Chapter 12: No News is Good News
Datak's head banged against the wall in time with Nolan's thrusts. The Lawkeeper groaned with every snap of his hips as he drove into Datak vigorously.
"Fuck, yes, Nolan, harder!" Datak begged.
"I told you, love, that you'd like my dominant side. Was I right, or what?" Nolan asked with a laugh.
"Anything you say," Datak moaned. He would agree with whatever his husband said, just so the raw fucking continued… indefinitely.
Nolan chuckled, as he doubled his husband in two, and pounded into Datak's ass. The pair made love all last night, until dawn's first light broke through the bedroom window, and as much as Nolan wanted it to last as well, he knew that he was nearing his limit.
Nolan came with a shout, as he thrust a few more times, and collapsed on top of Datak. Exhausted, Nolan lay there panting while Datak jerked himself off.
"Sorry, love, but I'm beat," Nolan apologized as he rolled off Datak.
"That is not a problem. As far as honeymoons go, I would say that this one was spectacular."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I enjoyed it immensely, but damn, don't we have to get up soon?"
"Yes, we do, my love. That is, if you want to attend the reception that our children planned for us?"
"Ah, I guess we'd better go. I don't want to make Irisa angry, and she'd be really pissed if we didn't go to our own party. I don't think Alak and Christie would appreciate it either. I just hope that I don't fall face first into the punch bowl."
"Now that would be a sight," Datak giggled.
"Laugh it up, love, but I can't help it. We humans need sleep. I'm still trying to figure out how you keep going, and going, and going. Don't you ever get tired?"
"Castithans have exceptional endurance. We tire, but not like humans. It takes a long time to wear us down."
"So I've learned… the hard way."
"I would like to debate this subject with you more, but if we do not get up soon, the party will start without us."
"I suppose we'd better get dressed then. I am the one who wanted a party, and after the bathing ritual, I really need a party and copious amounts of booze."
Datak laughed. "You're going to start drinking this early in the day? Please, do not embarrass me. The Castithan Order and the Council of Elders are on the guest list. They will probably make a short appearance, so try to stay upright until after they leave."
"I'll do my best, Datak, but I can't make any promises. If you see me start to fall, just prop me up in a corner somewhere. I can sleep standing up if I have to."
"All right, but come on," Datak said, taking his husband's hand and pulling him out of bed. "We must hurry before we are almost late again."
Nolan smiled and followed Datak into the bathroom. "That wasn't our fault. We have Rafe to thank for that, but I guess we're lucky he didn't blow our heads off."
"Indeed," Datak agreed. "That was a bit too close for comfort."
"Yeah, I can still see the look of rage in that Castithan Priest's eye. One more minute and I think we all would've bought the farm."
"You have no idea, Nolan. Thank the gods that Rafe McCawley finally saw reason."
"Please, promise me that you won't do something that stupid again. I'd like this marriage to last… longer than a day."
"I give you my word, Nolan, I will not try to kill Rafe McCawley again, unless he deserves killing."
Nolan chuckled. "Thanks, darling, but I suppose that I can't ask for more. After all, it's you we're talking about here."
Datak raised an eyebrow. "I think that I have just been insulted."
"Yup, but I love you, so don't take offense."
Datak smirked as he and the Lawkeeper dressed for the reception. He would've retaliated, but he knew that Nolan was sincere, so he let it go, because he loved the pink-skinned oaf too.
"Where are the honeymooners?" Tommy asked.
"Who knows? They're always late."
"Are you really going to move in with him and Datak?"
"No, I am going to stay right where I am. I don't think that I could put up with Datak for very long."
"Um, you could move in with me?"
Irisa smiled at Tommy. "Maybe, I'll think about it." This wasn't the first time that Tommy mentioned moving in with him, but now that Nolan and Datak got married, she was seriously considering the offer.
"I wish you would. I think we're a good team and I'd like to make it a permanent arrangement."
Irisa nodded thoughtfully. "We'll see."
"Okay, I won't push," Tommy, promised. "I just hope that we'll end up like Nolan and Datak one day."
