A Lost Kitten (Sea-anan Saga)

  Copyright © 2012 Jessica A Kong

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 1475143400

  ISBN-13: 9781475143409

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-62345-903-1

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2012906240

  CreateSpace

  North Charleston, SC

  The feeling was enjoyable…

  John was drifting off to sleep when he felt soft lips press against his own. His heart leapt in his chest, waking him. He did not wait to respond. He instantly showed his talented Jasira how a McCall kissed.

  He had longed for this kiss since the last time. Her kiss was how he remembered. Warm. Hungry. Arousing. John growled. He lured her tongue into his mouth where he could savor it. Her taste made his trip to Surreal worth it.

  John felt Jasira’s fingers travel down his chest and abdomen, then to his throbbing root. His head fell back, over the tub on a loud groan. “Jasira.” He adjusted his hips, giving her better access to his inflamed body.

  His racing heart banged harder against his ribs as Jasira gripped him firmly. John felt the world tilt on its axis. Surrendering to Jasira’s sensual touch, he clung to the sides of the iron tub and closed his eyes more tightly.

  “I want you, Jasira,” John huskily admitted. He opened his eyes. Through their glow, he saw the ceiling. He glanced around. The kitchen was empty.

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to my best friend and supportive husband, Alan, and to my motivating triplets—Ashley, Brandon, and Christian. They keep me active and young at heart.

  And also, to my loving and patient grandmother Natividad Perez, who raised me with the aid of my role model and aunt, Marina Perez. Together they made me the woman that I am.

  Contents

  The feeling was enjoyable…

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Friday, the 15th of May, Year 2020

  Sea-anan Empire, Sea Base Ten

  John McCall peered through the glass of the cockpit. His preternatural senses were on high alert. He knew the location of every enemy vessel, including the path their shots took. His small, silver Starfighter swerved then spiraled upward. It made a sharp turnabout and returned fire at the alien vessel pursuing it. The enemy warship exploded. John felt avenged.

  A blinding light suddenly enveloped that sector of space. Once it dimmed, John scanned the direction it came from. What he searched for was no longer there. An overwhelming sorrow consumed him. The space station, Sea Base Ten, was destroyed.

  It was more than his latest creation that went up in flames. It was the knowledge that so many lives were lost. The inconceivable torture that innocent men, women, and children endured before they were savagely massacred would forever haunt him. John blinked rapidly so his tears would not distort his vision. How could this have happened? How could it be that such monsters existed?

  John veered to dodge another attack. He retaliated on the enemy ships with a heartfelt vengeance. He was determined to hold the intruders back for as long as possible. The escaping ally Starships needed time to reach their maximum warp speed. John meant to give them that time.

  He counted the Starfighters that assisted him. Only three out of seven hundred remained. Another bolt of intense pain shot through his chest. He vowed that if he survived the raid, he would locate the one who gave the order to attack Sea Base Ten. He would hunt down Daehog and kill him.

  John’s thoughts were interrupted when he spotted his brother Mathew sail his ship alongside their sister’s ship. Mathew’s anxious voice boomed over the helmet’s communicator.

  “Areo! You, Bobby, John, and I are the last four remaining. We need to lure the rest of these aircraft away from those Starships. Are you all right? Can you make it?”

  John glanced at Areo’s ship. His sister was badly injured. Yet Areo had refused to go to med lab. Instead, she had boarded a Starfighter to help them hold back the enemy. John was proud of her, but her injuries concerned him. She had lost a lot of blood.

  “Let’s show them what we Seacats are made of.”

  Areo’s voice sounded strong and positive. It fortified John’s determination and quelled his fears. His twin brother, Bob, flew his Starfighter to the left of Areo. John positioned his ship above hers. For a moment, he considered how he and his brothers surrounded her. They were extremely protective of the women in their family. His heart filled with pride and love.

  Mathew’s voice sounded steadier. “John, you flip. Bob, go left. I’ll go right. Areo, down the middle. Break!”

  The ships’ formation opened up like a flower. They executed the tactical maneuver flawlessly. Their feline ancestors would be proud of them, even if they were hybrids and considered an abomination by the Oceanan purebloods.

  John spotted an enemy vessel swooping down on his little brother’s ship. He jerked forward in his seat. “Mathew, look out! Above you!” he shouted.

  Mathew’s ship fell into a gyrating nosedive. Like the expert fighter pilot he was, Mathew recovered and glided his ship into position directly behind the warship, opening fire. It exploded into an array of shining lights.

  John covered his face with his left hand. Bob’s anxious voice expressed what he felt.

  “That was a close one, bro. Stay frosty, will ya!”

  “I hear you. Thanks, Piscean,” replied Mathew, using John’s codename.

  John inhaled a deep breath and lowered his hand. “Thank me later, little brother. Stay alert.” He caught sight of the last White Star carrying civilians blasting into hyperdrive.

  “That was the last ship, you guys,” spoke Areo. “It’s time we leave this nightmare.”

