Viper (Second Wave Book 1) Read online

  “Please… I need to know.” Viper said again softly as he let his hand trail to her shoulder and rest there a moment. He could feel her energy spark and flash against his own, her emotions screaming through her energy to him unchecked.

  Viper could feel her panic, confusion and indecision as she stepped away from him and began to lead him forward again. He was deeply disappointed that she didn’t trust him enough to tell him what she had seen.

  If he was honest with himself though, he could understand why she was hesitant to trust him. He was just as confused about this whole damn situation as she was.

  They spent the next several hours hiking in silence, the only breaks they took were the times they stopped long enough for Lara to set one of her traps.

  They were less than an hour from the cabin when the first shot rang out, followed by a short burst of rapid fire. Turning to the sky, Lara stood and watched as a huge flock of birds erupted skyward at once.

  “They are a good four miles behind us, but they are heading this way. We need to get to the cabin. We will stand a better chance there. Can you jog?” Lara asked, turning to Viper.

  “I’m guessing they hit the first of your traps?” Viper asked with a small grin.

  Lara was glad that he couldn’t see her blush. “I think they bypassed the first one, or saw it. That was definitely the second one. Can you walk fast?”

  “I can jog. Let’s go.” Viper said, nodding his head to Lara.

  *****

  Dreadhawk fle’ te’ Trugh, Viper’s brother, turned towards the sound of the shots fired.

  “That’s coming from South West, not North West, like he said in the cave.” Niklosi Jevasari, Valendran tact team member said, looking to his teammate Decano for confirmation.

  “That’s correct.” Decano agreed, before turning to Dread. It was his brother; he was leading this rescue mission, and it would be up to him to decide if they would follow the sounds of gunfire or stay on the North West course.

  Dread turned concerned eyes to Gibly, the Valendran Sibiox. The large cat, approximately the size of a bobcat, was covered in soft, sleek black fur, giving him the appearance of a small black panther. A sentient species, the Sibiox had come to the planet with the Valendrans to assist them.

  “Sisan say that she can tell when they changed direction. We need to follow the gunfire. I can track from here.” Gibly said, not waiting for a response he trotted off in the new direction, confident that the others would follow him.

  “We will find him.” Niklosi said to Dread, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.

  “I am concerned that I still cannot reach him. He has to be injured greatly in order for him to remain so silent.” Dread said, turning to follow Gibly in the new direction.

  “Dude, the guy has got the blessing of the Gods to have found someone to help him way the hell out here in the middle of bum fuck nowhere! There’s nothing but animals, trees and freaking bugs, but leave it to Viper to find help. It’s probably some hot chick too!” Traze T’Alq said with a grin as he passed Dread and Niklosi and broke into a jog, disappearing behind Gibly into the forest ahead.

  “For once the man-child has a point, my friend. We haven’t seen anyone since we got here, and yet Viper found help. I would say the blessings are in his favor. Let’s just make sure we get to him before his blessings wear out.” Niklosi said before stepping up his pace to an easy jog.

  Dread watched as the two teams that he had brought with him, began to follow Gibly more quickly, as if they all had sensed the underlying urgency that he had felt when they entered that cave and saw Viper’s message.

  Dread knew he shouldn’t have come; his emotions were wreaking havoc on his energy, and for some reason he was getting false energy readings from the locations where Viper and his companion had recently been. Like in the cave.

  Even Gibly had looked at Dread in confusion when they had been in there. As if he too, could feel the duplicate energy signature, the one that overshadowed Viper’s. What puzzled him was not the strength, but the sense of familiarity. He felt like he knew who was with Viper. Which he knew was impossible.

  The only other survivor who had been pulled from the wreckage of the transport had been one of Grai’s hybrids. The two Tezarian’s, one Valendran and one Sibiox had all died in the crash or from the injuries sustained in the crash.

  All of their people were accounted for, except for Viper, who they were tracking. Dread knew there was no way he could recognize the energy signature; he knew it must be his worry and fear for his brother confusing his senses. However, there was something about it that he just couldn’t shake.

