Nuba and Anke were well away and Anthony was still trying to stop the bleeding in Jessica’s leg when the Marines finally did come down the dirt road. Marcus saw them first and put the gun to Jessica’s head, “Anthony get into the SUV Now!â€� Anthony looked up to see the lights from the General’s car followed by a Jeep with four Marines. He did as Marcus instructed. “Drive us out of here, Anthony, or she dies.â€�
Anthony had no choice; he did as Marcus told him with the Marines in hot pursuit. But the Ford Excursion Anthony had leased was better suited and faster than the military vehicles and Anthony lost them on the roads going back toward West Palm Beach and headed toward the executive side of the airport on Marcus’ instructions.
“Skip!� Jessica said weakly from the back seat. “You have to stop.�
“No!� Marcus said.
“I’m going to throw-up.â€� Jessica’s voice was weak and sick.
“Marcus, I am going to stop.� Anthony pulled over to the side of the road. Jessica threw open the door just before she lost the battle with the irresistible urge of nausea. Her leg wound was radiating pain in waves and her stomach, which was for the most part empty, was rolling. She managed to close the door a few minutes later.
“Skip, I’ve got to get something to drink.â€� A few minutes later Anthony pulled into another gas station store. This time Marcus had to leave Jessica alone in the SUV or allow Anthony to go in alone. He didn’t see Anthony toss Jessica his cell phone.
Jessica called the only number she knew, Bruce.
“Hello,� Bruce sounded sleepy.
“Bruce,� Jessica sounded weak.
“Jessica? Where are you?� Bruce could hardly hear her.
“Not in Hawaii. Listen I don’t have much time. I’ve been kidnapped. I’m,â€� another wave of nausea rolled over her, “I am being taken in a private jet to a small island off the coast of Hawaii, we are still in West Palm Beach, but we are close to the airport. On Southern Boulevard. Skip’s with me. He’s sort of…ah…been kidnapped too. Bruce, Iâ€� she clicked the phone off as Marcus got back in the vehicle.
Anthony gave her the bottle of water, “Thanks, Skip.� Jessica said meaningfully.
“Hope it helped,� Anthony commented.
“Hope so too,� Marcus failed to catch the double meaning.
Anthony hoped the General heard the conversation over the phone with Marcus and knew of his plan to fly to Hawaii. Maybe the General would try once again to stop them before they were airborne. After they were in the air, there would be no way to stop Marcus short of shooting down the Jet and that he knew the General would not do.
Bruce was in shock, now what could he do? Who had kidnapped her and why was Skip involved? Bruce asked himself. Bruce didn’t know what to do. His doorbell rang and he wondered who would visit at this early hour? Looking out he saw it was General Grill. “General, am I glad to see you,â€� he said opening the door. “I just had the strangest call from Jessica.â€�
“She’s been kidnapped,â€� the General said rather than asked.
“Yes and if you’re fast maybe you can catch her at the airport. She said they were on Southern Boulevard and that she was being taken to a small island off the coast of Hawaii in a private jet.â€�
“Was that all she said?� Grill asked in a gruff voice.
“She said Skip, who is Anthony Sutherland, had been kidnapped with her.� Bruce explained.
“He called me earlier about the same problem. Some lunatic from South America named Marcus. He thinks he is the same one who stole the artifacts.� the General elaborated.
“Do you think you can catch him?� Bruce asked with a concerned frown.
“We will try, but once they are in the air it will be next to impossible,� the General gave him his cell phone number and left. General Grill had not gotten the open line call from Anthony, it had gone to his voice mailbox he had heard it after they had lost the chase with them going toward the airport. Bruce assured the General he would call if he heard from Jessica again.
After they left, it occurred to Bruce that the phone number Jessica had called from would be on the caller identification machine. Sure enough it was. He wrote it down, but didn’t call it back.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Nuba took his brother back to a pre-designated pick-up point where they called for help. Neither expected the High Lord of Atlantis would come himself.
