“Please tell me this thing has a bathroom. I think I need to clean my pants,” he said.
Kella snorted. “Very funny. My freighter has two relief stations. The first is down the corridor. It is the last door on the left. The other is attached to the sleeping cabin. There is only one on board. I use the other cabin as storage,” she explained before pausing. “Ash… I really did know what I was doing. The simulator games are very good. I know the programmer,” she added with a smile.
“I’ll remember that next time,” he chuckled.
He pushed out of the seat. He hadn’t really pissed in his pants, but she sure came close to scaring it out of him a couple of times. He walked down the steps and along the corridor until he reached the end where the bathroom was located.
It wasn’t a large room, but it contained the two essential things he needed – a toilet and a sink. He relieved his bladder, then hunched over the sink, holding onto the sides. He closed his eyes and drew in deep, calming breaths until he felt like he was back in control. Waving his hand under the tap, he scooped the cold water in his hands and washed his face.
Looking up at the back wall, he stared at his reflection in the metal. He was on a spaceship… in space… with a beautiful alien woman who heated his blood… and they just outran the bad guys in a deadly canyon using skills Kella learned from an alien video game.
“God, I love this world!” Ash muttered and laughed deeply.
18
“This system controls the hyperdrive. It will not operate unless you program a course in it that corresponds with an existing star map. If you try to override it, you could find yourself on a collision course with a star, asteroid, planet, or moon. There is a large amount of distance between space objects, but it is still possible to collide with one of them if you are not careful,” Kella said.
Ash nodded. The physics of the universe were the same, no matter which part of it you were in. He was discovering that this section of it, wherever in the hell that was in the vast universe of star systems, learned how to traverse the vastness of space by using a combination of those laws of physics and technology. The technology of the gateway was incorporated into each spaceship, though on a much, much smaller scale. The larger the ship, the farther it could travel in a shorter period of time.
“This is my navigation system.”
He turned his attention to the panel she was indicating. A puzzled frown creased his brow. Why did each panel look like it was built out of parts from a Radio Shack Black Friday Sale? Hell, it looked like there was duct tape around some of the edges.
“Why is everything so… patchworked?” Ash questioned with a wave of his hands at the console.
Kella sat back in her seat and scanned the console with a critical eye. He could see the defensive look that came into her eyes. She worried her bottom lip with her teeth for a second before she looked back at him.
“It took me many years to build this. I had to barter for parts or salvage them from the ship graveyard. I learned a great deal from some of Tallei’s customers. I was not exaggerating when I said I knew every bolt on this freighter,” she said.
Ash saw the self-doubt in her eyes and felt like kicking himself. This was one of the most ingenious alien space crafts he had ever been on. Of course, it was his only one, but that didn’t matter to him. That Kella built something like this, which would have boggled even the greatest minds on Earth, was nothing short of incredible.
“I had help, of course,” she added.
“I think it is awesome, Kella,” Ash said, reaching out to touch her cheek.
Kella’s expression cleared and she grinned. “I could show you the rest of it,” she suggested.
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Ash replied, pushing out of his chair.
He had been itching to do more exploring. He took a peek into some of the rooms on the way back to the cockpit from the bathroom, but the only thing that did was pique his interest even more. He stepped aside so Kella could pass. Unable to resist, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him before brushing a kiss across her lips.
“Why did you do that?” she asked in surprise.
“Because I wanted to,” he retorted.
She gazed up at him with a slight frown before she turned away with a smile. “You have my permission to do it again whenever you wish,” she said with a regal wave of her hand.
A startled chuckle escaped Ash at her haughty tone. He watched her descend the short flight of steps. Was there just a little more sway to her hips than normal? he wondered. The grin on his face grew when she glanced over her shoulder at him with a mischievous, sexy glow in her eyes and what looked suspiciously like a smirk on her lips.
“Oh, darling, you probably shouldn’t have said that. I have a lot of making up to do,” Ash muttered under his breath.
General Roan Landais stood looking out over the devastating results of Director Andronikos’ orders. The once magnificent city of Jeslean’s capital lay in ruins. Smoke rose from the destroyed remains of the buildings. More than a thousand years of architecture was laid to waste in just a few hours.
He knew about the brutality of his uncle and father. What remained of the headquarters of the Gallant Order stood out above the ruins. The center tower still stood overlooking the city. It was severely damaged. Large sections were missing and it was streaked with black from the soot of the fires burning around it.
Roan wondered how long it would take for his uncle or father to realize what they had done. The tower would be a symbolic beacon for the rebels. He had no doubt that the images of the lone tower, still standing sentinel over the wreckage, were already circulating around the star systems.
“Sir, your transport is ready,” a soldier stated, coming to stand behind him.
“Excellent,” Roan replied.
“Will you need anything else, General Landais?” the soldier asked.
“No, that will be all. You are dismissed,” Roan replied.
“Yes, sir.”
