On the last trip, just as he was about to close the door of the space-hopper, he caught sight of a black winged-wolf, loping across the barren ground. Following behind him had been a she-wolf with a shiny gray coat and three winged babies.
“Nameless, my friend,” Pax greeted him with open delight. “Welcome aboard.”
“I find I crave the freedom to be found on your planet, Pax Vitar of the Barriosi. As long as my father lives, my family will be in danger.”
“I cannot promise you that Maxim will not find us,” Pax told him seriously. “But I can promise you that until he does, you and your family may roam freely on my world.”
“Then, we too would like to fly with you through the stars to a new life on Nyla 6.”
Pax had simply stepped aside and watched as first the winged-wolf and then his family crawled inside the ship. He caught a glimpse of his friend’s shiny wing skimming through the clouds, every now and then. He knew that when the time came, Nameless would be there to defend his new home.
Surprisingly, word had somehow gotten out about the small community. The scattered remnants of the blond Xenaclon race were beginning to find their way to the bunker as well. To their humble delight, each new refugee that flew into the docking bay was met by Elias Abrams and Queen Freezhia.
Pax welcomed each and every one of them. The Xenaclons and the Barriosi were linked together through the mistakes of the past. Pax hoped both could go forward from here as the friends and allies they had always been.
Some of the older Barriosi had opened two of the Myconeum mines. They were in the process of collecting as many of the silvery rocks as they stockpile. Pax knew that the mineral would be a large bargaining chip with the Terran government; if and when the DOD ever succeeded in finding them.
While some things had changed, one thing had not.
Pax always came up her to watch the night sky for Terran drone ships. So far they had not been discovered, but he knew that as word continued to spread among the galaxies, discovery was inevitable.
Maximillian de Hoya would never give up until he found Sasha and her brothers. He would never forgive Pax or Melara for helping the young clones or his mutant experiments to escape his clutches. He would continue to search the universe for them.
Pax knew Maxim would not give up until he found them. And, when that day came just like with the eughi, he intended to be ready for him.
Until then, Pax would continue to watch the sky above his beloved home, Nyla 6.
Three galaxies away, there was a knock on Maxim Bryant’s door who was gazing unseeingly through the balcony window at the flower garden beyond.
Spinning his chair around, he paused to look into the shiny new mirror sitting atop his mahogany desk. His finely boned fingers stroked the long scar on his once beautiful face. He glanced at the doorway curiously, before sending his psy-feelers to examine the shadowy figure standing in the hallway outside his office.
“Mmm…” he drawled in satisfaction, recognizing his DOD second in command. “Come in,” he called.
Reginald Stout opened the door and walked into the room. Only Maxim was aware that the man was in fact dead and that he had been cloned from DNA he had extracted from Stout’s body that night out in the desert. The replica of the man was so perfect, even his own wife couldn’t tell the difference.
“Can I help you, Stout?” he asked with a slight curl of amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“I was just alerted, sir. We’ve finally found them. It’s just a matter of time before Terran Guard’s close in on where they’ve been hiding all these months.”
“Good work, Stout! Notify me when we have my children are safely back here at MBryO! I have a few surprises in store for them, once they are back in my custody.”
“Certainly, sir,” the man saluted and turning on his heel exited the office. Spinning back around to face the balcony, Maxim returned to admiring his flower garden.
MBryO: The Escape Page 19
