Gamma Raiders: Storm Squadron Alpha: Scifi Alien Romance Novel (3 page)

“Kira, your best is more than enough,” he said, reaching out to touch her cheek and pulling her gaze back to him. “Don’t think for a second that your efforts go unnoticed or unappreciated. You’re an important part of this crew.”

Kira’s thoughts wandered immediately to the Battery. Was Ja’al telling her that she’d qualified after all?

She bit her lip, trying not to over-think it. She wanted to be an important part of the crew, but she still wasn’t sure she was up to the challenge. Yes, mechanics were important, too. But was it so wrong for her to reach? To want something more? She had never been content to sit around and accept the hand that fate had dealt her. She believed that fortune came to those who pushed their limits.

And applying for the Storm Squadron was about as far outside of her comfort zone as she could get.

But what if she actually got in? What if she went through all the training and failed to perform when she was out on assignment, when people’s lives depended on her? Kira had plenty of courage, but the pressure of performance could get under her skin. Especially when other people were counting on her.

She shook her head. That wasn’t what Ja’al was getting at. He was just making polite conversation at a wedding. Right?

Kira snapped back to reality and looked him straight in his piercing green eyes.

“But they deserve so much better than this. I mean, they’re the royal couple. At least, they will be eventually, right? When the war is over, Adaar will take the throne? And Lana …. They both deserve to have everything they want.”

“Sometimes, the things we think we want aren’t really right for us after all. Sometimes, what we have in front of us is better than we could ever have imagined. We need to learn to open our eyes and appreciate it.”

“I guess,” Kira said. She wasn’t sure he was still talking about the reception, but she couldn’t figure out what else he could mean.

Normally, Kira was quite perceptive. She could read other people’s intentions, the subtext behind their words, like it was her second language. She always had a knack for grasping the things that people didn’t say. But the fact that she could never get a read on Ja’al frustrated her to no end.

“Lana and Adaar are more grateful for what you’ve done for them than either of them could express. Hell, we wouldn’t even be here if you hadn’t helped Lana open her eyes to love. So you should celebrate too. It would be a shame to let all your hard work here go without you getting to enjoy it yourself. You also deserve happiness, Kira Thorne.”

“Dance with me,” she said. No need to over-think it. Just trust your instincts. There was nothing like the feeling of her body in motion to put her mind at ease. As long as she was moving, she was calm. The world fell away. And besides, it was the perfect excuse to put her hands on the firm muscles of his arms as he held her.

“I thought you’d never ask,” he said.

Chapter 3

The next morning, Kira felt like she was walking on a cloud. She danced through the narrow corridors of the Dennegar Belt base as she made her way to the mess hall. As much as she didn’t want the memories of her dance with Ja’al to fade from her mind, she still had work to do. She completed the Battery of Tests, but the Squad Leaders were still watching. And if she was going to make it into Storm, she had to keep her wits about her, and not get distracted by memories of Ja’al’s god-like body pressed against her.

Besides, she didn’t want to read too much into anything. Even if he felt the same way about her, his duty to the Rebellion would keep him preoccupied. They had a war to win, after all, and Ja’al wouldn’t want to let a little thing like falling in love distract him. The mission was too important. And the Empire wouldn’t wait around for the Rebels to sort out their love lives before they retaliated.

Still, the memories of her dance with Ja’al lifted her spirits. They’d helped her put her disastrous failure on the fighter sim in perspective. She knew the commanding officers of the squadron specialties had a say in who they recruited to their teams. Maybe she’d done well enough that Ja’al would put in a good word for her. Maybe it would even tip the scales in her favor.

As Kira ducked through the small rocky overhang into the mess hall, she spotted Lana standing in the buffet line.

“Riley!” said Kira, running over to greet her friend. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d be … you know … busy …”

“The Rebellion waits for no one,” she said. “Even newlyweds, apparently.” She shrugged, and a conspiratorial smile crossed her lips. “But it’s okay. We had last night … again and again and again. Let’s just say the rock-hard Kamaran body isn’t just for appearances. I’m exhausted.”

“Oh, you poor thing,” said Kira, teasing her friend with easy familiarity. “Making love to a god-like warrior-man all night must be such a hardship.”

Lana grinned. “I’m not complaining,” she said. “But I am glad to rest for a minute. And … refuel. I’m going to need to keep my energy up if I’m going to be married to Adaar.”

“That good, huh?”

“Oh my gods, Kira. I had no idea a man could be so … skilled. He made me feel pleasure in places I didn’t even know I had.”

“It’s about damn time,” said Kira. “And congratulations, Riley.”

Kira’s mind wandered back to her fantasies of Ja’al and the memory of his hands on her body. Under different circumstances, she would have gushed to Lana. But on the morning after her wedding, it didn’t seem appropriate. She wanted to keep the focus where it should be. Besides, it would give Kira plenty of time to figure out whether there was anything to gush about at all.

