Skyport Virgo 1 - Refuge (2 page)

Pike had waited just long enough to make sure she wasn't waiting for someone before sauntering over and introducing himself. Although she'd been talkative and engaging, Pike had picked up on the skittish, almost distrusting vibe, she emitted. Of course, once he'd learned she hailed from the Hezman Empire, he understood her reticence.

Pike still shuddered with the memory of his three weeks on Hezma-12. He doubted a more frighteningly backwards civilization existed within the known universe. They treated their women worse than dogs. From birth, little girls were indoctrinated with the ideals of complete submission to men. Since their life's mission was to procreate and provide pleasure, they weren't allowed anything more than the most basic education required to run a household and were barred from all forms of employment. Their husbands kept them collared and chained when they weren't of use.

Outside of their homes, women dressed in head-to-toe red coverings with gold mesh face plates. The first time he'd seen a small body scuttling across a busy street, the voluminous fabric flapping in the breeze, Pike had been rendered speechless. But when the wind had kicked up the fabric, baring the woman's fully clothed leg, Pike had seen something even worse. Members of the so-called morality squad descended upon the woman with their clubs and snarling dogs. He and a handful of his officers had attempted to intervene on that poor woman's behalf but it was pointless. Pike often wondered what happened to her. From the rumors on the planet, he knew it was likely one of the harshest punishments on their books. If she was lucky, caning. If not, facial disfigurement.

Knowing Laleh came from that vile place intrigued him all the more. She'd turned out so incredibly normal—at least as far as he could tell. Curiosity clutched him. How had her mother escaped? What had brought them to Earth? What would happen to Laleh now?

As Laleh neared the exit, Pike caught sight of movements paralleling hers. Years at war had sharpened his senses so acutely the predatory shadow had no chance of escaping his attention. Without wasting a second, Pike moved out of the booth and onto the floor.

Concern twisted his stomach. Someone was following Laleh, and he intended to find out why.

Pike grimaced at the sensation of muggy night air against his skin. He'd spent so much time in the climate-controlled confines of spaceships he'd almost forgotten what real air felt like. Houston in early May was less than pleasant. Thankfully, he'd escape the stifling humidity when he took charge of a new flagship on Friday and left Earth for a new Skyport and his first command as an admiral.

He scanned the busy street. A flash of blue under a street lamp caught his eye. Pike zoomed in on Laleh preparing to board the maglev. His gaze moved to the man shadowing her. Not wasting a second, Pike hurried through the crowd, desperate to get on the train with her. Nearly frantic, he watched Laleh board the fourth compartment. There was no way he'd reach that car in time. Instead, he hopped onto the first compartment, waving his hand in front of the scanner to gain access. It chirped as it read the Spacefleet issued microchip implanted in his palm.

Pike grabbed the overhead rail as the maglev surged forward and then tilted sharply up toward the sky. His stomach swooped as the train merged onto the mid-air track. Pike quickly found his balance and slowly moved through the crowded compartment. The numerous cadets packed into the car hindered his progress, all of them standing and saluting as he wove in and out of the grouped bodies. Even in his hurried state, Pike maintained professionalism and acknowledged every one of them. He only hoped his civility wouldn't put Laleh at greater risk.

By the time Pike reached the middle of the third car, the maglev had already rocketed around the intricate rings circling above Houston. A small warning bell buzzed just seconds before the train dipped sharply downward. Unlike the seasoned riders, Pike barely caught the overhead rail in time to prevent a nasty fall. He marveled at the jarring and frankly dangerous ride he'd just taken, wondering how the transportation authority managed to avoid injuring the bulk of its riders.

The second the maglev slid to a halt, Pike was slammed against a window by the force of the passengers rushing out of the nearby exit. To avoid a trampling, he threw out his elbows and entered the crush of bodies. When he hit pavement again, Pike inhaled a steadying breath and instantly searched for any sight of Laleh.

He'd lost her.

"Shit." Pike surveyed his surroundings. The piquant scent of spices and meat saturated the heavy air, the various smells from the restaurants lining the street melding in the night. The Delta Sector logo flashed across the animated street signs. He'd only ventured into this sector once, years ago as a Spacefleet cadet, and doubted he'd be able to navigate through the labyrinth of streets. With its high-rise, rent controlled tenements, the area attracted students and immigrants by the droves. Houstonians in search of a cheap meal and bohemian entertainment prowled the sidewalks.
How the hell am I going
to find her in all this?

