by Debbie Behan
As they reached the top, a heavyset door automatically opened into an exquisite furnished room. ‘This is where Zoren sleeps when he stays over. I’m sure if you don’t move his antiques around, he won’t mind it being used for a few nights.’
Lisha jumped on the monstrosity of a bed. The huge four-post outrageous sleeper took up most of the space in that room. There were two doors on the other side. One led to the ensuite complete with a spa that looked more like a swimming pool. The other door took them into a kitchenette.
Nigel opened up the curtains to a magnificent view of the woods far below them. ‘Come fair maiden.’ He inclined his head to Lisha who had obviously won his attention. Caitlin knew Lisha was drop dead gorgeous but apart from that, she seemed spoilt, was overbearing and at times had no tact. She wondered how long Lisha would stay polite and cute now she had the best room in the house and had her own way. Lisha kicked up her feet, and the struggle to get off the bed in a hurry made them laugh at her.
‘What!’ She finally emerged from inside and peered out over the balcony. A sudden chorus from the wolves broke out. Many lined the trees on the edge of the woods as they howled at her.
‘What’s wrong with them?’ Lisha put her hand to her ears to drown their noise out.
‘The Wolves call you.’ He grinned. ‘They say big change for the fair skinned one.’
‘Well I’m here aren’t I? That’s just stating the obvious.’ She turned with her head held high, her attitude impatient.
Nigel closed the door on them with his head hung and back bent. Caitlin nudged him. It hadn’t taken Lisha long to show her true colours. She normally kept up the front for a while longer. ‘She must like you, she is generally worse.’ Caitlin eyed him. ‘You like her too?’
Nigel bit his lip to prevent a smile. ‘Will that be all ma’am?’ he asked her, his posture straightened, not giving away any secrets.
‘Yes thank you Nigel. I’ll call if we need anything further.’
He’s a dark horse. She grinned as he nodded and left.
Friends Forever
Caitlin was aware after staying with Axon over the past days and nights that his life was all about his work and she didn’t expect to see him until late into the evening. With this in mind she organised a swim before the midday meal, but her joy was soon upset when Rory saw how bruised she still was.
‘Cait, what happened to you?’ He pulled at her arm and spun her around to face him. ‘You have scratches everywhere and what the hell, your feet are a mess, they’re black and swollen.’ He held her two shoulders firmly. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were so bloody banged up? Hell Cait, this isn’t funny. How did you let this happen and more to the point, why!’ His voice rose, and his tone and reddened features made her cringe.
Axon had obviously down played what had happened to keep their heads in the game. The last thing he needed was to send out an uptight team leader, worried about a team member. If she’d known, she would have stayed dressed. Thanks for the heads up, Axon.
He shook her slightly and received a stare with no response. ‘Is this how he found you?’ His voice was raised and angry.
Caitlin snapped at his outburst, hurt. ‘It was an accident, and why do you care? You haven’t even rung.’ She threw her hand up in the air and released herself from his grip. ‘Leave me alone!’ she sobbed out and turned, and ran up the stairs. Her body thumped heavily onto the bed as he followed her up. He already knew she wouldn’t do this deliberately but for her to do it at all worried him.
‘I’m sorry!’ he apologised and dropped down on the bed beside her. ‘I just freaked out. When Axon said he was taking you for a couple of days, I was ticked off, sure, but thought it necessary for you two to work things through, so I didn’t interfere or insist you come home. After all, you were terribly angry towards him, and he being the boss it made for a very strained visit all round. Until now, that was what I thought your episode was all about; you wanted his attention. When I first saw you, it damned near floored me Cait. You’ve lost weight, your face is drawn and there’s barely a spot where you’re not scratched or bruised.’
‘It wasn’t about him, Rory, and I hope you believe me.’
‘Then it was me!’
‘What? How do you come to that conclusion?’
‘The way I treat you. We were closer than best friends. You must have known how I felt and when you didn’t return my advances and Bree came along, I threw my relationship with her in your face, didn’t I?’
