Maussey was furious and didn't care that his staff cowered at their desks. It was rather easy to set Lt. Enbran up for what would have been a spectacular fall. At least, it would have been if those stinking aliens hadn't arrived. Now all his plans were in danger of unraveling. He would not let that happen.
"S-Sir?"
"What?" he barked, thrilled to see fear in Private Blackthorne's eyes.
"Sir, Lt. Enbran met with the Gatoan prince."
Maussey's glower disappeared. He started to smile and Davis looked ready to wet his pants. "Don't just stand there, boy! Report!" He listened with interest and chuckled when the boy finished.
"So there is an attraction. Not surprising, one freak calling to another. Private, continue shadowing her. I want to know her every move. And, Private Blackthorne?"
"Sir?"
"Don't fail me."
Blackthorne gulped, eyes wide. "I won't, Sir!"
"Dismissed." Maussey turned and walked to the surveillance wall. A hundred small-sized windows showed security footage around the base. He studied the wall for a moment before turning to the Sergeant manning the vid console.
"Controller, I want you to tag Lt. Enbran's psi-implant signature and track it. Display her activities in Window Thirteen and keep it active at all times. I want to know if she so much as sneezes. Record everything. Find someone to tag our visitors. I don't trust them as far as I can throw them."
"Yes, Sir!"
Pleased with his plans, Maussey left the HQ building. He had another appointment to keep. This one he didn't relish. He slid into his private grav-car and headed to the city. An hour later he arrived at his destination. The area was known to be dangerous, but he was unafraid. He locked the vehicle and went to a rundown building with peeling green paint.
He checked to be sure no one followed. He entered his pass-code on the id pad and hurried inside. He closed the door and was swallowed in darkness while the security scan swept him from head to toe. It shut off and glow lights came on overhead. It was not enough for anyone to see by and that was the point.
"Well, well. Look, the good Brigadier General has seen fit to join us."
Maussey snorted. "At least I don't hide in the dark."
"True, but you are human. You bring news of the girl, yes?"
"Yeah. Everything is happening as you predicted."
A low growl echoed from the shadows. "Liar. I smell the lie on you. What has happened?"
Maussey tensed. He needed to tread carefully. "The Prince has caught her attention. She's starting to be fixated on him. I'm trying to contain the situation, but the Gatoans are psionics. You didn't tell me that. No one knows the strength of their powers. If you have information I can use, then I can be more effective in carrying out your wishes."
"I gave you what you need, use it! Or do you wish to join your fellow human failures in hell?"
Maussey started to sweat. "No, Master."
"You humans want wealth, power, and glory without working for them. Foolish children. I know the Choosing ceremony starts in two days. I will be there and claim her for my own. My enemies will never know what hit them."
"Of course, Master," Maussey murmured. He only bowed and scraped to obtain his goal. Soon they — Lt. Enbran, the Gatoans and his dark Master— would bow to him.
"Go, my slave, prepare for my arrival. And do not worry. Your unwanted guests won't know what to do."
His master gave a hair-raising laugh and Maussey didn't move until the footfalls ended and the lights came up to full illumination. He looked at his watch and swore. The door behind him opened and he hurried back to his grav-car. He would get to the base with ten minutes to spare. He drove away. A pair of glowing yellow eyes watched him leave and a sinister laugh filled the evening air.
* * *
Jewels paced back and forth. Her grief and confusion had mellowed somewhat, but she felt blindsided by the day's events. It was barely early afternoon. Hurt, too, that Jeremy hadn't confided in her about his deteriorating condition. She could have killed him with her powers! And then what would she have done?
"You're such an idiot!" she shouted. If that wasn't enough, she couldn't stop thinking about Dex and the feel of his fur, his unique smell, his gentleness.
Jewels groaned and rubbed her arms. She'd heard of lust and passion and taken the required sex education classes too. She even tried sex once or twice. What she felt around Dex defied imagination. He made her feel flustered and her heart race. Even her thoughts about him caused an ache in her that needed to be sated.
She shook herself. "What am I doing?" she grumbled. "Can't stand around daydreaming. Besides I need to talk to Jeremy." She changed her clothes, resolutely left her quarters and followed her mental link to him.
