Fighting Chance Read online

  Her hands began to tremble, but her common sense told her that the voice was coming from some type of computer system piped in through a speaker. She decided to try to get more information. “Where am I?” she asked hesitantly.

  The answer came immediately. “You are located inside the living quarters in room 241-B.”

  Now that her panic was beginning to subside, her temper began to take its place. “That’s not very helpful information, smart ass. What is this place? Who are you? Why am I here? Who brought me here?”

  “Access denied. Computerized vocalization module model number 874G9. Access denied. Access denied,” came the swift reply.

  Mahoney simmered at the non-answers to her questions. Looking around the room more carefully, she spoke aloud, “Where is the mirror?”

  She jumped back as another panel on the bathroom wall slid open to reveal a screen. Stepping closer to it, she peered inside and gasped when her image was reflected back to her in high definition. She studied her face carefully, and realized that her hair was clean and shiny and fell down her back in a sleek curtain of inky blackness.

  “Oh, my God,” she whispered, fascinated horror in her tone. “How did my hair grow? Where is the scar that was on my cheek? And where the hell are my freckles?!” she shouted, her voice gaining volume with each new discovery.

  “Hair growth was accelerated during corrective treatment. Scar tissue has been repaired during corrective treatment. Sun damage and skin blemishes were repaired during corrective treatment,” the computer replied.

  Angrily, Mahoney jerked up the shirt to check her body. Sure enough, every scar, every bit of puckered flesh, every healed burn mark, and even the dark mole to the left of her belly button was gone. Pulling up the sleeve of her shirt, she cursed to see that even her tattoos had been erased. In a daze, she wandered out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom, barely noticing when the wall panel slid closed behind her.

  “Computer, what is corrective treatment?” she demanded, absently hopping from one foot to another, much like she did before a work out.

  “Corrective treatment is a medical procedure that restores the body to pristine condition,” the monotone male voice replied.

  Mahoney continued to stretch and prepare her body for a fight. She felt light, flexible, and in top form. If only she had some clothes, then she would be ready to escape. She had no idea where she was or what had happened, but she knew without a doubt that she hadn’t come here willingly. Her mind was full of snarls and twisted memories, but she knew there was something important she was forgetting.

  The only way she would remember was to empty her mind. Mindful of her near nudity, she dragged the bedcovering off the bed and folded it until it was small enough to provide padding for her bottom and placed it on the floor. She lowered her body until she was sitting on the blanket and arranged her legs in the lotus position. Bringing her body to perfect stillness, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, filling her lungs to capacity, and then slowly exhaled. She repeated this exercise over and over as she emptied her mind of all thoughts. It took longer than normal, thanks to her current circumstances, but eventually, she reached that place where nothing existed but breathing in and then exhaling.

  Like pieces of a puzzle being snapped together, memories began to flare to life in her mind. She was on a motorcycle making the jump for the movie stunt. She was standing in front of Bruce waiting to be let into the trailer. She was agreeing to teach Jessica self-defense lessons…Jessica. Her mind stuttered over the picture of her friend in her mind. She let the feeling pass and continued to allow her memories to resurface. A commotion was occurring outside the trailer. She was snapping off the end of a broom handle. The door was opening and a strange man peered inside. She was planting her boot in his face. Three huge men were facing her as she brandished her staff. She was stabbing a man in the shoulder with the handle. She was facing one man alone. She was striking his hand to disarm him. He was speaking, “I will be taking you, too.” Too.

  With a gasp of pain, she launched to her feet. “Jessica! They were there for Jessica,” she murmured aloud, her blood pumping with the need for action. “Computer, where is my friend, Jessica MacGregor?”

  “The human female named Jessica MacGregor is located inside the living quarters in room 268-B,” it answered her readily.

  “Is she okay? Has she been hurt?” Mahoney demanded, clenching her fists in anger.

  “Jessica MacGregor is unharmed and in pristine health. She continues to sleep at this time,” came the answer.

  She stalked over to the door panel at the front of the room. “Computer, open this door and direct me to where Jessica’s room is located.”

