Page 32 of Stalker
Setting her sky cycle down at the side of the building in the shadows, she cloaked it, then extracted her helmet and commed Stalker to let him know she was there. He was in the open doorway of the building when she came around the corner carrying both of their rifles.
Taking his rifle and shouldering it by its strap, he smiled at her, beckoning her to come inside.
Neely smiled back, wondering how the man could look so damn sexy without even trying. But they weren’t here for that, she sighed to herself.
Then he surprised her and pulled her in close for a slow, sexy kiss.
“Save that thought for when we’re done here,” he whispered in her ear afterward.
Neely just smiled and stroked his cheek.
Chapter Seventeen
“You mean these bastards are selling the people they take to the Mesaarkans? The same guys you fought for nearly a century?” Neely blurted as she finished playing back the vid on her com-tablet.
“Yes. When I heard that, I wanted to end him then and there. Selling humans to the Mesaarkans, after all they have done to our world… After all, we suffered protecting our people….”
“But you needed to find the stolen people first.”
“He’s going to prison. They opened one on Penta about fifty years ago. No guards and no rules.”
“Are the Mesaarkans really lizards?” Neely asked.
“They are reptilian humanoids, bipedal with scales and a long lizard-like tail. They are physically capable of mating with human females, but I had never heard of them doing so until now.”
“How much longer before the protectors arrive?” Neely asked.
“They will be here sooner than expected, about an hour. We’re going to load these people into the troop transports and send them to the old military base, then we raid Blackwood’s and his gangers’ homes.”
Neely knew she wouldn’t like what he would say next when he paused after that.
“I want you to go with them.”
“Oh, come on, Stalker! We’ve trained for weeks. How can I get any field experience if you send me away before anything goes down?”
“I just don’t want you hurt. Worrying about you getting hurt will distract me.”
“What about me? Don’t you think I will worry about your safety? You are a tough cyborg, but you’re not quite invincible.” She paused for a moment gathering her thoughts. “You’re going to have protectors outside securing the perimeter. Let me do that.”
Stalker frowned, and a muscle in his jaw twitched as he ground his teeth while running probabilities through his internal processors.
It seemed riskier to damage her esteem for him than to damage her physically if he let her observe outside. She worked hard to learn the job, both physically and intellectually.
“Okay,” he said finally. “You can shadow one of the protectors outside. I will lead the team inside. We are breaking in without warning. If he is communicating with the Mesaarkans, he will have contact with his gangers.
“I’m sending protectors to the ones we know about, but raiding Blackwood’s house should be finished before many get here.”
Neely nodded. “Then I guess we better get these people ready to leave as soon as the protectors arrive.”
They went to the first room holding women and girls. Stalker unlocked the doors and opened them, letting in light from the hallway. Immediately they heard moans and whispering.
“You leave these girls alone, you pervert!” one of the adult women asserted.
“Everyone stay calm. I am Cyborg Ranger Stalker Knight and with me is my mate, Neely. We are here to rescue you. We have transport coming to take you to safety while we arrest your kidnappers.”
“We have people to help make arrangements to get you back to your homes. The Civil Restoration Enclave is taking over this territory. They have plans to remove the damaged structures and build new homes for everyone living here. They will also teach you how to help so you can pull your own weight. Where we are taking you, some people will explain the program further and answer any questions you may have.
“We’ll leave the door open while we open the rest of the cells. Please don’t leave the building until the hover crafts arrive to evacuate you.”
