Maddie thought for a moment, and then she asked, “How about a trade for another Vesturion?”
Therron looked at Maddie and said, “I know I am going to regret asking, but who did you have in mind?”
“Me.”
They all looked at her, and every one of them voiced a resounding, “NO!”
Rowan added, “Absolutely not. I will not allow it!”
“Hear me out. Maybe I could be a decoy. Act like an exchange, but then have an escape plan routed out. I could pose as his intended mate. We could pretend that the unification date is set and that would make me a more valuable trade. Maybe they would take the bait. Please, we have to at least try.”
They all looked at each other thoughtfully.
Maddie knew that she had their attention now, so she pushed ahead.
“Look, we could have a team of Guardians ready to teleport us both out as soon as Rayn was moved out of his cell. I could preprogram a teleporter with our destination and just hit it at the appropriate time.”
“Maddie, a teleporter wouldn’t get you back to Vesturon.”
“True, but it could get us to a ship waiting somewhere enroute. We could stagger our destinations and hopscotch until we got back here.”
Again, they all were quiet. Maddie knew their wheels were spinning.
“I know it can work if we fine tune the details. We HAVE to try. We cannot just leave him there!” Maddie yelled, tears streaming down her face. She was quickly enfolded in Sharra’s arms.
Xarrid was the first to speak. “I think she may have something. Let’s go over everything we know about where he is being held and how we can get Maddie there. Maybe we can establish a detailed plan and see if we think it’s feasible.”
They agreed to reconvene in an hour to come up with a master plan.
Chapter 4
Maddie flew up to Rayn’s room as fast as her feet would carry her. She threw herself across his bed and sobbed. She hadn’t felt this dastardly since Rayn used his Power of Command on her and immobilized her the night of her graduation party. She wondered how much more of this gut-wrenching pain she would have to endure. It seemed her entire life had been filled with it, and she was getting bloody darned tired of it. Her head and belly throbbed with thoughts of what Rayn was dealing with. If she dwelled on that much longer, she would vomit. She was worried the Yarristers would decide it was too risky for her to go through with anything. If that happened, she would simply have to go it alone.
She grabbed the small handheld device on the bedside table and turned the compsys on, calling up images of Rayn. She wanted to see him how she remembered him, in all his dazzling allure. He was so breathtakingly handsome and larger than life. She couldn’t imagine him any other way.
She leaped off the bed, entered coordinates into her shadar, and moments later, materialized on her favorite mountain top on Earth near the compound. She briefly scanned the horizon before dropping to her knees.
“Hello God, or the Deity, or whatever you want to be called, it’s me, Maddie. It’s been awhile. I know I have been scarce lately, and I am sorry for that. I need your help now more than I’ve ever needed it before. If you could please come to me now, I am desperate for some guidance.”
As she patiently waited, she soon felt a comforting mist descend upon her. A feeling of absolute peace washed over her, allowing her mind to dispel itself of all anger.
Maddie inhaled sharply and began, “Dear God, thank you for being here. I know I have been a terrible person lately, selfish and proud, but I am here to ask for forgiveness and for help. Rayn is imprisoned, and I need to get him out. I ask for your guidance in this matter.”
“My child, you must ask yourself what Rayn would do, and in that, you will find what you are seeking.”
“But, he hates me so much right now. I don’t know what he would do. It is tearing me apart to think of him in this situation. To even know that he is being tortured is killing me.”
“How can you even think he could ever hate you? His anger has masked his true feelings, but you know in your heart and soul where his love lies. Follow the path of your heart, and you will have your answers.”
“But I need power, and I can only get that from you. Without it I have no hope because I don’t think I am strong enough on my own. Please help me before it’s too late.”
“You already have power…and strength. Just tap into it…it is within your mind.”
Before she realized it, the mist had dissipated, and she was once again alone. Maddie knew she could never leave Rayn to rot in that prison. She absolutely must do something—and quickly. The Xanthians were a vicious and cruel species by nature. Maddie knew this firsthand from all the negotiations that she had with them. She had seen the results of their brutality time and again, and it sickened her to think of Rayn experiencing that.
Maddie knew it would be up to her to get Rayn out. She sent a quick prayer of thanks the Deity and entered coordinates once again in her shadar, quickly taking form back in Rayn’s room in the palace. She threw herself back across the bed, and her thoughts went haywire.
She suddenly felt the anger surge within her like a raging blaze. She hopped off the bed, feeling the room crackle with her energy. She let the ferocity wash through her. She wanted it to infuse her blood with the strength that she knew would ensue. She felt her powers increasing, and the more she thought about what the Xanthians had done, the angrier she became. Her eyes took on a reddish glow, and her skin flushed with heat.
Maddie marched down to the living area, where everyone was assembled. She burst into the room, tearing one of the doors off its hinges.
“You all had better come up with a bloody good plan, because I’m going in to get him whether you sanction this or not. He will not spend one more minute than he has to in that prison, and I don’t care if have to destroy the entire planet of Xanthus to get him back.”
Xarrid jumped to his feet and shouted, “Now, that is what I am talking about! That is why we need her here!”
