Jo's Journey (5 page)

“
Prepare the air bike for departure,” Manota ordered one of the warriors as he looked over the reports his second in command had given him. “Kev, have you made sure this area will be isolated enough that we should remain unseen?”

Kev Mul Kar looked up from the scanner he was monitoring. He had joined the crew as Chief Security Officer after returning from a mission on Trolis
’ warship. He had returned from the Tearnat warship with star charts and the location of Earth. He was overseeing their trip down to the planet and had finally picked a location he felt would be isolated enough to hide them without being too far to contact Lady Jo’s parents.

“
The area is primarily used for raising livestock on their world. The warship will be hidden at the bottom of the lake. All readings state it is deep enough to cover us. The submersible shell for the air bike can be hidden among the foliage near the edge of the lake. If you use the air bike at night, you should be able to move relatively unseen. I have met with Lady Jo and we have gone over the best area to set down. The cloaking device you have developed will work with helping to hide our presence until we settle underwater. K’tar is manning the communications and sensors of their world. We will appear as nothing more than space debris or a small meteorite as we enter. My biggest concern will be with whether Jo’s parents will believe her and follow her directions.”

“
They will,” Jo said, biting her lip to keep the stupid grin of excitement and nervousness off her face. “Daddy and momma can be trusted.”

She was so nervous, she was practically dancing. They had been traveling for over a month and the closer they got the more excited she became. There had been a short time during that trip she had been afraid that Manota had changed his mind. Something had happened and he had become very quiet and withdrawn for several weeks. He had told her it was nothing, just a few issues back home. Since his schedule was very erratic and it was hard to know when he would come to rest, she never had a chance to press him about what had happened.

Jo had taken to going to the training room and doing her routines as a way to deal with the restless energy she was feeling. She always felt better when she was soaring through the air or up on one of the high beams. She loved the sense of being free. Several of the younger warriors had gotten up the courage to finally ask her how she did half the moves that she did. She began a class to show them how to climb the ropes, move from one to another and how to improve their balance on the narrow beams.

During the weeks that passed, she had grown to appreciate the responsibilities that Manota had as she listened to the young warriors talk about his skills in battle. She could hear the respect and awe in their voices as they shared stories they had heard or feats they had seen him do themselves. Jo caught glimpses of his leadership skill throughout the trip as he worked closely with the others on board the
Seeker
, a sleek smaller warship that Manota had redesigned. It carried a crew of fifty, was a third of the size of the larger warships, and could move faster through space. Manota said the warship was used primarily for shipping military equipment and troop deployment when it was needed quickly.

“
Jo?” Manota asked pulling her out of her reverie. “Are you ready?”

“
Yes,” she responded breathlessly.

“
Remember, do not tell them anything about where you have been or about us,” Manota reminded her.

Jo rolled her eyes at him.
“Don’t worry. If I told them I had been kidnapped by aliens and was taking them back to another planet they would probably arrive with the army and a padded wagon. I’ll keep it simple. I’ll ask them to meet us at the condo.”

Manota nodded and turned to K
’tar. “Open the line and patch into their communications system. Contact the number Lady Jo gave you,” he said in a tone devoid of his true feelings of reservation.

The sound of a ringing phone echoed loudly in the conference room off the bridge. Jo didn
’t think she could handle talking to her parents in front of everyone. It was bad enough that Kev and K’tar were in the room. Hell, she wasn’t even sure she wanted Manota to be there in case she broke down like a sobbing lunatic. On the fourth ring, Jo heard her father’s deep voice.

“
Hello? Hello?” Alan Strauss said again when he didn’t get a response at first. “Who is this?”

“
Daddy?” Jo whispered as tears threatened to choke her. “Daddy, it’s Jo.”

“
Jo?” Alan Strauss’ voice repeated in a strained voice. “Who is this?” He demanded harshly. “Where are my daughters? What have you done with them?”

Jo heard her mother
’s voice in the background. She could hear her asking desperately who it was and what they wanted. The sound of Tami Strauss’ voice broke through the control Jo had fought so hard to hold onto.

“
Daddy, momma, it’s me, Jo. I missed you guys so much,” Jo said in a trembling voice.

“
Jo, sweetheart, where are you?” Tami Strauss asked desperately. “Where is Star, honey? Is she with you? Where have you been? Where are you now? Let us come get you.”

“
I’m… I’m going to be heading to our condo. Can you… you… and daddy meet me there? You… you can’t tell anyone. I need you two to come alone. I have to tell you some… something,” Jo cried softly.

“
Honey, where is Star? Is she with you?” Alan asked huskily.

