Captive (23 page)

* * * * *

“It's about time the two of you got back!” Agnus yelled. They had just walked through the doors and hadn't even gotten out a hello before he immediately jumped them. “Nice to see you, too, Agnus,” Sidious replied with a smile. “And yes the trip was wonderful, thank you for asking.”

“You always were a smart-ass even as a child,” Agnus grumbled. Mikayla covered her mouth to hide her smile. “And don't think that I don't see that smile, girl. You got three days of work to make up for; I suggest you get busy.”

“My, aren't you in a snit?” Mikayla said as she passed him on her way toward the bar. Agnus didn't say anything he just looked at Sidious with his eyebrow raised in question.

“It's not her fault, Agnus. You knew I was taking her with me.” Sidious crossed his arms in front of him.

“Not for three days. Judging by your good mood, I can only assume that your little trip went well.”

“It did, not only with Mikayla but with Stefan.”

“So everything is in place?” Agnus asked suddenly becoming serious.

“It will be as of five a.m. day after tomorrow. Your ship is on flyer deck nine, fueled and ready. Just make sure you get her out of here.” Sidious nodded toward Mikayla at the bar.

“I'll be off this thing long before the first explosion goes off. You just make sure that you get off.”

“Don't worry. I have every intention of making it out alive.” He was talking to Agnus, but he was watching Mikayla. Her gaze locked with his, and he winked. She smiled slightly before returning to stocking the shelves.

Agnus patted Sidious on the shoulder. “You better get back to work. Woods has been looking for you everywhere, and he's pretty pissed off that he couldn't find you.”

“Woods will get over it,” he replied as he turned to walk out the door.

* * * * *

Sidious went by Rigora's office to let him know that he had returned and then headed to his own. Walking through his door, he frowned when he saw Woods sitting

behind his desk. “What the hell are you doing in here?” he demanded, giving Woods a cold look that would freeze most men in their tracks.

“I was looking for you.”

“I don't think that you're going to find me in my desk drawer.” Sidious stalked over and slammed the drawer shut. There wasn't anything in there that would incriminate him, but that wasn't the point.

“Get up,” he snarled at Woods, who got up out of the chair immediately and went to the other side of the desk. “What was so important that you felt you had to search my desk to find me?”

“We believe that someone on the inside is helping Earth.”

“We, or just you, Woods?” he asked tiredly.

Ignoring his question, Woods continued. “Earth seems to be getting things that they shouldn't, such as weapons and supplies.”

“That happens sometimes when you're at war, besides I knew about this before I left,” Sidious replied as he began to look through the files Carlone had given him.

“Did you? Did you perhaps know because you were the one making it possible for them to get the shipments?”

Unbelievable. He’s getting braver. And too fucking close.

“Of course, Woods. You've found me out. I meet regularly with the leaders of Earth to exchange secret information.” Sidious didn't even look up from the file.

“Surely there is somewhere else you need to be besides standing here annoying me.”

“Where were you the last couple of days?” Woods asked, suddenly switching the subject.

“Taking care of a personal matter. I do have a life outside the militia.”

“Does that life include a certain barmaid from the ship?” Sidious at first didn't answer. He didn't like where this conversation was headed.

He pinned Woods with an icy stare. “What I do on my own personal time and who I choose to do it with are none of your business. I suggest you remember that.”

“Hit a nerve, Marcone?” he asked snidely.

“Enough!” he shouted, slamming the file closed in front of him. “Get out, or I'll throw you out.”

Woods did leave, but the smile on his face made Sidious's skin crawl. He didn't like the fact he'd mentioned Mikayla. If he did anything to her, he'd kill him, regardless of his rank. He'd have to keep a closer eye on that man.

* * * * *

Stefan walked into the observation lounge, their chief engineer behind him. He tossed a Meedcorder on the table in front of Taron with the latest readings from the engines. Also seated around the table were the captains and first officers of the other

ships in the rebellion, eight in all. One being the huge battle cruiser that carried the rebellion's flyer fleet. The smaller flyers would engage the Imperial flyers while the larger ships took on the Destroyer. They had met here to go over last-minute preparations and adjustments to the ships before the attack.

This was not Stefan's first encounter with the Thallion Warriors, but it would be their first joint endeavor. So far, the officers had proven to be very helpful and cooperative; he just hoped that it stayed that way. They had a reputation for being difficult to work with when they weren't in charge.

“Good evening, Captains,” Stefan said with a nod as he took a seat next to Taron.

