Not as much as her. But you do have him? Alive? There was an emphasis on the last word.
Of course. He will be healed by the time we arrive. Arkina’s energy helped with an answer.
You better speak the truth. The Queen took a deep breath. You still smell of fear. There’s something you’re not telling us.
She’s keeping Triena for herself, that’s what, thought one of the Queens. Distrust welled around in the circle as the others agreed.
Silence. The Queen snapped her head around to look at the woman who had spoken out of turn. She shot a bolt of energy at the woman, who screamed and stumbled backwards.
Only I speak, reminded the Queen with the gold band.
Yes Holy One. They chorused back.
Triena could feel Arkina’s energy itching to get the gold band for herself. It was meant to be shared between us. An equality. But she wears it most of the time, the dead woman’s energy hissed to Triena.
The Queen turned back to Triena. She pointed at her and Triena shivered, waiting for a bolt of energy to be thrown at her.
I’ll be waiting for you, thought the Queen. If you are too long then I’ll have something special in store for you.
The Queen pushed her hands towards Triena. The force hit Triena in the center of her etheric form, pushing her backwards, sending her flying rapidly back to her body. She lost hold of the cloak she’d made. It unraveled as she thudded into her body.
I have to go and see Braklen.
Chapter 13
Braklen pulled the tubes from his arm. A young nurse came running over. “Don’t you dare.”
He looked at her through swollen eyes. Every single movement hurt. Even blinking. He watched her slender figure sidle up to his bed. “I dared.” He tried to smile. My humor has helped me in the past. He’d spent enough time in makeshift hospitals during the heaviest fighting between the Queens and the Priests. This first-aid room in the ship was luxurious in comparison. But he didn’t want to stay here. I’ve got to find Triena. We’re weak when we aren’t together.
“I can see that.” She pursed her lips together and picked up the end of the tube and began reattaching it to him.
“No sense of humor, then.” Sweet-talking her wasn’t going to get him out of this room. He figured there’d be a guard at the door, at least one, so even if she did let him out he wasn’t going to get far.
“I’m to keep you alive.” She fussed over the tubes making sure there wasn’t an air bubble. “I’ll get you something to help you sleep.”
“No.” He went to grab her but the straps around his chest pulled him back on the bed with his arms stretched out his fingers only brushed against her uniform. She looked at him, eyes wide. Damn, I’ve scared her. He let his arms drop. I’m going to have to do better than this.
“Add some more straps.” She stood staring at him.
“No. I won’t hurt you.” The look she gave him wasn’t one of trust or even sympathy. “Fuck the Queens.”
“And that’s why I’m getting more straps. We don’t need traitors running loose on the ship.” She rummaged through the drawers.
“I won’t.” His head fell back on the pillow. I will. Braklen’s mind swirled. He felt unanchored without Triena near him. And angry. She tried to kill me again. He shifted in the bed and groaned with pain. No, that wasn’t right. His thoughts shattered. He wasn’t sure what happened. The ache in his body told him that he’d been hit with a particle gun. That he was certain of. Everything else was a blur.
Since being shot, Braklen managed to find his way into the Energy Field and then back again. He hadn’t stayed long. Something pushed him out. Since there was nothing else for him to do, he tried to go back again and again, but the same thing happened and he found himself firmly back in his physical form. That’s when he’d decided to cajole the nurse. She was young, and he thought it would be easy. So much for that plan.
The nurse returned with a guard. “This is for your own good.” She held up the straps.
“Like hell it is.” He tried to fight, but the guard pinned his arms, and the nurse quickly tied him down, attaching him to the bed. When they released him, he struggled. “Let me out.”
“No, you’re on a one-way trip to the Queens.” She held up a syringe. Liquid squirted into the air.
“No, please.” Braklen wanted to be alert, to give his mind time to put the pieces back together, to work out what happened. “You’ve strapped me down, that’s enough.”
The nurse ignored him and injected the liquid into his arm. “There, you’ll sleep pretty now.”
Braklen’s eyes felt heavy and his vision blurred. “Damn you . . .”
All he could see was the nurse smiling at him, a smile that chilled him, as she morphed into the Queen he’d killed. But the image didn’t change there. He saw Triena standing there by his bed.
He lifted his hand to touch her face. He imagined his hand moving, but his body had become rock solid and all he could do was look at her. Triena. She was a beauty, her long dark hair, green eyes, and thin smile, warmed his heart. He knew he’d be all right. Relief washed over him as he soaked in her image.
She leaned towards him, and planted a kiss on his forehead. Instead of the warmth he always felt with Triena, her touch was cold. He tried to recoil, but there was nowhere to go.
This won’t take long. Her breath was icy on his forehead.
Braklen realized with horror this wasn’t Triena. And that nothing good was going to come of this. Leave me. No!
Her lips landed on his forehead, froze to his skin, sucking the heat from inside of him. He thrashed in an attempt to loosen her grip on him, but the Queen was attached to him. Pain shot down his head from the freezing cold she generated. Lightning bolts of icy energy ripped through his mind.
