Combustion, p.11
Combustion, page 11
“What did you say about hearing from Wyatt?” Erica asked, hoping to ease the tension.
“He’s on his way. His communicator was damaged when he jumped ship, but he repaired it.”
“I need to check on Jace,” Carlos said.
“He’s awake,” Tiana told him. “He said the ship is pretty much ready to go except for one thing.”
“What thing?” Erica asked.
Tiana glanced at Ian.
“You can talk in front of him. He obviously knows about us and he also had contact with Brock.”
“Where is he?”
“Dead.”
“What were you saying about the ship being repaired?” Carlos asked.
“You know this guy, but I don’t.” Tiana jerked her thumb in Ian’s direction. “We’re not discussing anything until Wyatt gets here.”
“I should go,” Ian said, looking wary.
Erica didn’t blame him, not given the way Tiana had reacted to him.
Tiana stepped in front of Ian and leveled her fiercest gaze at him. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“I don’t take well to threats.”
“It’s not a threat. It’s a statement of fact.”
“Hey, what’s going on out here?” Jace, barefoot and wearing only loose black pants, leaned against the doorjamb between sick bay and the lounge. “Who’s the human?”
“I have a name,” Ian said.
“Did you tell them about the power pack?” Jace asked Tiana.
“Our power pack is gone? That’s the problem?” Carlos demanded. “We might as well just take up residence here. Without that, we can’t get home.”
“Can you use a power pack from another ship?” Ian asked.
Tiana glanced at him. “What do you know about our technology?”
“Just a little,” he admitted.
“If we have a ship with a compatible power pack, then yeah, we could use it as a replacement,” Jace said. “But where are we going to find another Pixien exploration shuttle?”
“I know where there’s one,” Ian said. “Brock’s ship.”
“The exploration pod?” Erica said. “You can get to it?”
“It’s still being studied in a high security facility, but having been assigned to his case, I’m sure I can get access.”
“Wait a second. Hold everything,” Tiana said. “I have no idea who you are.”
“We do,” Erica said.
“Copulating with him doesn’t mean you know him.”
Jace looked surprised. “You guys sure took exploration to the max, didn’t you?”
“Devoted to duty,” Carlos said, a grin tugging at his lips. Ian glanced at him and to Erica’s surprise, he smiled too. It seemed their super-serious agent had a sense of humor after all.
“Wyatt will be here in a few hours,” Tiana said. “Until he arrives, no one is leaving this ship.”
“What will we do to pass the time?” Carlos glanced from Erica to Ian.
“Looks like you’ll think of something,” Jace said. “For that matter, I almost died. Ti, how about helping me feel alive again?”
Tiana shook her head and folded her arms across her chest. “You’re impossible.”
Carlos approached Jace and scanned him.
“Well, doc? Am I out of danger?”
“Yeah, but any vigorous activity will have to wait another day or two.”
Jace pouted. “Come on. I feel better.”
“You heard Carlos,” Tiana said. She slid an arm around Jace. “Come on. Get back in the bunk.”
He turned to her with a wolfish grin. “Are you coming with me?”
She raised her eyes and closed the door to sick bay behind them.
“Do you think your captain will trust me?” Ian asked.
“I don’t know,” Erica admitted. “Wyatt is hard to read. He’s a smart guy. And tough.”
“But without a power pack, we’re stranded,” Carlos said. “And will a power pack from a pod be strong enough to energize a ship, even a small one like this?”
“Jace didn’t say it couldn’t,” Erica said.
“He didn’t say it could either.”
“You could let me go,” Ian suggested. “Waiting for your captain is just wasting time.”
“We can’t let you go, Ian,” Erica said. “If you’re worried about what Wyatt will do with you --”
“How would you feel in my position?”
“We’re in a worse position,” Carlos said. “No power pack, no home voyage.”
Chapter Seven
It was nearly dusk when the scanner picked up a vehicle approaching the ship.