Everyone’s excitement level rose a hundred fold with Maddie’s announcement, and then, they plotted out their game plan.
Chapter 5
Maddie was alone in the stripped down Star Fighter that was being flown by the robopilot. Sharra and her team of six Star Fighters had escorted her for as far as it was safe. Five of the ships remained deep in space—a distance that was safe for them to avoid any Xanthian contact. They would sit and wait, under the protection of the veiling system, until they received the command from Sharra to move. Sharra stayed with Maddie until just outside of the drone patrol zone. Her ship was also stripped down, in case they would have to sacrifice it.
If their mission went as planned, Rayn and Maddie would be teleported to Sharra’s ship and off to Vesturon before the Xanthians knew what had hit them.
Maddie was going in as bait, as a trade for Rayn. She told the Xanthian chancellor that she would exchange herself for Rayn. The chancellor was under the impression that Maddie was Rayn’s intended mate. His thoughts were that he would use Maddie to pull in the rest of the Yarristers, because he knew they would attempt a rescue. The truth of it was that Maddie had no intention of remaining behind.
The communications link lit up as soon as Maddie’s ship entered the patrol zone.
“State your name and purpose,” the voice demanded.
“This is Ambassador Pearce of Vesturon here to see Chancellor Druaha. He is expecting me.”
“One moment. Our tracking beam will be attaching to your ship and we will tow you from here. Please ensure all veils and shields are inactivated.”
“Consider it done,” Maddie responded.
She felt the tracker grab her ship, and within the hour, it had docked her in the bay. She knew it was now do or die for both her and Rayn.
She dropped to her knees sending up a brief prayer, “ Ok Deity, this is it. Thank you for the gifts you have bestowed upon me. Because of them I am strong, agile, and fast, and thanks for my powe
rs of telepathy and telekinesis. I will strive to use them the best way I can. Please help me get Rayn out alive. If, for some reason, it comes down to a choice between the two of us, please save him over me. He deserves it much more as he is a much better person than I.”
She rose to her feet and set the ship to self-destruct in one hour, and then, they were demanding she open her hatch.
As soon as the door slid open, soldiers stormed her ship, weapons drawn, and they grabbed her arms to take her away.
“Where is Chancellor Druaha? I am to meet with him.”
“Our orders are to take you to him immediately.”
They were none too kind in their escorting of her. She jerked her arms out of their grasp, but they still pushed and shoved her along until she reached her destination. The doors slid open, revealing a large table where six Xanthians sat.
Maddie bowed when she recognized Chancellor Druaha. She had to hold her anger in check. It threatened to consume her, and if that happened, she would completely lose her cool and possibly blow this whole operation.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “Chancellor, as you can see, I have kept my side of the bargain. Now, I would like to see Guardian Yarrister.”
“There has been a slight change of plans, Ambassador Pearce.”
“What kind of change?” Maddie asked. She had expected as much from this traitorous bunch. From her watch, she had about 53 minutes until the docking bay exploded. She had to have Rayn out of there before then.
“Before we release the prisoner, we want to ensure there will be no retaliatory efforts by the Vesturions. We think that in exchange for the prisoner, we would like some information on where the Vesturions are planning to attack us next.”
Maddie breathed an aggravated sigh, “Tsk, tsk, tsk, Chancellor. You know as well as I that the Vesturions are peacemakers, and at no time have they ever launched overt attacks on the Xanthians. The only attacks have come at the protection of other planets or the protection of themselves. We have been begging you to cease this useless war and to return to peaceful ways. We will defend and protect those planets that are unable to do so themselves, but there are no plans nor will there ever be plans to attack Xanthus.”
“Then we will need some form of collateral.”
“You already have that: me. I am the collateral. Just release Guardian Yarrister and let him leave. I will stay in his place, and you can do as you will with me.”
“As enticing as that sounds, Ambassador Pearce, you are simply not enough. Maybe we can keep your Star Fighter as well.”
Maddie had expected this. “Chancellor, if you keep the Star Fighter, Guardian Yarrister will not be able to leave. More importantly, I am of much more value to you as a hostage than any Star Fighter. As soon as the Yarrister family is aware of the situation, your bargaining power will increase a hundred fold. Now, please take me to Guardian Yarrister. Need I remind you that you are reneging on your part, Chancellor Druaha?”
He flicked his head to his right, where a soldier stood.
“Take her to him, and then bring her back here.”
The soldier grabbed Maddie’s arm and escorted her to the cell where Rayn was being held.
They walked through the maze of the building, and finally, they came to a row of cells. Maddie could hear the hum and see the beams of the shields that held the prisoners within their cells.
When they finally reached Rayn’s cell, Maddie looked in to see Rayn lying on a cot. He didn’t move a muscle, even when she spoke. She couldn’t tell if he was conscious or not. She tried to reach him telepathically but again, received no response. The security beams were effectively blocking everything from either getting in or out.
“Let me enter. I need to be sure he is alive and well.”
“I cannot. The security beams are in place.”
Maddie shot him a look that spoke volumes. “Then shut them down,” Maddie growled.
“I do not have the authorization to do that.”
