by Diane Rapp
She recognized the familiar touch and whimpered. Lance! Help me.
His warmth filled her mind until she vibrated with hot energy. The surge of power startled the enemy and Jarrack’s grip loosened.
Tessa jerked free and bolted away from the red box. She stared at her hand, covered with red clay, and crumpled.
She woke surrounded by worried faces. Chella gazed trance-like into space as her hands hovered over Tessa’s body.
“What happened?” Tessa asked.
Chella smiled. “We’re hoping you can tell us.”
Tessa felt confused. “I dreamed about Jarrack grabbing my arm.”
“Konig found you on the ground and you’ve got red clay fingerprints on your arm.”
“I don’t remember…” Tessa winced as a searing pain shot through her skull. “Don’t make me remember or he’ll hurt me!”
“Shhhh. It’s all right.” Chella closed Tessa’s eyes with cool fingers. “Go to back to sleep, little one.”
Konig sat next to the girl. Jarrack drew her in but another mind gave her enough strength to resist his control. Konig’s ears flattened against his head. Never in our history has a mind been able to break free from the red clay. His mind may be too strong.
What can we do? Chella asked.
Guard Tessa and get the box to Havenshire. His tail thumped nervously. Jarrack is more dangerous to a mind he’s touched.
Chella and Konig stood vigil until the first morning rays of sunshine allowed them to strike camp. They pushed the horses to the brink of their endurance, stopping only when Lance met them on the trail.
Tessa’s head ached. She smiled when Lance climbed into the wagon and wrapped his long arms around her shoulders. She finally felt safe.
“How are they doing at Havenshire?” Chella asked.
Lance said, “The youngsters are practicing. They plan to shoot the missiles from the sky, but Trenton looks angry. I felt I must come and guard Tessa.”
*****
“Ryan got a perfect score!” Catherine kissed him on the cheek and grinned at tired companions.
He blushed but memorized the sensation of Catherine’s body pressed against his. “Don’t make such a fuss,” Ryan mumbled.
Caston grinned. “Fuss! The whole world will be grateful when you deflect those missiles! I’ll introduce my brother, the hero!”
“I don’t want to be considered a hero.” Ryan frowned. “I’m doing my duty just like everyone. If I hit those missiles it’s because we’re all working together to master these machines. Don’t give me all the credit.”
“You’re always loath to accept praise, brother.” Caston turned to Catherine. “You know, that’s the reason he enjoyed the role of masked archer. Nobody knew who he was!”
Catherine’s eyes gleamed. “I knew during the dance.”
Ryan looked shocked. “What?”
She giggled. “Yes, I recognized your voice but I enjoyed the game. Don’t hide your talent behind a mask.” She stroked his cheek with soft fingers but he cringed from her touch.
“I suppose you had a good laugh with your friends.” The pain in Ryan’s voice made Catherine wince.
“I didn’t tell anyone else because I enjoyed dancing with you.”
He scowled. “You enjoyed the bastard pretending to be a nobleman.”
“No one knew until you took off that cursed mask.”
Ryan burned with shame. “It won’t happen again. I’ll never let them laugh at me.” He stalked from the room.
Catherine slumped into her chair. “I felt excited that he made a perfect score, but it all went wrong.”
Caston nodded. “Ryan is ashamed of his birth. His pride can’t believe you weren’t using him.”
She wiped a tear off her cheek. “When I’m with Ryan, I enjoy myself and don’t need to play games. It feels good. I don’t care about his rank or titles; I just care about Ryan as a person.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
Caston laughed. “After all your manipulations, you must understand why it’s difficult to believe.”
“He hates me for shaming him.” She stared at the flashing display. “Ryan is the only one who can save Drako and the status of his birth makes no difference. He has the skill we need.”
“It’s interesting.” Caston glanced around the room. “In this room we’re equal. Julian becomes confident when he works the machines and Ryan can be a hero. I wish we could be judged by our skills not our bloodline.”