Up ahead, Pike spotted an information kiosk. He raced toward it, carefully skirting a pair of young lovers embroiled in a passionate kiss. Skidding to a halt, he placed his hand over the scanner and addressed the blue screen. "I need an address."

A pleasant computerized female voice responded to his request. "Welcome, Admiral Grayson. Please provide me with further information. May I have the name you wish to search?"

"Laleh."

"Surname?"

"I'm not sure." Pike braced his hand against the kiosk as he hoped against hope the terminal might be able to help him.

"I show two hundred eleven residents of Houston with the first name Laleh."

"Can you narrow it down to Delta Sector?"

"One moment." Pike's fingers twitched anxiously. "I show seventeen residents of Delta Sector with the first name Laleh."

Thinking, he rubbed his jaw. "Can you sort the list by age?"

"I'm sorry but I do not have permission to access that information."

"Planet of origin?" He was fishing now.

"I'm sorry but I do not have permission to access that information."

Pike desperately racked his brain. "Can you cross-reference these names with the admission rosters of Federation University of Houston?"

"One moment." The ensuing seconds felt like an eternity to Pike. Finally, the machine spoke. "Sarafpour, Laleh, doctoral candidate in sociocultural xeno-anthropology, resides at 441 Coelho Place, apartment 56A. Do you find this information useful?"

"Yes!" Pike quickly studied the map on the screen and oriented himself. Four blocks to the east, he'd find her.

"May I help with any further inquiries?"

"No."

"It has been my pleasure to serve you, Admiral Grayson. Goodbye."

Pike barely heard the computer's parting words. He was already a third of the way down the block and picking up speed. Scanning for obstacles, Pike raced down the sidewalks, darting in and out of the crowds. As he pounded pavement, he realized just how much he'd come to rely on the instantaneous transportation used by the fleet. He could have been at Laleh's side in the blink of an eye if only the Federation hadn't outlawed civilian teleportation for distances under one thousand kilometers.

Spotting the hi-rise, Pike kicked up his pace. He followed a trio through the automatic doors and glanced at the line waiting for elevators. Sure he couldn't waste the time, Pike headed for the stairwell. Gripping the metal banister, he launched himself up two and three stairs at a time. His heart pounded and lungs swelled in his chest. His legs burned from the exertion. Ignoring the discomfort, Pike focused only on reaching Laleh.

Pike burst through the entrance to the fifth floor. He rolled his eyes in irritation upon the realization he'd come out at the opposite end of the floor. He raced passed the ascending apartment numbers. As he neared the forties, Pike heard the unmistakable shriek of a woman in pain. His heart jumped into his throat. A sixth sense told him that was Laleh.

Up ahead, a door opened and a concerned man stalked across the hallway, pounding on a door that Pike could only assume belonged to Laleh. Just seconds after the man's blue fist hit the door, it jerked open and another fist, this one tan, slammed into the neighbor's face. The blue man reeled backwards in shock, bright orange liquid spewing from the injuries to his mouth and nose. Another scream erupted from the apartment as the same man who'd been shadowing Laleh strode out of her apartment, obviously intent on continuing his attack on the neighbor.

His full concentration on pummeling the blue man, the assailant didn't seem to notice Pike as he bent down and grabbed the blue man's shirt. Pike took advantage of the element of surprise. As he closed the distance between them, Pike drew back his foot and landed a nasty blow to the assailant's head. The thudding sound of his boot contacting the attacker's face filled the hall. Pike threw his full weight into the downward movement of his elbow as he hit the back of the assailant's head. That was all it took to drop the bastard.

Pike paused just long enough to check out the wounded neighbor. The man raised an orange-smeared blue hand and waved him off, urging him to help Laleh. Pike pivoted and dashed into the apartment. His gaze moved around the ransacked living area and kitchen.

His ears perked to the sounds of a scuffle in a back room. Glass shattered. Grunts and slaps filled the air. Something—someone—slammed into a wall with a sickening thud.