“
No, she didn’t come but she is okay. We both are,” Jo answered on a shaky breath. “We… I need to talk to you both. It is important that it is only you two. Promise me that you won’t tell anyone else. I… I won’t be able to come if you don’t come alone.”

Jo heard her father inhale a deep breath at her words. In the background she could hear her mother begging her dad to do as Jo asked. There was a long moment of silence before Alan spoke again.

“We’ll come alone, sweetheart. When will you be there?” Alan asked in a deceptively calm voice. “Are you in danger?” He asked quietly.

Jo smiled as she looked at Manota who was watching her intently while Kev and K
’tar acted like they weren’t even there. She studied the huge warriors and knew deep down that she had never been safer. A sense of calm flowed over her as she looked into the beautiful midnight eyes of the man she loved.

“
No, daddy. I’m not in danger. In fact, I’ve never been safer in my life. I have someone I want you and momma to meet. Someone very, very special,” she said with a soft smile. “I’ll be at the condo in an hour.”

“
We love you, baby,” Alan said gruffly. “We’ll be there.”

“
Alone,” Jo insisted. “You have to come alone. No one must know about me being back.”

“
We’ll come alone,” Alan promised. “One hour, Jo.”

“
I love you, daddy. Tell momma I love her too,” Jo responded before saying goodbye.

The moment the connection was terminated Manota opened his arms wide. Jo
’s face crumbled as she stepped into his embrace. Her shaking sobs pulled at all three hardened warriors. Kev and K’tar quietly left them alone knowing that Jo needed time with her mate.

After several minutes, Jo pulled back and laughed self-consciously.
“Sorry about that,” she said, embarrassed. “I wasn’t expecting it to be so hard.”

Manota tilted her chin up so she was looking into his eyes. He gently wiped his thumbs across her damp cheeks. He watched as her eyes darkened at his touch.

“You are the most beautiful, bravest female I have ever met,” he said quietly. “You have no need to apologize for caring. I never really appreciated what you were saying – about what it would feel like to lose a member of your family until… until a few weeks ago. Now, I know what it feels like. You are an incredibly brave woman.”

Jo frowned as she saw the sorrow in Manota
’s eyes. She had seen it numerous times over the last few weeks. Something had happened. Her mind raced through the brief conversations they’d had. She remembered him saying there had been a problem back home. Her eyes widened as she connected what he just told her with the anguish he had tried to hide from her.

“
Your father?” She asked in a scared voice.

Manota shook his head.
“Father is well,” he responded sadly.

“
Who? Star…” Her voice shook at the thought of something happening to her little sister or River while she was gone.

“
Your sister is… as well as can be expected,” he said heavily. “Jazin…” he paused as a muscle ticked in his clenched jaw. “Jazin was killed in an accident while at the Uri Spaceport several weeks ago. It is even more urgent that your parents return with us. Your sister is… she needs her family with her during this time.”

“
Oh Manota,” Jo whispered in shock before burying her face in his chest, harsh sobs shaking her narrow shoulders. “I’m so sorry. Star… oh god, she must be devastated at losing Jazin.”

Jo looked down at the sparkling lights of the city below. She had moved as if in a trance after Manota told her about Jazin’s death. Her heart broke for her little sister. She knew despite everything they had been through, Star was madly in love with Jazin. She had never seen her sister glow the way she did when she talked about him. Even as mad as her sister had been about Jazin sneaking off on some secret mission without telling her, Star still glowed as she described all the things she was going to do to him when he returned. Personally, Jo had thought quite a few of the ideas had some merit to them, especially the ones involving ropes.

“
Your world is much different from ours,” Manota said as they passed over the cars on the interstate.

They had left the warship almost thirty minutes before. Manota had explained they had cloaked the warship using a technology that he and Jazin had been working on. They were able to enter the Earth
’s atmosphere and land in one of the many lakes dotting the Orange County, Florida area. They had to factor in finding one that was both large and deep enough to hide the warship and one isolated enough not to be discovered.

Once they had decided on a spot, it was merely making sure that they didn
’t raise any alarms with air traffic control, the military, or incur any civilian sightings. The warship had submersed itself, settling on the silt-covered bottom of a large lake just west of Kissimmee. After they had determined there were no alarms raised, Manota had taken Jo down to one of the huge cargo areas. It lead to a smaller compartment that Manota explained was used for launching orbital service vehicles. Inside it was a long, sleek wheelless bike surrounded by a clear casing. He explained the clear casing was a submersible shell they would leave hidden once they were top side. They would then use the air bike to get to Jo and Star’s condo.

