"I'll go in when I have the time."
Hodge walked away, mumbling under his breath about stubborn people.
"Let's get you off the floor."
Dustin looked up to see Grady's hand. He considered not taking the offer, but figured it'd be more embarrassing to fall flat on his face than to accept help. Once on his feet, he leaned against the wall for support. God, he felt like shit. He was equally sure it was nothing compared to what Lexi must be feeling.
Grady watched him with worried eyes. “Did you get any information from Nelson that might help us?"
Every word Nelson had uttered before Dustin passed out was etched in his brain forever. “Nelson mentioned that he needed to contact Adam Hordon immediately now that Lexi was with them."
Grady's mouth gaped open for a full three seconds. “You're telling me the leader of our ruling court is one of Fairchild's followers?"
"From what I heard, the Judge Superior is one of Fairchild's minions.” Dustin flexed his hands trying to get them working again. The fallout from the involvement of their highest leader, Judge Superior Adam Hordon, wasn't something Dustin could bother with at the moment.
"Damn, this isn't good.” Grady stated to no one in general before tuning back to Dustin and continuing. “Any idea where they took her?"
Dustin held Grady's gaze, knowing his colleague was trying to decide whether to make Dustin sit out the rest of the game. He'd be damned if he'd let that happen, though.
Pushing off the wall, he forced his body to stay upright and lied to his partner. “No, I don't. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm not feeling well."
He walked by Grady and through the door connecting the back room to the store. Grady hadn't bought his lie about not knowing where Lexi had been taken, and Dustin wasn't surprised. They'd known each other too long. But Grady was also wise enough not to interfere with whatever it was Dustin was about to do. He could feel his teammate's gaze on him as he crossed the space and entered the small but well-appointed bathroom. He closed the door firmly behind him, making sure it locked.
Glancing in the mirror, he realized why everyone was staring at him the way they were. He did very much resemble the walking dead, but that didn't matter at the moment. He knew exactly where Lexi was, but she didn't have a lot of time. It would take too long to follow the books and pull together an SPD task force to go in and get her. Tonight, he was doing this alone.
Reaching under his jacket, he removed his service weapon and placed it on the counter beside the sink. Next, he unclipped his badge from where it hung on his belt, placing it next to his gun. What he was about to do could land him in jail for a very long time. He didn't want any of his friends to suffer for his actions, so he'd best do this as a civilian.
He turned toward the concrete wall, raised his hands, and blew a column of air straight at it. The wall exploded sending debris flying into the adjacent alley.
Dustin stepped through the hole and into the night air before the dust started to settle. He pushed his hands into the pockets of his pants as he reached the corner and headed for the nearest paid PFU. He needed to make a quick stop by his place to re-arm himself, before dropping in on the Judge Superior.
For months, he'd wondered how Grady could have flashed into the middle of a known trap to save Miranda without a second thought.
Now he knew. It was called love.
* * * *
Lexi sagged back to the floor, exhausted from trying to get her hands untied from behind her. Tears burned her eyes, and she squeezed them shut behind the blindfold. There was no way she was going to let these people see her tears, her fear, or her anger. She took a deep breath and forced herself to not think of Dustin, because if she did, she wouldn't last. The Reverend Fairchild and Rick Nelson had destroyed her life and the man she loved. Now, she was going to make them pay.
She was a powerful MetalShaper, maybe even the strongest around. What she wasn't good at was using her ability without her hands and eyes. Being tied and blindfolded wouldn't faze some people, and she wished she were one of them. Taking a deep breath, she pulled her thoughts inward. Instead of thinking about moving or bending a specific object, she let her powers flow from her in a small burst of energy. Nothing happened close to her, but she heard cursing come from some place farther away.
A smile spread across her face. Fairchild and Nelson were somewhere in this building, and if they thought she was going down without a fight, they were about to be surprised. Reaching out with her mind, she visualized her energy waves picking up items and tossing them with a strength she didn't know lived inside her. This time, a loud thump issued from the other side of the wall, followed by a muffled scream.
She pictured the next blast exploding from the inside out like an overfilled water balloon. This time she added more energy, allowing her power more freedom. Above her, she heard the distinctive sound of metal being bent and ripped apart. Outside her door, there was a large crash, and then the sound of people yelling and running. She heard her name and knew her time was almost out. This time she focused inward, digging deep for strength before sending out energy waves without a break between blasts. The building groaned as pieces of it came apart. Even as pieces of the building started falling on her, Lexi didn't stop. These people would pay for all the pain they'd caused, and most of all, for hurting the man she loved.
