Warhawk's Sacrifice - Ch. 12 - Taking the Win - Alpha (Patreon)

After advising Vi to dock on the dreadnought, Seb carried Iris to the crew quarters where Nalla and Mischa waited for him. By the time he reached Iris’s room, Nalla had gathered every UV light available on the ship and strung them in her room. They dangled from metal strings strewn from the ceiling.

A lone cot with a mesh bottom stood in the middle of her room, covered in fresh white sheets. Nalla stood on the side, rummaging through her medical bag. When Seb entered the room, she stood and pointed down.

“Don’t put her in her bed, put her on here,” the pink-eyed woman said. “This will get her better coverage of the UV lamps. Has she been responsive?”

Seb kneeled next to the cot and lay Iris’s body in the middle. “Yeah, she spoke to me when I retrieved her. Her hair was blooming. However, she’s been sleeping since I brought her up. She’s in that sort of hibernation state she was in when I brought her back from Timura.”

Nalla pushed Seb to the side, pulling open her eyelids and flashing a light in her eyes. She scoured her body, looking over at any spots that looked scuffed or injured. Once she completed the visual inspection, she reached into her bag and pulled out her scanner. Green lasers illuminated over Iris’s body, giving Nalla an internal view.

After a few scans, the ship’s doctor set the device back in her bag and stood. “She seems fine. She just needs rest under the UV lamps. I’ll keep an eye on her for now.”

“I would like to stay here,” Mischa said. “My armor should protect me.”

“Fine, but I want you to keep quiet. Certain plant species are sensitive to sound. You clanking around in your armor could impede her recovery.”

“I will be motionless.”

Mischa walked into Iris’s room and lowered herself to her knees, watching over her like a guardian statue. Nalla turned on the UV lights, filling the room with a bright white light. She and Seb walked out before shutting the door behind them.

“If she’s staying with us long term, I’m wondering if we need to turn her room into something more like a conservatory,” Nalla said.

“What are you thinking?” Seb asked.

“Well, you saw what I did in there. It’s clear she recharges from ultraviolet light. I don’t have the equipment to really examine her physiology since the destruction of my medical office. I’m taking shots in the dark based on what I have available to me. However, if she is more plant-like than what we think, she might prefer that kind of environment.

“So, you want me to strip out the steel, put some soil down, grow some grass and a small tree?”

“Maybe?” Nalla shrugged. “You could also add a sprinkler system to water her and the plants every so often.”

“That would require a lot of work.”

“It would be, but her mental health is equally important as her physical health. It might make her more comfortable. You should talk to her about it when she’s back up.”

“All right, I will,” Seb said, reaching out and rubbing Nalla’s shoulder. “How are you doing, though? Are you okay?”

Nalla smiled and wiggled her tail. “I am now that I know she’s okay. My world revolves around the crew and their health. My purpose is to keep everyone alive. Losing a member of our crew, even if Iris has only been with us a short time, I-I don’t know. I took it harder than I thought.”

“That was completely out of your control. There was nothing any of us could have done about it.”

“I know, and that’s what I tried telling myself. However, it felt like someone had ripped my heart out.”

Seb tapped the side of his helmet, allowing it to retract into his suit. He grabbed Nalla and pulled her into his arms before kissing the top of her pink head. “That’s because you’re an empath. You wear your heart on your sleeve, and care deeply about everyone aboard. It makes you a brilliant doctor.”

“I just wonder sometimes if it would be better for me to be less empathetic.”

“No way,” Seb said, chuckling. “We have enough of that on this ship. Don’t you ever think about changing. You hear me?”

Nalla looked up at him and nodded. She leaned up and pecked his lips. “Thanks, Seb. You always say the right thing when I need it.”

“I’m always here to lift you up, just like you do for me.”

As the two found their lips connected in an embrace, it was Syn’s call from the ceiling intercom that pulled them apart.

“Captain, apologies for the interruption, however, Princess Zara requests your presence down in the cargo bay.”

“What for?” Seb asked, after leaning his head up.

“She said that there's a meeting with the ten families and Sanaad that concerns you.”

