by Mikayla Lane
“Son, I don’t know who you are, or where you came from, but you certainly created an uproar around here,” Jack said with a shake of his head.
“I can assure you, that was never my intention. I am just as surprised and confused as everyone else,” Haruki admitted as he tested his bonds.
He felt the give in the zip ties and realized he could snap them quickly and escape, but Haruki didn’t want to frighten the doctor before figuring out if he was going to help them or not.
“Well, I have to admit I’m really glad you did. It’s about time we knew the truth about this place being sold out and what our future really would be. It’s sad to know you put your heart and soul into something only to find out your sacrifices meant nothing to the people you trusted with your life,” Jack said as he sat heavily in a chair across from Haruki.
Haruki studied the weary man for a moment while he sifted his energy. Finally, it became clear to him why the doctor was there and speaking to him.
“I have no intention of harming anyone. Except for Mike, I owe him for his treatment of Deanna. If this place does belong to me, I don’t know what I would do with it yet, but it wouldn’t include killing those who knew about it,” Haruki assured the nervous doctor.
The doctor snorted and put his glasses back on.
“You could also lie to get our help in overthrowing Mike and kill us anyway. Even if you do get Mike under control, his board of directors and those who want to exploit the energy will never leave this place alone. It’s a terrible dilemma that we face, don’t you think?” Jack asked, his sharp eyes studying Haruki.
“I have no answers for the future, and I won’t make promises that I can’t keep. The only thing I can tell you is that I don’t want to hurt anyone, and I will do my best to protect those of you who wanted no part of the fight Mike is instigating,” Haruki explained, unwilling to lie to him.
“Well, I guess that’s all we can ask,” Jack said as he stood. “Let’s get those ties off of you.”
Haruki went ahead and snapped the ties on his wrists before leaning forward to pull off the ones on his ankles.
“Wow . . . I guess it’s hard to doubt your word when you could have done that earlier and killed me if you wished,” Jack said with wide eyes as sweat beaded on his forehead.
Haruki just chuckled and shrugged.
“I didn’t want to frighten you and thought it would be easier for us to speak honestly if you felt you were safe,” Haruki admitted.
“I appreciate the kindness. I don’t suppose you’d tell me who and what you are?” Jack asked as he stared up at Haruki.
“I’m a friend. Does anything else really matter?” Haruki countered.
Jack’s forehead wrinkled as he concentrated on the question for a moment before he looked up at Haruki.
“No. Friend is good enough,” Jack responded.
“So, what’s the plan? Should I stay here and wait for this Trevor?” Haruki asked as he looked around the neatly organized room.
“This is the mechanical and electrical supply room. All the replacement parts and pieces needed to keep the systems running,” Jack said, answering Haruki’s unasked question. “Trevor should be here soon. He had to get with Dog first. Mike had him locked up for punching him earlier and colluding with you.”
“Where is this building located?” Haruki asked as he recalled the layout around the pyramid.
“We’re five buildings southeast of the mess hall,” Jack replied.
“Mike put me as far away from Deanna as possible,” Haruki muttered.
“You should have expected that. Are you creating the chemistry between you two with your magic or power?” Jack asked, his eyes daring Haruki to answer.
“No one but the Creator could do that. Even in my dreams I never dared hope for something that special,” Haruki admitted with a smile.
“He’s going to try and use her against you,” Jack warned.
“I will kill and die for her,” Haruki growled. “If you believe nothing else, believe that.”
Jack took an involuntary step back before he straightened his thin shoulders.
“Well, I think I’ll go check on Harry and see what’s keeping Trevor. You need to stay here,” Jack said, looking to see if Haruki would listen.
“I understand. Go to Deanna if you can,” Haruki said.
He watched the nervous doctor nod before he hurried to the door and slipped outside. The moment he was alone, Haruki contacted Mikal.
“Are you well, brother? Your daughter has threatened to port to you if we didn’t hear from you soon,” Mikal replied, concern evident in his voice.
Haruki rubbed a tired hand over his face and paced the small shed.
“You can’t let her come. I can’t go into everything right now, it’s damn complicated. I’ll speak to her and tell her I found my mate and we’re exploring the location and getting to know one another,” Haruki said, leaving out any details.
“You must have discovered something besides your mate if you are exploring. Why are you so evasive? Are you and your mate safe?” Mikal demanded.
Haruki pondered telling his brother the truth. He knew that Mikal could easily help him with this situation, but his presence would be missed, leading more of his siblings to follow. He couldn’t allow Mike to find out about them before he regained control of the pyramid.
“We are safe,” Haruki lied. “This is not a place being used by Satalis, but there is something here that needs to be investigated. My mate is an archeologist, and she will help me figure this out while we bond.”
“You are telling half-truths and expecting me to swallow it whole,” Mikal accused.
Haruki sighed and wracked his mind for something to tell his very perceptive brother.
“What I’ve found is the greatest discovery we have ever made. It may reveal everything we ever wanted to know about our people, but there is a situation that I need to correct before it is safe for any of you to come. Promise me you will keep everyone away for now,” Haruki said, hoping Mikal would go along with it.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to correct the situation if you had another person to assist you?” Mikal challenged.