“It’s Wyatt,” Tiana said, walking to the boarding ramp.
Their captain -- a tall, lean man with dark red hair -- slid off a mountain bike. Instead of leaving it behind, he hoisted it onto his shoulder as he approached the ship.
“Good to see you, Captain,” Tiana said, stepping aside for him to enter.
“What’s our status?” he asked, leaning the mountain bike against the wall.
“Same as reported. The ship is ready to go, except we need a power pack. This human claims to have access to the one from Brock’s ship.”
“My name is Ian. Do you think you can call me that instead of the human?”
Tiana glanced at him.
Wyatt approached. As tall as Ian, they stood eye-to-eye. “Tiana told me about you,” Wyatt said. “Why are you willing to help us?”
“Because I’m not in the mood to watch five more people spontaneously combust.”
“That’s blunt enough. You seriously think you can steal part of a ship that’s seized by your government and bring it to us without being followed?”
“Yes.”
“You’re either a fool or a liar and you don’t strike me as a fool.”
“Wyatt,” Erica said. “He could have brought the authorities with him, but he didn’t.”
“For all we know, we’re being watched right now,” Tiana said.
“Without our detection?” Jace looked skeptical. “If they were advanced enough for that, they’d be engaging in intergalactic space travel, not waiting here for us to crash so they can carve us up on an autopsy table.”
“Or watch us burn out from an unsatisfied cycle,” Erica added.
Wyatt studied Ian carefully for a moment, then turned and gestured toward the ramp. “Go.”
Ian looked perplexed. “You want me to try for the power pack?”
“Looks like we don’t have much of a choice.”
“Wyatt, are you sure this is wise?” Tiana asked, once Ian had left.
“No, but without the power pack we’re stuck here. One way or another, we’ll be discovered. Jace, the ship’s self-destruct feature runs on a different energy source than the power pack.”
“Yeah.” Jace looked disbelieving. “You’re not suggesting --”
“If it turns out we can’t trust Ian, then I’d rather die fast in here than slow in the hands of human scientists.”
“I agree,” Tiana said.
“Hey, guys, I just clawed my way back from death’s door. I kinda hoped to live a while longer,” Jace said.
“You will,” Erica told him. “We can trust Ian. I know it.”
* * *
Shortly after Ian left, Erica and Carlos stepped into her quarters for privacy.
“Do you really trust him?” Carlos asked, stretching out on her bed.
“Yeah. I really do. Don’t you?”
“I don’t know. He’s strange.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “He’s human.”
“He’s definitely hot.”
She sat beside him, her hands on his chest. “He’s risking a lot for us, you know.”
“I know. That’s what makes me skeptical. If by chance we have to self-destruct, I want you to know something. Being with you has been the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Heat spread through her -- not all-consuming fire like during her monthly cycle, but a pleasant, comforting warmth. “You mean that?”
He nodded and cupped her cheek. “Before meeting you and coming aboard this ship, I thought there was something wrong with me, you know? Compared to other Pixiens. That’s why my relief partner left. He said I wanted too much.”
“I know,” she murmured. “I had the same problem.”
“Come here.” Carlos tugged her onto the bed. She cuddled close, her head resting against his chest.
“I love you, Carlos,” she whispered.
“I love you too.” He kissed her hair.
* * *
They spent a restless night aboard the ship. No one was able to sleep. At dawn, Wyatt announced that Ian was approaching.
“Alone?” Tiana asked.
“Yes,” Wyatt said and lowered the ramp.
Carlos and Erica watched him board. He wore black trousers, a shirt and a dark jacket. A night’s growth of beard covered his square jaw. Dark circles beneath his vivid blue eyes revealed that he’d had a sleepless night as well -- no doubt he’d traveled through most of it to reach the ship.
“You have it?” Jace asked eagerly.
Ian shrugged off his backpack and unzipped it. He pulled out the small, silver power pack.
