1 Kikila

I'd sooner die than marry Draeke, but I'm stuck guarding dignitaries during Terran Security meetings and cleaning up after their messes when things go awry, and I'm not working in my lab. I cannot escape, let alone do anything other than work.

After an incident six months ago, involving my team of engineers and a ship of Novark aliens in Sol Federation space, a species that isn't permitted access to our airspace, my father decided to pull me from the field and put an ultimatum on my shoulders—marry Draeke or bond with an alien from the Alien Bride Race within the year so I'm not single and vulnerable .

I glare at Draeke across the room during the briefing on the latest attack from the Denarso, near Jupiter. Thirty delegates, representatives, and military leaders converse over the floating schematic in laser blues above the conference table of the shattered remains of the spaceport we were constructing.

"Efforts need to be moved to increasing the defensive capabilities of our allies," my father says. It seems the others agree that building a new spaceport is not the critical effort we need to focus on with the recent rise in attacks by our enemies: Denarso, Grehop, Novark, and the worst of them all, the Nebulous Empire that's nearly the size of our combined federation.

Our next few months are going to be treacherous as others realize we are sending ships to the outer systems instead of keeping our defenses close. They're bolstering patrols and worried about rumors of the Nebulous Empire encroaching on our jurisdiction of the federation.

Draeke bobs in his seat like a child, looking utterly bored with the meeting. His tan skin is as flawless as his designer suit and the latest holo-vid visor that's tucked in his chest pocket. He smirks, runs a hand through his long brown bangs, and winks at me.

I stifle a gag. He thinks he has me in the bag. Both him and my father don't think I'll go for an alien with all the trouble Earth has had in the last year. But I know the participants of Alien Bride Race are all dignitaries or soldiers of some kind, well-vetted—and well-endowed from what I've heard. The thought tenses my core with excitement.

I want out of my suffocating life. Everywhere I go, someone's watching. So the day after my father gave me the choice, I'd signed up.

I've got to slip out soon if I'm going to make my flight. My father doesn't know. I did it under a cover name. I don't care about the consequences. I know I'm leaving my life behind. But I still have my skills, and I have my wits.

No way in hell, am I sucking Draeke's pathetic excuse of a dick for the rest of my life. Draeke thinks he's the cock of the walk, but he hides behind his soldiers and the power of his shield tech stock.

There's nothing more disgusting to me than a sniveling coward. My father, while controlling and demanding, is still someone I respect because he's a man of action. Draeke sneaks in and steals the glory of others for himself.

I'm going to miss my father, but he's set in his ways. And I'm not making a Draeke mistake with lifelong consequences just to keep my father happy. I guess it's selfish. But I know Draeke well-enough to know I'm safer without him. I'm not sure my father knows the same.

I had nearly handled the Novark attack on our shield-testing vessel when Draeke's patrol ship came to our rescue.

What a load of horse shit.

He stole all the praise for the three downed invaders that I had handled and the two locked up in the back that my team had captured.

I silently shift between my feet in the corner and scan the people in the meeting, as well as a few of our alien representatives of other solar systems. Everyone gets inspected before every meeting. The only weapons allowed are those on guards, like me.

My father wouldn't even hear me out about the attack. It was then that I decided to find my own way.

Draeke claimed the Novarks bowed to him and left with their tails between their legs. They might be adversaries with less advanced weaponry, but they hit hard when in battle and have pride and honor greater than most species. Their quick-to-anger temper is why they haven't been allowed in our federation.

I just had to get into their heads, figure out what they wanted beneath the demands for our new shield advancements. And I was about to with my calming tactics when Draeke arrived, guns blazing.

Draeke broke our Rules of Engagement. Did he get punished? Not even a whisper of it. But I got a slap on the wrist for testing shields in an off-limits area due to debris.

I think Draeke was more pissed that my team had beat his to the testing phase. My shields proved effective against the calescent debris field of old munitions. I even lit off a few flares and bombs just to be sure my shield canisters would work.

The pride I once felt for my discovery of the dispersal system of the shields was ripped away, too. To say I'm bitter is a massive understatement.

My father switches off the holographic schematic and converses quietly with the generals in the room. It's quiet, so I covertly tap on my earbud and listen in from the corner.

"The new defense shields are ready for delivery, but orders are to send the first units to the furthest planets of the federation, the ones in need of the most protection from the Nebs."

"But sir, that leaves us vulnerable here on Earth."

