Sarazen's Hunt Read online

  Table of Contents

  Sarazen's Hunt (Sarazen Saga, #4)

  Other Titles by Isabel Wroth

  Acknowledgements

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  Zyre

  Author’s Notes

  Sarazen’s Hunt

  A Sarazen Saga Novel

  -GOOD LUCK ON THE HUNT.

  Newly-appointed Commander Kalix has been tasked with a crucial mission for the Sarazen race: discover the fates of the remaining human starships, and bring home the survivors—if there are any left, that is...

  His crew come upon the wrecked remains of the Sestrenka, and the chattering captain’s logs set them on the trail of a human colony established over twenty years ago.

  Moika, the hope of the starbound human race.

  But as Kalix and his warriors grow closer in their search, the distress signals show there is something terribly wrong on Moika.

  Something deathly wrong.

  -LEAVE NO SKIN EXPOSED.

  Alec, Firstborn Moika, is a hardened young woman and the defacto leader of the colony on Moika—because all that remain are she, her sister, and a ragtag band of Moika-born children.

  The hostile natives who dwell in the water, known only as “Scylla,” have decimated the colony’s population.

  When all hope seems lost, the Sarazen appear and offer the survivors sanctuary: an end to their suffering, an end to the running, and an end to the killings.

  A return to civilization.

  But for Alec, who spent most of her life herding and protecting the colony, it’s a bittersweet rescue. All she’s known is fighting but suddenly the gauzy promise of peace is dangled in front of her. Will the deep anger she feels at being an outsider ever subside?

  Copyright © 2018 By Isabel Wroth

  This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity to real events, people, or places are entirely coincidental. All rights reserved.

  This book may not be reproduced or distributed in any format without the permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations used for review.

  All quotations used in this book are part of public domain works and/or translated copies existing in public domain. The author acknowledges the trademarked status of products referred to in this book. Trademarks have been used without permission.

  This book contains mature content, including graphic sex, language, and violence. Please do not continue reading if you are under the age of 18 or if this type of content is disturbing to you.

  Other Titles by Isabel Wroth

  Sarazen Saga

  Sarazen’s Claim

  Sarazen’s Vengeance

  Sarazen’s Betrayal

  Sarazen’s Hunt

  Sarazen’s Fury (coming soon!)

  Perdition MC

  Never Ever

  Athena’s Raid

  Ripley’s Saint

  Dillon’s Universe (coming soon!)

  Valos of Sonhadra

  Shadowed

  Acknowledgements

  For my awesomely patient readers!

  I know this book has been a long time coming, and I want to say a HUGE heartfelt thank you to all of my readers for your support and continued interest in the Sarazen Saga!

  ONE

  “December 17th. The year is 3174. Today, the ship’s computer has picked up a planet that may be able to sustain human life. I’ve ordered the bridge team to keep this quiet until it is confirmed the Sestrenka has found a home for our people.”

  Kalix sat in his quarters listening to the overly detailed daily logs made by the commander of the human ship. After four cycles of the seemingly endless recordings, Kalix was coming to feel like perhaps he was being punished, and not awarded.

  It was untrue and inaccurate, but listening to the goings on of the daily life of the humans, trapped in their inferior vessel, was akin to torture.

  It made him question his own daily reports, wondering if the council found them as tedious to listen to as this.

  Before the Aria had been destroyed, everything in the human ship’s protocols had been downloaded into the Sarazen database. From their communication frequencies, to what passed for their military and medical records, to the daily recordings made by their commander.

  The Asho had even ordered readings to identify the metal composition of the human ships. Metal so weak it was a miracle the humans had even survived entry into space in the first place.

  It couldn’t repel radiation, couldn’t withstand plasma fire, and couldn’t move faster than a Sarazen ground cycle. It even dented if a piece of common stone collided with the hull.

  It was unlike any of the starships they were familiar with, making the metal unique and easily detectable to most any scanning equipment.

  It was how the sensors of Warship Five had come to positively identify the Sestrenka floating in the space between galaxies.

  It hung there in the middle of territory unclaimed by any of their enemies, or allies, nowhere near any habitable planets.

  When his warriors had alerted him to the ship’s location, Kalix had been excited to so quickly have come across the ship.

  Only five of their solar months, and already they had discovered one of the weak vessels? One potentially filled to the brim with viable mates on his very first assignment as a Warship Commander?

  The esteem, the proof that former Fifth Commander Brennaugh and First Commander Tarek had chosen well when giving Kalix command of the Fifth, would have been assured.

  He had ordered his warriors to jump to the Sestrenka’s location immediately. As soon as they dropped out of the void, they began to scan the ship for signs of life.

  His feelings of victory turned to bitter disappointment when it was confirmed not a single heart beat aboard the Earth ship.

  Kalix sent two squads aboard regardless, ordering them to search the entire vessel in hopes that the inferior metal was causing an inaccurate reading.