  “Access denied. Access denied.”

  “Shit! Shit, shit, shit!” she snarled, twirling around to deliver a roundhouse kick to the door. The only purpose it served was to leave her foot throbbing.

  The panel to the bathroom opened again and Mahoney stared at it in confusion. “Why did you open the bathroom door?” she wondered aloud.

  “User requested access for defecation,” the dry male voice responded.

  Mahoney rolled her eyes as she realized that computer took her cursing literally. “Very funny, Jarvis. I didn’t realize that computers had a sense of humor.”

  “Being named Jarvis unknown. Computerized vocalization module model number 874G9 is not equipped with humor or emotion upgrades,” it replied.

  Mahoney rubbed her temple where a headache was starting to bloom behind her eyes. “You can say that again,” she mumbled wearily.

  ““Being named Jarvis unknown. Computerized vocalization module-“

  “Shut up! Not another word from you unless I address you first. If I say the name Jarvis, then that means you can speak, but otherwise, I don’t want to hear it!” she snapped.

  Blessed silence descended on the room. Mahoney began to pace the length of the room while her mind raced to figure out an escape plan. She replayed the memories in her head over and over again, but the only thing that kept coming back to her mind was the bearded man with the hauntingly pale green eyes.

  Looking up to the ceiling, she called, “I want to speak to whoever is in charge here.”

  Silence. She tried again, “Who’s in charge here, dammit?!” Again, silence. Slapping herself on the forehead, she amended her question. “Jarvis, who is in charge here?”

  “Commander Mikael R’Varsel,” the computer answered.

  What kind of name is that? she thought to herself. “Jarvis, where is the Commander right now?”

  “Commander Mikael R’Varsel is walking in the hallway of the living quarters. He will arrive at room 241-B in ten seconds,” he replied.

  It took only a second to realize that was her room number. Desperately, she searched the room for anything she could use as a make-shift weapon, but there was nothing to be found. With a soft swish noise, the panel at the front of the room slid open to reveal a towering man. Mahoney struck a fighting stance as the man stepped into her room and looked her over from head to toe.

  “You!” Mahoney spat, her furious gaze recognizing the bearded man from her memories. “You’re the son of a bitch that kidnapped us. What do you want from us?”

  Chapter Five

  He didn’t answer her right away. Instead he continued to eat her up with his unusual eyes, running his gaze over her long, muscled legs and up to her torso where her nipples puckered to form two peaks in the strange, shimmery fabric of her shirt.

  “Hey! Eyes up here, buddy!” she snarled, drawing his gaze back to her face.

  She didn’t drop her fighting stance even as he stepped into the room and the door slid shut behind him. He continued to regard her carefully, so she took the time to catalogue his appearance, as well, so that she may be able to describe him fully to the authorities when she and Jessica escaped. He was at least a foot taller than her, which was unusual in her opponents, and his body was ripped with wide muscles that were barely contained under hi
s form-fitting gray jumpsuit that resembled Air Force flight suits. His dark black hair was cut close to his head, but it continued over his face to form a dark, scraggly beard several inches past his chin. She couldn’t tell his age by looking at his face, but he appeared to be in his 30’s. Her gaze continued to scan his body, looking for any sign of weakness she could exploit, but found nothing but more bronzed muscle. The color was beyond anything she had ever seen. It was a rich, dark caramel color, as if he had been born under the sun, but seemed to shimmer under the lighting of the room. His eyes, as she well remembered, were more arresting than anything else about this strange man. They were ghostly pale with a light sea foam green hue. And they were staring at her with no expression.

  “What is your name, woman?” he spoke with a thickly-laced accent.

  Mahoney did not release her fighting stance as she narrowed her canted eyes. “None of your business, asshole. I want to see Jessica. Take me to her immediately.”

  His lip curled in amusement before he spoke again. “Command, search the foreign international database using facial recognition software and identify this female.”

  Jarvis, as she had come to think of the computerized voice, responded, “Accessing database. Match found. Female is named Katsuko Mahoney. Subject was born on a military base named Torii Station located in Okinawa, Japan on the Earth calendar date of January 15 in the year 1984.”