As they neared the front of the line, Kira pulled a plate of roquillion eggs and a folded pastry, glazed with a sweet drizzle of Anaran sunfruit. The Raiders’ doctor, who doubled as the chef, was renowned for his ability to whip up the richest desserts in the galaxy. It was hardly a substitute for love, but it would have to do for now.

The two made their way over to a table at the edge of the room, grateful that there was still enough room for privacy in the crowded mess hall. Since the rebellion began, their numbers had grown steadily. News of the victory on Tarksis had spread faster than anyone expected, and shuttles full of new recruits arrived daily. The Raiders had established their base in the Dennegar belt, constructing a makeshift city inside of a massive asteroid. It’s location and coordinates were a well-guarded secret, but the Raiders piloted shuttles full of new recruits and Imperial defectors at an alarming rate.

“So,” said Kira, “what was so important that it required the Prince’s attention on the morning after his wedding?”

“Oh, the usual,” said Lana. “Another transport full of new recruits.”

“What, that’s all? Seems like someone else could have handled it.”

“I thought so, too. But Adaar said this was important. He said this group was special.”

“Don’t most of the worlds have their own military training? What’s so important about this group?”

“They’re defectors from Kamara,” she said. “And Adaar wanted to be there in person to welcome them.” The Kamarans on the home world have done everything they can to silence and distort the story of the rebellion. I’m sure Adaar just wants to appear in person for morale’s sake, and to set the story straight. Who knows what kind of lies they’ve been spreading in his absence.”

Kira stuffed a bite of pastry into her mouth, savoring the sweet berry glaze as she pondered. “Probably wants to make sure everyone is on the level. Make sure the Empire isn’t trying to sneak in a spy or something.”

“That would be suicide,” said Lana. “But you’re right. They have to check everyone out. Better safe than sorry. You never know who you can trust.” She looked away for a moment. “Though sometimes, people surprise you,” she added.

A fanfare sounded through the hall as the contingent of Rebel officers lined up near the entrance to the mess hall. Kira spotted Ja’al from across the room, dressed in his formal officer’s attire.

A small band of refugees lined up before them at the entrance to the hall. Kira took stock of the crew. There couldn’t have been more than fifteen of them. It seemed like an awful lot of trouble to go through for such a small group. Especially a group that looked so harmless. None of them looked like they’d had any kind of formal military training. Although, she wasn’t one to underestimate people based solely on their appearance, no one looked like they were any kind of threat. Perhaps the formal greeting was more of a political move, a chance for the Raiders to show that they valued people and set themselves apart from the Imperials.

“We should move in for a closer look,” said Kira. “Aren’t you curious?”

“You and your new recruits,” said Lana. “And I thought you had a thing for Ja’al.”

Kira bit her tongue and looked away. Sure, back on Tarksis she’d made a habit checking out the new marine recruits. “Ogling”, as Lana used to say. But a lot had changed since then. She wanted now, more than anything, to prove to herself that she could do something important with her life. To help the Rebellion. No matter how much fun it would be, a tryst with a recruit would only serve to be a distraction.

She couldn’t lie to herself. It was more than that. Her feelings for Ja’al were growing. She realized that there was little chance of getting together with him. He was far too busy with his duties to the rebellion to ever be interested in anything more than some flirting and a dance. But she refused to turn a small chance into zero chance by flirting with the new arrivals.

“The new arrivals are safe, Lana. I promise. It’s just that they’ll be going through the Battery soon, and we’ll all come up through the ranks together. I just want to see who I’ll be working with.”

She swallowed the last bite of her pastry as they stood and moved in closer to get a better look at the fledgling Rebels.

Kira watched Ja’al as he made his way down the line, speaking with each of the new recruits. A large Malotravian, a young man who looked eager to prove himself, stiffened to attention and tried to act tough. Probably hoping to be part of the small but growing infantry brigade.

Ja’al stopped in front of a young human woman with fiery red curls and large, round eyes. She was beautiful, Kira noticed. Like a younger, skinnier version of herself. Dressed differently than the rest of the new arrivals, she carried her body with an easy confidence and smile on her soft, red lips.

“Looks like you’ve got some competition,” said Lana.

“Oh, please. Ja’al wouldn’t be …”

She nearly swallowed her tongue when the woman leaned in and hugged him, pressing her ample breast into Ja’al’s body and beaming. Her fingers lingered on his arms a little too long before she leaned back and released him, tossing her hair back behind her as she whispered something into his ears.

“Do you think they know each other?” Lana asked.