Nuba bowed respectfully, and Anke tried, but Xerxes waved him to stop. “My Lordâ€� Nuba said “we did all we could to stop Marcus. He has lost his mind. Anthony knows Marcus is crazy and will try to protect your Lady, he told us as much. Marcus is our uncle, we could not, well,â€� he shrugged. “My Lord, I fear to tell you this, your wife struggled with our uncle for control of one of the upper-world weapons and she was shot. She was not badly injured,â€� he hastened to tell Xerxes, “a bullet, I think they call them, went through her left leg.â€� Nuba bowed his head, fearful of the fire he saw in Xerxes face, he truly feared for his own life. “My Lord, I have only one way to prove our loyalty to Atlantis.â€� Nuba placed a heavy bag at the feet of his monarch. “If my brother or I had known he had taken these, we would never have allowed him to leave the City.â€�
Xerxes opened the bag, inside were the two missing Vortex Stones, the alternative system would only hold for another few hours. “Nuba you and your brother have done much to prove your loyalty.â€� Xerxes told the two brothers, yet he could not help but remain suspicious of the two. “Show me where you were. You say she left a message.â€� Nuba nodded. “I tell you this, if I safely get my wife back and she will substantiate your story there will be no action taken against you, but,â€� Xerxes said nothing more he could not consider more. He turned to Pericles who had accompanied him, feeling his friend’s strong hand on his shoulder, grateful now for such a brother-in-law and friend.
“I could not read the message, it was in ancient Egyptian.� Nuba said.
Xerxes instructed an accompanying aid to take Anke to be cared for and he allowed Nuba to stay with them. While driving his Porsche west as Nuba directed, he called his brother Ainu on his Satellite phone.
“Marcus definitely has Jessica and we think he may be flying to Hawaii on a private jet. You may have a chance at intercepting them. Anthony Sutherland is with them and from the information Anke and Nuba have given us, he is a prisoner also.�
“I will do what I can, brother, do you have any idea which airport they will land at?� Ainu questioned, they were numerous small landing strips on the various islands other than the public airports.
“No, that is all the information the boys could give us, but I have a feeling it will be near Pacifica.â€� Xerxes guessed. “If I learn more, you’ll be the first I’ll call.”
“I know. Later,� Ainu clicked off.
From the torn-up ground and the gunshots in the trailer, it was obvious a small skirmish had taken place. Barely hanging on its hinges, the door swung open to reveal a rotting trailer sparsely furnished. A couch, a couple of chairs, and ripped curtains hung on the mostly glassless windows. Xerxes was disgusted that Marcus would hold Jessica in such a filthy place. Nuba showed him the hastily written note when they went inside the trailer grubby bathroom. The Aztecs had reclaimed their dead or the Marines had because those bodies were gone.
Xerxes read the ancient symbols and the one that was not so ancient, looking at it for a long time, knowing what she had meant. Drawing a great jagged breath, he stilled his own breaking heart. Seeing the blood around the floor, he wondered how much belonged to Jessica.
Xerxes prayed he could get to her before Marcus killed her or she died from the wound that he knew Marcus would not seek medical attention for.
“Let’s go.â€� Came out through clenched teeth as sharp orders to Pericles and Nuba.
“Xerxes!� Pericles observed looking down the road. “We have company.�
“Who?â€� Xerxes’ voice was alarmed, none of them carried weapons.
“It’s the General. He can’t see me,â€� Pericles said with some alarm in his own voice.
“No, that would not be good,â€� Xerxes agreed watching the approach of the military unit. “Pericles, activate your camouflage cape and stay in the brush. Stand by with a Time Disrupter just in case we can’t talk our way out of this.â€� Pericles followed his instructions and walked toward the highway careful to stay well off the road when the incoming vehicles passed.
Xerxes stood calmly with Nuba next to the Porsche and watched the Marine General approach, keeping his sunglasses on. Four fully armed Marines jumped out of the second vehicle and surrounded Xerxes and Nuba, drawing their guns on them.
