Gamma Raiders: Storm Squadron Alpha: Scifi Alien Romance Novel (13 page)

Ja’al nodded. Prince Adaar was right. But it didn’t ease his fear.

“You love her,” said Adaar.

Ja’al swallowed the mouthful of red liquor. The burning liquid trickle down his body, warming his core. “Kira brings out the best in me. She’s made me realize how important it can be to appreciate the small moments. To take life one moment at a time.”

Adaar nodded. “She’s high spirited, that’s for certain.”

“It’s more than that,” said Ja’al. “She’s never let anything keep her down. Growing up alone on Tarksis, she took care of herself. She had no one to depend on. But she never let that dampen her spirits. Kira resolved to make the best of a terrible situation. And I admire her for it.”

“Not so different than you, Ja’al. Your life on Kamara wasn’t easy, either. Having to deal with an arrogant, spoiled brat of a prince all day, then go back outside the palace walls at night. But you never gave up on me.”

“You were quite a pain in the ass, Adaar,” said Ja’al. “But you turned out alright. You just needed a little help.”

“Ja’al, I’ve never told you how much I appreciated your faith in me. Without your guidance, I never would have realized the treachery of the Kamarans. I would have stayed on the path they had planned, been indoctrinated in their ways. You helped me find a better way, and I fought you the whole time. Only the gods know how you put up with my arrogance for so long. The Rebellion wouldn’t exist without you.”

Ja’al drew a long, slow drink from his glass of ormalon. “There’s still a chance we’re wasting our time.”

“You don’t believe that,” said Adaar. “You’ve never believed that. Your gift, my friend, and your curse, is that you always see the good in people. No matter how deeply they try to bury it, you have a knack for seeing the potential in everyone. Even a wayward Kamaran prince like me. Or a human girl from Tarksis who’s afraid to trust herself.”

“You’re right Adaar,” said Ja’al. “I don’t give up on the people I believe in. But who’s to say I know what’s best for them? It’s only because of me that Kira’s in this situation. I can’t lose her. I will never forgive myself if something happens.”

“She doesn’t have to fly, Ja’al. We’re asking for volunteers. That was your idea.”

Ja’al shook his head. “After all the time I spent teaching her to trust herself, to believe in her abilities, I’m supposed to take it back?”

The prince paused for a long moment. “You’re going to save her, Ja’al. I can’t tell you how. But I know that you’ll do what’s right. For her, for you, for the rebellion.”

“I don’t have a fucking clue what that is,” said Ja’al.

“Of course you do,” said Adaar. “You’re going to take your own advice—the advice you’ve been giving Kira since her arrival—you’re going to trust your instincts. They won’t lead you astray, Ja’al. Let your love for her be your guide. You taught me that.”

Ja’al smiled. It sounded nice. But he still had no idea what to do. How could he encourage Kira to defend the base when it would mean her death? But if he went back on his words now, how could he live with himself, knowing he hadn’t been consistent? Kira would wonder for the rest of her life whether she could take him at his word.

“I’ll figure something out.”

“You already know what to do, Ja’al. Look deep inside yourself. The answers are there. Just make sure that whatever you decide, you can live with the consequences.”

Ja’al gripped the prince’s wrist in a warrior’s salute, bowing his head in a solemn gesture of friendship, trust, and respect. “It’s not my life I’m worried about.”

Chapter 14

Kira slipped out from beneath the fighter, securing the panel to the side of the craft. The flight deck was still empty, save for the row of JRV class fighters that Storm would fly into battle. She didn’t expect any of the other cadets to be here making their final inspections so early. Nor was there any real reason to, yet. At least not until the final word came down from the high command about how they would respond to the Kamaran threat.

She dropped the multi-tool she’d used to tune up the ship’s targeting equipment and stretched her body as she reached for the omni-meter. There was something comforting about working beneath the ship on an empty flight deck. Facing an uncertain future, it felt good to have control. Adjusting and calibrating the ship gave her something to focus on; something to take her mind off her fears.

Plunging herself into the distraction, she almost didn’t hear the approaching footfalls.

“I’m surprised to find you here,” said Ja’al. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping like everyone else?” His eyes grew wide in the dim light, glowing faintly as he smiled in greeting.

Kira righted herself, rising to meet him as she wrapped her arms around him, pressing herself against the hard mass of muscle beneath his uniform. She didn’t care who saw. If they were going to be separated, she didn’t want to leave anything unexpressed between them. “I couldn’t sleep now if I wanted to. Besides, I …. You’re smiling. What happened?”

