Alien Interludes by Tracy St. John Read Free Book Online Page B

word. Trust Egilka to have something smart to say about her predicament.
    The men laughed more than the insult warranted. Blessed Buddha, she was so happy to see them too.

    * * * *
“The paralyzing compound they used on Empress Jessica didn’t keep her completely immobilized because of the adrenaline surges her anger and fear brought on,” Jessica’s personal doctor said. Imdiko Flencik was the biggest Kalquorian she knew, and he was every bit as kind as he was massive. “Plus Earthers don’t metabolize it as wel as we do, helping her to push back its effects from time to time.” Jessica’s clan was clustered around her bed in the medical center. Her voice was stil very weak, and the effort to form words was problematic. She huffed at Flencik.
    He smiled at her, his teeth bright in his broad dark face. He tossed back his long spiraling curls she envied so much. It was a sin for a man to have such great hair in Jessica’s opinion. “You may go home, my empress, but you won’t be on your feet for another twelve hours at the least. I prefer you rest longer.”
    “She’l rest,” Clajak growled. Jessica stuck her tongue out at him.
    “I’l let you get her dressed.” His blue-purple eyes sparkling amusement, Flencik left the room, closing the door behind him.
    Bevau made sure it was locked. Protective Nobek, Jessica thought. She closed her eyes, grateful the nightmare of her abduction was over.
    “Fil us in, Bevau. What did Breft and Lidon report?” Clajak asked.
    “Both orderlies who snatched Jessica have been caught, so we have al four conspirators in custody.”
    “Who were they?” Egilka demanded. Jessica found it mildly humorous that her Imdiko was angrier than the other two that the abductors hadn’t been kiled.
    “Orderlies from the psych ward were involved. Imdikos Raser and Ajonel.”
    Jessica’s eyes flew open. She’d run into Ajonel just before she was attacked. His voice was the one she hadn’t been able to place.

    Bevau sat at the foot of her bed, his hand rubbing up and down her shin. His gorgeous face was brutal with anger. “They’d planned to take her after she was done visiting Narpok. They knew her routine wel, but she took them by surprise when she left early. They realized the surveilance system would be instaled in the newly constructed area and operational the next time she was due to come in. Today was their last chance to grab her.”
    Clajak folded his arms over his chest. “What about the failure of the recorder at the morgue?”
    “Raser’s doing. He’d been causing it to glitch intermittently for the last few weeks so it wouldn’t raise undue alarms when he and Ajonel disabled it for their plot. This has been in the works for awhile.”
    “Who exactly were the other two?” Egilka wanted to know. He held one of Jessica’s hands.
    “The Royal Guardsman is newly assigned.” Bevau snarled. “He was a top recruit with a spotless record before today. We found out his clan was rejected by al five Earther Mataras they approached when they came up on the lottery. This may have been more a revenge act on his part than an actual protest of mixing the species. Whoever recruited him took advantage of his anger.”
    “The death wagon’s driver?”
    “A very young Dramok, so young that he’s ineligible to draw the death penalty. He’s spouting propaganda instead of answering questions, showing al the signs of fanaticism. The Imdikos would give names if they knew any. They never met their contacts face to face who put this in motion. The Nobek’s not talking, of course, but I have a feeling whoever is behind this isn’t known to him either.” Clajak shook with fury. “Secret operatives? You’re talking about a ful-on conspiracy, Bevau.”
    The Nobek nodded. “We’ve got trouble. Breft is discussing a taskforce with Global Security directors.” Jessica forced her mouth to speak. “One mentioned ‘the basma ’. The boot?”
    Bevau nodded. “Ajonel has indicated