Kollin (The Azziarin Series Book 3) Read online

  Kollin

  By

  Hannah Davenport

  Copyright November 2016 Hannah Davenport

  Title: Kollin by Hannah Davenport

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal, except for the case of brief quotations in reviews and articles.

  Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  All characters and events in this book are not real and are figments of my imagination.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Krista and her brother, Alan, escaped to their remote cabin in Tennessee when the Tureis attacked. After months had passed, Krista talked Alan into driving into town. Big mistake! Cars lay abandoned, buildings burned, it was a terrible sight to behold. Just as they tried to turn around and head for home, the Tureis attacked them, killing Alan and kidnapping Krista. What had she done?

  Kollin, Commander of the Conqueror, headed for Azziar. After exiting the wormhole, his own males attacked, handing him over to the Tureis. He fumed as he planned his escape, but then one of the Tureis, Loader, changed his plans. The Tureis had started a breeding program, and some female he’d never met now smelled like his mate.

  Follow Kollin and Krista as they navigate an impossible situation.

  For mature readers only. 34,000+ words.

  Chapter One

  Kollin

  Standing on the bridge, staring at the view screen, Kollin couldn’t help but curl his lip in disgust. What could he possibly do to help these people? He commanded one ship, the Conqueror, and no others had showed up to offer assistance. His brother Jakke had departed, taking Takkeo back to their home planet of Azziar. With his arms crossed, Kollin shook his head and sighed loudly.

  Surveying the scene below, he asked his second in command, “Kassim, have the soldiers returned from the surface?” There were six teams of twenty who currently occupied the planet’s surface. Teams one and two were due back, while two others took their place. It wasn’t enough, but it was all Kollin was willing to send at one time.

  “Yes, Commander. They returned moments ago,” Kassim reported while his fingers worked feverishly over the console. Even though Kollin was the one in charge, Kassim was his most trusted officer who saw that orders were carried out.

  “Have they reported their findings?” Kollin asked, weighing his options. He’d been here for two standard weeks, and with no word of help coming anytime soon, he was tempted to head home. He couldn’t help the humans, as they were called. There were too many Tureis and only one Azziarin ship.

  “Not yet.” Kassim stood in a rush and then looked solemnly at the Commander. “I am heading that way now.”

  Kollin nodded, “I’ll join you.” Looking at Tanner, he stated, “You have the bridge.”

  “Yes, Commander,” he acknowledged before taking a seat in the Captain’s chair as the door slid shut behind the two, each in step with the other as they walked quickly, with a purpose.

  Walking down the corridor, the two males remained silent and solemn. Staying here was a useless endeavor, and they both knew it; it was just a matter of Kollin deciding when they would leave.

  As they entered the meeting room, he found his head of security, Unnal, along with Maddax, who had just returned from Earth. They both stood at attention when the door slid open. Kollin raised his hand and said, “At ease.” They both lowered back into their respective chairs.

  “Where’s Rassik?” Kollin asked, looking first at Unnal and then Maddax. While Maddax was in charge of team one, Rassik was the leader of team two.

  “Commander, he suffered a phaser hit and is currently in medical. He’ll join us when he is released.”

  “Report,” Kollin said while looking at Maddax as he took his own chair at the large, rectangular table.

  “Commander,” Maddax sighed while shaking his head. “It’s bad down there. We are few, and they are many. The people on that planet don’t stand a chance.”

  “Numbers?” Kollin asked.

  “It’s hard to say for sure, but for every Azziarin soldier, there are at least twenty more Tureis. Many of the Earth people have died from starvation, others from trying to fight off the enemy, and they include us in that category. Many buildings have been set afire.” He shook his head and snarled in disgust. “I don’t know what else we can do to help.”

  “What do you think, Unnal?” Kollin looked to his head of security.

  “I hate to admit it, but I don’t think we can help the humans. We can’t even talk to them to let them know we’re on their side.”

  Kollin looked to his second in command. “Kassim, your thoughts?”

  Shaking his head, he answered, “It’s your call, Commander. We follow you.” And they did, without question.

  Looking at each one of them, he said, “I received a message from Jakke. They are not returning to help. Dazz is headed for Azziar, if he isn’t there already.” He watched the expression on each face as the delivered news sunk in. They were on their own, and nobody would be showing up to help. Looking at Kassim, Kollin ordered, “Recall our soldiers from the planet and have Tanner set a course for home. I’ll speak to King Mallik about sending a fleet in our stead.”

  “Yes, Commander.” Kassim abruptly stood before heading out the door, leaving Kollin alone with the other two males.

  “Is it as bad as when they attacked our home?” The Tureis had attacked Azziar, killing his mother along with several hundred others in the process. Kollin had seen first-hand what the enemy was capable of.

  “Worse,” Maddax answered. “Much, much worse…”

  Kollin shook his head while he pressed his lips tightly together. He hated the Tureis and didn’t like feeling as though he was abandoning the Earth people. No one should have to feel the loss of a loved one at the Tureis’ vile hands. It truly puzzled him how a race could be so callous by nature. He often wondered if they had mothers, sisters, anyone they loved.

