Rokan

ROKAN

P ain seared through my skull as consciousness returned. I blinked, struggling to focus my vision in the dimly lit room. The acrid stench of blood and sweat filled my nostrils. My arms refused to move - bound tightly to a chair. Flexing my muscles sent fresh waves of agony through my battered body.

"Welcome back, ." Gorin's grating voice cut through the haze. "I was beginning to think you'd sleep through all the fun."

I lifted my head, eyes narrowing as they locked onto the Krelaxian's smug face. His mottled brown skin stretched into a grotesque grin. Fury tore through me at the sight of Arilee on her knees behind him. A thick metal collar encircled her throat, connected to manacles binding her wrists.

"Let her go," I growled, straining against my bonds. "You sick fuck."

Gorin's laughter grated on my nerves. "Oh, but she's the guest of honor. I figured it would hurt her far more to watch you suffer."

He stepped aside, giving me an unobstructed view of Arilee. Her eyes met mine, fear and determination in their depths. A bruise blossomed on her cheek, evidence of Gorin's earlier brutality.

"Don't," Arilee whispered, her voice hoarse. "Don't give him the satisfaction."

I ignored her plea, muscles bunching as I fought against the restraints. The chair creaked ominously, but held firm.

"Ah ah," Gorin tsked, wagging a thick finger. "The more you struggle, the more she pays for it. Understood?"

Rage boiled within me, but I shoved it down. Arilee's safety mattered more than my pride. I glared at Gorin, wishing I could tear him apart with my bare hands.

"What do you want?" I spat.

Gorin's grin widened, revealing yellowed teeth. "Right now? I want to have some fun." He circled Arilee like a predator stalking its prey. "It's been far too long since I got to refresh my pet's jewelry."

Arilee flinched at his words, and understanding dawned. The bastard wasn't talking about actual jewelry - he meant the rings of bruises that had only recently faded from her skin.

"You're pathetic," I snarled, unable to contain my disgust. "Does it make you feel powerful, hurting someone who can't fight back?"

Gorin's eyes flashed dangerously. "Watch your tongue, Vinduthi. Or I might decide to start with you instead."

"Go ahead," I challenged. "Bring it one. Just leave her alone."

", stop," Arilee pleaded. "Don't antagonize him."

Gorin chuckled, running a hand through Arilee's hair. She shuddered at his touch. "Listen to your little whore, . She knows the rules of our game."

"She's not yours," I growled. "She never was."

"Oh?" Gorin raised an eyebrow. "And I suppose you think she belongs to you now? How noble of you, to rescue the damsel in distress." He yanked Arilee's head back, exposing her throat.

I bit back a snarl, refusing to give him the reaction he craved. Arilee's eyes met mine, silently begging me to stay calm.

"You're wrong," I said, keeping my voice level. "Arilee doesn't belong to anyone but herself."

Gorin's face contorted with rage. His hand struck out, backhanding Arilee with enough force to send her sprawling. "Get up!" he roared. "On your knees where you belong!"

Arilee pushed herself up, wiping blood from her split lip. She resumed her kneeling position, chin raised defiantly.

"That's better," Gorin purred, running a finger along her jawline. "Now, where were we? Ah yes, refreshing your jewelry."

He leaned over Arilee, thick fingers wrapping around her throat. My stomach churned, every instinct screaming at me to intervene. Instead I grit my teeth, managing to remain still, knowing any movement would only make things worse for her.

Arilee's breath hitched as Gorin tightened his grip.

"What are you doing?" I sent through the communicator, but she didn't answer.

I saw determination in her gaze. Desperation and a flicker of something else - a plan.

In a blur of motion, Arilee's arm shot up. A metallic snikt filled the air as a blade erupted from her forearm. Before Gorin could react, she slashed upward, opening his throat in a spray of dark blood.

Gorin staggered back, eyes wide with shock. His hands clutched at the gaping wound, unable to stem the flow. He collapsed to his knees, gurgling as he tried to speak. Then he toppled forward, twitching once before going still.

Relief flooded through me, quickly replaced by horror as I saw Arilee stumble backward. Blood streamed from a deep gash in her arm where the nanoblade had formed.

"Arilee!" I shouted, renewing my struggle against the restraints. The chair gave a tortured squeal, metal cracking under the assault. With a final surge of desperate strength, I broke free.

I rushed to Arilee's side, catching her as she swayed on her feet. "I've got you," I murmured, lowering her gently to the floor. "You're safe now."

