by L. S. Gibson
“I’m not sure I understand. But I suppose it’s not that important I do, is it? Is there any way of knowing what happened here?”
“I can but tell you what anyone could devise from the signs. As for Triena, I don’t know yet. She might be able to pick up something. I think it will depend on just what did happen here.”
“What does that mean?”
“On what is left of the emotions, the stresses that took place here; whether there is enough left for her to read.”
Almost as if she knew they were talking about her, Triena walked forward, at a slow pace. She approached the row of dead. Taking her time, she walked from one end to the other, then back again. Then she walked around the ruined buildings of what had once been a thriving village. Haven it was called, a Haven it was not.
Charod left Jon after taunting him for a couple more minutes; threatening him with session after session, no possibility of any help, and no hope at all. Charod was careful to explain to him they had the Rhiava well and truly under control.
“I suspect you were heading for that village of theirs just across the mountains. Perhaps your friends have gone there for help. But for you there’s no help there, or anywhere else on this benighted little world. We’ve cleared that nest of vipers out now, taken most of their so-called Elders. No, there’s no help, no hope.” He hesitated, smiling again, as he moved toward the head of the bench. He stared down at Jon, tipped his head on one side, before continuing in a soft beguiling voice. “Just my little sessions.”
But by then it didn’t matter. Jon had, for a short period of time—too short a period—entertained the possibility of help, but he’d dismissed it as being too dangerous. The Rhiava would never risk Triena and the other Elders just for him. No, Jon was resigned to his fate. He was shocked at the news about Haven, but that was already beyond his power. All he could concentrate on now was not giving up, not giving in. He expected the pain to begin again after Charod left, but it didn’t. After a while he understood it was another part of Charod’s torture, to allow the victim time to dwell on his fate, dwell on the assessment. Jon thought to himself, well so be it. The longer they let me alone the better.
He did allow himself one hope, one forlorn hope he had to admit. He wondered what was happening on Questor. The captain and crew wouldn’t have given up following their aborted conversation. How many days ago had that been? He couldn’t quite remember. But what he could remember was the determination of Sara Henricks, the engineer who hated to be defeated by any problem. He remembered the persistence of Robert Simpson, a good friend to both Manny and himself. The perseverance of Peter Barlow, who, like the tortoise, always got there in the end. And, of course, the captain, David Sullivan, who had never been beaten and wouldn’t entertain the idea of it happening now. Whether they’d be able to help him was a different matter.
Jon was pretty confident Manny had reached safety. Charod would’ve boasted if he’d captured any of the others. And perhaps Questor could help Triena and her people. Triena. Jon prayed she’d be safe wherever she was now. Manny would keep the faith and get her to safety.
Triena still filled his thoughts when the light began to darken. He steeled himself, and to help he used the thought of her like a talisman against the pain. Then, at last they began the questions, repeating them over and over again.
From where had he come? Who had he been with? Was he with the Rhiava? At first the light was just pale yellow.
Did he know the secrets of the Rhiava? Where was their technology hidden? He didn’t answer. The light darkened to yellow.
The weapon he carried, was that his own, or was it Rhiava? What had they wanted in the caves? He said nothing. The light by now was pale orange.
Did they come to the caves knowing the control center was there? The light became orange. He cried out, but still he didn’t answer.
What did he know of the Rhiava powers? Did he know the Spirit? He cursed them. The light darkened again. The pain was unbearable. He screamed.
Did he know Triena? He screamed out her name. They repeated the question.
Did he know Triena? Where was she hiding? He clamped his mouth shut. Screwed his eyes even tighter shut. The light darkened, as dark orange as possible without quite being red.
The testing had shown it was no good using the light on red with Jon, he just lost conscious awareness. He couldn’t answer any questions then. They asked the questions again, and again, all the time the operator was careful in monitoring his reactions.
He still didn’t answer. The light stayed on. Jon screamed and cursed until he could take no more. Now he just screamed her name in his mind, the one release he had was his love for her. Until his mind just shut down and he passed out.
Triena had walked around the village twice and at last she headed back to the others. Her cheeks were wet with the tears she’d shed for her people.
“They came without warning. I don’t understand how none of my people knew of their coming. But they were caught unawares. Some of them tried to fight back any way they could. They killed them, just shot them.” She glanced at the row of bodies in the middle of the village. “I think some of my people got away but to where I cannot tell. Most of them were taken, though. Taken by the Mideans. It's probable they've taken them to Reliff where they can keep an eye on all of them together. They’ll have about two-thirds of the Elders prisoner there. My people are in even greater danger now. They’ll do anything to protect the Elders.”
“But they don’t have you, Mistress,” Lector said.
“Or the other Elders back at Sanctuary,” Manny added.
“Don’t you see, the people taken from here know of Sanctuary. It could be the Mideans will learn of it by…” Her voice faded, and she swayed like a reed in the wind.
Manny, who was nearest to her, took hold of her, supporting her, assuming the stress of what she was experiencing had got to her at last. But as he held her she breathed out the name. “Jon!”
“Jon? The pain, again?”
