The Perfect Ten Boxed Set

by Dianna Love

  No judgment showed in V’ru’s expression, in fact nothing crossed that blank little face. He said, “What else can you tell me about when you woke up in the desert?”

  “Nothing except that I did recognize the mountains I saw in the desert, but then they took me to the city called Albuquerque.”

  With a touch of his finger, V’ru slid the floating monitor back in front of his face again, tapping several times before the image returned to the scene with the strange house. “As one of the ten MystiK cities, Albuquerque did exist–”

  Callan’s eyes rounded. “Really? I’ve never heard of that.”

  V’ru paused with a look of strained patience on his face. “That is because you are not a historian. Albuquerque is the city you know as ALB/City 7.”

  “Oh.”

  “As I was saying, Albuquerque existed in a territory once known as the state of New Mexico during the year 2013, established in 1706 by–”

  “That’s all we need on Albuquerque, V’ru,” Callan said with heavy politeness to smooth over his interruption.

  Good thing to know I wasn’t the only one anxiously waiting for some concrete information.

  “I don’t know about it being MystiK or not,” I said, wondering if that would work in our favor or against us. “But since Gabby and Tony are familiar with that area, yet aren’t familiar with MystiKs, I’m not sure we’re talking about the same place.”

  V’ru opened his thin lips to speak, but Etoi raced into the room, announcing, “We caught the TecKnati.”

  I turned to face her. “Tony?”

  Etoi ignored me, only speaking to Callan. “The one who released the scout. Mathias sends for you.”

  “I’ll speak to Mathias about the recaptured prisoner, but we are almost at the time for celebrating his BIRG Day. Go oversee the final preparations.”

  “I should help with guarding the TecKnati.” Etoi was clearly annoyed at Callan sending her to do a mundane job of preparing a celebration, even one for Mathias. Or maybe especially because it was for him.

  V’ru seemed perplexed. “Should we not postpone the BIRG Day so there is no rush, Callan?”

  “No. It’s important to hold true to our customs, even here. Mathias and I both believe we must not become lax with rituals that are significant to our Houses.”

  “Do you believe what the scouts told us about leaving here at eighteen?” V’ru asked with the first emotion I’d heard in his voice. The boy yearned for home as did all the other children. On top of that, he clearly feared being left.

  This new information confused me. “So you get to leave at eighteen?”

  Callan only said, “That’s what the TecKnati scouts told us when we were dropped here.”

  I’d think that good news, if not for the way his gaze had shifted away when he’d explained that. I didn’t know that he lied, exactly, but he hid something.

  But why would the TecKnati release one of their MystiK captives? Surely they realized Mathias would go straight to his people and bring the wrath of the MystiKs down on the TecKnatis.

  Anyone would declare war to regain their stolen children.

  If I’d thought it was hard to understand the world I’d fallen into earlier in the day, that was nothing compared to this world in this Sphere.

  Callan’s smile expanded, but with a forced effort. “Of course, I believe we’ll leave here at eighteen. My guess is that the TecKnati will use each leader they return as a pawn in negotiating with our Houses. This is clearly about the HERMES space launches that our leaders interrupted. The sooner our Houses know where we are, the quicker they will find a way to return us home.”

  “That will be soon?” V’ru asked, sounding more like a boy of his age and less like a stuffy know-it-all.

  “Yes.” Callan nodded with conviction. “Once our Houses and the TecKnati come to an agreement this will all be over. I want you to continue analyzing the information on Rayen while I speak with Mathias.” Callan turned to Etoi. “Go now and check on the preparations.”

  I watched those two march out with their orders, fairly sure that I was the only one who realized Callan had not told V’ru and Etoi the whole truth. I didn’t know how I knew, but I did.

  Why?

  I had to reevaluate Callan and didn’t like what I suspected.

  Anyone who’d mislead these kids and raised their hopes only to have those hopes crushed when Mathias didn’t leave was capable of ordering the death of a stranger just because he had a scorpion tattoo and an attitude.

  Callan couldn’t see beyond his grief over his brother to pass up a chance for vengeance.

