Jo's Journey (7 page)

“
Kev, what appears to be the problem?” Manota called out in aggravation as he walked back down the loading platform.

He was in a foul mood. His warship was open for all to see, practically defenseless at the moment as close to a hundred humans moved equipment, animals, and other items up the loading ramps. He couldn
’t keep the cloaking shields up as it drained the crystals they used to power it. He had ordered the
Seeker
to resettle along the outer banks of the lake near where a series of huge semi-tractor trailers, as he found out they were called, had parked.

He had never seen such organized chaos in his life, not even before a battle. The sounds of exotic animals mixed with the shouts of men and women working in unison. They were backing trailers and equipment up the loading ramps. Some worked at building cages, while others worked with some of his men on anchoring colorful equipment known as rides. A second group was loading the R/Vs into the second storage bay. Ricki and Walter had each taken a side and were calling out instructions.

In the meantime, there had been a few unexpected surprises. Not that he should have been surprised considering everything that had happened since their arrival on this planet. He was just waiting for Earth’s military to show up and ask if they could park their damn stuff in his warship next.

No,
he thought cynically.
I think I will be more surprised if we can get off this planet without starting a damn intergalactic war!

He had just come from medical where Jo, Tami, and Nema were currently waiting for Shavic to inform them about the condition of one of those surprises. Walter, Nema, and Ricki had returned over an hour before driving like
‘a bat-of-hell’, as Jo described it, as they watched them approach. It had been an incredible feat considering they had a fifth-wheel travel trailer behind them on the narrow dirt and grass path. He had been amazed when it slid to a stop and Walter climbed down from the driver’s seat of the huge truck yelling for help.

Manota had cursed when he saw Ricki sliding out of the backseat trying to balance a small body in her arms. He knew it wasn
’t Nema as she was hurrying around to the other side to help Ricki. He reached them before Jo did and scooped the small figure out of Ricki’s arms, calling for Shavic in his comlink even as he turned back to the warship. Both human and Kassisan warriors paused briefly to move out of his way as he strode the loading ramp. Shavic had met him at the entrance. One look at the small human and he knew the female was badly injured. He could only hope that Shavic could save her.

If that wasn
’t enough, his security team discovered another interloper who was caught taking pictures from behind a clump of bushes as the drama unfolded. From what K’tar had learned so far and relayed to him, the female was a reporter for the Orlando Sentinel. She refused to say another word except to repeat over and over that she had a right to be there as a reporter. It was three o’clock in the morning! Manota didn’t know why the blasted female wasn’t asleep as was the custom of most of the humans.

Now, he watched as his Chief of Security leaned over a figure that he had trapped under him. Manota bit back a curse. What the hell now? Another reporter? Jo said it could have been worse, it could have been a member of their law enforcement agencies. She said even with pictures, a reporter can be looked at like a quack with people believing they would do anything for a story. Now, a law enforcement agent would be bad. People believed them.

He was about to call out again, when the figure suddenly shifted, tossing Kev over his shoulder. As he turned, Manota could see the clear evidence that the figure was a female and not a male. The other thing he noticed was the figure was drawing a weapon from behind her back. Manota didn’t think, he raised his laser pistol, switched it to stun, and fired. Kev rose swiftly and caught the figure as it crumpled.

Kev looked grimly at Manota.
“The female identified herself as a law enforcement agent. I was not expecting her to be able to fight the way she did.”

Manota looked at his friend in disbelief.
“After knowing my Jo and all of these… these….” Manota swept his arm out to encompass the entire human crew. “Humans? I am beginning to believe anything can happen!” He growled out before he stepped closer and looked behind him. “To tell you the truth, some of the females make me nervous,” he muttered watching as Shakira the Strong walked by carrying a large bundle of thick rope.

Kev shifted the unconscious figure in his arms.
“We cannot leave her,” he said, his body stiffening in surprise as he gaze down at her. “I won’t leave her.”

“
Jo said it would not be good if a law enforcement agent saw us. Secure her in the detention cell with the reporter. I hope to the Gods we do not have any more unexpected visitors,” he growled out in frustration. “And Kev,” he called out as the other man started toward the warship.