“Who are you gentlemen?� the General asked quite boldly having returned to the trailer to look for possible clues he had not had time to search for earlier.
“My name is Xerxes Kallias, and this is Nuba Kallias. What seems to be the problem?� Xerxes asked with some bravado in his voice without looking around at the armed men.
“We’re looking for an abducted woman who was last seen here. Do you gentlemen have any identification?â€� the name sounded familiar to the General, ‘Wasn’t that the name of the man who had come to Ms. Carter’s tent at the dig?’ he thought.
“Of course, but you do not look like the police to me, General. What gives you the right to accost a citizen?�
“Those guns pointed at you,� Grill bristled.
“Has the United States been put under Marshal Law?� Xerxes removed his sunglasses coolly.
“No,� the General answered gruffly, angered by his lack of authority and recognizing the marks of affluence in the Porsche and in the manner the two were dressed.
“Then unless you want a have a major lawsuit on your hands I strongly suggest you let me pass.� Xerxes stared him down. Xerxes unusual eyes had, on more than one occasion proved enough intimidation to sway a situation.
As worried as the General was about Ms. Carter both professionally and personally, he knew he did not have the authority to detain a private citizen with out good and obvious reason. “Very well, gentlemen,� he ordered his men to stand down.
Xerxes and Nuba got into the car and drove down the road, stopping briefly just out of sight of the Marines for Pericles to get in.
“Milord, if I may be so bold?� Nuba asked after they were back on the main road.
“Yes,� Xerxes answered, carefully avoiding the bumps in the road. He owned several automobiles, this one was a Porsche Boxster and Nuba was crammed in behind the only two seats, as the car was clearly meant for two people.
“May I accompany you? I would like the opportunity to remove the shame my uncle has brought on my family.� Nuba said with great humility.
Xerxes glanced at him. Could he trust this young Atlantian, or did he really work for his uncle? “We shall see, Nuba.�
“I would understand sire, if you did not trust me. Had I known what our uncle was going to do, neither Anke nor I would have helped him. We were aghast when we saw he forced Anthony Sutherland to help him kidnap your Lady sire. Anthony objected and tried to refuse but Marcus has something he is holding over Anthony’s head to make him do what he wants. Our uncle was bragging that you would forsake Atlantis’ security to come after your Lady first, sire. Your Lady, she told him you would never do that, she said you wouldn’t come after her, sire.â€� Nuba couldn’t see Xerxes’ face but he was livid with anger. Xerxes knew this was what Marcus was trying to accomplish.
“Nuba, Lady Jessica didn’t think I would come after her at all?” Xerxes asked in astonishment.
“No sire, she seemed to think because she left to find her parents that you would feel she had committed treason.” Nuba said in a sad voice, “We told her you would find her.”
They reached the Marina and boarded Xerxes yacht-sub. An hour later, they were thirty miles off shore and Xerxes activated a series of switches that enclosed the streamlined yacht-sub in a clear airtight hydrodynamic covering.
With Pericles competently at the helm of the yacht-sub, Xerxes checked the onboard systems to keep his mind occupied. He remembered his father, Andros, explaining how Atlantis had acquired the magnificent power source that propelled the vessel, letting his mind drift back to that story helped ease his troubled thoughts.
*
As a newlywed and the new High Lord designate, Andros went alone on a training exercise in the western United States. All Atlantian Military Officers were required to pass such tests. It would prove move important because Andros was not an Atlantian but would be in a position to lead both Atlantis and Pacifica’s militaries. Andros was well trained from his father’s military and held the rank of Commander; however, he knew the best way to lead was by example and he had to earn the respect of his military.
Andros explained to his children that he spent five days alone in the High Desert with minimal supplies and a radio for extreme emergencies only. He told them how he slept under the stars, how beautiful they were, and promised to take them on a similar excursion.
