Unchained (32 page)

“
Not a problem.” Rourke
chuckled. “Being creative souls, they don’t take orders well,
especially from Tausek. They were more than happy to accept my
offer to find a replacement for them. I’ve got the security code
they were issued to land on Dakru, boys. We are in.”

Decker shook his head. “You do work fast. I
appreciate it. We’ll be ready to go the minute we drop out of
hyperspace over Dakru. See you tomorrow.”

Decker cut the communications and leaned far
back in his chair.

Barrios pressed his fingers to his eyes.
“This is never going to work.”

Decker grinned. “Worried about being mobbed
by crazed fans?”

“
No,” Barrios mumbled. “I’m
worried someone will ask me to sing.”

Cidra entered her newly
assigned quarters with profound relief. The
Expunger
tour that had taken most of
the day was little more than a blur. She had monopolized Lieutenant
Fiske for as long as she could, but her mind and soul were still
occupied with the most recent confrontation with Grey at breakfast.
His furious expression remained etched in her mind.

She surveyed the grand room, slowly
registering its contents. It was about as far from a detention room
as she could imagine. Official guest quarters would be her guess.
Being considered a pampered guest aboard a d’Hont cruiser did
nothing for her state of mind.

Subtle lighting splashed over the rich
burgundy colored walls, an elegant couch, and several chairs in a
deep rose and gold. Plush flooring picked up all the colors in the
room. Lavishly ornamented tables and trim work accented the grand
quarters. But it was the massive, graceful bed that caught her
attention.

Weariness claimed her as she laid down on
it, stretched out, and closed her eyes. “Lights ten percent,” she
ordered the computer. The lights dimmed, plunging the room into
near darkness and turning the opulent surroundings to gray and
black.

“
How was your tour?” a
familiar voice asked from the darkness.

Cidra shot up on the bed. “Lights one
hundred percent,” she gasped.

When the computer obeyed, she found Grey
leaned against the lav doorway, his arms crossed, his gray eyes
dark and cold.

“
What are you doing here?”
Cidra snapped as she rolled to the edge of the bed. “These are my
quarters.”

“
I’m your mate, remember?
You don’t go anywhere without me,” Grey reminded her, his hunter’s
eyes watching her every move.

She stood next to the bed facing him. “As I
recall, you gave up that position in Plass’ office.”

“
And it didn’t take you
long to find a replacement,” he countered, his anger flaring. “Did
you enjoy yourself with Fiske?” He silently berated himself the
minute the words came out. He was making a mess of this.

He had gone slowly mad waiting for her to
return with Fiske. The idea that she was spending so much time in
the Lieutenant’s company had taunted him relentlessly.

By the time she returned, he had worked
himself into an explosive emotional state, one he had no idea how
to diffuse. The first glimpse of her lying on the bed was enough to
make him forget the carefully prepared apology. The desire to
possess was overwhelming.

Cidra glared at him and pointed to the door.
“Out. Get out.”

“
Not until I have my
answer.” He shoved off the doorway and stalked toward her,
unhurried and resolute.

“
I don’t owe you anything,”
Cidra fired back, not budging from her position even as Grey
stopped a mere step away.

He stared at her for a few long moments.
“I’m going with you tomorrow.”

Cidra replied tightly, “I can handle the
mission alone.”

“
Too bad,” Grey said. “I
made a promise to Syrus. Part of that promise was to keep you
safe.”

For a split-second Cidra looked wounded, but
then she lifted her chin. “I see. Well, I wouldn’t want you to
break that promise. Right now, I’m perfectly safe. So if you don’t
mind, I need some rest. Alone.”

Grey’s eyes narrowed and he waited. He
thought she would say something else, change her mind. Nothing. A
chill ran through him as he stared into her defiant eyes. He turned
and stalked out.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The Dakru sun was just beginning its slow,
grisly descent in the bank of windows that stretched across one end
of the room.

“
Are the ceremonial
preparations underway, Commander?”