Roan heard the man click his heels together and saw the reflection of his salute, but ignored it. Instead, he continued to stare out at the tower. The rebels would use this to inspire their followers to the cause. The timing of this display of ruthless power could not have come at a worse time. He would have advised his uncle and father to wait, but the order was already in the process of being carried out before he was informed.
His meeting with the two most powerful men in the star systems demonstrated his need for caution and vigilance. He had no doubt that the drink his uncle poured for him at that meeting was poisoned. Over the years, he had plenty of time to study and analyze both men up close and personal. He could read them well.
Roan thought of the alien man he saw on his Battle Cruiser. The man was skilled in the art of warfare, but that didn’t concern Roan. No, what concerned him was the mocking arrogance in the man’s eyes when he shot Roan a two-fingered salute. The gesture was a gauntlet thrown down in challenge.
He ran through what he knew of the stranger. The information was limited. The wreckage of the spacecraft they found would take years to analyze. The capsule that was recovered revealed the man came from somewhere with an advanced technology. It didn’t help matters that the capsule was damaged by a Tusku. The creature urinated all over it to mark its territory.
No, the most important knowledge came from the brief encounter he had with the man aboard the Battle Cruiser. The man brazenly walked onto his ship and freed a prisoner right from under his nose. His gaze narrowed in thought. How did the man come to have a Staff of the Gallant Order? Did he receive it from Jemar de Rola or was it already his?
In the end, even that would not be important. The overwhelming misconception held by his uncle and father was that power came from a show of physical force. That was what his uncle and father believed. Roan knew that true power came from something far less tangible – it came from hope. The arrival of the man and his friends would give the people that hope
, and the image of the Ancient Knights of the Gallant’s tower would symbolize their rallying cry.
Roan felt certain that the first awakening of the rebellion had already begun and the results would ripple across the stars to the far reaches of the known universe. The man who had boarded his Battle Cruiser and the ones who defeated Commander Jatur, were just the beginning.
He turned away from the large window and strode across the room. The Legion headquarters was one of the few buildings left unscathed. He took the lift down to the landing bay. Dozens of Legion fighters were taking off and landing. He boarded his personal fighter. A third signal was traced – and his personal sources assured him that the contents were still intact. It was time to discover if the legends which prophesied the return of the Ancient Knights were true.
Roan encrypted his flight coordinates. With a flick of his wrist, he enabled a jammer so that his ship could not be tracked. He did not want anyone – Legion or Gallant – to know where he was going.
19
“You are beautiful,” Ash murmured, threading his fingers through Kella’s short hair.
“And you are going to give me a very big head if you continue to tell me that,” Kella teased.
Ash chuckled when she leaned up to brush a kiss across his lips. His body should have been a pile of liquid mush from all the activities he and Kella enjoyed over the last couple of hours. Hell, he should probably be comatose! Instead, his body hummed with energy.
“What does this mean?” Ash asked, tracing the tattoo along her neck.
The teasing light in Kella’s eyes faded and she pushed against him. He fell to the side, rolled, and bent his arm to rest his head on it. His gaze ran over Kella when she sat up. She tucked the top blanket around her and rose to her feet.
“It is the mark of a Turbinta. It defines who and what we are,” she replied before walking across the room and disappearing into the bathroom.
“If it means beautiful, funny, intelligent, kick-ass, and totally hot, I think they got it right,” he said in a soft tone.
He rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. The tour of the ship didn’t taken very long. There were basically two levels containing a dozen compartments. Most of them were used for storage or to house the mechanics of the ship. The three he was familiar with were the cockpit, the bathroom, and the cargo hold where they entered the ship. He soon discovered the lower section which contained the engine room and weapons array. This deck contained the galley, the captain’s cabin with a private bath the size of a standard head on a sailboat, another cabin that was packed with supplies, and an assortment of electrical and mechanical rooms.
Ash turned his head and rolled onto his side when Kella reemerged from the bathroom. Her hair was damp and she had combed it back. She was also dressed in the familiar black uniform she appeared to prefer. Personally, he would love to see her in a little black dress with high heels.
“No,” she said, shaking her head and walking toward the door.
“No what?” Ash asked, sitting up.
Kella paused in the doorway. “I see the look in your eyes, Ashton Haze. I’m hungry and I have work to do before we intercept Hutu Gomerant. Since I am unsure what our reception will be, I need to be prepared,” she stated with a pointed look at his lap.
Ash glanced down and grimaced. She had taken the top blanket with her. All he had was the thin sheet and it was not doing much to cover the results of his current thoughts. He looked back up at her and grinned.
“I told you, I have a lot of time to make up for,” he replied with a shrug.
“You… I will be in the galley. You have five minutes if you wish to eat,” Kella retorted, turning away.
“Ten! Give me ten,” he shouted behind her.
“Five!” she replied.
Ash stood by the bed. “Damn, but I think I’m in love with that woman,” he chuckled.
Five minutes later, Ash walked into the galley. Kella glanced at him in surprise. He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows at her. She rolled her eyes at him and turned back to what she was doing.