On the third night, a high-pitched, screaming mechanical sound woke him. Looking up at the stars, he saw a vessel streak through the sky to crash near his small camp. Hoping to assist any possible survivors, Andros ran the half-mile to the crashed ship and pulled the pilot and only survivor from the wreckage. From the appearance of the survivor, Andros knew he was an alien. His skin was slightly blue in color, his short hair was a deeper blue and though he did not seem to have difficulty breathing, he had what appeared to be gills behind each ear on either side of his neck.
Acting quickly, Andros carried the alien to a cave he had found knowing the United States military would soon come to investigate. Andros then hurried back to his own camp and gathered his belongings. He didn’t wish to be discovered any more than he was sure his unconscious alien friend did. Soon after his return, the young Aqurian began to wake. At first frightened, he soon found Andros was friendly and they managed to communicate. There they waited through that night and the next day. Finally, when Andros felt it was safe he called Atlantis for help. Andros managed, before the U.S. military arrived, to salvage several items from the crash. One item was a location beacon. Aqur, the survivor activated the device and with in twenty-four hours a ship from his home world arrived. Aqur was the son of the planet’s ruler. Theirs was mainly a water world and similar to Atlantis, they lived beneath their Oceans. In his gratitude, Aqur’s father gave Andros one of their subs and the plans for the engine that propelled it.
Xerxes remembered with how much pride his father always told this story. Because of that engine, the underworld’s vehicles were undetectable by sonar. Their engines were entirely silent and were capable of propelling a vessel at near one hundred knots. The onboard computer navigated efficiently enough to keep the sub from colliding with underwater obstacles and a deflector pushed marine life safely aside. Because of this sub, the Vortex Stones would be back in Atlantis and on line before the back-up system failed. Xerxes’ thoughts again turned to Jessica his few moments of respite over.
After the Stones were back on line, he could go after his wife, he hoped, before Marcus could murder another member of his family. Xerxes had a vivid image of strangling Marcus with his bare hands.
As they drew closer to Atlantis and without actions to occupy his mind Xerxes found himself assaulted by strong memories of his wedding night. Jessica had stood defiantly before him, so beautiful, so innocent and so frightened. Xerxes remembered the moment he had known she was innocent. How, for some wonderful reason, it made him happy that he wou
ld be the first to touch her body. Now she was truly his, somehow he had to find her in time. At last, Xerxes’ reverie was broken as the yacht-sub bumped the dock.
With only six hours of the seventy-two hour back-up system left, Xerxes was relieved to get the Vortex Stones back to Atlantis. However, his Security Chief met him with bad news. The back-up system had already begun to fail. One of NASA’s satellites had a partial detected on their last pass and on the next pass; they would have a full detection, which was due in ten minutes. Even with the recovery of the Vortex Stones, Atlantis’ technicians could not get them back on line in time.
His Security Chief had taken the initiative with Alena’s approval, and using their ability to affect weather changes moved a low-pressure system over their area. This would obstruct the satellite’s view on this pass. He had bought them enough time to get the Stones back on line. NASA might get detection, but it would again be partial.
Xerxes praised him for his forethought, going with him, and assisting with the reinstallation of the Vortex Stones. With only minutes to spare before the third fly over pass of the Satellite, Atlantis’ controllers initiated the Vortex and it was back online. Atlantis was safe. Overhead, in the ocean above them, by pure chance, a fleet of Navy vessels was on maneuvers. They too had gotten a bizarre sonar reading just before the Vortex went back into service. Because all the ships had gotten the same glitch reading, the Navy couldn’t dismiss it but because the Vortex hid Atlantis so well, they could not locate the City. The glitch, attributed to the infamous Devil’s Triangle and logged in as an anomaly, the fleet continued with their maneuvers.
Putting the security of Atlantis first was extraordinarily difficult for Xerxes under the circumstances. He still did not know where his wife was. He only knew she was badly injured and in the hands of a maniac. His heart ached for information about her. He considered contacting her friend Bruce Lance, however he knew the young man didn’t know where she was either. It was a long shot but just maybe he would be able to tell him something. Xerxes would have to go into West Palm Beach before heading to Pacifica anyway so he would make one more stop and see Bruce Lance.
Atlantis Vortex Page 38