“
Yes, my lord?” Kev asked, pulling the figure in his arms protectively against his body as he turned to look at his commander and friend.

Manota tiredly rubbed his hand over the back of his neck.
“Don’t tell Lady Jo about either female,” he requested. He had a bad feeling his mate would not be happy to learn they were taking two additional passengers who obviously were not willing. “I think it best to… keep this information to ourselves for the moment,” he added.

Kev bowed his head before turning and walking up the ramp. He had no problems keeping this little problem quiet. He looked down at the rounded curve of the female
’s cheek as it lay against his chest. Perhaps he could find a more comfortable place for her to stay, like his own living quarters. A satisfied smile came to his lips even as he called out to one of the warriors working the security detail to have a group do a thorough sweep of the area in case there were others hiding.

*.*.*

Manota slipped into the bed next to Jo. He couldn’t resist pulling her slumbering form closer, not that he had to do much pulling. The moment she felt the warmth of his body, she turned in her sleep and snuggled as close as she could to him. His body gradually relaxed. They were finally on their way. The next four weeks would be interesting. He just hoped there would be no more surprises. As it was, his crew was fascinated by the creatures, both human and otherwise, that were aboard.

The last two weeks had been extremely stressful to him, though he would never admit it. He had gotten into a heated argument with Walter when he saw the male known as Tony working among the other humans. Manota had told the ringmaster that it would be a cold day in their hell before he allowed the male go with them. Walter told him to
‘grow a set of balls and get over it’. That Tony was part of the family and Manota needed to get over his jealousy. Personally, Manota was ready to just kill the male who grinned at him whenever they crossed paths.

“
Manota?” Jo said sleepily.

“
Yes, sweetness,” Manota responded quietly, rubbing his hands over her back.

“
Thank you,” she said softly. “For everything.”

A deep sigh escaped him as he thought of the menagerie of creatures on his warship. He wasn
’t sure what was going to happen or how his father and brothers were going to react but if it made his mate happy then he was glad he had given in – not that Walter gave him much choice. A deep grumble escaped him as her hand caressed his chest. The exhaustion he was feeling earlier suddenly dissipating.

He rolled over, caging her beneath his body.
“Maybe you can show me how happy you are,” he suggested as his lips came down to taste the sweet honey of her appreciation.

Jo opened beneath him like a flower to the sun. His touch burning a path over her skin as he ran his fingers down along her neck to her shoulder. Her lips parted with a gasp as he pulled away to follow his fingers with his lips. Arching upward, she moaned and turned her head so he could reach her neck.

“I love it when you kiss me,” she admitted huskily as he brushed his lips along the long column. “Your lips are so warm.”

Manota let the tip of his tongue run along the rapidly beating pulse on her neck. His cock swelling as her excitement washed over him. He nipped her gently on the neck, drawing another moan. Her legs parted as she moved restlessly under him. Unable to resist the temptation any longer, he aligned his cock with her hot channel. He knew he should take her slowly, making sure she was prepared but the sudden need to bind her to him overwhelmed him.

Manota slowly pushed forward, a deep groan escaping him as he sunk into her velvet sheath. He buried his head in her neck, holding himself still as a shudder swept through him at the emotions threatening to overwhelm him. He had been terrified that Jo’s parents would change their minds. He knew if they did, Jo might decide not to return with him. He would have been forced to take serious measures that would have made life very difficult for both of them. He admitted he wasn’t too upset when Walter, Nema, Ricki and the rest of the circus decided to come as he knew that Alan and Tami would be happier having the comfort of their friends with them. No, the only one he did not want on his warship was the human male who seemed determined to challenge him for Jo’s affection.

I will just have to kill him,
Manota thought out loud as he began rocking back and forth.
He is so annoying, surely no one will really miss him.

“
You can’t kill anyone,” Jo whispered in his ear as her arms came around his neck. “You feel so good,” she moaned as her hips moved with his. “So, very, very good.”

