Olivia nodded. "Their control of the Portal makes even more sense now. It's a way for them to steal Earth's technology and thinkers to help repair their spacecraft. Possibly only one clan of Pure Bloods can fit inside? So...you'd perpetuate the myth that it was destroyed so the other houses wouldn't come looking for it and get the same idea."
"Then we've found our leverage to use against the Pure Bloods." Hernando stood and motioned for the others to gather. "Contact the others and have them rendezvous here at the portico area. We may be able to take control of BloodDark City without firing a single shot if we're lucky."
"I don't like it," Caveman grumbled an hour later. "Why don't we just collect some more explosive materials and blow the spaceship sky high? Then everyone on the planet is dependent on the Portal—even the lying Alphans."
"Because this way we'll have the other clans on our side," Hernando explained. "They don't control the Portal at this time, and they've always been the underdogs and never realized why it was so. They'll fight each other for the chance of taking back a piece of their heritage and a more secure future in space. You can't convince me they won't."
Caveman's pained expression spoke volumes. "Once we're all here in the square near the Portal, who's to say the Alphans won't simply have us all killed? Human, Quadsang, Overseer, and Pure Blood alike? They're ruthless enough."
Olivia put down the drone helmet and joined the conversation. "We don't know that they won't have us all killed, but we do have a trump card. If they start firing, I tell my friend the walking drone to detonate under the belly of their spaceship. We deal with the Alphan leaders alone and let them control their fellow vampires. That should keep them plenty busy so we can take control of the Portal."
"Young people are eternal optimists!" Caveman chuckled. "There's no reasoning with you."
Caveman replaced his suit helmet and marched toward an oncoming group from the steam transport. Their ranks had swelled as they traveled throughout the city and shared their plans with the human and Quadsang servants of the various houses. They reported a handful of minor skirmishes between them and the Overseers. The only explanation they could come up with was that the Overseers were fewer in number than expected and possibly concentrating their resources on protecting the sleeping Pure Bloods.
"I've never seen anything quite like it." Annara stooped in her suit and took off her helmet for a breath of fresh air. "Too quiet. Even when the bloodsuckers are resting, there are usually plenty of Overseers who fancy themselves part of the Pure Blood caste to make noise. They shot at Olivia when she approached the Portal before, so why aren't they amassing for another assault on us?"
Olivia shrugged. "They could be doing just that, but they're hanging out in the tunnels to keep cool until they're ready." She turned to Hernando. "I'm going to remain optimistic. Don't humans outnumber everyone else on this rock?"
He nodded. "Yes, humans are definitely more prolific than anyone with even a drop of the Pure Blood race in their veins, and they're much more adaptable to the light and heat than any of the others."
Annara frowned. "True, but if this is the case, humans should have overthrown the Pure Bloods long ago without the bloodshed and failures they encountered." She shook her head. "Have we really tricked the vampires into complacency this time? I don't want to agree with Caveman on this one. I hope we're not missing something."
Pablo separated from the gathering crowd, approached the group, and removed his suit helmet. "I think we've got almost all of our people together. Some are still in the outlying areas helping house servants to position their mirrors."
"Mirrors?" Olivia raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me we're going to fry ants on the sidewalks—or the Pure Blood equivalent thereof."
Pablo flashed a wicked grin. "I don't know what an ant is, but if it doesn't care for light and heat, then yes, that's what our people have been doing since they got off the transport. It seems the servants in the city have been planning for a long time to gather up the largest of their masters' reflective surfaces and use them to bounce the double-light into the clan houses during this period. That intensity of light discourages Pure Bloods and Overseers from coming out into the open."
Olivia chuckled. "So that's what they've been up to. Explains why we've not met up with many Overseers. I suppose they're stuck inside fanning their masters."
"It could explain why some Overseers are occupied," Annara agreed. "At least a quarter of the city's population is Overseer caste. They can't all be indisposed caring for the Pure Bloods."
