Page 16 of Keeping Freya
“Are we going in there?” My throat suddenly feels dry.
“We should have a visual of the vessel very soon,” T’Rak says, and even though I don’t want to, I take one step closer to him. He fumbles with the buttons on his armrests, turning on a giant headlight. I feel a lot more comfortable entering the tunnel now that we can actually see where we’re going.
The tunnel almost immediately starts narrowing. We’re nearly at a point where we can't go any further when we see the other ship.
I know I’m not the most experienced when it comes to spaceships, but even I can see that this vessel looks like a bunch of crap.
“How is that even functioning?” I wonder out loud.
“It does not,” T’Rak deadpans, making me giggle involuntarily. We stare at each other for one heartbeat, unsure of what’s passing between us.
A beeping sound breaks the moment, making T’Rak return to his scans immediately.
“The scans are blocked somehow; we should expect trouble.”
Briskly, he rises and stalks out of the room. I scramble behind him.
“What are you doing? Where are we going?”
“We are not going anywhere,” he clips. “I will go on that ship to see if there is anything left to save. You will stay here, hide, and not let yourself be seen.”
“No.” I keep my voice calm, all the while I’m practically running beside him.
“You must be kept safe, so you will stay here.”
“No. I will not be safe here without you. What if there’s another ship? What if they ambush you? You are not safe going onto that ship alone. So, I’m not safe staying here alone.”
He stops in his tracks, and I almost topple over my own feet in my effort to stand still as well. I turn around to face him.
“You’re not my master, you don’t get to decide what I should or shouldn’t do.” I straighten my spine. “You are taking me with you, or I’m not telling you shit when we get to Tekrov.”
He is fuming with anger now. “You use what I want most to get what you want?”
“YOU DON’T LISTEN TO ME!” Tears spring into my eyes as I yell at him. I try to wipe them away, but suddenly he steps into my personal space, his whole demeanour changing.
“I am sorry,” he says, gently wiping my tears. His shoulders sag a bit.
I step back and raise my chin. “I want a gun.”
He gives me a feral smile. “That can be arranged.”
CHAPTER 9
T’Rak
I have never met a more aggravating being than my mate. I really should have asked D’Var and O’Rec for advice, but I thought I could just handle it all by myself. Obviously, I am wrong, if only I knew how to make her see my way.
My mate looks fiercely beautiful. Her mouth is set in a determined line, and she carries the gun like she was born to be a warrior. Her white hair and pale skin give her an ethereal appearance. We wait until the entering tube connects with the strange ship’s side, and I adjust her oxygen mask. If the ship is already in a state of decay, we cannot trust the climate control to work.
I can tell Fr’Ya is nervous by how she is moving, so I put my hand on the small of her back to calm her. The bond lights up at our touch, and I feel a sharp pull even though she steps away from me instantly.
“Let’s go, Buttercup,” she grunts when we hear the tube connect. I still do not understand what she means by this ‘butter-cup,’ but she can call me anything; I do not care.
I push her behind me as we walk through the squishy tunnel.
“It feels like I’m walking on cotton candy,” Fr’Ya murmurs. This is another strange Earth musing. I breathe in deeply and focus on my Warrior Calm. We Arracate have a link with the stars, a link with the universe. My Warrior Calm is the spark within me that keeps me grounded on a deep level. If I connect with it, I can let go of all emotions and let my brain and muscle memory take over. This works really well in any sort of combat, or if you have to deal with a stubborn female. Right now, I need my Warrior Calm to stay alert and ensure I do not miss any hidden threats.
I motion Fr’Ya to wait behind me while I disengage the escape hatch we locked onto. The hatch falls to the floor with a loud bang that echoes through the ship’s hallway. Dust is flying around, but the artificial gravity seems to be still holding. I look around while my wrist com is actively scanning for lifeforms—still blocked. I take off my mask to try out the air. Though stale, it is breathable, so I motion to Fr’Ya to take hers off as well.