  “Unnal, help Kassim with preparations for our return home. I want to leave as soon as possible.”

  “Yes, Commander.”

  Kollin headed back to his ready room. He needed to send a message to his father and brothers, let them know he would arrive home in three standard weeks.

  Sitting down at his desk, he picked up the holo-pad and typed in his personal security code. “Computer, send the following a sub-space message; King Mallik, the Victory, the Defender, and the Triumph.” Kollin shifted in his chair before admitting defeat. “This is Kollin, Commander of the Conqueror. I can do nothing more to help the people who occupy the planet called Earth, located in the Dreama Sector. We should arrive home in three standard weeks.”

  “Computer, end message and send.”

  “Unable to comply,” the computer reported.

  “Computer, state reason,” Kollin sat forward, concern etched in his brow.

  “All incoming and outgoing messages are currently blocked.”

  “Computer, on whose authority?”

  “Unable to comply.”

  With a hard gaze, Kollin pondered the answer in disbelief before tapping the c
omm unit. “Kassim, my ready room.”

  “On my way,” he responded.

  The two of them discussed the issue at hand, both concerned and puzzled by the problem.

  “Are the Tureis somehow jamming communications?”

  “I’m not sure. We will stick to our original plan. How long until we’re ready to leave?”

  “Two standard hours.”

  “Good.” Kollin sat back in his chair and laced his fingers together. Something was wrong, he could feel it. He’d always trusted his intuition, and right now warning bells were blaring in his head.

  Two standard hours later, the Conqueror had left the Dreama Sector, headed for Azziar. Just as they came out of the wormhole, the ship shuddered. “Bridge, report!” Kollin demanded while sitting in a chair, holding onto each side of his desk.

  “Commander, three Turei ships were waiting for us when we exited the wormhole. We are under attack!”

  “Return fire! I’m on my way,” Kollin replied just as the ship rocked from another hit.

  When his door slid open, he found Zann standing in the open doorway, holding a phaser. “Stop right there, Commander,” Zann sneered. The phaser was pointed at Kollin’s chest.

  “What’s the meaning of this?” Kollin asked as his eyes flared with anger.

  With his lip curled up, Zann replied, “A new leader has taken over, and your services are no longer wanted or required.”

  Kollin narrowed his eyes. If someone had harmed his family, they would find themselves dead by his hands. “I don’t think so,” Kollin ground out just as his hand shot out and grabbed Zann’s wrist, the one holding the phaser. With a twist, Kollin felt the bones snap beneath the pressure. Zann cried out in agony and fell to his knees, the phaser hitting the floor with a loud clang as metal hit metal.

  When Kollin heard more footsteps, he turned to the sound and spotted two more of his males hurrying toward him with their phasers drawn. He dove back inside the ready room just as the beam struck where he once stood. “Computer, seal the door! Authorization code 16493056.”

  With the door sealed, the traitors still tried to gain entrance. He heard the sound of phaser fire as it struck the outside door panel. Not wasting any time, he headed toward the far wall and slammed his hand over a small sensor, normally unseen unless they knew what to look for. A panel slid back, revealing an arsenal of weapons.

  Kollin grabbed a couple of knives, sheathing one in each boot, a phaser, and a short sword. Marching with determination back to his desk, he grabbed the portable comm unit. “Bridge, this is Commander Kollin. I’m under attack.”

  He waited, but there was no reply. The ship no longer rocked from enemy fire, and all was quiet…too quiet.

  “Bridge, report!” Still nothing.

  He walked over to the supply closet and threw the door open. Shelves filled with useless supplies lined the closet from floor to ceiling; they were there only to hide the door that had never been needed before. Only he and his second in command knew of the secret escape route.

  After shoving the supplies to the floor and stepping into the narrow tunnel that ran along the ship’s walls, Kollin stealthily made his way through the dimly lit passage. The only light shone from cracks above his head where the top of the wall met the ceiling. This too was by design. There were only four exits he could choose from. One was his quarters, Kassim’s quarters was the second, and then the cargo bay, and finally engineering. He chose engineering. From there he could monitor exactly what was happening on his ship.

  When he came to his intended exit, Kollin pressed his ear to the metal door and listened. When he heard nothing, he turned his nose up to the lighted cracks and sniffed, trying to catch the scent of the enemy. Finding no scent, he quietly opened the door just enough to ease out.

  Kollin spotted one of his soldiers standing on the other side of the room, looking at a console. Not knowing who the enemy was, he drew his phaser before addressing the male.

  “Lannk,” Kollin said with a commanding voice, startling the male before he turned around.

  “Commander, you startled me,” Lannk said distractedly and turned his attention back to the console and let his eyes scan the information.

  “Report,” Kollin ordered.

  Without looking up, Lannk responded, “Commander, I’m not sure what to make of it, but several of our males have taken the bridge crew hostage. They are demanding that you give yourself up in exchange for their release.”

  “Are they mad?” It was a rhetorical question. The traitors had truly lost their minds if they thought they could get away with this. “What do they hope to accomplish?” Kollin asked while staring at the console that Lannk worked on.