  Several hours later, they came to the place where they heard the shots fired from and what they saw did not ease Dread’s worry at all.

  “What the fuck! This is some serious jungle damn warfare shit here.” Traze said, looking around at mess around the forest.

  “What the hell happened here?” Dread asked, while Decano and Niklosi kneeled down to get a better look at the two bodies on the ground.

  The forest looked like it had come alive and attacked the two dead Relian’s on the ground. The bodies were impaled with what looked like sharpened tree branches. Dozens of long, thin sharpened branches protruded awkwardly from the two bodies. The trees and bushes around the bodies showed signs of being hit with sprays of gunfire.

  Dread looked up as Decano said, “Over here.”

  “Damn, this may be old, but it still works.” Niklosi said, impressed with how the trap had been hidden, set and sprung on the unsuspecting Relian’s.

  Dread looked on, with renewed respect for whoever had helped his brother. Whoever they were; they at least knew what they were doing and were trying to slow down the pursuing Relian’s. If they were lucky, they wouldn’t be too far behind them.

  “Gibly, you need to let Sisan know that Viper’s friend set some traps and to look out for them. Stay alert everyone; those traps may be old, but they can still do the job, so be careful.” Niklosi ordered their teams.

  “Man, I told you he was a lucky dog! That’s one bad-ass mofo that he’s with! I take it back, there’s no way a hot chick would have a clue how to even make one of those!” Traze said, his excitement and admiration evident in his voice.

  Lt. David Jacobs smacked the man-child in the back of the head. “I suggest you never let any of our women hear you say some dumb shit like that and don’t even think about going first. Your ass is staying back here with me.”

  “Oh come on man! I could have just as easily spotted that trap!” Traze argued, while David just glared at the young man until he finally shut up and moved behind the others, grumbling to himself the whole time.

  “I have to admit; it's pretty damn clever. It was well hidden and would have been difficult…” Decano was cut off by the sound of additional gunfire echoing through the mountains.

  “Gibly, does Sisan see anything?” Niklosi asked, his senses on full alert as, he tried to determine how far ahead the shots were coming from.

  “No, it’s still in front of her. She go run to look.” Gibly said, his black tail all poofed out as he looked around alertly.

  “We need to go. Now!” Dread said, fear for his brother overwhelming him.

  Niklosi, Decano and David nodded before setting off at a run towards where the gunfire had come from, leaving the rest behind to destroy the bodies and ensure the trap was disabled before catching up to them.

  It was another hour later before they came across the next location. If Sisan hadn’t told Gibly where to look, Dread wasn’t sure they would have even found the body this time. The trap had been set exactly like the last one. Only this time it was completely non-functioning. It was intended to be. They walked carefully around the pit, near the base of the trap.

  It was clever; Dread thought with renewed respect for Viper’s companion. As soon as someone came to disable the trap, they ended up in the spike covered pit. Like the impaled Relian, currently occupying it.

 
Traze whistled low. “Holy shit guys! That’s three dead in less than three miles. Maybe Viper’s forest ninja will have all the assholes dead before we can get there!”

  As much as Dread hoped that would be the case, he wasn’t foolish enough to pin his hopes, or Viper’s life, on it. “Gibly, has Sisan caught up to them yet?” Dread asked, hoping the feline would have some information for them.

  “No, she say she getting close.” Gibly responded with a twitch of his whiskers, before he bounded up ahead of them again.

  “I’m much more confident that Viper’s in good hands, my friend.” Niklosi said to Dread as he looked at the latest trap with respect. It was basic as hell, but it sure had worked to take out another enemy.

  “Let’s go.” Dread said, giving the latest trap one last look before running to catch up to Gibly. He wasn’t going to feel better until he found his brother.

  *****

  The cabin was just up ahead, and Lara couldn’t be more grateful that it was. She was exhausted, and her shoulder was on fire. Or maybe it was the rest of her that was on fire; she was too confused to tell. Either way she was glad that they had finally made it.

