“Um, my hands are a little full,” she said.
“I’ll take the baby,” Jackson said.
“All right,” Hope said, mystified, but agreeable. She traded the baby for the purse, and opened it up.
“Obviously the brave warrior fears delving into the secret depths of a woman’s handbag,” Grace said with more than a little humor in her voice.
Hope glanced at Jackson doubtfully, but the expression on his face told her that Grace was correct. She bent her head low over the purse to hide the smile she could not prevent.
“Here,” she said, as she pulled Ellicia’s vox from the purse and handed it to him.
“Thank you,” he said, holding the baby out to her. She set the purse on the ground and took Harlan back. Jackson slapped the vox to his ear and stepped away from them, but she heard him ask for the Director before he was too far away to be overheard.
Hope knew that the Director was the head of whatever branch of the Directorate Harlan and Ellicia had worked for, but no more than that. She had never wanted to know any more than that before. But she did now. The Director was the only person who was going to be able to tell her what had happened to Harlan. And she wanted the whole story, not some edited, prettied-up version of events.
Thinking of Harlan brought a lump to her throat, but she refused to allow herself to start crying now. There was simply too much to be done, and there were too many people around. She would do her grieving in private.
Jackson knew that telling the Director about Ellicia was not going to be easy, but it had to be done, and he was the one who had to do it. The Director was silent for a long time after he broke the news, and Jackson followed his lead, allowing the Director time to absorb the blow. When the Director cleared his throat and began asking questions, Jackson filled him in quickly.
“This ground-car is important, Director,” he said. “It’s got Blind Sight in it. It’s Xanti technology, so there’s no telling what kind of self-destructs are built into it, and it needs to be handled carefully. Jasan recovered one that self-destructed before we could learn anything useful from it. We can’t allow anyone to touch it.”
“If they have the Blind Sight on a ground-car, no telling what else they might have it on,” the Director said.
“Exactly,” Jackson said, relieved that the Director was able to set aside his grief for the moment. “We know that the Xanti have had ships in Jasani Space, but we have never been able to detect them. We believe Blind Sight is what enables them to hide so completely from us.”
“All right, Jackson,” the Director said. “Fill me in on the rest now.”
“Yes, Sir,” Jackson said, admiring the man. He had no doubts at all as to how much the Director loved Ellicia. She was as a daughter to him. As much as the loss of Ellicia grieved Jackson, he could only guess at the Director’s pain.
Once the pilot was finished securing Karma, he stepped out of the VTOL and approached Grace and Hope.
“If you ladies will get aboard, we can head on back to the base,” he said.
“We need to go to the compound where we were held first,” Grace said. “There are still two women there that we need to rescue.”
“Where would that be?” the pilot asked.
Hope explained as clearly as she could, but before she was done the pilot was already shaking his head.
“I’m sorry Ma’am,” he said, “but you must be mistaken. Outside of town, there aren’t any houses, occupied or not, within three hundred miles of the training base.”
Hope and Grace both looked at the man with raised brows. “Is that right?” Hope asked.
“Yes, Ma’am, sorry,” he said.
“Well then, perhaps you can explain to me how it is that we walked three hundred miles in one and a half days,” Hope said sweetly.
“I don’t think that’s possible, Ma’am,” the pilot replied, noticing that Jackson Bearen was glaring at him for some reason.
“Well you can’t have it both ways,” Hope said. “Either we walked three hundred miles in a day and a half, or you’re wrong and there really is a compound out here.”
The pilot opened his mouth to respond, but a soft growl from Jackson convinced him to shut it. He didn’t know Jackson, or his brothers, but he did know that they were dangerous men. Not only that, but he was under strict orders to do whatever the Bearens told him to do.
“There’s a camouflage system called Blind Sight that we have only recently become aware of,” Jackson said, focusing his attention on Hope. “It is an extremely advanced system developed by the Xanti.
“That ground-car is equipped with Blind Sight, which is why we couldn’t see, or hear, the ground-car from the air, even though Grace told us exactly where it should be. It’s entirely probable that the compound is also so equipped.”
“Damn,” the pilot said. “It’s good enough that you couldn’t see a moving ground-car that you knew was there?”
“Yes,” Jackson replied shortly before turning back to Hope. “If you are the only one that can find this compound with any certainty, I’m afraid it’s going to be necessary for you to go along. Otherwise, I don’t think there’s much chance that anyone else is going to find it.”
“Get Ellicia aboard, and let’s go then,” Hope said.
“We have to wait for the incoming VTOLs to arrive,” Jackson said. “We can’t leave this ground-car unguarded. It’s too important.”
“Their ETA is only three minutes,” Clark said as he stepped out of the VTOL after securing their pilot.
“Good,” Jackson replied. “If you ladies will get settled, by the time we are ready to go the others should be here.”
Chapter 44
Hope stood between the pilot and Jackson in the cockpit of the VTOL, guiding them across the desert by memory and instinct. The pilot was a little frustrated by Hope’s insistence that he fly low and slow so that she had a good view of the landscape, but Hope ignored his impatience.
She spotted the stream where they had spent their second night out and tapped the pilot on the shoulder.