  “Shut up, Jarvis! Not another word!” Mahoney shouted desperately.

  The man’s face creased in a smug smile. “Command override. Compile data on Kat-su-ko Ma-ho-ney and deliver to my quarters.”

  “Data file completed and delivered,” Jarvis answered.

  Mahoney could feel the steam of her fury rolling off her in waves. “You son of a bitch! What do you want with me?”

  His big shoulders shrugged as he cautiously made his way further into the room. She circled him, keeping her feet light, as she braced for an attack. He watched her carefully, but made no move toward her. Instead, he pulled out a chair at the table and sat, still regarding her thoughtfully.

  “I have not decided yet, Katsuko Mahoney,” he answered truthfully. “My mission was to retrieve the female Jessica MacGregor only. You were…intriguing to me. I have claimed you as part of my payment for successfully completing my mission.”

  Mahoney dropped her hands in shock. A hysterical shout of laughter erupted from her mouth and she exclaimed, “Claim me? You can’t stake your claim on another person without their consent. I’m a human being, not a stray dog!”

  He shrugged again, and replied flippantly, “It does not matter what you believe. I have claimed you and you are mine until I decide otherwise.”

  Mahoney’s jaw dropped. Of all the arrogant, misogynistic… Time to change tack. “Where are we? What do you want with Jessica?” she demanded.

  He stood and turned his back to her and began pressing buttons on the electric panel on the wall. “Come, Katsuko Mahoney. You must be hungry. We will eat while I explain your situation.”

  Before she could protest that she wasn’t hungry, her stomach betrayed her with a loud gurgle. “How do I know you won’t poison me?”

  He shot her an aggrieved look and pointed at the opposite chair. “Sit. I have no desire to harm you. We will eat and we will talk. That is all.”

  She watched him warily as he continued to press buttons. When his body stayed loose and unthreatening, she inched her way toward the chair and gingerly lowered herself to the seat. Moments later, a panel slid open on the wall next to the electrical board revealing a tray laden with heavenly-smelling food. Carefully lifting the heavy tray, he placed it on the table between them. While she watched him closely, he sat a plastic-looking cup in front of each of them and poured a clear liquid from a pitcher until they were both mostly full. Her mouth flooded with saliva at the smells coming from the dishes of steaming food, but she refused to begin eating until he did.

  Finally, he sat opposite her and calmly picked up his cup to drink deeply. When he didn’t appear to be fazed by the drink, she lifted her own cup to her nose. She couldn’t detect any aroma other than a mild fruity scent, so she tentatively took a sip. The flavor was much like the fruit-infused water she made for herself at home, so she drank until her thirst was quenched. Feeling his eyes on her, she glanced at him to see a satisfied expression on his face.

  Nodding his head, he indicated the plates of unusual food, but she refused to go first. With a heavy sigh, he reached over to a plate that held a stack of flat breads and ripped one in half. Using the bread as a utensil, he scooped up a large bite from the plate. It reminded her of some of the food she had tried in an Indian restaurant with chunks of meat and some type of vegetable covered in a light brown gravy. When he continued to eat with no ill effects, she hesitantly reached for the other half of the flat bread and followed his example.

  Scooping up a chunk of meat, she brought the bread to her mouth and bit off a delicate bite. The flavors burst across her tongue and she couldn’t hold back a groan of pleasure. It tasted like a mix between venison and lamb, without the tough strings of tendons, and the gravy was rich and seasoned. The vegetables still held a slight crunch, giving the dish texture, and complimented the other ingredients perfectly.

  Deciding to ignore her dinner companion for the time being, Mahoney made short work of the meal. She would need to keep up her strength if she was going to get them out of here. The Commander remained silent, seemingly content to watch her eat her fill as he sated his own hunger. When she showed signs of being full, he refilled her glass and then settled back in his chair with his arms crossed.

  “How did you learn to fight, Katsuko Mahoney?” he asked, breaking their tense silence.

