Gamma Raiders: Storm Squadron Alpha: Scifi Alien Romance Novel (5 page)

He closed his fingers around her arm and leaned his head in to her. “Take tonight to think it over. Tomorrow, you can join me. Or not. The choice is yours.”

He hoped she would make the right one.

Chapter 5

Kira barely slept that night. Her mind tormented her as she tossed and turned. Every time she closed her eyes, her stomach dropped with the memory of her fighter looping around the edge of the destroyer. She saw the opening. Why did she hesitate? She saw what she needed to do. And she played it safe. The decision cost her more than a failed test. It undermined her confidence.

Lying in bed, she mulled over the situation. She realized it wasn’t a full-blown failure. But she didn’t win, either. She let her team down when they needed her. What if she didn’t have what it took to fly for the Storm Squadron? What if she let them all down when it mattered, when the lives of her friends, and the fate of the Rebellion counted on her to make the right decision?

She startled awake in a cold sweat. It still felt strange to wake up in the cabin without Lana across the room from her. She understood, of course. Everything was going to be different now that Lana and Adaar were married.

Kira didn’t mind the solitude, but it would have been nice to talk to someone about the Assignment Ceremony. And about Ja’al. For the first time, she couldn’t read a man’s intentions. He seemed to care about her, to want her even. But he hesitated, too. Was he conflicted because of Reina? Or something else? I guess we all have our demons.

She laid her head back on the mattress and rolled over into her pillow, imagining herself pressed against his body. She pictured the intense gaze of his piercing green eyes, staring into her like he wanted to devour her. That, she was sure of. There was no mistaking that look.

And she would have welcomed it. Every touch of his hands on her skin sent waves of electricity through her as she imagined what it would be like to let herself go.

He wasn’t just a military man. Ja’al possessed a strength and a depth that drew her to him. He spoke little about his past, but she knew he grew up alone on the streets, learning to fend for himself. It gave him the strength of self-reliance. A strength that Kira wanted to give in to, to feel surrounding her, penetrating her. It would be such a relief to let her guard down. To allow herself to relax into his arms, feeling the pleasure of his body as he thrust himself deep inside her.

She stopped herself. Ja’al was her commanding officer. Or at least, he would be if she joined the Storm Squadron. And while there were no strict rules against it, a relationship complicated things.

She wished, for a moment, that she’d never tested for Storm. Life would be so much easier if she stayed in her place. Besides, Kira was an excellent mechanic. She could make a difference there. The growing Rebel fleet could use someone with her experience.

But she couldn’t deny the pull of her desire. And as much as it scared her, Ja’al seemed to think she had what it took.

She didn’t want to let him down. She didn’t want to let herself down.

She had to choose. And she’d run out of time.

***

Kira looked out over the training room. The entire Rebel Army, save for a small skeleton crew watching over the defense and communication systems, crowded into the room.

Nothing like the added pressure of an audience to help her make an already difficult choice.

Somewhere inside her, she knew that it didn’t matter which path she chose. The flight mechanics would be grateful to have her. She knew them. Or rather, she was comfortable with people who understood mechanical things. People who liked to take things apart and learn how they worked. She’d fit right in, and she’d be grateful for the friends she met there.

Tyrus, the youngest member of the Raider crew, smiled at her as she took her place with the other cadets. He had become a good friend over the past few months. Tyrus had been the Raiders’ head mechanic before assuming his new role as Chief of Systems and Communications. But he still spent most of his spare time down in the pit with the “wrench-heads.” If the rest of the mechanics were anything like him, she’d feel right at home there. And it would give her the opportunity to look after Tanner, Lana’s young brother, while she was away negotiating treaties with Adaar.

Tyrus caught her eye, and nodded to her in anticipation, expecting her to find her place among them. Tyrus could use a friend, too, she thought. No doubt the other wrench-heads gave him more than a fair share of ribbing for being so young.

But Tyrus didn’t need her protection. And that was no reason to choose one career path over another, anyway. This was about her future.

For the first time in her twenty-three years, Kira finally had a choice. The opportunity to choose her own path and her own destiny, instead of blowing around like a dead leaf in the winds of fate.

“Nervous?” asked a warm, feminine voice. Kira turned and saw the red-haired woman, Reina, standing next to her.

“Just thinking,” she said. “It’s an important choice.”

Reina shrugged. “I guess,” she said. “But it’s not much of a choice at all, if you ask me. Ja’al only leads one team.”

The hot fire of jealousy burned in her belly, but she kept her face calm and unreadable. They told me playing cards was a waste of time, thought Kira. But her training kicked in just in time to keep her cool. She could handle a little competition if she needed to. But maybe she’d read the situation wrong. She decided to tease out a little more information.

“Storm Squadron’s a tough gig,” said Kira. Let’s see your cards.

“Nothing I can’t handle, though. Once I’ve set my mind on something, nothing stands in my way.”

“I guess that’s the attitude a pilot needs,” she said. “Or any rebel. This isn’t an easy life.”

Whether she liked the woman or not, there was no point in making an enemy of her. If Kira joined Storm, they’d be spending a lot of time together. Maybe she just wanted to reconnect with an old friend.

“No,” said Reina. “But neither was growing up with a father in the Human Systems Alliance Senate. I had to learn how to take care of myself early on. Being a member of the Storm Squadron won’t be easy. But I can handle it.”

It had never occurred to Kira that maybe she was the one out of line. Maybe she had judged Reina too harshly. She still didn’t trust her, but she’d try to give her the benefit of the doubt. Jealousy was a new emotion. Maybe it was throwing her off. She needed more information.

“You know the Commander pretty well, then?” said Kira. Maybe she could learn where they stood. Kira realized she didn’t know this woman well enough to form any conclusions about her.