"I'm not sure that's what you want, Tommy," Irisa replied laughing. "Here they come now."
"Jeez, Nolan looks like someone dragged him through a knothole."
"Uh huh, and I'll bet I can guess what they've done all night."
"Ugh, please don't give me more nauseating visuals."
"Okay, but you did say that you wanted to follow in their footsteps."
"Ah, scratch that thought. Let's just be us."
"I'm with you, Tommy. I doubt that we could keep up with them anyway."
Dr. Yewll read over the message one more time, shaking her head in disbelief. How stupid could the Votans in San Francisco be? What were they thinking when they came up with this idea?
"Oh dear," she said aloud. "I guess I'll have to tell Nolan." Dr. Yewll was on her way to the wedding reception when the message came in, and this would seriously put a damper on the festivities. Unfortunately, people needed to know what was going on, so she hurried out of the office and down the street to the NeedWant.
The Doc spotted Nolan, talking with Kenya, as soon as she entered the building. He was just raising a glass to his lips, when she grabbed him by the arm, and pulled him to the side.
"What the hell, Doc?" Nolan asked in surprise.
Datak was at the bar getting himself a drink when he saw the doctor pull his husband aside. She looked flustered as she and Nolan talked animatedly near the front door.
Datak left his drink and made his way through the crowd. He could tell that something was amiss by Nolan and the doctor's body language, and he didn't need any trouble on his second day of wedded bliss. He wanted to stay married to the Lawkeeper … longer than a day as well.
"What is wrong?" Datak asked, barging headlong into the conversation.
"Ah, we might have a problem, Datak. I have to leave and go to the Doc's office. You stay here and keep the party going."
"No, I most certainly will not. If you're leaving then so am I. Now, what is the problem?"
"Fine, Datak, but let's go discuss this in private, okay?"
"Of course," Datak agreed, as he and Nolan left the NeedWant with Dr. Yewll.
Once back at the Doc's office, Nolan hailed the Mayor, Tommy, and Irisa. Everyone needed briefing on the situation.
"Are you sure about the information that you received?" Datak asked.
"Yes," Dr. Yewll stated emphatically. "It was very clear, and I'll bet the Votans hated releasing the notice, but they didn't have a choice. They don't know how far it has spread, but the Votans are sure that at least two made it out of San Francisco."
"What's going on?" The Mayor asked as she entered the office with Irisa and Tommy hot on her heels. "I was enjoying the reception, but I guess it's over now, since the couple left the building."
"Yeah, I didn't even get a drink," Nolan grumbled.
"Drink later, people. We have a crisis to advert," the Doc chastised.
"What is it?" Irisa asked. She had a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach and the room was spinning around her. She didn't drink anything, so she knew it wasn't from alcohol.
"Irisa, Irisa," Tommy called out. He'd managed to catch her on the way down and gently lowered her to the floor.
Nolan, Tommy, and the Doc, stared at Irisa with concern as she slowly opened her eyes.
"She fainted," Doc Yewll was saying, "but her vitals are fine."
"Sweetheart, can you hear me?" Nolan asked.
"I can hear you. Please, stop hovering. I need some air."
"Back off. I'm going to sit her up," Doc Yewll shouted as she pushed Irisa into a sitting position and checked her pulse again.
"I'm okay, really. I just got dizzy, but I'll be fine."
"Was it another vision?" Nolan asked hesitantly.
"I think so, Nolan, but it was strange. I couldn't make sense of it. I got images of something that didn't look quite human. It attacked Christie McCawley in the vision, but I don't think it was trying to kill her. It's just bizarre."
"Ah, that's doesn't sound as strange as you might think, honey" Nolan replied. "Actually, the vision is spot on."
"Will someone start explaining now?" The Mayor demanded. "If Defiance is in danger, then we need to act quickly."
Tommy picked Irisa up off the floor and sat her in a chair while Nolan turned the conversation over to Doc Yewll.
"The Doc will explain. She received a message this morning from the Votans in San Francisco, and it's not good news."