“Donovan says the same thing.” Catherine mused. “Perhaps after this is over…”
“We’ll return to our roles of rank, privilege and obligation.
“No!” Catherine’s anger flared. “Things must change eventually, so why not begin the changes here and now? We should live the lives we choose, marry for love, and forget titles.”
Caston averted his gaze. His hands trembled as he clutched the hilt of his jeweled saber. “How do we make changes? Our fathers demand obedience and our brothers are shunned because of tainted blood?”
Catherine lifted his hand from the saber and placed it on the console. “Can Drako hide from technology while we’re under threat? We must take our future into our own hands.”
Caston nodded. “We’re a new generation—a transition between the old and new. We can’t live under the same old laws. Thanks, Catherine.” His eyes searched the room for Keisha, who worked quietly with Julian. “I plan to make a few changes before it’s too late.” He moved purposefully in Keisha’s direction.
Catherine turned back to her controls and started a new practice session. She fired at the target light with renewed determination, praying she could help Ryan defeat their enemy.
*****
As the deadline loomed, waiting became unbearable. Donovan and Trenton stared at the computer while their young technicians discussed charts and readouts. Donovan rubbed sweating palms against his leg and Trenton thumbed a switch irritably, searching for new information.
A clock ticked inside their brains. Preparations were made, yet they each questioned their readiness. Could it actually happen? Could the captain of the distant starship cold-bloodedly destroy Drako?
The heartbeat of life thudded within their breasts and sweat trickled from their brows. Catherine’s hand trembled over her control stick when a pulsing blip popped onto the screen. Ryan gave her a sidelong glance and nodded.
It was time to shoot real targets.
Trenton scowled at five blips on the screen. “Easy now, take time until you know you can hit the target. It’s just another drill.”
Caston interrupted, “Target one at 51 degrees north 21 degrees west.”
“Check, I’ve got it,” Ryan called out and fired. The blip on the screen dissolved in a brief flare of light.
There was no time to rejoice. Julian called out new data from his screen. “Target two heading 46 degrees north 34 degrees east.”
“Check.” Catherine fired and held her breath until the blip vanished.
“Target three heading 59 degrees south 49 degrees east, target four 49 degrees south 42 degrees east.”
Julian’s voice betrayed concern.
“Catherine, take number four!” Ryan switched his screen. “I’ve got to track number three. It’s flying erratically.” The missiles moved faster and changed course suddenly.
“Target five 69 degrees south 44 degrees east.” Caston sounded apologetic.
“We can’t get them all,” Ryan shouted.
Catherine fired, blinked, and fired again on the new vector. “I’m trying.”
“They programmed an erratic flight pattern! We didn’t practice that.” Ryan fired, moved and fired again.
“Four targets down,” Julian said but the room fell silent as the last blip bloomed on the display.
Ryan slumped, staring at the screen. “One got through!” Ryan voiced the thought they all dreaded. “We missed it.”
Catherine’s eyes filled with tears. “I tried but the thing
changed directions. I’m so sorry.”
Ryan leaned forward and clasped her hand. “Don’t blame yourself. We never practiced that kind of maneuver. It’s not your fault.”
“Where did it hit?” Trenton’s voice sounded as calm as death. Caston punched buttons and changed his screen.
“Asbohar.” The word hung in a silent room.
*****
An hour away from Havenshire a wagon wheel cracked. Lance examined the contraption with a frown. “We can’t repair it here. I could ride to the village for help, but we won’t make it to Havenshire before…”
Chella said, “Take Tessa with you to the safety of the castle.” She gripped Tessa’s fingers. “Ride as fast as you can to Havenshire. Fremont won’t endanger his own life, so I don’t believe the castle is a target. We might be near enough for safety, but I don’t want you around that box another night.”
Lance glanced at the clay box and frowned.
Tessa said, “I feel him inside. He wants to get out and I’m not sure the wolves can stop him.”