“Go west about seven miles from that spot,” she said, pointing through the windshield. “From there, it’s about another thirty to forty miles southeast.”
The pilot nodded and turned the VTOL as she indicated. A few minutes later she spotted a familiar rock formation and knew they were on track.
“You can speed up from here,” she said. “Just keep on a steady southeast course.”
The pilot nodded and happily increased the VTOL’s speed. Hope kept her eyes on the desert flashing by beneath them until she spotted another familiar landmark. She tapped the pilot again and asked him to slow down, which he did with a reluctant sigh. A few more minutes and Hope knew they were in the right place.
“Stop,” she said sharply. The pilot glanced at her in surprise, but did as she asked, hovering in place fifty feet off the ground.
“Set it down,” she said.
“There’s nothing here, ma’am,” the pilot argued.
“Just set it down,” Hope said again. “Right here.”
“Do as she says,” Jackson ordered. The pilot nodded, this time without sighing, and set the VTOL down. As soon as the aircraft touched down it was easy to see the high wall surrounding the compound less than a dozen feet in front of them.
“Grace, can you stay here and keep an eye on the babies while we go inside?” Hope asked.
Grace looked disappointed, but she agreed. “Sure,” she said.
Clark and Rob put Mattlan and Weldan down on one of the seats and Grace moved close to them, holding Harlan in her arms.
As soon as they were certain that the babies were safe, Jackson slid the door open and jumped out. Hope went next, then Clark and Rob. Hope hurried toward the gate, reaching deep into her pocket for the key, glad that she had decided to hang on to it. She pulled it out and reached up to unlock the gate, the Bearens waiting impatiently behind her. She pushed the gate open and started in, but Jackson put a light
hand on her shoulder.
“Please, let us go first,” he said.
Hope nodded and stepped back, letting them enter ahead of her. As much as she wanted to rush into the house and shout for Berta and Aisling, she knew that there was always a chance new people had shown up since they’d left. She was strong and healthy, but she was definitely not up to a fight.
The Bearens spread out and, using both their eyes and their noses, quickly determined that there was nobody in the yard, and no fresh scent around two of the houses. Jackson waved Hope in and she went straight for the biggest house, where they had been held.
Again the Bearens entered ahead of her, but she didn’t wait at the door this time. She entered right behind them and went straight for the dining room toward the kitchen. The house was quiet. Too quiet. She passed through the kitchen, then went down the short hall that led to Berta’s bedroom.
When she saw Berta’s door open, she knew something was wrong, but she continued on anyway, pushing the door open slowly with her fingers. Somehow, she wasn’t surprised to see Berta lying on the floor just inside the bedroom.
She knelt down beside the elderly woman, her heart pounding with fear as she reached out to touch Berta’s face. She gasped with relief at the warmth of Berta’s flesh beneath her fingers.
“Jackson,” she called. A moment later she heard racing footsteps, then Jackson, Clark and Rob were all there.
“She’s not dead,” she said. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her, but she’s not dead.”
Jackson knelt down beside the frail looking woman and reached out with his Water magic. They didn’t have much strength in healing magic, but he hoped it was enough to give him an idea of what was wrong with the woman. After a moment he placed one hand on Berta’s head and gently turned it to the side. As he suspected, there was a large knot and a bruise on the side of her head.
“I think it’s safe to move her,” he said. “I don’t sense any broken bones or other injuries besides the head wound.”
“Sense?” Hope asked.
“We have a very small ability in Water magic,” Clark explained. “Not enough to heal, but enough to sense injuries.”
“Oh,” Hope said. Water magic? she wondered.
“Hope, can you grab a blanket to cover her with please?” Jackson asked.
Hope leapt to her feet and grabbed the blanket off of Berta’s bed and handed it to Jackson. Then she turned back toward the closet and, after a brief moment of silent prayer, she opened the door.
“Aisling?” she called. “It’s Hope, are you in here?”
There was no answer, so Hope stepped into the closet and looked carefully around. There were only a few items of clothing hanging at one end, and two pairs of worn shoes on the floor.
Hope backed out of the closet and looked around the room again, but there was nowhere else for Aisling to hide, other than under the bed. Feeling a bit silly, but unable to allow even the slightest chance of finding Aisling to go unchecked, she got down on the floor and looked beneath the bed.
“Gamoto,” Hope said softly as she stood up. “Did you guys search the rest of the house?”
“We did,” Rob replied. “I’m sorry Hope, but there is no one else here. We scented two males who entered the house through the front door, one of them was the male who was driving the ground-car. They walked through every room, including this one, and left with a female perhaps fifteen minutes ago, at most.”
“This woman needs medical help,” Jackson said as he lifted Berta carefully from the floor. “We’ll send a team back to go over the place later.”
“All right, let’s go,” Hope agreed. Jackson led the way out of the house with Berta, and Hope held back until Clark and Rob were out before pausing in the doorway.
“I will find you, Aisling,” she promised softly. “Don’t worry, I won’t give up.”
Then she closed the door and hurried after the Bearens.
