The soldiers limped and stomped over. “What the hell happened?” demanded one, and she could only shrug. “I don’t honestly know. They just gave up and now they seem lost.”

  A senior officer took over command and she found some with medical training and they started the process of making their way through the wounded. Her triage training wasn’t advanced, but she was able to assist those with breaks and the more minor injuries while the others dealt with the life-threatening variety.

  The comm in her ear squarked to life. “Senna, the base is clear but we have an issue. What’s your location?”

  She couldn’t help the frown, felt the muscles of her face contracting as she wiped away a bead of sweat. “What? Jonah, what’s wrong?”

  “Franklin. He’s down.” Her heart stopped at the words.

  “Down? Jonah, what do you mean by—”

  “He’s been injected with something. Michael’s on his way and we’ll pick you up at the same time.”

  Her mouth dried. “I’ll be ready.” She raced back to the officer in charge. “The historian. He’s in a cavern, up the ledge beyond the trees and about a mile or so along. The big cavern. You’ll know it. He’s armed with a laser pistol and I told him to shoot anyone who wasn’t me.”

  The man stared. “What? You armed a civilian?”

  She shrugged. “Not much of a choice really. He’s going to need to be collected.”

  He shook his head. “You go, I don’t have man-power.”

  Senna shrugged. “Jonah is sending a copter for me. I’m needed up there.” She pointed to the mountain where plumes of smoke eddied.

  She ran back to the appointed location and waited, picking at her nails while her gut implored her to be quick because Franklin needed her.

  Minutes later the whomp and thump of a copter echoed, great gusts of wind kicked up by the rotors and she waited until Michael waved her over and bent over hurried in its direction. The door opened and she thrust herself inside.

  “Michael—”

  Before she could say a word he shook his head. “I don’t know, Senna. So just hang on.”

  They lifted, and the ground spun away as she silently urged greater speed from their transport. Minutes later, they hovered over a building, gray plumes rising into the air and they set down.

  “Come with me, we’ll find Franklin then you can get about your business.” She reached for her satchel then groaned. “Problem?”

  “I left it…”

  Michael rubbed her shoulder. “We didn’t know your status so Jonah sent the standby. The one you had him hold onto.”

  She felt foolish and yet pleased she’d prepared for the worst. “Okay.”

  David beckoned them forward. “They hit him with a hypo. The doctor won’t say what but it was about that time an alarm tripped and something ignited in the building. We evacuated, but Lilly Montaine…” He shook his head. “We tried.”

  On the ground lay a shrouded body, red seeped out and she knew immediately. There lay the remains of Lilly Montaine.

  Rows of others, she was sure they were breathing, lay beside her. “They’re alive?”

  “Yeah, but we have them sedated. Seems they’ve got like a hive mind thing happening. They communicate through the implants in their brains.”

  Michael stared. “Really? Then there may yet be hope for the others.”

  David shrugged and led them to where Franklin lay, Erin monitoring him. “He’s still unconscious. I’ve got the hypo but my scanners don’t show what he was hit with, Michael.”

  He started the process of examining his patient then once satisfied there were no serious issues he accepted the hypo, removed the spent container and placed it into a hand-held medi-scanner. “A basic sedative. He’ll be fine just a little groggy when he wakes.”

  “And the gun shot?”

  “It was clean. In and out. He lost some blood, but that will heal. I’ve already applied antibiotics, I just can’t dispense a painkiller, in case there’s some kind of reaction.”

  “You’re sure? No damage or long-term issues? Surgery?”

  Michael shook his head, a small smile on his face. “He’ll be sore and have a scar to talk about, but no, he’ll be fine.”

  “Okay.” The sour bile in her throat, the one she’d contained, reared up, and she pulled away, found a bush, and retched behind it.

  A soft hand touched her shoulder. “Are you okay, Senna?”

  The tears she’d held back spilled as Erin wrapped her arms around her and she gave in, whole body shaking as she cried.