Seb rolled his eyes. “Fine. Tell her I’ll be down there in a second.”

Nalla pulled away from him and crossed her arms. “What do you think they want to talk with you about?”

“Probably the battle and what’s going to happen next.”

“Do you think they’ll keep their word and protect us from the GRC?”

“If I get arrested and they seize the ship, we’ll have our answer.”

“I really hope it doesn’t come down to that. I know it’s selfish of me to say, but I’m tired of running and I think so is the rest of the crew. We could use some time to feel safe, get everyone healed, and fix the ship.”

“I feel the same way. It’s why I made the deal that I did. We’ll get through this. One way or another.”

Nalla lunged into Seb’s chest and squeezed him tight. “I love you very much, Sebastian Warhawk.”

“And I love you too, Nalla Bashari.”

With one last kiss, Seb walked past Nalla and headed for the elevator door. After hitting the ground floor button, he let out a sigh, looked up at the ceiling, and whispered. “To whoever is listening… Please don’t let this go south.”

When the doors opened, Seb pushed himself off the back wall and entered the cargo bay. Zara was standing in her draconic form near the back wall. She was changed into a skinsleeve, giving her a more basic look without all of her jewelry and thousand credit dresses.

Seb smirked as he approached her. “Look at you. You look like you actually get your hands dirty.”

“Please don’t say anything else,” Zara said, waving him off. “I feel awkward enough as is.”

“Don’t be. It suits you.”

“Ugh… that makes it so much worse. Let’s just get on with this.”

“Where are we going?”

“We’re to meet Sanaad on the bridge, and he’ll direct us to a private communication room.”

“Do you know what this call is about?” Seb asked before grabbing the cargo bay door’s controls and pressing the button.

“Not directly. But they are likely to talk about the results of the engagement here, and where they’ll be sending the fleet next. Since we’re now passengers of Sanaad’s dreadnought, it will determine our next destination as well.”

“I don’t really care as long as it’s a place we can resupply and fix the Amnesty.”

“We shall see.”

Seb cocked his brow. “What’s that supposed to mean? Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Zara huffed and crossed her arms. “No. It means we shall see. I know as much as you do at this point.”

When the cargo bay door hit the ground, there was a troop of fully armored and armed soldiers waiting for them. However, these personnel looked different from the soldiers he’d seen on Guron Outpost. Their armor plates were thicke, and the weapons they carried Seb didn’t recognize.

I’m already not liking this, Seb thought.

The soldiers’ black-and-red armor was dulled from constant wear. The colors were scuffed into a light gray along the knees and elbows. The bulky patterns clicked with each step the soldiers took as they approached, echoing a metallic sound into the giant hangar in front of them.

Their helmets swooped back, a necessity for the horns of their species. The red visors and thick frames cast an imposing look. Each carried a laser rifle with white notches carved into their hilts.

“Princess Saladonus, Captain Warhawk, I’m Third Fang Yorum,” one soldier said before he and his soldiers bowed. “I’m here to take you to the bridge where you will meet with Ninth Fang Sanaad.”

Seb looked at Zara, who shrugged and continued down the ramp. He followed closely behind. The soldiers split creating a protective circle around the pair as they walked into the hangar.

A heavy smell of used oil and exhaust filled the air. The dreadnought’s hangars were the largest Seb had seen. Giant gray walls suspended repair platforms over three hundred feet high and equally double in length. The floors were painted white with yellow and blue stripes marking designated docking platforms and storage idles for tools and machines.

Given the size and openness of the space, sounds traveled all around throughout the cathedral of metal and machinery. Soldiers and pilots celebrated the recent victory, drinking and singing songs. Hundreds of maintenance crews scurried along the floors, carrying equipment, and looking for the next thing to repair.

Seb watched as several corvettes docked inside. He knew dreadnoughts this size became mobile battle stations, allowing other ships to dock, swap supplies, and come in for quick repairs. But seeing such a large ship dock inside an equally larger ship really filled him with a sense of awe. The dreadnoughts were the hearts of the fleets they served, which is why they were so heavily protected.