  “We’re almost there. Just another hundred yards.” Lara muttered almost to herself as she led Viper along a now distinct path that had obviously been heavily traveled.

  “Are you all right?” Viper asked with concern. He had noticed over the last several hours that Lara had begun stumbling more and seemed a little disoriented.

  “Yeah, yeah I’m great. Let’s get inside.” Lara said distractedly as they finally emerged from the forest into the small clearing where the cabin stood.

  Lara led Viper to the tiny porch and left him there while she went to the side and dug around in the dirt until she found the hidden key.

  “Whoops!” Lara said as she stumbled up the porch. Viper leaned quickly forward to try to keep her blurry form from falling.

  “I’m good!” Lara said as she righted herself and pulled away from Viper’s hands.

  Putting the key in the lock, Lara finally got the door open and ushered Viper quickly inside before she slammed it shut and pulled a huge, thick board across it to bar it closed.

  Viper stood where Lara left him and tried to look around at the dim interior of the cabin. He could barely make out what appeared to be a small couch of some kind, some tables, chairs and a bed in a corner.

  Lara headed into the kitchen and using the hand pump; she poured water into the bucket in the sink. Then, filling two glasses, she handed one to Viper while she downed her own in one large swallow. Still, it did little to cool down the raging heat she felt all over.

  Seeing that Viper was still working on his water, Lara filled another glass and downed it just as quickly. Grabbing Viper’s half-full glass, she refilled it and led him over to the couch. She gently pushed him down onto the couch, then handed him back the glass.

  Lara stowed her packs in the trap door underneath the kitchen table, then lit three of the lanterns around the cabin to light the dim interior.

  “You wait here; I'm going outside to check a few more traps and to close up the shutters on the windows.” Lara said, standing in front of Viper.

  “Is there anything I can do to help you?” Viper asked, wishing that there was something, anything that he could do to help her.

  “No tremora’, you rest. I will be back in a minute.” Lara said as she headed out the door.

  Viper stared at the partially opened front door in shock. He didn’t hear her correctly. There was no way that he did, Viper thought, shaking his head as if to clear it. Putting the glass down on the table beside the small couch, he stood and walked over to the door.

  Stepping onto the very small porch, he looked around for where Lara had gone. Hearing the gunfire again, he turned his head towards where the sound had come from. He knew, without a doubt, that it had come from the forest in the direction they had come from.

  Since the gunfire had only been the two periodic bursts, he believed Lara when she told him that it was most likely just a reaction of fear when the Relian’s encountered the traps she had set on the way to the cabin.

  It didn’t stop Viper from fearing for his brother and the others that were most likely looking for him. He hoped that they were far enough behind the Relian’s to know to look out for whatever traps that Lara had set.

  “You need to be back inside. You make a much too easy target standing out here.” Viper turned to the sound of Lara’s voice and waited until she came upon the porch and led him back inside.

  Viper allowed her to push him back down onto the couch and took the glass of water back that she handed him. “Wait there a minute, while I make us something to eat. I don’t know about you, but I am starving, and we need to eat before they show up.”

  “Yes, I’m very hungry.” Viper admitted, unable to disguise the loud rumbling of his stomach at the mention of food. Lara just laughed at him.

  “I’ll have us some warm food in a minute.” Lara said, moving into the small kitchen and looking in the cabinets. Pulling out several cans, Lara grabbed a saucepan and opened the four cans of beefy flavored pasta.

  Viper listened as Lara hummed to herself as she heated up the oddly smelling food in the kitchen. When the pasta sauce was bubbling rapidly, Lara turned off the propane on the hotplate and poured the pasta into two bowls.

  “Here. It’s not the best, but it’s got enough carbs in it to keep us moving for a little while anyway.” Lara said, placing a warm bowl into Viper’s hands.