From behind Tausek, Commander Stoll
answered. “Yes, sir. A planet-wide celebration has been declared in
your honor as you requested. The parade will begin with a d’Hont
show of force, headed by our ground forces and our most impressive
military weapons.”

“
And Faulkner’s body?”
Tausek prompted.

“
Will be the center
attraction in the parade,” Stoll boasted. “A victory for you and a
warning to our enemies. It will be a celebration like no other. The
day will go down in history.”

“
Excellent.” The word
rolled off Tausek’s tongue. “The celebration must be a success,
Commander. I expect no less. Are the plans in place for the arrest
of Plass?”

Commander Stoll answered.
“Yes, sir. I will be waiting for him when the
Expunger
docks at the orbital
station. He will be apprehended as soon as he delivers Faulkner’s
body. Plass and his crew will be transported here and interrogated.
Plass’ execution is planned after the celebration.”

Tausek suddenly swung
around to face Stoll, wiping a smug smile off the new Commander’s
face. “He is a traitor to the d’Hont. Undermining the organization
and pursuing his own warped interests at the expense of others and
in direct conflict with my orders. Make his execution public and
painful. And I want the entire
Expunger
crew present.”

A droll smirk touched Commander Stoll’s
face. “Yes, sir.”

Tausek spun back around and stated flatly,
“You are dismissed.”

Commander Stoll exited in silence.

Alone, Tausek smiled openly. He had
guaranteed that Plass would go down in history as a traitor by
convincing Stoll that Plass had defied several direct orders. The
undertaking was so effortless, a lie here, a mistruth there.

For Tausek, it was no less
the truth. Plass was a traitor to him and him alone, but no one
would ever know that. Even if Plass managed to convince the
Expunger
crew, no man or
woman would dare speak after Plass’ horrific execution.

The situation had given
Tausek another opportunity he had been waiting for: to replace the
d’Hont positions vacated by the mutinous
Expunger
crew with his own personal
agents. Men and women loyal to Tausek alone. The personnel
guaranteed to take him to the next step in his master plan with no
petty issues like d’Hont integrity and honor to get in the
way.

The path to ultimate control of the sector
was clear and stronger than before. The recent events would provide
him with renewed backing from the people and reduce the d’Hont to
nothing more than an enforcement role. The executions of Faulkner
and Plass would provide a brutal demonstration of Tausek’s power to
the rest of the galaxy. He had already chosen the first planet to
invade and add to his kingdom. Avion.

The sunset glowed a ghastly crimson as
Tausek basked in his own brilliance.

Plass nodded in approval
and satisfaction as Grey and Cidra joined him in
Expunger
’s crowded
security center. Although they kept their distance from each other
when they took their places at the massive holo deck, they were
together.

As Plass introduced them to Majors Berman
and Holtz, he watched for any sign of belligerence toward the
couple. He saw none. If anything, the two Majors greeted them as
part of the team. Grey and Cidra seemed wary but steady, with the
exception of the searing look Grey gave Lieutenant Fiske. The other
senior and junior officers lining the round room eyed them with
mixed curiosity and acceptance.

Turning his attention toward the empty holo
deck, Plass started the early morning meeting. “Display the layout
of the inner city.”

The holo deck sprung to life with a flat,
two-dimensional map of the Capital City floating about a half meter
above the bottom of the deck. All eyes took in the criss-cross of
streets and outlines of buildings and landmarks.

“
Give me a low-projection,
three-dimensional view,” Plass ordered. Seconds later, cubes
representing buildings and structures rose up from the ground
level. A network of tunnels, rooms, and passageways appeared below
ground level. A large, circular object in the center of the
topographical map projected higher than the rest.

Plass pointed to the tube-like structure.
“Tausek’s tower. High-level, intensive security system and a guard
at every single entry point throughout the building. At twenty
stories, it is the tallest structure in the city. Tausek’s
executive and private quarters occupy the top floor, as well as my
office.” He corrected, “My former office, now used by Commander
Stoll.”

Grey inquired, “What are all these passages
below the surface?”

