Page 38 of Zahhn's Mate
Perhaps the Darrvasons need to alter course again, like they did after supposedly discovering 58-Zallnanis, the planet they believe will be suitable for us to settle upon—a rumor I heard just yesterday that I suspect might be true.
Like I do every morning when I first awake, I try to contact Zahhn. But no matter how hard I concentrate as I reach out to him, there’s no response. I chide myself for my original plan to hide my ability to hear his thoughts. I would give almost anything just to hear his voice one more time. Not because I want to become his mate—I’ve accepted it would be a mistake, and though I’m loath to admit my father might be correct, it's probably true that I would be miserable living as a Darrvason bride—but because I want to ensure he’s okay. That he hasn’t been taken out by the virus.
A glance at the clock shows I’m running late. Shit. I forgot to set my alarm. I quickly get dressed and depart my bedroom. Relief spreads through me to find I’m alone.
I’ve only seen my father in passing since our last tense conversation, and he hasn’t spoken a word to me. He’s glared and grunted, but nothing more. I can sense his disappointment, and I hate that it guts me. I hate that I want his approval even though he’s clearly lacking in morals.
Yeah, okay, I know why I want his approval. Because I’ve witnessed many of my friends grow up with loving fathers who delighted in spending time with them. I never had that, and I didn’t realize until I was about eight years old that my dad wasn’t like most fathers.
I cringe as I remember the years-long phase I went through during which I tried anything and everything to garner his attention and please him. But nothing worked, and it would appear now the only thing that would please him would be if I helped his rebel cause.
A cause that he hopes will result in the death of thousands of Darrvasons.
I haven’t tracked down Officer Brute yet, nor have I seen Jenny lately. I resolve that I’ll find the alien security officer today, even if I must approach a random Darrvason engineer and inquire about his whereabouts.
As I depart my quarters, I notice a flurry of activity in the corridor. Dozens of people race by me, heading in the direction of an alcove. Curious foreboding fills me, and I find myself following the crowd.
My stomach drops to the floor when I finally glimpse what everyone is looking at. Though Deck Eleven’s alcove is quite small, it’s large enough to provide a view of what’s going on. I swallow past the burning dryness in my throat.
Just as I suspected, we’re no longer in a shared hyperdrive bubble. But something’s not right. Most of the outer lights on all the Darrvason ships are not illuminated as they usually are.
Then it happens. A red beam shoots from theJansonnatoward theHaxxal. It makes impact and the alien ship rocks. My eyes widen. A few seconds later, another red beam hits theHaxxal.
“What the fuck is happening?” I whisper.
Suddenly, someone races down the corridor holding a blaster, and it’s not a security officer. I recognize him as an engineer named Seth, an older man who’s worked with my father for years. He holds the blaster high with a grin and runs faster. “To hell with the alliance!” he shouts.
More men follow him, though they are less enthusiastic. I reel with shock when I glimpse my father among them. He makes eye contact with me, but his expression isn’t kind. A chill rushes down my back.
Where are they going? What are they planning?
The group of armed men board an elevator.
“Holy shit,” a bystander says. “Look! Shuttles. They’re leaving our docking bay. Looks like about a dozen of them, and they’re headed for theHaxxal.”
“Has to be rebels,” a young woman says. “The command team wouldn’t be stupid enough to attack the Darrvasons. The aliens haven’t finished making repairs to our ship yet, nor have they guided us to a habitable planet.”
I watch the shuttles zip toward theHaxxaland enter the lead alien vessel’s docking bay.No no no.This can’t be happening.
Then it hits me. The virus. The virus was likely deployed in order to weaken the aliens. Surely the Darrvasons possess weapons better than blasters that they could use against my people. But if they are sick and dying, humans will have a better chance at victory.
I feel sick to my stomach.
Zahhn. Zahhn, please answer me.
There’s no response.
“Hey! The outer lights on theHaxxaljust came back on!” someone shouts.
“Oh my God!” cries a young boy. “I think they’re powering up weapons. Look right there. Do you see?—”
A red beam emits from theHaxxaland strikes theJansonna. The worldship rocks and the lights flicker. I lean against the wall to steady myself as a screeching static noise comes over the ship’s speakers, and the multiple info screens lining the corridor suddenly flash blue.
I approach the nearest info screen and gasp when Captain Warren appears, and Officer Brute is standing with him. The captain is shaking, and Officer Brute abruptly grabs him by the scruff of his neck. Both males stare into the camera.
“Attention citizens of theJansonna,” Captain Warren says in a trembling voice. Perspiration trickles down his temple, and he pales further and winces. “Several minutes ago, a group of rebels launched an unprovoked attack on the Darrvason Empire. The attack has been thwarted and all the rebels who boarded theHaxxalare now dead. All two hundred of them. To demonstrate my horror over this most egregious attack, I have surrendered control of theJansonnato Security Officer Brute. Please do not be alarmed. This is a temporary measure to ensure the peaceful continuation of the Darrvason-human alliance.”
Officer Brute straightens and glares into the camera. “Effective immediately,” he says, “there is a shelter-in-place order. If you are in the corridors, return to your quarters, a recreation room, or a mess hall—whichever location is nearest to you. Please rest assured that no human females aboard theHaxxalwere harmed in any way during the attack. Moreinformation will be forthcoming as we investigate the rebel threat to the Darrvason Empire.”
