“Right,” Micha flicked a finger at Desohta. “Well done. Because of you there were fewer deaths than there might have been. Ipino, you did well too.” She looked up at Ni’yell. “Anything to add?”

  Ni’yell shrugged. “Ipino and Desohta worked quickly and efficiently. Not securing any weapons aboard the shuttle is a black mark, but they are a strong team. Medic will be impressed with Desohta’s ability to multitask. I am impressed with Ipino’s ability to shift as quickly as he did. I believe he might have broken his record, but that is hard to verify at the moment.”

  Micha agreed. “How did you do Max? Mitah?”

  Max hunched his shoulders reflexively. “Thanks to Mitah we had no problem until we reached the mainframe. That was a disaster. I don’t know who it was that sabotaged the system, but they obviously were no expert. We’d have been done sooner if the hacking had been done by someone with at least a basic level of skill.”

  Mitah winced. “We were too late to save the crew. One bled out before I could get help.”

  Micha frowned. “It might be beneficial for all of us to take same first responder training.”

  “I’ll make note of it,” Ni’yell answered with no preamble.

  “Black Heart became our problem,” Micha grimaced as she motioned to herself and Ni’yell.

  Three Days Earlier

  Black Heart

  Black Heart whistled a jaunty tune as he wandered his way to the ship’s mainframe computer. He had split with Thannen and Mai-Roon after telling them to cause as much chaos as they could then meet him back at the shuttle.

  He doubted they were going to get far. Thannen was taking risks he should be avoiding and Mai-Room spent too much time playing around. If they made it the shuttle, they were going to be surprised to find him gone.

  In the mean time he needed to deal with that woman. He was hoping she was going to chase him around the ship, but so far there was no sign of being followed. The only sign he was noticed was the odd looks that he was getting from the soldiers as he passed. Turning a corner, a predatory gaze crossed Black Heart’s face. There was the mainframe. Time to see what damage he was able to cause before he went after Micha.

  At first, he was just going to kill her, but it was going to be a long ride to his next destination. Might as well have a…little…company. Opening the door to the mainframe computer, he stepped inside and shut the door with a delighted smile.

  Micha

  Micha had just stepped off the shuttle to discover her and her team were surround by many soldiers and most of the officers who were armed with weapons. She refused to flinch as she marched down the ramp of the shuttle.

  Out of the corner of her eye she watched Ipino and Desohta veer off to the left after Mai-Roon. She knew that Ni’yell stood behind her to the right. From the weight of the ramp and following the same routine they always did Mitah likely stood at the middle of the gang plank with Max just in front of him. She trusted them to have her back.

  A quick assessment of the situation in front of her had Micha taking control by issuing commands to the officers. She quickly ordered each officer to assess their stations and ensure that all vital areas were secure. Still stunned from the confusion with their commander having been taken hostage, the officers quickly began demanding updates. There were grumbled complaints about Micha’s “heavy handedness” of situation, but for the most part they did their jobs. Micha was ready for anyone that thought to argue with her.

  She stood like a bulwark as the officers attempted to marshal the soldiers into some semblance of order. Arms crossed she waited as a female changeling introduced herself as the security officer. She held out a report, which stated there was panic in the north hallways where Thannen and his hostage had been seen. The second report was the same but the chaos pointed to Mai-Roon; said chaos was in the south hallways.

  “Do not worry about these situations. I have already got members of my team on it.” Micha ordered.

  “The only members I saw in control,” the security office pointed out. “Were the shifters that just left. The other was also a hostage.”

  Micha waved dismissively. “Rennick might been a hostage, but he will regain control of his circumstances. When he does it will not end well for Thannen. What I need from you is to ensure the armory is secure and to deploy security personnel in strategic places to reassure the ships staff and crewmembers.”

  Just as she finished addressing the report from each station the ship’s computer blared over the comms to all crew and staff that the self-destruct sequence has been initiated with a three day count down. Micha cursed the day Black Heart had been born.

  Without a word, Micha looked over her shoulder at Max. Max bobbed his head in understanding. Immediately Max looked up at Mitah then headed to the mainframe computer to stop the countdown.

  There were immediate objections to Micha’s commanding of the ship’s officers; especially without their input. Micha took a moment to educate them on Max’ ability where computers were concerned.

