Destined: Loki's Exile, #4

Chapter One

PERCHED ON THE OVERSIZED chair in the Viltaran transport ship, Bianca wrinkled her nose at the swampy smell that permeated the cabin. The vessel had been immersed in water for several decades and sludge covered the floor and coated the chairs. Wardahl’s droids slipped and slid across the floor as they headed towards a doorway that led to another area of the vessel.

The ship travelled a short distance, then came to a stop and hovered over the East River. The floor was still opaque and they saw long hoses descending into the river. They sucked water upwards and a small hole opened in the floor. Water gushed from holes in the walls, flushing the sludge out. It splashed on the small group as well and they held their breath until the deluge was over.

That is the first shower I’ve had in months, Loki said when it finally abated. The hoses retracted and the holes disappeared. The floor returned to its usual dull silver appearance.

Soaked and shivering, Ashley squeezed water out of her shirt. At least the ship doesn’t stink anymore, she said in a forced cheerful tone. She was trying to look on the bright side of the journey they were about to embark on. On the inside, she was quaking in fear that she was about to leave her world behind forever.

Wardahl appeared in the doorway and surveyed his passengers. I am glad you approve of my purging methods, he said, or his personal droid did when it translated. A room has been allocated for your use, he added. Another robot appeared in the doorway that led to a short corridor and beckoned them. Jumping to the slick floor, they followed the metal man into the hallway. Their room was the first one on the left. The door across from theirs was probably Wardahl’s quarters. The droids had the final two rooms at the back of the ship. Filing into their room, they found supplies lined up neatly against a wall in watertight containers.

After a quick perusal, they found thin mattresses and blankets in a couple of containers. There were enough for all four of them. Bianca was slightly uneasy that the Viltaran had been so well prepared for them. He’d been spying on them with a robotic bird in the shape of a vulture for six months. He’d known far too much about them for her liking.

Leaving their gear in the boxes for now, they would need to wait for the floor to dry before they could attempt to make the room homier. Loki could have dried them and the room, but he’d expended a lot of energy and magic fighting their enemies. He was worn out and needed to rest. They returned to the main cabin and climbed back up into the hard metal chairs.

Their pilot had retreated to the cockpit, leaving them alone to talk. Knowing how well the droids could hear, their conversation wouldn’t exactly be very private. They were on an alien spacecraft headed towards a planet that was populated by an advanced, yet murderous race of creatures. It would take them three months to reach Viltar and they had no idea what they would be facing once they arrived.

Why did Colonel Pryianka and Major Lincoln turn on us? Ashley asked.

Bianca fielded that question. My father was behind it. At Ashley’s and Zan’s astounded expressions, she explained. I saw him and a few of his men when Wardahl made the floor invisible. Craig and his hunters must have followed us to Dallas and joined their army. My father was the first to point his ray gun at us.

Why did the rest of the soldiers turn on us as well? Ashley asked.

How could they possibly trust a creature like Wardahl? Loki replied. Viltarans were the ones who nearly destroyed their entire population. They didn’t want to risk them returning to wipe the rest of humanity out. He would have been very surprised if they’d managed to escape from Earth without being betrayed by their reluctant allies. As he’d suspected, Wardahl had concocted a plan to deal with their treachery.

Why would the Viltarans bother to come back? Bianca argued. They’ve already defeated humankind. The few that are left would hardly be a challenge for them.

They will be one day, Zan said. It is possible that Earth might become tempting for them to attack again if their population increases to what it once was.

Knowing how quickly humans reproduce, that should only take a few hundred years, Loki said dryly. Bianca slanted him a look and he smirked at her. His irreverent attitude had been annoying at first, but she’d grown used to his quirky nature. She still guarded her heart so tightly that it was almost impenetrable. Despite their bond, he was no closer to gaining her trust than he’d been when they’d first met. She was the greatest challenge he’d ever met, but conquering her would also have the greatest reward.

It should have bothered Bianca that Earth might one day be in peril again, but she was beyond caring. Her own kind had attempted to kill her so many times that she’d lost any shred of concern for them. Ashley and Zan were the only exceptions. They’d proven to be trustworthy.

What are we going to do for the next three months? Ashley asked. They were stuck on the small transport vessel with limited space and nothing to entertain them.

I can teach you how to fight, Zan offered. Three months would be enough to teach her the bare basics. Ashley beamed at him, happy to have something to keep her occupied.

Loki could think of several activities that he wouldn’t mind engaging in with Bianca. She sensed the direction of his mood and shot him a frown. He uttered a small sigh and tried to control his lusty thoughts.