"I know. So we'll need to increase patrols again for the time being."

"We've already got our teams on sixteen hour shifts with only a few days off a month," another protests.

I frown at this and wonder if I should stay. I could help build more. I'd assembled in the manufacturing plants when I was younger. It was part of my father's way of pushing me to understand and respect the process. I trained in every department, learned everything I could because of who he is. It puts us both in the system as high target risks.

As the meeting adjourns, I wait for Draeke to speak with someone at the table to brag about his latest steal . When he does, I make my exit. I've completed my tasks for the day a little early so I don't leave anyone hanging. But I'm not waiting around. I have somewhere important to be.

The corridors of Terran Security Headquarters on Earth are immense, bustling with people pushing carts of new parts for shielding and defense systems. Most of them, unfortunately, know me. That makes slipping away undetected nearly impossible.

I've had access to all the best tools and training. I just wish I had freedom from my father's watch. He can threaten to take away my clearances, my job, anything he wants. But I refuse to accept an arranged marriage. I will fight him on that even if it kills me in the end.

I take the stairs, round the corner of the landing, and swipe my Shieldtech Engineering badge beside a door that leads to maintenance. The secret cargo area where we haul up the Classified tech is tucked just inside. I slip into a hydropump room that supplies the water to the level. Every maintenance shaft must connect to the ones above and below. HVAC systems are the same, but are often not sturdy enough to climb or descend, not like in the movies.

I open the repair hatch and drop inside the maintenance mezzanine. The hum of the facilities fills the room. It is warm and dry and smells of hot plastic. A server system sits nearby, lights blinking in rows. It's one of our Classified systems that had to be hidden due to recent security breaches. Only myself, my father, and a computer engineer named Alan know where it is.

Sorry Alan. Responsibility falls on you now buddy. I smirk as I climb through another hatch. I'm not really sorry because the ideal of freedom is a strong motivation.

When I climb out, to my dismay, Draeke's leaning against the wall outside, arms crossed, like he knew where I was the whole time.

"What are you up to, Kikila?" He pops off the wall and grabs me as I bolt for the door out of the room. "Why are you crawling through the guts of the building? Have something to hide?"

I try to shake myself free, but Draeke's grip is strong.

He crushes me against the wall and kisses me with hungry force. His tongue tastes of Bourbon and cigars. His suit reeks of cologne so pungent it makes me want to cough, but I can't breathe. When he finally gives me room, he binds my wrists in his hands and grins. "You'll thank me for taking charge of your team after we marry. All of your assets will be under my protection ."

You're a fucking liar.

Draeke releases one hand to grab my backside, and it's the opportunity I need to twist free of him and get enough space between us that I can knee him where it counts.

The door to the maintenance room is just beyond Draeke who's now red in the face and pissed. He's on hormonal enhancements I'm sure, trying to keep his testosterone up for the women he flirts with at the bar and his macho ego.

I access the janitorial elevator on my TS wristband and run across the room as the doors open. I tap close before I'm inside, then thrust myself into the car, between the closing doors. I select Transport Terminal level as Draeke growls my name.

The elevator rises like my pulse. I struggle to catch my breath, then spit the taste of Draeke on the grungy floor.

A set of janitor's coveralls hangs inside. It will be a decent disguise. I throw myself into them and pick up a bucket of cleaning supplies. Then I call Alan on my wristband.

"Miss Amali, what can I do for you?"

"Code RAKE. Romeo Alpha Kilo Echo." It's my clean sweep command. Alan will pull all of my private projects in progress and bury them so no one can steal them, mostly Draeke. He'll wipe my movement logs and hide all other assets he can access.

He's quiet for a moment. "Yes, ma'am. We will miss you."

"Don't let him take over our team. They're yours now."

There's sadness in his voice. "Jella and Osarn won't like it, but I understand. Be safe. I hope you find a good match, one that respects your capabilities."

"Thanks. Maybe someday I'll visit. Good luck." I pause as my mouth quivers a little at the notion I may never see any of them again. "You'll do great."

I hang up as the doors open. Before Draeke can find me again, I leave the maintenance room in a flash and hurry into the terminal filled with people and transports.

I'm not surprised to see security standing by my pod. I have no doubt Draeke assumed I was coming here and would take my personal ship out of here.

I'm frustrated at the detour, but it isn't unexpected. While I'd planned to use my upgraded engines to outrun my father's patrol ships, I am comfortable taking the public transport. My father always thought it more of a risk. But as long as I blend in, I've made a lot of use of the public system.