Seb looked back to see the Amnesty on the massive docking pad. It looked like a child’s toy sitting in the middle of a parking lot. He figured if they were going to be docked for the remaining part of the journey, he may as well ask for more fuel and some supplies. That is if he wasn’t in electronic binders by the time the meeting was over.

As they continued their trek, Zara and Seb winced and covered their ears when a metallic screech filled the chasm. When they looked to their left, they saw a corvette grinding along the dock floor as it pushed its way inside.

It was clear its landing gear was malfunctioning and was on its last legs. Large scorched holes peppered its exterior. Sparks shot out of its closest engines. Small fires flickered through its windows. Once it ground to a stop, the visible soldiers and maintenance workers all banded together and ran toward the ship.

Zara and Seb continued their march across the docks before entering a hallway where the celebrations continued. Sepix soldiers gathered around holoprojectors watching the battle unfold. Seb stopped when he realized the recording they were celebrating was of Iris.

The footage had already been enhanced and cleaned up, allowing the viewers to see Iris’s transformative form without blinding them. Her colors were changed from a bright yellow-gold to a bright blue. She soared in front of several ships.

Once she extended her hands, a massive wave of plasma the diameter of the starship shot from her body, flashing the camera like a flashbang grenade. When the screen cleared, the troopers cheered as the only thing that remained was twisted metal and shards of the sectorum’s crystal-like ships.

“Seb, are you coming?” Zara asked, pulling his attention.

“Yeah… sorry,” he said, following the princess as they continued down the hall. They rounded a corner before entering a room that opened into circular elevators. All the guards walked in, making the room cramped shoulder to shoulder.

The cabin ascended quickly, pushing Seb’s stomach into his throat. It slowed easier as they reached the top. When the doors opened, several men in officer’s uniforms sprinted down the hall.

Third Fang Yorum exited first, leading the procession further down the hall. This level was much more clean with the white floors polished to a mirror shine. The bright white lights illuminated everything, causing Seb to have to squint until his eyes adjusted. They passed open metal doors with officers running and yelling commands as their subordinates raced around like a kicked hornet's nest.

When they reached the end of the hallway, they passed through a door that required Yorum to badge in. It opened up into a wide crescent moon room full of personnel sitting at stations along the wall. Holographic terminals displayed ship statistics, crew status, and mission briefings.

Large open viewports overlooked the length of the dreadnought's long body, displaying the moving fleet around them. In the center of the room stood Ninth Fang Sanaad, along with several of his subordinates huddled around a sector map. When Seb and Zara approached him from his rear, he turned around and bowed to the princess.

“Princess Saladonus, it is an honor to have you aboard Varinadae’s Spirit,” Sanaad said before looking up at Seb. “Captain.”

“Ninth Fang,” Seb said with a small nod. “Seems like things haven’t calmed up here compared to the celebrations happening below deck.”

“The men have earned their victory, but our job is far from over. Half of our fleet’s ships are either damaged or destroyed. We have hundreds of escape pods pinging the surrounding area. It’s going to take us days to finish all the recovery efforts.”

“Not to downplay the seriousness of the situation, Ninth Fang, but the Table is waiting,” Zara said.

“You’re most certainly right, Princess, my apologies,” Sanaad said before extending his hand. “Please follow me.”

Sanaad led the pair out the same door from whence they came. They continued down the hall and past the elevators before taking a turn. In the middle of the path they reached a large sealed door with the words Conference Room written on them. Sanaad waved his hand near the holographic display, turning it green and opening the door.

The floor was a red carpet with a bright wood table sitting in the middle along with metal chairs bolted around it. The room had a soft yellow light that made it difficult to see the walls. Sanaad stood back at the door, controlling a switch that caused the conference room table and chairs to recede into the floor. When it was finished, a waist-high metal column with a projected interface rose in its place.

Sanaad approached the column and tapped on it while Seb and Zara flanked his side. After a few seconds, the familiar grid of the Table’s ten members’ faces appeared in front of them. The three bowed in the Table’s presence.