"All right, people, here's the scoop, but you probably won't believe it. I read the message several times before considering its merit. At first, I thought it was a joke."
"That was a very short party. I wonder why everybody left in such a hurry."
"I don't know, Alak, but something is definitely up. Did you see Doc Yewll?"
"Yeah, she looked scared."
"I know. Maybe we should go to the mines and get my father. What do you think?"
"Well, my father went with Nolan and Doc Yewll, so I figure they'll let us know something when they get done. I think that I should go to the arch in case the Mayor needs me to make a broadcast."
"Okay, I'll come with you."
"No, Christie, please stay here. I think the ranch is the safest place for you now. When your father gets home, he can protect you. I don't want to have to worry about your safety."
"What if there's something dangerous outside? I don't want to worry about you either, Alak. I think we should stay together."
"Please, this won't take long. I'll come back as soon as I know something. Just stay here and don't go outside. I'll make a broadcast when I get to the arch, so you'll know that I arrived okay."
Christie didn't like it. She didn't want Alak going out by himself, but she thought it better not to argue.
"Fine, but let me know as soon as you get there. If I don't hear anything, I'm coming after you."
Alak smiled and pulled Christie into his arms. "I promise, love," Alak replied, kissing her passionately before he left.
Christie watched after her husband. She still didn't like the thought of Alak going out by himself. She considered trying to find her father, but she wasn't sure which mine he was in this morning. If she stayed here, she would hear Alak when he made his broadcast, and that was top priority for now.
Keeping busy seemed the logical thing to do, so Christie worked around the house by straightening up and washing a few dishes. She looked out the kitchen window, noting nothing out of the ordinary. As she put the last dish in the drainer, Christie heard an odd clicking sound. She couldn't distinguish which direction the noise came from, but it was getting louder. She looked out the window again, but still didn't see anything unusual.
Christie wanted to find the source of the noise. It was irritating, so she left the house and walked around back. The sound grew louder the closer she got to an old storage shed. She stood and listened intently, but not seeing anything, Christie turned around and headed back toward the house.
She'd only gone a few steps when something grabbed her from behind. Christie struggled against her attacker, but her efforts proved futile. The thing had the strength of ten men and she was tiring rapidly. The clicking noise in her ear sounded like a weird language, so she turned her head, trying to get a look at what had a hold of her.
Christie's eyes widened in fear, and she let out a piercing scream, as she fought valiantly to break free from the thing's grasp.
"Fuck," Nolan cursed. "That was Christie."
"I've got her," Datak yelled, running toward the sound of the scream.
"No, wait, that thing is dangerous, stop!" Nolan shouted at his husband, as he ran after him, but when Nolan rounded the corner, Datak was already out of sight.
"Damn it, Datak," Nolan yelled. "Where the fuck did you go?"
Nolan knelt and studied the ground carefully. The tracks indicated a struggle of some sort, so Nolan got to his feet and followed Datak's footprints to the edge of the woods. He found trampled foliage and drag marks, clearly showing the path, so Nolan knew that something pulled Christie into the forest and Datak took after them blindly. Now, he had to scramble to catch them, before his husband ended up dead.
Rafe McCawley raced back to the ranch, to retrieve his weapons, after hearing his son in law's announcement from the arch. Irisa and Tommy found Alak and told him about her vision. The three of them were now on their way to the Rafe's house while the Mayor held an emergency town meeting. Amanda wanted everybody in one place for security issues. The report from the Votans stated that only one person died because of an attack, but she needed to make sure that nobody in Defiance got hurt. Unfortunately, Stahma and Kenya refused to listen. Stahma insisted on making sure her son was safe, so Kenya went with her to the McCawley ranch.
Christie stared helplessly into a pair of large, obsidian pools of checkerboard-patterned eyes. The thing cocked its head to the side and stared back at the frightened girl. Christie gasped and let out another loud scream as the man-creature straddling her hips suddenly ripped open her blouse.
The sound of breaking branches, coming from the woods, caught her attention, and Christie looked up just in time to see her father in law crashing through the trees with charge blade raised.