Braklen tried to think of what Triena had taught him in the Energy. What to do. How to keep himself whole. But he just didn’t know what or how right now. He was trained in physical combat, not mental manipulation. Braklen lashed out at the Queen, but no matter what he told himself to do, he remained strapped to the hospital bed. And the Queen sucked at his energy, draining him, taking his essence.
The softness of the pillow began to harden behind his head. Braklen’s breath came quick and fast as he tried to work out what was going on. I’m in the hospital bed. But now he wasn’t so sure. With the help of the drugs the nurse had given him, he’d managed to slip into the Energy Field. With that realization, he did the only thing he knew.
Braklen pulled himself into a tight ball, holding on tight to his essence before it was about to freeze and shatter into a million pieces. I’ve come this far. He felt the current the Queen had created around him slow. Her surprise filtered over him.
You’ll need to do better than that. Her thought stabbed like a knife into the ball he had created.
Braklen screamed in pain. But, instead of his energy freezing and breaking apart, it held together. She was caught tight. He saw his chance. He pulled out the ice knife and sent it flying back the way it had come, straight into the Queen’s mouth.
The cold energy around him sucked backwards into the Queen, and his warmth rushed down to him. Above him, the Queen began to turn a light blue color. Her ice energy turned against her.
He opened himself to receive the remaining heat that she’d stolen from him, sealing her fate. Her image crackled as the vibration slowed and the molecules of her etheric form froze. Then half a breath later, cracks began to form in the ice and suddenly exploded, sending ice shattering outwards.
Braklen shielded himself with fiery heat. The Queen’s icy particles melted when they touched him and continued to heat until they became steam and were blown away into the Field.
Some of her energy dripped down within his. Congealing around him, he could taste the coldness that for
med her essence. Braklen spat trying to get rid of the taste of her. It was too late. He’d absorbed her. It made him woozy and he struggled to keep his form together.
Weird. He wasn’t used to things happening like this. Braklen felt like he’d been in a blender instead of being in the Energy Field. It’s not real, but the pendant felt real when he touched it.
Braklen looked around and realized that he was suspended in darkness. Fear sunk its teeth into him. There was no path. Not even a hint of one. Frantically, he searched, but it was like he was trapped in a black box. The teeth sunk deeper into his energy, pain made it feel real. Triena helped him out before. This time he was on his own. Pain held him tight and kept him stuck in the black prison. I’ve got no idea how to get back.
~ ~ ~
Wake up. The rabbit sniffed around Rangit’s head. I can’t fly this bloody ship. He wished he could. Two legs, opposable thumbs, and I’d be after the Peacekeepers in a flash.
His body ached, so much so that he couldn’t work out where the injury was. But that didn’t matter. He was separated from Triena and Braklen. The Peacekeepers thought Rangit was dead and left him, firing a shot in his back for good measure.
The rabbit used his own energy to protect Rangit, so he still lived. Just. And he wasn’t going to live for much longer. The rabbit sneezed from the residue of particles hanging in the air. It was still difficult to see. The Peacekeepers had taken their fallen.
Bloodstains marked the floor where they died. The rabbit could feel their essence lingering, wanting to anchor back in the living. But, it didn’t cling to him, or to Rangit. It must know we aren’t long for this world. He pushed their energy away with his own, creating a clear area around them. Rangit didn’t need the heaviness of death to keep him unconscious.
I’ll piss on your boots. The rabbit bounced down to Rangit’s feet. I have to get him up, otherwise I’ll die here on this ship. I’d rather be put in the pot than die of starvation stuck out here in space. There was a small problem with his threat in that for once he had no need to relieve himself. But he got into position anyway. Say goodbye to your boots.
Don’t you fuckin’ dare.
The rabbit pricked up his ears. What was that? Do I hear a protest?
Rangit moved his foot, side-swiping the rabbit and knocking him over.
The rabbit tumbled for a moment before finding his feet. He ignored the pain burning through his body and hopped back to Rangit. Get up, Rangit, we’ve got work to do.
Rangit’s foot twitched and the rabbit bounced back.
You’ve got enough energy for the both of us.
Not quite. He twitched his ears as he waited for the pulsing pain to subside in his body. The Peacekeepers will be back. They marked the ship to be salvaged and a team is on the way to make the collection.
Rangit groaned. His eyes remained closed. He didn’t move.
The rabbit crawled towards the man’s head, slowly so as not to cause pain to shoot through his body. When they get here, they will kill you, eat me, and rip apart the ship.
I’ve gotten fond of the Petal.
Well, if you want to keep this ship you have only one option. Get up. Now. The rabbit thumped his back foot on the floor.
Rangit’s eyes flickered open and he groaned. I feel like I’ve been hit a thousand times.
Only twice, with a particle gun set to kill.
Those weapons don’t fail. I’m alive because . . .
I’m offended you even have to ask.
Well, at least I didn’t die. Rangit groaned heavily as he sat up. He clutched his chest. I think I’m going to now. He gasped for air.
Oh, stop being so dramatic. The plan didn’t work, but we still have options to get to the Queens’ castle. Unless you are happy to take your chances with the salvage team. The rabbit slipped into the Energy Field.