She nodded. “He’s calling to me.”
“Calling to you? But I thought you said it wasn’t verbal.”
“It isn’t, but he is calling to me.” Triena felt a chill run through her as she felt Jon’s fear, his reaction to the pain. But she also felt his determination, and through it all she heard him calling her name over and over. In an instant she understood he was calling her name for his own benefit, inside his own head, because he needed help, any he could grab on to. But there was none. He was alone, so alone. She couldn’t bear to think of him suffering so, and knowing he was facing it on his own.
All of a sudden the call became a scream and she screamed back in response. “Jon!” Then he was gone.
“Triena, Triena answer me,” Manny shouted, as if he’d been trying to get through to her for over a full minute. “Why did you scream? What’s going on?”
Lector just stood by. This seemed as much a shock to him as it was to Manny.
At last Triena gazed at them and her eyes were full of pain. “We must get help. We can’t leave him there. Please Manny, talk to your ship. We can’t rescue him on our own.” She grabbed hold of Manny by the arms, her fingers, stronger than he could’ve imagined, digging into his flesh. “They’ll kill him, Manny. He won’t talk, and just like the others they’ll send his body back.” Tears ran down her cheeks.
Manny put his arms around her, and she felt his rage at his own impotence.
“I can’t stand this, Triena. I brought you out of that damn cave because it was what Jon wanted. What I thought was right. But I can’t leave Jon up there. If my ship can’t help, I’ll go back alone.”
“No, you’ll not be alone. I’ll go back with you,” Lector said. “We still need information on the shield generator. Our people here can’t help us now. We’re on our own.”
“Call your ship, see if they can assist. We have to rescue Jon. And there’s still the problem of our people in Sanctuary.” She was calmer now she knew they would
try.
“Mistress, I didn’t mean you should accompany us,” Lector stated.
“I will not be left behind. We’ll go together,” she retorted.
Lector didn’t look happy, but it was obvious he knew he couldn’t change her mind.
“Very well, Mistress, but we must make detailed plans. Also, there is the shield, if we can find a way of disabling it, our people would be free. And then it would be our turn.”
“Can you contact them now, Manny? If they can’t come to our aid, we’ll make plans of our own,” Triena said with determination.
Sullivan paced behind the table in the conference room. Things had gotten quite complicated. Now it seemed the village of Haven had been overrun, and most of its inhabitants taken prisoner, including quite a few of the Elders who were important to keep out of the hands of the Mideans. Some people had been tortured to death in Reliff just to keep Haven and Sanctuary a secret. Now the help they’d expected to receive from Haven wasn’t just gone, but Triena was asking for assistance in contacting her people in the village of Sanctuary. They, too, could be under threat now.
And last, but not least, Simpson was now pretty sure the blip he’d picked up on the long-range sensors was another vessel, and Simpson confirmed it came from the direction of Midea.
Sullivan paced while his people tossed the problems back and forth behind him like a...what was the old game called? That’s it—Ping-Pong. Sullivan twisted back to the table and knocked on its surface to call the meeting back to order.
“Our first priority has to be rescuing Jon. We know prisoners have died at the hands of the Mideans. There’s some sort of relationship between Triena and Jon, and she’s determined whatever happens she’s going back up that mountain with Manny and Lector. Manny’s no less determined to return either. He’s positive about Triena’s powers and that this contact she has with Jon is quite real and Jon's suffering is great. While Manny was prepared to wait while they got help from Haven before attempting a rescue, that help has now evaporated and they can’t wait any longer.” There were a few murmurs from around the table, but the captain just ignored them.
“Second, there is the situation with the shield generator on the summit of the mountain. Manny was clear while getting Jon back is their priority, it’s also important to get any information on that they can. Meantime, Sanctuary must be warned. Some of those taken from Haven knew of its location and they may be forced to talk by the Mideans. Quite a list. Any suggestions?”
“I’m just finishing off the modifications to the shuttle Mr. Barlow is to take down. I’ve been working on the large shuttle so he has room to take along a security team and be able to bring back Jon and Manny,” Sara Henricks reported. “What if I also outfitted the small shuttle and another party went down and warned those in Sanctuary?”
“Yes, I was thinking along those lines myself. How much longer will you need, Sara?”
“About another hour and a half. And then to modify the small shuttle, say about six hours minimum.”
“I’d better inform Triena right away then. She said she’d need time to prepare. I must say the more I learn of these people, the less I feel I know,” Sullivan said, seeming distracted. To Barlow he added, “There’s no way we can expect them to wait for you and your team to reach them, Commander. You’d have to land at the base of the mountain and climb up by foot anyway, and I can’t order Manny to wait. I don’t think he’d obey me anyway,” he said with a wry smile. “I recognize determination when I hear it, in particular when it’s generated by guilt.”
“Yes, sir, I have to agree,” interjected Simpson. “I’ve known Manny for quite some time. He might appear easygoing and thoughtless, but you know how damned thorough he is, and I’ve never met a more determined individual when he’s got the bit between his teeth.”
“So what can we do, sir?” Piper queried.
