Beyond the Rain Page 2

  Blue.

  He swallowed a lump in his throat. It was completely irrational to try to read her eyes. He knew they probably didn’t change color like his, but seeing blue in someone’s expression after so long in the dark seemed to ease his suffering, even if it was only an illusion.

  “Do you understand me?” she asked again, louder this time. He nodded as the warm brush of fur at his hand drew his attention down to the strange creature licking his thumb.

  His sense of relief had been enormous when the warm creature first rubbed up against his ankle. At first he thought it was a silky rat. It wasn’t a rat, but a very small fox, a beautiful thing with a snowy white face and mantle that deepened to a coat of rich red and black stripes with white socks. It swished its bushy ringed tail and leapt up on his stomach. The creature must belong to the woman.

  “Thank you,” he whispered to the animal in his native language. He hadn’t spoken those words in longer than he could remember. The creature squeezed its eyes shut and purred.

  “I need to get you out of here,” the woman stated. She attempted to keep her voice low and calming, as if she were talking to an injured beast.

  She was talking to an injured beast.

  Soren shook the thought from his mind. Her urgency came through her no-nonsense yet beautiful voice. He had to help her, not get distracted by the drugs.

  “There’s a transport waiting,” she continued. “Hold still while the microbes remove your slave bands. I’ll work on the chains.” The woman pulled a small box from the low-slung belt on her hip. The skintight dark gray and black suit she was wearing left very little to his imagination. He felt a familiar tingle race down his spine and stared at the ceiling.

  The Garulen kept him on a constant regimen of stimulants so he would be ripe when they wished to harvest. It could get him into trouble now. He didn’t need to be distracted by her either. She was his only hope. Who was she?

  She opened the box, and tiny metallic creatures that looked like spiders crawled out. He stiffened and pushed closer to the wall as the creepy bots crawled up his arms. He wanted to scream, but the sound would not escape him. His terror paralyzed him as the metal creatures scuttled over his arms.

  “Relax, they will remove the bands. Hold still.”

  Soren shut his eyes and forced himself to breathe as he felt the metallic spiders dig into his flesh and crawl under the slave bands. He screamed aloud this time, the sound coming out as a choked roar. He shuddered and tried to swallow his panic. Over and over, he remembered the hot burn of metal against his skin. He tried to pull against his chains, but the metal clinging to him cut deeper into his wrists. He willed himself to hold still, thankful for the tranquilizers. He would have harmed her in his panic without them. He dug his fingers into the palms of his hands as his body shook.

  “What’s your name?” the woman asked. He felt her hand on his. It was a weak attempt to calm him. He tried to focus on her.

  He tried to answer but couldn’t. He could feel the spiders digging through his flesh, crawling under his skin. He had to focus on her. He forced himself to watch her mouth, to keep his mind on anything but the metal creatures.

  “Please tell me your name,” she prodded again. She still wouldn’t look into his eyes. She probably knew how he could use them. She didn’t trust him. She shouldn’t trust him. He reached for her, but she backed away.

  “Stay with me. What is your name?” she demanded, as if her voice alone could shake him from his terror. He could handle the pain, but he couldn’t control the panic he felt whenever metal touched him.

  The bands on his arms beeped, then with a soft click, released their constant stinging pressure. The spiders crawled back into the box, leaving a creeping trail of his blood over his arms. Soren’s head swam with relief as he took several hasty breaths to calm down.

  “Soren,” he forced through his burning throat. “I am Soren.” The affirmation of his name helped calm his racing heart. For so long, his name hadn’t mattered.

  Her expression softened. “I’m Cyani, and that’s Vicca,” she said, pointing to the fox. “It seems she likes you, Soren.”

  With delicate care, Cyani opened one of the slave bands fully, extracting the ugly needles from his flesh. She winced at the shriveled skin beneath the bands and the deep bruises where the needles inflicted their endless torture. He was finally free of them. The thought confused him. The only thing that seemed real was his pain. His heart raced as he helped her pull the other band out of his arm.