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Chapter Twelve
Dustin stood next to the solar-plane hanger door while people scurried around the space like roaches in a box. He'd been surprised at how easy it was to get so close to the Judge Superior's private hanger, but then again, with the way the building rattled, he shouldn't be. These people hadn't a clue with whom they were dealing, or the power she could wield.
For the first time since he'd walked out of the store and into the alley, he felt an inkling of hope. He'd come here intent on finding Fairchild and Nelson and then killing them slowly and painfully. Making them suffer for some of the agony they'd inflicted on innocent children, families, and most especially on Lexi.
Stepping into the dim light of the open-ended building, he walked toward what appeared to be the office. The only other place they could have secured Lexi in this building would have been on one of the many solar-jets, and by now she'd have ripped the thing apart.
Another wave of energy ripped through the room. The roof vibrated, making an awful, ripping noise. Dustin looked up to see a large section coming straight at him. Instantly, he formed a wind-tunnel and sent the sheet of metal flying toward the opposite wall. Behind him, people shouted to warn their allies of his presence. So much for finding Lexi without being spotted, he thought as he shot a column of air toward two approaching men, sending them flying.
The concrete floor vibrated under his feet as powerful energy flowed through the building again. The engine from the solar-plane closest to him trembled before being ripped from its mountings. Dustin hit the floor as the large piece of machinery passed over his head like a rocket launched from a solar-fighter. He turned his head and watched as the piece flew across the work area before punching a hole through one of the metal support columns. The tall metal brace buckled as the outside wall of the building started to fall away.
God, he didn't have a lot of time. He stood and sprinted toward the closed door leading to the office. He didn't even bother to try to open the doors; instead, he hit them with a blast of air as he moved quickly through the maze of rooms.
A door flew open, and Dustin came face to face with Nelson. He opened fire on Dustin with the same dart gun he'd used earlier. This time, Dustin was ready and dove out of the way. As he rolled into an empty office, he formed bullet-sized balls of concentrated air and aimed them at Nelson. This was the first time he'd applied this technique any place other than the SPD practice range, and he was pleased to hear Nelson's cry of agony followed by silence.
Dustin rolled to his feet, retrieving his gun as he did. He held the weapon ready as he exited the room and walked to
where Nelson lay immobile. After verifying that Nelson was dead, he stepped back into the hallway.
Outside the enclosed office, he could hear metal fall and collapse, punctuated by the screams of the injured and dying. Dustin raced down the corridor, throwing doors open one after another.
At the end of the hall, he turned right and froze. His heart dropped like a lead balloon to the bottom of his stomach. Fairchild was at the other end, heading toward the far exit. He pulled a stumbling Lexi along behind him.
Dustin moved quickly and quietly down the hall. He had to reach Lexi before the building fell down on them or Fairchild went crazy and finished them all off. The Reverend swung a gun in his left hand as he moved faster, and Lexi fell to her knees. It was then that Dustin realized her hands were tied behind her, and she was being led by a short cloth tied around her neck. Fairchild turned to Lexi and twisted his hand in the cord. She gasped for air.
"Get your hands off her.” Dustin raised his gun and pointed it at the man. If he had a clear shot, Fairchild would already be dead.
The Reverend looked up as he pointed the gun at Lexi's head. The man went ghost white at the sight of Dustin. “You can't be here. There is no way anyone could have survived the dart."
Lexi's head snapped around, and her eyes grew wide, but she didn't say a word. The building around them groaned like it was taking its last breath.
"I did. Guess miracles do still happen."
"It's not the work of God.” Fairchild's slurred voice sent chills down Dustin's spine. “It's Satan. He lives in you. Like he lives in this one and all the others."
Snapping and tearing sounds erupted from the ceiling above them. Plaster and metal fell around them, sending dust clouds into the air.
Fairchild raised his gun as if he were oblivious to what was happening around them and pointed the weapon at Dustin.
Dustin dropped his gun as Fairchild fired and focused all his energy into creating a funnel of air. He sent the funnel plowing directly toward the Reverend. Fairchild's bullet ripped through Dustin's side, but he didn't let the pain or the blood soaking his shirt break his concentration. The shaft of air hit the man hard in the chest, sending him flying through the air like a rag doll. Fairchild's body hit the back wall hard and slid to the floor.