“Great.” Jace took it from him. “We’ll need to keep refilling it during the voyage home, but we should make it.”
“Should?” Tiana asked.
“We’ll make it,” Jace said. “You want to help me install this?”
“Let’s do it.” She followed him to the engine room.
“Thank you,” Erica said to Ian and kissed him. “I knew you’d be back.”
“Trust me now?” Ian glanced at Carlos, who smiled knowingly.
“One problem is solved, but we have another. Trevor’s body,” Wyatt said.
“I’ve taken care of that already,” Ian said. “His body won’t be found.”
Wyatt stared at Ian for a long moment, a discerning look in his eyes. Ian’s gaze never faltered, but remained locked on the captain’s.
Finally Wyatt said, “Thank you for your assistance. What can we do to repay you?”
“Take me with you.”
“Pardon?” Wyatt asked, his eyes narrowed.
Ian’s request took Erica aback as well.
“I’ve basically turned traitor against my own government. My whole life I’ve waited to make contact with aliens. I never thought I’d end up watching a friend die for no reason other than to satisfy the curiosity of people in power. Maybe I was naive. I don’t know.”
“What will happen if you stay here?” Carlos asked.
“My career is gone. My freedom probably is too. Even if it’s not, I don’t want to live in a world where I’m the only one who knows the truth about you, other than a small group of people who are sworn to secrecy and willing to destroy the alien life we’re supposed to be reaching out to.”
“If you come to our planet, you have no way of knowing we’ll treat you any differently than your kind treated Brock.”
“Wyatt!” Erica glared at him.
“He’s right,” Ian said. “I don’t know that, but I can tell you for sure my own kind won’t be any less cruel when they find out what I’ve done. And they will find out.”
“If he comes with us, I’ll take responsibility for him,” Carlos said. “That includes seeing that he’s treated fairly.”
“All right,” Wyatt said. “We owe you a debt and you’ve proven yourself a friend. You won’t be mistreated on our home world. Where we come from, it’s common for species to visit and even relocate on other planets. In fact, there are a few Earth humans living in the Silver Iris Galaxy. We can probably arrange for you to meet them.”
For the first time since Erica had met Ian, he looked genuinely surprised. “Humans from Earth living in another galaxy? How is that possible?”
Wyatt grinned. “During the voyage home, Carlos and Erica can start your education.”
“Oh, we’ve got that covered already.” Carlos winked.
“I’ll give you some privacy, but Erica, as soon as Jace has the power pack installed, I’ll need you in the cockpit,” Wyatt said.
“Yes, Captain. In the meantime, we should continue your education, Ian,” she said with a smile.
The towering ex-agent strode between them on their way to Erica’s quarters, a faint grin tugging at his solemn mouth. “I think I’m going to like your world.”
Best of all, he might help the Pixiens regain some of the love they’d lost.
Heat of the Moment (Combustion 3)
Kate Hill
With his shady past, Jace didn’t think any company would hire him as engineer on a research ship headed to Earth. His shipmates are willing to give him a chance to prove he’s reformed -- except for the security officer, Tiana. From the moment they meet, she makes it plain she doesn’t approve of him being aboard. It’s hard enough when a crewmate loathes you, but it’s even worse when she’s the sexiest woman you’ve ever met.
Tiana hates everything Jace stood for in the past and she’s not willing to believe he’s turned his life around. As much as she wants him off the ship, she wants him in her bed. She can’t trust him, but can she resist him?
Chapter One
As an Earth enthusiast, Jace had many favorites from the planet. For instance his favorite saying was you can’t please everyone.
That’s especially true when you’re an ex-con aboard a ship full of former military personnel and one in particular can’t stand the sight of you. It’s worse when she happens to be the hottest babe you’ve ever laid eyes on.
That was Jace’s situation when he was hired as engineer aboard an exploration vessel headed for Earth. From the first, Tiana had made her disgust about his past known.