I cradled Arilee in my arms, my heart pounding with fear as her blood seeped through my fingers. The metallic scent filled my nostrils, making my stomach churn.

"Why?" I begged to understand. "You shouldn't have given yourself up. You should have stayed safe!"

Arilee's eyes fluttered open, a weak smile playing on her pale lips. "I couldn't let him kill you." Her barely audible voice clawed at me. "I loved... being with you. Running was worth every moment."

Fear balled like ice in my gut. I pressed my hand harder against her wound, desperately trying to stem the flow of blood. "Don't talk," I urged. "Save your strength."

She hissed between her teeth, her blonde hair matted with sweat and blood. "No, . I want you to know..." Her breath hitched, and she winced in pain.

I felt a surge of panic. I couldn't lose her. Not now. Not when I'd finally found someone who made me feel... whole.

The claiming bite. The thought hit me like a bolt of lightning. It would give her the healing powers of a Vinduthi. But it would also bind us together forever. Could I do that to her? Would she want me to?

Arilee's eyes rolled back, and she went limp in my arms. "No!" I roared, shaking her gently. "Stay with me, Arilee. Please."

The nanoblade. It must have been Davor. He must have implanted it in Arilee's arm when I was getting the bone conductor communicators. That sneaky bastard. But right now, I couldn't focus on that. I needed to save Arilee.

I hesitated, my fangs aching to sink into her soft flesh. The claiming bite would save her, but at what cost?

She'd be bound to me forever, her choices taken away.

I laid Arilee gently on the floor and frantically searched the room. My enhanced Vinduthi senses picked up every detail - the acrid smell of fear and blood, the faint hum of the ship's engines, the distant murmur of voices from beyond the sealed door.

My eyes darted around, looking for anything that could help. A med kit, a cauterizer, hell, even a clean cloth would be better than nothing. But Gorin's twisted playroom offered little in the way of medical supplies, and the med kit in my shuttle was too far away.

I tore strips from my own shirt, wrapping them tightly around Arilee's arm. It wasn't enough. The blood continued to seep through, staining the makeshift bandage a deep crimson.

Time was running out. I could hear Arilee's heartbeat growing fainter with each passing second. The claiming bite loomed in my mind, a tempting solution that carried its own set of consequences.

I looked down at Arilee's pale face, her features relaxed in unconsciousness. She'd fought so hard for her freedom. Could I take that away from her, even to save her life?

My own words mocked me: "Arilee doesn't belong to anyone but herself."

But if I didn't act soon, she wouldn't belong to anyone at all. She'd be gone, leaving me alone with the weight of my failure and the ache of a love I'd never fully explored.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. There had to be another way. There had to be...

I lurched toward Gorin's lifeless body, my heart pounding in my ears. Every second counted. Arilee's labored breathing spurred me on as I frantically searched the Krelaxian's pockets.

My fingers brushed against something smooth and cold. I pulled it out, relief washing over me as I recognized the force field pendant Arilee had used earlier. A plan formed in my mind, desperate and risky, but our only hope.

I turned the device over in my hands, studying its intricate circuitry. With careful precision, I modified its settings, recalibrating the energy output. The pendant hummed to life, emitting a soft blue glow.

"Hold on, Arilee," I murmured, gently lifting her injured arm.

I wrapped the pendant around her wound, activating the force field. It conformed to her skin, pressing tightly against the gash like a second skin. The bleeding slowed, then stopped.

Arilee's eyes fluttered open, confusion clouding her gaze. "? What...?"

"Shh, don't try to move," I said, cradling her head in my lap. "We need to get out of here."

A commotion outside the room caught my attention. Footsteps approached, voices raised in alarm. We were out of time.

I scooped Arilee into my arms just as the door burst open, revealing two of Gorin's guards. Their eyes widened at the scene before them.

"Hey! What's going on here?" one shouted, reaching for his weapon.

I didn't give them time to react. With Arilee secure in one arm, I charged forward to barrel past them. The guards stumbled, caught off guard by my sudden assault.

We raced down the corridor, alarms blaring around us. Arilee stirred in my grasp, her voice weak. ", put me down. I can walk."

"Not a chance," I growled, tightening my grip on her. "Save your strength."

We rounded a corner, nearly running into another pack of guards. I skidded to a halt, frantically searching for an escape route. My eyes landed on a maintenance hatch, and my memory flashed up the map I'd seen in Davor's compound.