“You’re going to be okay, Kira,” he said. “You don’t have to fight.”

Kira withdrew from his embrace. “Did I miss something? The Imperials are still coming, right?”

“The Imperial fleet is still coming, Kira. The reports were accurate. They’ve discovered our location, and they won’t stop until they’ve obliterated the base. We’re going to evacuate. But you already knew that.”

“So … Tyrus has come up with a way to cover our escape?” She looked around the empty port. If there was a plan in place to mask the ships, the place would have been buzzing with activity. The deserted flight deck told a different story. “Where is Tyrus, anyway?”

“Probably resting, like the rest of them. We don’t have too much time before we need to mobilize. You should rest, too. You’ll need it. What’s coming won’t be easy for anyone.”

Kira backed away, the lines of a frown forming on her face. “You’re being evasive,” she said. “No secrets, Ja’al. Out with it.”

“We’re evacuating the base, but the Storm Squadron will stay behind to cover the escape.”

“Yeah. We already guessed that part,” she said. She studied the lines of his golden face. It wasn’t like him to keep things from her. He had always been honest with her. “But that’s not it. There’s something else.”

Ja’al inhaled, locking eyes with her. “Adaar has given us an out,” he said. “If we order the Storm Squadron to stay behind, we’re no better than the Empire. So we’re calling for volunteers. You don’t have to fight. You can evacuate with the rest the crew.”

Kira scrunched her face, but held his gaze. The implications were clear. “You don’t think I can handle it,” she said. “After everything you’ve said, you don’t think I’m qualified to lead them.”

“That’s not it Kira,” he said.

She shook her head and swallowed hard. Kira had never needed anyone’s permission to do anything. She never let anyone tell her what she was and wasn’t capable of. Sure, she had plenty of doubts of her own about whether she was qualified to lead the Storm Squadron, but Ja’al’s strength and his faith inspired her to push beyond her limits. If he didn’t believe in her ….

“This is a suicide mission,” said Ja’al. “No matter how good the team is, there will be heavy casualties. I won’t let you be one of them. I won’t lose you.”

Kira leaned back against the cold metal of the JRV behind her. Her vision dimmed as her heart beat faster in her chest. “What about the rest of them?” she said. “What about all the other Storm Squadron pilots?”

“I don’t like it either, Kira. I hate everything about this. Every single one of you is valuable, and good, and worth protecting. But if we don’t cover our escape, the Kamarans will decimate every last one of us. Without their bravery and their sacrifice, the rebellion will end. And the Empire will retaliate mercilessly. If we’re not around to keep up the fight, things will get a whole lot worse for everyone.”

“So we’re asking our friends to sacrifice their lives, Ja’al? There has to be another way.”

“There is not.”

Her eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of Tyrus. He’d have a way. That kid never let anything go. He’d obsess over the problem until he figured something out. Maybe he was on his way out now with an answer that would save them.

Because the alternative was unbearable.

Maybe she didn’t get along with everyone in the Storm Squadron, but that didn’t mean they deserved to die.

“This isn’t easy for anyone, Kira.”

She shook her head in resignation.

“They all knew the risks. Every single one of them understood that they might be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice.”

“Listen to yourself! Fuck! I can’t sit around and watch my friends throw themselves into the fire.” She tightened her fists beside her body. “This isn’t right,” she said.

“I’m sorry, Kira. But at least you’ll be safe.”

“What about you, Ja’al? Don’t tell me you’re going to let Storm Squadron go in without you.”

He averted his gaze, collecting himself. “With you staying behind, they’ll need someone to lead them.”

“What about Jomanak?”

Ja’al shook his head. “Jomanak isn’t a leader.”

Kira clinched her teeth. She knew he was right.

“But don’t worry about me, Kira. I’m going to make it out.”

“You can’t promise that,” she said. The fear hit her like a charging haropluff. And she knew that he, too, would sacrifice himself if it meant saving the rebellion. He believed so strongly in the cause that he would give up everything. And in that moment Kira realized that it was possible to love someone and hate him at the same time and for the same reason.

“I can’t talk you out of this, can I?” she said, though no answer was necessary.

“I will do what I must.”

“Gods dammit, Ja’al,” she said. “Why do you have to be so damn noble?”

Ja’al smiled as he touched her shoulder, but the warmth of his hands did little to release the tension. “You wouldn’t love me if I weren’t,” he said.

“You think I love you?” she said.

He pulled her in close, kissing her with an unrestrained, animal ferocity. She released herself into his arms, tasting his lips on her skin as he pressed her body back against the JRV. She met the intensity of his passion with equal hunger. She couldn’t stand to lose him.