  “I didn’t know what it was, and I held it in, Erin. I did my job, but I’ve never felt such fear. All because I love him and when Jonah said he was down…” Even now, the clutch of terror froze the marrow in her bones. She shivered while swiping at the tears that still dribbled down her cheeks.

  “I know, Senna. I know.”

  Michael wandered over, his gaze traveling her face. “Better now?”

  She nodded, feeling idiotic but also extremely grateful. “I need to inspect the site of the remains.”

  Erin’s deep sigh had Senna turning. “They’re pretty bad.”

  “I’m sure they are, but that’s why I’m here, Erin.”

  Michael reached over with the bag and she accepted it, hand digging deep to pull out a bio-hazard suit, gloves and mask. The small scanner unit and batch of numbered vials.

  “Is there someone who could assist?”

  Michael grimaced. “I’ll help you. Tell me what you need.”

  And she did. They set about retrieving the remains, piling them and laying numbers over them, she took bone samples once assured there was no easy way to take their identification and when the task was complete, he assisted in shrouding the pitiful bundles.

  “No one deserves to end their lives like this,” she spoke slowly as she discarded the protective wear in a pouch.

  “No. But Erin just tagged me and Franklin’s waking up.”

  Much as she wanted to be there for that, she bit her lip. “He doesn’t know I’m here, Michael. I—and Jonah—decided my presence should be… covert, if you will.”

  He stared then laughed. “He’s going to have his hands full with you, Senna.” Then he enfolded her in a bear hug. “He’ll be too grateful to see you initially. Once your back home though, you should tell him all.”

  “Yeah, everything.” It was a promise.

  They hurried back to the building and she stared at the remains, charred and still smoking before crouching down beside Franklin.

  His eyes fluttered, and she couldn’t help losing herself in them. The deep brown reminiscent of quality chocolate—a hidden weakness of hers. “Senna, what are you…”

  “Shh.” She laid her lips against his. “Later. Right now, I’m just pleased you’re okay.”

  “I don’t know what happened.” He stared beyond her shoulder. “Michael?”

  The big man knelt beside her. “You were hit with a hypo. Nothing serious but they had to get you out as the building caught fire.”

  “What about—”

  “Later,” Michael instructed. “I’m going to check you out again, then you’re being airlifted back to base. Jonah’s orders.”

  CHAPTER 21

  The de-brief was an anticlimax as they gathered around. This time it was Senna’s turn to care for Franklin. He’d shown a few low-level reactions to the anesthetic they’d hit him with, but Michael assured her they’d wear off soon.

  Once back at the base and in a proper treatment room, Michael had given them some privacy. She settled beside his bed, the chair uncomfortable, and for the first time, she appreciated what he’d gone through when she’d been injured.

  “Franklin, I have to tell you something.” Her nerves jittered and jumped as he waited.

  “Tell me anything, Senna.”

  She inhaled. “I was on the field. Jonah needed me… No, that’s not quite true. I told Jonah he needed to know who was dead up there. He didn’t want me to fight but…” She shrugged, not yet looking at him in case she lost her nerve now. “Anyway, we agreed I’d be waiting in the field where we were drawing out the children.”

  Franklin moved to lift up, and she stared at him, laying her hand against his chest.

  “Stay. Let me tell you the rest first.” She gulped. “I was supposed to remain in a non-combat role. I was going to babysit the historian, but things didn’t quite go to plan. They started using incendiary devices, so I got him out and we ran. We made it up onto a ledge, and I hid him when I realized our people needed me.”

  He remained quiet, and she chewed on her lip. “Jonah and I kept it from you. We didn’t want to worry you.” Now she realized just how lame that sounded. “Then Jonah called, told me you were injured, and I was choppered in with Michael.”

  “Bare bones, huh?”

  She glanced at his eyes, noting that they didn’t glint with anger, and she let go of the fear that iced her veins. “You’re not angry?”