Luckily, we only need ID to get inside the spire, not to leave it. I'm allowed onto the public transport without scanning anything or having my face captured.

I follow the line toward the doors of the large, flat vessel on hoverpads and look out the ring of windows that encircles the terminal. It will be my last look from this place I once loved as a child, until Draeke showed up and ruined my life. Roan, my childhood friend, left too. He was just wise enough to do it years ago.

A loud crash filters through the people. I glance over at the noise to see Draeke near my dock site and a trash bin tipped over on the side, garbage strewn over the floor.

I lower my head and eagerly join the others aboard the public transport. The moments it takes for the doors to close are agonizing and laced with anxiety. I busy myself mopping up a spilled drink so I have an excuse to hide.

The doors shut and the transport disengages then hovers out and over the city.

A nearby woman with a young boy on her lap studies me carefully. "Hey, aren't you—"

I hold a finger to my lips and shake my head.

She purses her lips then tilts her head. "Thank you for cleaning up my son's spill. I know you're off of work." Her eyes dart to my name tape. " Terry ."

I bite back a smile and a laugh and respond as genuine as I can for a janitor. "My pleasure, ma'am."

Minutes later, we land at the edge of the city, and I catch another transport through town to the underground garage, where I hid my backup pod.

I had a feeling Draeke would be a problem. He usually is. I just hope however he's tracking me, that he doesn't find me down here.

My private project is a sleek, dark vessel with special shielding I designed myself and propulsion my mother would've been proud of.

I could go anywhere.

But I paid and entered Abr the day after my father told me to marry Draeke or join the race. And I've been through it a thousand times in my head, trying to find an alternative.

The trouble is that my father or Draeke will find me anywhere inside Earth's jurisdiction. I have to leave our solar system if I want to be free.

My father is right about one thing; traveling through federation space unaccompanied as a single female is a big risk to take.

I need a new place to call home. My mother grew up on Anlatom in a human colony. But I can't go without an advocate. My father refuses to return after my mother's death.

More than anything, I want to be valued for who I am, not what I am—not the playing card, the daughter of the head of Terran Security Department's. I want to help others not just our home planet. I don't want to live in anyone's egotistical shadow anymore.

I hope I can find someone who will want me for me and not my reputation.

I clutch my mother's necklace, a simple dark crystal in a swirl of silver, and open my pod's hatch. The systems come online as I settle into the seat. The dash lights up in blues. The thrusters crackle and hum to life at the rear of my pod and each hoverpad around the hull.

I lift the vessel and race through the underground tunnels, exiting my hideout in a cloud of dust.

The moon seems so far away, but it will be a mere fifteen minutes for me once I engage the Loradrive, the propulsion system inspired by and named after my mother.

I call Abr to ensure they're expecting me. I filed my paperwork and saw the ARB entrance doctor yesterday.

"Yes, Elora , we have you on the schedule. You may set down in Hangar Four-Delta."

"Thank you."

Earth shrinks behind me as I fly into space, and I finally feel like I'm almost free. There is just one thing left to do.

I smash my wristband and pry out the tracking chip, then toss the items into the back.

A familiar voice comes over the pod's coms. "Your transport is unauthorized in Earth's space. It has an unapproved model. Please return to the surface for inspection."

"Fuck off, Roan. Eat a dick."

"Kikila?"

"Thanks for ruining my perfect plan."

"What are you doing up here?" he asks.

"What do you think?"

A patrol ship flies up beside me. Roan, the son of my father's best friend, looks over at me from the window. "Abr?"

"I'm not marrying Draeke."

"Fair enough." He pinches the space between his brows. "Well, I hope you find a match that's good to you." He turns away and mutters something I can't discern.

"What's wrong?"

Roan grumbles. "Some anomalies in the outer regions. Might like to get your take on them when you have the chance."

"You know where I'll be." The Lunar surface glows brighter until I can clearly see the Abr complex. "Time to go. Watch your backs, yeah?"

"You too." There's disappointment in his voice that I can't place.

I end the call and glide through the iridescent blue shield toward the open hangar to the rear of the complex. My heart races as I set my pod down and realize I actually made it. Part of me didn't believe my plan would work. Somehow either my father or Draeke would find me and stop me. Step one done. Now I just have to get my shaking legs to put me upright and get me out of this ship and onto my new life.