  When Callan bent his head, ordering me to follow, then stepped out of the chamber, I rushed to catch up.

  If he was willing to kill Tony, he’d better be prepared to kill me as well.

  And that meant I had to be prepared to do whatever it took to stop him.

  CHAPTER 30

  Hanging vertically from the pole that was more rigid than it first looked, Tony struggled against the vines, but nothing gave. He sucked air through the slim opening allowed by the leaf covering his mouth. Smelled like one of those cinnamon candies cheap restaurants had on their counters.

  He wasn’t sucking any mints ever again.

  When the kiddie army stopped, someone cut the vines wrapping him and he hit the ground as hard as bag of cement. That hurt.

  Mathias stepped into view, found a handhold between the red vines still wrapping Tony like a neon-red mummy and hoisted him to his feet.

  For a second, he thought he was in a different village. This place looked like Party Central with hanging strings of multi-colored flowers, twined vines and a whole bunch of globe plants that reminded Tony of Mr. Tan’s Japanese lantern flowers.

  Did this bunch celebrate executions?

  Gabby walked into view. She shadowed the healer, Jaxxson, who was no longer looking at her as if she topped his list of inconvenient chores. What had happened for him to be giving her the eye, the guy look that said he was interested and waiting to pick the best time to make his move?

  Gabby would shut him down in a heartbeat. If Rayen didn’t get to him first.

  But at least Gabby looked healthy again. When her gaze danced over the crowd and landed on Tony, she broke into a run.

  Never thought he’d be so happy to see Psycho Babe.

  Mathias put his arm up to stop her from getting close.

  Instead, she leaned her head past Mathias. “You okay, Tony?”

  Do I look okay, babe? He shook his head, trying to talk, but the only sounds that came out were garbled noises.

  “Uncover his mouth,” Gabby demanded of Mathias.

  You tell him Gab!

  “No.”

  Well, at least she tried.

  When Gabby’s attention shifted past Mathias, Tony followed her line of sight and, halle-freakin-lujah, Rayen stepped out of that feather structure with Callan, Etoi and some skinny punk kid. Rayen would find a way to get this leaf off Tony’s mouth so he could tell Rayen and Gabby he’d found their way home.

  But that red moon had dropped pretty low by the time this bunch of munchkins had carried Tony through the fog wall around the village. By his estimate, they had something like forty-five minutes left to call up the transender.

  Maybe less. Cuttin’ it short here, people.

  Etoi peeled off from Callan, heading over to where Zilya spoke to Neelah and some other girls who were busy hanging a bunch of feather balls from vines looped between tree limbs overhanging the area. Like the old ladies in Camden draped green, red and white bunting to celebrate St. Anthony’s day. ’Cept these colors were weirder–purple, oranges and some crazy green blue. Etoi did spare the time to send Tony one more death glare on her way.

  “Where did you find him?” Callan asked Mathias when he reached Tony.

  Mathias pointed toward the forest area. “On that side of the village. We flushed him from where he hid. Alone. There’s no sign of the TecKnati, but I doubt the scout’s sti
ll here.”

  Callan nodded. “Take this one to the isolation unit.”

  Tony started shaking his head and grunting noises in Rayen’s direction.

  Rayen stepped forward. “I want to talk to him.”

  Callan turned on her. “He has proven himself TecKnati.”

  “Just give me a moment. Please.”

  He worked his jaw back and forth then rolled his eyes and said, “And you’ll believe what he says?”

  Rayen’s gaze shifted to Callan. She stared hard into the badass dude’s eyes before saying, “Sometimes you just have to look a man in the eye and take his measure to decide if he’s telling the truth.”

  Was that some kind of jungle alpha talk?

  Callan didn’t speak for or against Tony, but he shifted his gaze to Mathias who granted Callan’s silent request by giving a jerky nod of his head. “Do it quickly.”

  Rayen turned to Tony. “Were you leaving me and Gabby?”

  Tony shook his head, hoping Rayen would believe him, but why should she, just based on Mathias bringing Tony back strung up as if he’d abandoned his friends?

  Rayen studied on it a moment then asked Callan, “Will you loan me your blade?”