  “Oh, I’m furious. Don’t get me wrong. You were injured, and you hid what you planned to do. I’d tan your hide if I could, but they’ve got me trussed up like a turkey.” He sounded so thoroughly put out that she laughed and slid her fingers into his hand.

  “I know what that feels like.” The mirth died away, and she leaned down so her forehead rested against his. “I was terrified when he told me you were hurt and unconscious. I’m not sure how I’ll cope in the future if you keep taking chances.” They stayed like that for some time until Michael entered the room.

  “Upsetting my patient, are you, Senna?”

  She raised her head. “No. But I don’t suppose you could spring him for the briefing?”

  Michael smiled. “I was actually planning on just that. Come on, up you get, Franklin. There’s not much more I can do, so head on over.”

  He pushed off the bed, dragged her close, and they made their way to the large tent where the briefing would take place.

  This time, the media and key personnel were present, and the small room on the base couldn’t contain those who needed to attend.

  They slid into seating at the back of the area, the need to be there while Jonah presented what they knew was the death knell of the regime to the public.

  It wouldn’t be over fully until they’d rounded up all the combatants, but the air shivered with the anticipation and knowledge that the regime could no longer survive.

  Jonah and Daniella had decided to hold the debrief and media conference out on the parade grounds so those involved in the actions could also attend.

  Jonah fronted the podium, formally dressed and flanked by his wife Daniella in full senatorial mode. “Thank you all for your service. Today, we finally caught and subdued those behind the warrior children. We also made important strides in seeking to repatriate them into society.”

  At that statement, the media went wild, a frenzy of questions thrown at Jonah, which he ignored, waving his hands and waiting until they subsided.

  “Yes, all the information will be released in due time. For now, be aware we have many combatants currently in secure facilities. We will be looking at their health and well-being. It may be that at some point we will consider fostering to carefully vetted families. More details on that will be forthcoming. However, for now, they are in a safe and secure environment. I can assure the public that at no point will we be using them as laboratory experiments. Each of these children deserve the chance for a future. To grow and mature and make their own decisions, free of coercion or threat.”

  Daniella stepped up, and Jonah moved along, to stand beside his wife. “The government of our world will be reinstated with all due speed. I will not be standing for election of president. Instead, I will seek to take on the role of senator with emphasis on the needs of the children and those displaced and affected by the war that has torn our world apart. I feel it is my part to help the healing process. I will, therefore, be removing myself from the Colony Ship committee. Our world now has the chance to grow, and with the opportunities offered to us with the colonization of other planets, our legacy must be that of peace. To that end, I feel the next colony ship should be named Operation Homewoods in honor of those who returned to service to assist in fighting for our freedom. They had already played their part, yet when the call went out, those who had done their part returned again to give yet more. I will be making representations concerning that once the first sitting of the government takes place. Now, it’s time to look to the future.”

  A rousing applause washed over them as Daniella moved back to her seat. Jonah quieted the crowd. “I will also step aside once a replacement is sought. It was never my intention to lead the fight. I was not groomed for leadership and didn’t seek it, and there are others far better qualified than I to take that mantle. However, I will remain until a suitable replacement can be named. As for Vandra Montaine, she is to be tried by a jury of twelve eminent scholars and justices. She will answer for her crimes against our world. As will Dr. Jeremy Colvert and those who’ve undertaken crimes of assorted abuses, murder, and code five breaches of the therapeutic policies.”

  The briefing went on for what seemed like hours, and Franklin held Senna’s hand.

  Once done, and the media dispersed, Jonah beckoned them. “Tonight we celebrate. We’ve achieved something momentous, and to be honest, I’d rather be among friends to share the moment with.”

  Senna grinned. “I thought you enjoyed the briefings. At the end there it felt like we attended one every day.”

  Jonah scowled. “I hated them with a passion, but with the way the ground rules kept shifting, they were a necessary evil. I’ll be pleased to put this all aside. I have other plans for the future. Plans with my wife.”