“Count Marcone,” they returned, their heads bowing in respect to his title.

Stefan grimaced. “My father is count. Here, I'm just Stefan.” Several nodded, one even smiled, which surprised him. Thallion Warriors never smiled. Their deep rust-colored skin was like leather. They had two horns that protruded from their foreheads and curled upward. Their eyes glowed orange in the fluorescent light of the ship. Stefan was tall, but these men would be considered giants, towering a good foot above him.

“Have all the ships been equipped with the Litarian Cloak?” Taron asked the engineer, Troy, and Stefan turned his attention to the task at hand.

“They have, and all the engineers report the cloaks are working perfectly.”

“Good.”

Stefan touched Taron's arm, letting him know he wished to speak. “Troy.

Coordinate with the other engineers and fix up a communications link between the ships. I want everyone to be able to keep in contact at the same time without having to constantly reopen and close communication channels.”

“That should be easy enough.” Troy nodded. “Anything else before I get started?”

“No, not unless there is something that anyone else wants done?” Taron asked and looked around the table. Once everyone had shaken their heads no, he turned to the engineer. “Guess that's it, Troy.”

“You know where to find me if anything comes up.” Troy nodded and turned to leave the room.

“He should refer to you as sir,” Captain Moorose said with a disapproving frown.

He was the captain of the Thallion warship
Meetar
. He was a good captain and an excellent military strategist, but rumor was he ruled his ship with an iron fist.

Stefan smiled slightly. “You'll find that things are much more relaxed onboard the
Vultair
, Captain. Everyone on this ship is like family, but I can assure you, when the chips are down, they know their place and who gives the orders.” A grunt was all Captain Moorose had to say.

“Do you plan to be around for the attack, Stefan?” asked Commander Chang.

“Are you kidding?” Stefan smiled. “I wouldn't miss this for the world.”

“What exactly is our plan of attack, Captain Sinnar? Will we receive some sort of signal from our insider?” asked one of the other Thallion captains.

“Our informant has given me a pass code access for the Destroyer's engine and shield readings. We'll know the minute those shields are down,” Taron replied.

“What if the prime minister tries to escape the Destroyer during the battle?” asked Moorose.

“Rigora's escape shuttle has been tagged with a tracking beacon. If the shuttle leaves the ship, we'll know and immediately destroy it. Rigora thinks the shuttle is a secret known only to his top officers. So I have no doubt he will try to use it, thinking he can slip by us undetected.”

“Very clever,” Captain Verosh replied with a slight smile. He was also a Thallion captain, but not quite as ironfisted as Moorose.

“Thank you.” Stefan nodded. “But I'm afraid our informer will have to take the credit for that one.”

“I look forward to meeting this man,” replied Captain Shone of the battle cruiser
Star Bird
. “The rebellion owes him a lot.” Stefan sighed. “Let's just hope all his hard work was not in vain.” If this didn't work, Sidious could never go back. He would be a wanted man; for what he was about to do would certainly blow his cover.

* * * * *

Later that evening, Mikayla stood behind the bar, filling orders and listening to the soldiers talk about various things. She already missed the little planet of Daego, but it was also nice to be here. She had actually come to like Agnus and Celine, and now that she knew her mother was safe, she felt she could relax a little. She still missed her, but Sid had assured her it wouldn't be long before she would see her again. Smiling slightly, she thought about Sid. The minute they were back onboard the Destroyer, Captain Marcone had returned, but she knew now that was mostly a facade.

Before getting to know him, she had heard several of the men refer to him as the Dark Lord, but now she knew he kept up the gruff and cold exterior so the men wouldn't get too close and see what he was really doing.

“Good evening, Mikayla.”

She looked up to see Commander Woods and inwardly cringed. For some reason, she really didn't like this man. There was something about him that made her uncomfortable.

“Good evening, Commander,” she replied cautiously. “Can I get you something to drink?”

The pupils of his gold, lizardlike eyes dilated, then shrunk. It gave her the creeps when he did that. Woods was from the planet Veenori. All Veenorians had the lizard

eyes and pale, almost-translucent skin, but there was something about this man that radiated evil.

“An ale will be fine.”

He flicked his tongue, and she shivered. Mikayla planned to hand him the drink and then leave, but he stopped her by grabbing her wrist just as she set the drink before him. The cold, clammy feel of his touch sent a shock of warning to her brain.

“Did you enjoy your time away with Captain Marcone?” he asked snidely, watching her carefully.

