by Diane Rapp
“Wait for the signal!” Felesia warned. All eyes, human and dragon, stared at her. “Andrew will wave a flag, so don’t fly before you see it.”
The tension felt thick. Flash chirped at Felesia and received a soothing stroke on her head. “Easy, your time will come shortly.”
Shariel wondered how her young students could confront that mechanical monster. She sent waves of mental encouragement to her siblings and received smiles in return. They’d already faced enough monsters in their young lives, but would they deliver an unconscious message to the father they fear? Was Jarrack still a danger to his sons? Krystal and Chella claimed that he lost his powers, but Shariel wondered how they could be sure.
As Jarrack left the shuttle she searched for the blue haze. She saw no aura around the fat priest as he helped the spacer climb out of the shuttle. Should she touch his mind? No! She might warn him about their plan.
*****
Krystal supervised loading the shuttle, directed the crew to stack crates and secure webbing, while she avoided Jarrack’s gaze. Her mental barriers were shut tight.
“I locked the cases and here’s the key.” Krystal gave a shiny key to Fremont and smiled demurely. “We’re grateful for the Institute’s cooperation in providing humanitarian assistance. We hope these crystals provide centuries of successful Transfer.”
Fremont grinned, tried to appear friendly, but he looked like a viper ready to strike. “The Institute is pleased to help Drako. We appreciate the crystals.” A hand weapon suddenly pointed at her chest. “Now call Dr. Alexander.”
Krystal eyed the weapon with apparent alarm. “Alex?”
“Call him,” Jarrack growled.
Krystal flipped an intercom switch and asked Dr. Alexander to come to the shuttle. Fremont kept the laser trained on Krystal’s back until the doctor arrived.
“Kind of you to join us, doctor. Get inside.” He gestured at the shuttle door and entered.
Krystal moved away and nodded at Andrew, who vigorously waved a flag at the dragons. She retreated inside the caverns.
Dr. Alexander slipped into a shuttle seat, undisturbed by the threat. Fremont slammed the door and fumbled with the security latch.
“Take off, now!” He screamed at the pilot.
The engines whined and the shuttle started to lift off the ground. “No! Stay away!” the pilot shouted as large creatures surrounded the shuttle.
Fremont stiffened with alarm. The shuttle hovered as creatures from a pre-historic nightmare performed tight dives all around them. Colorful wings filled the windows.
“What’s this?” Fremont gasped.
Dr. Alexander smiled. “I’d like you to meet Drako’s air force.”
“They’re yours?” Fremont peered at the creatures and saw human riders mounted on each dragon. “They follow your orders?”
Dr. Alexander called to the pilot, “Land the shuttle and turn off the engines. My dragons might damage the thin metal skin with their talons if you don’t obey. I doubt we’d make it to the spaceship with holes in the hull.”
*****
Donovan’s shuttle hovered in a cloud layer as the dragons flew around Fremont’s shuttle. “Ryan, be ready to move.”
“Yes, sire.”
Fremont’s shuttle hovered over the spaceport. “Now!” Donovan commanded. Ryan dipped the nose of their craft and it dropped.
Donovan saw dragons dive in close formation around Fremont’s shuttle. “Good! They’ve stopped him.” Donovan flipped the communications channel open. “Fremont, this is Donovan.”
“I’ll kill the doctor if you don’t call them off,” Fremont shouted.
“You won’t kill Dr. Alexander. He’s too valuable to the Institute, so try again.”
“Don’t be a fool, Donovan. I can blow this planet apart with the flip of a switch,” Fremont hissed.
“Look around. We found your little explosives and laced the boxes holding your crystals with lethal charges. If you explode anything, you die.” He waited, feeling his own heart pound.
“What do you want?” Fremont’s voice crackled over the radio.
“Tell us the location of your explosives and call the spaceship over an open channel. Order them to stand down.”
“I won’t tell you anything!” Fremont shouted.
