sir."
The only reason Norik ignored the innuendo and sexual antics of the Duarr was because he was damn good at his job. But the very thought of the Duarr infiltrating anything near his woman had his hackles raised. "You stay here," Norik told him as he got to his feet.
Even Nancy looked surprised. Xon tried to protest but the Colonel would have none of it. Xon shot the Doctor a panicked look for help. She shot daggers at him but came to his rescue. "Colonel, Xon and I would be in a better position to help you if we were planetside."
"We?" both Xon and Norik asked at the same time.
Nonplussed at their joint surprise she continued, "It makes sense for Xon to lead one team. The two of you are our best leaders and sharpshooters. And if what you say is true."
"It is true," Norik growled.
Nancy held up a calming hand and said, "Then you may need my expertise on hand. Just in case."
"You can't be serious," Xon huffed and looked to his Colonel to find the all too familiar look of the man coming to a firm decision. "Sir, this is a dangerous situation we're walking into, we can't just take anyone who volunteers."
"I am a valuable asset," Nancy said through her teeth at the insufferable Duarr.
"Yeah and you know I love your assets," Xon started and then frowned at her, "that's not what I meant to say! You did that. She did that. Make her stop it."
"She's on your team," Norik told him. "Vlad you have command."
Xon glowered at Nancy and quietly told her, "I don't know what you're playing at, but you'll carry a weapon. Don't pull any of this 'I'm a Doctor not a soldier' shit. You take the weapon and you'll use it. That clear?"
Nancy regarded him for a moment. Touched that he was more worried about her personal safety than the overall safety of his team due to her lack of fighting expertise. "Aye sir," she replied, determined to not be a burden.
Callisto was not a big ship and only had the two auxiliary craft. A team took one each and while Callisto attacked the complex by air, they slipped in on foot. Offices made up the ground floor, it seemed the more sinister laboratories were buried underground.
Norik's team had trouble keeping up with him. The thought that Jasmine was somewhere in this rabbit warren spurred him on. He needed her. She was his mate and he now accepted that. His mate was in trouble and needed him. The real question of whether she wanted him would have to wait until she was found and safe in his arms. That's when he would worry about rejection.
"Sir!" Corporal Avery called out from a nearby doorway. They had been forced to check every door due to something in the walls that severely limited the range of their scanners.
Norik's pulse quickened, "What?" he asked as he made his way to the man.
"Holy..." Singer breathed beside them.
"They're all dead sir," Avery told him.
At Norik's estimate there were three dozen women laid out naked on tables. His gaze darted from one to another, looking for Jasmine's corpse.
"Been dead for a few weeks sir, at least," Avery continued. "Oldest at the back, recent at the front."
Singer pointed to five empty tables nearby, "Looks like they're expecting more."
Avery elbowed Singer in the gut to shut him up. The two men glared at each other until Singer finally understood the mistake he had made.
Norik gripped his rifle tighter. Jasmine wasn't among them, but she soon might be if they didn't find her in time. "Leave a charge," he ordered and turned away from the ugly sight.
* * *
Nancy screamed as a man lunged for her. The upside of this was that it alerted Xon to her predicament, the downside was that it also alerted the man's friends.
"Down!" Xon yelled at her and Nancy obeyed. The man who had been coming for her dropped dead at her feet.
Nancy lowered her arms from her head and stared at the hole burned into the man's chest. She felt someone grab her by the upper arm and haul her around a corner, to relative safety. It was Xon. "There is a stun setting!" she
The only reason Norik ignored the innuendo and sexual antics of the Duarr was because he was damn good at his job. But the very thought of the Duarr infiltrating anything near his woman had his hackles raised. "You stay here," Norik told him as he got to his feet.
Even Nancy looked surprised. Xon tried to protest but the Colonel would have none of it. Xon shot the Doctor a panicked look for help. She shot daggers at him but came to his rescue. "Colonel, Xon and I would be in a better position to help you if we were planetside."
"We?" both Xon and Norik asked at the same time.
Nonplussed at their joint surprise she continued, "It makes sense for Xon to lead one team. The two of you are our best leaders and sharpshooters. And if what you say is true."
"It is true," Norik growled.
Nancy held up a calming hand and said, "Then you may need my expertise on hand. Just in case."
"You can't be serious," Xon huffed and looked to his Colonel to find the all too familiar look of the man coming to a firm decision. "Sir, this is a dangerous situation we're walking into, we can't just take anyone who volunteers."
"I am a valuable asset," Nancy said through her teeth at the insufferable Duarr.
"Yeah and you know I love your assets," Xon started and then frowned at her, "that's not what I meant to say! You did that. She did that. Make her stop it."
"She's on your team," Norik told him. "Vlad you have command."
Xon glowered at Nancy and quietly told her, "I don't know what you're playing at, but you'll carry a weapon. Don't pull any of this 'I'm a Doctor not a soldier' shit. You take the weapon and you'll use it. That clear?"
Nancy regarded him for a moment. Touched that he was more worried about her personal safety than the overall safety of his team due to her lack of fighting expertise. "Aye sir," she replied, determined to not be a burden.
Callisto was not a big ship and only had the two auxiliary craft. A team took one each and while Callisto attacked the complex by air, they slipped in on foot. Offices made up the ground floor, it seemed the more sinister laboratories were buried underground.
Norik's team had trouble keeping up with him. The thought that Jasmine was somewhere in this rabbit warren spurred him on. He needed her. She was his mate and he now accepted that. His mate was in trouble and needed him. The real question of whether she wanted him would have to wait until she was found and safe in his arms. That's when he would worry about rejection.
"Sir!" Corporal Avery called out from a nearby doorway. They had been forced to check every door due to something in the walls that severely limited the range of their scanners.
Norik's pulse quickened, "What?" he asked as he made his way to the man.
"Holy..." Singer breathed beside them.
"They're all dead sir," Avery told him.
At Norik's estimate there were three dozen women laid out naked on tables. His gaze darted from one to another, looking for Jasmine's corpse.
"Been dead for a few weeks sir, at least," Avery continued. "Oldest at the back, recent at the front."
Singer pointed to five empty tables nearby, "Looks like they're expecting more."
Avery elbowed Singer in the gut to shut him up. The two men glared at each other until Singer finally understood the mistake he had made.
Norik gripped his rifle tighter. Jasmine wasn't among them, but she soon might be if they didn't find her in time. "Leave a charge," he ordered and turned away from the ugly sight.
* * *
Nancy screamed as a man lunged for her. The upside of this was that it alerted Xon to her predicament, the downside was that it also alerted the man's friends.
"Down!" Xon yelled at her and Nancy obeyed. The man who had been coming for her dropped dead at her feet.
Nancy lowered her arms from her head and stared at the hole burned into the man's chest. She felt someone grab her by the upper arm and haul her around a corner, to relative safety. It was Xon. "There is a stun setting!" she
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