"Don't lose your spine on me now, Rhodes. I wouldn't ask if I didn't believe in you."
"I don't remember you asking, Mack."
"Details," Mack smiled.
Jackson, John, and Mack hid out of sight behind shrubbery as Seth and Maddie stepped out into clear view.
"Hey! Over here!" Seth exclaimed, calling attention to the Gorium roaming the area.
"Looking for us?" Maddie called out, waving her arms wildly over her head.
"Nice," Seth teased.
The Gorium yelled upon seeing them and started running in their direction.
"It worked, didn't it?" Maddie said before turning on her heels.
A large group of Gorium started chasing after them. Seth and Maddie led them out to a large clearing where John had set up a large net. As soon as they were in position, John cut the rope, dropping the net down on top of them. The Gorium cried out in frustration at their own foolishness.
"That was simple enough. Wonder if Mack and Jackson-" Maddie began but a loud explosion seemed to answer her inquiry.
"Sounds like them," John said, beginning his run in the direction of the explosions.
While Seth and Maddie had a large contingent of mercenaries chasing them, Mack and Jackson had moved into position among the chaos. They had planted explosives along one of the walls, effectively blowing a large hole in the side of the building.
Mack brushed some of the debris from her short hair, pleased with the destruction. Jackson chucked a grenade over their heads toward an advancing brigade of Gorium fighters.
"You sure know how to make an entrance," Maddie joked once she had joined the others.
"It's a fine art. You'll learn," Mack teased her counterpart.
#
The team moved quickly through the fallen debris and returned gunfire. They pushed through the hordes of enemies until they reached the heart of the control center.
The squad split up to cover more ground as they searched for the false Commander. Each of them had on a wrist communicator so they could coordinate once they found their intended target.
Maddie managed to jump into the air duct system undetected. She focused on the task at hand, refusing to give in to her rising anxiety. She slowly crawled through the tight air space until she could hear two voices in the midst of an argument.
"You had assured me we would have the satellite codes by now," a rough, deep voice growled.
"I know, I know. You will get those codes. I just need a little more time," Commander Westlake's voice rang out.
Maddie's heart leaped into her throat. She hit a button on the communicator to alert the rest of the team. She wished she knew how far everyone else was from her location. Cautiously, she crawled toward the source of the voices.
"More time? Did you hear that? He asks for more time. You are out of time!" the angry voice fired back.
"I will get you those codes," Commander Westlake insisted.
"We kept up our end of the bargain. Now it's time you kept up yours."
"Your end? Look, I called off the deal with the Jendi because you promised results and more money. I don't see the body of Madison Rhodes in this room. Or her clone."
"Details," the gravelly voice stated.
"An important one," Commander Westlake fired back.
"One that is about to be remedied. Didn't you have the clone in your mist and you let her escape?"
"That was not my fault. I was dealing with incompetents. One who paid with his life."
The Mihun who had posed as John? Mack said he helped them escape with me. Maddie felt remorseful, hearing that he paid with his life to save hers. She thought the least she could do was repay the favor by killing the impostor Commander.
Maddie positioned herself quietly behind an air vent, peering through the little slots into the room. The Commander and an imposing tall Gorium stood at the center of the room. Next to them, she could make out a table with weapons much like the ones Megan had owned. She could also see John, bound and gagged in a chair next to two Gorium. His communicator had been removed and smashed into bits on the floor next to his feet.
Maddie had to resist the urge to cry out upon seeing him. His black shirt had been ripped, making it possible for Maddie to count the slash marks on his chest. Thankfully, the wounds on him appeared minor. It was the blood pouring out of an open wound from his left temple and right shoulder that really concerned her.
"We already have this one. The rest will surely follow." The Gorium motioned toward John.
"That is a start. The clone will not be able to resist trying to rescue him," the Commander stated.
They won't have to wait long, Maddie thought. The idea that she should wait on the others didn't cross her mind until it was too late. She kicked the air vent out of the duct and, in one swift motion, swung herself into the room. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she fired multiple times, shooting two Gorium in the head.
"Right on schedule," the Commander sneered toward her.
Adrenaline took over her body. She pointed the gun toward him, but it was kicked out of her hands and sent skidding on the floor away from her. Maddie searched the room for another weapon before eying the metal cover to the air duct lying near her. The large Gorium that had been speaking rushed at the clone. She moved out of the way, sending him crashing into the table. Moving fluidly, she picked up the cover and attempted to hit him in the head with it, but found her wrists caught by his hands. Maddie elbowed him in the face and the Goruim threw her down. While lying on the ground, she smacked the enemy with the grill hard on his left knee. To her surprise, he screamed in pain and fell on the ground, moaning and rolling around.
“All that from the knee?” Maddie questioned.
“That wasn’t his knee.” John had to fight the urge to smile when he informed her.
"Impressive, especially for a clone," the Commander said.
"Or just plain impressive," Maddie replied.
"Perhaps I should study you further before I kill you."
