceiling above swirled and grew hazy. She’d been given a sedative of some sort.
“Nooo,” she slurred as the drugs began to take effect.
“Should we contact Commander Avar? She seemed more distressed this time.”
“I am not sure. Perhaps High Commander Liwu would be better to question. The former Commander has not been...himself in regards to this being from the new world.”
Sleep snatched Dawn under against her will and everything else faded away.
***
After a full wekki of Dawn’s incapacitation, Venik knew he needed to find a means of distracting himself from the worry that wouldn’t release its grip on him. Known treatments for Vax weren’t showing any impact on her recovery.
The disease affected some races who came in contact with body fluids from his people, the Vassi. As a result, all of his kind were required to have mandatory shots on a routine basis.
Venik’s brother, Dima, had missed his shot and caused a mass scale disruption on the planet Earth that ended with deadly consequences. Vax didn’t just cause the flesh-eating disorder among humans, it also gave them a severe case of hallucinations. Dawn started suffering them shortly after Venik brought her onboard the Black Star battleship.
Hallucinations that left her screaming and writhing in pain.
Exertions were the only means Venik could think of to work off this unnatural surfeit of energy and concern for a being he barely knew. He went to the training room, pleased to find it empty and programmed the holo combat system for the highest setting allowed under his name and rank.
“Training segment HC157VA initiated. Challenger, Venik Avar, approved,” the system intoned from the sound system embedded in the walls.
A moment later, a holographic image of a Vassi warrior wearing only pants and boots appeared. Multiple braids restrained his shoulder length dark hair. Two white tusks curved up from the corners of his mouth. The claws on his three fingered hands extended in a slick glide and clicked together in a deadly warning.
Glowing white eyes were the only indication this was a computer generated AI and not a real combatant.
The walls around Venik changed to the mountainous range of his home on Vassi, the padded floor becoming a dirt-packed ground in shades of gold and brown. As the holographic midday sun reached the horizon, everything in the space took on a reddish haze.
These vivid flashes of home reminded Venik of Dima and brought back memories of their playful times together. The senims spanning the distance between them hadn’t mattered to Venik. Loving his younger brother had been as easy as breathing.
System generated thunderous booms sounded in the distance with the threat of a coming storm. Energy crackled in the air. Adjusting the sensor he wore on a band about his neck, Venik shook off the tension and let the virtual world pull him in. The body of his opponent rocked in place, waiting for the next command.
“Hand to hand, three rounds in increments of twenty,” Venik instructed in a sharp clip. He needed a hard and quick workout, one that would require his full attention.
The computer responded, “Begin.”
The AI opponent swung a large fist toward him. Venik ducked. Claws swiped at his side before he fully shifted away. Thanks to the sensor band around Venik’s neck, stinging burns across his torsos signaled where the tips caught him.
“Score to champion,” the computer chimed from above.
Containing a snarling grin, Venik went after his opponent with all the pent up rage and fury he’d been unable to work through. Punch, block, punch. The impact of each hit reverberated up his arms. Punishing blows flew like a flurry over his head in return. Venik swiveled away and moved back in range to send a combination of strikes at the AI’s torso area.
“Contact. Damage sustained.”
Over the next hora, Venik buried himself in the thrill of fighting. Expending the violence in a controlled manner like this eased the feelings trying to swallow him whole.
Dima. Earth. Dawn.
All things Venik couldn’t fix directly. He had to depend on others. Punch, strike, dodge. Thinking of the Earth female worked Venik into a frenzy. The AI backed up, switching to defensive maneuvers as Venik’s attack grew relentless.
Why did Dawn Reavers have such a tight hold on his thoughts? The inability to stop her from invading his mind made him weak and Venik refused to be weak. Punch. Punch. PUNCH! He drilled a final blow to the AI.
The holo image dropped.
“Match. Game to challenger, Venik Avar,” the computer chimed.
During the second bout, his shoulder began to ache. Venik pushed the minor pain away and continued his reign of strikes. He extended his claws and rammed them into the midsection of the AI as soon as he spotted the opening. Another swipe across the throat and the holo flickered, then fell to his knees in defeat, head bowed.
“Match. Game to challenger, Venik Avar,” the computer droned. “Final match. Increased intensity. Jjaawir champion.”
One more bout to go. Another AI formed. This one larger than the first and dressed in the armor of a soldier, no tusks. Good. He’d earned enough points for a top-tier level match. Panting, Venik moved away and lowered his arms to shake off the strain.
Clapping sounded behind him before he could start again. “Excellent as always.”
