Cracked Control Read online

  “I am alerting Rokar-Iratho that the crash has occurred, and the likely crash site.”

  “Good. I am guessing that they crashed off the island?”

  “They did. They are on the open plain near the edge of the crater.”

  “Is the ship in one piece?”

  “It did not shed more than expected. The main cabin should be intact.”

  “Good.” She wrapped her arms around herself and watched the direction that the ship had disappeared into.

  The dragon came as a surprise. Black with scarlet and gold highlights, the winged creature streaked across the skyline before diving for the ship.

  “Um... Rocky?”

  “Yes, Adelheid?”

  “Is that a dragon?”

  “What? No, of course not. Wait. Let me look it up... Yes, yes, it is a dragon.” He paused. “He is a dragon by your people’s standards. He is an ancient Drai by Alliance standards.”

  She watched as the creature rose again with the ship clutched in its jaws. “So, that’s what Rokar looks like when he is angry?”

  “No, he isn’t angry. This is his territory. He is defending it.”

  She had her confirmation. That huge winged beast was Rokar-Iratho. It was a damned impressive Avatar that was sure.

  Addy shivered. Her instincts must have been working overtime because that dragon had visited her dreams.

  She was in the base and having lunch when Rokar-Iratho arrived. She poured him a cup of tea and handed it to him. “Here you are, Avatar. So, who were the intruders?”

  He inclined his head. “Thank you. They were part of the same group that snatched you originally. There was a bounty on you.” He carefully held the tea and walked over to the living area, taking his normal seat.

  She smiled and brought her tray along for the conversation. “So, what are you going to do with the survivors?”

  He sipped at his tea. “There are no survivors. After they told me what they were here for, they slipped, and I dropped them into an active volcano.” He gave her a bland look. “Oops.”

  She paused while eating. “They are dead?”

  He shrugged. “Probably. I am not a fan of bounty hunters, but I do now have a lead on the lab that is after you.”

  She frowned. “Why me? Why not Kelly?”

  “They are after destructive power. They have seers of their own.” He finished his tea and shrugged. “Or so they said.”

  “Before they slipped.”

  “Precisely.”

  She wrinkled her nose and finished her meal. She got to her feet and returned to the kitchen, bringing the tea tray with her. “So, is this where I am stuck now?”

  He raised his brows. “You have an entire planet to roam. That isn’t precisely stuck.”

  She handed him a fresh cup of tea. “True. So, do you run around with scales on much? I don’t mean to flatter, but you are much bigger than I dreamed.”

  He sucked in and snorted the tea, spluttered, and ended up coughing slightly to clear his lungs.

  When he stopped choking on tea, he looked to her with wide eyes. “You dreamed of me?”

  “Yes. I don’t know for how long. It all becomes a blur, but I think you have been there since I first went to sleep. Which you were.”

  He blinked slowly. “Yes, I was. But you saw me in my beast form? In your dreams, I mean.”

  “Yes, but I didn’t have anything to use for scale.” She smiled slightly. “In my dreams, you were outlined against the stars.”

  “But you didn’t mind the sight?”

  “No, I always loved dragons. It was comforting to see something familiar in the cold darkness.”

  Rokar blinked his eyes slowly. “You were awake?”

  “Sort of. Not really. Time was stretchy. When I was aware of the world around me, it was cold, dark, and all I could see was the light of the stars so far away.” She shrugged. “It is all I remember, anyway. Stars with a dragon flying through them.”

  He had a slightly dazed smile on his lips. “You dreamed of me.”

  She nodded and sipped at her own tea. “That is what I said.”

  He sighed. “What if I told you that that detail meant we were to be mates? It marks us as soul mates.”

  She quickly lifted the tea from her lips before she repeated his gesture. “Soul mates? Mates? If you are talking about breeding partners, I have to tell you that with this mutation of mine, I don’t think that having a child is in the cards.”

  “Being a mate doesn’t have to contain breeding in the contract. Companions for life is more the thing. A proxy is possible if children are desired. You are quite right. Your talent would not remain dormant during a pregnancy.”

  She blinked. “Right. So, why are you telling me this?”

  He grinned. “Despite my extended lifespan as a Drai, and now my link to Iratho providing even more time, I don’t want to spend another day without you by my side. Now that we have confirmed that we are compatible, there is only the matter of you approving of my home. Once that is done, I am free to begin physically related courtship.”

  “Um, are we in a hurry for that?”

  He laughed. “No. It is enough to have you here, safe, and in control.”

  She sighed in relief. “Good. I am just getting used to not thinking that I am in a dream every morning. Altering my tenuous grip on reality would be a little jarring.”

  “Understood. Would you like to watch the documentary on the Empress-consort of the Haldis Imperium?”

  “Oh, please. I love that one.”

  Rocky began playing the vid, and despite the attack and homicide that had already occurred, Addy and Rokar had a nice afternoon.

  Addy was riding Rokar on a much quicker tour of the landscape when she got the first warning.

  “Adelheid, there is a ship incoming. It is the horticultural vessel, and they are requesting a welcome.”

  As the update came through the collar of her suit, Rokar wheeled, and he put on speed as he returned to the island.