  He sat on the command deck listening to his warriors breathing through the open communication channel, watching their progress, shaking his head over the cramped, strange configuration of the interior.

  His warriors were thorough. Going deck by deck, room by room, they left no corner of the ship unexplored.

  Their scans had not been inaccurate.

  *****

  “December 20th. The year is 3174. Christmas has come early. Reports indicate the atmosphere is able to support human life. Radiation levels are beneath tolerable levels, and bodies of bountiful freshwater have been identified.

  “Thus far, no indigenous life forms have been noted. The sweep of the planet and search for inhabitants is ongoing. There are two suns, one moon, and our initial analysis of the climate proves favorable at this time.

  “Commander Kalix, report.”

  He came to attention as his personal view screen came to life, displaying the proud warrior who was now their Asho.

  The golden stripe of his mane and black clan markings identified him as the absolute ruler of their pride.

  His features were distinctly feline, the slanted corners of his eyes and wide nose were the standard of their race and easily identified throughout the galaxy.

  He stood behind his heavily pregnant mate, cradling her distended belly with a thickly muscled arm.

  Kalix had received news the Asho’na was carrying her mate’s cubs, but Kalix had not se
en the female since their initial interaction when she had still been aboard the Tarek’s ship.

  She looked...radiant. And very large. Kalix was horrified in the most fascinated way, but knew that to make mention of the Asho’na’s size would only bring dishonor to him, likely upset the female, and send Tarek into a rage.

  Kalix cleared his throat, noticing Clary was staring at him expectantly, eagerly waiting for his report.

  “Asho, we have found one of the human vessels.”

  Tarek nodded tightly, reaching down to curl his hand on his mate’s shoulder. “Well done. How many humans remain?”

  Kalix took a deep breath, fingers moving over his data tablet to send his full report to the Asho. This was the first mission he had undertaken as Commander of the Fifth and thus far, he had failed.

  “None, sir.” The Asho’na gave a little sound of distress and Kalix fought back his wince.

  “Explain,” Tarek ordered, his golden gaze sharp enough to slice.

  “It appears the life support system failed, or was damaged in some way. They have been dead for what I calculate as twenty Earth years. I have downloaded all the data to your secured unit as ordered.”

  “What ship is it?”

  Kalix blinked at the Asho’na’s question, tilting his head at Tarek to await his permission to answer her directly. The Asho gave a tight nod, checked his wrist unit, and removed it to hand to his female.

  “The word is unknown to me, but I believe it is called Sestrenka.”

  Clary snatched the wrist unit from Tarek and bent over it. Muttering under her breath, she scrolled through the information Kalix provided.

  She rolled her lips together and pressed them into a tight line, sucking in a long, slow breath before speaking.

  “It’s a word in a human language, Russian. It means ‘sister.’ God, twenty years?” Clary sounded relieved, turning more comfortably to lean back against Tarek but not yet taking her eyes off the wrist unit.

  “What else did you find, Commander?”

  “Upon cursory investigation, there were only a third of the previously recorded number of crew onboard.”

  Clary’s head jerked up, her eyes wide and round with surprise. “What? Are you sure?”

  “I am certain, Asho’na.”

  “Where the hell are the rest of the crew?” she demanded.

  Out of respect, Kalix fought the twitch of his lips. Tarek had no such qualms about keeping his amusement from his face, though it seemed alien to see his stern lips curved ever so slightly in a smile.

  “Unknown at this time, Asho’na. I will continue reviewing the human commander’s status recordings as soon as we conclude. May I ask how the investigation goes into discovering the traitors?”

  Tarek’s amusement faded. His expression transforming into the hard, battle ready sneer Kalix was more familiar with.

  “Our communications and security systems have been purged of all taint. The analysts are beginning to identify individuals responsible for the corruption.

  “Continue to use only the secure channel for your reports and alert me immediately through my direct line if the secured code is not attached to any orders or correspondence.”

  Kalix gave a nod, “It will be done, Asho.”

  Tarek gave a tight grunt. “Any further disturbances among your crew?”

  Once the traitors back home on Saraz had begun to feel threatened, they had triggered all the control implants placed inside willing and unwilling warriors, killing them within moments.

  Over one hundred of Kalix’s crew had instantaneously dropped to the ground, roaring in agony as they had bled from their eyes, nose, and ears.

  Kalix was uncertain if those hundred would have become slaves to the will of the ones controlling the implants.

  Uncertain if they would have turned on their fellow warriors in an effort to sabotage the mission, or to have killed every human they found.

  Whatever the intent, one hundred warriors was exactly the minimum number of crew required to man the warship.

  “None, sir.”

  “Good. Report back when you find something else of merit.”

  “I will. My apologies for disappointing you, Asho’na.”

  The bright-haired female looked up from the data unit and huffed out a little breath, sniffling back the tears Kalix could see clinging to her lashes. Tarek made an unhappy rumble at the sight of her unhappiness and she lifted her hand to stop him from acting any further.