Venik turned slowly. Sevanti leaned a shoulder carelessly against the base of a craggy outcropping of rocks. Venik wasn’t surprised. He’d sensed his friend’s presence the moment he entered.
The concern visible on Sevanti’s face caught and held Venik’s attention. Did he have news? Had Dawn succumbed to Vax?
“What’s wrong?” Venik asked as he removed his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face and chest. Outwardly, he retained a calm façade but inside, Venik’s pulse beat an anxious tattoo against his spine.
“I should probably ask you that question.” Sevanti pushed off of the rocks and strode further into the room. “Computer, end program.”
“Command recognized, prior authorization overruled. Program ending, High Commander Liwu.”
The mountains faded, the walls taking on their prior bland white appearance. Overhead lights brightened, dispelling the red haze of their home on Vassi.
Unable to stop the scowl forming on his face, Venik said, “I wasn’t finished.”
Sevanti stopped at Venik’s side and folded his arms across his broad chest. His action stretched the conforming red military uniform taut. Venik had once worn a similar uniform until he retired and stepped down.
Curling his upper lip in a partial snarl, Sevanti said, “Feel free to resume when I leave.”
Senims of separation fell away and Venik offered a half-grin in remembrance of the camaraderie shared during a time when Venik had been the one leading the Black Star as High Commander and Sevanti had been his right hand. “My apologies, Sevanti.”
His friend inclined his head but retained his serious demean. “Per your request, I assisted the officials from Earth in contacting the head of the Protectorate governing body.”
Dual hearts thrumming after the intense workout, Venik nodded. “Thank you for your help with the matter.”
Sevanti made a sound under his breath Venik couldn’t decipher, his black eyes watching Venik closely. “You seem overly vested in the outcome.”
In a way, he was. The female he’d brought onboard had gone out of her way to help Venik. He felt a sense of obligation toward her and the fledgling world. If his recommendation helped ease the way for them, it soothed his conscience for Dima’s egregious actions. But Venik wasn’t ready to tell Sevanti that despite him being Venik’s closest friend.
At his lack of an explanation, Sevanti made another dismissive sound. “I came to tell you one of the beings continues to push for personal contact with you.”
Venik’s fore ridges rose. He couldn’t imagine anyone from the planet wanting to talk to him. “Who?”
“Their military is insistent that a soldier by the name of John Crawley be allowed to speak with you. Apparently, he is deeply concerned about the whereabouts of Dawn Reavers. I take it he’s referring to the female you brought with you,” Sevanti said the last in a raised voice, sending Venik a sharp look.
Venik nodded abruptly as he tried to discern why one of the soldiers who’d helped him deliver the serum for Vax would be searching for the female. Crawley and Dawn had not known one another prior. In fact, Dawn had exhibited the same level of aggression upon meeting the male that Venik assumed reserved strictly for him.
Captain Crawley and his friends had helped Venik when they had no reason to believe him, though. There was a small matter of courtesy and respect owed for that. “Send a message and let them know the female is with me.”
The knowledge should get the Earth people to cease contacting Sevanti.
“It will be done. The other matter is of grave import.”
Venik tossed his stained shirt into the laundering containment unit. A new layer of sweat broke out along his back. He turned to head for the door, concealing his expression from Sevanti. “Tell me.”
“Your parents left a message for you. Apparently, you haven’t responded yet. As High Commander transporting Dima, I received a similar notice from them. They will join us at the first Vassi port we reach and take him the rest of the way home.”
Venik paused at the door with his head bowed. Grief swelled, wiping out whatever temporary relief combat training had allotted him. “I see.”
“If there is anything more I can do, Ven—” Strain was evident in Sevanti’s voice.
“No,” he cut his friend off and turned. His mutar and putar would have questions about Dima. He’d been putting off the necessary intergalactic comm with them but it wasn’t fair to put the burden on Sevanti to answer their questions. He’d run as much interference as he could on Venik’s behalf if asked. “I’ll speak with them and explain.”
Gaze somber, Sevanti accepted his answer. “Fine. I’m here if you need me. I also need to inform you that the Black Star has received an urgent alert to assist three War Bird pilots whose jets were damaged in an attack during a scouting expedition. They took out their attackers, but the jets are in bad enough shape none of them can make it on their own to a nearby spaceport. They’re holding position until help arrives.”
Sevanti didn’t need to say more. Venik understood clearly what a message of that nature meant. The Black Star could no longer pointlessly linger above Earth’s air space. His friend had allowed Venik the use of the battleship to reach his brother in a desperate bid to save him. That time had now passed and Dima safely resided in a private section of the ship.
“Understood. Do what you need.”