“Fuck, Mikal! Can you do this for me? Just trust me?” Haruki shot back.
“I will give you 24 hours before I arrive. If I do not hear from you every four hours, I will show up with the entire family,” Mikal threatened.
Haruki smiled at the love and concern he felt in Mikal’s voice.
“I love you too,” Haruki replied. “Take care of everyone for me. I’ll talk to you again in four hours.”
“Four hours,” Mikal repeated, then ended the connection.
Haruki reached out to Ainsley, lightly prodding her mind to see if she was awake.
“Are you OK?” Ainsley instantly replied.
Haruki grinned broadly at the concern in her voice.
“I’m doing great. There have been a couple of snags here, and I’m going to be a little longer than we first thought,” he explained, hoping she wouldn’t delve too deeply into why. He should have known better.
“What’s wrong? What happened? Are you injured? Is it Satalis?” Ainsley asked.
Haruki chuckled and sent her calming energy through their connection on the shengari’.
“It is nothing so dramatic,” he said reassuringly. “I have found an unusual structure that I think is Dranovian. My mate is the archeologist at the site. I can’t wait for you to meet her. I think you’ll like her.”
“Oh!” Ainsley shouted in his mind.
A dramatic pause left him wondering if she was upset that he’d found his mate so soon after adopting her. He was getting ready to try and explain things to her when she spoke.
“I am so happy for you! I’m so happy for me! I get a dad and a mom! We can be a real family!” Ainsley squealed through their connection.
Haruki almost burst out laughing at Ainsley’s happiness. He couldn’t be more thrilled at how accepting she was of the u
nusual situation.
“You’re the greatest kid ever. You know that?” he asked.
“And you’re the best Dad. So you need a few more days to woo her or investigate? Because I can’t imagine her not loving you at first sight,” Ainsley teased, prodding him for more information.
“A little of both. I don’t get why she wouldn’t just agree to come away with me to a secret location in the twelve hours or so since we’ve met. The site is huge, I can’t wait for you to see it,” he replied thinking of the magnificent pyramid.
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing you need a few more days. The crew working on the suite needs a little more time, and now we need to make sure they add in more closet space and a few things for your mate,” Ainsley said.
Haruki could hear shouts outside the shed and knew he needed to focus on the dangers at hand.
“I have to go, for now, daughter of my heart. Listen to your aunts and uncles. I’ll be home soon. I love you,” Haruki told her, sending her an energy wave of love.
“I love you too, Dad,” Ainsley replied.
Haruki had felt her hesitant use of the name before she cut the link between them. He’d let her know later that he loved hearing her call him that. For now, he had this situation to deal with, and he moved behind the door as footsteps came closer to the shed.
The door opened slowly, and a long male shadow filled the floor before someone walked inside and slowly shut the door.
“It’s Trevor. Doc said you knew I was coming,” Trevor said as he looked around the room. He jumped when he saw Haruki behind him, near the door.
“How is Deanna?” Haruki asked.
“I left her in one of the storage sheds. I was going to take her a gun, but figured I’d just take you and the gun to her,” Trevor said as he reached into the back of his pants and handed Haruki a 9mm.
Haruki expertly checked the clip and loaded the chamber.
“When is Mike’s backup coming?” Haruki asked.
“We have a few hours at the most, but I’m not sure it’ll matter. They’ll be heavily armed, and we don’t have the firepower to keep them out,” Trevor explained.
“We won’t need firepower,” Haruki promised.
“Well, I’m glad you’re so confident. What’s the plan?” Trevor asked, wondering if he’d made the right decision.
“We need to get control of the place and lock them up in a more secure location than these storage sheds. Is there somewhere else we can put them?” Haruki asked as he pushed against the flimsy metal wall.
“Look! Whoever the hell you are . . .” Trevor said and shook his head. “I don’t give a damn about you. I want to get everyone else out of here, but if you do anything to hurt them . . .”
“I understand. I am also trying to save the innocent, but we can’t do that if we have no place to put Mike and his men,” Haruki explained, understanding why Trevor was so nervous.
“The strongest door we have is the one that leads outside,” Trevor said with a sigh. “The next would be the electrical room, but I don’t recommend giving them control of the power in this place.”
“We’ll have to restrain them,” Haruki muttered as he pictured the building layout in his mind again. “Restrain them and put them in the mess hall.”
“Why there?” Trevor questioned, trying to understand the reason.
“It will hold all of them, and being restrained in the chairs will make them easier to monitor,” Haruki explained as he opened the door a crack and looked out. “Where’s Dog?”
“He’s rounding up the others and taking them to the shed Deanna is in. There’s going to be eleven of Mike’s men, including Mike. The two holding the others hostage were taken out and tied up already. We’re only going to have four that can actually put up a fight. Me, you, Dog and Harry,” Trevor said, not happy with the odds.
“Where are these eleven?” Haruki asked with a grin.
Eleven? This should be quick, he thought as he mentally prepared himself for battle.