“Follow them, Captain? Then perhaps we can do something about this shield generator,” Barlow proposed.
“Yes. I just might be able to get Manny to hold off if he knows for certain you’re coming; indeed, I’ll try. We can send them up the mountain to reconnoiter then set up a rendezvous. From what he reported I doubt they’d be able to get Jon out on their own anyway. Providing, of course, they can find out where he is. Don’t forget he was taken into some caves, but I doubt he’s still there. It's probable he’s being held in the base on the summit. Piper, contact Manny. Tell him Mr. Barlow and a team is on the way to join him. Ask him to check out the summit; attempt to find out where they are holding Jon. Also, try and get any information they can on the shield generator, but they are not to attempt anything until Mr. Barlow joins them. Also tell them another team will go to Sanctuary as soon as they can. Don’t forget to get the location of this Sanctuary.”
“Yes, sir.”
The captain stared at Barlow. “I don’t know that he will wait, but I have to make the effort. Peter, you may just have to pick up the pieces.” Barlow nodded, appearing somber. “Everybody else carry on. I want you to be able to leave as soon as Sara has finished.”
Chairs scraped back as they began to leave and Sullivan said, “Simpson, just one more thing.”
Simpson held back till the others have left. “Yes, sir?”
“I want someone good on the sensors. That ship needs to be kept under constant surveillance. With you and Mannheim gone, I need the next best operator. Chang?”
“Yes, sir. I worked with her a lot of late, and she has a feel for it.”
“Very well, brief her. I want regular reports.”
Manny signed off after providing Questor with the location of Sanctuary. They were almost out of the foothills again; the climb would begin soon.
“I know it sounds like a delay, Triena, but to be honest I doubt we can get Jon out on our own. At least this way we may have a chance of success. Sara Henricks, our engineer, is good. If she thinks she can modify the shuttles to get through, then she will. Mr. Barlow will not just bring a team to help us, but they’ll go and warn Sanctuary.”
“I do understand, Manny, and I know you’re correct, but how many hours will all this take, and how often during those hours will Jon suffer? I’ve experienced the contact four times now. How many times will the Mideans torture Jon before they decide enough is enough and just kill him?” Her voice was forlorn.
“But if we were to try a rescue without hope of success, how would that help Jon?” Lector asked.
She didn’t answer. Instead she just began to climb. Manny and Lector followed. They moved with care, watching again for patrols. They worked their way up the chimney down which they’d travelled just a short time before. It was a difficult climb, the chimney was steep, but it was much the quickest way and with help from Lector and Manny, Triena managed it. They stopped for a rest and some food in the crevice at the top.
While they rested, they discussed Captain Sullivan’s suggestion that it was probable Jon was no longer in the cave system, but in the base on the summit. It was the first time they’d bothered to debate what the Mideans could be doing inside the caves.
“If you think about it we didn’t see too much on the summit, which would account for the machinery necessary to operate that monstrosity. A few small buildings, one large one and the construct, but to operate something to create a shield of enough power to encircle your entire world you would need banks of computers and energy control systems, power converter coils and generators. All we saw was one console,” Manny said.
“You’re suggesting all this machinery is in the cave system?” Triena queried.
“It would explain why so many of them were in the caves,” Lector said.
“But that doesn’t help us determine where Jon is being held. He could be in the caves or on the summit in one of those buildings. We need to decide on a plan of action.” Manny stood and began to pace. He couldn’t afford to make a wrong choice, they were running out of time, or to be correct, Jon was.
“This might sound ridiculous, but
is there any way you can tell how far away Jon is, or in a particular direction? Anything at all that can help us to choose?” Manny asked Triena.
“I don’t think so,” she replied, a little hesitant. “I’ve never experienced anything quite like this before.”
Lector seemed about to speak, but hesitated. It was clear something was troubling him. His eyes darted about before settling on Triena. “Mistress, I know what I am about to suggest is outrageous...taboo, so please forgive me, but what if I merged with you during the next...” He seemed uncertain how to enunciate it. “I know that during such a contact, in normal circumstances, that would be considered an intrusion, but in this instance? If I could help you to control your reaction to Jon’s predicament, perhaps together we could find out. Perhaps I can bring into use my senses and get a direction, even a location, maybe.”
Manny watched as Triena pondered the offer. Lector had said it was taboo, and though Manny didn’t quite understand why, it was clear it gave Triena pause for thought. After a moment she glanced at Lector, gave him a formal nod and said, “Thank you, Lector. I accept your offer.”
“Let’s go,” Manny said, sensing some undercurrent he didn’t want to pursue. They picked up their packs and started the climb again.
Thoughts kept running around inside his head. Jon wasn’t able to stop them or control them. Sometimes he had a strange feeling he was somehow watching himself and all these sensations were happening to someone else. He tried to snap out of it. This wasn’t helping; he needed to keep control of himself. He couldn’t even remember how many times he’d suffered under that damn light; how many times they’d asked him the same questions. Most of the questions no longer made any sense to him. They kept pushing him for information about the Rhiava and their technology.