Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Lilly tried not to panic as the communicator went dead at the same moment, there was a loud banging from the direction of the door. She’d been talking to Colonel Brandr when the line went dead; she had the feeling that Indie and the others would not be pleased when they discovered what she’d done. Her only hope was that her rescuers would get to her in time.

Lilly considered trying to go through the air shaft again, but the opening was small, and with her now expanded waistline, it would be a tight fit. Her best option was to fight like hell to buy time and hope rescue came in time. Lilly pulled a scalpel from her pocket as the door slowly opened. A furious-looking Indie, followed by Cara and Lucia, stepped into the room and looked about before advancing on her.

“What did you do to Blaz?” Indie screeched, looking from Blaz’s inert form to Lilly and back.

“I decided not to play along,” Lilly said. “You should also know I managed to contact Colonel Brandr, and help is on the way. I told him that you took me and that you killed that cleaner. If you were smart, you’d drop your weapons and surrender.”

“What, that is impossible.” Captain Cara crossed the room to kneel beside Blaz and check his pulse. “He’s unconscious? What did you do?”

Lilly stepped back, putting space between her and Cara. “I took him out. Did you really think I’d let him scramble my brain without a fight? Do you really think I’m going to let you kill me, take my children, and my husband without a fight? If so, then you are the one who is stupid.”

“Impossible, she is incapable of doing so, she is little better than an animal,” Indie sneered as she shook her head in denial.

“But she must have, the door was disabled from this side. What if she is telling the truth?” Lucia protested. “You said no one would know what we do, that this would be easy. I don’t wish to spend the rest of my life on a penal satellite because you were wrong.”

“Be quiet, we stay with the plan. We have gone too far to change it now.” Indie snarled and advanced on Lilly.

Lilly stepped back again trying to put more distance between her and the others as she thought of a plan.

With a screech of rage, Indie advanced on Lilly and swung her fist wide, trying and punch Lilly in the head. Lilly ducked, and Indie’s fist slammed into the wall with a loud thunk. Indie let out a loud curse as Lilly tried to move away and pull the scalpel from her pocket.

“Shoot her just.” Indie screeched, shaking out her hand in obvious pain.

“We can’t,” Cara replied as she lunged for Lilly, only to have Lilly slash her with the scalpel.

Cara stepped back, cursing as blood welled up from a long slash on her right arm.

“Damn it, Lucia, do something,” Cara barked as Indie lunged for Lilly, catching her a glancing blow to the side of her head. Lilly saw stars and stepped back, giving Indie the chance to grab her wrist.

Indie squeezed Lilly’s wrist, crushing hard, and with a cry Lilly dropped the scalpel as Indie slammed Lilly back into the console with enough force that the monitor screen cracked. Lilly gasped as the wind was knocked out of her and would have fallen if Indie still hadn’t been holding her arm.

“You filthy worm, you shall pay for this.” Indie lifted her hand to strike Lilly when Lucia caught her hand. “Let me go, she must be punished.”

“You hit her again, and you risk killing the children she carries. I did not agree to kill the Prince’s children.” Lucia snapped as Indie shook off her grip.

Cara gave Lilly a withering look before stepping up to one of the cabinets and pulling out a sheet ripped off a section to wrap around her arm. “Lucia is correct, we can’t kill her yet. The babies she carries are too valuable, as is her blood. The tests revealed it could be used as an inoculation against the phage.”

“Very well, but if she misbehaves again, I shall kill her.” Indie gave Lilly a hard shake and then began dragging her from the room.

Lilly winced in pain as she felt the bones in her wrist rub together, and was sure her wrist was now broken. Despite the pain it caused, Lilly tried to pull her arm free; she needed to buy more time till help came. She had been through too much to go out like this.

“You are all idiots if you think Ronan will believe whatever crazy tale you tell him. He won’t believe that I suddenly decided to go for a walk to one of the lower levels.” Lilly hissed as Indie dragged her from the room and into the dim corridor beyond.

“Be quiet, once you are gone he will turn to me as I am the most beautiful female on the ship.” Indie boasted, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder.

“I would not bed you if you were the last female in the universe; now take your filthy hands off my wife.” Ronan’s bellow sounded deafeningly loud in the corridor and froze Indie in her tracks. She turned in horror to see Ronan.

Lilly felt a surge of joy as she turned to see Ronan accompanied by Eacha, Rugger, and Cahir, and at least six other officers about ten feet away.

“What, no, this isn’t possible.” Indie protested, yanking Lilly tight before her.

“Let Lilly go, and you will live, otherwise you have sealed your doom. Your accomplices are being detained; you have no hope of succeeding in your foolish plan. Now let Lilly go, this was your last warning.” Ronan stated, stepping closer. His gaze touched Lilly briefly then moved to Indie, looking at her with open hate.

Indie shook her head and stepped back, pulling Lilly with her, then pressed the barrel of her gun against Lilly’s head. “No, no, this isn’t how it was to be. You were to wed me. My family is all of noble birth; I am the last of my house. Our alliance would unite the noble houses. I would be a queen, it is owed to me.”

“Owed you, nothing is owed you. You and I serve the people of Gilese; they look to us for guidance. You aren’t fit to be an officer, much less my princess. You care only for yourself.” Ronan took a step forward, his eyes on Indie. “Lilly is ten times the female you are; she has already shown that she will make a caring and compassionate ruler. She risked her life numerous times to save my life and that of my men. While you have never done a thing for our people. Now let her go.” Ronan moved closer, keeping his attention focused on Indie.

“Your majesty, I, we, that is.” Captain Cara looked between Ronan and Indie, her hand on the butt of her pistol. “Indie said that you were being deceived by this creature. That it had somehow tricked you into wedding her, that she is inferior and simple-minded and not worthy of you or of being our princess, and that her inferior genes would pollute your blood line.”