  “I doubt you have anyone more qualified to address the damage that was likely caused to the system, but if you think you know someone better able to defend himself while he attempts to rectify the problem, I would be happy to recall my teammate for you to try. Its not like we don’t have the time,” she replied like she had all the time in the world.

  The officer who complained looked like mastodon on two legs. He turned to two other officer and conferred. They thought her unable to hear their hissing voices, but Ni’yell heard them decide to leave her in control with the assumption it was going to be her that had to explain to the higher ups about the decision she had made.

  Ni’yell gave a soft rumble that had Micha arching a brow as she looked at him. He leaned down and murmured in her ear. Upon hearing the reason for his laughter, she resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

  Micha approached the small group and with a soft voice murmured. “I will not be the only one on the hot seat. Do try to remember that when my three targets came down the ramp with two hostages you were the ones armed to the gills and still, they were allowed to walk away with your commander still a hostage.

  “Now, if you are done complaining I need you to send soldiers to ensure there is safe egress for the ships occupants to the escape pods.”

  Around Micha mayhem ensued as officers attempted to get their soldiers where they were needed. Tired of watching them stumble over each other she began directing the chaos around her like a symphony. Slowly each officer managed to get their soldiers organized, when the security officer approached Micha and held out a new report. Reports had come in that stated more than eighty-five percent of the escape pods were nonresponsive, which was causing panic and soldiers were fighting to gain access to the few pods that still worked.

  Micha gives the order to the changeling to send as many officers as were needed to secure the escape pods and regain control of the panicking soldiers. She made it clear they were to use necessary nonlethal force in any riot areas. She hesitated for a second before she left to do just as Micha had stated. The shuttlebay emptied quickly as the officers obeyed the security officer.

  Just as the last of the officers left the shuttlebay, Black Heart sauntered in as though he owned the space and zeroed in on Micha. She was speaking to a changeling. He almost dismissed the shawling, but reassessed and decided that Ni’yell was the bigger threat if he was going to take Micha hostage. Black Heart was not about to risk the shawling being able to use that shadows to stop him.

  Assessing the surrounding he quickly detoured around a series of crates and containers to get as close to the shawling as possible. There was no rush he still had a day and a half before the ship went nova. Peeking around the container he was hiding behind he watched Micha turn to someone he was not able to see.

  Taking quick stock of his surrounding he searched for something that was able to be used as a weapon and found one of the mechanic’s had left their sonic wrench. The beast of a tool ought to be enough to deal with the nine-foot giant. He attempted to use their distraction to slip up behind Ni’yell.

  Ni’yell was suggesting to Micha that they secure the shuttles to prevent anyone from attempting to leave via shuttle. Suddenly Black Heart appeared and his first move was to wallop Ni’yell. He was struck in the lower back with a mechanic’s sonic wrench with such force that he was tossed forward. He hit the ground and he bounced once; slamming his face against the ribbed flooring. Nose broken and mind clouded he chose not to get up and melting into his shadow, he barely missed the second strike.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Black Heart slammed the wrench into the floor with two hands and missed the shawling; the rebound traveled up through his arms and torso and left his arms almost numb.

  Micha had followed after Black Heart when he went after Ni’yell the second time and was in position to aim a kick to the back of Black Heart’s head. So, she delivered a whip kick.

  Black Heart caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye and attempted to dodge, but his gut told him he was going to take half the force of the strike. Instead of halting it, he used the momentum of the attack and rolled forward with the force; further reducing the damage. Black Heart had to drop the wrench in an attempt to stabilize his footing.

  Noticing that Black Heart was unsteady on his right back foot, Micha charged him like a bull after a matador and knocked the madman on his back. Micha landed on him and immediately did a double strike: her right fist struck his sternum and the left attacked the right side of his neck attempting to block the blood flow temporarily.

  Black Heart took the blow to the sternum, but he managed to raise his right arm to block the neck attack. Winded he attempted to dislodge Micha. However, Micha clung to Black Heart like a leach. Her unwillingness to let go caused them to tussle for control. It did not take long for Micha to lose the fight and Black Heart ended up on top. With one knee braced to lift him up he slammed Micha, hard, into the floor; bouncing her head twice and leaving her dazed.

  Dizzy and furious, she wrestled like a Tasmanian devil; teeth and nails catching any exposed skin she was able to reach. The harder Black Heart attempted to pin her down the wilder she became. She kept snarling and snapping at fingers and any other place her teeth were able to reach. She managed to latch on to the side his hand and refused to let go. Hauling back his free hand for a strike, Black Heart growled.

