Tymber Dalton - Bightmares

To my mom and dad, who encouraged my creativity and addiction to books, reading, and writing from a very young age.

Im sure they never thought it would lead tothis. *smile*

The events in this book take place immediately following the events of Love at First Bight (Deep Space Mission Corps 1).

Then

From the safety of the hallway, the young boy peeked around the corner and stared at his mother as she sat on their sofa. Tears streamed down her face. She shook her head and looked up at the two officials from the joint tribunal who had arrived a little earlier to talk to her. Hed hidden around the corner, listening as they introduced themselves, one from the Merchant Marines and one from the Interstellar Naval Corps.

He wondered if the Merchant Marine officer knew his father.

No. I dont believe it! she screamed. He wouldnt do anything like that! Its a lie!

Im sorry, maam, the Merchant Marine officer softly apologized. I brought a copy of the report and official findings with me. Im sorry.

My husband was a good man, a decent man!

The ISNC officer, a chaplain, knelt in front of her. Would you like me to set up some counseling for you and your son?

She sneered at him. Someone tells horrible lies about my husband, gets him killed, and you want me and Jamie to get counseling? She pushed him away as she stood and paced the living room floor. I want someones head for this!

A few days later, Jamie stood by his Uncle Bill as they waited for the transport shuttle to arrive. His uncle didnt say much. So far, nothing hed said had been right. A career Interstellar Naval Corps military man, he wasnt used to children.

Were changing your last name, he said. I dont want you associated with that man. You deserve better than that. Too bad your mother didnt see the truth about him years ago. He looked down at his young nephew, whod just turned six. He certainly wasnt worth her killing herself over.

The night she died, Jamies mothers last words to him when she tucked him into bed were to extract a promise from her young son.

Retribution. He was a good man, Jamie, shed said as she kissed him goodnight for what would turn out to be the very last time. Promise me youll do right by him. Restore his name. Make them pay.

Young Jamie Candling didnt know who his mom meant, but he promised. Yes, Momma.

Good. Remember, I love you. And dont ever trust anyone. People will stab you in the back to get what they want.

Then she didnt wake up the next morning. Every time he tried to rouse her, she laid there, her eyes half-open and her skin a horrible color, her lips parted like she was about to speak.

When hed touched her cheek, it felt cool and firm, not soft and warm.

Finally, he walked across the hall and asked Mrs. Blackman, the woman who sometimes babysat him, to come help him wake her.

Now, three days later, his mothers brother was taking him home to live with him. To the Ganymede colony, where Bill Eckhart was some bigwig with the ISNC.

He looked up at his uncle when the man sighed. Your mom always was a sad woman, he said. She didnt want to believe the truth even when it slapped her in the face, sitting there in black and white and supported by facts and evidence. He looked down at his nephew. You need to forget your father ever existed. He didnt do anything but cause your mother and this family pain. His face darkened even more. Not to mention the other innocent people he hurt.

But Jamie couldntwouldntforget his promise. He simply nodded, because he didnt want to lie. He didnt really remember his dad, because hed been in space for so long. Everything he knew about his father came from pictures and his mothers glowing words and stories about him.

You have a chance for a new start before you can get hurt by him, Uncle Bill said. Ill help you make the most of it.

Now

From the personnel files of Dr. Louis Graymard, Deep Space Mission Corps Chief Personnel Acquisitions Officer.

Crew Pairing Summary

Date: March 2, 2670

File #20-8630

Ship: DSMC Vessel Tamora Bight

Debarking Base: New Phoenix, Arizona, Earth

Crew: Captain Aaron Lucio; First Officer Caphis Bates; Mate Ford Caliban; Medical Officer Dr. Emilia Hypatia

The Tamora Bight lifts from the New Phoenix base tomorrow with a complete four-pack crew. While they were initially upset about the introductory simulation testing scenario, the crew pairing has gone even better than expected. Dr. Hypatia is, as I thought she would be, the perfect complement for Captain Lucio and his crew. That she is a trained class two empath, in addition to her psychology degree and Alpha-ranked healer status, is very fortunate.

Individual assessments of the men have revealed marked improvement in their emotional health since pairing Dr. Hypatia with them. They all fell in love and formed a plural marriage, in addition to their bonded crew status. It gives me great confidence that we will most likely have them as Deep Space Mission Corps personnel for many years to come

With no way to change the nightmare, it vividly repeated in Aaron Lucios mind as it had played out in real life.

On the surface of the uninhabited planet, the raiders were lying in wait for them. The look of fear on Kels face as her eyes met his.

One more, Captain, the raider leader said as he leveled his plasma pistol at Captain Candling. One more or you all die.

Without thinking, without pulling his gaze from Kels, Aaron stepped forward. Me. Take me.

Behind him, Rawley and First Officer Allen of the Wayfarer Margo protested. Leave her, Allen said. Take me instead! Im worth more ransom.

One of the raiders shoved Aaron next to Kels. She reached for his hand, and their fingers laced together. He gently squeezed, trying to reassure her despite his own fear they might not survive.

Captain Anderson Candling stood there with a smirk on his face. You have your two. Now leave.

Sir, Allen protested. You cant let them take them! You and me, well go

No. He volunteered, let him go with her. Why risk our lives?

Rawley and Allen took a step toward the raiders, but Candling overruled them. Let them take them. Thats an order. Candling looked at the raider leader. Youve got what you want. Get out of here

Aaron startled awake when Emi rolled over in her sleep, away from him and toward where Caph slept on her other side. The sweet scent of her shampoo filled his lungs, anchoring him to reality. He stared at the cabin ceiling as his pulse slowed, his body bathed in sweat. He wasnt standing on the planets surface. He wasnt being betrayed by his captain.

Kels wasnt about to die. Again.

He lay safe in his own bed, with his husbands and wife, in their shared crew quarters on the Tamora Bight.

Another fucking nightmare.

They didnt come as often as they once had. This was the first hed had in over a year, the first since theyd met Emi. Fortunately, tonight he didnt have to live through the worst of it, the torture the raiders put him through.

Or Kels death.

He looked to his other side. Ford lay there, his blue eyes open and staring at him, a worried look on his face. Ford always knew when he had a nightmare. Too many times over the years, Ford had proved his sole link to sanity. You okay, Cap? Ford asked.