The Commander glowered at her, baring his teeth. A low growl came from his thin lips as his shoulders hunched forward. A murderous look came over him as he ran toward Maddie. She kicked him hard in his chest. The force of the blow caused both of them to fall backward. Maddie flung the air vent cover at him, smacking him in the face.
Maddie dashed over to John, removing the gag from his mouth.
"Are you okay?" She began to untie his binds.
"Look out!" John cried out too late.
Maddie was roughly knocked to the floor, her head bouncing hard off the cold stone and dazing her temporarily.
"You stupid, little bitch! I didn't devise this plan and work on it for the last two years to have a lab creation ruin this for me."
The impostor kicked Maddie hard in the ribs, causing her to cough.
"I'm going to enjoy picking you apart piece by piece."
John started cursing immediately, pulling against his restraints. Each time he moved, more blood gushed from his shoulder. He winced at the pain but kept trying to get to Maddie.
"What's the matter, John? You aren't happy with what I said about your girlfriend?" Westlake sneered.
"You leave her alone!" John bellowed.
"I don't think you are in a position to make demands."
While Westlake focused on John, Maddie slowly crawled toward the fallen gun undetected.
"Right now, neither are you." She pointed the gun at his head.
"Put it down," Another gravelly voice said behind her.
Maddie turned her head slightly, still not moving her arm. A Gorium stood behind her, his gun pointed at John's head.
"Lower your weapon, girl. Now," he ordered.
"Maddie, don't," John urged.
"Please don't hurt him," Maddie insisted, lowering her arm.
"Gun on the floor," Westlake ordered.
Maddie obeyed the command instantly.
"Get on your knees." Westlake ordered.
Maddie
did as she was told, slowly getting on her knees. Westlake forced her to turn so she was looking directly at John.
"What did you think? That you, a clone, could defeat me?" he scoffed, taking the gun from the Gorium and pointing it at her.
Maddie didn't say anything. Tears streamed down her cheeks as her eyes locked on John's. They both knew this was it.
"Say goodbye," Westlake told her, raising the weapon to her head.
"I love you." She choked out the words as the tears fell.
"I love you. I'll join you soon," John choked out, his voice cracking under the strain.
She wasn't going to beg. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. She was going to die with dignity. A part of her was glad. She would prefer to die this way than being cut apart on a table. There were no sobs or whimpers. She wanted to somehow let Mack and the others know she died gracefully while trying to save the life of the one she loved the most. They would know when they saw the body, Maddie decided.
"Goodbye," Maddie whispered as she closed her eyes.
#
The gunshot rang out throughout the room. Maddie gasped, eyes flying open in shock.
The body of Charlie Westlake slumped to the floor.
"Holy hell." Maddie let out a breath.
"Are you both okay?" Mack asked.
"Okay is relative," Maddie said, still shaking.
Mack threw her arms around Maddie, both women thankful the other was alive. After a moment, Maddie pulled away from her and rushed over to John.
"I thought, for a moment there..." John's voice trailed off as Maddie untied him.
"I know. I did, too," she said as he pulled her to his lap.
"How did you do that, by the way?" John asked.
"The first week I was here, most of what Jackson and I did was watch wrestling on TV. Plus, Logan showed me a few defensive maneuvers when we went to the gym," Maddie admitted.
"Well, that was amazing," John told her.
More blood poured out of John's shoulder as he moved. Maddie could see the open wound was caused by a gunshot.
"Are you okay?" Maddie asked, gently touching his shoulder.
"I barely notice that right now," John said, kissing her passionately.
"I'm sorry to break up this beautiful moment, but we've got to get out of here," Seth cut in.
"Thanks, Seth." Maddie glared at him.
"There will be time for that later, once we leave this place in one piece," he said.
Maddie looked around the room, seeing the bodies of the former Commander as well as several of the Gorium. The guard that had his gun on John was dead beside them as well. As she looked down at Westlake's corpse, his body changed. His features began to change until he no longer looked like Charlie Westlake.
"So that's what the Mihun look like," Jackson said.
"That's it? The danger is over?" Maddie asked.
"The danger from this man may be gone, but we still need to find Charlie," Mack responded.
"Where do we look?" Maddie questioned.
"I couldn't even begin to tell you." Mack shook her head.
#
As the team made their way through the building, Maddie stopped midway.
"We've got to go." John tugged on her arm.
"Wait. Listen." Maddie cocked her head to the side.
She could hear sounds coming from one of the rooms down the hall.
"You can't hear that? Someone is calling for help," she said, turning toward where she heard the noise.
"Madison!" Seth called.
"No, I hear it too," Mack said, walking with her.
The two women walked through the corridor toward the sound, with the men trailing behind. They came to a stop at a locked door.
"Hello?" Maddie called.
"Mack! You found me, you beautiful woman. Get me out of here," A voice cried out to them behind the wall.
"Charlie?" Mack called in disbelief.
"Yes, of course. Come on. Get this door open," the voice responded.
"Back up," John told the women.
He fired two shots into the door, breaking the lock. The door pushed aside and the team cautiously entered.