  No, Rayen. I swear I wasn’t leaving! But Tony had no way to shout beyond making panicky sounds.

  Accepting the knife, Rayen reached for Tony’s hand that was pegged against his thigh by the vines. But instead of a slice, Tony felt a prick at the end of his finger. What the heck?

  Rayen lifted the blade point with a drop of blood perched on it. She turned to the little guy who had followed Callan here, but Rayen spoke to Callan. “If you’re so certain Tony is TecKnati, then ask V’ru to test this blood for the K-whatever ink.”

  What? Tony watched as Callan gave V’ru a hand sign to call him forward. The kid touched the blood and rolled it between his fingers.

  Just great. Now my life depends on some kid in middle school playing chemist with my blood?

  After cleaning his fingers, this V’ru character lifted his palms and a holographic screen appeared, Tony forgot about blood, MystiKs and TecKnatis. How had junior pulled up that wicked screen from nothing but thin air? So frickin’ awesome.

  Lowering his hands after a moment, the kid announced, “There are no trace elements of the K-enzyme metallic ink in his blood.”

  What did that mean? Was it good news? Or bad?

  Rayen lifted her fist and gave it short pump. “All right.” She swung around to Callan. “There’s your proof.”

  So good. Unless . . .

  “However,” the pipsqueak kid added. “I must complete a full analysis for a final determination.”

  “Now wait a minute,” Rayen groused. “You have your proof.”

  Callan shook his head. “That’s one marker, a simple one. We’ll give V’ru time to be thorough.” That forced smile popped up on his face again. “Send the prisoner to the unit. It’s time to start the celebration.”

  Rayen took one look at Tony and suggested to Callan, “Why do that when he escaped from there once? Wouldn’t you prefer to keep him within sight until you make a final decision? Besides, don’t you want everyone here for your party?”

  Mathias considered this. “The prisoner can’t break the bindings.” When he seemed ready to agree to anything to get this celebration moving, Mathias snapped fingers at two of his hunters and pointed. “Seat him there.”

  Gabby followed Tony and sat down next to him. She leaned close, whispering, “Rayen and I believe you. We’ll figure a way to get you out of here.”

  He owed Psycho Babe a hug … and to stop calling her Psycho Babe. He nodded and made a grumbling noise.

  Gabby whispered, “I don’t know what you’re saying, but I have a way to find out...if you’re game?”

  He nodded. At this point, he’d play Ouija Board with his nose if she could figure out what he needed to tell her and Rayen.

  “It means having to speak to you mind-to-mind,” she explained.

  Just when he was ready to kick her nickname to the curb, she says something like that. He rolled his eyes, glad he couldn’t speak right now because he was sure she wouldn’t want to hear what he thought of her crazy solution.

  Mathias stepped up and told Gabby, “Move away from the prisoner.

  Instead of blindly jumping, she held up her hands. “I don’t have a knife.”

  “Now.”

  She stood, but growled her discontent, making sure anyone close by knew she thought Mathias was a tyrant.

  Now Tony wished she could’ve at least tried the Vulcan mind meld or whatever she was talkin’ about.

  The celebration turned out to be what looked like a birthday party. Tony couldn’t believe while the time for callin’ up a transender ticked off the red moon clock, this bunch was servin’ some kind of fruit cocktail like it was a birthday cake and each one comin’ by to hug Mathias and saying goodbye.

  Was this a farewell party?

  Where’d they think Mathias was going?

  Some kids beat gourds and blew through reeds, while others twirled and danced with orange and yellow vine streamers. The littlest ones clapped their hands and threw flower petals into the air like confetti, then they’d stare at them for a second and the petals would remain suspended. Several others were concentrating, and around them spun vine streamers and whole flowers as if they were mind activated. Everything seemed frenzied though, as if they were forcing happiness.

  Finally the main whoop de doo ended, with Zilya saying a few words, holding a politician’s smile in place. Her eyes held a boat load of denial, not believing something about this party.

  Mathias took time with each of the kids, praising them for the decorations and laughing at their antics.

  When Gabby had left Tony’s side, she’d passed by the healer who frowned when she bypassed a seat next to him.