Chapter 45
Jasan, Dracon’s Ranch
Saige smiled as she watched Summer’s tall, lean figure walk across the airfield toward her. Summer walked with the smooth, powerful grace of a large cat, which made sense since she was now a Katre, with the ability to shift into a katrenca. Darleen Flowers walked beside Summer and a little behind her.
Saige noted that Darleen’s walk was more confident now than it had been, and she felt a little pride in that. During the brief periods of time that Darleen was actually on Jasan, Saige spent as much of her free time as she could manage teaching her tiketa. Darleen was a natural at the acrobatic kick fighting technique that Saige specialized in, and a quick learner. Saige could tell from the way Darleen moved that she had been practicing aboard the Vyand during this last trip.
Summer hurried the last few steps and hugged Saige in greeting. “It’s great to see you,” she said happily. “How are the girls?”
“They’re wonderful,” Saige said, glowing with pride at the thought of her three daughters. “How are you two?”
“We’re good,” Summer replied. “The compound on Rankora was abandoned when we got there though. That was disappointing, to say the least.”
“Yes, I heard,” Saige said soberly. They had all been hoping that the Katres would return with more rescued women. The only comfort was in knowing that the Katres had completely destroyed the compound that had once held captives.
“Don’t worry,” Saige said. “We will not give up until all of the captives have been freed.”
“Thanks, Saige,” Summer said with a smile. “It helps to know that.”
“You’re looking really good, Darleen,” Saige said.
Darleen smiled, a tiny curl of her lips that was, for her, almost a grin. Once the most beautiful woman Saige had ever seen, Darleen looked very little like her former self. Her entire body was marred by a network of fine, thin scars, including her face. Her once long, flowing hair was now very short, little more than a light fuzz of gold on her scalp. In a strange way, it suited her, accentuating her large blue eyes and classic bone structure. Darleen had been starved during her year of captivity, and she still looked just a little too thin, but Saige knew that the other woman was actually quite strong.
“You look good as well, Saige,” Darleen replied. “How is Princess Lariah?”
Saige cocked her head slightly, hearing a wealth of meaning in Darleen’s few words. “She’s well,” she said. “A little tired of course, but being pregnant with one set of triplets while chasing after another set is, by definition, exhausting. She’s looking forward to seeing you, though.”
Darleen blinked, the only sign of her surprise.
“Don’t worry, Darleen,” Saige reassured her. “Remember what kind of person Lariah is.”
Some of the tightness around Darleen’s eyes relaxed a little, which, coming from Darleen, was practically a sigh of relief.
“Come on ladies, let’s get going,” Saige said as she turned to the ground-car she had driven down from the house. Summer and Darleen followed Saige, Summer climbing into the front, Darleen in the back.
“What’s the plan?” Summer asked as Saige powered up the vehicle and pulled off the airfield.
“That depends on you, Summer,” Saige replied. “I figured you might want to shower, grab a bite to eat, maybe rest for a while. Whenever you’re ready, we will set things up for our interview with Mara Winicke.”
“You have no idea how nice the quarters are on the Vyand,” Summer said with a grin. “I would like a bite to eat, but that’s all.”
“Saige,” Darleen said softly from the back seat.
“Yes?” Saige asked, glancing at Darleen in the rearview mirror.
“I would like to be present during this interview. Do you think that could be arranged?”
Saige glanced sideways at Summer, who shook her head slightly.
“I can ask,” Saige said.
“Thank you, I would appreciate it,” Darleen replied.
Saige wanted to ask Darleen why she wanted to be p
resent, but something about Darleen’s expression told her not to. Well, she thought, no matter. She would find out soon enough anyway.
“Where is Mara being held?” Summer asked.
“At the Base Office, in the valley,” Saige replied. “The Jasani don’t have jails. The idea of being locked in a small room is very horrifying to any Clan Jasani. To them, it’s the epitome of cruel and unusual punishment, so they just don’t exist here. An exception was made for Mara. There simply wasn’t anywhere else to put her, and we can’t send her off-planet until we learn what she knows, and until she’s tried.”
“That makes sense to me,” Summer said. “Where will the interview take place?”
“We thought our meeting room would be best,” Saige said.
“Excuse me, Saige,” Darleen said. “But I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
“Why not?” Saige asked.
“I don’t know Mara, but I do know jealousy,” Darleen said bluntly. “If you want her to be cooperative, dragging her through your beautiful home as a prisoner isn’t going to put her in a cooperative mood.”
“I never thought of that, but you’re right,” Saige said. “Do you have any suggestions as to what would be a good place? I don’t think the little room she’s locked in is big enough for all of us.”
“I don’t know enough about what’s available to suggest a place,” Darleen replied. “It should be somewhere neutral. An empty office at the base, or in one of the other buildings in the valley.”
“Thanks, Darleen,” Saige said as she slowed the ground-car to a stop outside of her home. “I’ll tell Faron what you said. I’m sure they will be able to find a place that will work.”
Chapter 46
Earth, Phoenix II
It was very late, and Hope was exhausted. It had been the longest and most emotional day of her life. So many things had happened that she was determined not to think about until after she was alone, and she didn’t see much privacy in her immediate future.
The Bearens' Hope: Book Four of the Soul-Linked Saga Page 29