“I know,” Chella said. She watched Konig and the other adult wolves form a circle around the clay box. “Lance, get Tessa into the castle while we stand guard. Jarrack hurts people he’s already touched…or a mind too weak to resist. I’m not afraid to face him.”
“I won’t let any harm come to Tessa,” Lance said. He unhitched the horses and they galloped away. Shadow went with Tessa while the other pack members waited to guard Jarrack.
Chella stared into the dark sky. “Keep Tessa safe and give me courage, Lord,” she prayed.
Konig stood near the dark woman but remained quiet.
Night fell quickly. Chella shivered and threw a cape over her shoulders, wondering why it felt colder in the valley than in the mountains. Perhaps the cold was a symptom of fear. She wished she had a timepiece to gauge how soon the missiles might enter the atmosphere.
Konig’s eyes glowed in the moonlight, and she noticed breath curled in small puffs over his muzzle. It wasn’t her imagination, this valley felt icy tonight. A light streaked across the black sky and exploded overhead. The ground rocked under their feet and wolves crouched as fiery fragments fell from the sky. The wagon tilted and the box crashed onto the hard-packed road.
Flying shards struck Chella’s body and she heard a laugh inside her mind. You can’t hold me in this box!
Please, Lord. Don’t let him harm another person, Chella prayed as his cold fingers stroked her face.
I’ll see you in hell, bitch! Jarrack promised but something jerked him away. What are you doing to me witch?
Suddenly the night felt warm and Chella knew Jarrack was gone. She saw the lights of Havenshire twinkle in the distance.
Konig said, Leave the wagon here! He’s gone to Havenshire and we must find him. Chella climbed onto her horse and rushed toward Havenshire with the wolves.
*****
Maggie pushed the nuclear reactor into the red zone, forcing power into the force field batteries. She listened to the hum of the long dormant machinery, analyzing the readouts on her monitor. The force field wouldn’t stay over the city for more than a few minutes. Could it deflect a missile?
She waited for the missile warning system, her hand poised over the force field controls. Felesia sent a message to the minds of her dragon friends.
Outside Dr. Alexander leaned back in a wicker chair, his long fingers folded over his knee, and focused on the horizon. He spotted pinpricks of light that looked like shooting stars in the velvet sky. Bright streaks cut across the sky, pursuing the shooting stars, and he realized the attack had started.
“They got one!” he said as the sky glowed with the first explosion. One by one he celebrated as missiles disappeared. “They destroyed four.” His heart sank as he watched one missile veer off its path and grow steadily larger. A comet-like tail flared out behind the missile as it approached Asbohar.
Alex thumbed the button on the communicator. “Maggie?”
“Hear you loud and clear, Alex.”
“A missile got through and it’s headed our way.” Alarm bells clanged in the background and Maggie’s voice cut out.
“Thanks…Alex…we’re on it. They wouldn’t pass up a target like my reactor. Hold on tight.”
“Good luck,” Alex whispered. He watched a blue glow arc over the white city and held his breath.
Krystal raced into the reactor control room, responding to the warning, and stood behind Maggie. “Will it hold?” she asked.
“We’re short on power, not enough stored in the cells. If we had more time…” Maggie glanced into Krystal’s gray eyes. “It’ll hold. We’ve got thirty minutes of power,” Maggie lied.
Krystal felt her deception but nodded. “We won’t need it for that long.” She glanced at the ceiling, as if she could see into the sky.
“Did Chella teach you to see the future? Just what we need, another fortune teller!” Maggie huffed.
Krystal laughed. “It’s logical, the warning system sounds three minutes ahead, so the shield doesn’t need to hold for—”
“Don’t bother me!” Maggie cut her off and concentrated on her readings.
Krystal felt useless. Maggie hadn’t worked reactor controls in spans, yet she looked completely comfortable with fingers flying. Krystal thought of her own spans operating Transfer machinery and preparing clones. Could she step back into the role of a medtech? If the Institute captured them, would they wipe her memory?