  “Alright then, pick your dance partners, people. Lead them in the direction opposite our fleeing ships,” instructed John. “Lead them as far away as you can. Then, if possible, you know what to do with them. Afterwards, head immediately for Sea Base Five.” He paused to gather his emotions.

  He did not want to release his siblings from his side. As the eldest, he felt it was his job to watch over them, even though they were of age and excellent fighters. He loved them dearly, and he wanted no harm to befall them.

  “Please, be careful. I love you.”

  “We love you, too, brother,” replied Areo.

  John left first. He glanced over his right shoulder. One of the larger battleships followed close behind him. He had hoped for two. He prayed his brothers had better luck than he did. He did not want his little sister dealing with two ships in her injured state.

  Eight hours passed. John continued to fly through unexplored space. He pressed several knobs on the control panel. A star chart appeared on the small screen to the left of the dashboard. For the umpteenth time, he instructed the computer to pinpoint his location on the map. It malfunctioned. Again.

  John sighed and leaned his head back on the seat. He was clueless as to where he was. He sensed no planet nearby. He may or may not be in an area patrolled by one of their allies, the Space Guardians. He checked his gauges. His tank had plenty of fuel. He had to make a choice.

  He decided to follow a straight path. Hopefully, he would find a place to land. He pushed forward on the accelerator. Withi
n seconds, the ship was at warp ten and heading further into unknown regions.

  After two days, John was extremely edgy and starving. He had been surviving on rations meant for short journeys. His large appetite made it difficult to endure the hunger. Only discipline kept him from eating all his provisions in one meal. And though he was part feline, John disliked having a tail. He did not have to look behind him to know the enemy still pursued him. They were determined to capture or destroy him, for he was a Seacat, an elite warrior of the Sea-anan Empire.

  The feline empire was at the forefront in technology and had a tenacious, resilient, and exceptionally skilled military. No matter the rank, all the warriors upheld the law. Peace reigned in feline space. This was why the attack surprised them all. Who would want to destroy peace? Plus, no humanoid familiar with the Imperial Warriors believed someone was powerful enough or foolish enough to challenge them.

  When John learned that traitors were involved, he understood how the power hungry thug had succeeded. Daehog knew to conquer the dimension Guildhall he would have to destroy the only military force capable of stopping him. The Seacats.

  John’s sharp senses routinely scanned space. Unexpectedly, they sensed something other than the enemy ship. His thoughts of hunger vanished. John sat taller in his seat and focused harder to make certain. Yes, it was there. A planet. He quickly checked his fuel gauge. He had plenty of energy to make it.

  John flipped his ship around and increased speed. He was not going to unleash the enemy’s carnage on more innocent lives. He released a series of laser fire and homing missiles, each with specific destinations in mind—the main engines, the guns, and the bridge.

  With persistence, he swerved and dove around the large warship, taking risks to hit his marks. Sparks erupted in the cockpit. John ignored the streams of smoke that sailed across his eyes. He refused to die until his desired outcome was achieved.

  The darkness of space lit up, as did John’s face. He had never been more proud of his brothers, Bob and Alan, or his sisters, Angelica and Flora. They had taken the best technology of each known alien race and created a greater technology of their own.

  With his tail vanquished, John quickly ran a diagnostic scan of his ship. He looked at the small monitor display screen and clenched his jaw. He was not happy. The enemy had managed to hit the fuselage. He was losing energy fast. John increased his speed and aimed for the distant planet, praying he could reach it before his energy ran out.

  He reached the planet’s atmosphere seconds before the fuel depleted. The ship’s controls instantly shutdown. Luckily, the planet’s gravity had hold of the ship and pulled it to the surface. John gripped the steering lever and struggled to keep the ship’s nose up, and away from the mountains. Spotting a patch of even ground, he did his best to land the ship on it. The Starfighter skimmed the ground and bounced. It skidded, turned, and flipped several times before it came to a halt at the base of a mountain.

  John opened his eyes and glanced around. He was relieved to have survived the crash. Through the smoke-filled cockpit, he could see the tinted glass in front was shattered, but it miraculously held together better than the dashboard that was compressed inward and pushed downward over his legs.

  He unstrapped his seat belt and tried to move. His elation was short lived. A sharp pain pierced his rib cage and right leg. His legs were pinned beneath the ship’s controls. He closed his eyes and took several cleansing breaths. He had to concentrate on getting out of the ship, not on his pain.

  John removed his helmet, then lifted his left arm. He was about to send out a Mayday signal via his wristguard but decided against it. The enemy, Daehog and his Dominion, might pick up the signal and attack the planet. He was on his own for now.

  John bent forward and tried to pry his legs from beneath the dashboard. No use. He needed help. His sharp senses detected several life forces approaching. John readjusted his translator around his right ear, hoping the strangers were not more enemies. He was not in the best position to fend them off. He slipped his hand beneath the dashboard. He reached inside his right boot, found the hidden sheath, and pulled out his Shuto blade. Just in case.

  A few miles away, a small herd of camel-like podidaes galloped across the dusty terrain. Upon their backs rode six alien merchants on their way to the planet’s main trading post. One of the merchants had spotted the failing ship in the sky. The group had agreed to follow the ship and help the survivors.