“
Tausek’s secret weapon.”
Plass smiled sardonically at him. “The underground world below the
Capital City. The real heart of his power. Tunnels and passages
link all parts of the city’s military facilities—detention and
interrogation, control centers, communications, planetary defense.
The underworld existence is a highly-guarded secret. Troops and
units can move freely and discreetly underground. Then suddenly
appear on the surface. As you can imagine, that element of surprise
works well to keep the natives in line.” He pointed out several
access areas. “The entrances are placed throughout the city and
guarded continually. To the average Dakruian, they look like simple
military posts.”

Plass indicated the landing point and looked
at Grey. “You, Cidra, Lieutenant Fiske, and I will take a transport
to this location. I am not planning to conceal our entry. The
planetary defenses around Dakru are superior. It would be a futile
and fatal effort. Therefore, I expect Commander Stoll will meet us
when we arrive.”

Grey spoke up. “What then?”

“
I will inform Commander
Stoll that Tausek expected to see you in person and alive,” Plass
told him. “Stoll doesn’t have the guts to make his own decisions,
so he won’t take a chance that I’m lying. He will bring you to
Tausek, probably via underground. I will also ensure that you are
accompanied by Lieutenant Fiske.”

“
And you?” Cidra
prompted.

Plass turned to look at her. “My sources
indicate that I will be arrested. My execution is already scheduled
after the parade.”

Cidra paled. “Execution?”

“
Public, lengthy, and
brutal. Tausek style,” Plass replied dryly. “If he shows up for it,
I will know the mission failed.”

“
It won’t fail,” Cidra
amended, her voice determined.

Plass gave her a small smile. “I hope not.
We have come a long way.”

Grey looked around the room. “And the rest
of your crew?”

Major Berman stepped forward and spoke in a
booming voice. “Posing as slave transports, my forces will land at
three locations outside the city. We will converge on the tower
from all directions–above and below ground, neutralizing Tausek’s
guards as we proceed. Once inside, we will take out the internal
guard units and secure the tower.”

Grey narrowed his eyes at the man. He was
quite sure that Major Berman had simplified the whole affair beyond
reason.

Plass nodded toward Major
Holtz. “The Major will stay aboard
Expunger
with a skeleton crew.” He
swung his gaze toward Grey and Cidra. “I’ve ordered
Expunger
’s guns aimed at
Tausek’s tower. We will have four hours to accomplish our mission.
If Major Holtz does not receive counter orders from me before that
deadline, he will open fire. I will not take a chance on losing
Tausek. If our plan fails and we can’t get a confession from him, I
want him dead at all costs. The battle for power afterward will be
bloody, but unavoidable at that point.”

Grey looked at Cidra and muttered, “Whatever
you do, Plass, don’t lose your comm unit.”

Plass smiled and addressed the holo deck
once more. “Zoom in on Tausek’s tower. Scale to size. Full
schematic, classified version.”

The holo deck complied, filling the viewing
space with Tausek’s towering fortress. Grey studied the impressive,
circular structure. Other than the two entrances on the lower
level, there were no outstanding features. The exterior looked
smooth and unscalable. No other windows or doors were displayed on
the nineteen floors leading to the top. The word ‘impenetrable’
came to Grey’s mind.

The top floor that housed Tausek spun slowly
on the tip of the structure, half of the exterior wall appeared to
be windows. A solid, small domed structure topped the entire tower,
effectively prohibiting a spacecraft from landing on it. Unlike the
rest of the plans, it was not a viewable grid shape.

Grey pointed to it. “What’s in here?”

Plass shook his head. “I don’t know. Even
the most classified schematics didn’t have it listed. It was
included based on a visual observation.”

Fiske took over the plan of attack,
addressing Berman’s units. “I will cover Tausek’s upper level.
Major Berman will be in charge of the tower assault. There are only
two entrances on the lower level—a formal front entrance and a
large rear entrance. Both are heavily guarded, both equally
difficult to breach. I would suggest we concentrate on a discreet
attack on the underground access level instead.”