by S. E. Smith
“The floor! You are standing on the drainage gate,” he pointed out. “You! I’m putting you in charge. Open the gate and help the women down. Keep to the left at all sections. You will eventually come to the base of the mountains. You are on your own from there. If you head east, there is a rebel camp not far over the border in the Mountains of the Crescent Moon.”
The man nodded and hurriedly waved the others off the grate. He and three of the men pulled it back, letting it drop with a clatter to the side. One of the men sat down on the edge before jumping, another quickly followed. Within seconds, the women were disappearing through the grate.
“Wait! Where are you going?” Taylor asked when the strange man started to turn back the way they came.
“I have to get back upstairs without being seen,” he replied with a frustrated sigh, turning to pierce her with his dark purple eyes. “I’ve compromised my position as it is. I should have killed all of you instead of taking the chance to free you. Now, I need to go save the lives of a couple of crazy Trivator councilmen.”
“Councilmen!” Taylor exclaimed, her eyes widening.
“Yes, now in case you haven’t noticed, there is a battle going on,” the man replied sarcastically.
Taylor nodded and stood back. Her gaze flickered to the man guiding the captives. There were five left, not counting her. In the background, she could hear the sound of the Gartaians snorting and…
“Come on,” the man said, standing alone.
Taylor started, but something held her back. She heard something. She glanced at the man. He was staring back at her with an impatient frown. She started to take a step when she heard the sound again. It sounded like the soft cry of a child.
“I hear something,” Taylor said, looking with a plea at the man. “Don’t you hear it?”
“No. Listen, if you are coming with us, you need to do it now,” the man said.
Taylor took a step back and shook her head when he started to reach out for her. Now that she knew what she was listening to, it was clear that not everyone had been freed. Shaking her head, she backed away from the drainage hole.
“You go,” she said. “I’ll catch up. There is someone else still here.”
The man glanced down at the hole, then at her, before he shrugged his shoulders. “I have to think of the others,” he said in apology before he sat on the edge and disappeared through the opening.
Taylor headed back down the short corridor and turned right. The fighting sounded like it was moving upward. She paused at the end of the long passage to make sure it was clear. Her gaze swept over dead guards. Turning away, she listened. The crying sounded like it had come from further down the arched corridor.
She gripped the torch she was still holding tightly in her hand and followed the sound. At the end, she could see the entrance to the dome where Achler had released the Gartaians earlier this morning. Her footsteps slowed as she drew closer. She could hear the creatures in their cages nearby snorting and moving restlessly, but there had been another sound, she was sure of it.
She almost missed the door where the crying was coming from. A small square window with bars across stood eye level. She paused and looked down the hallway again before she walked forward and peered into the dark room.
“Who’s there?” she whispered, holding the torch up in case she needed it.
“PT Taylor?” A small voice sniffed.
Taylor’s eyes widened in horror as a familiar face came into view. The shaggy sand-colored hair, dark brown eyes, and pale, dirty face stared back at her in silence. Her heart melted at the look of hope in his eyes.
“Oh, Lonnie!” she whispered, reaching for the metal bar locking him in.
Chapter Seventeen
Saber moved in silence, striking down any unlucky guard that stood in his way. Fear, anger, and a touch of exasperation with Taylor, fought for dominance inside him. Why he was surprised that she would not only try to escape, but succeed at it, was beyond him.
They had worked their way over to the lower tower to make sure she hadn’t broken her fool neck. Saber had picked up the slight scent of her the moment they entered the lower entryway. The tracks of her boots in the accumulated dirt proved that she had made it down the stairway.
“She’s lucky she didn’t kill herself,” Dagger had muttered as the three of them stood at the bottom of the dilapidated wooden staircase.
“That’s a long way up there,” Trig added, rubbing the back of his neck. “She’s as crazy as Jordan.”
Dagger punched his brother in the arm. “Jordan’s not crazy,” he growled.
