The Alliance Boxset Books 4-6

Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

Saber gazed around him with a new appreciation. Ajaska Ja Kel Coradon’s fantastical story that began in the past and moved to the future before returning to the present was difficult to wrap his mind around. The Kassisan refused to give any other details about the supposed ‘ship’ or the warrior who piloted it. All he would say was that some things were best left unexplained.

Saber wasn’t sure if he agreed with the Kassisan, but deep down, he knew the male was speaking the truth. There were just too many facts that he knew, and was able to prove when he shared recent Intel that Razor and Hunter were able to confirm as being accurate.

“What do you think?” Dagger asked, matching his stride.

“That we’d better be prepared,” Saber finally said. “The combined forces of the Waxian and Drethulan forces do not concern me. Our military is four times the size of theirs and we are better trained. Neither one of those species has ever had a military force under one rule because they are too busy either killing each other or looking for credits.”

“Until now,” Dagger pointed out, folding his arms across his chest. “The fact that they are both working together here on Dises V shows something is not right.”

“Until now,” Saber agreed, looking at Dagger when he suddenly touched his arm. “What’s wrong?” he asked when he saw the serious look in Dagger’s eyes.

“I think I know the warrior that Ajaska was talking about,” Dagger reluctantly admitted. He glanced around, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know why I didn’t piece it together at first.”

“What happened?” Saber asked.

“It was after Jordan and I escaped from the Spaceport,” Dagger muttered, his eyes dark with memories. “The starship we were in was damaged. I had to make an emergency landing on a moon that was filled with Gartaians of all things. While we were there, a strange red crystal ship appeared out of nowhere.”

Saber released a low curse. “Did you tell Hunter or Razor about this?” he asked in disbelief.

Dagger shook his head, staring blankly down the hallway as if he was still locked in his memories. “No, I wasn’t in a ‘good place’, as Jordan would call it, for almost a year, if you remember,” he replied with a bitter twist of his lips.

“Yes, I remember,” Saber murmured. “What happened?”

Dagger’s lips twitched. “I met some of the strangest creatures I have ever seen in my life,” he chuckled with a shake of his head. “Two bumbling Frenchmen from Earth who drank too much, two service bots that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, and a man who was more machine than living tissue.”

Saber stared at Dagger with a raised eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. A snarl escaped him when his friend didn’t say anything. Dagger jerked, as if he was lost in that time instead of standing next to Saber.

“Well?” Saber finally asked.

Dagger shook his head. “His name was Jarmen,” he replied in a quiet voice. “He was searching for someone, according to the two Frenchmen.” Dagger looked back at Saber. “He helped me repair the starship, and he saved our lives when we were attacked. Then he, his unusual crew, and the red crystal ship just vanished,” he finished quietly before he turned and started walking again.

Saber didn’t miss Dagger’s use of phrases like ‘appeared out of nowhere’ and ‘vanished’. He released a deep breath and paused in the hallway to look around. They were back in the landing bay.

It was three times the size of the landing bay aboard the typical Trivator warship. The hanger was filled with a wide variety of fighters, from old to new, from Dises V models to more advanced ones that he was not familiar with. His gaze scanned the workers. They were just as diverse as the fighters. He jerked in surprise when he saw a familiar figure sitting at one of the benches.

“Taylor,” Saber muttered.

Dagger turned and glanced over to where Taylor was sitting at a workbench. Small flashes of light showed that she was working intently on something. She was a lot like her sister, Jordan, and yet different.

“I’ll leave you for now. I think I’ll go see if I can get any more information out of Hunter and let him know what I just told you. Trig and Ace have gone off exploring. They will report what they have found later this evening,” Dagger said.

“I’ll find out what Taylor knows as well,” Saber muttered, not looking at Dagger.

Dagger’s soft chuckle followed him as he strode across the hanger. He paused when a service bot crossed in front of him with a muttered apology before continuing. It was only when he was almost to the bench that he saw his leg brace.

“Taylor,” Saber called in a soft voice.

Taylor’s head jerked up and she glanced around. A chuckle escaped Saber when he saw that she was wearing a magnifying headset. Her beautiful brown eyes looked huge in the optical lenses. She blinked several times before she grinned up at him.

“Hey, you were gone again!” she said in a slightly accusing tone. “One of these days I’d like to wake up and have you still there beside me.”

Saber could see the slight reserve that came into her eyes as she spoke. He knew what she was thinking, that he would reject her again like he had the last time. Reaching out, he gently removed the headset and set it down on the bench before bending and capturing her lips.

He felt her surprise before she relaxed into him and returned his kiss. She slowly rose off the stool she was sitting on and wound her arms around his neck. His hands slid down her back to her ass and he lifted her up so she could wrap her legs around his hips.

Several minutes later, they were both breathless as they stared at each other. Taylor tenderly ran her fingers down over his cheek before rubbing her thumb over his bottom lip. She smiled when he carefully lowered her back to the stool.

“What are you doing?” he asked, glancing down at the circular device she was working on.

Taylor released a sigh and turned back to the bench to pick up the watch-size controller. He reached for it when she handed it to him. Turning it over, he saw the steady glow.

“You recharged the controller,” he murmured, turning it back over and studying it with a frown. “What is that?”

Taylor glanced at what he was pointing to. “An Elpidiosian red crystal,” she said. “It took a few tries to understand how to tap into its energy without burning out the motherboard, but with the help of Commander Rue, I was able to do it. I don’t think you’ll have to worry about it going dead for at least a few centuries or more. The power inside just a tiny piece of these crystals is amazing!”

“Almost as amazing as you,” Saber murmured, staring down at the glowing crystal that was no bigger than a granule of sand.

“I think you want some,” Taylor replied with a happy sigh as she propped her chin up on the palm of her hand.

The clatter of a tool on the bench next to Taylor told Saber that the technician working at it was able to read the meaning of Taylor’s statement by her tone and body language. The young male was trying not to get caught staring at Taylor. A low growl from Saber informed the male that he wasn’t being successful.

“Have you eaten?” Saber asked, picking up the brace and the back casing to the controller.

Taylor shook her head. “No, I wanted to get this fixed first,” she admitted, sliding off the stool.

“Let’s go get something to eat,” Saber muttered, shooting the young tech another look before he cupped Taylor’s arm. “You are right,” he muttered after they were several feet away.

“I was right about what?” Taylor asked, startled.

“I do want some,” Saber replied with a grin.