Soul of Desire

Chapter Seven

I was hanging from a platform, suspended thirty feet off the ground, over the nose of the warp core. My protective suit wrapped my body up nice and secure against the radiation it emitted.

“You alright in there, cub?” Hart’s voice filtered through the earpiece.

“Yeah old man, I am fine. Quit your fussing.” I muttered in a mock exasperated tone. He chuckled in my ear. I grinned while I positioned the extra sensors.

“What the hell is she doing?” I thought I heard Nix yell.

“Hart, this suit is s**t. I think I am hallucinating,” I called. The Therros snorted out a laugh.

“Why do you think that?”

“I could have sworn I heard a large angry Panther yelling in my ear. But that could not be possible. As our fearless leader said he would be in a meeting with the Galactic council all bloody day.” I said to the maintenance crew chief. I heard several chuckles and an irritated growl.

“Get your arse down here Hex.” Nix’s voice rang loud and clear through my suit. I rolled my eyes.

“Your helmet has a camera in it kitten. I saw that.” Nix muttered dryly.

“Oops. One day I am going to have to remember that. I am sorry Captain. Honestly, the remorse is killing me. I’m tearing up in here.” I muttered with a smirk. I pulled away from the core. I felt the winch cable jerk.

“Hart, did you do something? What, the hell is that?” I growled spinning in the air. I looked up in time to see Kruk trying to slice through the cable holding me aloft. The movement of the knife against the metal rope vibrated through me.

“Motherfucker! Like hell, you will.” I snarled grasping the cable. I began to pull myself up hand over fist.

“What’s going on?” Nix demanded as I reached the bottom of the catwalk.

“Oh, you know. The usual. Someone is trying their best to kill me. Leave a message Nix, I’ll get back to you. If I don’t f*****g die, first.” I snapped as I inverted myself through the access hole and onto the platform. I kicked out with both boots, the male stumbled backwards. I did not give him any room to block as I attacked like a wild animal. My knife was on the inside of my protective suit. I knocked the male to the ground and kicked him in the head as hard as I could.

“Run! Luca, run!” Nix yelled into my ear.

“Rodger that, captain obvious,” I muttered shooting a glance toward the control room. Nix watched with dawning horror from the window. Haze and Brik had him pinned to the wall as he fought to get to me.

“Do not let him get his claws on you. Find a weapon. Get rid of the fear, you can do this. Just calm down and think.” Hart counselled.

“I am a Soritolo Hex, I run from no one. Stand your f*****g ground, Luciana!” I snarled quietly as I stopped running. Stock still on the platform, I spun facing my rapidly approaching opponent. I picked up my nail gun from the pile of tools I was using while working on the new platform. I lifted the tool and fired. A nail shot from the gun and imbedded into the male’s chest. He roared.

“Come on!” I screamed firing off another round of nails. They embedded themselves in his skull. Kruk dropped to his knees.

“I’m going to kill you, Luca. I’ll snap you like a twig.” He cursed trying to pull the nails out of his face. I lifted the winch cable and wrapped it around his throat before I tossed myself over the side of the platform. My weight broke the male's neck instantly. I swung for a moment, in mid-air breathing hard, trying to shake off the fear.

“So, what are the chances of having someone make me a coffee?” I asked through the mic in my helmet as I pulled myself back up the cable and onto the platform. Hart chuckled.

“Does it work?” Hart asked pointing to the new sensor. I looked at him through the large window.

“Does it work? Seriously, old man, have some faith. Does it work? Unbelievable. Where’s the love? I am not feeling the love.” I muttered sourly, putting the fear away and reaching for my humour. Shaking my head, though the camera in my suit belayed the irritation in my voice by showing the smile on my face.

“You might want to get your butt in here cub, the captain wants to see you. He’s ah, slightly on edge.” Hart murmured. I climbed to my feet. I looked over at Kruk.

“Hart, I thought he’d given up on all the leadership, s**t. I thought he was my friend.” I said sadly bending down next to the dead Therros. I unwrapped the cable.

“I know cub.” I closed Kruk’s eyes with one hand and walked towards the safety chamber next to the control room. I closed the hatch behind me and stood under the de-contamination spray. When I stepped out I removed my protective suit. I felt better now I could reach the knife in the top of my boot. The room grew quiet when I stepped into the control centre. Hart shot me a small smile. The room was filled with several males and females belonging to a mixture of different species. I picked up my communicator and slid the ring around my neck.

“Luca Hex what is the name of your species and the home planet?” A female asked stepping forward. Her long batlike wings brushed the floor and her sharp claws were folded together in front of her streamlined body. She peered with stern eyes down her short-hooked beak.

“I am human, from Earth,” I stated trying to appear calm and casual. Hart handed me the control tablet, so I could check the sensor calibration settings.

“How did you come to be aboard this ship?” Another stepped forward. This one a male. He was small, only coming to my hip. One side of his face looked like coral and the other a small child.

“I was abducted. A Callite male by the name of Commander Hirik transported me and another human man aboard. He said we were valuable and a good fertile breeding pair. We would fetch a hefty return for the Callite empire. It was their duty to enrich their people. I didn’t care much for their life plans. Captain Kane liberated me.” I stated handing the tablet back with a nod to Hart.

“Good job Hex.” He murmured. I nodded. I could not look at Nix. If I did I knew I would give away my feelings for him.

“How long ago was this?” The first female asked troubled.

“Three months.” The group looked around at each other, unimpressed with my answer.

“Captain Kane has kept you here as his pet all this time?”

