A Lost Kitten (30 page)

“We will not survive another attack, either.” Yudit finally spoke. He gestured to the left wall. “All the men you see out there are armed warriors. I have made certain of that. But there are few of us. I doubt any of them would leave their families unprotected to fight in this war.”

John quickly thought of Bogdan. He placed his cup on the table.

“And since we are barely existing, I cannot ask them to. You have seen for yourselves, we do not have enough weapons or ships. We are defenseless. If, and when, the Dominion arrives here, we will be lost.”

Jase finished his tea. “We understand. But unfortunately, this war has not only taken countless civilian lives—it has also taken Space Guardians. We have lost many of our sisters and brothers. Those of us left are spread thin.”

“We promise we will do the best we can to protect this planet, King Yudit.” Ryo met Gorwin’s eyes. “And Azeroth. But we do not have enough Guardians to be everywhere at once.”

“Or to leave on any planet,” added Thane.

John read the concern on Gorwin and Yudit’s faces. He understood Yudit’s desire to protect his citizens. He felt the same about his own people. As for Gorwin, he was a kindhearted man who dedicated his life to protecting the innocents. John thought of Mira and the twins, Audra, and the elders. Bogdan would be alone in protecting them. They were all friends of Jasira, his beloved. He could not leave them unprotected.

“As soon as I get back,” John told Yudit, “I will send whatever White Star I can to remain here to aid you in this war.” He turned to Gorwin. “And to Azeroth.”

Both men seemed surprised he would make such an offer.

King Yudit voiced his question before Gorwin could. “You would do this for us?”

John half-smiled. “Despite a few things that have happened, I have developed some emotional ties. And I won’t be happy if anything happens to the people I care about.”

Yudit bowed his head. “Thank you, Seacat.”

“Yes, thank you,” Gorwin said.

Ryo lifted the mug to his lips. “It does not seem like enough.”

John did not miss the mumbled words. He carefully considered the man. A question developed in his mind. He was about to voice it when Asher did it for him.

“Why do you say that?”

Ryo replied, “The Dominion is strong in numbers and in strength. For every success we have, there are double the failures. How are we going to win?”

“By sticking together and not giving up,” answered John.

“John’s right.” Gorwin viewed his fellow Guardians, one by one. “Twenty-one years ago, the Space Guardians were faced with the same odds. The Terrorshans were just as strong as the Dominion. We lost many races then, also. But we did not give up hope. Nor did we stop fighting. In the end, we were victorious. Why? Because we banded together and fought for what we believed in—peace. We are again faced with a tyrant. This time we have new allies.” He looked at John. “The
Sea-anan
Seacats and Sea Rangers.”

“And together we will fight until Daehog and the Dominion falls,” finished John, lifting his cup in the air.

They all raised their cups in agreement.

Thane placed his empty mug on the table and stood from his seat. “King Yudit, thank you for your hospitality.”

King Yudit rose from his seat. “You are always welcome on Surreal. May your voyage in space be a safe one.”

Thane dipped his head.

“What time tonight will your fleet be departing?” Yudit asked.

“Tonight?” John anxiously regarded the Space Guardians as they each thanked Yudit.

Ryo stood and bowed to King Yudit. “It will take Andros almost a year to reach Earth—”

“If the war has not been lost by then,” interrupted Hayden, standing up.

“Therefore,” Ryo said, giving Hayden a piercing glare, “we must leave tonight.” He addressed Yudit. “Departure is scheduled for ten this evening. That should give our brothers here enough time to retrieve their wives and belongings.” He smiled at Gorwin and Kenner.

“More than enough time.” Kenner bowed to the Surrealan king. “Thank you, Lord Yudit.”

“Good luck, Kenner. Return safely.”

“I shall try.” Kenner turned to his son. “Sirius, please get our horses ready.”

“Of course.” Sirius left the room first.

Andros was close behind him. “I’ll help.”

The Space Guardians were the next to leave. King Yudit walked toward his office, speaking in hushed tones with Gorwin and Kenner.

John remained in his seat. His thoughts switched to Jasira. He had not expected to be leaving so soon. He did not want to leave his soulmate’s side. It was sacrilege to consider it. But he had a responsibility as a Seacat to defend the universe. He could not turn his back on innocent lives.