“I know you love me, Kira. And I would take on the whole gods damned Empire single-handedly to protect you.”

“I don’t need your protection.”

Ja’al’s drew his lips into a smile as he relaxed his grip on her body. “No, my love. You don’t. Anyone who can survive being orphaned on Tarksis is more than capable of taking care of herself. And you didn’t just survive, Kira. You made the best of a terrible situation. You observed the world around you. You learned how things worked. You studied people, and you studied systems, and you figured out how to save yourself.”

“It wasn’t some grand, strategic plan, Ja’al. I was just trying to get by.”

Ja’al shook his head. “You still don’t trust yourself. After everything you’ve been through, you still don’t see your gift. And that’s the only thing holding you back.”

She looked up into his eyes, searching for a hint of insincerity. Not that she expected to find one. Ja’al had never been anything other than honest with her. “Why are you so convinced that I’m any different than anyone else? Anyone would have done the same thing in my shoes. I’m no hero, Ja’al.”

“I’m starting to think I’ll never convince you.”

“You won’t, Ja’al. It doesn’t work that way.”

“No. It’s not something that anyone can tell you. You won’t understand it until you’ve proved it to yourself.” He squeezed her hand. “But you’ll never do that until you can accept that it’s possible.”

The knot tightened in her stomach as she looked away, scanning the flight deck for any distraction to change the subject. Anything so she didn’t have to face him. Face the possibility that what he was saying might be the truth. A truth she’d been running from.

“I’ve never cared about being a hero,” she said. “I was just living my life. Trying to survive.”

“Yes,” he said. “You never wanted anything more than to earn enough money to retire on the beach. You said that when we met. But I’m not sure you believed it. For someone who’s so damned good at reading everyone else’s motivation, you’re pretty oblivious when it comes to yourself.”

Her fists tightened. Dryness welled up in her throat as she fought to swallow. This was not the direction she’d imagined the conversation would take. “Don’t tell me what I want, Ja’al. You don’t know.”

“I know you better than you think,” he said. “I know that you put yourself on the line for Lana and Tanner. I know that you want, more than anything, to make a better life for the people who’ve become your family. And there’s nothing more heroic than that.”

“You’re wrong, Ja’al. You’re wrong about me. I’m just a silly, selfish girl who wants an easy life.”

“If that were true, you wouldn’t be here.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t be,” she said. She could feel her heart racing in her chest. “Maybe I don’t belong here. Maybe when we leave this base, I’ll just keep on flying and never look back.”

Why was Ja’al challenging her now? He should be saying a heartfelt goodbye. They should have kissed, said their blessings, and parted in a moment of strength. What did he have to gain by calling her out?

***

A lump welled up inside Kira’s stomach as she walked along the narrow corridor. She needed to talk to Tyrus. There had to be something he could do. Some way to protect them. She’d help him figure it out.

Walking usually cleared her head. She would have given anything for the comfort of open air, but the small rocky passage would have to do. Moving as fast as her legs would carry her, she made her way through to the largest room on the asteroid. Housed above a deep crater, it had formed when a smaller asteroid had assaulted the larger rock, leaving the gaping hole in the otherwise solid ball of rock.

It was exactly the way she felt. Like a giant ball of rock, floating in the blackness of space. Unprotected from the barrage of meteors that threatened to tear through her.

Helpless.

She hated the feeling. Kira prized herself on her ability to take action. To solve any problem the universe could throw at her. But now, there was nothing she could do. There was no way she could get Ja’al to change his mind. Storm Squadron needed him.

Still, letting him risk his life while she stayed behind, fleeing with the rest of the rebels, didn’t sit well with her.

She stopped in the center of the bridge, leaning out over the rail to peer into the gaping blackness beyond. There had to be an answer. Tyrus would help her find it.

The heavy thud of combat boots echoed through the room as she looked up to see Reina approaching her.

“Kira, there you are,” she said, quickening her pace as she approached. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Have you heard?”

“About the attack? Yeah. I heard.”

“No,” she said. “No. It’s Tyrus.”

“Have you talked to him? He figured something out! He has a way to save us. I knew it! I was just on my way to see him. I guess he doesn’t need my help. I knew he’d come through. Has he told you anything about the plan?”

Reina’s face went pale. Her lips quivered as she shook her head.

“What is it?” said Kira. The lump in her stomach swelled as her chest tightened. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry, Kira,” she said. “They just found his body. Tyrus is dead.”