  Outside, the six alien merchants arrived. They hopped off their rides and scrambled over the wreckage. The cockpit’s heavily tinted glass kept them from seeing inside. Two of the males slipped their fingerlike appendages underneath the broken frame and pulled the hatch open. All six males peered down at John, who was shielding his face from the sun as he looked back at them.

  John carefully leaned back on the pillow. He gingerly fingered the wrap around his bare torso and watched Dr. Yik wrap his broken leg securely in more of the same waterproof bandage.

  The man resembled a bald, eight-foot human with the exception of a third, unblinking eye at the center of his forehead. It was that unblinking eye that had John on edge. It stared at him, while the other two eyes focused on his leg.

  “Is that who you are?” asked the doctor in his native language.

  The small translator hooked around John’s ear deciphered the dialect and played it back in his ear. John noticed the doctor’s third eye was regarding the insignia on his belt. He nodded. “I’m a Seacat,” replied John into the mouthpiece. The small computer instantly converted his English words to the man’s language and played it back through John’s wristguards.

  “I know the Seacats.” The eye returned to John’s face. “They are not like you. Their symbol is not like this one.”

  John looked at him quizzically. His people had never traveled this far into space. The grand opening of Sea Base Ten was supposed to be the next chapter in their lives. They would have eventually explored the area had it not been for Daehog and his followers, the Dominion.

  “What do you mean?”

  “The real Seacats live on Oceanica. They come to Cerko to trade. They are felines.” Dr. Yik lifted his head to look at John with all three eyes. “You are not one of them.”

  John wondered if the felines the doctor was speaking about were perhaps survivors from Oceana. It was a long shot, since Oceana had exploded eleven years ago. None of his warriors had ever found any survivors.

  “What style of insignia did they wear?”

  “Same colors. Round, not oval. Inner circle round, not slit.”

  John understood that the doctor meant the color and shape of his badge. The badge represented a feline’s eye during dilation. His insignia was oval in shape, red on blue. The red dilated into a slit. It had a small black dot in the middle. Dr. Yik’s round description meant there were Oceanan survivors.

  Wow. “Well, I’m not from Oceanica. I’m from the Sea-anan Empire. I’m a different type of Seacat. When was the last time you saw these feline Seacats?”

  “Four full moons ago. They trade for electronic parts and medical supplies.” Dr. Yik stood. “These bandages come off in one full moon cycle, if you are healed.”

  John felt dwarfed lying next to the giant. “I don’t plan on staying here for that long.” Dr. Yik’s three eyes stared at him without blinking. They made John feel like he was being analyzed. “I need to get back to the empire. Where can I obtain a ship?”

  “Tavern in town. Merchants go there to trade over drinks.” Dr. Yik walked to a wooden wall cabinet on the far right corner of the room. Unlike other tall humanoids who had the tendency to slouch, the doctor walked erect. “You are not strong enough to walk there.” He opened the left panel and extracted a small vial from the top shelf.

  John sat up and carefully lowered his leg. He reached for the retracted Maru staff he wore on his belt. He extended it to use the silver staff as a cane. The doctor stepped in front of him.

  “This helps with pain.” He
held out the vial for John.

  “I have no money to pay you.” Still, the doctor insisted he take it. “Thank you. I will repay you. A Seacat always repays his debts.”

  Dr. Yik regarded John closely. He delayed in answering, which made John a bit anxious to escape his three piercing orbs.

  “I know. Seacats are noble. I trust the Seacats. But you are different. Can I trust you?”

  If he’d had more time, John would have told the good doctor his trust was misplaced. Unfortunately, he had a war to return to.

  “If you trust those felines, then you most certainly can trust me. You will be paid for your services with funds, not goods.”

  Dr. Yik blinked once. Finally, thought John.

  “You think you can walk?” Two of Dr. Yik’s eyes scanned John from head to toe. The third remained on his face. “I think you will fall down.”

  “I’ll be all right. Just point me in the right direction.”

  John placed the vial in his shirt pocket. He then used his staff to balance as he followed the doctor to the front door. Moving was slow, but at least he was mobile. Outside, Dr. Yik pointed left. It was like looking at an old western town with the exception of steel buildings mixed in with wooden ones.

  “Follow the signs.” All three eyes focused on John. “If you can.”

  John pressed his lips together. He owed the doctor for his services, so he kept his remark to himself and started walking. He read the signs that hung outside each building. Some made him laugh; others were simply odd. He paused outside a large wooden building at the center of town. The sign read, Road Kill Bar and Inn. John shook his head.

  He hobbled inside the building, following behind two towering, snakelike aliens. Neither held the door for him. He smothered the growl that rose to his lips. He saw the bar was on his left. He sat on the closest barstool. To his right were two empty seats.

  While he waited for the bartender to notice him, he looked around. The dim room was full of unfamiliar races. No doubt each one was from this side of space. Not many of them looked like they were from peaceful planets. John’s preternatural senses stayed on high alert.