“No, of course not. Kane saved me from being a breeding slave. After that, I wanted to stay. I like it here. The Ventherros are an incredible species. I am happy. The Captain claimed me as his pet to protect me. As you just saw, things have been slightly tense.” I said finally looking up at the creatures surrounding me. Another female stepped forward. She seemed to float. Her long, thin gangly fingers cupped my chin, she peered down into my eyes.

“You have been coded.” She murmured sadly into my mind. I nodded.

“I would see your memories if I might be so bold young Terren.” She whispered, the gold in her eyes seemed to twirl in circled as I fell into her gaze. I suddenly blinked bringing the room back into focus.

“You are in love with Nixim Kane. How interesting that you have feelings for this savage Ventherros pirate. You are a brave woman to have lived through so much in such a short space of time. The male today, he tried to take your life to vie for your lover’s place as leader of this pride. Why would you love someone who’s position endangers you?” She asked. I shrugged.

“Why do you read minds?” I thought, wondering if she could hear me.

“I have no control over what abilities I am born with.” She replied softly.

“Human’s do not have control over who they fall in love with. It usually just happens. Nix might be a savage Ventherros pirate to you, but to me he is Nix. Just Nix, the male who makes me laugh, is thoughtful and kind. He’s also got a tail! What is not to love about that?” I said crossing my arms over my chest. The inhabitants of the control room watched us curiously.

“I know that look. She mostly reserves it for me.” Nix muttered.

“Yes, I know that one too. It usually comes before Luca digs her stubborn human feet into the ground and refuses to move.” Haze replied softly. Brik chuckled, shaking his head at their conversation.

“That may be so my dear Terren, Therros lives are long and they take only one mate. Nixim Kane is still young and Humans have so few years, would you leave your lover to suffer the ravages of time without you?” I stepped back, eyes wide. I did not know that. Nix had not said a word. I could not stay. I would grow old and he, he would remain as he was now. I looked at Hart.

“How old are you?” I demanded softly. The old grey looked startled.

“Three hundred and ninety-eight.” He replied with the dawning realisation, his gaze flicked to the Captain and back.

“I will be instructing my fellow council members to return you to your home planet. There is no world for you here Luca Hex. The humans are left alone for this very reason. Your species is yet to evolve. Until then, you will feel the bite of time. Return to your quarters and retrieve your belongings. You will feel your translator heat slightly before we beam you from the ship. Leave now.” The female stepped back away from me.

“If that is the rule of the galactic council? I can do no other than to obey.” I murmured. All eight of the council members nodded as one. I turned to Nix.

“Permission to be excused, Captain?”

“Of course.” He replied confused. Hart followed me out the door and into the hallway. We did not speak as I made my way back to my quarters on deck twelve.

Hart sat at the little table in my living room. I picked up my handbag, the only possession I had from Earth. I changed quickly into the Jeans and shirt I’d mended. The blood had come out after numerous scrubbings and a trip to the cleaner back on Cossa, Hela has sewn up the rip down the front bringing the shirt back to decent. I wrapped my hair up into a bun and changed my boots for my old runners. Hart was still waiting when I walked back into the lounge.

“Speak cub.” He murmured.

“Why are you grey? Jeg is grey too but he said you were from a different clan.” I whispered fighting tears. Hart laughed.

“I am an old panther Luca. Once I am gone, young Nix will be the last of his kind, as Haze is.” He replied with a sad smile.

“So, Nix will look like you when he is nearly four hundred?” The old Panther nodded.

“He certainly will.” He murmured.

“I’ll miss you, Hart,” I said taking a deep breath. He smiled baring sharp teeth. He lunged forward suddenly and sunk those razor teeth into my shoulder. They punched deep. He drew back. I swayed slightly. I staggered back away from the male. Betrayal washed through me.

“Why?” I cried softly. I could feel the blood running down my chest and back. The wound began to close rapidly. I looked up at the male, shock rolling through me. He grinned showing bloodied teeth and threw me a small silver ring.

“Put it in your bag and don’t think about it. They’ll know. Hopefully, my bite won’t kill you. Legend says if the host is willing the Therros can infect a human with their cat virus. I do not know how true it is, but I guess you’ll find out soon enough.”

“You could have just told me you were trying to turn me into one of you! Jeez, Hart, you scared the s**t out of me!” I growled. He chuckled reaching into his pocket he pulled out a small tablet. He cracked it over my shirt and the blood disappeared. I gaped.

“I could have used that months ago, it would have saved me a hell of a lot of work.” My dry tone brought another chuckle from the old feline.

“They’ll put you to sleep. When you wake up, you’ll be at home. This will all be a dream.”

“Unless I suddenly sprout fur,” I said dryly.

“Yes, unless you suddenly sprout fur. That is why I gave you the ring. Only use it in that eventuality. If you use it and you’re still human the council will execute Nixim.” Hart explained seriously.

“The council have signed my death warrant Hart. The moment I return to Earth, Gianni will find me, and he’ll kill me like he did my parents. I am glad to have met the Therros. Thank you for your friendship. Will you tell Nix-.”

“I’ll not say a word; it would torture the lad. As it is, he will be devastated by your loss and his inability to say goodbye. Good luck Luciana Soritolo Hex. It has been an honour to know you as well.” Worry lit up in the old males’ eyes as the scent of fear slid through the room on my revelation. I felt the translator around my throat heat.

“Who is Luciana Soritolo Hex? The name they gave me is Lucy Chase. I am Lucy Chase. I am Lucy Chase. I love you Nix; pity I have to die before I could tell you.” I whispered as my body became transparent. Pain turned Harts eyes a startling blue as he heard my whispered words as I disappeared.