  “I am not disappointed, Commander Kalix. I am saddened by the loss, but after so long without contact it was not a complete surprise. Good luck on the hunt.”

  *****

  “March 20th. The year is 3175. This is Captain Yuri, standing on terra firma. Because of the date it was discovered, the crew has decided to call this planet Moika. It is...it is beautiful.

  “I had not ever thought that it would be my crew who would find us a new home, one so peaceful and new. So full of hope.”

  Kalix paused the recording and leapt to his feet, carrying the data unit with him to the command deck.

  “Dax!” His second jogged up to stand beside him while Kalix activated their database. “The human captain has left coordinates of the planet they deemed viable. Can you match it to our star maps?”

  Dax’s fingers flew over his console, but as the line between his furrowed brows got deeper, then deeper still, Kalix began to feel less than optimistic.

  While Dax was trying to match the star maps, Kalix input every description the human commander had given of the planet and its topography into the database.

  Dax gave a frustrated snarl, waving his arm at his screen while he scowled at it.

  “The human maps are ridiculously inadequate. The range of their data is so small that as it stands, it is impossible for our computer to match any star clusters. I will have to recalibrate.”

  Kalix flicked his search query over to Dax’s console, nodding to it. “Then we must go about this in a different manner. Enter in every known planet that matches this description.”

  Dax huffed with irritation, his console facing the wrath of his frustrated glare. “In which territory?”

  “All of them. Apply the parameters from the human ship Aria required for their optimal survival.”

  Dax’s brow gave a curious quirk. “You are adding the molecular composition of their star ships?”

  Kalix nodded, sweeping the tiles on the holo-screen toward Dax’s terminal to enhance his search.

  Dax grunted impatiently, muttering under his breath about how the humans could possibly have thought they could leave and find this planet again with such poor star maps. A flick of his wrist sent the search data back to Kalix’s terminal.

  There were forty seven partial matches, all of them too far away to detect whether or not the unique metal composition of the cannibalized parts from the Sestrenka were present, or not.

  To properly eliminate the planets where the humans could have taken shelter, the warship would need to be within proximity to them by at least several cycles.

  That would take far longer than he was interested in searching. Kalix would of course search until all possibilities were exhausted, but space was vast, and the possibilities innumerate.

  “Change the search parameters. Mark the location the Sestrenka was found, factor in their rate of drift, then calculate the rate of speed the human ship could reach at maximum velocity.

  “Apply the distance they would be able to travel per cycle, and expand the search radius by five in every direction to compensate. Do any of the planets on our current list fall within that range?”

  Kalix waited, feet braced, while Dax worked.

  “Five, Commander,” Dax reported triumphantly.

  *****

  “January 1st. The year is now 3182. Our colony on Moika is established. Structures have been built, enough to house the entire crew, with more being built and completed.

  I can now return to space, seek out whatever else may remain of
our fellow humans, and bring them back to Moika.

  Lieutenant Commander Sully of the Starsong and his mate Sage, will be left in charge of the colony. God go with them, and with us.”

  A chime of sound drew Kalix from the recordings. He was surprised to see he had become so engrossed as to not have realized the passage of time. He was expected on the holo-deck to meet with the Asho and the other commanders.

  Kalix raked his hands through his hair to make himself more presentable, grabbing a clean tunic on the way.

  He had just modified the bench to better suit his needs and sat when the room shifted to display an oblong table where the fifteen commanders sat, each of them able to see one another and discuss pertinent business despite being spread out across the galaxy.

  “All of you will cease gaping at my mate like green recruits, or the very next time I see you, I will decorate my cub’s rooms with your-”

  “Shush. It’s fine.” Clary leaned against her mate, soothing him with a touch and laughed softly.

  Kalix choked on his laughter to see how quickly their pride ruler, renowned for his terrifying ferocity, retreated from verbal battle lest he upset his mate.

  “Report!” Tarek’s half roar made all of them sit up straighter, any urges to laugh gone in the wake of that sound. The bark of the strongest beast present.

  Kalix turned his attention to Cavil, the warrior who had taken Tarek’s place as First Commander of the Sarazen armada.

  The male reported the transition was going smoothly on his end, no unrest or further indication of compromised warriors. As of right now, Kalix was the only commander reporting directly to Tarek and not under Cavil’s immediate direction.

  “We will hear from you last, Kalix,” Tarek ordered when it came time for him to report.

  Kalix could only incline his head to acknowledge while the holographic rendering of Sixth Commander V’ar reached forward to link his data unit to Tarek’s.

  “Mining continues to go well on S6. We have had no recent activity from the prisoners, no deaths or crippling injuries to report.”

  “You have a penal colony on S6?” Clary’s interruption had Tarek grunting, nodding while he looked over the report he was likely receiving from V’ar.