  Franklin shuffled and Senna turned, concern battering at her. “What’s up? Another reaction?”

  He’d paled, and she reached with her hand to check his temperature. Her mind demanded she deal with this, when he shook his head. She frowned as the others around them suddenly appeared busy with something else. Her stomach curdled. What could be going on?

  Franklin dropped to one knee, there on the ground, and her mind blanked, unable to believe what was happening.

  “Wha—”

  “Senna, I’m no prize. I’m not a senior officer or highly skilled. I’m not even sure what the future holds for me, but the one thing I do know is I love you. With my whole heart. I’d lay it at your feet or jump in front of a bullet for you.”

  “Franklin…”

  “Let me finish, Senna.” He spoke with an earnestness that tugged at her heart. “I can’t imagine a world without you in it, and when you were lost, injured, my world ceased to exist. You’re beautiful and wise, spirited and caring. Everything I never expected to find. Marry me?”

  Blank. Her mind came to a complete stop. No thought whirred except here was Franklin, offering her the world. Himself. Everything she ever wanted from a life partner, and her brain refused to work.

  “Senna?” He paled, half-rose. “An answer?” His croak betrayed his uncertainty.

  Yes!

  He blinked, gaze locked on her.

  Realizing she’d screamed the word in her mind but hadn’t yet answered, she opened her mouth, found it dry, and tried to swallow. She coughed, and someone shoved a tube of water into her hand.

  Senna gulped gratefully, felt the moisture seeping into the membranes.

  “Senna?” He started backing away, and she reached out and gripped his wrist, holding him still so she could finally answer.

  “You don’t get away that easily. I have yet to answer.”

  But he’d turned a sickly green, and she took pity on him as she smiled.

  “Yes, Franklin.”

  His gaze narrowed. “Yes?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I can’t think of anything better than spending my life with you.”

  “You mean it?”

  She sighed, cursing her inability to answer immediately. “Yeah, I do. So, you know, maybe we could go somewhere private and celebrate?”

  Daniella cleared her throat. “Actually, I have a better idea. I mean, unless you want the whole nine yards, white gown, flowers, cake…”

  Senna and Franklin turned. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, the pastor who officiated for Erin and David is still here. He couldn’t get out. We’ve got a dress, if you don’t mind borrowing, and we could—”

  “Just a minute, Daniella.” She turned to Franklin. “What do you think? After all, your uniform is here, right? There’s a dress. We’ve got tonight and…” She whirled back. “Is the cabin still empty?”

  Erin nodded. “Yeah. Likely to be for some time, so we could probably arrange for you to be billeted there. Both of you—as a married couple you’re eligible for the building.”

  Excitement sparked through her veins like the bubbles in a fine champagne. “Franklin?”

  “Let’s do it.”

  So they did.

  * * *

  Did you enjoy this book by Imogene Nix?

  There’s more on the following pages. Just keep turning to see what else.

  THE CELTIC CUPID TRILOGY

  When Cupid—otherwise known as Diocail— is banished from his home on a remote Scottish Island, he's set a series of tasks by the great god Lugh, who also happens to be his father.

  In Blame The Wine, he must bring two lovers together... BBW Cara and James, the man she’s lusted over from afar who happens to be a super geek and head Veha Industries.

  In A Stranger's Embrace, Diocail is driven to help an emotionally fragile Jane and Davis, a famous author. The task is more complicated, with the existence of Carstairs her could-be ex-husband and teenage daughter, Frannie.

  In Revenge on Cupid, Diocail must take the ultimate chance and find his own happily ever after with Simone. Sometimes the past gets in the way and HEA's don't come cheap though.

  _______________________________

  The dusty, dingy little diner was full, even with its current state of cleanliness—or lack thereof. People from the surrounding offices didn’t care about anything except the incredible, well-prepared food at a reasonable cost. They flooded in, like waves to the shore. As one tide left, another swept in.