“
Jo,” Manota muttered hoarsely as he began to move faster.

Jo turned her head, locking her lips to his. She threaded her fingers through his hair, pulling him down at the same time as she wrapped her legs around his waist. She wanted him to think of nothing but the feel of them locked together as one. She tore her lips from his as her first orgasm washed over her. A loud cry pulled from her as her body convulsed as the intense wave washed over her.

Manota’s heavy breathing echoed hers as he fought to hold out as long as he could. It was impossible with the way she was fisting him. The feel of her silky sheath, rubbing up and down his long, thick length was a combination of pleasure and pain. He could feel the tingling as his own release built. Desperately holding on to the slender body under his, he shattered as she framed his face. His eyes drooped before closing as his seed shot deep into her womb. He shook as he held his larger body above her, fearful of crushing her.

“
I love you,” she whispered quietly in the dark. “You don’t have to worry about Tony. He is just a friend.”

Manota
’s eyes popped open and he stared down at her. “I am not worried. I will just kill him and be done with it,” he said gruffly before rolling so she was lying on top of him, still connected. “And he is not your friend.”

Jo rested her head on his chest. Within seconds, she could tell he had fallen into an exhausted sleep. Not wanting to disturb him, she remained where she was.

“Silly man,” she murmured drowsily before sleep claimed her. “There is no comparison.”

“
Manota, I need your permission to kill a few members of the circus,” Kev growled out as he walked into the conference room three days later. “If you won’t give me permission, at least look the other way while I do it.”

Manota turned from where he was hiding in the large room off the bridge–
No, not hiding. Commanding,
he growled silently, ...
from where I am commanding my warship.

He didn
’t want to admit it but he wasn’t positive bringing Walter and the rest of the creatures was such a great idea after all. He would have been better off locking Jo away in his cabin, kidnapping her parents and heading back to Kassis before anyone knew what happened.

As it was, a new report showed they had another unexpected guest. It would appear the law enforcement agent Kev had captured had not been alone after all. Walter informed him that he had discovered a new member of the crew who had not been there before. Shannon Andrews had snuck on board the
Seeker
after seeing her unconscious partner being brought aboard. Manota could only hope the female had not notified anyone else before the
Seeker
lifted off. The last thing he wanted to do was to leave behind mass hysteria on his mate’s planet. Manota shoved the report away from him.

“
Which ones?” He asked grumpily. “If one of them is named Tony, you have my permission since Jo refuses to let me do it.”

Kev
’s eyes darkened. He was not in a good mood. The female in his living quarters had escaped and was hiding on the warship. He had easily located her using the computer system but not before she sought refuge among the humans living in their storage bay. Every time he tried to get close, some new creature would pop up and scare the shit out of him. Today it had been a mixture of ten men and women with colorfully painted faces wearing outfits that did not fit correctly.

“
Right now, I would start with the clowns!” Kev muttered as he sank moodily into the seat across from Manota.

Manota realized there was something bothering his friend. While Kev Mul Kar was his brother, Torak
’s, Captain of the Guard, they had fought together during the war with the Tearnats. Kev had saved his older brother’s life on more than one occasion.

After the war, Torak had asked Kev to take over the protection of his House. Manota knew something must have occurred after his brother claimed River as his mate. He suspected his older brother was jealous of the fierce warrior who showed an interest in the female. Torak had assigned Kev to a special assignment in the pretense of locating more of Tai Tek
’s bases through downloads of Trolis’ navigation system. That was how they were able to locate his mate’s planet. Manota suspected the real reason was to get the warrior away from River.

“
So, are you going to tell me what is the matter or do I have to try to guess?” Manota asked. “And you can’t kill the clowns. Torak wants them alive for River. She told him they make her want to laugh even when she is sad. He asked me to bring some back for her. You can kill the one called Tony.”

“
I don’t want to kill Tony,” Kev stated looking dejected. “Unless he gets in my way. Then I will,” he added sullenly.