She sniffled into her tissue. ‘Yes, it hurt.’ She looked up at him. ‘We both hurt each other, Rory but this didn’t happen because of you two, that’s silly.’
She faced him. ‘Axon believes my session with Woody was incomplete. The magic he used to make me open up to him and then heal the wounds he exposed must have caused me to flip out a bit. There is no other reason for me to have been so angry at Axon. I had only just met him and yet I expected him to feel as I did. I was irrational, couldn’t eat, sleep and worse of all didn’t have a clue why. My mind was frazzled and yet if you were to ask me why, I would have shrugged.’
‘Woody wanted you to remember your childhood, but why?’
‘He feels my powers will never be fully developed until I face my past.’
‘Then it is my fault. I let you close the door on it Cait. Why remember so much pain? Maybe if I tell you how I found you?’
‘No!’ She put her hand to his lips. ‘It doesn’t work like that. I have to do it.’
She took her hand away, her features soft as she looked at him. ‘
‘Please don’t blame yourself. I would be so much worse without you. I hold you so deep in my heart and don’t blame you for choosing Bree. I know now it would never have worked between us and recently I worked out why.’
‘Why Caitlin? I need to hear you say it. I need to know this thing between us will not destroy our future together. I too have missed you, but in my team.’ He ran a finger gently down her face, the kindness in his eyes unmistakable.
‘Rory, you hold me when I cry, laugh when I laugh, care when no one else does; you alone taught me how to live and love, but as a brother figure. If you were thinking straight back then you would have seen it too.’
He grinned. ‘I see that now. But you have to remember I was your everything and then you found friends of your own. I was still the boss, left out of all the fun you guys had together. I was the one who had to act responsible. You weren’t the only one who had to grow up, but somehow we both have and we’re going to do just fine aren’t we?’
‘Yes,’ she smiled back.
A truce had Rory flop on his back. ‘Anyway, of what I remembered you’re not very good kisser.’
‘Oh, that’s it! That was one time and you were drunk. You said you didn’t remember.’
He laughed at her indignant poise.
‘You’re just so gullible sometimes Caitlin, but so much fun. Come back with us and let us care for you as we always have. You know wherever I am, that is your home and I always want you in it.’
‘I want to, Rory more than anything I do, but I have this fear that rips through me every time I imagine it. Axon thought you coming here instead would settle me down. So I guess just ask me again tomorrow. Is that okay? I mean, you guys have only just arrived, right! Maybe I just need a day or two to relax with friends around me again.’
‘You will consider it seriously for me though, won’t you Red? We even dragged Shargan up here for you, so don’t make us go home without you.’
She sat up. ‘Just give me time to talk to Woody and when I feel better and my powers stop crippling me, I’m all yours.’
‘Have you booked an appointment with him?’
‘No, but I will.’
He rolled his eyes. ‘Do you want me to?’
She slid off the bed and put out her hand to pull him up. ‘I have to start doing things for me now Rory. I’m a big girl and you have too much on your plate already.’
Rory laughed un
controllably. A growl escaped as he stood up and at the same time picked her up in his arms. ‘If you want to be all grown up I’ll stop coddling you, but I’m serious, Cait; you’re part of our team, no matter what, so come home soon.’
Safe in the Homeworld
(Ara)
Back at Alpha site, Axon and Zoren discussed how they are going to break the news to Caitlin that Rory and the team were dead. With heavy hearts they both transported out to Axon’s home world, Ara.
****
Jarvis practically dropped the freshly brewed coffee pot when Axon and Zoren appeared. ‘Cripes, can’t you two knock or something?’ he scolded them as he put the pot on the table and licked his burnt fingers.
Axon punched the air before he crunched knuckles with Zoren and turned round to Jarvis. His arms wrapped around him and lifted him off the ground in a tight squeeze. As he let go, his face released the tension. ‘Sorry buddy, thought the lot of you were dead! Man it’s great to see you.’ He shook everyone’s hands. Caitlin he picked up and spun around with her, excited. ‘As for you! I could hug you to bits. If it hadn’t been for your little performance they would still be down there.’ He stopped suddenly and faced Zoren. ‘Sorry, got a bit carried away; everyone this is Zoren – Zoren, this is Rory, Nathan, Jarvis, Lisha, Bree and this little redhead that saved them, with her incredible intuition, is Caitlin.’ He released his hold as her words finally broke through. ‘What’s going on, saved who, how?’