  “Captain, prisoners are free and en route to transport.” Soren pulled the sickening machine from his ear and handed it to her. She took it from him and fixed it in her ear. He couldn’t control his shudder. He had no way to communicate with her now except his eyes, and she wouldn’t look at him.

  Cyani stood, leaving him leaning against the wall.

  She had to be quick. Time was running out. “Com, switch language, Union. Hatch, report.”

  “All seven prisoners freed and on transport, Captain. We received a perimeter warning. The Garulen have discovered that the defense system for the prison is down. Get out of there.”

  “Give me a minute. There’s a Byralen here.”

  She pulled out her laser and focused on the cuffs at Soren’s hands.

  “Not to be rude, Cap, but you don’t have a minute. We have to get these men out of here now!”

  “I won’t leave him!” The lock on one of Soren’s cuffs snapped off. He yanked his hand free of the chains and held still as she worked on the other three.

  “I won’t leave you,” she stated, even though she knew he couldn’t understand her. She hoped he understood her intent. As his other hand came loose, she leaned to reach his feet. He caught her chin in his fingers and tilted her face toward his.

  The sensation of his bare skin against hers shocked her.

  The electric tingle pulsed over the skin of her face as all her senses seemed to heighten. She gasped as he forced her to look up. Fear raced through her as his red violet eyes turned a deep shade of aquamarine. She blinked, fascinated by the swirling color. Was he trying to say something to her?

  The aquamarine glowed, cool, calm, grateful. She nodded to acknowledge she understood then pushed his hand aside and continued her work.

  In seconds she had both his legs free. Vicca raced out the door, barking in urgency. Cyani wrapped his arm over her neck to help support him as they ran from the prison.

  “Captain, our sensors have spotted an incoming stingship formation. We have to leave or the ship will be torn apart,” Tola’s usually calm voice snapped with panic.

  Just then the power returned to the fortress. Sirens blared while red strobe lights illuminated the hall. They ran for the open gate without looking back.

  Warning! Humanoid life-forms approaching.

  Cyani ducked from under Soren’s arm as she spun on her heel. She pulled out her sono and flick knife in a smooth motion, ready for the attack.

  Four Garulen guards ran toward her with shock throwers and a shock net. Focused on her prey, she let them come.

  The one to the left threw the shock net. Cyani ducked beneath it as it flew over her. She felt the energy of the net tingle through her skin as it passed her and landed over a crumbling stone.

  She shook off the numbing sting in her muscles and leapt toward the leader of the group as she fired her sono at the one reaching for the net.

  He fell dead.

  The leader charged, his shock blast missing her head by inches. She spun, pulled her flick knife across his neck, then fired a shot at the guard to her right, hitting him between the eyes.

  The low whoam of a shock thrower discharging propelled her forward as she twisted to avoid the blast.

  The blast slammed into her shoulder, knocking her into the wall. The searing pain of the hit burned through her blood, followed by terrifying numbness. It spread through her body like ice in her veins as her muscles seized. She fought, but her brain couldn’t make her ar
ms or legs move. Her heart echoed in her ears as her eyes stared unblinking. The last guard stalked toward her with a greedy look on his hairy face and no concern for his fallen comrades.

  A feral roar ripped through the hall as Soren slammed into the last guard. His movements seemed in slow motion in the incessant light of the strobe. He wrenched the thrower out of the guard’s hands. With one powerful strike, he slammed the butt of the gun into the guard’s face, crushing his skull.

  The guard landed with a thud as Soren turned his glowing red eyes to her.

  She gasped, helpless. It would take at least twenty minutes for the shock blast to wear off. More guards would come. They would be caught. There was no way out. They’d pierce her arms with slave bands, throw her naked on an auction block, and after her buyer raped her over and over, she’d be tossed into a fighting pit to kill, or die. She couldn’t let that happen. What could she do? She was helpless. She had to fight. The ground felt cold against her cheek, just as it had when they had thrown her, beaten, into the cell all those years ago. She was a child then. She was just as helpless now.