“Direct your craft to land in the opening the dragons provide. Your flight schedule has been delayed.” Fremont cursed but Donovan saw the shuttle veer through the hole in the dragon formation. Donovan’s craft hovered overhead, while the dragons flanked Fremont.
Alex sat watching Fremont, who remained focused on the danger outside.
Donovan’s voice crackled over the radio. “What did you hope to gain by blowing up our planet?”
“I won’t tell you anything!”
Dr. Alexander leaned forward. “Fremont, Donovan already disabled your bombs.”
Fremont’s face reddened. “You think my devices are easy to find?”
Dr. Alexander leaned back in his chair and folded his long fingers. “Easier than you might believe.” The doctor closed his eyes and projecting a message to Donovan, I’ve got the information. Can you see it?
I received your mental image, Alex. Thanks, Donovan replied.
While the doctor relayed the bomb locations to the rest of his team, Fremont scowled at Jarrack. “Why are you smiling?”
Jarrack shrugged and glanced at Dr. Alexander. “I see you haven’t lost your knack, doctor.”
“What are you talking about?” Fremont insisted.
“I told you Donovan was a hard man to beat.” Jarrack leaned back in his seat with a bored sigh.
*****
Trenton chewed his bottom lip and glanced at Marasuta.
His companion sat calmly rubbing the edge of his blade in tight circles over a sharpening stone. Marasuta, ever the Samurai, prepared for battle with the cool efficiency bred of years under pressure. Trenton felt a cold chill creep down his spine as the rhythmic scraping of the stone set him on edge.
“Do you have to do that now?”
Marasuta’s steady gaze held his, and then the Samurai returned to his task. “My blade must be ready.”
“We don’t plan to kill them, just delay the shuttle.”
“If it came to killing those scoundrels, Trenton, you’d be happy to have my blade at your back.”
Trenton grinned. “Right you are.” Trenton heard engines roar and shrieks from dragons. “Our guests have arrived!” Marasuta slid his blade into its scabbard in one smooth motion.
Trenton heard Donovan’s mental message, Alex gleaned the location of the other explosives from Fremont’s mind. I’m off to work. Keep the shuttle grounded until you receive my signal.
Trenton replied, I’d be happier if you sent me out to get rid of the blast nodes they planted in our new satellite equipment.
You’re a stubborn man, Trenton! I can use speed time to accomplish the job faster and you’ll clean up my mess later.
Be careful, Donovan.
You’re not the first one to give me that advice today. Buy me a stiff drink when I get back.
It’s a date.
Marasuta patiently watched until Trenton took a deep breath. “We must hold the shuttle here until Donovan signals,” Trenton said and the oriental nodded.
*****
After forcing the shuttle to land, the dragons squawked happily. Their riders patted necks and enjoyed fireworks of color in their minds. Felesia and Shariel flew their dragon squadron back to the ridge, where cut meat awaited the hungry flock.
Wolves joined Trenton and Marasuta as the door of the shuttle opened.
A sour-faced Fremont emerged with Jarrack and the pilot on his heels. Dr. Alexander ambled from the machine with a broad smile. His eyes twinkled as he nodded a greeting to his friends.
Fremont cringed when wolves bared their fangs and growled. “Keep these mongrels away from me!” He glared at Trenton and Marasuta and brandished his laser pistol. “I’m armed, so you can’t kee
p me prisoner…” Trenton gestured at the ridge. Fremont saw a row of archers aiming shafts directly at his heart.
Trenton said, “Lasers are fast, but you can’t shoot them all. We won’t make you delay long, Fremont. We’re happy to let you and Jarrack leave Drako. Join us inside?”
Fremont lowered the pistol and followed Trenton into a cavern.
Jordan’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the priest. He knew his father’s mind occupied the body but seeing the man made his stomach churn. Jordan fought to remain calm, waiting for the blue haze to reach out and touch him. Jarrack’s gaze contained intensity but there was something else—pain.
Jordan felt the priest recoil. Stunned by the discovery, Jordan realized his father felt emotions that terrified him! Jarrack pushed past Jordan and nearly ran to catch up with Fremont.