  Addy ducked her head down and let the wind wash over her. As long as she kept her head down, her eyes didn’t burn.

  The change in the temperature, the blast of gasses that they passed through, warned her that they had reached the island. She lifted her head as Rokar settled in for a landing.

  “When will the ship arrive, Rocky?”

  “They are on their descent. The ship will land on the island to begin with, and once all things are settled, shuttles will take the specialists where they need to go. I have bots waiting to transfer the rations and water supplies.”

  “Good. Glad you have it all in hand, or whatever.” She was nervous. It was going to be her first time meeting most of the landing species.

  She dismounted from Rokar’s neck, sliding along his scales before settling on her feet.

  The moment she was off, Rokar resumed his regular form, and she watched as his nude figure was obscured by a whirlwind, which faded into nothing, leaving his body clad in his standard sleeveless bodysuit and boots. Addy wasn’t kidding herself, she liked that moment when he stood in his skin and nothing else, but that would have to wait until the Citadel was up and running.

  Two days ago, the aquatic vessel with its personnel and creatures had landed in the northern sea and promptly sunk in to begin its purpose. Rokar had reported that they were doing fine without him. He would check-in in a week or two. Iratho was eager to see how the creatures thrived, but interfering would not be helpful. He would pitch in when he was asked, or when he felt like it.

  The ship appeared on the horizon, and it grew larger, but was setting up for a landing at a controlled angle.

  Addy took Rokar’s hand, and he squeezed her fingers lightly. “It is fine, Adelheid. They are coming in at the perfect descent angle.”

  She fidgeted.

  “Don’t worry. They have given all the codes to the station, and to Rocky. They are who they say they are.”


  She activated her helmet the moment that the dust started to kick up. Rokar could repel the dust, but she had to do it with the tech she was wearing.

  When the dust settled, the gleaming silver-white ship was squatting on the silty soil and a series of balance supports were extending from the hull.

  Once the machine was stable, a door opened and steps unfolded to the ground.

  The first of the specialists to emerge was masculine, and he was a brilliant green. The second person out of the ship was female, appeared human, and had the wild look of someone who had been up for days.

  Addy’s vision fixed on the young woman, and she began to walk toward the younger version of her sister. When the woman spotted her, they were both walking briskly to a midpoint.

  Her niece was holding a small angry creature that was growling constantly.

  “Aunty Adelheid, I am happy to meet you, but please take him!”

  The desperation was obvious, so Addy reached out and took the small fluffy beast in her arms. Her soul felt warm in that moment, and she looked at the eyes that transitioned from angry crimson to soft and swirling silver.

  “Hello, little guy. What’s your name?”

  He let out a soft chirp and a low rumble, snuggling into her embrace.

  Deahlia stared at him. “That little bastard.”

  Addy laughed. “Why? What is he?”

  Rokar walked up next to her. “He’s a Yaluthu. They are a species of empathic healers and they are self-propagating. They have been trying to get me to take one for you, but Iratho didn’t want to be overrun. Arrangements have been made.”

  Addy looked up from her new friend and blinked. “Oh, Rokar-Iratho, this is my niece, Deahlia.”

  Rokar inclined his head and settled his arm around Addy’s shoulder. “I am pleased to meet any kinswoman of my mate.”

  Deahlia looked at them with wide eyes. “That was fast.”

  Addy smiled. “It has been percolating for a few decades, right, Rumble?”

  The Yaluthu in her arm chirped affirmative. He was in the right place now, Addy could feel it.

  Chapter Eight

  Rumble hogged the bed. It was the first thing that Addy noticed about him.

  “You are really teeny for something that likes to tangle in the covers. I can hardly wait to see what happens when Rokar is in here as well.”

  Rumble let out a long strand of sound, and stretched happily in the sheets.

  She tickled him and then got to her feet, heading for the sonic shower before she made her way out to the common space for breakfast. One of the indoor suits was definitely in order, in case the horticulturalists were in the common space.

  With Rumble humming his happy song on her shoulder, she walked out of her room and out to get some tea and breakfast.

  She paused when the six new members of the Citadel Iratho greeted her.

  She waved good morning to everyone and then got her breakfast. Dawn was barely flirting outside the windows, but the plant-obsessed woke early.

  Deahlia walked up to her and gave her a hug. “Hello, Aunty. I am afraid that things went a little peculiar yesterday. I was just so relieved to be rid of him. He doesn’t like me. He refers to me as a traitor.”

  Rumble was still making his happy sound.

  Addy hugged her niece. “He hates to be thwarted. You were close to being me but not quite me. It frustrated him.”

  “I can only imagine. And can I say, you look just like my sister Hagatha.”

  “You look just like Gertrude. It seems that cloning runs in our genes.”

  They sat together on couches in the common area. The other specialists were watching them. The green one, Er-Hathu, asked, “Where is the dangerous talent stationed here at the base? I have been terrified of setting it off.”

  Addy raised her hand. “That would be me.”

  Rumble chirped confirmation.

  Deahlia looked at her with a sad smile. “They couldn’t know. Your identity is a closely guarded secret. We all had to be sworn to secrecy in case we end up elsewhere.”