Wyatt met with the crew a week before the mission. Jace had already been provided with specs of the ship. He’d worked aboard similar craft and was quite familiar with that type of engine. While he loved the technical and travel aspects of his job, he was also very interested in the other members of the crew.
The first meeting took place in the boardroom at SkiesCo headquarters.
Wyatt, tall with reddish hair and a trimmed beard, was amicable and possessed an air of authority characteristic of most good leaders. Jace had no trouble taking orders from a younger guy like Wyatt. With his military career, the dude had done and seen just about everything, yet that didn’t curb his enthusiasm for exploration.
Erica, the pilot, was young too -- not even thirty years old and damn cute, but again her reputation preceded her. The doctor, Carlos, appeared to be a laidback guy, with a charming smile and sparkling blue eyes.
Everyone seemed friendly, except for the security officer, Tiana. Her dark eyes fixed on Jace the moment she entered the room and kept shifting to him throughout the meeting. If looks could kill, Jace’s heart would have stopped on the spot. It was bad enough to have a crewmate apparently hate you on sight, but it was even worse if she was incredibly gorgeous. Tiana was quite tall -- probably had couple of inches on Jace, since he was right around average height for a guy. Her black hair was arranged in a severe braid. There was no missing her sleek muscles and the gorgeous curve of her breasts and ass in her snug black jumpsuit.
At this meeting, they learned their mission wasn’t merely to complete research, but to locate Benton Skies’ son, Brock. He hadn’t returned as scheduled from a previous mission to Earth.
Once the facts had been explained, Wyatt asked, “Does anyone have any questions?”
“Just one,” Tiana said. “Since no one else is going to mention it, I will. What is he doing here?” She jerked her thumb in Jace’s direction.
Jace should have known that he wouldn’t fit in with all these upstanding citizens aboard.
“He’s the engineer,” Wyatt replied.
Tiana’s gaze locked with the captain’s. “I believe you know what I mean, but if you want me to spell it out, here goes. He’s a criminal and you’re putting him in charge of the function of our vessel. I don’t understand.”
“Jace is arguably the most skilled engineer in the galaxy,” Wyatt replied.
“He was also an intergalactic drug smuggler who worked for the crime lord who planned to destroy our world.”
“I blew the whistle on him,” Jace said. Though he leaned back in his chair, outwardly relaxed, his gut clenched. This is what he’d been expecting. Getting hired, being accepted, it was too much to ask for.
“To save your own ass,” Tiana said.
“Three years of hard labor wasn’t exactly a cakewalk, honey.”
“It was better than you deserved, sugar,” she said with a curl of her lip.
The rest of the crew glanced from Tiana to Jace and back again, observing their trade of words like a tennis match.
“That’s enough,” Wyatt said. “I hope you don’t plan to act like this aboard ship, because I won’t tolerate it.”
“I was only asking a question. I am the security officer, so the safety of the ship and crew is my main concern.”
“And you consider me a threat?” Jace demanded. “I’ve been walking the straight and narrow since I was released five years ago.”
“Well good for you.” Tiana shot him a look cold enough to make him shudder, if he was so inclined.
“You’re the security chief, but I’m the captain. Everyone will respect everyone else while aboard my vessel. If you can’t abide by that, then resign now so I can find a replacement.”
No one spoke a word and Wyatt dismissed the crew.
On the way out of the building, Jace took a detour to the restroom. He didn’t need to piss, but he did require a moment to collect himself.
The last time he’d been this nervous was just before he had squealed to the authorities about Zero Moon’s smuggling ring and his intention to destroy their home planet, Pixie. Because of his part in saving the world, Jace was given a reduced sentence for his crimes -- three years of hard labor.
Sometimes he still shuddered to think about the experience.
After the life he’d led, he doubted anyone would give him a chance to prove himself, but for some reason Wyatt was willing to. Jace swore that the captain would never regret his decision.