  Ni’yell

  Ni’yell had bided his time; trusting his alpha to do what needed to be done. Watching her fight Black Heart was not easy. Each time he hurt her Ni’yell’s instinct wanted him to step in, but he knew she was a fighter. So, he waited. Sifting through the shadows to stay just behind them.

  When Alpha and Black Heart started tussling for control, Ni’yell felt his muscles bunch in response. For a second it was as though a sliver of his strength left him. Then Micha exploded like some kind of wild cat and Black Heart no longer seemed to have any idea how to control the woman beneath him. Ni’yell was no longer certain who was actually in control but he saw the distraction for what it was. A means to end Black Heart. He stepped out of Black Heart’s shadow and caught him by surprise. Ni’yell put him in a choke hold. His arm locking like a vice.

  The response was immediate. Black Heart went from fighting Micha to struggling to break free of the vice around his neck. With every passing second the assassin became weaker. His attempted struggle slowed and his arms flagged. The attempt to break the hold became soft rhythmic taps as Black Heart’s eyes bulged out of his head.

  The instant that Black Heart’ arms dropped to his side, Ni’yell narrowed his eyes to slits. He knew he was not dealing with just any soldier, but one that had been trained to defend against just such a hold. As Black Heart continued to wiggle weakly for his freedom, Micha shimmied out from under the assassin.

  Black Heart stilled under Ni’yell grip. Not trusting that the limp assassin was not scamming them, he chose to hold Black Heart in the grip a few beats longer than necessary to ensure he was fully unconscious. When Micha gave him a warning look, he let him slump to the floor. Immediately, Micha made sure to secure Black Heart by restraining his hands and feet behind his back.

  Present Day

  Micha considered the commander in front off her. He had caused a major breach of protocol and every security measure she was capable of thinking of. His lack of concern for the loss of life was appalling. It needed to be address, but she somehow suspected it was going to have little impact.

  He was going to know she had taken his measure.

  “Well now,” Micha purred. “All that’s left is to discuss your role in all of this commander.”

  Commander Aventis sneered. “You have no power over me.”

  Micha gave a nod of agreement. “Max did you get the video of this cluster fuck?”

  “I did, alpha.”

  “Now,” she gave a predatory look. “I do believe that there are protocols in place to protect the upper echelons of power to prevent the very situation that we found ourselves in. Had you sent you security aboard ahead of you this whole situation might have played out differently. Should we count the number of breaches you were responsible for?”

  Aventis paled.

  Micha smiled predatorily as she continued. She ordered each of the commanding officers to approach. She proceeded to debrief each of the compromised command controls of the ship. They discussed ways they were able to better secure them. When done she praised them for their prompt response.

  Then she moved to the supply master and catalogued the supplies that had been used, should have been available and should not have been accessible. She was calm, firm and respectful as she assessed each officer. When the head healer arrived, she addressed his concerns. They went over emergency supplies, address the number of dead and sorted the wounded in to degrees of injury.

  Then as a whole she asked the officers how they were going to better secure all vital or major positions aboard the ship. Micha pulled on knowledge of her old world and assessed possible changes to prevent the situation from recurring. Next was the hard part.

  “How,” Micha wondered. “Did we end up with compromised escape pods?”

  No one responded.

  Micha looked sad. “I am going to note in my report that a counter measure needs to be implement to prevent anyone else from sabotaging the system the way it had been done. I know that there is little that can be done against a determined hacker, but measures need to be in place to prevent most attempts.

  “Someone will need to determine whether the escape pods are functioning and find a way to ensure they are not impeded in future. Most of the injuries sustained were due to fights over the few available escape pods?” she looked at the head healer; who assented. “Knowing Black Heart,” she tapped the side of his face. “And his ilk as I do, I somehow doubt they would have launched. He wanted chaos. What better way than to offer a slim chance of survival?”

  Everyone shuffled uncomfortably.

  “Have we ensured that all ship functions are secure and accounted for such as air, armory, life support…?”

  Six Months later

  Tall and slender, with just the right curves, Princess Kaltia was considered attractive by many. With almond eyes and the same color as a ruby, hair like spun copper, legs that went on for days, and the flawless mocha of her skin, the princess was a feast of beauty to behold. Her height was a detriment for some.