Trig rubbed his arm and scowled at Dagger. “What have you been doing? Working out with Saber?” he complained with a raised eyebrow. “I swear I’ve been off-world too much.”
“Let’s go,” Saber said, turning back to the entrance.
He paused at the doorway, glancing over the courtyard. He heard Dagger’s muttered curse when it suddenly lit up with spotlights. Something told him that they weren’t the only ones searching for Taylor now. He reached over his shoulder and pulled the laser rifle free from his back holster.
“They are converging on the lower level where Thunder and Sword were heading,” Trig said, gripping a rifle in his hands.
“What the… Shewta!” All three men cursed when the guards that had been running toward the lower level of the fortress suddenly turned and retreated.
Saber understood why a moment later when a Gartaian squeezed through the narrow opening, tearing mortar as it pushed its way out. He paled when he saw the small figure running behind the beast.
“Taylor!” he hissed.
“Shewta! Trig’s right, she is crazier than Jordan,” Dagger muttered.
Saber didn’t wait to hear Trig’s response. He charged out into the courtyard, firing at the guards that were shooting at the Gartaian. His heart pounded when he saw Taylor pause to help a small boy who had stumbled while running alongside her.
Saber darted to the left and rolled when the Gartaian’s long tusks struck out. He continued to roll until he was back on his feet. Behind him, a guard’s scream was cut short as he was lifted by the long trunk of the beast. The guard in front of him twisted as a blast caught him in the chest. Saber glanced over his shoulder just in time to see Dagger aiming for another guard.
His left arm swung out and he caught Taylor around the waist as she started to turn back around. Her frightened scream trailed off and a look of astonishment crossed her face when she recognized who had grabbed her. He bent and scooped up the small boy she had by the hand with his other arm, continuing his sprint across the open courtyard until he reached the curved stone archways near where Taylor had emerged.
He released the boy, pressing him back against the stone, and raised his rifle. He fired several rapid shots at the three guards who were running toward him. Twisting, he caught a fourth man across the yard. He turned again, this time barely stopping before he shot Dagger and Trig.
“Get her out of here,” Trig ordered, firing at several more men. “Razor and Hunter are working on the top section. They are trying to find the Waxians.”
“Achler,” Taylor said, pushing herself up on Saber’s back. “He’s the leader. I left his ass down in the catacombs. I had to release one of the Gartaians on him so he couldn’t get me and Lonnie.”
“You had to…,” Saber started to snarl.
He set Taylor down on her feet and pressed her up against the stone archway. A laser blast cut through the edge of the mortar, forcing all of them to seek cover. Trig and Dagger each took a side and returned fire. From above, Saber could see Razor running along the top walkway, firing on those below.
“Thunder and Sword are heading this way,” Trig said, firing again.
Both men swerved behind one of the arches as several loud explosions shook the fortress. “Several transports have taken off,” Sword said, breathing deeply. “A large group of Waxians escaped.”
“They haven’t left yet,” Saber sa
id as he raised his rifle and fired on one of the attack transports. “Incoming!” he yelled.
Saber pulled Taylor and the boy away from the wall and covered them with his body as the ship fired on the Gartaian. The creature screamed before collapsing. Turning sideways, he glanced over his shoulder.
Another ship fired on the tall tower where Taylor had been held. Within seconds, the second ship began firing on the fortress. They were systematically destroying it and anyone left inside. Saber’s head jerked around when he saw Hunter, Razor, and the two Trivator warriors running across the courtyard.
“Fire!” he ordered as he turned the rest of the way and began providing coverage for them.
All five men opened up on the two transports. One of the warriors stumbled when a guard shot him. Saber turned and took the man out before refocusing on the fighter.
“Get inside!” Saber yelled as the men rushed under the archway.
He moved backwards, firing before turning and grabbing Lonnie up in his arms. He shielded Taylor as she followed Hunter, Razor, and the other men back inside the fortress. Dagger and Trig followed next with Sword and Thunder taking up the rear.