A distant explosion rung out and shook the ground beneath them, toppling many off their feet. Annara and Pablo immediately put their suit helmets back on and headed toward the sound to investigate as the others took up defensive positions.
"You stay here under the portico until I come and get you. That's an order." Hernando kissed Olivia's cheek. "You keep the drone at the ready. If I say detonate the bomb, you detonate it, understood?"
"Understood." She slipped her helmet on. "Be careful."
"Always."
Olivia could hear the smile in his voice as he strode toward the Portal.
Checking the camera feed, she confirmed her robot charge was still standing beneath the spaceship with a stomach full of explosive chemicals. What a pity I can't take him for a stroll and show him off to the Pure Bloods. Hey, is that a light ahead? What is that?
She gulped. If she wasn't mistaken her wish had come true. "Oh, dear. I guess they've noticed I left the hangar door open."
It didn't take long for leaders of Clan Alphan to gather at the foot of the spacecraft. Drucinda approached in her majestic stride, along with several others Olivia recognized from the festival. The suit's outer microphone must have been damaged when she was shot as she couldn't quite make out their mumblings.
"I don't speak Pure Blood anyway. I should do all the talking." Olivia cleared her throat and nodded at the icon to activate the suit's speaker. She made sure its output was set at the highest volume and the translation program was engaged.
"Attention Clan Alphan! Listen very closely. I am a walking explosive device. Any attempt to deactivate me will result in your immediate demise and the destruction of your spaceship."
Olivia giggled. The looks of panic and confusion on their pale, pointy faces are priceless. They really have been caught off guard. They've underestimated us. Arrogance is its own reward.
There was no time for saying "told you so." She needed to make her point perfectly clear. "Step away from the vessel. Even now, we are informing the other clan houses of your treachery in keeping the spaceship a secret from them all these years."
Hernando was right about their clan secrets. This revelation caused twice as much panic and confusion as the Day of the Two Suns. Olivia revved up the external microphone and made sure the translation device was keeping up. Drucinda was ordering her underlings to go to each of the clan houses to make good on an explanation. Time to keep up the pressure.
"You will lay down your arms and tell your Overseers to do likewise," Olivia informed them in a calm manner. "You will also inform your fellow Pure Bloods and their minions to lay down their arms as well. We have control of the Portal and can blow it up if we so choose. You will obey our orders or else you will be permanently stranded on this world."
She clicked off the suit's public address system. Was she overdoing it? Drucinda looked as if she could bite Olivia's head off from a distance. The anger and hatred brewing in the Pure Blood priestess's dark eyes glowed brighter than the laser bolts Olivia had shot from her armored suit gloves, but the other vampires had scrambled and dispersed as they were told.
The echoes of laser shots ricocheting off buildings facing the Portal brought her back to her own predicament. Olivia heard a distant explosion and the shouts of her friends as they redeployed to more strategic locations. Should she take off the helmet and inform the others about the orders she'd given the Alphan Clan? A projectile whizzing close by her visor changed her mind. S
he lowered herself beside the stone bench and hunkered down to avoid being a target.
"Somehow I've got to relay this information securely to Hernando at the front without getting hit. This thing must have a private channel to communicate messages without broadcasting it for public consumption."
Olivia brought up the icon for the communications system and looked for an option that indicated a secure suit-to-suit communications link, but nothing seemed to work. She clicked on another icon but it seemed useless as well. Perhaps the Pure Bloods were psychic and didn't need suit-to-suit communications? Maybe they only wired the suits so they could speak out loud to others who weren't so fortunate?
She sighed. "Oh crud. I really wish I could relate this nasty look Drucinda is giving me right now to Hernando. He'd love it."
"I'm sure I would."
Olivia blinked and gasped. "Hernando? You can hear me?"
"Yes, it's me. Your voice just suddenly burst into my earpiece." He sounded winded from his recent exertions. "Where are you and what have you been doing? I told you to stay put."