“
It is small and fast. We are less likely to be seen than if we used a full size skimmer. It would not be easy to set it atop your condo building or hide from sight. This is more practical. It is very fast and easy to maneuver in tight spaces,” Manota had explained as he helped her onto it.

He stepped in and sat in front of her, pressing a button he closed the clear hatch. Almost immediately the compartment flooded with water as the outer door opened. Jo had wrapped her arms tightly around Manota
’s waist as he pressed his foot down on the pedal and the air bike shot forward. It was strange traveling under the water. They were almost twenty meters below the surface and it was pitch black except for the wide beam of light in front of them from the air bike. Jo shivered as they swept by the remains of a large cow. As they neared the surface she thought she saw the shadowed shape of an alligator moving quickly away. A few moments later the air bike popped up, moving silently across the dark water. Manota pressed a button, turning off the lights. He drove through the tall cattails growing along the edge of the lake and up onto more solid ground before opening the clear outer shell and letting it drop off behind them.

He had ordered her to stay on the air bike while he took care of clear casing. Pulling the air bike several feet further up the side of the lake, he made sure the ground was solid enough to set it down without there being the danger of it sinking into the muck. Once he was satisfied, he had stepped off the air bike and walked back down to where the clear shell lay opened. He quickly pulled it further into a small clump of undergrowth. Returning, he had brushed a gentle kiss across her lips before sliding back in front of her.

Jo had wrapped her arms back around his waist, tightened her thighs against his and held on as the air bike lifted upward into the moonless sky. Then, she was flying like she had never flown before. The warm summer air pulled at her neatly braided hair, pulling several long, silky strands free. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, imagining that this is what it must feel like to be a bird. She opened her eyes to search out familiar areas. She pointed out the different tourist areas and amusement parks that littered the region so he would know to avoid them. She showed him where the interstate and the Florida Turnpike were, explaining what they were used for as they passed over them. In the distance, they could see planes landing and taking off from Orlando International Airport.

Slowly, she pushed the heartache for Manota and her sister to a corner of her mind and heart until she could deal with it. She needed to focus on the tasks ahead of them. The first thing she needed to do was convince her parents that she and Star needed them now more than ever. The only way she could help Star now was to bring their parents back. They would do what they did best, wrap Star in their love, listen to her, and support her.

“There,” Jo said, letting go of Manota’s waist long enough to point out a tall building in the distance. “That’s our condo complex.

Manota nodded and turned the black air bike toward where she was pointing. The navigation on it would have guided them there but it was nice to see the building they would be landing on before they did. He circled around the top once before gently setting the air bike down on the gravel roof. He climbed off and held his hand out to help Jo as she stepped off. Her legs wobbled for a moment.

Manota smiled. “I need to cover the air bike. Give me just a minute,” he said, reluctant to release his hold on her hand.

He didn
’t want to admit that he was nervous as hell about meeting her parents. His biggest fear was that they would refuse to return with them and he would have to either take them by force or leave without them. He would not allow Jo to remain though. She would have to accept that in the end.

“
The door is locked,” Jo called out as she tried the entrance to the roof. “I should be able to pick it, though,” she added.

“
I have a device that will unlock it,” Manota said as he finished pulling the silk screen cover over the air bike.

Jo looked around in surprise but stepped back as Manota pulled a small cylinder from a clip on his belt. He aimed it at the lock which glowed for a moment before dissolving into a molten mess. He replaced the small device back where he got it and pulled the door open.

“That works,” Jo said quietly with a shake of her head. “Though, the way I was going to do it wouldn’t have left any evidence of someone being here,” she added dryly.

“
True, but we would have been late. From the research I have done, it does not set a good example to be late the first time I am to meet my mate’s parents,” he responded with a grin. “Plus, I wouldn’t have gotten to play with my new ‘toy’.”

Jo chuckled and slipped her fingers around his as they walked down the stairs together.
“Our condo is on the eleventh floor so we have a few flights to go.”

Manota squeezed her fingers as he felt her shiver.
“Things will work out. Your parents, you said they are very accepting of those who are different from them?” He asked.

Jo grinned up at him.
“You wouldn’t have any doubt about that if you saw some of the people we have met over the years. They will love you because I do,” she added with a shy smile.

She still couldn
’t believe that such an incredible guy would pick her out of all the women he had known. She scowled as she remembered just how many there had been. It still ticked her off at times when she thought about it. A shiver of uncertainty swept through her as she thought about the other women. What if he got tired of her? What if…

She looked up startled when she felt herself pushed up against the wall suddenly. Manota
’s lips came down over hers in a desperate kiss. He groaned as he wrapped his hands around her slim waist and lifted her up, pressing his hard body between her legs as he deepened the kiss. Jo was gasping for air by the time he released her lips.