  She glared at him and took another drink before replying, “Check your precious files if you want to know about me. And don’t call me Katsuko. Only my mother calls me that.”

  His dark eyebrow arched. “You are called Mahoney by others, then?” At her firm nod, he continued, “I like your first name better. I will study the data at my leisure, but I would prefer to hear the answers from you, Katsuko.”

  Pushing her chair back from the table, Mahoney stalked back across the room to face him. “And I would prefer not to be held here against my will. I demand you release us immediately.”

  His laugh was deep and booming, causing equal parts anger and unwelcome desire to course through her veins. “You are in no position to demand anything, little warrior. Even if I did not wish to receive full payment for my mission, I could not release you and the other female. We are far away from any settlement and you would still be trapped on my ship.”

  She looked around the room in confusion. “What do you mean ‘ship’? This doesn’t look like any boat I’ve ever seen, and I don’t feel the rocking of the ocean.”

  He smiled lazily at her, much like the cat who had gotten into the cream. “I never said we were at sea, Katsuko. You are aboard a space vessel bound for our home world of T’Kala.”

  She blinked at him, waiting for more laughter, but none came. “You’re full of shit. If you don’t want to tell me the truth, then that’s fine. I’ll still get out of here and I’m taking my friend with me.”

  Like a coiled spring, he shot to his feet and stalked over to her. His face was a thundercloud of anger, and Mahoney immediately adopted a fighting stance. He stopped just out of reach and snarled, “Do not ever name me a liar again. I have killed men for less insult than that.”

  Her heart raced with trepidation and fear at the absolute sincerity in his face. Licking her suddenly dry lips, she whispered, “Prove that we are in space. I will not believe you until you do.”

  He tipped his head in agreement, and never taking his eyes off hers, he announced, “Command, open window panels.”

  Above her bed, a large, rectangular window appeared. The picture was inky black with streaks of light whizzing past at a blinding speed. Dropping her hands, she slowly approached the bed and stared at the dizzying tablea
u. Her voice barely a whisper, she said, “This could be nothing more than special effects or an HD video.”

  His voice came from right behind her. “You do not believe that, Katsuko. You are an intelligent member of your species. Place the facts together and see the truth.”

  Her body began to tremble and she sucked in deep breaths of the sterile air. She startled when his big, warm hands settled on her shoulders lightly and ran up and down her arms in a calming touch. She made no move to stop his caress other than a token protest. “Don’t touch me without my permission.”

  He ignored her words and pulled her back against the solid wall of his chest and buried his nose in her hair. “You forget, little warrior. You belong to me now.”

  Taking advantage of her shock, he spun her to face him. She stared at him, wide-eyed with panic, and watched as he slowly lowered his head to hers. She could have stopped him, but the part of her that wasn’t frozen in fear was heating up with his nearness. His lips met hers in a gentle, exploratory kiss, his mouth clinging to hers. She sucked in a sharp breath and he took advantage of the opportunity by sliding his tongue along her bottom lip before dipping inside her mouth for a quick taste. Mahoney felt her resistance begin to melt as she returned his kiss with more urgency.

  He answered by wrapping his arms around her and burying his hand in her hair, holding her captive as his mouth devoured hers. Her hands slid up over his chest as she sank into his body, eager to forget the uncharacteristic panic of a few moments before. In that moment, it didn’t matter that he had kidnapped her and taken her off her world. All that mattered was the feel of him under her fingers, his mouth against hers, and the hardness of his body against the soft swell of her breasts. She could feel the evidence of his desire pressed against her abdomen where his shaft was swelled and hot and deliciously large. She couldn’t keep her hips from bucking against him as her blood raced with need. It had been so long…

  When he moved to lower her to the bed, sanity returned in a rush of adrenaline. Fast as lightning, she pulled away from him and dropped like a sack of flour. Grabbing behind his knee, she yanked toward herself, upsetting his balance, and pushed his chest with a burst of power. His arms wind-milled as he tried to restore his equilibrium, but it was too late. He fell to the padded floor with a loud thump and lay there sprawled in all his masculine glory.