She found Jeremy at the mess hall. She scanned the crowded room and saw him in a corner nursing a beer. This wasn't an ideal place to speak, but time was of the essence. She headed toward him and stopped a foot from the table. "Can I join you?"
Jeremy glanced up and Jewels felt guilt hit her. Her anchor looked exhausted and his eyes were bloodshot. "Jeremy?"
"Sit, sit. People are staring."
Jewels plopped into the seat and her well thought-out apology went out the window. "It's me. I'm doing this to you. You have to stop anchoring me. Doc can sedate me after each phase of the Choosing. She..."
"No, Kid. I've not been relieved of my post. Only a coward would let you suffer."
His angry scowl made her mad. "We're talking about your life too! Do you want to end up brain-dead?" she hissed.
He chuckled, but only sadness filled his gaze. "Listen, Kid. We all die sometime. The lucky ones get to choose how to go. If I die while keeping you safe, then I will gladly do so. You don't understand how special you are. And," he put a finger to her lips, stopping her objection. "One day someone will help you see that. Now, grab some food. We have to review what will happen during the Choosing."
::Jeremy, I'm sorry!::
He tousled her hair. ::I know, Kid. So am I. I knew you would worry. I wanted to find you a worthy anchor. Aw, Jewels! Don't cry. Be tough for me, Kid.:: Jeremy blocked her from prying eyes while she got control.
"I'm ready." Her tone was lifeless. She needed to not feel. It was the only way she could cope with being parted from her best friend, mentor and partner.
Jeremy sighed. "Jewels, let's go."
She fell in beside him, tried to touch his mind and was rebuffed. Miserable and confused, she hoped they could sort it out later.
* * *
Lastbite hurried through the tunnel, his mind on the news his spy had sent. If the Lupines hoped to gain dominion over the Milky Way sector and enslave the humans as well as the Gatoans, they had to get the female that everyone was vying for.
His spy, nestled within LoudRoar's inner court, had informed him that Queen Rialla planned to have the human female assassinated and the crime blamed on the Prince. Lastbite wasn't going to tell his Alpha. No, the time had arrived for him to make his move.
Lastbite slowed as he neared the central den and Bonebreaker's throne. He hesitated in the opening and watched his Alpha pummel a pack member. Lastbite winced at each blow and was glad it wasn't him. Finally, Bonebreaker stopped and the unconscious male was dragged away.
Bonebreaker stood, his back to Lastbite. "You'd better have good news for me."
"I do, my Alpha. We have a chance to steal a prize from our enemies and bring them to their knees." Lastbite came fully into the room. "The Prince has fallen for a human female. If we capture her, he will follow."
"How do you plan to do this?"
Lastbite ignored the warning in Bonebreaker's tone, too excited by his own scheming. "It is rather easy. One of our human agents has infiltrated the base where the girl is kept. She is a mind reader, my Alpha. A very strong one. She is treated like an Alpha. There is to be a choosing of a new mate for her. I am confident our spy can win her. He will then bring her to us."
Bonebreaker turned, his eyes on Lastbite. "It seems well thought out." He moved closer.
"Yes, my Alpha. It is. I will make those mangy cats beg for her life." Lastbite laughed evilly and didn't see Bonebreaker's fist until it connected with his jaw and he went flying. He crashed into the stone table and lay there moaning in pain. He gasped for air and, with every pained breath, his ribs throbbed. "Why?" Lastbite wheezed.
Bonebreaker came and stood over him with his fangs bared. "There is no 'I,' Lastbite. You do all things for your Alpha and the pack. Or, maybe, you wish to challenge to be Alpha?" he elongated his claws and growled.
Lastbite frantically shook his head. "No, no, no! My Alpha, forgiveness! Forgiveness!"
Bonebreaker stuck his muzzle in Lastbite's face. "Next misstep and I rip your head from your shoulders. Now, get out of my sight. And don't come back without the female."
"Yes, my Alpha," Lastbite squeaked. He stayed still and only got up when he was sure Bonebreaker was gone. He would find a healer first. Lastbite couldn't do anything until he was fit. Then he would take some of their ships and go to Earth. It was time to show their resolve, strength and power to the cats.