In the next few minutes, I was going to see my sisters or be condemned for the rest of my life. I looked back over my four Vakarrans. I trusted them.
We entered the door and once inside, it rattled close behind us. Ahead of me was a thick metal rail and I slowly approached it. I looked down, gasping to see at least ten stories descending into the Earth. It was as though I was at the top of a large bowl-shaped amphitheater, and down at the very bottom was a gathering place of sorts, with couches, seats, and lounge chairs of all kinds. I watched as humans, Vakarrans, and other various aliens of every color mingled together.
As I observed the entirety of the underground bunker, my uneasiness began to fade. Instead, it was replaced with a sense of astonishment. I was impressed.
Tavik took my hand and led me to a spiral staircase. We descended all the way to the ground floor and exited the sitting room and then headed down a large hallway. At the end was another steel door like the one we’d already passed, only this one was swung wide open. We entered and that’s when I saw them.
Alaina. Blonde-haired, blue-eyed calm beauty.
Danika. Wild brunette hair, wavy and untamed.
Both of them surrounded by eight large Vakarran men.
Behind me, my men pushed me forward. I cleared my throat. Alaina and Danika both turned toward me. Alaina’s eyes crinkled with relief and glee, remaining stoic and calm as she smiled broadly back at me. Danika, ever the wild one, shrieked with excitement and ran to me, capturing me in a hug that left my ribs begging for mercy.
“I promised the safe return of your sister, and here she is,” Tavik reported.
“Good,” a blue-eyed Vakarran stepped forward and responded. Alaina placed her hand on his shoulder and grinned.
“This is Ryder,” she said, before pointing to three others, “Davon. Morgn and Aarom. These four are the Second Battalion. The five of us founded the Resistance.” I watched her as she gazed back at them, her eyes warm. She seemed stronger, surer of herself than I remembered and that made me happy. The hint of a smile on her lips, the soft pink blush on her cheeks, and the way her body curled toward them made me stop for a moment. The one she’d introduced as Aarom reached for her, tracing his fingers along her arm and I knew then that they weren’t just comrades, they were lovers. All five of them.
Danika reluctantly let go of me and took a few steps back. She then pointed to the other four Vakarrans.
“This is the Third Battalion. Roan, Taraik, Zac, and Xandaar,” she replied excitedly as the one called Roan placed a hand on her shoulder. I narrowed my eyes, studying their interactions as well. It didn’t take long for me to conclude that the five of them were more than friends too. Even her wild streak had calmed, and I wondered if her men had something to do with that.
“This place is incredible,” I murmured, momentarily stunned at my observations.
“It was an old government nuclear bunker. At least, that’s what it started as. We expanded it and gave it a number of upgrades,” Alaina explained softly.
“We’ve missed you so much,” Danika whispered, her voice giving way to the emotions she was carefully hiding beneath her tough facade. Her eyes glinted with unshed tears of joy and I smiled in her direction. I saw Tavik look between the three of us and then, he approached Ryder.
“We should talk somewhere and let our women reconnect with each other,” Tavik said to him. My heart warmed at his words. He’d said our women.
“Agreed. Let’s head to the strategy room and regroup,” Ryder replied curtly. “Alaina, why don’t you show Kaela around. Give her a proper welcome to the Resistance.” He smiled gently, and she nodded, her lips curling up in a soft smile.
All of the Vakarrans left the room, leaving me and my sisters to ourselves. At that point, I couldn’t hold it together anymore.
My sisters were alive, and I’d found them once again. I could hardly contain my joy.
I ran to them and the three of us grabbed each other in a massive hug. Tears of relief prickled at the corners of my eyes and there was little I could do to fight them as they slowly rolled down my cheeks.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” I muttered, my voice thick with emotion. I squeezed them tight and their fingers dug into my skin too, almost as if they couldn’t bear to let me go either. “Why didn’t you send for me sooner?” I asked them.
“I didn’t want to put you in danger until we were secure. Neither did Danika. We didn’t send for you until we were sure it was safe for you here. For all of us. When we were ready, we sent the Fourth Battalion for you, knowing they were strong, loyal men to our cause,” Alaina responded.
“The only thing missing is Kira,” Danika replied and the three of us were quiet for some time. It was obvious that we all missed our eldest sister, but there was little we could do to get her back, even with all the tools at our disposal here.
Alaina squeezed our shoulders.
“All data suggests she’s still safe on the Starrider. Davon has been in intermittent contact with the First Battalion. They’ve been unable to secure a mission or passage off of the main ship, likely because Nix wants to keep Kira where he can keep her under constant watch. Bastard wants her for himself,” Alaina replied.
“We’ll get her back,” Danika said, her voice strong and resolute. The three of us nodded in agreement. Somehow, we’d figure something out.
“I’m so happy to be with you two again,” I murmured and the three of us pressed our foreheads together. The sense of relief and joy that passed over me then was
powerful. We remained quiet for a while, just enjoying each other’s company before I pulled back to look at the two of them.
Alaina, the second oldest of us, with long blonde hair that shone under the light of the sun. Her sapphire blue eyes contained both wisdom and courage, two things I’d always aspired to achieve in my own right. Her rosy lips curved up in a delicate smile and her eyes crinkled softly around the edges. She was truly happy to see me, as I was to see her.