Episode Nine - Code Four (Part 2)

The hologram vanished and Eira turned to Florian, radiating with palpable excitement. "Was that the rumored virtual communications system?"

"It's no longer a rumor," Florian smirked, forgetting how backward life in Skocia could be. This must have been a revelation to her. "You've just experienced it for yourself."

Lars cleared his throat, breaking into Eira's fascination. "As you've all heard, we'll be departing in the morning. I expect everyone to pack efficiently and get a good night's rest. I want all of you to be functioning at your peak. The mission brief would have been sent to your personal communicators. Go through it once before dawn. For now, does anyone have any questions?"

"No, Captain," they mumbled.

Lars nodded. "Excellent. Then I'll see you all in the morning."

Eira ambushed him before he could leave. She hadn't seen him for a week since he holed himself inside his office. She didn't want to think that he was avoiding her. Surely as the Captain, he had many duties to attend to. "Lars, are you headed to the gym?"

"Yes," he answered reluctantly.

She pretended not to hear the unwillingness in his tone. "Great. After you're done with your routine, care to spar with me?"

"Save your breath, Eira." Florian wrapped an arm around Koga's neck. The two of them shared a goofy grin. "The Captain only spars when he's fighting for real. He rarely spars with us himself."

Lars was annoyed by how unfeeling they painted him to be. "That's because you train with the Lieutenants every morning. You don't need me." Glancing at Eira, he replied. "I'll spar with you. Make sure you don't regret it."

"Unbelievable!" Koga scoffed, the feeling of betrayal like a knife in his chest. "We always thought you were too busy to spar with us."

Over his shoulder, Lars coolly replied. "That's because you never asked."

"He's right, Koga." Florian kept his gaze on the Captain's and Eira's retreating backs. "We should have asked."

---------------

"Has anyone ever told you that you wear too little clothes?" Lars remarked gruffly as he tackled Eira to the ground. Her soft, fragrant skin was distracting as hell. Eira was a fucking temptation he didn't need.

Beaming shrewdly, she wrapped both legs around his waist and used her weight to roll them over. Glancing down at him, she smiled triumphantly. "You're the first."

"Well, it's going to be a new rule in this unit," he muttered, realizing their new position placed her core right on top of his hardening groin. Fuck, this was pure torture.

Fingers digging into his chest, her nose brushed his. Her breath teased along his skin. "Is the big, bad Captain afraid of me?"

He tamped down a shudder, a flash of heat awakening in his molten gaze. "No. But you can't tempt a man and expect him not to react." His eyes narrowed. "Was this your reason for asking me to be your sparring partner?"

"Of course not," she denied sincerely, looking affronted. "I truly want to know where I stand in hand-to-hand combat since you're the number one champion in Ataxia. So, tell me, how would you rate me?"

Back on neutral ground, Lars contemplated her question, reflecting on all her moves he had countered. "Your speed and agility reflexes are outstanding but, you tend to read your opponent too quickly and miss out the necessary cues. For example, when I tricked you into thinking that I'd feign right, you fell for it easily. That's a rookie mistake. If you had focused on my feet, you would have noticed that I was preparing to attack from the left. But that doesn't mean I'm asking you to shift your focus there. You have to constantly be on the lookout — the limbs, facial cues, body language...all of these things will help to change the tide of a fight."

Eira nodded attentively, as if it was natural to sit on one's Captain. "I see. Was that why you kept repeating the stance? To see if I'd notice a pattern?"

Lars ignored how she was distractedly petting his chest, willing his body to calm the fuck down. "Yes. It's good practice to train your eyes to catch on these quick cues. It's challenging but not impossible."

She smiled beautifully, green eyes dancing. "Kaaqa, Lars. I'll keep what you have taught me in mind. I hope you're willing to spar with me the next time."

He grunted. "No problem. And how long do you plan to sit on me?"

A glint of mischief entered her eyes and she lowered back down, melding her breasts onto his heaving chest. "What if I like it right here?"

"Eira." He gnashed his teeth together, forcing his hands to keep still.

Her lips grazed the close-shaven surface of his jaw, the roughness chasing shivers to the throbbing peaks of her nipples. "Lars."

He attempted to sit up but with a surprising amount of force, she pushed him back down. "Not until you answer my question. You've been avoiding me for the entire week. Why is that?"

