Forsaken Realms (Bounty Hunters United Book 1) (16 page)

“Because Kironian DNA is better. All my experiments point toward success, but one thing remained elusive. Mixing human and Kironian DNA in a lab was tricky. It never worked. All my test subjects died including my original Kironian. Try as I might I discovered I really couldn’t improve on nature, and then it occurred to me that I didn’t have to. I realized I could make nature work for me. I abandoned my experiments in the lab. It was so obvious that a natural mating between a carefully chosen male and female would be best. When a clueless ambassador showed up on Sarna to scold me for thinking outside the box, I had an epiphany.”

“You kidnapped Syan! That’s a class-one crime.”

“So what? I’m a criminal.” Naveen loomed close to her face. “I hope you can appreciate the irony, Ms. Nayar. You ended my old life in New Mumbai, but you’ll be giving me a new one. Your child, the one you will have with Syan, will provide me with the high quality hybrid DNA I need. You’re doing me such a big favor that I’ll do you the courtesy of telling you the truth. After I get what I want in nine months time, I won’t need you anymore. Alas, after I receive the initial cellular treatments and my new body begins to form, your poor baby will go bye-bye too. It has to be that way. I’ll keep him around for a little while, but I can’t allow him to grow up and tattle a sad tale. There is a silver lining here. I’m giving up on terra engineering. It’s too labor intensive. I’ll return to Earth in a beautiful new Kironian enhanced body and allow this place to revert to the septic tank it was when I found it. What happened here will remain a secret.”

“You’d let all this go to waste?”

“I can’t say this was a complete wash. It did lead me to what I was looking for. I’m damn glad I met the Kironians.” Naveen beckoned her to rise. “Get up. We’re going to the compound.”

“You mean the forced breeding zoo where you plan to hold me and Syan captive.”

“Don’t be snide. As my guests, you will be pampered and well cared for. I have no intention of harming you. That is, not until the time comes, and then matters will be handled in a merciful and painless manner. Nothing to dread.”

She reached for the blast stick in her pocket. “Am I supposed to find your words reassuring? Because I don’t.”

Jason held up her blast stick. “Is this what you’re looking for? You needn’t bother. I clipped it off you while you were unconscious.” As a demonstration, he fired at the ground and only the weakest beam fizzled. “It’s out of juice and wouldn’t have done you a bit of good.”

Frantically, she scanned within arm’s reach for a possible weapon. A branch. A sharp-edged stone, anything. Nothing came into view except a large shadow moving behind the tangle of charred vines.

“Where are your clones?”

“How kind of you to ask. The two that are still alive are resting. My last episode was draining to say the least. I needed massive transfusions, a few new organs, and let's simply say sacrifices had to made to the greater good.” Naveen rolled his eyes heavenward. “I can’t wait to be finished with this phase of existence and move on to the new.”

“So, it's only you? That was unwise to tell me.”

“It doesn’t matter. You’re still outnumbered and outgunned. My guards will be functional by the end of the day, and I have Syan. I admit he’s a challenge to keep under control. This time, I tried something new. I love anything new. At least this trick’s new to me, and I’m rather excited about it. I’ve locked a poison collar around Syan’s neck. If I don’t enter a three-character code at predetermined intervals, the collar will automatically inject poison into his veins. I know you care for him. Technically, he’s already played his part. It would be a shame if you chose to become obstinate and I had to terminate him prematurely. So, you see, your only choice is one of cooperation.”

“You put a lot of faith in your stupid collars, more than you should.”

“This one might surprise you.”

“If you harm him, I won’t hesitate to strangle you with my bare hands.”

“I like your spirit, and I’m sure you could. However, I’m not going to offer you that opportunity. There’s a safe, comfy habitat waiting for you at the compound. It’s like a five-star hotel but with heavy security and a round-the-clock suicide watch. You’ll love it.”

With effort, she struggled to stand. “I’m not going to cooperate with you.”

“Then Syan will die, and I’ll force you to watch.”

She stepped away. “Fine. Do it.”

Naveen’s eyes widened in shock. In frustration, he made a vain show of firing the drained blast stick at her heels. “You’d allow me to kill him?”

“I won’t give you what you want. You’re going to have to kill us both.” She turned and darted toward the edge of the jungle hoping to lure him away from the ship.