  Addy snorted. “The secret is out. There is a bounty on my head. We have had one attack so far.”

  Deahlia blinked. “What?”

  “It’s fine. They were dealt with.” She smiled tightly.

  Rocky piped up, “Here is the visual from the base sensors as well as the orbital station sensors.”

  The display took up the wall, and Addy blushed as she saw her self sprint to her action station, paused, aimed, and flicked her finger. The splintering of metal was the precursor to a high-speed spiral into the ground. In the next visual, the dragon jaws clamped on the ship and flew off with it. There must have been a time lapse because the next thing on the screen was the ship being dumped into the volcano.

  Her guests stared at her, and Deahlia looked at her finger as if it was a bomb.

  “You could do that with one finger?” Er-Hathu whispered.

  “Yes. I have been practicing control, so that was as minimal as I could get it.” She shrugged. “If he had gotten clearance, he could have landed.”

  Deahlia cleared her throat. “Okay, so that is explained now. We were all wondering when we could come out to this posting, and this definitely is a good reason for waiting.”

  “I am fine now. I can keep it from breaking the island into chunks, so you are all safe now.” She smiled, and Rumble made a louder sound of happiness.

  Deahlia cleared her throat. “Are we able to head down to the surface for soil testing today?”

  “Sure—”

  “Adelheid, you will remain here until I can take you down to the surface. I do not want you on one of their riot runners.”

  She twisted in her seat to smile at Rokar. “I don’t even know what that is.”

  Rokar grabbed his favourite backless chair and sat next to her, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

  All eyes were on them, and she blushed as he waited for her to return the light caress.

  She turned and brushed her lips lightly across his, and he smiled. “Good morning, Adelheid.”

  There was a hopeful rumble on her shoulder. She laughed. “He wants a kiss, too.”

  Rokar rolled his eyes but pressed his lips to the top of Rumble’s head.

  The joy that sparked through the Yaluthu made Addy laugh. “I think he really liked that. Now, he feels part of the family.”

  Rokar sighed. “I did not want him here.”

  Deahlia raised her hands. “I am not taking him back.”

  The room at large laughed, and Addy shifted closer to Rokar, gripping his hand. “So, how am I going to get down to the surface?”

  “I will take you. When Iratho gives you his energy, you will be able to fly on your own.”

  She stared at him. “Seriously? I get to fly?”

  “Fly, jump, run at top speed. You don’t have wings, but you will be able to get around Iratho on your own.”

  Deahlia smiled and then an expression of awareness came over her. “Damn. Aunty, I have a surprise for you.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yeah, it is in the container that was dragged outside the door. It’s from the family.”

  Rokar took the remains of her meal from her. “Go and look. Rocky has scanned it, and it is fine.”

  She got to her feet and looked down. “Ah, this suit should be fine.”

  She went to the exit, opened the outer door and stumbled back, spitting. “Okay, that is going to have to wait. Sand storm.”

  Rocky’s voice sounded. “Not a sand storm, the biological materials for the first planting are arriving. The ship is fairly large and very close to the island. It will be past in a moment.”

  She dusted herself off, and Rumble shook the dust off his fluff. “Okay, cup of tea while I wait it is.”

  Rocky spoke softly, “Perhaps you should head to medical for a scan, now that you have bonded to your Yaluthu.”

  “His name
is Rumble, but sure. I am on my way.”

  She excused herself and headed to medical. She tried to get Rumble off her shoulder, but he was firmly attached. He growled when she tried to take him off.

  “Fine. He’s coming into the scanner with me.”

  “Good. It will be interesting to see him in action. You know the drill.”

  She settled on her mark, raised her arms forward and gripped the handhold, and the scan began.

  Rumble made a concerned sound and cuddled against her head, so she sent a warm and comforting thought to him, holding as still as she could.

  “Adelheid, we are done.”

  She sighed, soothed Rumble, and left the scanner. “So, what does the scan show?”

  Rokar was in the room with her, and he was looking at the results. “It shows that I am an idiot and that I should have allowed the damned thing here sooner.”

  She peered around him and looked at the baseline scan taken thirty years earlier. “Wow. Aside from the huge fluffy growth on my shoulder, I am reading normal right now.”

  “Not quite, but you are calm and your brain is having time to repair itself from the stresses of your talent.”

  She leaned against him and smiled when Rumble did the same.

  “Why didn’t you want him here?”

  “They self-replicate. He will moult, gorge, and his meal will go from seed to meat, and then, there will be an unknown number of offspring. He will complete his metamorphosis and end up as a raptor.”

  She smiled, “What is his lifespan?”

  “What is your lifespan? They live as long as their bonded companion.”

  She blinked. “Seriously? I would have been dreaming of Yaluthu as a child if I had known they existed.”

  “They didn’t. Not in this form. There was a wild creature that was much smaller and prone to predation. The symbiotic trigger allows them to survive and flourish.”

  “Wow. In a few thousand years, the stars will be full of Yaluthu and Terrans.”

  He chuckled. “I promise to take you on a trip when that happens.”

  She paused, “I am not going to be around in a few thousand years.”

  “If you, I, and Iratho are still linked together, you will.”