"There's no reason, Eira. I was just busy."

"Kiawe. Liar," she accused without heat, cupping his cheeks. "And this is your punishment." Dipping her head, Eira captured his lips in a soft kiss, enough for him to pull away if he wanted to.

But he didn't.

Lars gave in to the hunger plaguing him. She wasn't wrong to assume that he had been avoiding her. Every time he saw her, his body tightened with want and he was afraid his discipline would slip and reveal himself. Cradling her nape, he slanted his mouth harder across hers, eating her up.

Eira melted into his burning kiss, bringing her body fully onto his – the feel of his chest was hard, sculptured, and hot. He consumed her with a lack of inhibition that would have frightened her had he not been gentle.

When he finally let her up for air, Eira moved to hug him tightly. She didn't speak but Lars felt the change of her emotions, the slightest trembling. Hand on her bare back, he traced the line of her spine in repeated, soothing motions. "What's wrong?"

Had he been too rough?

Eira breathed in the scent of the man she trusted with her life. Composing herself, she drew back a fraction. Their eyes met. "It's twice that I didn't feel disgusted with kissing."

His eyes widened, before narrowing into suspicious slits. Dark thoughts ran through his mind. "Eira, I –"

"Oh my!" Koga walked in, unwittingly ruining the moment. He quickly spun away, covering his eyes. "I'll pretend that I didn't see anything. My eyes are stealthily averted."

Eira gave Lars an unreadably sad smile before climbing off. It took everything in him not to haul her back and demand what her expression meant. "I'll see you in the morning," she said, leaving hastily without a backward glance.

Lars got up, lasering Koga with an irritated glare. "Make sure you clean up the gym."

Duly chastised, Koga saluted him. "You got it, Captain."

Walking back to his quarters, Lars's skin tightened uncomfortably at what Eira was trying to tell him. His mind refused to wander into a territory he couldn't handle, not without yearning for blood. This was the reason why he felt unworthy to be with her…the fact that he had failed to keep his promise…that he had left her vulnerable. Yes, he understood that it had been out of their control but still, it ate at him.

What the fuck had she endured?

Hands balled tightly, he promised to get the truth out of her when they were alone. He had to know.

---------------

"We can't use the phantom to locate the Oasis," Eira insisted stubbornly, refusing to board the aircraft.

"Why not?" Anaelle snapped, annoyed that she wouldn't be able to get some extra shut eye. Not a morning person, she was disgusted by how everyone appeared pumped and ready to slay.

"The Oasis is a moving island on top of a Giant Rochel. It's a mutated descendent of the world's largest tortoise from the old era. The Giant Rochel is a nocturnal predator that stays hidden beneath the surface during daylight," Eira explained, looking at everyone but Lars. "This predator never stays in one spot, and you won't be able to track it with technology due to sandstorms and electromagnetic interference. Only a Skocian predator can scent where it is. Think of it as a symbiosis relationship. Creatures depend on the Oasis for food and water, while the Giant Rochel gets to hunt wandering preys."

"Oh, that's convenient," Koga grumbled. "And why wasn't this information given to us beforehand?"

"Everyone, calm down." Florian stepped in, forever the peacemaker. "Eira knows Skocia better than we do. We need to find a way to the Oasis, not argue about it." Glancing at Lars, he asked. "What's your call, Captain?"

Lars wasn't keen on leaving the phantom behind but, they needed to find the Oasis. What irked him more was the fact Eira wouldn't meet his eyes. "What do you propose we do, Eira?"

"We'll need humpbacks. They're adept at handling unpredictable Skocian weather. Each humpback can support two passengers, so we'll need three tails."

Lars nodded. "We'll have to take the underground train to Ataxia II. I'll send a request in for the humpbacks to be readied at our disposal."

Eira glanced at Florian questioningly. "Ataxia II?"

"It's our administrative base. Ataxia stretches over Eileris and Skocia's borders – roughly two hundred and thirty-six metres per square feet, as big as an island. Ataxia II is located beneath Skocia."

"I had no idea."

"It's where top-secret information is kept by high-level officials, although the kill force are permitted entry from time to time."

"And you've been there before?"

He shook his head vaguely. "Only Captain's been there. For the rest of us, it'll be our first time."