Naveen raced to catch up. “You’re throwing Syan’s life away sooner than it has to end. Time is short. I’ll need to reenter that code in few minutes.”

“Then shoot me!” She shouted over her shoulder as she bolted into a thick tangle of vines. Within meters, it was clear she’d made a mistake. With every stride, the twisted foliage became denser, and, with no machete in hand, she knew it would soon become impassable.

“Stop!” Naveen called from behind. “And I’ll remove Syan’s collar. You could do that for him. You could save him so easily. Turn around, and return to the ship with me. Do you really want us to be chasing each other in the jungle while he dies alone?”

Gemmina slowed mid-step, feeling as if her heart had been ripped from her body. Jason Naveen was a consummate liar, but having Syan senselessly poisoned wasn’t worth the risk.

“If I come with you, you’ll remove the collar immediately?”

Jason cautiously inched closer. “Yes, of course. I’m grateful you’re finally being sensible.” With crooked fingers, he coaxed her closer. “Don’t waste another minute. Come with—“

With a blur of motion, a titanic form pounced from the shadows and became airborne. The ensuing roar that vibrated through the jungle was so fierce she couldn’t hear herself scream. Jason never saw the massive, striped cat that lunged at him from behind and knocked him to the ground with the crushing weight of its paws. The syan bared its dagger-like fangs and cleanly snapped Naveen’s neck with a hideous crunch of bone and then dragged his limp body into the brush.

In seconds, it was over. Gemmina trembled as the surrounding jungle returned to silence. Only a glistening swath of blood on the ground betrayed the fact that anything violent had taken place. Cautiously, she stepped over the bloodied leaf litter, praying the cat wouldn’t return to kill again. As soon she reached the clearing, she sprinted toward the patrol craft. The hatch was open, and she leaped inside.

“Syan?” She glanced inside the craft. In the rear, he sat cuffed to a seat, with his face bruised and soot-streaked. A thick metal collar with a glowing blue light ringed his throat.

The moment Syan made eye contact, he tried to pull free. The blue light on the collar switched off and began to blink yellow.

“Oh, God, I’m running out of time. Yellow is probably a warning light. Don’t move. The collar is primed to inject you with poison. I have to get it off you safely.”

“How?” His voice was reduced to a croak.

“There’s a three-character code.”

“Digit or character?”

“Naveen said character.”

He sniffed the air. “I smell blood. Are you all right? Naveen didn’t hurt you, did he? Where is that bastard? I’m going to kill him.”

“You’re too late. Didn’t you hear that horrendous roar a few minutes ago?”

Syan stilled. “I did.”

“The syan got him.”

His gaze darkened. “Good.”

“It was freaking shocking to watch, but I can’t say I’m sorry it happened.” She grabbed hold of the collar. “Let me see how this works. Could it be as easy as “A-B-C’? No. Let’s try initials.” Several combinations were punched in. “By the way Jason Naveen is not Jason Naveen.”

“Who is he?”

“Some creepy old man I knew in New Mumbai.” She tested several other combinations. “The one I helped put in prison. He’s one of those tenacious souls who believed he had a right to new body parts, new DNA, and even new identities and didn’t have a conscience about how he got them. Come to think of it, it’s kind of funny in a sick way, but the name Naveen means ‘new.'”

Syan’s eyes widened. “Punch it in.”

“What?”

“’New.' I sensed Naveen or whoever he was constantly thinking that word, but I didn’t realize what it might be about. ”

The collar flashed red.

“We’re out of time!” Gemmina tapped the characters N-E-W, and the red light on the collar stopped blinking and released.

She sighed. “We got really lucky.” In disgust, she tossed the collar aside and removed the force cuffs. “Do you think you could help me figure out how to fly this thing?”

Syan leaned forward and kissed her. “I’m sure I could. I feel like I could do anything for you.”

“Anything?”

Earth, Bounty hunter headquarters, New Mumbai

The tiny office seemed to get stuffier and warmer by the moment. Gemmina sat beside Syan holding his hand as her mentor, and captain of the New Mumbai Bounty Hunters Union, stared at her with a stern expression on his brow.