“I guess it’s possible,” said Kira. She thought about what she knew of Ja’al’s past. The first officer didn’t spend too much time discussing his life before the Raiders, but Kira knew that he didn’t come from nobility. He was Prince Adaar’s attendant and friend, but he lived outside the palace walls. He had a life and family that had nothing to do with the royals.

“Could be his sister,” said Lana. “We don’t know anything about his family.”

“Except that she’s a human,” said Kira. She watched the woman’s flirty body language, the way her eyes lingered on his body. Whoever this woman was, she wasn’t his sister.

“Doesn’t matter anyway. Ja’al is just being friendly.” She saw the smile on Ja’al’s face, though, and doubted her assessment. She recognized the woman’s behavior, and she recognized Ja’al’s reaction.

She had no claim on Ja’al. If he was responding to the woman’s obvious attempts to flirt, it was only because she hadn’t made her intentions clear enough. But Ja’al was different than the other guys. He wasn’t just some hook-up, and she didn’t want to treat it like another throwaway love affair. Ja’al wasn’t a man you slept with for a night of fun—he was a man you spent your life with.

And now this red-haired bitch was trying to steal him. Kira had never felt the fire of jealousy before, but it welled up inside her now, a searing burn in her chest.

“Maybe it’s just the way they greet each other,” she said, trying to calm herself. “I mean, how much do we know about Kamaran culture?”

Lana raised an eyebrow.

“Okay, fine. But I’m not worried. I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation.” Maybe if she said it enough, she’d believe it.

She kept her eyes on Ja’al as he finished going down the line of new recruits. He must have felt her staring, because when he reached the end of the line, he turned to look straight at her. He nodded his head and waved her over.

“Oh, shit,” she said, wishing she’d been more discreet. She was in no mood to meet the new recruits now. She scanned the room for an excuse to run, but she knew there was no getting out of it.

Ja’al greeted her with a smile. “Kira Thorne,” he said as he presented her to the group. “Kira was a mechanic and cargo pilot back on Tarksis. She’s just finished her Battery of Tests, and will be training alongside some of you.”

The red-haired woman smirked at her.

“Kira,” said Ja’al, “I’d like you to meet an old friend of mine. Reina is the daughter of Senator Blackwell, of the Human Systems Alliance. We spent some time studying together back on Kamara while her father visited on official business.”

“Until you and Prince Adaar left us all behind.”

“It wasn’t personal, Reina,” he said, looking away. “I never meant to leave you.”

She looked straight at Kira. “You watch out for this one,” she said. “Just when you think he cares, he’s off sacrificing himself for some noble cause again, abandoning all the people who care about him. He’ll break your heart.”

Kira had a hard time picturing Ja’al breaking anyone’s heart. But then, how well did she really know him? He’d been plenty friendly with her when they arrived on the Vendetta. But their conversations never delved into his personal life. Maybe there was more to it than what he let on. A past of his own that he preferred not to talk about.

That was something she understood. Kira never spoke much about her own past either. There was no reason to. She’s dealt with her share of hardships in life, but talking about them all the time kept you stuck there. She’d learned to keep her head held high. Learned to find the good in any situation. And she knew that no matter how bleak things seemed, there was always a silver lining.

“What matters now,” he said, “is serving the rebellion. Over the coming weeks, you’ll all be taking the Battery. We’ll determine your skills and aptitudes to figure out how each of you can best help. There are no small jobs here in the Rebellion. Everything we do matters. Only by working together and combining our strengths will we free the galaxy from the tyranny of the Empire.”

“Yes sir,” Reina said, along with the new arrivals.

“Our fate is sealed with an aptitude test?” asked the Yordaskian, who immediately looked embarrassed at speaking out of turn.

Ja’al chuckled. “This isn’t the Empire. Your preferences matter. The Rebellion exists because everyone here believes in the cause. Our engine is fueled by your commitment. If there’s something you truly want,” said Ja’al, “Go after it. The Battery determines your talents. And make no mistake, talent counts. But effort counts twice.” He shot a glance over to Kira. “The prince and I both believe that one’s passions are just as important as one’s innate abilities. And with proper training, you can master anything.”

“Sounds like a recipe for disaster,” said the young Malotravian. “When people’s lives are depending on you, you need the best.”

“This bold young man is right,” said Ja’al. “A bit cocky, but still right. We need you to perform. We’ll give anyone a chance. But you still have to meet our standards to remain in any elite squad.”

A wicked smile drew across Reina’s mouth. “And what division are you in charge of, Commander Ja’al?”

He disregarded her tone and addressed the group. “I’m in charge of the Storm Squadron. Responsible for leading our fighters into battle. Until we take the offensive against the Empire, we provide air-to-air defense for the base. And make no mistake, the Kamaran pilots we’ll be up against are the best trained in the galaxy. To meet the challenge, only the best pilots make the cut. The training is rigorous and thorough. Most people wash out.”