  She’d planted herself shoulder-to-shoulder with Rayen.

  She and Rayen had both kept visual tabs on Tony throughout the party.

  Like I can go anywhere being wrapped up this way?

  Rayen whispered something to Gabby who nodded, then winked at Tony as if she sent a message.

  If I get out of this, I’m going to teach Xena and Psycho Babe some useful hand signals.

  Mathias finally stood and everyone applauded. He lifted his hands for silence. “Thank you for a BIRG Day celebration that exceeded my greatest expectation.”

  You got some low expectations there, buddy.

  Mathias continued, “I must go now, but if I’m given a choice know that I will return. However, until that happens you must stay united and follow Callan’s leadership.”

  Zilya spoke up at that. “I am the next highest in rank from the Governing House.”

  “That is true,” Mathias agreed. “But I am designating Callan who is better prepared to lead our group in this Sphere. As you well know, I hold the power to make that decision at any time our people are under threat such as we are here.”

  “As you wish.” Zilya shrugged as if she couldn’t be bothered. The minute Mathias turned from her, Zilya whispered something to Etoi who chuckled, as if they both thought this whole production was funny. Maybe they didn’t expect Mathias to leave at all. That would be a mean trick to play on these little kids. Tony wished he could hear what Zilya and Etoi were whispering, but Mathias kept talking.

  “Protect and watch over each other. Never give up hope of leaving. We will win this war. Our families will find us. This I believe with all my being.”

  Mathias gave a pointed look at Callan who came to his feet and offered, “I will join you on the walk.”

  What walk? And would that be the time to make a run for the transender? But how could they when he couldn’t even talk to Gabby or Rayen?

  Giving Callan a quick head dip, Mathias added, “I ask Rayen to join us as well.”

  Nooooooo. This was a bad time for Rayen to leave. We probably got less than twenty minutes now.

  Mathias’s statement also
startled Zilya and Etoi whose confused gazes darted from Mathias to Callan to Rayen. Zilya jumped to her feet, mouth open to protest.

  With a lift of his hand, Mathias cut her off. “This is my choice.”

  Rayen didn’t stand, but she did say, “I want to know that Tony and Gabby will be safe while I’m gone if I agree to go.”

  You tell ‘em, Rayen. But don’t go.

  Callan addressed Zilya and Etoi. “As long as those two don’t attempt to escape, they’re not to be harmed. To do so will result in painful punishment.”

  Etoi blanched at whatever Callan alluded to, which gave Tony a moment of relief about being left tied up.

  With that settled, Rayen spoke quietly to Gabby then stood and followed Callan and Mathias from the common area.

  Gabby got up and crossed to Tony. She squatted down and reached up to pull the gag off his mouth.

  When she did, Etoi shouted, “Do not touch him!”

  Gabby didn’t even look back when she answered, “Chill. I’m only letting him breathe.”

  Go Gabby!

  Etoi grabbed her spear and rushed over to point it at Gabby’s back.

  Tony shook his head. Much as he wanted to tell Gabby what he’d found out, he didn’t want her hurt.

  Gabby shoved up to her feet and pivoted to face the spear, looking down as she scoffed. She slapped aside the tip. “Everyone has the right to be stupid, but you’re abusing the privilege. Taking his gag off doesn’t constitute trying to escape. But if you want to stab me then argue that point with Callan. I’m game as long as I get to watch you being punished.”

  Careful, Psycho Babe, but man that is so hot. Tony let out a muffled chuckle when Etoi backed down.

  Sulking, Zilya stood off to the side, not offering an opinion.

  Jaxxson strolled up. “There are better uses for your energy, Etoi. Such as helping the others clean up, and making sure the smallest ones retreat to their chambers before moonset.” When she turned away sharply from him, he added, in a lower, tighter voice, “Please follow Mathias’s example by giving the children encouragement. Do not spew venom when they face enough hardship.”

  Etoi stomped off without agreeing or spouting another snotty comment.

  Jaxxson’s serious gaze bounced from Tony to Gabby. “Do you give your word you’ll not attempt to escape or help him escape, Gabby?”