  Soren fell to his knees next to her and placed his bare hands on her cheeks. He lifted her head, forcing her to look at him as the electric sensation tingled in her skin again.

  She couldn’t move. She couldn’t save them. He’d be captured and tortured again. It was all for nothing.

  She tried to pull her head from his hands, but her body felt dead. His glowing acid yellow eyes roved over her face as he gently pulled her limp body into his lap.

  “Gnar hox,” he murmured in Garu, leaning his face closer to hers. Her heart thundered with fear as she lay against his warm skin. What was he doing? He caressed her cheek with the burning heat of the back of his knuckles. Her com automatically translated his next words. “Trust me.”

  He brought his face closer to hers, his breath whispering over her skin, her face alive with sensation. A rich, clean scent overtook her, like cinnamon and suka melon. She inhaled, fighting to avoid his touch. A desperate plea ripped through her trapped mind. This was forbidden. She willed her body to stand, to fight. Suddenly her fingers began to tingle.

  His lips brushed over hers, a whisper of a touch. Her heart pounded in her ears as the unfamiliar pleasure of his caress flooded her mind like a terrifying drug. He kissed her, opening her mouth to his and stealing her breath.

  What is he doing? They’ll kill me for this.

  Her body came alive in a rush of agonizing fire. Crying out, she arched her back and rolled away from him. Her limbs felt as if they had been asleep for hours. Each nerve screamed with life and stinging pain. She pushed herself up with one of her arms, curling her leg beneath her.

  She flopped back to the ground, the right side of her body numb and unresponsive.

  Soren crawled toward her and caught her around her waist.

  “No,” she choked out as her eyes watered. “Do . . . Don’t.”

  “Hold still,” he whispered, pulling her into his body. “I will help you.”

  He brushed her braid over her shoulder. The brief touch of his fingertips scored her with an agonizing rush of pleasure.

  Cyani tensed, trembling in anger and gut-twisting anticipation.

  Soren’s hot mouth pressed against the nape of her neck. She moaned as a warm rush of sensation flowed through her blood. This was forbidden. She could feel the sting of the slicing whip against her legs. They would do more than whip her if anyone ever found out. Her body thrummed with energy as he poured hot, soft, painful, breathtaking kisses across the base of her neck.

  “Enough!” she shouted, leaping to her feet. Stunned, she took a wobbly step to the side, staring in wonder at her hands as she opened and closed her fingers. The paralysis had completely left her body. How?

  He looked up at her, unapologetic for his actions. “Better?”

  What had he done to her? All of her senses reeled as she looked around. Her normally acute eyesight reached a new level. The darkest shadows revealed their secrets to her new sight. The stale, acrid smell of the prison choked her, but she could pick out her own scent, Vicca’s, and Soren’s, as if each was a tangible thing hanging in the air for her to grasp.

  Soren rose, rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, then limped toward Vicca.

  The alarm on her com went off with a relentless beep, throwing her back into the moment.

  35:14.

  She was out of time.

  “Captain, we can’t wait any longer,” Hatch yelled through the link. “They’re right on top of us.”

  The hiss of stingship blasts pelted the tunnel entrances. Her heart sank. She would not be responsible for their deaths.

  “Get out of here,” she shouted into the com.

  “Cap?!”

  “Go.” She closed her eyes. “Tola, that’s an order, damn it. Get out!”

  “We’ll find you, Captain,” Tola responded. “Stay alive. We will return, and we’ll get you out.”

  “We’ll meet in victory,” she answered. Though she did not say it, her mind finished the saying. Or in death.

  Static buzzed in her ear then her com went silent.

  Her head and heart pounded in unified pain as she closed her eyes and tried to dispel the panic rising like a tidal wave through her body. She was too late. They had to leave her. There was no way out. It was the right thing to do. It was what she ordered them to do. Her men would die if they didn’t leave.

  She heard the familiar roar of the transport engines.

  Her hope sank as the ship lifted off the ground.

  Soren grabbed her hand.

