Chapter Five

The light faded and we were standing on an icy cold transporter platform. A heavily armed Askole warrior stood at the control console.

"Send me back. Now!" I demanded.

Bodhi spouted a bunch of gobbledygook at the warrior and stormed off the platform.

"Wait!" I followed him. "I know you're determined to save Dway, but this isn't the way to do it."

Bodhi went to hype speed and zoomed off.

"Testosterone should be outlawed," I huffed and trotted after him.

The Askole warrior suddenly blocked my way. "You will come with me."

Hitch hissed threateningly.

"No. Send me back."

"I cannot. We have left orbit."

I tried to link with Hothar or Uncle Saul, but something was blocking my telepathy. I tried my warrior's bracelet commlink, but it didn't work either.

"You are pretty for a soft skin." The warrior lustful gaze roamed over my body.

Just what I needed. A horny male without a lick of self-control. "My mate is a war commander; General Jones is my uncle and Zarek is a friend of the family. Are you trying to start a war?"

"War? I think not and you are not wearing an ownership band."

I stared at him in alarm. Crap. I touched my protective amulet. "This is my ownership band."

The warrior gave me a toothy smile. "No, it is not."

"Are you calling me a liar?"

"Yes." He touched my hair. "I am unmated."

"Whoopee. I have a mate. You touch me again and I will kick your ass."

"A tiny human female cannot defeat an Askole," the warrior smirked.

I sighed. My sundress and sandals only added to my harmless air. What the butthead didn't realize was warriors came in all shapes and sizes. "Hothar is a war commander and believe me, you don't want to fight him."

"Have no fear, little one, I will defeat him."

"No, you won't, but if you feel the need to challenge the war commander, go for it. Now, can you show me a commlink? I need to contact General Jones."

"Not until I claim you."

You can't cure stupid, and I was done with being treated like a brainless sex object. "Let me be perfectly clear. Your touch makes me sick to my stomach. Hothar and I have a mental bond that only death can break. Now back off or suffer the consequences."

"You may call me Zayn." He stroked my hair again. "Soft."

Little legs moved in my hair and my hitchhiker let out a menacing growl.

Zayn's tentacles knotted and his right hand dropped to his weapon. "What is that?"

Hell, if I knew. "That is my friend Hitch. Now back the hell off. Your touch disgusts me."

"Not for long. Once I inject you with my pheromones, you will be eager to mate." He held out his hand. "Submit. I do not wish to bruise you."

Hitch's yowl sounded like something out of a horror movie.

"Easy Hitch. I'm about to teach the moron a lesson." Hmmm. Mind control or telekinesis.

Hitch meowed his answer.

"Telekinesis it is." I punched out with every ounce of power I had.

An astonished look on his face, Zayn flew down the corridor and slammed into the far wall. He slid to the floor and didn't get up.

I walked over to him and took his laser pistol. "I might be small, but I'm meaner than a hungry Gorum."

An alarm sounded.

Hitch meowed in apprehension.

"Yep, we're about to get company." I noticed the emergency light bar at the top of the walls was flashing too. A computerized voice bellowed Askole gobbledygook. A bit of overkill for little ole me.

I brightened. Maybe Bodhi had detected Hothar's ship in hot pursuit. That would be so awesome. I tapped my warrior's bracelet. Crap. The communication relays were still blocked. What I really needed were the schematics for the ship. Using Detja's hacking program, I got into their system. Bodhi's quarters were two decks below me, and the holding cells were down this corridor and to the left. I headed for the holding cells. If Aphrodite wasn't there, I would check his quarters next.

A black streak shot down the corridor.

Huh? Maybe all the fuss was about me. I hid the laser pistol behind my back.

Hitch burrowed into my hair.

The warrior was wearing full body armor. I guess they did consider me a threat.

Screeching to an abrupt stop, the warrior pointed his weapon at me and snarled something.

I shrieked and crumpled to the floor. Hey, it worked for Aphrodite.

The warrior mumbled something and poked me with his foot.

I played dead.

Zayn stumbled up and shouted something at the warrior.

I slid into Zayn's mind. "He wants me for a mate."

Zayn roared and attacked the warrior.

I scrambled out of the way as they exchanged brutal blows. While they were busy trying to kill each other, I'd check out the holding cells. Hopefully, they had a communications console.

Hitch meowed a warning.

"Yeah, I sense him too." Assuming Aphrodite's demeanor, I huddled against the wall and sobbed loudly.

Another warrior zipped up and stunned the combatants.

Dang, I hadn't been expecting that. Seizing control of his mind, I commanded, "Drop your weapon."

His pistol dropped to the floor, and with a roar he reached for me.

"Don't move!" I commanded.

The warrior froze. His tentacles squirmed wildly as he realized his muscles had locked up.

"Is there a communications console in the brig?" I gave him a hard mental push.

"Yes."

"What's the passcode?"

"2381."

"Remove your armor."

His teeth bared in a snarl; the warrior obeyed.

My eyes bugged. Not only was he naked, but his erect penis was huge. Guess he got off on combat.

Hitch meowed.

"I know. Kinda surprised me too." I stunned the warrior.

The computerized voice spat more gobbledygook.

A prickly sensation shot up my spine. More warriors were heading my way. I hurried into the brig. Rats, the holding cells were empty. Bodhi must have stowed Aphrodite in his quarters. Would the idiot try to seduce him? Probably.

I blasted the door's sensor pad. Hopefully, it will buy me some time. I hurriedly entered the passcode into the control panel. Once I had an open frequency, I typed in the numbers for Uncle Saul's commlink. "C'mon, c'mon answer. I'm running out of time."

Bang! The door shook.

"Casey?"

Oh, thank God. "Please tell me you're tracking me."

"We are."

"Is Hothar with you?"

"No, he took his Talon fighter, and he should catch up with Bodhi's ship in about ten minutes."

Boom! The door shuddered.

Alarm filled Uncle Saul's voice. "What was that?"

"The Askole warriors are a tad angry and they're trying to break the door down."

"How many warriors did you disable?"

I winced as a crack appeared in the door. "Three and one of them wants to mate with me."

"Did you tell them you're not twenty-one yet?"

"It didn't come up and I don't think Zayn would care."

"I was afraid something like this would happen," Uncle Saul grumbled.

A white mist spewed from the air ducts.

The room whirled around me, and my knees buckled. "I'm being gassed."

"We're coming for you," Uncle Saul promised.

"Hide Hitch."

Hitch's little legs dug into my hair.

"Smart baby." Everything faded to black.