“You may raise your heads,” Silus said. “Ninth Fang Sanaad, we’ve just received your report. You are to be commended for your efforts. You’ve earned this day of victory. Turning the Allmother’s fleet with the resources at your disposal was no easy feat. Lesser men would have failed where you have succeeded.”

“Thank you, Caput Draconis Saladonus,” Sanaad said, his voice full of admiration. “It was through the will of our forces and Varanidae’s grace that we succeeded.”

“And the nakai weapon, Iris, no doubt. We watched the battle with great interest. Without her involvement, it’s clear the fleet would have lost. Captain Warhawk and Zara, both of you are to be commended as well.”

“Thank you, Caput Draconis Saladonus,” they said in unison.

“Captain Warhawk, given that you have upheld your end of the bargain, we will honor our arrangement. Maghidara will be scheduling a meeting with Head Councilwoman Srivali here in the coming days, where she will explain that the FLS sees you and Iris as political refugees under the protection of the Cross Borders Act. We will seek to remove the open bounties on you and your crew's heads as well.”

Seb lowered his head. “Thank you Your Caput—”

“However,” Silus continued, “Given the sensitivity over the matter and the security threat that you and the nakai weapon pose, you will be placed under armed escort, and held at a secure location.”

Seb scowled and glanced at Zara before looking back at the screen. “I beg your pardon, Sir?”

“Fret not, Captain. You will not be prisoners. You and your crew will be staying at the Saladonus estate as my esteemed guests on Mahad, where you will not want for anything.”

“I’m sorry, Sir, but that’s not possible. See, the information we found on the nakai says that something is—”

Zara cut off Seb’s words as she laughed, grabbed his arm, and pulled back. “My apologies, my Caput Draconis. Captain Warhawk is exhausted from the battle. His connection to the nakai weapon is both physically and mentally taxing. Isn’t that right, Captain?”

When Seb looked back, even though Zara was smiling, he could see in her eyes that he’d messed up. When he looked back at the projected heads of the leaders of the Ten Families, they looked at him with confusion. He knew he’d gotten ahead of himself.

“That’s right, Princess,” Seb said before bowing toward the projection. “My apologies.”

“Once we’re concluded, I’ll ensure the Captain is well taken care of,” Zara said.

“That actually brings up my next point,” Silus said. “Zara, from this moment forward, I’m assigning you as the captain and his crew’s overseer. You will be responsible for managing their care and security at all times.”

Zara furrowed her brow. “What about my duties at Merovingian?”

“I will appoint a successor. For now, this is the most important directive.”

Zara did her best to smile, but Seb watched her eye twitch. “As you wish.”

“Shall I send one of my ships to Mahad while I continue work here, My Caput Draconis?” Sanaad asked.

“No Ninth Fang. You will return to Mahad with Princess Zara and the captain and his crew, personally.”

“But what of the rescue efforts here? And the counteroffensive?”

“You may leave enough ships as you see fit to continue the rescue efforts. However, given the casualties suffered by the fleet, we’re bringing everyone home. We will be deploying our reserves to reclaim our territory lost while you are to be celebrated for your efforts. A military procession will be held on Mahad in your honor.”

Sanaad bowed deeply. “Thank you, My Caput Draconis. This is such an honor.”

“That is all needed to be discussed on this call. May Varanidae grant you all a safe return.”

When the call ended, Sanaad turned around with a wide grin on his face. “Well that went better than—”

“Ninth Fang Sanaad, thank you for your time,” Zara said, staring daggers at Seb with crossed arms. “However, I’d like to speak with Captain Warhawk alone.”

“Of course, Princess,” Sanaad said before bowing. “Captain… good luck.”

“Ninth Fang,” Seb said before holding up a finger. “Before you go, does this ship have healing tanks?”

“Our infirmary does and is fully stocked with medical equipment. Why? Is one of your crew injured?”

“Yes, she has been for some time. I would appreciate it if you would allow us to use one.”

“By all means, I’ll send several of our medics and doctors to your ship.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

Sanaad nodded and exited the room. When the door shut behind him, Zara wasted no time laying into Seb.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” the princess shouted. “Are you insane bringing up that nakai prophecy nonsense in front of the Table?”