  “Thank you.” Viper said gratefully as he shoved a big mouthful into his mouth and chewed. It tasted strange to him, but it was filling and warm and he finished off his bowl quickly.

  Lara had sat in one of the chairs near the couch and had barely eaten two spoons before her stomach began rebelling and threatening to bring it back up. Shoving the spoon back in the bowl, she took the empty bowl from Viper and handed him her full bowl.

  “Why aren’t you eating?” Viper asked with concern.

  “I’m too wound up to eat. I’m not sure my stomach can handle it right now. You eat it. You need the nutrition in order to heal.” Lara said as she stood up and swayed slightly before catching herself.

  Lara didn’t wait for Viper’s response and headed into the kitchen with Viper’s empty bowl. She rinsed it out, before leaving it in the sink. Reaching into the cabinet above the sink, Lara pulled out a bottle of antibiotics and a bottle of pain reliever/fever reducer.

  Shaking out the correct dosages and adding a couple of extra pain relievers, Lara downed them at one time with a glass of water. Closing her eyes against the pain in her shoulder, Lara took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on her plan.

  “What is… you are on fire! What is wrong with you?” Viper asked, coming up behind Lara and laying a hand on her arm. Feeling the heat of her arm, Viper moved his hand to her head to verify that her temperature was really that high.

  “I’m fine! Just a little overheated from getting here.” Lara said, jerking away from Viper and moving to the fireplace.

  “You’re lying to me! I can hear it in your voice. Tell me what is wrong?” Viper asked again, following her blurry image over to the fireplace, thankful the place was sparsely furnished.

  “We don’t have time for this. I don’t have time for this. We need to get ready for them.” Lara said, kneeling down at the hearth of the fireplace.

  Even without his vision, Viper could tell that she had a hidden place beneath the floor when she lifted up a small door and disappeared inside.

  He moved to the other side of the room where she had been, hoping to see where she had gone. The gaping black hole in the floor told him that the hole was pretty deep, and he could smell the packed earth inside. He moved back in surprise when Lara started putting weapon after weapon onto the floor around the opening.

  When there was barely enough room around the edge of the opening for her to crawl out, Lara finally climbed back out of the hole and started grabb
ing up the rifles and handguns.

  Viper stood back, out of the way, as Lara moved the furniture around the room, placing the tables next to the only two windows in the small, one-room cabin.

  “How long until they get here?” Viper asked as Lara started loading down the tables with weapons and ammunition.

  “I think we have maybe an hour.” Lara said, grabbing her throwing knives and inserting them into their sheath before strapping them to her chest.

  “While I get us ready, why don’t you tell me about yourself? I’m thinking if we can fight together, then I should at least know a little about the man I’m fighting with right?” Lara asked, hoping that she would learn something that would tell her she had made the right choice in saving him.

  Viper heard what she didn’t say, and she was right. If she was good enough to possibly die for him or with him, then she had a right to know the truth. Maybe if he explained it to her, it would jog her memory. At least, he hoped it would. If not, he was getting ready to make a huge mistake. One he wasn’t sure could be fixed.

  Chapter Five

  Viper sighed heavily, then sat in a chair near where Lara was pulling bullets out of a box and putting them into clips for the weapons.

  “I am one of three brothers. The oldest is Dread, and the youngest is Drago. Does the name Kinara mean anything to you?” Dread asked suddenly, catching Lara off guard.

  Lara stopped for a moment, running the name through her head. She knew it. Or at least, she thought she heard it before, but couldn’t remember where.

  “It sounds very familiar, but I can’t place it. Why?” Lara asked, going back to loading the clips.

  “Never mind.” Viper said with another heavy sigh. “Anyway, we come from the planet Tezaria in the Quinlonin Quadrant. We came here when we received a distress call from a friend of Dread’s, a warrior from the planet Valendra.” Viper paused to see how Lara was taking it so far.

  “You do realize that you could have just told me to fuck off rather than mock me for asking.” Lara said angrily as she got up from the chair.