  Her intelligence might be debatable to many, but she was her father’s daughter. Having a natural beauty and a penchant for pretty things people assumed she was less intelligent than she was. With a quick wit and a clever mind, she had served her emperor faithfully. Princess Kaltia rarely corrected anyone on her skills or her intelligence. Believing that she was a dimwitted fool whose only purpose was to please a man was a mistake few ever made twice.

  She, more than anyone, understood the nuances of playing politics with the boys. Her appearance was simply a tool she knew how to use to her advantage. After all, if they were enamored by her looks, they could often be charmed into revealing more than they had intended.

  Enjoying the silence, Princess Kaltia stood quietly in the royal palace central garden. Standing nearly six feet tall, she lifted her face to the sun. It had been a surprise when she had been summoned to her father’s chambers two weeks earlier.

  As the most powerful man in the united planets known as the Empire, the emperor commanded the attention of those in his presence. A man from whom strength radiated like heat from the sun, made it intimidating for anyone standing in his presence.

  Yet, it was not the emperor she knew. She had always known the attentions of her father. She was rarely in the presence of the emperor. So, when he summoned her, she had been surprised.

  “It is time for you to take command. As such you will take your place on the Council of War and Peace. I expect you to be up to date and ready to direct the councilmen appropriately in two weeks.” Hands clasped behind his back, the emperor continued. “I expect you to be just as competent on the council as you are with Research and Planning.”

  Kaltia had been mildly shocked by her father’s command. Even as she bowed, she spotted her brother's sad smile and wondered how much of this had been his influence.

  She closed her eyes enjoying the warmth of the sun, there was only one person more qualified to serve on the Council of War and Peace and he was currently learning to one day fill their father’s seat. The council seat was the thing she wanted most and it had just been given to her.

  Face warmed, she could feel her bodyguard shift from behind her, could feel the coolness of the shadows at her feet. The shawling shielding her instinctively as though he carried knowledge she did not.

  Without opening her eyes, she smiled. He had been with her since the day that she left the nursery. The emperor had taken her to chose a guard from among a slave pen. She had been fascinated by the diversity of life in the pen. Then she had seen him, her warrior. He had seemed like a broken giant doll as he sat crouched in his corner with a heavy chain around his neck. She had been seven.

  No longer a child, Na’a no longer seemed like a giant doll and was the only one still alive of the three chosen to protect her. She smiled again, Na’a had been her choice.

  Eleven feet tall, Na’a was a shadow master, or as some knew them a shadow beast. Shawlings were giants by nature, capable of great force. It made them an excellent powerhouse and they were constantly being used as a means of subduing enemies. Yet, as Kaltia matured she discovered that there was more to them than brute strength. Stealth, intelligence, cunning, subtlety was just some of the talents that Na’a had shown.

  They also held the ability to be far more gentle than their appearances portrayed. The untapped potential a guarded secret. She was also aware that they could cover great distances easily with shadows and Na’a had been able to strategize the inner workings of a child's mind which had been no small feat. Kaltia smiled. Now that she was a woman, she was better able to take advantage of those many talents.

  Built to withstand the heavy gravities of their home world, shawlings were impressive to see in action as they were devastating with their heavy bodies in the lighter gravities of other worlds. Capable of moving unheard, it made them very useful as bodyguards. Their fighting prowess in closed combat was fearsome; as was their stealth capabilities.

  With skin of varying mixes of blacks and greys that seemed to shift, like the tides, it was as though they were touched by divine shadows and fine-tuned muscles that spoke of power. It was why most people feared them as beasts. Kaltia, however, was not afraid of her bodyguard. Quite the opposite, with muscles that hugged the material that covered him and a slender waist beneath his broad shoulders, Na’a was pleasing to look at. It suited her to have a bodyguard that added to her appearance.

  But he was more than her defender. He was the only one she trusted implicitly to protect her and was the only male her father allowed in her chambers. She had been surrounded by guards her whole life. There had been a veritable revolving door of warriors chosen to protect her. None had been willing to include Na'a in the planning which often led to their deaths and yet Na’a was the only one still with her.

  As a young woman, she had been afraid to face the empiric court for the first time. As her heart raced, he knelt and vowed never to leave her and reminded her that he could find her anywhere she may go. The mark on her shoulder was proof that he would protect her always.