Manota stood up and stretched. He had been going over the reports from each section that was submitted earlier and he was finding one common thread; the circus had spread like a virus to every part of the ship. The damn Mimes were in engineering this morning, the clowns had taken over the dining hall, the acrobats the training room, and the pyro Tec was asking all kinds of questions about their weapons systems. The list went on and on until his head throbbed painfully and he was afraid to read the next one.

Walking over to the wall, he pressed a button on the panel and watched distractedly as it opened. He poured a dark amber liquid into two glasses. Picking them up, he returned to the long oval table. He set one glass in front of Kev before he sat back down.

“
So, what is it?” Manota asked as he leaned back and took a sip of the strong liquor.

Kev sighed heavily as he picked up his own drink.
“It is the female I captured. She escaped,” he muttered before he drained half the glass in one swallow.

“
Escaped!” Manota remarked in surprise. “How did she get out of the detention cell?”

Kev flushed.
“I didn’t take her to the detention cell,” he admitted, staring distractedly at the liquid in his glass. “I took her to my living quarters and restrained her to my bed.”

Manota looked at Kev in astonishment before he threw his head back and laughed. He couldn
’t help it. Just when he thought nothing else could happen that would surprise him, it did. He shook his head as he looked at his friend’s dejected face.

“
How did she get loose?” He asked.

Kev shot Manota a heated glare that spoke volumes about his friend
’s amusement at his expense. The more he thought about how the female, Jade, got loose the more he could see the humor. Before long, he was chuckling as well.

Shaking his head, he drained his glass before he answered.
“I should have restrained both her arms instead of just one. She was able to get to the tool kit I had next to the bed. I had borrowed it from the service cart to repair a faulty light panel in my living quarters. She found it and was able to pick the lock on the wrist restraint.”

“
Where is she now?” Manota asked wryly.

“
Jo found her and took her to her parents and Walter,” Kev replied with a grin. “She is not very happy with you, especially when she found out we had another one in the detention cell. She demanded the other female be released immediately.”

Manota groaned and bowed his head. His headache was beginning to throb even worse. Something told him he was going to be on her
‘shit list’ again. He had only been off it for a few weeks, damn it.

“
I have a feeling it is going to be a long four weeks. You know Walter found another female on top of the ones we captured. She is another one of their law enforcement officers,” Manota stated tiredly. “This has been one of our most challenging missions and we didn’t even have to fight anyone,” he reflected before he continued with a heavy sigh. “Fortunately, we should be able to make the jumps soon. I need to go make sure those damn Mimes are out engineering. I want you to make sure our newest guests stay out of trouble.”

“
What of the one in medical? Was Shavic able to save her?” Kev asked quietly thinking of the bruised and bloody female that Walter had found.

“
Yes, he was able to save her but I am sure she will be very frightened when she wakes. Jo, Tami, Ricki, and Nema are taking turns sitting with her. Shavic hopes she regains consciousness soon. He recommends that she spend a few more days in medical to allow time for her bones to knit completely before she is moved once she does,” Manota responded thinking of the report he had just read. “I would like to find the male or males responsible for her injuries. I would take my time killing them.”

Kev nodded in agreement.
“I’ll go see if I can find out where Jo took the female from the detention center,” Kev said, standing up and stretching before he rolled his shoulders. “Jai complained the female never shut up asking him and the others questions. He said if he heard the word ‘Why’ one more time he would tape her mouth shut,” Kev said with an amused grin.

“
The females of this species are very unusual,” Manota agreed as he finished his drink and rose. “I better head to engineering. I will also check in with Shavic. I believe Jo is with the injured female right now.”

Kev tossed a small grin at Manota
’s dejected face. “Perhaps you won’t be in too much trouble. You did help save that one and allowed Walter and his crazy group to come with us. She has to give you credit for that.” He threw out over his shoulder as he left the room.

“
Allowed?” Manota muttered to the empty room. “Personally, I don’t think I had any say in the matter.”