Jordan felt confident, having faced the monster, but he must remain cautious of a man who schemed to kill his mind and occupy his body.
*****
Maggie pulled out the last blast nodule with a satisfied sigh. She checked off the last location from her list and said, “No one’s going to blow up my reactor!” She handed the device to Lance. “Take the whole mess out into the desert.”
Lance blinked nervously as he slipped the dangerous gadget into a sack. “Done!” He slipped out of the storage chamber, passing Tessa without an explanation.
She carried a tray of steaming cups and offered one to Maggie. “You’re finished here?”
“We got them all. I’ll report to Donovan, so please inform the others.” Tessa nodded as Maggie bustled down the corridor. Tessa sipped hot tea and stared at the cup she’d meant for Lance. She felt a twinge of concern.
Lance carried the dangerous bombs out to a dumping ground. Did he have enough time? She shuddered and her mind reached out to touch his. Be careful, Lance. She felt his mind react to her fear.
I’m too big to kill, he said.
Yeah and too aggravating. Come back soon. The ancestor voices kept quiet as the two young minds communicated, knowing that bonding mates needed privacy.
Maggie made her way to the control room and typed the familiar code to signal Donovan. She waited, wondering how things progressed. The radio crackled to life. She said, “Asbohar reporting. The package is being delivered to its gravesite.”
The radio hissed with static. “We copy Asbohar, over and out.” She recognized Trenton’s voice and felt lonely. Trenton’s embrace was a treasured memory, and she longed to be with him again in beloved mountain home. She’d never claim she was bored after this crisis.
*****
Krystal’s crew scrambled to remove explosive devices from the Transfer equipment. She cursed as she worked on a difficult bolt, unhappy that Alex risked his life with Fremont. Caston’s crew of lordlings worked without complaining, difficult to believe. The sons of cantankerous lords seemed eager to help, yet their fathers objected to using technology. Perhaps it was the age difference but danger to Drako should trump superstition.
Krystal glanced at Lauryn, the daughter who looked so much like herself. Lauryn’s mental shields were tight and she seldom met Krystal’s gaze. Was something bothering the girl, other than the present emergency?
Krystal frowned. With no time to think about personal problems, she needed all her concentration to perform this task. She’d find out what troubled Lauryn and make time for her girls when the emergency was over. Must she always wait to enjoy life? Where were the cozy nights gathered around the fireplace? She almost laughed as she realized how ridiculous the idea sounded. They’d all feel bored until the next crisis. Krystal sighed. Her family shared one emergency after another just like other families.
*****
Lauryn felt Krystal’s gaze but kept her barriers tight. She thought about Andrew and the visions that haunted her dreams. Every day she appreciated his love and warmth more and scolded herself for remaining blind for so long. She wished she’d avoided Salizar from the beginning. He was an arrogant fool, but she’d been tempted by his passion.
She knew she’d hurt Andrew.
It didn’t matter that she was ignorant of desert traditions or that charm blinded her to Salizar’s motives. Salizar didn’t court a common girl. He courted the heir to Donovan’s throne and planned to grab power for his future son.
Andrew touched her gently on the shoulder, and Lauryn smiled into his clear blue eyes. “I’m all right.” She answered the question behind his eyes. “I need time to think.”
“Krystal asked me to ride Tempest into the desert to dispose of these explosives. I agreed.” Andrew spoke quietly, unafraid.
Lauryn cringed. “She asks you to risk your life.”
Andrew shrugged. “Everyone in this place takes a risk to protect Drako. I’m no different.”
Lauryn lowered her gaze. “I can’t lose you, Andrew. I need your strength.”
Andrew lifted her chin and kissed her lips gently. “You forget that I ride Tempest, bred of the wind and the storm. Nothing can touch me while I’m on his back.”
Lauryn forced a smile. “Come back to me.”
“I promise. Now get back to work and rid this place of those troublesome blast nodes.”