Bianca had a feeling their journey to Viltar was going to be very long and trying. Loki seemed intent on getting closer to her, but she knew it was a pointless endeavor. She waited for Zan and Ashley to head to their room before she drew him aside. Mack scampered after them, sensing that Bianca wanted to have a private conversation with Loki. I think it would be best if we remained friends from now on, she said in a bare whisper.

Surprised and a little hurt, he crossed his arms and peered down his nose at her. Do you really believe we can be mere friends after everything we’ve been through together?

Be realistic, Loki. We’ve had sex a few times and it was great, but we both know there can never be anything more between us. It’s best to just pretend it never happened. That way when we go our separate ways, there won’t be any unpleasantness.

If that’s the way you want it, he said stiffly and turned on his heel to follow the teens to their room. She was determined to remain aloof despite the emotions he knew she felt for him. Pushing her would be pointless, so he decided to give her some room, for now. Eventually, he would show her the error in her reasoning. It would just take time to break through her resistance.  

Bianca watched Loki stalk off and fought down guilt. If they managed to make their way to Asgard and Odin couldn’t break their bond, they would be joined forever. That thought scared her more than anything. She’d been on her own from when she’d been six until she’d turned fourteen. Tran Li had become her mentor after he’d saved her from certain death, but she had been more of a duty to him than anything. Emotionally, she’d been alone for a very long time. She couldn’t imagine sharing her feelings with someone else, or having their emotions inside her head forever. Loki was feeling hurt and rejected, but she sensed a kernel of determination deep inside him. He wasn’t going to make it easy for her to keep her distance from him.

Curious about the ship, she pushed aside her personal issues and walked over to the door that led to the cockpit. It slid upwards as she approached and she stepped inside. A console full of monitors, buttons and other things she couldn’t identify stretched across one wall. Two gigantic chairs sat in front of it. The Viltaran sat on the one on the left. His bulk made it seem like a normal sized piece of furniture.

Turning his head, Wardahl examined her through scarlet eyes. His droid stood in a corner, ready to translate. Bianca didn’t say anything, she just looked around. A thick metal shield had spread across the windows to shield them from the sun. The sun wouldn’t hurt her or her friends if they kept their distance from it. But it would be very unhealthy for Wardahl if he came into contact with its deadly rays.

Do you need something? the droid asked her in a robotic monotone.

No, she replied, getting the distinct feeling that she wasn’t welcome. I was just curious. The Viltaran turned back to monitor the console, but the droid kept its beady red eyes on her. Neither of them trusted her and the feeling was mutual. While they needed each other right now, there was no guarantee that Wardahl wouldn’t turn on them the moment they were no longer useful to him.

Chapter Two

JUST AS BIANCA HAD expected, it was uncomfortable and awkward to be locked inside the flying tin can with Loki for three long months. He seemed to be there every time she turned around. While Ashley and Zan got naked together every chance they could, Bianca was determined not to succumb to Loki’s charm again. The last thing she needed was to lose her heart to him. His people would never accept her, even if she could use magic. To them, she would always be a lowly human.

Their journey was almost over and Ashley had proven to be an adept student of martial arts. While she wasn’t strong, she was at least fast. Bianca sparred with her sometimes, to give her someone different to practice with. She always pulled her punches and kicks so she wouldn’t hurt her friend. It would take years before Ashley would become proficient, but she was making progress.

Mack had become bored and restless during their long journey. He’d taken to playing pranks on everyone. Bianca looked around uneasily, realizing the little scamp wasn’t in sight. Has anyone seen Mack lately? she asked.

Loki roused himself from brooding about his ongoing failure to convince Bianca to get naked with him again. He looked around just as the door to the cockpit whooshed open. Wardahl stomped out, glared at them, then clomped towards the back of the ship.

Uh, oh, Ashely said, then giggled nervously. I think Mack might have pulled another prank.

Wardahl returned with the monkey dangling from his gigantic hand. He tossed Mack at Bianca and she caught the poor frightened animal. Keep your pet on a leash from now on, the Viltaran ordered. His translator droid appeared in the door to the cockpit to relay his directive. If it damages one of my droids again, I will eject the little pest from the ship.

He’ll behave himself, Bianca promised. Mack cowered against her until Wardahl turned away, then stuck his tongue out petulantly.

Ashley managed to wait until the door to the cockpit slid down before she burst into giggles. What did you do? she whispered.

Mack demonstrated the prank he’d pulled, using Bianca as a pretend droid. He mimicked taking a plate off the back of a robot’s neck and chewing through the wires, then the droid going limp and lifeless afterwards.

Why did you disable the robot? Bianca asked. Mack shrugged, unable to express himself.

He is as bored as we are, Loki said. Mack nodded in agreement and leaped onto his shoulder to snuggle against him.