"I'm right where you left me, but our friend the drone has company down in the cavern." She repeated the orders she'd given to the Alphans. "What do you think?"
"I think you're..." There was a long pause and the sound of laser blasts ricocheting and then slowly fading away. "I think you're brilliant. Our attackers seem to be lowering their weapons and returning underground."
"We've made it to the Portal's steps!" Caveman's excited words sent a tingle down Olivia's spine. "Annara and Pablo are securing the other entrances, but we're here. We've made it, and we're clearing out any Overseers who have other plans."
"Fantastic!" Hernando let loose a long whistle. "We'll be with you all shortly after I check on the others' positions and retrieve Olivia. Did you hear the ultimatum she gave Clan Alphan?"
Caveman chuckled. "Very cheeky. I see now why you wanted the girl to join the Resistance. She thinks quickly on her feet."
"More like on my drone's feet." Olivia laughed. "I'm just glad the Alphans had some dirty laundry to be blackmailed with. We had nothing to lose and everything to gain by threatening the destruction of their spacecraft. I'm glad they did the reasonable thing."
As soon as she said the words, Olivia wished them back. She focused her attention on the image originating from the cavern. Drucinda wasn't pacing back and forth alone anymore. A dozen new Pure Blood and Overseer faces suddenly appeared within view of the suit's camera. They spread their equipment and tool boxes in front of the ship and quickly began unpacking them. A bomb disposal squad.
"Oh, no! They're attempting to disarm the drone. Should I detonate it?"
"We have control of the Portal," Annara announced over the suit com link. "Do we really need to destroy the spacecraft in order to gain their cooperation?"
"I say blow it up!" Pablo's words held a tone of deep resentment. "We don't want to give them hopes they can get off this world without our cooperation in the future."
"I agree," Caveman said. "The remnants of the ship will be enough to convince the other clans to cooperate with us and to never again trust the Alphans. Destroy it!"
Olivia flinched. Once she hit the switch there was no going back. "What do you say, Hernando?"
The pause seemed to last for hours not seconds. "Can you prevent them from disarming our drone? Is the gloves' laser weaponry operational?"
"I think they are." Olivia smiled through her teeth. "Won't firing a laser blast be just a tiny bit dangerous considering he's full of explosive chemicals?"
"Yes, I believe the Pure Blood bomb experts would agree with you, so they'll cooperate with us and leave it alone. Try warning them first and then a short burst to convince them."
"All right. Here goes... something."
Olivia took a deep breath and switched the helmet microphone back to the suit's PA system. "Ahem, attention! Move away from the drone or you will be blasted. You do not want to risk an explosion so close to your ship."
The Pure Bloods appeared to laugh at her announcement. All right, you guys asked for it!
She raised the drone's hands and pointed the finger weapons to shoot just over the tops of their heads. Pow-pow! The blue streaks of the laser bursts lit up the deep cavern brighter than a BloodDark desert day. The bomb squad scattered. Drucinda's screech of terror was audible even through the malfunctioning outer microphone.
Olivia released her held breath. At least she hadn't set off the bomb.
"You have been warned," she informed them. "Any further attempt to disarm our drone will result in the immediate annihilation of your vessel and anyone foolish enough to stand nearby."
The bomb squad started packing up their gear. Drucinda's wide eyes and gaping mouth indicated how confused and scared she felt, but she seemed ready to follow orders. Within two minutes there were no signs of the Alphans near the drone or the spacecraft, and Hernando had arrived at her side.
"Ready to see the Portal?" He extended his hand and helped her to her feet. They began jogging toward the Portal. "Our friends down in the cavern cooperating?"
"They are cooperating, but they aren't our friends by a mile. Steam is pouring out of Drucinda's pointy ears she's so ticked off."
"Good. We'll keep them off balance. Caveman says he's going to give the leaders of the other Pure Blood houses a tour of the secret cavern and the spacecraft after they wake up."