In the corner of the room was a dirty and disheveled-looking Charlie Westlake bound to a chair. His hair was long with silver streaks coming through in patches. He had a long, unkempt beard. He looked like he hadn't bathed in months. His navy blue uniform shirt had been ripped in several places and had started to badly fade into gray.
"Oh, thank God! I was beginning to think you weren't coming for me. I have been trapped here for God knows how long.” Charlie’s voice cracked. “Wait, why is your clone here?"
"Charlie, is that really you?" Mack asked.
"Of course it's really me,” Charlie insisted. “Now, untie me and let's go home."
"How do we know it's really you and not another Mihun posing as you?" Seth questioned.
"Brooks, don't be an ass," Charlie snapped, his eyes narrowing.
"Yeah, it's him." Seth grinned.
Jackson pulled out a pocket knife and cut Charlie free from his ties.
"Thank you," Charlie said, rubbing his wrists. "I know you all have questions. I do as well. Let's get home and we'll talk."
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The flight back to Earth was intense. Charlie launched into his story of being lured off Earth with a promise of a truce from the Gorium, only to be ambushed without weapons or communication.
"Charlie, the last time you went off-world was two years ago," Mack said.
"Two years? Wow. Time flies when you are chained up and tortured." Charlie sounded rather amused. His face changed after a moment. "I was stupid. I never should have gone by myself, for starters." he lowered his head.
"Tried to tell you that at the time," Mack admonished.
"I know. But the prospect of not having the Gorium as an enemy was too good to pass up."
Charlie explained the Mihun then used some technology he had never seen before to pull information from him so one of them could pose as him.
"It was effective. It never once crossed my mind that we've been working with an impostor," Mack said.
"You really thought I would sell out our world to the Gorium?" he asked.
"Of course I didn't want to believe it, but there was too much evidence to disprove," Mack explained.
"And having to involve the little one." Charlie turned to Maddie.
"Please don't call me that," Maddie said meekly, thinking about Logan.
"I'm sorry. This is just a highly unusual situation," Charlie apologized.
Maddie nodded, refusing to look away from his eyes.
"You are highly unusual, aren't you?" Charlie asked, studying her.
"That's what I have been told," she said.
"It was Maddie who came up with the hypothesis that brought us here," Mack said.
"That is interesting. When we get back to Earth, I promise to look into this situation with the utmost care and sensitivity," he told Maddie sincerely.
"Sir, if I may, it's not just Maddie you'll have to contend with," John spoke up.
"I had a feeling. Don't worry, John. Everything that's happened in the past few months with her will be under consideration."
#
Once they were back on the base, Maddie was kept secured in her dorm room. The only visitor she was allowed was Mack. She paced constantly in her room, feeling consumed with her thoughts. The Commander's words kept echoing inside Maddie's mind. He spoke sincerely and with conviction, but Maddie still couldn't shake the horrible feeling that was swarming her.
What if Commander Westlake deemed that she was a security risk? What if her choice was taken completely out of the equation? Would he wipe her memory somehow, making her forget everything, and send her back to lead the life she was created to have? Or was there a more terrifying option?
She had to admit to herself the thought of going home sounded tempting. Her former life was stable and comfortable. She was surrounded
by people who loved her and would be safe. Safe from the death and war that plagued Mack's life. She wouldn't have to remember that Logan sacrificed himself to save her. She would no longer see the blood splattering on the floor as Gatewood's throat was cut whenever she closed her eyes. Would it be like a bad dream or would anything linger with her at all?
Above those thoughts was another one screaming at her. Was it worth losing John over?
It didn't seem fair to her. She had finally found the love of her life and she could lose him. More so, she might not even remember what they had together.
He had asked her to marry him. She desperately wanted to say yes. But saying yes would mean never seeing her family again. What would happen to them? Would the agency somehow make her family forget about her? Or would the government tell them that she died in some sort of accident?
She knew she would feel a little better once she was able to see John again. The thought of not knowing when that would be, however, was beginning to drive her crazy.
Since Maddie was not an agent, she was not privileged to sit in on the debriefing held once Commander Westlake was cleared to retake his command. Mack visited her to fill in the blanks.
“Charlie has had time to go over the mission reports. Naturally, the sale of my satellite system has been halted. There's another team off-world now to clean up the mess the Mihun caused," Mack stated.
"That's good."
"Charlie has also led an investigation into you."
Those words perked Maddie up.
"Oh, yeah?" Maddie asked, trying not to show how excited she was in her voice.
"Oh, yeah. He's been reading the reports and going over the testimonies the other agents have submitted regarding you."
"And what has he concluded?"
"Nothing yet. He said he's going to speak with you."
Maddie's heart sank a little. She was hoping her counterpart would have better news for her.
"John's been going crazy this past week," Mack said.
"I have, too. How is he?" Maddie inquired.
"I know. He's good. The bullet went clean through the shoulder, no lingering damage. He had a concussion but was treated. He healed well. You'll see each other soon."
Nebula Nights: Love Among The Stars Page 257