*.*.*

Manota snarled at the clowns who were crowding the corridor. Some were talking animatedly while a couple were walking and tossing several sets of colorful hoops back and forth to each other. They were totally oblivious to the warriors walking around them. Well, most of them were oblivious. Manota felt like rolling his eyes when one of the female clowns turned and walked backwards, staring at three of the warriors as they passed by. She made a low comment that drew a laugh out of the others.

He was finally able to turn down another corridor only to freeze as a striped four-legged animal with another hairy creature on its back trotted by him followed by another female.

“Excuse us,” the breathless voice murmured as she passed by him. “They needed exercise.”

Manota stared as they disappeared in the opposite direction. He started to turn but had to press back against the wall as six dogs, as Jo called them, almost ran over him. One of the females who had been in Jo
’s apartment jogged several feet behind them. Manota stepped back into the center of the corridor and watched as she turned the corner.

“
Excuse me, my lord,” Jai said as he bumped into Manota.

“
Jai, where are you going in such a hurry?” Manota asked with a frown. “Is there a problem?”

Manota glanced at Jai as the young warrior looked behind him. He could see the frustration on the warrior
’s face as he looked back and forth between him and the directions the females went. He watched as the warrior shifted restlessly from one foot to the other.

“
Nothing is wrong, my lord,” Jai said looking again down the corridor with a frown. “Did you… did you perchance see a human female with a small group of animals go by you?”

Manota raised his eyebrow at the warrior.
“Which one? The one with a four-legged striped animal with something hairy on its back or the one with six dog creatures?” He asked dryly.

Jai
’s face changed as he gave Manota a sheepish grin. “I am looking for the one with the six creatures of various sizes. Petre was looking for the other one.”

Manota shook his head in exasperation. This is why they did not have females on their warships. The males couldn
’t think straight. He grimaced as he realized he was just as bad.

“
Your female took a right. The other went straight,” he replied before turning to continue his journey to engineering.

“
Thank you, my lord,” Jai called out as he sprinted down the corridor and turned right.

Manota shook his head again as he stepped into the lift. This was going to be a very, very long voyage and they had just started. It was definitely going to be the most interesting one he had ever been on he couldn
’t help but think.

*.*.*

Jai rounded the corner and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the unusual female with spiked hair in different colors kneeling by one of the creatures she cared for. He slowed his step, not wanting to startle her. She was the most beautiful, exotic creature he had ever seen.

Mattie knelt in front of Bouncer as the other dogs lay down, panting. She had been about to go crazy staying in the area where all their campers were set up. The dogs needed a good run and the long corridors were perfect for it. She also had to admit to being more than a little curious about being on an alien spaceship. She still had a hard time believing that she and her little
‘family’ had left everything they knew behind. She wondered vaguely if this was how her ancestors felt when they traveled across the ocean to a new land.

Not that
I had much to leave behind,
she thought distractedly as she checked Bouncer’s paw.
Nothing but heartache and loneliness.

“
Hello, female,” Jai said as he stepped closer.

Mattie looked up in surprise when she heard a deep voice speaking to her. It was still a little disorienting to hear words spoken in one language but translated to another in her ear. It was a little like watching a movie where the video and the sound were a little out of sync.

A tall warrior, not much older than her twenty-four years, stood a few steps away from her. Mattie blushed as she noticed his intense stare. Standing, she slipped her hands into her faded blue jeans. The movement pulled her baggy blue T-shirt snugly against her full breasts.

“
Hi,” Mattie replied, looking curiously at the man.

He was tall like all the other alien males she had seen on board the ship. He wore his hair short like the rest as well. She figured it must be like the military back on Earth where they had to keep it short. His skin was a dark tan, much like her own. Her mom had been an exchange student from South Africa while her dad had been Caucasian. They had met at Columbia State University and married but it didn
’t last.

Her mom and dad had divorced when she was four and she had pretty much been shuffled between them depending on moods, availability and their current relationships. Her mom had remarried three years before and Mattie didn
’t get along with her new step-dad. Her dad was a career Navy guy and was now married to a woman he had met in Japan. She figured both of them discovered they weren’t parent material as neither one had any more children. She hadn’t seen either of her parents in a couple of years now.