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Sartel kept shaking his head. The trip was starting to get boring, and his eyes were beginning to get heavy. Dorange would probably have him put to death if he failed in his mission. The thought alerted him a little more.
After traveling at a constant two hundred miles an hour for almost an hour and a half, he noticed that Celeste's Chati slowed down. He looked down at his satellite read out. This isn't where the entrance to the base is located, he thought to himself. There's still another twenty miles left. Maybe there's another secret entrance.
Sartel looked up and noticed that Celeste's Chati had come to a complete stop. He stopped his own about fifty yards away and turned off the engine.
Because of the snowstorm, Sartel could barely see the Chati in front of him. However, Celeste had left the lights on as she exited the vehicle and walked to a small wooded area on her left.
"What is she doing?" Sartel said to himself.
Sartel watched until Celeste had disappeared into the woods and then he exited his own vehicle.
As he entered the woods, he pulled out his weapon and set it for stun. Just ten yards in front, he saw the shadowy figure of Celeste pass by. He froze.
Celeste continued to walk deeper into the trees. Sartel allowed her to get some distance before moving so that she wouldn't hear his footsteps in the snow. He was thankful, however, that the wind was howling to mask any noise he did make.
He continued to follow as Celeste walked around a large tree surrounded by smaller ones. He stopped and waited for her to come out, but she didn't. Maybe that's where the other secret entrance is located, he thought.
Sartel slowly walked to the large tree with his weapon pointed forward. Once at the tree, he slowly peered around to where Celeste had disappeared. Nothing.
He walked into the small four foot by three foot clearing and kicked at the snow. Where did she go?
"Captain Sartel."
Sartel jumped at the sound of Celeste's voice and turned around. He tried to raise his weapon, but Celeste quickly hit his hand with the gun in her hand, causing it to fly out.
Celeste grabbed Sartel by the coat collar and pointed her gun upwards into the bottom of his chin. "I should have known that Gar would send one of his stooges to follow me."
"Wha ? how did you know?"
Celeste turned her face from the stench of his breath. "Maybe you were too drunk to notice, but you left your satellite tracking system on, you idiot."
Sartel cursed.
"I could see that someone was following me the moment I left Chast. So tell me, Sartel. Why is Dorange so desperate to accuse me of being the rebel spy?"
Sartel glared at Celeste and didn't answer.
Celeste shoved Sartel against the large tree and pushed her gun deeper into his chin. Sartel grimaced in pain.
"Answer me!"
"I don't have to answer to you. I'm just doing as I'm told."
Celeste gritted her teeth and quickly shot her right knee up into Sartel's groin.
Sartel screeched in pain and his knees buckled, but Celeste, as strong as she was, held him in place.
"You had better answer me, Captain, or you are going to be feeling worse than that in a few moments."
Sartel began to laugh.
Celeste backhanded him with her gun. Blood began to trickle from Sartel's right eye.
"Take out your inhibitors!" Celeste demanded as she pointed her gun in between Sartel's eyes.
Sartel wiped the grin from his face and looked startled. "Wha ? Why?"
Celeste smiled. "I know your telepathic abilities aren't any match for mine. So, if you are not going to tell me, I might as well probe your mind to get the information I need, and while I am at it ? inflict a little pain."
"Okay ? Okay. I'll tell."
"Good. Now, see what happens when you cooperate with me. But before you tell me, let's take a little walk back to my Chati."
Worlds Without End: The Mission (Book 1) Page 41