The truth was that Kira had never felt for anyone the way she felt about Ja’al. And it scared her. Because if she cared about him, if she wanted something more than a brief, physical relationship with the man, she would be vulnerable. The thought terrified her.

And maybe Reina wasn’t a bad person. It would be nice to have a friend to share the trials of the Storm Squadron with. Someone else there in the trenches, going through the same thing. Especially since Lana would be busy with her duties as an interplanetary ambassador.

“I know him as well as anyone,” she said. “But Ja’al was never easy to read. We went through some difficult times back on Kamara. We were … friends … while he was the Prince’s attendant. We studied philosophy, history, strategy. But when they left to form the Gamma Raiders, everything changed. For all of us.”

“I’m sorry, Reina. It’s hard to be left behind.”

Reina smiled and tossed her hair back behind her shoulder. “Ja’al did what he thought was right. Sure, I felt abandoned. But it was the right decision. Look where we are now. Taking steps to change things, to make life better for everyone. This rebellion wouldn’t exist if Ja’al hadn’t chosen that path. I’d say that’s a good reason to leave us.”

“Doesn’t make it any easier, though. You two were … a couple?”

Reina looked Kira in the eyes, searching for something.

“I wasn’t sure what to make of you when we arrived here, Kira. But you seem alright. I think we’ll get along just fine.”

Kira noticed that she didn’t answer her question. But she didn’t want to press. “So you’re going for the Storm Squadron? Have you flown before?”

Reina just smiled. “Not really, no.”

Kira shot her a baffled glance.

“There were sims back on Kamara, though. And not much else for us to kids to do with our free time. Ja’al and I used to have fierce competitions. We both got pretty good. Not that either of us thought we’d ever get the chance to fly for real. It’s funny how things work out. I’ve been training for this my whole life, even if I didn’t know it at the time.”

Kira nodded.

“You’re joining Storm, too, right Kira? Have you flown much?”

“Just my freighter,” she said as she looked away. Who was she kidding? She was delusional to think she had a chance of flying with people like Reina. She was out of her depth. She didn’t have the experience for this. The only time she’d ever done a fighter sim was here, and she’d only been practicing a few weeks at most. Ja’al had taught her a lot during that time, but she didn’t have years of experience. Maybe she’d be better off sticking to what she knew best. Good flight mechanics were important.

Even if that meant she wouldn’t get to spend time with ….

Ja’al entered the room, along with the rest of the squadron leaders. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him. The way the cut of the fabric emphasized his muscular physique, the line of his shoulders and his broad chest stretching the suit firm against him. It was the build of a man who knew how to work, to push himself beyond what he thought was possible.

It was a lesson she’d do well to learn. Not that she didn’t work hard—Kira was no stranger to spending long hours buried beneath the belly of a ship, repairing and upgrading critical systems. She’d designed mods that allowed her freighter, the Endurance, to handle maneuvering through the Dennegar belt.

But that was a far cry from handling a fighter in the heat of combat. The lives of others depended on a pilot’s split-second reactions and the strength of her instincts.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I’m not sure I’m cut out for the Storm Squadron.”

Reina shook her head. “That’s too bad. I guess you have to do what’s right for you, but …” She hesitated, weighing whether to finish. “Don’t sell yourself short, Kira. I saw your test scores. You’ve got good instincts.”

I’m not so sure about that, she thought. My instincts told me not to trust you. And look how wrong I had it.

“Thanks, Reina.”

“And besides, we women need to stick together, right?”

But Kira didn’t have a chance to answer before Captain Adaar stepped out onto the stage. A silence descended over the crowd as they waited for him to speak. He looked majestic in his full dress uniform. And though he wore it naturally, it was obvious to Kira that he would have preferred to be back in the loose-fitting, easy clothes of a pirate.

She chuckled to herself. All the pomp and formality would be better left to someone else. This rebellion had its own flavor. They needed to own it. To be themselves.

“Good morning, everyone,” he said to the cadets lined up in front of him. “This is an important day for all of you. Taking on a force as massive and thoroughly entrenched as the Kamaran Empire is no easy task. It’s going to take all of us, working together. And every part of the machine has to perform optimally, or the whole thing falls apart. Every job is important.”

Kira felt as though he was speaking to her innermost fears. Don’t feel bad about it, Kira. Not everyone is cut out for Storm Squadron. We need mechanics, too. Well, she’d be the best damn mechanic they’d ever had.

“Every one of you has unique talents and gifts, and every one of you will play an important role in toppling the Empire. We want each of you to make the most of your potential.”

Kira closed her eyes. She wasn’t cut out to be a fighter pilot. But she couldn’t give up, either. And Ja’al … there was something growing between them. She was sure of it. It was more than the hungry looks he gave her when he thought wasn’t looking. More than chemistry. A connection born out of respect. And if she chose to be a mechanic, she wouldn’t be seeing him much anymore.

No, dammit. I won’t let it happen. I won’t give him up.

“…And as you all know,” Adaar continued, “the Kamarans haven’t taken the news of our insurgency lightly. Even as our ranks grow, the Empire remains busy securing alliances of their own. Every day we allow their growth to continue unabated, the stronger they become. We don’t have time to waste. We need to strike them before they root us out. And they will, given enough time.”

He paced around the stage, speaking with same authority that had ignited the rebellion on Tarksis. Despite his brief tenure as a pirate, Adaar was a prince and a leader. It was in his blood. And despite her internal turmoil, Kira couldn’t help feeling roused by his speech.

“But we’ve had to change our plans.”

“We’re not tyrants, nor are we dictators. And we’ve always made the will and desires of our soldiers and crew a top priority. But with the Empire closing in on us, there is no room for error. So instead of allowing our newest cadets to choose their assignments, we’ve made the assignments for you all.”