Page 76 of The Commander

“Maybe it’s that drug you gave me? I am feeling kinda nice,” Mackie replied with mild curiosity, relaxing back against the seat as far as he could manage.

“Your body was under stress. The H-5 reversed that quickly. The drug you are feeling is a euphoria caused by a reaction to no longer being under extreme physical stress. Your brain has drugged you.”

“Is there more of that shit on the base? I could make a fortune. My head’s already stopped hurting.”

“It’s a limited resource,” Bastian said. It was not one he’d left behind for rebels and waste-of-space humans.

Kitten watched Bastian, her eyebrows rising and falling, making cute, inquisitive faces at him.

Too focused on the human male in the truck, she’d missed the trail of grunt bodies he left behind them. He would have to speak to her about that; her powers of observation needed improvement.

48001, now decommissioned, had bungled the transmission. Control was sending an inspection badge that would presumably landin hours—with questions. The new information shortened his timeline considerably. He wanted to be gone before that shuttle landed.

Kitten’s friend, Brenda, discovered the name day blade with the power cells. That jolted Bastian’s memory. The old human made batteries, which hadn’t been in use for almost ninety years before the Sarrian occupation, still served many purposes. Some of which could be used against the Sarrian higher technology.

If the humans had understood the blade’s significance better, they might have taken greater care to keep the equipment that neutralized its simplistic tracking systems separate.

The prime who bribed them to help him create the electromagnetic pulse from the ancient cells withheld that information. Withholding information was a move Bastian could appreciate.

The human prisoner would recreate the same pulse for Bastian and free him from Control’s tracking system. That pulse freed him from Control’s constant eyes.

But they still had to leave the area. Kentucky had a vast array of underground tunnels, and it was well known that there was a natural magnetic sinkhole there that defied the normal multilayer scanners of Sarrian equipment.

Mister Danov’s town was less than a half-hour drive on the transport. Bastian went to the gate and parked. He released the locks to the doors. “Kitten. Help me unload.”

He didn’t need her help, but he didn’t want her alone again, waiting on him. They went around the back of the transport together.

“The camp is on the other side of the trees, by the river. I’ll go get them.” She pointed in the direction to show him the way.

Bastian took out the boxes of food and stacked them one on top of the other. Each one held twenty-four meals. After that, Kitten’s friend would have to figure things out for herself. “No, they will have to come get it.”

“Wait.” She tried to stop him when he led her back to the truck.

“Kitten. We do not have much time.”

“Why?”

“My people are coming. I do not wish for us to be here when they arrive.” He didn’t say more. Explaining consumed time he did not have. He wasn’t sure when Command would arrive. That depended on several factors, including where the Anciadrimda currently sat outside the planet’s orbit.

“Here? But it’s not a tax day, is it?” She tried to move away from the side of the vehicle, taking three steps in the direction of her friends.

“They missed the last collection.” He blocked her way. “Get in the truck, Kitten.”

“You need to quit telling me what to do, you bastard, and tell me what is going on.”

Hands on her shoulders, Bastian carefully squeezed the fragile bones and pushed her backward.

She twisted, muscles shifting as she dropped her center of gravity as if to resist him.

“I will restrain you if necessary.” Her ass aimed at her seat; he didn’t give her the chance. One hand on her shoulder and one at her waist, he folded her into the transport and back into her seat. Slamming his hand on the dash, he released an emergency safety harness system that crossed over her chest and lap.

“What the fuck?” she shouted, realizing she was stuck.

“You will be safe, Kitten.”

The prisoner in back was laughing when Bastian took his seat, and the gate opened.

“Are you sure you want to be with this guy? Looks like he’s a real keeper.”

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