“
What was that for?” She asked breathlessly.

Manota stared determinedly into her eyes.
“I did not like the expression on your face. You were not thinking good thoughts and I want, I need, you to think good thoughts,” he admitted leaning his forehead against hers. “I am nervous your parents will try to deny my claim on you,” he added grudgingly.

“
They are going to love you,” she promised brushing a tender kiss against his mouth. “You….”

Jo
’s voice faded when Manota suddenly froze. His face stilled as he listened into the comlink he wore for a moment. A look of disbelief crossed his face before he closed his eyes and leaned his head forward until it rested in the curve of Jo’s neck. Jo held him as his body shuddered, holding him tight. She didn’t know what had happened but something very important must have been conveyed over the brief message.

“
Manota? What is it?” Jo asked hesitantly. “What happened?”

Manota raised his head back far enough so he could look back down into Jo
’s worried blue gaze. He opened his mouth, closed it, took a deep breath and tried again. This time a huge smile lit up his face.

“
K’tar just relayed that there is a chance that Jazin may be alive,” he said hoarsely, overcome for a moment with emotion. “Father, Torak and Gril Tal Mod are going after him.”

“
Oh Manota, that is wonderful,” Jo cried out, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. “How? What happened?” She asked pulling further away.

“
I do not know,” he said, setting her back on her feet. “I will find out more as soon as we return to the warship. Jo, my brother is alive. He has to be,” he whispered hoarsely.

Jo reached up and ran the palm of her right hand down his cheek in a gentle caress. She didn
’t say anything, instead letting her touch show that she understood the overwhelming feelings he couldn’t express out loud. She ran her hands down his arms and threaded her fingers through his, tugging him down the stairs behind her. It was time to get her parents and return home. A smile curved her lips. She thought of Kassis as her home now. Her home filled with big bad warriors, crazy bad guys, and weird science fiction technology that was really cool.

Jo paused as they reached the eleventh floor. She and Star had a corner apartment not far from the stairwell. She pushed the door open and peeked into the hallway. She turned back and placed her hand on Manota
’s chest. He wasn’t going to like this part but she needed to get the door open to her condo and since she didn’t have her key with her she was going to have to use the spare they had hidden in the huge potted plant near the elevator. The last thing she wanted was for him to use his ‘toy’ on her condo door. That would scream ‘break in’ and someone would call the police.

“
I have to get the key we hid,” she explained quietly. “I need you to stay here and wait for me to open the condo door. It is right across the hall from here. I’ll be right back,” she whispered.

“
Why can I not go with you?” He demanded, frowning down at her.

Jo took a step back and looked at Manota. She saw a huge ass male bigger than any human, black leather, short military haircut, dark skin with muscles on top of muscles, a laser sword strapped to his hip, knives strapped to each massive forearm, more across his chest, a laser pistol on his other hip, and dark burning eyes that screamed alien! No, he was not going with her. The first neighbor to see him would be calling the Army, Air Force, National Guard, and God forbid, the NSA. No, it was safer for her to go alone.

“Just - stay!” She said in exasperation knowing he would not be happy either way. “I’ll be back in a flash.”

*.*.*

Jo didn’t wait long enough to give Manota a chance to protest. She opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. If she was lucky, none of the neighbors would be coming or going at this time of night. She walked quickly down the hallway to the huge gold painted planter holding a fake palm tree in it that stood next to the elevators. She knelt down next to it, running her fingers along the base looking for the small gap at the back. She breathed a sigh of relief when her fingers swept by the opening. Feeling around, her fingers scraped the tape holding the key in place. Working her fingers in the narrow space, she almost had it when the whole planter lifted up. Startled, she emitted a surprised squeal and fell backwards, landing on her butt with a soft humph.

“
It will be faster and easier if you do not have to search for it,” Manota said calmly.

Jo groaned out in aggravation as she twisted back onto her knees. Picking at the tape, she gave a low growl as it came free. She hissed as Manota set the planter back down and picked her up by her arms as if she was a toy doll.

“You were supposed to wait for me in the stairwell!” She bit out as she turned to head back down the corridor. She groaned when the elevator dinged as she took the first step. “Damn it!” Jo looked frantically around before shoving Manota back against the wall. “Pick up the damn planter. Hurry!” She hissed as the doors started to open.

Jo plastered a big smile on her face hoping it was someone visiting and they wouldn
’t recognize her. Her mouth dropped open when a tall male stepped out into the corridor. The male hesitated for a moment, his eyes growing huge before a big grin crossed his rangy features. The next thing Jo knew long arms wrapped around her, pulling her close as a set of firm lips covered hers.