He saw the large ship, wide with an empty hull coming towards them. They’ll be here in less than an hour. He settled his essence back into the Energy. He’d been careful not to leave a print, or take the chance to go and see Triena.
Where are they? Rangit asked.
Peacekeepers took them both.
Rangit held on to the crate near him to help haul himself onto his feet. He wobbled. Who shot me?
She did. The rabbit looked at Rangit. His skin was ashen, blood and grime smeared his face and hands. Their chances weren’t good. Both of them looked like they had crawled back from death.
You should’ve trained her better, thought Rangit as he took a tentative step.
The rabbit held his breath. Between them, they might stand a chance. I think she did the right thing.
Didn’t look like it. Rangit grimaced in pain as he walked.
The rabbit hopped forward towards the stairs. A headache thudded in his head. We better get working.
Yep, I’m betting there’s more work than what we can manage. He limped forward.
My teeth are ready, thought the rabbit. I can chew through wires for hours.
Don’t you go chewing any wires unless I say so.
Spoil-sport. Hope you know how to take off the salvage lock.
No fuckin’ idea. Rangit followed the rabbit up to the bridge.
That’s what I figured. We could well be doomed to die on this ship after all.
“You’re a real bundle of joy,” said Rangit as he eased himself onto the chair in front of the controls. “This is a bloody mess.”
We will be a bloody mess if you don’t do something, answered the rabbit as he hopped around the bridge area.
“Keep your ears on,” said Rangit. “I need to concentrate.”
Touchy. The rabbit settled himself near the chair and watched Rangit hit a few buttons.
“She sure is locked down,” grumbled Rangit.
The rabbit clicked his ears together. I can help through the Energy.
“Good. Get moving.” Rangit continued to punch through a series of codes on the screen, grumbling as he worked.
The rabbit fluffed up his fur and settled into a comfortable position before easing his awareness into the Energy Field. He jumped as he heard something shatter. It took a moment for him to realize that it was in the Energy Field and not something that Rangit was doing.
Curiosity got the better of him, and he moved towards the sound, slowly, keeping his energy masked in a bubble so that whoever was causing this disturbance wouldn’t see him. It wouldn’t do well to alert the Queens that he was alive, but so far they hadn’t realized that he, a rabbit, was able to use the Energy as well as they did and was helping Triena and Braklen.
A cold wind blew over the rabbit. He sensed the essence of a Queen, one that had just been absorbed into the Energy Field. Triena is working quickly. He thought proudly. She’s doing all right after all. Still, the rabbit would rather be by her side watching her, instead of being trapped on this ship.
A glow of energy ahead caused him to change direction. Fuck the Queens. The rabbit saw Braklen’s energy form. He was responsible for removing another Queen? The rabbit couldn’t believe it. Suppose that’s why these two are meant to be, and need each other.
He moved in closer and saw that somehow Braklen had trapped himself within a box. Idiot.
With patience and care, the rabbit unraveled the box, releasing Braklen. The man stood stunned for a moment. Honestly, I have to do way too much, thought the rabbit. He sent a blast of energy towards Braklen, which pushed him onto the path and sent him tumbling back to his body.
You’re meant to look out for Triena, not get yourself caught. One problem dealt with, now, to the next one. He turned his attention back to the Field and began looking for the imprint on the Petal.
Rangit’s annoyance for the lack of help rippled towards him. The rabbit built up his protective bubble and mov
ed quickly through the Energy searching for the imprint.
There. The ship was easy enough to find. He could see his own life form pulsing inside along with Rangit. Nothing like standing out too much. The rabbit fabricated a cloak around the ship so that if anyone looked through the Energy Field at them they wouldn’t realize anyone was on board. Then he set about getting the lock off the ship, so they could get the hell out of here.
He squeezed his form into the lock that the Peacekeepers had put on the ship. A maze of options extended out in front of him. It’d be easier to have the damn code.
The rabbit took the path to his right and weaved around and around within the lock until he came to a steel wall that he couldn’t get through no matter what.
Fuck the Queens. He’d lost his way in the maze of the lock. This was wasting valuable time, and the salvage team would be getting close. He doubled back, went to the left and this time ended up in the center of the lock and found the code.
The rabbit memorized the symbols of the code, then linked to the essence of Rangit. I hope you’re ready.
The rabbit sent the codes to Rangit. This method wasn’t perfect. Rangit might not get the message, it might be scrambled, and he might only get part of it. The man might have some skill with the Energy but wasn’t properly trained. This was the quickest way to ensure the code was entered and they could leave before more people arrived who’d want to kill them.
The symbols sent, the rabbit assured himself that he hadn’t left an imprint. He doubled the protective cloak around the ship so that they’d hopefully have a chance of reaching the Queens’ castle. A jolt caused the rabbit to lose his balance. Fuck . . .
He shook his body and looked up at Rangit at the bridge. I hadn’t finished.
“Not my fault,” said Rangit. Red light reflected off his face as he kept his attention on the screen. The ship shook violently.
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