"Wonder if we'll see the fireworks from above ground?" Olivia found herself gasping for breath. She had to run as fast as she could to keep up with Hernando's pace. "Slow down! You forget I'm not wearing a complete armored suit. My legs are short."
He chuckled. "They look plenty long to me."
She could hear the smile in his voice as he picked her up in his arms. "Why, thank you, kind sir. Are you sure going to the Portal is safe?"
"Safe enough. No sign of the Overseers from any of the clans since we've taken control of the Portal. They've probably been instructed not to shoot at us and risk damaging it with stray laser blasts."
"Smart move on their part."
She strained her neck until she could spot the transport device's rotunda coming closer into view. It loomed large ahead, but somehow seemed smaller than she remembered it. Did it really have the power to transport so many back home to Earth?
Home. I'm going home. Olivia frowned. The idea didn't fill her with half as much relief and enthusiasm as it had only a few days before.
"I want to get down and walk before we get to the Portal, please."
Hernando did as instructed, careful to shield her from possible attack. With as much dignity as she could muster, Olivia climbed the steps that led to her passage home.
Chapter Fifteen
The Portal's glowing gateway was now manned by Resistance fighters. Olivia smiled at them. Annara gave her a thumbs-up. Pablo leaned against a control panel and flashed a nonchalant grin.
"Are you happy?" Hernando removed his headphone device. She looked into his eyes and observed resignation there. He was preparing himself for her departure.
"Of course, I'm happy—everyone should be happy today. We've won!"
The Resistance members cheered, clapped, and shouted the same. "We've won! We control the Portal! We've put the Pure Bloods in their place!"
Hernando stepped closer and kneeled to speak in her ear. "You are happy you can return home to Earth, aren't you, Olivia?"
Am I happy? Her heart ached. She reached out to stroke his cheek. "I don't have to leave right away, do I?"
"No, you don't." He took her hand in his glove and brought it to his lips to kiss. Several fighters whistled and pointed. Olivia blushed. Hernando let her hand go, stood tall, and raised his arms. "It's time to let our fellow servants know they can come out of hiding and celebrate our victory!"
"We've won!" cried their comrades. The bulk of them dispersed far and wide to spread the good news while a half dozen stayed to guard their newly obtained objective. Olivia sighed. She was happy to
stay with Hernando and watch the celebrations begin.
"It's a great day—and it's actually daylight for a change." She laughed. "How much longer will the two suns shine together in the city?"
"Only for a few more hours and then the smaller sun will fly away and the shadows will deepen. That's why we have to secure things as fast as possible." A fighter approached and indicated Hernando was needed. "Forgive me. There are important matters to take care of. I promise I'll be back."
"Don't be too long." Olivia sighed as she watched him hurry toward the direction of the prison fortress that had been her first home on BloodDark.
Soon the Portal Square began to fill with the city's household servants and workers. Many had helped the Resistance to subdue their masters, while others had simply hidden away in safe nooks and crannies when they heard the battle commence. Annara organized several others to send telegrams to the plantations on the terminus line, and trains were dispatched to bring those to the city who wished to return to Earth or simply to visit and celebrate.
The hours passed and the bright light began to wane. Hernando was nowhere to be seen in the milling throng as they began to dance and sing. Olivia was certain he was with Caveman and the other Resistance leaders planning the formal surrender document for the Pure Bloods to sign.
No use sitting around pouting. There's a party going on. She searched the happy crowd for signs of acquaintances.
"The sisters!" Olivia rushed to the side of the two Peruvian girls she had befriended her first day and gave them both a hug. "You two look well. I'm so glad to see you."
"Si, si!" the older girl nodded and grinned. "I speak ingles now a little. We go home and soon?"
"Yes, we will." The subject made Olivia sad, so she changed it. "Have you two seen the other chicas we arrived with? The mother from Africa? Claudette—the French girl?"
"Ah, Claudette—si!" The younger girl stuck out her tongue and wrinkled her nose. "Claudette is enamorada, una novia... Is in love with vampire boy."
Olivia's Escape Page 16