“Keep going,” Saber shouted over the sound of explosions. “They are leveling the place.”
Saber felt his body being pushed forward into Taylor as a rocket hit the entrance. The force of the blast threw them all to the floor. His arm wrapped protectively around Taylor’s small waist and he tried to cushion the impact as best he could with the boy in his other arm.
It took several minutes before his ears quit ringing and the dust settled enough that he could talk. Under him, he could feel Taylor drawing in deep breaths and feel the trembling of the boy. Both told him that they were at least alive.
“Are you hurt?” Saber asked in a husky voice, his lips pressed against her left ear.
Taylor shook her head. He carefully released the boy and shifted far enough to turn Taylor over so that he could see her face. He wanted, needed, to make sure that she was alright for himself.
His hand rose and he carefully brushed her hair back from her face, waiting for her to open her eyes. Relief flooded him when he saw her eyelashes flutter before lifting. His fingers moved down to caress her bruised jaw before he bent his head and pressed his lips hungrily to hers.
He reluctantly pulled back when he felt a pair of eyes looking at him. Turning his head slightly, he locked gazes with a pair of curious brown eyes. He raised his eyebrow in inquiry.
“What?” he asked, staring back at the boy.
“I hope you aren’t going to do that to me,” he said with a look of disgust.
Hoarse laughter echoed in the dark chamber. Sighing, he rolled to the side and rose to his feet. He rubbed his hand down his right leg, thankful for the brace when he bent down to help Taylor to her feet. He could see the question in her eyes in the dim glow of the torch Razor had activated.
“How did you find me?” she whispered, reaching up to touch his cheek.
Saber was about to answer when another shock wave from a blast caused sections of rock to fall. He glanced up at the roof of the cavern they were in. Deep fissures were opening up under the onslaught. Reaching down, he grabbed his rifle.
“We need to get out of here,” he said, looking around.
“There is a drainage grate in the lower catacomb that we can use,” Cain said, nodding to Razor and Hunter in respect. “One of the Waxians pointed it out to us, though I don’t know why. He said that you both were here, and Thunder and Sword confirmed that he was telling the truth.”
“When?” Hunter asked in surprise.
“Can they share what happened later? I’d like to get out of here before the ceiling collapses on us,” Trig suggested, waving his hand to Cain. “We’ll follow you.”
Cain nodded and turned. Saber watched as the two Trivators that had been held prisoner led the way through the long center corridor before turning to the right where a stone staircase was cut into the rock. He wrapped his arm protectively around Taylor when more of the ceiling collapsed behind them.
“I’m scared, PT Taylor,” Lonnie whispered when the darkness of the winding staircase engulfed them.
“We’re here for you, Lonnie,” Taylor replied, reaching out and laying her hand on his thin shoulder. “How did you get here? I thought Buzz took you to the transport to be evacuated.”
“PT Buzz did, but I didn’t want to leave my mom,” Lonnie replied with a sniff. “I couldn’t find her.”
“She is safe,” Taylor assured him. “She was looking for you, but her dress got caught and she couldn’t get it undone. I helped her and Buzz made sure she made it to one of the transports. She thought you were on one that had already left. I know she must be worried about you.”
Lonnie sniffed again. “I miss her,” he admitted in a quivering voice.
“We will return you to her,” Saber promised, his voice sounding unusually loud in the narrow passage.
“Hold,” Ace said, holding up his hand. “Do you hear that?” he murmured.
“It’s the other Gartaian,” Taylor said, pulling Lonnie back against her.
Cain nodded. “It looks like the wider passage leading up has been blasted. It was probably done in an attempt to keep them from escaping,” he said, pointing the light in the direction of the wide arched corridor. The pillars had been destroyed about half way up and the roof collapsed.
“We can try shooting it, but with just the rifles, it won’t do much damage,” Ace said, glancing around.