“Are you all right?”

John looked up from the wooden table. Asher stood beside him.

“I know you were not expecting to leave so soon. But we are at war. It will not wait for us. Lives are being ended as we speak.”

“I know.” John covered his face. “But Jasira’s my soulmate. How can I leave her?”

“You are not leaving her for good. You will return.”

“In the end, and if I’m lucky.” He lowered his hands. “How long is this war going to last? It’s been two years since the attack on Sea Base Ten. How long am I going to be away from my wife?” He searched Asher’s blue eyes. “We might not see our wives for another year…maybe two. How am I going to endure that?” He pointed to Asher. “How are you?”

Asher took in a deep breath. “I’m hoping it will not take that long.”

“What if it does?”

Asher considered his question. “Then we’ll take a trip to Surreal—together—on one of your fastest ships. Until then, we must bid our wives good-bye. I will see you tonight. Find Jasira and spend your last hours with her.”

John watched the young Medlothian exit the room. He knew Asher was right. Still, there was no way he would be able to stay away from Jasira for very long. Staying away for five days was painful enough. He stood from his seat and headed to the main exit.

The first thing he was going to do when he reached home was locate his personal escort. His computerized, freethinking car could fly on overdrive, a speed greater than a White Star. He was determined not to stay away from Jasira for too long.

John neared Jasira’s home. He made a detour and went to the school. He did not care if she was working. He was leaving for war that evening, therefore Jasira was going to take the day off and spend those last few hours with him.

John paused at the school’s entrance. He cracked the door open and stuck his head through the opening. “Excuse me.”

The young woman by the blackboard paused in her writing and turned around, as did all the students in the room. The second teacher who sat at her desk looked up from her papers.

“I’m sorry to intrude like this, but I’m looking for the headmistress Jasira.”

“The headmistress is on a leave of absence,” the young woman by the blackboard replied.

John scowled. “A leave of absence?” He opened the door further to stand underneath the archway. “Since when?”

“This morning.”

“Did Jasira tell you this?”

“King Yudit did,” said the second teacher.

“Yudit?”

“Yes.”

John gaped at her, unsure of what to think. “Do you have any idea where Jasira is?”

“No,” they jointly replied.

John scanned the many faces staring at him. He looked at the young women. “Thank you. I’m sorry to bother all of you.” He closed the door.

John paused at the top of the stairs. Why did King Yudit neglect to tell him? He viewed Jasira’s house from where he stood. He reached out with his senses. There was no one inside. Growling, he pulled the collar of his jacket closer together and stomped back toward the castle. He spotted Gorwin and Kenner exiting the large double doors.

“Where is Yudit?” he asked them.

“Lord Yudit is in his office,” replied Kenner.

“Thanks.” John entered without saying another word. He went straight for Yudit’s office. He banged his fist on the door.

“Enter.”

John did. He paused just inside the room. “I would have appreciated it if you had told me Jasira was on a leave of absence.”

Yudit regarded John cautiously from his seat behind the wooden desk. “It did not take you long to find out for yourself.”

“I went to the school. She wasn’t there.”

“No surprise there.” Yudit switched his attention back to the parchment in front of him.

“What do you mean?”

Yudit sighed. “If she’s on a leave of absence, she’s not going to be at work.” He wrote on the parchment.

“Then where the hell is she?”

“Do I look like you?” Yudit scowled at him. “I’m not her permanent mate.”

“You’re the king. Her boss. It stands to reason that you would know where my wife is.”

“Did you check her house?”

“There’s no one there.”

“Then I cannot help you.” He returned to his papers.

“What do you mean, ‘you cannot help me?’”

“I am not her keeper. I have work to do. Good-bye and good luck, Seacat.”

“I want to know where Jasira is!” demanded John.

Yudit pointed to the door. “Then I suggest you start looking outside of this office!”

John roared at him, then whirled around and slammed the door behind him. Taking Yudit’s advice, he searched everywhere for Jasira. She was nowhere to be found. He asked everyone he came across if they had seen her. No one had seen Jasira that day.

It was nearing ten o’clock. John was extremely worried that Jasira was not within the city grounds. He paced the length of the kitchen, wondering where she could be.