‘Yes, exactly Axon, what’s this all about?’ Rory straightened his back, his face taut.
Zoren wasted no time and with a wave of his hand and a click of his fingers, a vision appeared from nowhere with a news report of the event. Rory and his team sat with mouths open as they watched for themselves.
‘Those malicious thugs!’ Rory stood up so quickly his chair shot back behind him, crashing hard against the wall.
‘You’ve gotta be kidding me!’ Nathan thumped the table.
‘Hell! The horses!’ Jarvis joined Rory, too ticked off to sit.
‘Our new home! - Gone!’ Bree sobbed on Lisha’s shoulder.
Caitlin was stunned, motionless. She knew before she even saw the footage and yet how? This was getting too weird. Axon was right; she knew something was going down, but this… Yet as she watched the camera swing around their now bleak property, she already knew what she would see. Did I know?
Zoren left the others to watch further and took her hand. ‘Great work Caitlin, you must feel relieved you had such insight.’
‘I don’t think she has any idea what we are talking about.’ Axon turned her to him. ‘Her eyes have been glazed over since last night, but now look.’ He held her face and tilted her towards Zoren. ‘Clear as day.’
‘Ah.’ Zoren grinned, and spoke in a language Caitlin had never heard before.
‘What did he say?’ she asked Axon who nodded and agreed.
‘He thinks you channel the heavenly council, that you are a goddess that has not found your way yet. That as a young child you had torment and it was they who gave you strength.’
Caitlin tilted her head, unsure. ‘My childhood is vague.’
Zoren once again spoke to Axon in the unusual dialect.
‘Yes Caitlin has asked for a consult with Woody, but you have had him rather busy.’
Zoren shrugged. ‘And now after this attack, he will be even more in demand.’
Axon breathed out. ‘I know, but if you are right and she does channel the universe and its wisdom…’
Zoren finished his words. ‘…she will need much protecting and I’m not sure your team or you, Axon, can provide this. She may have to walk this path alone. ’
‘Then she must see him soon to be in top form for what lies ahead. If he can’t come to us then we will go to him. You said yourself that Caitlin’s confused state is affecting her equal. Cassie suffers too so it needs to be sorted.’
‘Yes!’ He nodded. ‘But let’s not panic, for now your team is safe, and I must make mine safe too.’
‘What will you do?’
‘It’s what – we will do.’ He glanced at Rory and back to Axon. ‘You two I need with me. The rest of your team are on full alert until you return. Show them how to put your monitors on stand-alone mode so you’re not hacked. The rest is similar to what they are used to and if they have any trouble they can call.’
‘I guess it’s not like we can’t get back here within seconds if anything goes wrong.’
‘True, Zoren stood to leave. His impatience to get moving and meet up with the Cloud Riders was obvious in his quick movement and restless stance. ‘And don’t forget your team have the powers equal to Kayden’s team. They only need to look within and they will find an answer if anything does go down while you’re not here.’
Axon fidgeted, not wanting to leave Caitlin. He had become protective of her and had faith in Rory. He believed between them both they could and would be enough to keep her safe. He smiled down at her. ‘Will you be right here with the guys?’
‘No probs,’ she assured him with her positive poised tone. ‘Just show us what to do and we’re on to it.’ Her eyes sparkled and somehow he felt all would be well. Those eyes were the key and in the future he would not take them for granted. For the time being, if there was something else going to happen, he was sure she wouldn’t be acting so chipper and she wouldn’t be dazzling him with that look.
‘Well come on.’ She pulled at his arm; and he blinked away the daze of how well he could already read her.
‘Okay, okay!’ He tutted at her impatience and, turning towards Zoren, shrugged his shoulders. ‘We’ll be there shortly.’