According to Wardahl, we only have a few days left before we’ll reach Viltar, Zan said. I suggest we all be on our best behavior until then.

Mack made a face, but nodded reluctantly. They’d all been on the receiving end of his pranks and their tempers were beginning to fray. Zan ran a hand over the pattern that had been shaved into the back of his head. Mack had stolen Ra from its sheath and the duo had apparently conspired together. Ra had carefully shorn a path of Zan’s hair, leaving a realistic outline of a dagger behind. Bianca had scolded them both, but she’d secretly been amused.

The next morning, or what passed for morning in the vast darkness of space, the door to the cockpit slid upwards and Wardahl appeared. He entered the room, towering over them even though they were seated high on the oversized chairs. He was so tall and large that they looked like children in comparison. His personal droid came to a stop just behind him. They were so used to the robot acting as a translator that the words were almost like they came from the Viltaran himself.

My calculations were out by a fraction, he said in his guttural, unpleasant language.

What does that mean? Bianca queried.

We will arrive at Viltar within the next hour, the alien replied. The fuel he’d created was more efficient than he’d expected. I have done my best to ensure we will not be discovered, but we must prepare for an attack. He’d explained to them previously how he’d tinkered with the ship to hide their arrival from his kin. He couldn’t hide them completely from their sensors, but they might be able to sneak in if no one was watching the skies. The sun will be rising an hour after we land. I will need to be under cover before it appears.

What if we’re detected? Ashley asked.

Then we will most likely be shot down, the Viltaran replied. I suggest you stay seated and buckle yourselves in. With that pronouncement, he clanked back to the cockpit. His metal foot rang with each step, but his other footstep was almost silent on the dull silver floor.

He’d lost his right leg below the knee during the war and had been left behind when his kin had left. The Viltarans believed that anyone with a defect wasn’t worthy. He’d sought Bianca and Loki out after learning they could use magic. With their help, he wanted revenge against Uldar, the leader of their people. If he couldn’t defeat Uldar himself, he would use them to take his former ruler down.

Wardahl stopped at the door and looked at them over his shoulder. The ship’s sensors have detected only a very small number of my kin on Viltar, he told them. The atmosphere has become dangerously toxic. It would seem some sort of catastrophe has occurred since my kin returned home.

What sort of catastrophe could it have been? Bianca asked.

Earth was the last planet we’d discovered that was within our reach, he replied. Knowing my kin, they turned on each other once they no longer had anyone else to do battle with.

If that is the case, then Uldar could already be dead, Loki pointed out.

Wardahl shook his head in denial. He is too wily to allow himself to be bested easily. He is there somewhere and you will help me find him. He stepped inside and the door swished shut.

The Viltarans are so bloodthirsty that they would turn on their own kind? Zan said in amazement. How can a race that is so advanced also be so brutal?

It’s a mystery, Bianca replied. She took Wardahl’s warning to heart and fumbled with the buckles on her harness until they were as tight as she could make them. Mack jumped onto her lap and huddled against her. He wasn’t real flesh and blood and he wouldn’t get hurt if they were shot down. He was afraid for her and the rest of his friends.

Loki, Zan and Ashley also buckled themselves in. They weren’t sure what precautions the droids were taking to secure themselves in the event of a disaster. Being made of metal, it was doubtful they would be mortally wounded if they crashed.

I wonder what state Viltar will be in when we get there? Ashley said. Earth had become a barren wasteland after most of the population, plants and animals had died. It was showing signs of recovery, but it was still weak and sick. She wasn’t thrilled with the idea of visiting another planet that could very well be in the same sad shape. But they were stuck on this course and they would have to ride it out to the bitter end.

Wardahl had shown them a way for them to escape Viltar. Hopefully, they could use it to find somewhere safe to live. All they had to do was help him kill his leader, then they would be free to go wherever they liked. Something told her it wasn’t going to be that easy. Nothing had been so far, so why should this be any different?

Chapter Three

AS THE MINUTES TICKED by, their tension grew. Bianca gripped the harness that cradled her when a harsh, guttural curse came from the cockpit. Loki’s eyes went to her and they shared a long look. Then the ship lurched as it was hit with a projectile. Wardahl shouted something and Loki went pale. We’re going down, he said far more calmly than he felt. Sometimes, he wished he didn’t have a gift for understanding alien languages.

Descending far too rapidly, they spun around in dizzying circles. Ashley squeezed her eyes shut and held onto Zan’s hand tightly. Her teeth clicked together when they hit the ground and she bit her tongue. Blood pooled in her mouth and she swallowed it down, trying not to vomit it back up again. The ship skidded for several hundred yards, then shuddered when it hit something. It was the first of many obstructions that were in