Sacrifice by Mark Blackstone

Author:Mark Blackstone [Blackstone, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Adult, GLBT, MMM, Erotica, Menage, Gay, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9781773390192
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Published: 2016-09-21T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Krux leaned forward with clenched fists on one of the wide panels in the operations center. The room was busy with Alphans and Xyrans coming and going and performing their routine space station tasks, but the commander stood silent and unmoving amidst the busyness. He stared at the viewscreen, which showed only empty black space. There was no ship dropping out of hyperspace. There was no Vega.

Krux smelled the alcohol on Jelk’s breath before he even spoke. “Well,” the diplomat said, coming up behind the commander, “your Alphan pilot has not returned. You didn’t actually expect him to, did you?”

All Krux could think about was Atlas, though. His feelings had changed since he first met the human, and Krux didn’t want to execute him. That one scene—of Atlas and Vega saying goodbye—had dominated the Xyran’s thoughts all week. Of all the rare things in the galaxy, love was the rarest. Krux chuckled to himself, and his black skin flushed red, the color then bleeding into green swirls. It may have sounded like bad poetry, but it was true. Atlas and Vega were bondmates willing to lay down their lives for each other and for other people. They understood what love sometimes called for: sacrifice.

Jelk came around to stand beside Krux. “Did you hear me, commander?”

He heard. He just didn’t want to respond. Krux nodded once, keeping his gaze fixed on the viewscreen. “I heard you.” The Xyran was torn. If Vega returned, Atlas would be spared, but what kind of life would the human have with his bondmate dead? If Vega didn’t come back, then Atlas would have to die. Krux didn’t know which option pained him more deeply, but honor demanded something be done. Krux was the commander of Tridik Base, and he had to uphold the law. Atlas had given himself as a ransom, so not carrying out execution on the human would be to cheapen his oath, to make his sacrifice worthless. This was the classic “death or dishonor” choice. Even Vega had his stake in it. He’d gone to Alpha to save his sister and had promised to return.

Jelk was still at Krux’s elbow. “So, what are you going to do?”

“Wait until the time has passed.”

Jelk checked the readout on the instrument panel. “One hour. Vega isn’t coming back, and when he doesn’t, I’ll be filing a report against you.” Krux turned a hateful glare on Jelk, but the diplomat was unfazed. “You have jeopardized this station’s mission, and you must answer for it!”

“I have used my discretion as commander of this base,” Krux said evenly, controlling his rising anger.

“And I will use my discretion in reporting you,” Jelk countered. He touched the badge on his chest. “I outrank you.”

Krux lifted his chin proudly. “In the overall mission, yes, but not in command decisions. Now get out of ops!”

Jelk looked over warily at the soldiers standing on duty near the lift. He decided not to test Krux’s authority and left.

The hour passed swiftly, and Vega didn’t return.

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