With a flick of Zoren’s arm, the image of what was being reported on Earth vanished and so did he, smile wide, knowing enough about his boy Axon to know that the little one they called Red had some major control over him already.
****
On the way up the stairs, Caitlin listened as Bree and Lisha raved about Zoren’s electric blue eyes that changed with his different moods. ‘How light were they when he left and did you catch that smile?’ Lisha gushed.
‘And that flawless complexion and yes those to die for eyes hidden behind them long-blond lashes. Ohmygod he is so adorable.’
‘And sexy!’
‘Okay you two,’ Rory disciplined. ‘Mind on the job, and Bree!’
‘Yes honey.’
‘You like me better, right.’
‘Yes sir!’ She giggled and raced Lisha to the top.
‘Caitlin this is your fault, teaching my beauty to perve.’
‘Rory!’ She gave him the birdie, giggled and ran up after them.
‘See Axon, I tell you, girls can be so disrespectful; you’re so smart living without one.’
‘You love it Rory and you’ve missed her haven’t you?’ said Axon
‘When she’s not with us, we hate it. I was going to take her home tomorrow, and now all this!’ He wavered. ‘I’m gutted. What can I provide for her now, for any of them?’
‘Material possessions can be replaced, but you cannot. We will rebuild, stronger, better. As for the way we both feel about Caitlin, I think we both better brace ourselves. Does she belong to any of us?’
‘I know. I heard what Zoren said about the universe and her. I guess time will tell but I’m not letting go, ever.’
Me either!
Observatory Tower
Caitlin passed by and pushed Nathan. Once he got his balance, he took two steps at a time to catch up to her. The race up the stairs was a bit more than Caitlin had envisaged. Her heart felt like it would burst out of her chest it beat so quickly. Fortunately for her, Axon predicted her current state of wellbeing and was there in time to catch her as she stumbled in the open door. He steadied her. ‘Cait, careful! You still aren’t over the worst of it.’ He glanced at Rory. ‘She’s not getting better fast enough. I’m glad we’re seeing Woody today, and if he agrees I’m going to suggest swapping a team member for a couple of days.’
&nbs
p; ‘I’ll go.’ Lisha put her hand up. ‘Conor! Mmm.’
‘Really!’ Bree eyed her.
‘Done!’ Rory said. ‘Maybe if you go spend some time with him you might get over it and shut up about him.’
‘What did I miss? I didn’t know she had the hots for Conor,’ Nathan said.
Rory coughed, annoyed he’d given his sister’s secret away. ‘Not the time buddy, button it, we’re holding Axon up.’
‘Sorry man.’ Nathan folded his arms to listen to new orders. Caitlin eyed him. Never had any of them seen Nathan buck up or get cross. His loyalty to Rory was incredibly bonded. He was now Rory’s right hand man, with powers equal to Woody and she couldn’t have been happier with Kayden’s decision to put him in that position. Rory needed the best by his side, and Nathan was that man.
Caitlin realised Axon still had hold of her. Moving from him she smoothed out her top that had twisted when he caught her. ‘Sorry about that, I’m fine now.’
‘Caitlin, you’re still not fully well. I have eyes and you don’t need to play tough girl with me.’
She stretched up on tippy toes and kissed his cheek, and her fingers shook slightly on his arm. ‘I’m sorry.’ She melted him with her sweetness that he had missed.
He took hold of her, feeling her weakened state and helped her to an armchair. She dropped into it. He knew the juvenile sprint was to prove to the others she was fine. He loved that she tried but wished she would listen to him where her health was concerned. There was something preventing her getting well and it had stumped him.
With no more time to dwell on Cait he moved back to the door and looked into a glass hexagon shape by the door that could have been mistaken for a light fitting. The thing lit up blue and a green laser light scanned his eye. That was when Rory and the team quietened down, this getting all their attention as the lightly furnished room transformed. A massive boardroom table emerged from a trapdoor in the floor. In the middle of the table was a tower with arms that reached out, holding individual four-dimensional, touch-screen control panels.