Earlier, he had thought that perhaps Jasira went to visit her parents. Borrowing Fluffy from Rau, he went in search of her. John found her parents’ home, but not Jasira. He tried to communicate with the two life forces he detected in the small house, to no avail. They did not, or could not answer his questions. He had left more upset than when he arrived.

He returned to the city and searched some more. Jasira had not returned. He went back to Rau, again to borrow Fluffy. This time, John went to Bogdan’s home. Bogdan was surprised to see him. He insisted that Jasira had not come back. He had no idea where she could be.

John was reaching panic mode. Bogdan and Sirius tried to reassure him that Jasira was all right. The men even returned to the city with John to help him search for Jasira.

There was a knock on the door.

John rushed to the door and swung it open. “Jasira!”

“I’m sorry.” Bogdan shook his head. “It’s just us.”

John stepped back to allow Bogdan and Sirius entry. “Did you find out anything?”

Sirius entered first. “No one has seen or heard from Jasira since last night.”

“What about Yudit? I know he knows something.”

Bogdan closed the door. “Why do you keep saying that?”

“Because he’s her boss! Jasira wouldn’t leave without telling him where she was going! She’s not that irresponsible!” John pointed to the door. “What about the midwife? Did you find her?”

“Yudit and Nadia both said that the last time they saw Jasira, she was fine.” Bogdan informed him. “She asked for a leave of absence. They granted her request. She then left. That was the last time either of them saw her.”

“I don’t believe them.”

“They would not lie about something like this, John.” Sirius paused in front of the fireplace. “They have no reason to keep Jasira from you.”

“Where is she, then? Why hasn’t she returned? It’s been an entire day. It’s almost ten o’clock!”

“I know.” Sirius glanced at Bogdan. “We are sorry.”

John returned to his pacing.

“You can always stay,” suggested Bogdan.

John’s eyes ignited into a fiery brown glow, causing Bogdan to flinch in surprise.

“It was only a suggestion,” he quickly amended. “I’ll continue to search for her. I’ll notify the ship once I find her.”

John paused in his pacing. “What are you suggesting now? That I leave without saying good-bye?”

“Unless you decide to stay, there is no other option,” returned Bogdan.

John growled in frustration.

“Bogdan is right.” Sirius picked up his bags from beside the fireplace. “The fleet will be leaving in ten minutes. We have to board. Now.”

John’s glowing gaze froze on the Medlothian. Sirius did not flinch like Bogdan had.

“The choice is yours, Seacat. Only you know what you must do.” Sirius walked to the front door and opened it. “We did what we could to find Jasira, but there is a war to win.” He looked at John. “Jasira knows your heart. She knows you are a warrior. And she knows you will return.” He stepped in front of the open door and waited for John to precede him.

John’s eyes dimmed. He looked at Bogdan. “You say you will contact the ship as soon as you locate her?”

Bogdan nodded. “Of course.”

“You promise not to leave the city until you find her?”

“I promise.”

John clenched his jaw while he struggled with his final decision. Swallowing deep, he exited Jasira’s home. Without looking back, he boarded a Space Guardian vessel.

.

Chapter 16

Aboard the ship, John and Sirius were escorted to their individual rooms by an alien canine. John sat on the medium-sized bed. Was he really leaving his wife? His soulmate? The woman he had searched for for years?

The ship started to rise. A cold developed in his core. John thought of never seeing Jasira again—of never experiencing her touch. He jumped from the bed and rushed to the only window in the cramped quarters. John could no longer see the planet’s surface. All he saw were clouds as the ship made its steady climb into the atmosphere.

His eyes fixed on the clouds. They were made of mist, like Jasira. A sharp pain slashed his midsection. His lips pulled over his teeth as he made two fists. John was torn between his wife and his family.

He fingered the material above his scar and felt his soul cry out for Jasira. His eyes closed tight. John had thought he had no soulmate. He had thought he would never feel complete. Meeting Jasira had proved him wrong. And now he was leaving her.

John recalled the faces of his family members. They needed his help. He could not forsake them. He wished he could be in two places at once, but he knew it was impossible. What he was doing was right. He had to remain strong.