"Hold on tight," I warned Arilee, before kicking the hatch open and diving in.

We slid down a narrow chute, emerging in what appeared to be a waste disposal area. The stench was overwhelming, but it provided temporary cover from our pursuers.

"Where are we?" Arilee asked, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

"Somewhere they won't think to look for us," I replied, setting her down gently. "How's your arm?"

She flexed it experimentally, wincing slightly. "Better, I think. What did you do?"

"Improvised," I said, a hint of pride in my voice. "That force field should hold until we reach my shuttle."

The moment stretched between us, charged with unspoken emotions. My hands itched to pull her close, to feel her heartbeat against my chest and know she was safe. But we couldn't afford such luxuries now.

"We're not out of this yet," I said, breaking the spell. "Can you walk?"

She nodded, determination setting her jaw. "Lead the way."

We crept through the bowels of the station, relying on my enhanced senses to avoid detection. The distant sound of boots on metal grating echoed around us, spurring us onward.

"There," I hissed, pointing to a maintenance ladder. "That should lead us to the docking bay level."

Arilee went first, her movements slow but steady. I followed close behind, ready to catch her if she faltered. As we emerged on the upper level, the familiar sight of my shuttle came into view.

"Almost there," I urged, scanning the area for threats.

A shout rang out behind us. "There they are!"

We sprinted the final distance, adrenaline surging through my veins. I slammed my hand on the access panel, the shuttle's hatch sliding open with agonizing slowness.

"Go!" I yelled, practically shoving Arilee inside.

Blaster fire erupted around us as I dove in after her, sealing the hatch behind me. I rushed to the cockpit, my fingers flying over the controls.

"Hang on," I called back to Arilee. "This might get rough."

The shuttle roared to life, lifting off as more guards poured into the docking bay. I pushed the engines to their limit, weaving through the station's defenses.

Arilee stumbled into the co-pilot's seat, her face pale but determined. "Where are we going?"

I punched in the coordinates for a safe haven I knew, far from Gorin's influence. "Somewhere they can't follow."

As we broke free of the station's gravity well, I allowed myself a moment of relief. We'd made it. Against all odds, we'd escaped.

I turned to Arilee, struck again by the sheer wonder of her. Despite the ordeal she'd been through, she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

"Stay here," I ordered, unbuckling my harness. "I need to get the med kit."

Arilee nodded weakly, her blue eyes clouded with pain. I dashed to the rear of the shuttle, my fingers finding the hidden latch that concealed the emergency supplies. The panel slid open with a soft hiss, revealing the compact med kit nestled inside.

Grabbing the kit, I returned to Arilee's side. She'd slumped further in her seat, her skin ashen beneath the bruises Gorin had inflicted. Anger flared within me at the memory, but I pushed it aside. There would be time for vengeance later.

"Let me see your arm."

Arilee extended her injured limb, wincing as the movement jostled the makeshift bandage. I carefully unwrapped the blood-soaked fabric, revealing the angry gash beneath.

The force field pendant had done its job, stemming the worst of the bleeding. But the wound was deep, and the risk of infection was high.

I opened the med kit, quickly locating the antiseptic spray and a fresh roll of bandages. "This might sting," I warned, before applying the spray to the wound.

Arilee hissed through clenched teeth, her free hand gripping the armrest tightly. "Sorry," I murmured, working as quickly as I could.

Once the wound was clean, I began rewrapping her arm with the sterile bandages. My fingers moved with practiced efficiency, a skill honed through countless battles.

"Where did you learn to do this?" Arilee whispered, her voice ragged.

I paused, memories of blood-soaked battlefields flashing through my mind. "Experience," I replied simply, resuming my work.

With her arm securely bandaged, I reached for the pain medication. The hypospray felt cool in my hand as I loaded the correct dosage.

"This will help with the pain," I explained, pressing the device against her neck. There was a soft hiss as the medication was administered.

Arilee broke the silence, her voice soft. "What happens now?"

I tightened my jaw.

She needed me to be practical. I had always been good at just doing the practical.

I couldn't afford to think any further than that.

"We'll get that arm looked at properly. Then... I guess that's up to you."

She raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You're free," I said, the words catching in my throat. "No more running. No more hiding. You can go wherever you want, do whatever you choose."

Arilee's expression softened, her hand covering mine on the control panel. "And what if I choose to stay?"