“Mike and three others are in the pyramid trying to get in that door that closed behind you. Four more are stationed outside the entrance to the pyramid, one is guarding the communications room, and the other two are checking outside to make sure you really did come alone,” Trevor explained, wondering what the strange man was planning.
Haruki briefly stretched his arms and legs before pulling in a deep breath and turning to Trevor.
“Can you three take out the one in the communications room?” he asked.
“Of course, but what about the rest of them?” Trevor asked, figuring there had to be more to the plan.
“Lock the doors to the outside. That will take care of the two out there until we’re ready to deal with them,” Haruki explained.
“And the others . . .” Trevor prompted.
“The others are mine,” Haruki replied before he opened the door and disappeared outside.
Trevor threw his hands in the air and stomped over to the door to demand more answers, but when he looked around, Haruki was gone.
“Oh shit,” Trevor muttered before he took off towards the shed with Deanna and the others. He yanked open the door and ignored the startled stares of the occupants as he looked for Dog and Harry.
“Dog, Harry! You two go take out the guy in communications, I’m going to lock the outer doors. Meet me at the entrance to the pyramid,” Trevor shouted before turning and running towards the doors.
“Let’s go,” Dog said with a grin at Harry.
“Wait! What about the rest of us?” Deanna asked, clutching the steak knife in her hand.
Dog ran over and pressed a gun into her hands.
“You shoot anyone you don’t trust that comes in that door. Keep them safe, girl,” Dog whispered as he glanced over her shoulder at the other scientists and staff who were too old to fight.
Deanna sighed and nodded her head.
“Go! We'll be all right,” she assured him as she checked the weapon and loaded one in the chamber.
Dog raised a brow at her familiarity with the gun.
“You’re going to explain that later,” Dog said with a wink before he strode out of the door and shut it behind him.
Deanna plastered a grin on her face as she turned to everyone huddled on the bags of sugar, flour, and rice.
“We’re going to be OK. They’re going to get us out of here safe,” she assured them, wishing she believed it herself.
“Then what? Where do we go that they won’t find us? Our lives are over,” Don James said as his head slowly dropped until he was staring at his lap.
There were murmurs from the others agreeing with Don and Deanna couldn’t help but wonder what their futures held. Don was right, there was nowhere they could go where Mike and his high profile friends wouldn’t find them.
Every second is borrowed time, Deanna thought.
She narrowed her eyes as she looked around the room at the huddled and frightened staff.
“Then what the hell do we care what happens? I’d rather go out taking one of them with me. At least I might succeed and get to learn something more about this place from Haruki before I die,” she said, seeing the light and hope come back into everyone.
Deanna tried to hide her grimace as a few had to help the others to get up and waited patiently before she went to the door and peeked outside.
“It’s all clear,” she whispered.
“Where we going first?” someone whispered behind her.
“To the pyramid,” Deanna whispered back, knowing that’s where Mike and Haruki would be.
If I’m going to die, I’m going to do it with him, she thought with determination as she led the group towards the pyramid.
She’d just reached the back of the building closest to the entrance when she heard screams and gunfire and ran ahead to see what happened.
Chapter Eight
Haruki stopped at the last building before the entrance to the pyramid and gathered as much energy into himself as he could
. He considered what weapons he needed to retake the pyramid and manifested two short bokkens in both hands. The typically wooden and blunt weapons would cause no permanent damage and allow him to fight within the confines of the pyramid.
He flexed and stretched, swinging the bokken to get a feel for the energy based weaponry. When he was ready, he pulled in a calming breath, drew a shield around him and strode swiftly towards the four men guarding the entrance to the structure.
He dropped to one knee as a gun was fired at him, the bullets flew over his head as he pivoted on his knee and lashed out with the bokken at the shooter. The first hit dropped the man to the ground before Haruki landed a knockout blow to the back of his head.
Still on one knee, Haruki crossed the blunt katana-like weapons over his chest before fully extending both arms and striking two others in the knees. One follow-up blow to their foreheads and Haruki was standing, flexing the weapons in his hands as he stared at the single man remaining.
“I . . . I . . . don’t hurt me, please,” the man whined as he dropped his gun and cowered on the ground.
Without an ounce of remorse, Haruki walked past the man, swinging a bokken at the last minute. He smiled at the thud that signaled the man was old cold as his long stride ate up the distance between him and Mike.
The pyramid fed his power and with each step Haruki took, he pulled the energy around him like a cloak, preparing for his inevitable meeting with Mike.
Haruki saw a man come around the corner up ahead, and the look of shock on his face almost made Haruki laugh.
“Son of a bitch!” the man shouted before he disappeared back around the corner.
Haruki added more layers of energy around him, prepared for Mike’s cowardice. He finished just as a barrage of bullets came flying at him from the tunnel ahead. Not knowing how long the energy shield would hold, Haruki roared in rage and ran down the tunnel towards Mike and his men.
He’d heard their screams of fear as they scrambled for a place to hide, but there was nowhere to go in the pyramid. Haruki rounded the corner in time to see Mike pointing a gun at his head and pulling the trigger.