“Then I suggest you get it—and fast.” Maddie was furious. From her vantage point, she could not even tell if Rayn was alive. “Listen to me and pay close attention to what I say. If you don’t do something now, I will bring this whole section of the prison down. Now, I command you to deactivate the beam so I can enter.”
The soldier’s eyes glazed over, and then he scurried off to do her bidding. Maddie had surprised herself, as that was the first time she had ever successfully used the Power of Command. Shortly after he left, Maddie saw and heard the system in Rayn’s cell shut down. She immediately ran to his side, entering coordinates as she went. As soon as she was next to him, she hit her teleporter, and they both vanished.
Seconds later, they materialized on Sharra’s ship. Rayn was unconscious.
“As we expected, they had no intentions of releasing either of us. I think it best if we teleport to another ship where a robomedic is on hand. I do not have a very good feeling regarding his condition, Sharra.”
“As you wish.” Sharra quickly teleported them to another ship that was waiting in the convoy. As soon as they materialized, Maddie screamed, “Robomedic, stat!”
They placed Rayn on a gurney, and the robomedics started treating his injuries. He started coming around, and Maddie could tell the Xanthians had gone to great lengths to break him down. He had lost a significant amount of weight, and he was filthy, looking like a mere shadow of his former self. His bearded face was filled with deep hollows beneath his cheeks, and one of his eyes was bruised and swollen. The other eye may as well have been for the space beneath it was darkened and purple. His hair was long and knotted, and his braid had been hacked off. There was dried blood on his lips, and they too were swollen. It nearly broke Maddie’s heart to see him in such a horrific state.
“Rayn, can you hear me? Rayn, it’s me… Maddie. You are safe, and we are taking you back to Vesturon.” She laid her head on his chest, reassuring herself by the sound of his beating heart. “Rayn, I am with you, and I will not leave you.”
Maddie felt his hand on the back of her head. She looked at his face, smiling.
“Sunshine, I cannot see. They have done something to my eyes; they blinded me,” he said in a throaty whisper.
“Bloody hell! Robomedic, examine his eyes!” Maddie cried.
The robots immediately began treating his eyes. The Xanthians had burned off his corneas in their torture sessions, blinding him.
“We have stabilized his eyes, but he will require further treatment once we get him to the medical facility,” the healer on board stated. “Our scanners have revealed both his arms and legs are broken, and they will need extensive repairs.”
“Rayn, we are going to fix you… I promise. Are you in pain?”
“Not much.”
“Give him something for his pain,” Maddie demanded.
As soon as he drifted off to sleep again, Maddie contacted Sharra.
“Sharra, are you still in place near Xanthus?”
“Yes, Maddie, the ship should be self-destructing any minute now. I will stay until then.”
“I am teleporting back to your ship now.”
“Why?”
Maddie didn’t stay to answer, but seconds later, she appeared on Sharra’s ship.
“As soon as the Star Fighter explodes, I am going back in. I want to destroy their security and surveillance systems and anything else I can get my hands on in the process. I intend to cripple them.”
“You cannot go back there! It is too dangerous!”
“Listen to me, Sharra. I am going back in there, and you will not try to stop me. Those monsters tortured Rayn, and I will not let them get away with that. I can get back in there and do my job quickly and efficiently. With the uproar surrounding the destruction of the ship, it should be fairly easy to accomplish. I will set my shadar on overload, and you will teleport me back here. Then, we’ll get out of here before they know what hit them.”
“Maddie…”
“Sharra, either you’re w
ith me or you aren’t, but in either case, I am going in.”
Sharra didn’t like it one bit, but she knew she didn’t have a choice. Maddie, if anything, was one of the most stubborn people Sharra had ever met. It would be impossible to talk her out of this, especially since it involved Rayn.
“Let us do it then.”
Maddie equipped herself with her shadars, along with as many explosive devices as she could carry. She stuffed explosives and blasters in all the pockets of her cargo pants as well as the pockets of her jacket. She was loaded to the max. She would get in, set them and get out, leaving her and Sharra with just enough time to hit super propulsion so that they could reach a safe point in space. She carried enough firepower that the blasts from these explosions would destroy a quarter of Xanthus, if Maddie succeeded.
“Sharra, order the convoy to get the bloody hell out of here and fast… NOW! Tell them we will meet up with them later.”
Maddie was enraged. She felt the force of her anger energizing her. Once again, she felt as if her blood was infused with the power of it. She didn’t want to dwell on the feeling, but rather, she wanted to harness it in order to accomplish the task at hand.
Sharra kept asking her if she was sure about her plan. Her response was “I have never been more sure of anything in my life. Those nasty Xanthians have made all of our lives miserable for the last year, and now, with what they have done to Rayn, this is much less than they deserve. I would like to destroy every last one of them, but I don’t have the means, so I will use what I have at my disposal here and hope to severely maim them in the process. Those cretins have pushed me too far!”
Almost as if on cue, they saw the blinding light that the destruction of the Star Fighter created when it exploded.
“Send me down to the main generating station right now, Sharra. I will take care of business. Remember, when I am finished, I will buzz you once, and then, you can retrieve me. If you don’t hear from me in 30 minutes, lock on my location and teleport me back here. You will have that information from my shadar.”
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