Ash sniffed the air. “That smells… interesting,” he said, peering over her shoulder. “Is that even edible?”
“Yes,” Kella replied, turning and holding out the gray glob in a small tray.
Ash hesitantly took it from her and lifted it to his nose. “When did it expire? Last century?” he asked in a wary tone.
Kella turned and leaned back against the counter. “If you don’t want to eat it, go hungry. It was cheap and nutritious,” she remarked, folding her arms.
“You mean that you actually paid someone for this?” he asked in disbelief.
Kella dropped her hands and reached for the tray. Ash jumped back several steps and grinned. She growled at him.
“If you don’t want to eat, that is your decision. I do not waste food,” she said.
“It’s all good. I’m up for new experiences – as long as they don’t kill me. Besides, I need food to rebuild my energy for later,” he said, turning to walk over to the table.
“What is happening later?” she asked.
Ash slid onto the bench and wiggled his eyebrows again. “You, me, and some rock-n-roll, darling,” he stated.
He picked up a utensil that looked suspiciously like a spork and took a bite of the food. The food was surprisingly flavorful considering its unappetizing color. He started to comment on it when his mouth suddenly ignited with a fire that burned a path all the way to his stomach. Tears filled his eyes and he desperately reached for the cup Kella placed on the table with her food. He tipped the cup and drained it in one long gulp.
Kella sat down across from him and shook her head. “You are a very strange man, Ashton Haze,” she said, taking a big bite of her food.
“Holy shit that is hot,” Ash croaked.
She paused and shrugged. “I’ve had hotter,” she said.
He refilled the cup with water from a container she placed on the table earlier. Picking up a second cup, he filled it as well and sipped it until he felt like the lava he swallowed solidified. He sure hoped that Kella had other food on board or he might just starve.
“So, what is the plan?” he asked.
“Are you going to eat that?” she asked. Ash shook his head and pushed the tray toward her. She pulled the tray in front of her and began eating. “I need to check the systems. If we meet up with any Legion ships, I want to make sure that everything is in working order in case we have to run.”
“How do you plan to contact Hutu?” he asked.
Kella shrugged. “It will be dangerous. The Legion will be monitoring communications. If we send or they receive, the transmission could be traced. There are many factors I need to consider. It will take almost three days to get to Tesla Terra. I can only hope that the Legion will take longer since they are moving more ships. The Battle Cruisers do not travel as quickly, and they will not want to risk leaving them unprotected,” she said.
Ash bowed his head in frustration. He stared into his cup for several minutes. Everything she said was true. Hell, he had dealt with the same situations back home. Radio silence during a mission was vital when in enemy territory. He released a sigh and looked up at her.
“I guess the first task is to make sure this floating palace is in tip-top shape. I’m pretty good with a wrench if you’d like some help,” he said.
Kella licked the last bit of food off of her spork and nodded. “I do not know which ship you are talking about, this is not a palace, but I could use the help. I need to work on the shields,” she said.
“I’ll take a look at the platform. It would be nice to be able to open and close it without having to beat the crap out of it,” Ash said, picking up their dishes.
“What are you doing?” Kella asked.
Ash winked at her. “The dishes,” he replied.
Kella watched him with her mouth hanging slightly open. He didn’t mind doing the domestic stuff. His grandmother had a policy when he was growing up
– whoever cooked didn’t have to do the dishes. It was a great lesson in learning how to cook and how to clean. He placed the dishes in the small sink and began washing them. He started when he felt Kella’s hands run down over his sides and around to the front.
“What are you doing” Ash asked, glancing over his shoulder at her.
“Turning the dish washer on?” she quipped.
“The switch is a little… yep, you found it,” he replied.
“Ash,” Kella murmured.
Ash heard the change in her voice. There was a slight note of confusion in it. He turned when she pulled her hands away and rubbed them down the sides of her pants.
“What is it?” he murmured, tilting her chin back with a damp finger.
“You confuse me,” she replied.
He gazed down into her dark brown eyes and tenderly smiled. “If it helps, you do the same thing to me. We’ll figure things out,” he promised before bending to brush a kiss along her lips.
“There is also a dish cleaner next to the sink that cleans them without using water,” she said with a small smile as she took a step back.
“Now she tells me,” he muttered, watching Kella grin at him before she turned and walked out of the room.
He could tell that she didn’t want to talk about what was happening between them – not yet. There were things she wasn’t telling him. Natta tried to do so back on Torrian, but he let the other woman know that any discussion of his relationship with Kella was off-limits. Kella would tell him when she was ready.
Ash finished washing the dishes, found a cloth and dried them. It gave him time to think. This world was so different – yet, some things would always be the same, no matter where in the universe you were – plates, cups… the fight against dickheads who wanted to rule the world.
“I always did want to save the world,” he murmured, storing the items in the drawer and cabinet before turning to look around the room. “And win the girl.”