Von dragged his hand across his brushy hair that was more pepper than salt and shook his head. “I don’t feel one-hundred percent confident in this. No one is going to be fooled. Syan looks human, but he will stand out. Someone is bound to ask the wrong sort of questions. We could all get into a lot of trouble and have our licenses revoked. Are you ready to take that risk?”

Gemmina straightened. “I take full responsibility for my actions. Von, I would never name or implicate you in anyway, not after all you’ve done for me.”

A deepening look of concern carved into Von’s brow. “The Kironian sequester and legal issues concerning Sarna may continue for months, even years. I have no business agreeing to this.”

She held her breath. Von was one of the most honorable men New Mumbai had ever produced. It hurt to ask him to lie for her sake, but there was no choice.

“We realize there are risks, but Syan’s people know he is here and approve. Everyone believes the political sequester will end favorably. The Kironians want a man on Earth who is familiar with our ways. I think this is a unique opportunity for the Kironians to get an honest, unfiltered view of what Earth is like.”

Von raised his hand. “Perhaps New Mumbai is a bit too unfiltered, don’t you think? I admit that Syan has been a great asset to us. What we’re doing here today isn’t legal, but it’s the right thing to do. Syan did an excellent job of rounding up Harlan Stover and a dozen other corrupt personnel who had been using the X57 Penal Colony as a private enterprise for their own gain. Thanks to his efforts that’s over now.” With a look of pride he pushed a pile of encrypted chips, and badge toward Syan. “This is your false identity while in New Mumbai. If anyone asks, you’re a citizen of Earth born right here in New Mumbai. The badge marks you as one of us. You’re a bounty hunter now. We are more than a team, we’re a family, and I don’t expect you to let us down.”

Syan picked up the badge and pinned to his shirt. “Thank you, sir. This is an honor and a responsibility I’m happy to take on.”

“You’re welcome. I think you’ll be a good addition to the team.” Von rose. “Now what about that other matter?”

“We’re ready.” Gemmina stood and stroked the top of her round baby bump. Syan stood quietly at her side.

Von’s warm hazel eyes softened. “Are you sure my office is the right place? We could go to a garden or temple and do this?”

She squeezed Syan's hand. “No, this is right place. This is the room where I first got my life on track, and this is where the next chapter must start.”

“Very well. Do you have the rings?”

“Yes.” Syan dug into his pocket and pulled out two gold bands, one daintier than the other and set with a ruby.

“Ah,” Gemmina sighed when she saw the glitter of the crimson stone. “You remembered.”

“Of course.” He smiled.

Von drew a deep breath. “I don’t know what to say at a Kironian wedding. Are their special words that should be included?”

“No.” Syan shook his head. “A Kironian wedding is always personal and private. In my heart, I have been married to this woman since our first night together.”

“Which was fantastic!” she blurted.

Von focused on Gemmina. “Then I’ll simply say how happy I am that this very worthy soul that I watched grow from a skittish street kid to a decent and very courageous woman has found love with such a devoted man. It’s always good when the right souls meet.” A tense grin crossed his lips. “There might even be someone out there for me.”

She smiled through misty tears knowing Von had endured a lot of loss and heartache and deserved his own chance at happiness. “There will be.”

Von sobered. “This is your wedding, so put your rings on, and let’s go out to eat!”

Syan slipped the ring on her finger and she slide the thick gold band on to his. At that moment, she thought of Devi and how happy she would be today. Tears started to flow.

“That’s nice. I think we’re finished.” Von, who never openly betrayed vulnerable emotions in front of his colleagues, grabbed his jacket and headed toward the door.

“Is he okay?” Syan brushed his fingers through her hair, which she’d worn loose and wavy and sprinkled with tiny, white flowers.

“Yes, he does that.”

“I’m glad we are married.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “We’ll be a good family. This is my pledge to you.” Then, softly in a moment of telepathic connection, he reached into her thoughts and filled them to overflowing with beautiful images of a happy future and love.

Thank you so much for reading Forsaken Realms! We’re so happy that you had a chance to look at our new line, On the Run. We do hope if you liked this, that you would please leave a review from where you purchased this or on another platform. Not only does a review spread the word to other readers, they let us know if you’d like to see more stories like this from us. Katalina loves to hear from readers and talks to them when she can. You can reach her through her website and through her Facebook account. You guys are the reason we get to do what we do and we thank you.