28 ~ SAVING DRAKO
Donovan’s team faced diffusing a hundred small bombs with little time to do it. They held Fremont captive but Dr. Alexander learned that the starship received orders to detonate the bombs if Fremont failed to return by a specific time.
Donovan counted on the captain’s reluctance to follow orders. He prayed they could buy a few hours to perform a miracle.
He felt Krystal’s familiar touch in his mind. You know where to look? Donovan asked.
Alex sent clear mental pictures.
Donovan felt tired. Krystal, no matter what happens, you know that I love you.
What’s wrong? Krystal’s mind filled with worry.
When Dr. Alexander read Fremont’s mind, he learned blast nodules were hidden in components we used to update the satellite system. The entire defense system could blow and we’d lose planetary protection.
You’re going up yourself? Let me go with you! She pleaded. I can help.
She dug her fingernails into the leather arm of her chair and hoped he wouldn’t give her the answer she knew was coming.
No. Your talents are better used to repair the medical equipment. Ryan is my pilot and he’s very capable.
It was useless to argue. She filled her mind with love and sent him a mental kiss. Take care, my love. We haven’t got the Transfer machine working yet. You need to come back in one piece.
She visualized his lips curling into a familiar smile and wished she could run her fingers through his curly red hair just one more time.
I’ll return to you. His mental voice felt like a caress.
You’d better!
*****
Jarrack entered the cavern surrounded by wolves. Curious minds beat upon him and thousands of voices whispered inside his head. He clenched his teeth and tried to keep them out.
Fremont remained unaware of the mental onslaught. He didn’t slow his pace as they entered the cavern, too arrogant to realize he faced a powerful enemy.
Jarrack knew the danger.
The tumult of voices inside Jarrack’s head stopped as Kriegen’s glowing eyes held his gaze.
Fremont turned to find his companion staring at a wolf. Jarrack’s white face and rigid body alarmed him. He aimed the laser at the wolf. “Back off!”
Trenton stepped into the line of fire. “I wouldn’t do that, Fremont. These wolves are intelligent and their power is strong.”
“What is he doing to Jarrack?” Fremont’s voice trembled as Jarrack held his head between his hands.
Trenton shrugged. “I leave the wolves to their own council and suggest you do the same.”
“What are you trying to pull?” Fremont paced the room. “The ship will detonate the explosives if I don’t return. You don’t have a chance.”
“Our chances and yours ar
e equal,” Trenton said. “If your ship detonates, then you die with us.”
Fremont’s eye twitched. “Then let me call the captain.”
“I have my orders.”
“Orders? Man, you’re about to get us all killed following orders!”
Trenton’s mouth tightened. “Interesting that you say that. Give me the code to delay detonation, and I’ll call for you.”
Fremont’s eye twitched again. “They’ll only respond to my voice.”
Trenton pulled a box out of his pocket. “I’ve got a recorder.”
Now Fremont’s eye almost closed as the twitch became severe. “A recorded voice won’t work.”
“Guess we’ll take the chance your captain’s more interested in saving your life than blowing up our planet.” Trenton’s tone sounded controlled.
Fremont’s face contorted, sweat dripping from his brow. He pivoted toward the pilot. “Give this man our electronic delay code! Now! We’ve only got minutes before they detonate those bombs.”
The pilot nodded. “Tight laser beam on heading 49 degrees NE. Send four long strokes, two short, three long.”
Trenton ran to the shuttle and Fremont looked exhausted. He slumped onto a chair but clutched the grip of his laser pistol with a sweaty hand.
“How long does that give us?” Jarrack asked.
Fremont muttered. “Five hours. Damn you, Jarrack!”
Jarrack looked surprised. “I’m not the one who ordered the planet destroyed. I suggested a small diversion.”
Fremont shook his head, and his face turned red. “You told them about my plan. How could they know and keep us grounded?”
Dr. Alexander stepped forward. “You still don’t understand? We can read your mind and you gave us the information yourself, Fremont. We’ll survive. Through cunning, fortitude and our will power, we’ll survive.”