“Zara, this is real,” Seb said. “You saw what Iris can do. The nakai wouldn’t have created her for nothing.”

“You don’t know if it’s real. You have no proof outside of some crazed AI and some corrupted data.”

“Eni and Syn are working on it. Once we have the dictionary completed, they’ll be able to scrub the codex and give us everything we need.”

“If and this is a big if, this turns out it is true. You don’t ever present anything in front of the Table until you have everything ready. The reason why you have protection right now is because they think you’re the only one who has control over Iris. They fear what they do not understand. Fear is power to these people. If they so much as think you’re unstable or have no control, they will dispose of you. Keeping you at Mahad is a method of control. They’re going to monitor you and Iris to better understand you both as a threat. As long as they deem you not one, they have no reason to get rid of you. You and her are a good deterrent from the rest of the GRC and any of the FLS’s other threats. Especially once the footage of today is presented.”

“Keeping us on Mahad is karasaur shit, and you know it.”

“It may be, but it keeps you and your crew safe for now. Trust me, the last thing I thought was going to happen to me today was having my position stripped from me, and I’d become a glorified babysitter. However, we all are bound by the will of the Table.”

Seb let out a heavy sigh. “Yeah… I get it. Maybe I should just try to keep things positive. Having a small vacation on Mahad isn’t the worst thing in the world. It’s better than how I thought this meeting was going to go.”

“What did you think was going to happen?”

“I was going to get arrested, and they’d seize my ship.”

“I’m sure it was being considered. However, I think seeing Iris’s power may have tempered that flame for now.”

“Yeah, I should be thankful.”

Zara wrapped her arm around Seb’s shoulder. “Come on, it won’t be so bad. We’ll be staying at my family’s estate. They’ll be dozens of servants at your beck and call. Professional chefs who will make anything you could possibly want to eat. And even though you’ll be locked down, you’ll still have plenty of time to repair your ship.”

Seb snorted. “Yeah, much that will do since we won’t be able to take her anywhere.”

“We’ll have the whole planet to explore, albeit under armed escort. There're the towers of Mona‘ha we could hike. The sandy beaches of Eurotum are wonderful if you like the water. The lush forests of Kreela are perfect for a secluded, intimate getaway.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Zara said with a wink. “It might be good… for the both of us.”

Seb cocked his brow and pulled back from Zara. She looked down at him with her bright yellow-eyes. He felt himself being drawn back in like so many times before. And this time… he didn’t hate the idea.

“Maybe… we’ll have to see how things play out. Both the crew and I could use some time to rest, so if it’s as you say… it could be nice.”

Zara clapped her hands in excitement. “If there’s anything you want when we arrive, just name it. I can make a call ahead to the staff at our manor and have everything ready for you.”

“For me and my crew?”

“Them too,” Zara said, waving her hand.

Seb rubbed his chin as he thought about it. “Well, we’ll definitely need parts for the ship. We’ll pay for those, but having them ready for us on our arrival would be nice so I can get started whenever I want.”

“Just give me a list and I can get them acquired.”

Seb leaned back and smiled in disbelief. “Why are you being so nice?”

Zara playfully scoffed. “What do you mean? I’m always nice.”

“I don’t know. You’re acting… different.”

“How so?”

“I don’t know. It’s hard to explain.”

As Zara stepped toward Seb, a blue cloudy ring appeared around her body lowering from her head to her toes. As it passed over her frame, she shifted from her draconic form to her human form, her skinsleeve adjusting with her.

She pressed her large breasts into his upper chest and smiled down at him. “Maybe I’m just excited to show you my home. Maybe even my room.”

Seb rolled his lips under his teeth to try not to laugh, but it was a futile effort. He kept it just under control so as not to offend her. “And maybe I’d like that. But for now—”Seb extended Zara his arm—“Let’s head back to the Amnesty to see what the rest of the crew needs.”

Zara grew a toothy grin as she linked her arm with Seb, and the pair ventured back to their ship.