“She is not a creature, her name is Lilly, and she is my wife and my heart mate. And she is far from inferior. She has thrice the intelligence you do and more compassion in her little finger than you do in your whole body. Now, lay down your weapon and surrender. Your accomplices are all being detained; you have no hope of success, if I ask again, you shall all be killed. Surrender now, and you shall live out your lives on a penal colony; continue with this farce and I will see you all executed.” Ronan snarled. He was trying to keep calm and give the females time to surrender, when all he wanted to do was lunge forward to rip Lilly from Indie’s grasp.

Lilly felt Indie’s grip slacken, and the pistol moved away from her temple. Lilly caught Ronan’s eyes with hers and saw him nod. It was time to act; she was tired of being threatened and dragged about. Lilly slipped her hand into her pocket and curled her fingers about the forceps. When the time came, she would be ready.

“Lucia, I know you, you are not a killer or a traitor. Put down your weapon and step away.” Eacha gave Lucia a hard look.

Lucia looked from Indie to Eacha and back. “I’m sorry, your majesty, Captain Cara and Lieutenant Indie said that your woman was weak and unfit to be our princess, that she had tricked you to be her consort. That her only value was the children she could give you. I’m sorry.” Lucia shook her head, then looked back at Eacha. “I will lay my weapon on the deck and kick it towards Lieutenant Eacha.”

“Lucia, what are you doing?” Hissed Indie, turning to look at Lucia.

“I’m doing what is right. You said no one would be hurt, that no one would die. You killed that worker as if he were nothing.” Lucia reached for her weapon and, using two fingers, pulled it from its holster to lay it on the deck before her. Then she stood with her hands in the air and kicked it away. The pistol slid across the deck to stop against Eacha’s boots.

Eacha knelt never taking his eyes off Indie to retrieve the weapon; he looked it over before aiming it at Indie.

“Traitor, how could you?” Indie protested, pointing her pistol at Lucia.

“No, she is correct, we have failed. It is time to surrender and save what is left of our dignity.” Cara stated, looking from Indie to Ronan. “I’m sorry, your majesty.” Cara raised her hands in the air

Lilly locked eyes with Ronan as she pulled the forceps from her pocket and plunged it backwards as hard as she could, a hear beat before she twisted in Indie’s hold and stepped forward.

Ronan had been waiting for the right moment and lunged forward the moment he saw Lilly move. He heard Indie scream, and a wild shot went off, hitting the ceiling and rupturing a conduit, as Lilly, with a cry wrenched herself free.

Ronan grabbed Lilly and, wrapping his arms around her, twisted away as he heard a shot and saw Eacha fire out of the corner of his eye. Indie let out a scream of pain and dropped to her knees, her pistol clattering loudly to the deck as Eacha and the others swarmed forward to grab her, Captain Cara, and Lucia.

Ronan his arms tight about Lilly, moved slowly away till they were several feet away from where Eacha and the others were subduing Indie and Captain Cara. Rona just held Lilly for several seconds before finally stepping back to look her over. There were several bruises already discoloring her cheeks, and her lower lip was swollen.

“I will not ask if you are all right, for I see you are not. Forgive me, Lilly.” Ronan said, shaking his head, as he thought of his failure as a husband.

“For what?” Lilly replied. “You did not have me taken.”

“No, I didn’t, but I should have paid you more attention; I have been a terrible husband and friend.” Roland shook his head sadly. “Let me take you to the med center so you can be examined.”

“I’m fine, truly just a bit sore. You came before they did any real harm, and you aren’t a terrible husband. But there is a male in the chamber who will need help. I struck him very hard and then injected him with a sedative.” Lilly replied as Eacha and a bruised Cahir stepped up to her.

“Lilly, are you well? Those fools did not harm you?” Cahir asked, giving her a roguish smile.

“No, I’m well, I was worried about you; when I saw them drag you away, I was afraid I’d never see you again.” Lilly said, resisting the urge to hug her friend.

“Thank you, but I have been in worse situations.” Cahir gave her another grin.

Before Lilly could reply, there was the sound of running feet and Colonel Brandr appeared with at least ten men and a medic.

“Your majesty, the control room, the bridge, and the medical center are all under the control of men I trust. I have also sent men I trust to the other ships to be sure that only those loyal to you are in command.” Brandr stated. “I have also brought a med team with me for the princes. What are your orders?”

“See that Captain Cara, Lieutenant Indie, Lieutenant Luca, and the unconscious male in the chamber there are looked over by a medic. Then have them arrested and charged with treason, before putting them in confinement. Be sure that their guards are loyal and that they can’t communicate with anyone. Then come to the med center, we shall discuss how this all shall be dealt with.” Ronan ordered, earning a salute from Brandr and the men with him.

Ronan turned to his men. “Come with us to the med center. I trust only you three for now, and Cahir should have his injuries seen to.”

Then he bent to sweep Lilly up in his arms, causing her to gasp in surprise. “I can walk,” Lilly protested, though she was glad of Ronan’s arms about her. She was dizzy, and tired, and she ached all over, and she wasn’t sure she would have actually been able to make the long walk back down the corridor without falling on her face. Not that she would admit her weakness to Ronan.

“Perhaps, but I would prefer to keep you close, and for the moment, I need to hold you, I almost lost you again,” Ronan stated as he began walking slowly down the passageway towards the elevator.

“Well, if you put it like that, I won’t protest,” Lilly responded, feeling safe and loved.

“Good, because I don’t plan on setting you down till we reach the med center and I know you are safe,” Ronan said, tightening his hold on Lilly as he stopped before the elevator and used his elbow to hit the call button. Ronan didn’t know how he would make this up to Lilly, but he would even if it took the rest of his life.