Page 3 of Warrior's Captive
“Tell me about the female,” he said. He focused. Hadn’t been able to save that child. He’d save this one, even from its own mother if that’s what it took.
Ibukay spoke after a moment. “She’s from Earth, a human. We don’t know the circumstances of her abduction yet, she hasn’t been willing to go into detail and I—I don’t want to press her, or any of the others until they are ready.”
“We need that intel,” Tai’ri said. “We need to know how the traffickers are operating. They’ve changed methodology again, that was how I made a mistake.”
“We will know in time. In the immediate present, the mental health of the aliens is more important. Especially while pregnant.” Tai’ri nodded, and she continued. “She’s young for a human, the tests we ran show her to be around thirty to thirty-five Earth years.”
Tai’ri cringed.
“I know,” Ibukay said. “She's young, but I'm told that's adult age.”
“She has opted not to return to Earth at this time,” Vykhan said. “We can place her in the shelter with the other females, but as we know the identity of the genetic father of her child, I thought you would wish to be informed so you can make more suitable arrangements. Naturally.”
“Whatever he decides is the most suitable arrangement, Vykhan,” Ibukay said, expression darkening. “You will not bully him into doing what you think is right.”
Vykhan was unmoved. “I know what this means to you, Tai'ri.”
He shook his head. “Not my choice. It’s hers.”
“The human female is in no condition to make these kinds of decisions.”
“Vykhan,” Ibukay growled.
“This is a second chance,” Vykhan said, gaze unwavering.
Tai’ri rubbed his sore stomach, the words another verbal knife. A chance to redeem himself for the pain he’d caused in the past. A chance to replace the life lost.
“I won’t coerce her. But if she keeps the child, they’ll have a home with me. If she wants to birth the child and give it away, I will take my son or daughter. That’s my right, no matter how they were conceived.”
Ibukay nodded. “That much we can give you, even if she decides to induce birth now. The child is developed enough that it would survive. But I don’t think that’s the choice she will make. I’ve spoken with her some.”
“May I see her?”
“I already asked, and she agreed to a meeting if you wished it.”
“You will have four months of leave,” Vykhan said. “That will give you time to acclimate your female and child to their new home. There are—”
A beep sounded, first on Vykhan’s comm unit and then a split second later on Ibukay’s. TheBdakhunglanced at the incoming message and cursed. She whirled, Vykhan at her heels.
The doors shimmered open, letting in the blaring sound of the med bay alarm. Tai’ri knew that sound, knew it in his bones. Someone was dying.
He ran after them, propelled by instinct.
* * *
One look at Ibukay’s face and he knew.
A human woman lay pale in a bed surrounded by the normally silent tech and medics who, with calm urgency, tried to stabilize her.
“You can’t be here,” someone told him. Tai’ri snarled.
Ibukay glanced at the medic, who subsided and then snapped, “Don’t get in the way,” muttering something under her breath about ‘royals’.
Tai’ri gazed at the female on the table. Tangled dark hair, her tawny brown skin too pale. And under the sheet, a swollen belly.
“She’s seizing again.” Someone cursed. “I don’t understand these vitals. Where are the downloads? I can’t do my job without data!”
“Fetal tones dropping,” another medic said in a monotone.