Stomach twisting, Pike raced toward the skirmish. He slid into a bedroom and found a hulking brute holding Laleh up against a wall, her feet dangling as he choked the life out of her. Laleh made weak gasping noises as her nails scratched at the man's hands.

Pike rushed the brute and punched his fist into the man's temple over and over until he let go. Laleh slumped to the floor and made no noise. Pike fought the urge to run to her aid.

Already the brute was turning his attention to him.

Pike recoiled with recognition. "Jai."

Prince Jai of the Hezman Empire curled his lip in a snarl. "Grayson." His dark gaze jumped from Pike's face to Laleh's. "I should have known she'd have whored herself out to a starman."

Realizing he could use the mistaken assumption to his benefit, Pike puffed out his chest. "Not just any starman." He tapped his chest. "An admiral, now."

Jai's jaw hardened as he seemed to waver between lashing out and maintaining some control. Finally, he uttered a noise of disgust and poked his finger in Pike's face. "You can't protect her forever. She will submit."

His piece said, Jai spun on his heel and left the apartment, slamming the door shut behind him. Pike hurried to Laleh and scooped her up from the floor. Cradling her to his chest, he sat on the edge of her bed and gently turned her face. Fury raged through his body at the sight of blood trickling from her nose and the center of her split lips. Only the sensation of her steady breaths against his chin calmed him. He brushed the hair from her face and allowed his fingertips to drift down her cheek to her neck. Already purpling bruises marred her silky skin.

"Laleh?" Pike's shaky voice surprised him. He was a man who'd faced certain death on distant battlefields only to escape at the very last nanosecond, yet seeing this girl's battered body shook him to the very core. "Laleh?"

She stirred weakly. Thick eyelashes fluttering, she slowly came around. Her unfocused gaze searched his face, confusion clearly apparent in her glassy eyes. When her gaze settled, the slightest frown twitched her lips. "Pike?"

Relief flooded him. His chest constricted at the realization she'd just uttered his name for the first time. Pike swallowed hard. "Do you need medical attention?"

Laleh shook her head. "I just need a few moments."

Pike wasn't so sure but decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. At the first sign of trouble, he was calling for medics. He suddenly remembered the injured neighbor in the hallway. He shifted Laleh onto the bed. "Will you be all right for a few seconds? I need to run out and check on the blue guy from across the hall."

Concern flooded Laleh's face. "Noozeen was hurt?"

He nodded. "Not badly but I'd like to make sure just in case."

"Of course."

"When I get back, we'll call the police to report this mess."

Laleh paled and wildly shook her head. "You can't."

"Why not?"

"They won't do anything but make it worse. He has diplomatic immunity, and I'm probably already on the deportation lists." Laleh's pleading gaze bore into him. "Please."

Her frightened tone struck a chord with him. He didn't want to know, but he had to ask. "Laleh," Pike said carefully, "how do you know Jai?"

Her delicate eyebrows arched in surprise. "You know Jai?"

"We had an altercation of sorts on Hezma-12 during our layover." Pike didn't elaborate, and Laleh didn't pry.

"I see."

"What is he to you?" Pike's chest clenched as he feared the worst. "Laleh?"

Tears shimmered in her blue eyes. "He's my brother."

"Your brother?" Shock filled his voice. "Then…" He rubbed his jaw. "Your father is Dari? The emperor?" She nodded stiffly. "And your mother was?"

"His third wife," Laleh quickly supplied.

"So that makes you—"

"A princess? Yes."

Any other young woman would have been thrilled to have been royalty but Laleh spoke with such sadness and reluctance. It was obvious she viewed her status as a burden.

But that was a matter to ponder at another time.

"What did he want?" Pike was certain he wouldn't like the answer.

"To drag me home for my wedding."

Laleh watched the weight of her bombshell filter across Pike's expression. She'd never spoken the truth about her heritage to anyone since coming to Earth. Like her mother, she'd born the truth like a secret shame to be concealed at all costs. Saying aloud what she'd denied for so long filled Laleh with such an odd sense of relief.

And dread.

Pike ran a hand through his hair and exhaled loudly. "We'll talk when I get back."