A jolt hit the building, knocking Maggie from her chair, and flinging Krystal across the room. Lights dimmed and Maggie popped up. She adjusted dials before she sat down.
Krystal rubbed bruised ribs and heard a buzzing in her ears. A wave of nausea engulfed her and a tingling made her brain fuzzy. She rubbed her forehead and looked at the bloody hand. The world turned gray as Krystal sank to the floor.
When the explosion shook the city, dragons launched from the buildings looking like a wave of red wings. They couldn’t escape. The invisible force field flung them back as the sky beyond flared in an arch of fire. Felesia and Jordan called to their dragons and absorbed an onslaught of fear.
Jordan projected soothing blues and greens of the ocean, while Felesia sent the cheerful gold and orange of the sunrise. Under the dimming fire, the dragons were drawn to the source. They hovered above the humans, keening mournfully until Felesia and Jordan coaxed them to land on the nearest buildings. Soon the giants dug their talons into the soft adobe walls, looking like giant gargoyles.
*****
Lance and Tessa rode into Havenshire’s courtyard and slid off his horse. “Get inside,” Lance shouted at Tessa as he helped her dismount. “I’ll put the horses into the stable.”
“I’m not leaving you!” Tessa said and helped him open the stable doors. A loud bang overhead made them duck. When they peered out the stable window they saw sparkling fragments arc across the night sky, illuminating the nearby village.
“I guess Chella was right. They didn’t target the castle, but they wanted to hit nearby. I’m glad our lads got to the missile before it killed all those villagers.”
Tessa nodded. “Let’s go tell Donovan we got inside safely. I hope Chella and the wolves got through without a problem. She reached down and stroked Shadow. Can you hear their minds?
No. The pack blocked their minds against Jarrack’s touch, so we can’t reach them.
Tessa swallowed a sob and grabbed Lance’s warm hand for comfort. She gazed into his eyes and knew he understood.
“I feel like a coward leaving Chella with that evil man,” she said.
Lance squeezed her hand and said, “She made her own decision and wanted to protect you.” They ran through the corridor leading toward the king’s tower together.
*****
Dr. Alexander fingered the controls of his radio. It hissed static while he patiently dialed, searching for Donovan’s signal, until it sputtered to life.
“Donovan calling Alex, come in Alex, over.”
&
nbsp; The weak voice crackled from the radio and the doctor leaned closer. “We receive you, Donovan. Your signal is weak. Can you boost power, over?”
“You old goat, we thought you were fried!” Donovan’s voice sounded louder and Alex grinned at the radio. It felt so strange communicating without seeing a face but at least he could hear a voice.
“Maggie’s force field held. How much time before their next attack?”
There was a pause and Alex wondered if he’d lost contact. He reached for the control dial just as he heard the next sentence.
“Fremont claims we have twenty-four hours.” Donovan sounded weary and frustrated. “Tell Maggie to charge those energy cells. We’ll try to raise the ship, over.”
Alex cleared his throat, hoping to sound more hopeful than he felt. “Wish you luck. Do you think they’ll listen?”
“If I were captain, I’d feel happy I failed. His crew will be on his back. I don’t know how much he fears Fremont, but most men refuse to commit wholesale murder.”
“I hope he’s half the man you are, Donovan.” Alex leaned back in his chair, feeling guilty that he led the Institute to this planet to find him.
“Thanks. Is everyone all right on your end?”
Dr. Alexander shook his head but remembered he must speak. “We had minor injuries, nothing we can’t handle, over.”
“I trust you to take care of everything. Oh, your young doctor friend is missing.”
“Lance is missing?”
“A servant claimed he packed a bag and left last night. Sorry, Alex. I know you wanted him to stay on as your assistant.”
“It can’t be helped.” Alex frowned and stared at his long fingers, wondering who would continue his work now.
“Give the girls my love. I’ll call when we have any more news, over.”
“We hope for good news, over and out.” Alex turned off the radio and rubbed his aching forehead. “I wonder where Lance is headed. It’s not like the lad to leave his patients.”