  “I don’t know.” Turning to the Commander, Lannk continued, “What are you going to do?”

  Kollin exhaled a harsh breath before he said, “I’m going to find out where the others are being held, and after I rescue them, I’m going to kill the traitors.”

  “They’re here in cargo bay three,” Lannk informed him as he pointed to the screen. Kollin could indeed see that ten people were in the cargo bay; he just hoped it was his bridge crew.

  “It appears to be so,” Kollin said absently while he also stared at the console.

  With Lannk still at work and his back turned, Kollin quietly slipped back inside the secret passage, hoping that he’d have the element of surprise on his side.

  Slowly gravitating to cargo bay three, Kollin took sure, steady steps and calming breaths to clear his mind, readying himself for battle. When he came to the intended doorway, he grabbed his phaser with one hand and a knife with other before slowly pushing the door open with the toe of his boot, hoping to slip in unnoticed.

  That didn’t happen. With the door halfway open, someone grabbed his arm to yank him forward. Kollin was too large a male and too skilled a fighter for someone to get the best of him. At seven foot three, he was larger than most by two inches or more. Dropping the knife, Kollin gripped the hand that held tight to his arm and easily twisted it lose. One punch to the face with his massive fist, and his opponent dropped unconscious to the floor.

  Kollin lifted his eyes from the fallen male and noted that no bridge crew members were here, only traitors.

  “I see Lannk sent us a present.” With an evil grin, Wallace continued, “We’ve been looking for you, Commander.”

  Wallace remained a low-ranking soldier assigned to do menial tasks because he failed to follow the orders of superior officers.

  “Wallace, what is all this?” Kollin spread his arms wide as he asked the question, his muscles bulging with anticipation. If Wallace didn’t realize that he was coiled to strike at any second, he could perhaps catch him off guard.

  “This, Commander, is us getting rid of you.”

  “Why?” It was a simple enough question and one he’d puzzled over. What were they hoping to gain?

  Wallace studied him with a keen eye, and he could tell Wallace was itching to tell what he knew. He’d always needed to feel important, and this was his big chance. Looking at the others and then back to Kollin, Wallace shrugged. “Very well. It’s not like you’ll be around to tell the tale. Your uncle…”

  “My what?” Kollin interrupted with surprise. When he spotted the gleam in Wallace’s eyes, he chastised himself for showing so much emotion.

  With a nasty grin, Wallace continued, “Your uncle, your mother’s brother, doesn’t think Mallik is fit to rule Azziar. After all, he let his mate be slaughtered like a field animal.”

  “You lie through your rotten teeth. My mother has no family.” Kollin tried to control his breathing as rage consumed him. What lies this parasite tells! His loving mother had been an only child.

  “Ah…but she does. They had an older son they kept hidden away. He’s watched your family all these years while hiding from our world.”

  Shaking his head in denial, Kollin said with agitation, “That makes no sense. Why would he have to stay hidden? Why wouldn’t he just let us know
that we had an uncle?”

  Wallace laughed before answering, “Because he was born with a noticeable birth defect. It’s not a bad one, but your family—your mother’s parents—thought that if King Mallik knew of the defect, he wouldn’t mate their daughter for fear of having less than perfect young.” He paused and stared straight at Kollin when he delivered the last part of the mystery. “Imagine having to live in the shadows for hundreds of years knowing that your sister is a queen among her people. Think of the rage that fills him when he sees one of you.”

  “Why didn’t he let Father know after he had mated my mother?” Kollin had a full understanding, and he hid the fear that coursed through his body. If this male, his uncle, was on Azziar, he could be harming his unsuspecting family.

  “Because the lie had been told. The queen would have been deemed a liar and manipulator her entire life, so their parents forbade his telling of the truth.”

  Kollin knew that his father and mother were not true mates. King Mallik had chosen her because of her beauty and her family name, which was one of honor.

  Wallace shook his head with a grin before he finished his story. “With his sister killed, and his parents gone, he’s free to pursue his revenge. Recruiting members who have lost loved ones under King Mallik’s rule… that’s genius.”

  It was hard not to hear the admiration in Wallace’s voice, which grated on Kollin’s nerves and lit a fire in his veins. He lunged at the other Azziarin, but Wallace quickly fired before pivoting out of his grasp. The phaser beam grazed Kollin’s shoulder, but it didn’t slow him down. His elbow connected between Wallace’s shoulder’s blades, which sent him sprawling face first onto the unforgiving floor. Two others jumped Kollin from behind. One wrapped his arm around his neck while the other tried to grab his arms and twist them behind his back.

  Kollin forcefully thrust his head back, cracking the nose of the one whose arm wrapped around his neck. He immediately let go to cup his bleeding nose with his hands, but the other male hung on, refusing to let go of his arms. Before Kollin could shake the other male loose, a prick in the side of his neck had everything looking blurry. Kollin shook his head to clear his vision, but stumbled… once… twice… and then dropped unconscious, his body making a loud thud as his head bounced off the metal floor.