"Dustin! I'm too weak. I can't hold it."
He looked toward Lexi then followed her gaze up to where a large section of the building's heavy metal roof fell toward them. Dustin dove for her, landing on his injured side as he did. Pain narrowed his vision and threatened to engulf him in darkness, but he hadn't come this far for the one person who meant more than the world to him to die. He pulled Lexi to him and wrapped her in his arms to protect her as much as he could.
Drawing on the energy buried deep inside him, he formed a tornado around them and prayed it would keep them safe. The wind whirled around them. Metal ripped, glass exploded, and the room went darker than midnight. Then the twister pushed upward and thrust the ceiling off them, sending the metal sheet flying away from them. Stars twinkled above as they always did. Tonight though, they seemed brighter. Or maybe he simply cherished seeing them more.
Lexi stirred. “You're bleeding, Dustin. We need to get you a doctor."
In the distance, he heard sirens and the thump-thump-thump of a fast approaching solar-lift. He sat up and untied her hands. “I'm fine, and from the sound of it, Grady and the others will be here soon."
Dustin took her hands in his and gently rubbed the marks from the bindings. “I love you, Lexi. I should have said it a lot sooner, but—"
His words were cut off as her lips touched his, and for a few precious seconds, they both forgot about the destruction around them. Lexi slowly broke the kiss, and when she pulled back, tears streaked her face.
Her voice caught as she spoke. “I thought you were dead."
"I should have been, but thanks to Dominik, I'm not.” He wiped a tear from her cheek, and his chest tightened. “I wasn't sure about you."
"Apparently, the Reverend was delayed getting here and didn't want Nelson doing anything to me until he arrived."
His gut clenched at how close he'd come to losing her. “Lexi..."
"I love you, Dustin.” Lexi spoke over him in a flurry of words. “And I want to get married. I know it's soon, but this feels so right, and I don't want to waste a minute by being apart."
Joy exploded inside of him as he smiled at her. “Only if you agree to move in with me tonight, because I don't want another night to go by without you in bed beside me."
Lexi's face broke into a wide grin. “I can't think of any place I'd rather be every night for the rest of my life."
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Chapter Thirteen
Dustin climbed the stairs of his cluttered house and smiled to himself. Only a couple of weeks ago, this kind of mess would have driven him up the wall. Lexi promised to get them both organized as soon as possible, but honestly, he didn't give a damn if the house was ever clean and well-ordered again so long as Lexi was in it. He walked down the short hall and entered the master bedroom, stopping as he caught sight of the woman he loved.
He wondered if the feeling of being slammed by a solar-train running at full speed when he laid eyes on her would ever end. He rather hoped not.
Lexi sat propped against a mountain of pillows with a sketch pad in front of her and several more tossed across the bed. There was a pencil tucked behind her ear and one in her hand as she drew. He smiled when he saw her bite her bottom lip.
In the last week, he'd come to realize she only did this when she was totally focused on a task. Toeing off his shoes, he left them sitting in the doorway. He stripped out of his clothes as he crossed the room and added them to the items already littering the floor.
She still didn't look up as the bed dipped under his weight, but her hand continued to move as she spoke. “How was your day?"
"Long and lonely,” he answered as he nibbled on her bare shoulder.
Her breath caught as his mouth made a slow path up her neck to her ear. “What did the doctor say?"
He twirled his tongue around the edge of her ear. “He said I'm good as new, and we should get started on an early honeymoon."
She looked at him then, and he could see the mix of laughter and relief in her eyes even as she blushed. “He didn't say that."
Dustin took the sketch pad she was working on and dropped it to the floor beside all the others before shoving the remaining items off the bed. “I added the last part, but he did clear me to go back to work and to do anything and everything I wanted."
"Anything?” Lexi asked as she ran a hand over his chest.
"And everything,” he answered as he pulled the woman he loved into his arms and kissed her passionately. As their lips touched, he knew that even after a lifetime with this woman, his need for her would not be fulfilled.
But between now and the end, he intended to give it his best shot.
The End
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Author Bio
Prior to writing, Georgia earned a BA in Computer Information Systems. After college, she worked for many years at NASA before becoming a private consultant in the IT field and then finally landing a job with Enron. The Enron crisis was a turning point for her and redirected her focus to her dream of writing. Nowadays, Georgia spends her time pursuing her dreams and watching her children grow.
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