  She let go of her breath and looked up at him. His eyes swirled with myriad colors, magenta flowing into warm gold and green. A strange sense of calm rushed through her body, easing some of the ache of the shock blast and allowing her to breathe. Her thoughts slowed and focused under the hypnotic effect of his eyes. They had to find another ship.

  “Hurry,” she gasped.

  He nodded, then they ran after Vicca. Stingship blasts rained around them as they dove into the tunnels.

  A large explosion shook the ground and Soren grabbed her, pulling her beneath him as he sheltered her from the falling debris with his body.

  With her senses heightened, her body immediately reacted to his secure weight pressing down on her. His scent overtook her, and as she looked up, the debris around them seemed painted in iridescent color. She struggled to push herself out from under him. The computer had grossly misstated the nature of the Byralen’s narcotic effect.

  She had to clear her mind. She was a warrior. She had spent the last fourteen years in training. She was hard, cold. She had no attachments to anything or anyone. She would resist being distracted by him. Both of their lives depended on it.

  Before the dust had time to settle, Soren leapt to his feet and pulled Cyani up with him. She blinked hard to clear her vision of the swirling colors dancing before her eyes. Hitting the map on her eyepiece, she ran after her scout, Soren following close behind.

  “Com, find coordinates for any remaining Union vessel and plot on map.” A bright yellow dot appeared on the map on the far side of the tunnel system near the old Hannolen ruins. Relief flowed through her veins like landing the last blow after a long sparring match. “Com, contact ship,” she ordered.

  Static hissed in her ear, broken by an incomprehensible voice.

  “Union vessel, compatriots en route to ship. Do not launch until rendezvous. I repeat, do not launch,” she shouted into her com, hoping the ship could hear her.

  “Vicca, find path to Union ship,” she commanded, as the fox tore through the darkness, her blue dot leaving a streak on her holo-map. She followed the path, her hope returning as Vicca’s blue streak finally reached the yellow dot.

  They ran blindly through the tunnels as the sounds of the war faded to silence. Afraid the Union ship would take off without them, Cyani pushed her aching body as fast as it would go. Her shaking calves burned as she ran through the tun
nels, ducking the low-hanging rock. A broken shard of a metal brace ripped a hole in her shadowsuit as she passed.

  Though Soren had to be in pain, he followed relentlessly. He stumbled once. Cyani pulled him to his feet, blood from the seeping wounds on his wrists sticking to her palm.

  With every step forward, she stared at the yellow dot of hope in the darkness, willing it to remain on the planet until they could reach it.

  She burst out of the tunnel system and slammed her back against the dark walls of the ruins.

  “Com, scan for life-forms.” She turned her head slowly, her holo-map peering through the old stone walls. No new dots. No warning. Only silence. Gripping her sono, she motioned to Soren to follow. Turning the corner, she stared in horror at the sight before her.

  A Union ship rested on its hull, one side smashed against the wall and its wing broken and lifeless in the clearing. A rock spire had toppled and crushed the cockpit beneath the dark stone. Vicca barked at the ship as if she were angry it was wrecked. Through the static in Cyani’s com, she could make out the ship’s distress call.

  The overwhelming shadow of hopelessness loomed over Cyani as she stared dumbstruck at the ship. She let her sono fall to her side and hung her head as an enormous weight pressed down on her shoulders.

  She turned to Soren. He seemed to come to the same realization she did as his gaze slowly sank to the ground. His eyes faded from a bright rose to pure black.

  They were trapped.

  2

  CYANI STARED AT THE HATCH DOOR HANGING FROM THE BENT HULL. IT SWUNG back and forth in the fan-wind like a hideously broken arm.

  “Shakt!” Cyani placed her hands on her thighs to try to pull air back into her burning lungs. She rubbed her sticky palm against her thigh in a vain attempt to clean it. Her nerves raced, but this was not the time to give in to old scars in her mind. They were in the middle of a nightmare. They would have to find shelter and hide until the patrols in the ruins ceased, then lie low until her team could rescue them. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her parched mouth. They needed water, food, a place to rest. She needed to think. She needed to clean her hands.