“Where is the drainage grate?” Saber asked with a frown.
“On the other side of the Gartaian,” Cain muttered.
“What if we set a laser rifle to overload?” Razor asked, studying the beast.
Trig shook his head. “Two things: one, it would have to be attached to the thing, and two, it would more than likely bring down the entire area,” he said with a crooked grin. “I tried something similar on Teris VI.”
“What if we locked it in the dome?” Taylor asked, looking around at the men.
Hunter shook his head. “How? It isn’t likely to want to go in on its own,” he responded, studying the beast.
“If there was a way to leave a scent trail of blood, it might work,” Saber suggested.
Dagger raised his eyebrow at Saber. “I don’t see any lying around and I sure as hell don’t want that thing getting a scent of my blood,” he said with a shudder. “I’ve already been in a cage with those things. I have no desire to do it ever again.”
“Look out,” Hunter yelled, reaching for Lonnie and picking him up as a large section of the upper staircase gave way and came tumbling down through the opening.
Saber grabbed Taylor, lifting her up and flattening his body against the side of the wall along the ledge that ran along the floor. The other men had scattered in an attempt to avoid the crushing avalanche of rocks.
“Whatever we are going to do, we’ve got to do it soon. Those fighter transports are making sure that none of us survive,” Razor bit out as he turned his gaze up at the ceiling before looking back at where the Gartaian was moving its head restlessly back and forth.
“Let me down,” Taylor whispered against Saber’s ear.
Saber nodded. He reluctantly slid her body down his, but kept his hands on her hips. Bending his head, he brushed his lips across the top of her head.
“We need to talk when we get out of here,” he murmured.
Taylor tilted her head back and smiled up at him. “Yes, we do,” she said, running her hand down over his hip. “But first, we need to get out of here.”
Saber frowned when she pulled away from him and stepped down on a fallen block of stone. She turned and smiled at him again. His frown deepened when he saw her raise her arm. His fingers went instinctively to his side where he kept his knife. It was gone.
“Taylor!” Saber growled as it dawned on him what she was about to do.
“I can do this,” she whispered as she slid the sharp blade along h
er arm before dropping the knife and taking off at a run.
“TAYLOR!” Saber roared, jumping down off the ledge and grabbing his knife.
He watched in disbelief as Taylor ran toward the Gartaian, waving her bloody arm and yelling. The other men cursed and started forward, their rifles raised, but afraid to shoot in case they struck Taylor. The Gartaian raised its head and sniffed the air. The fresh smell of blood drove the beast into a frenzy. Its trunk swung around as it tried to pinpoint where the scent was coming from.
“I told you she was crazy,” Trig muttered as he tried to get a shot in the narrow corridor.
Chapter Eighteen
Taylor didn’t know why she did what she did, it just suddenly dawned on her what needed to be done if they were going to get out of there. Out of all of them, she was the most likely to be successful at the stupid, crazy stunt she was about to do. There were two things that she knew for certain: one, she didn’t want to get eaten, and, two, she was pretty sure from the sharp bite in Saber’s voice, she was not likely to hear the end of it if she survived.
She hadn’t cut very deep along her arm, but it stung. Her hand groped for her sleeve and she tugged on it, trying to rip it free as she ran. Finding a thin line cut through it, she pulled. It took three tries before she heard the sound of tearing.
“Hey, here you go,” she yelled, waving her arm so that it could catch the scent of her blood. “Dumbo! Yeah, you! Come and get it!”
Taylor ignored the curses of the men. They were yelling for her to run. She wanted to yell back that she was, but didn’t want to lose her focus.
She rolled when the long trunk of the creature swung out. Rising to her hands and feet, she crawled under its belly as it searched wildly for her. She jumped to her feet once she was on the other side.
Ripping the rest of her sleeve off, she waved it like a flag and continued yelling. The Gartaian might be almost blind, but it had an excellent sense of smell. She almost fell when it suddenly swung around.