She tried to pull her wrist from his grasp, but he held firm, applying pressure to the bones. She bit down on her lip to hide the wince of pain.

“Let go of me,” she replied through her clenched teeth.

“Not until you answer my question.”

“What makes you think that I was with Marcone?”

“The two of you were away at the same time, and then you arrived back at the ship together. Rather obvious, don't you think? Not to mention the fact that everyone on this ship knows he's fucking you.”

“What difference does it make to you?”

Pulling her across the bar, he put his face close to hers and whispered, “The man is a spy, Mikayla. I know you don't want to get mixed up in his troubles. I can make things much easier for you if you tell me everything. Otherwise you'll go down right along with him.”

She kept her face blank and devoid of any emotion. The years she spent with Greg had made her very good at hiding her fear. “I don't have the foggiest idea what you're talking about.”

Suddenly someone grabbed Woods by the hair and jerked his head back. Gasping at the pain, he closed his eyes, then immediately released Mikayla's wrist, allowing her to step back out of his reach. It didn't surprise her to see Sidious had come to her rescue, but what did surprise her was the cold anger to his voice, the dark menace in his eyes as he leaned down, putting his lips close to Woods's ear.

“I thought I already told you once today that what I did and who I did it with were none of your business.”

He shoved Woods's head forward as he let go of his hair. If he hadn't caught himself with his hands, his forehead would have hit the bar, hard. He looked at Marcone and narrowed his eyes in hatred.

Moving his nose to mere inches from Woods's, he replied in a deadly tone that made it clear he meant business. “I'm only going to tell you this once. You want to continue to annoy me with your fantasies about my being a spy, that's fine, but you leave her out of it. Is that clear?”

“Clear as glass…Captain,” he snarled as he got up to leave the bar.

Sidious watched him go and then looked at Mikayla. Noticing that she was holding her wrist and rubbing it just made him even angrier. He motioned with his finger for her to follow him to the storeroom.

“Are you all right?” he asked as he took her wrist and examined it. It was red, but it didn't look broken. “Did he hurt you?”

“A little, but it's fine.” She pulled it out of his grasp. “Sid, he knows.”

“He only thinks he knows.”

“Oh, gee,” Mikayla snapped with sarcasm. “That makes me feel much better. This whole situation might not bother you, but it scares the hell out of me.”

“Even if Woods does know something, he can't prove anything,” Sidious reasoned and touched the side of her face with his fingers.

“Yet,” Mikayla said quietly.

Lord, she sounded just like Agnus, he thought with a slight smile. Agnus was always worried about Woods as well. “Sweetheart, look at me.” He crooked his finger under her chin and lifted it. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Then trust me when I say that everything is going to be fine.” She closed her eyes and sighed. “I hope you're right.”

“I'm always right. Just ask Stefan and Taron,” he teased.

Mikayla snorted, and he grinned. No doubt about it. This woman would always keep him on his toes, and he loved it.

“Just please be careful,” she whispered as she put her hands at his waist and stepped closer.

Her flowery scent invaded his nostrils, and they flared, breathing her in deeper.

Would she always have this effect on him? Would she always make him crazy?

“I'm always careful,” he said with a smile and bent his head down to kiss her.

“Didn't the two of you get enough of that while you were away?” Agnus asked, then sighed in mock exasperation.

Mikayla spun away, trying to hide her smile while Sidious turned toward Agnus with his hands at his waist. “Think you're funny, don't you?” he snarled, narrowing his eyes at him.

“No, just busy.” He snapped his fingers and pointed to the bar with his thumb.

Mikayla raised her hands in surrender and made her way back out to the crowded bar. “I'm going. I'm going.”

Agnus stood at the door, still watching him with that silly smile on his face.

“What?” Sidious snapped.

“Can't say that I've ever seen you this smitten.”

“Can't say as I've ever been this smitten.” Sidious smiled and made his way to stand at the door next to Agnus.

“I heard Woods was bothering her,” Agnus replied quietly while he looked around the bar.

“Yeah. Apparently he thought he could scare her into telling him something.”

“Well, I don't think you have too much to worry about there. Mikayla doesn't seem to scare easily.”

“I still don't like the idea of her being dragged into this. The sooner this is over, the better. For everyone.”

“You'll get no argument from me on that one,” Agnus replied dryly.

“I'm going to the flyer deck to take care of some things with the
Triton
.” He patted Agnus on the shoulder. “Tell Mikayla I'll be back later.”

“Watch your back, Sidious.”

“I always watch my back,” he replied with a smile.