Star's Storm(40)
Mena bowed her head in understanding of the unspoken message; get out or die. Her eyes turned to the female who was standing silently next to Lord Torak. Her eyes widened in disbelief as the memory that floated on the edges of her mind suddenly solidified. With a silent curse, she motioned for the communication's officer to cut the open link. The moment it was done, Commander Mena Rue turned and barked out commands to those commanding the other ships. They needed to return to Elpidios as soon as possible. If what she remembered was true, life was about to get very, very interesting.
Mena walked into the commander's room off the bridge and sat down at the console built into the desk. The unique beep reserved for communications between fleet commanders sounded. She grimaced when she saw who was identified on the link. She debated on what she should tell the Grand Ruler before deciding on the truth. Perhaps the new information she had would be even more useful than the promise of a Kassisan traitor.
*.*.*
Dakar raised his hand silently to stop Star and Madas. He listened carefully then motioned that guards were approaching. Star raised the crossbow, pressing it snuggly against her shoulder as she moved back against the wall. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Dakar’s fist tighten around the laser pistol he held in one hand. Madas’ quiet breath sounded close to her ear as her friend pressed against her back.
They had already dispatched five guards on their way down from the control room. They were on the second level and had one more to go. Dakar took a deep breath and spun out into the corridor firing as he went. Star turned in the opposite direction covering his back. She fired one arrow into a guard as he raised his arm to fire at Dakar. The blast from his laser hit the wall right above her head instead as he collapsed face first into the cold stone floor.
“Clear,” Star said in a calm voice the belied how she was really feeling.
“Let’s go,” Dakar grunted out. “We have one more level then we need to get out of here as soon as possible.”
Madas motioned for Star to go ahead of her as she followed Dakar down another long corridor before coming upon another set of narrow, winding steps. They moved down them rapidly. Dakar paused as he approached the last few steps.
“Let me check it out first,” he whispered.
“No, we don’t have time,” Star hissed. “You heard the informant. Tai Tek is here. I won’t give him a chance to get to Jazin before we do!”
Dakar’s mouth tightened but that was the only thing that showed his disagreement. He nodded instead and moved down the last steps that opened into a long, dark narrow corridor. He glanced around the corner but didn’t see anyone. He stepped into the opening and began counting the doors, pausing at the fifth one.
“Lord Jazin,” Dakar called out quietly, looking into the small square cut in the door to see if he could see anything.
“Dakar?” Jazin responded hoarsely.
“Yes, my lord,” Dakar said in relief. “Give me a second to get the door open.”
*.*.*
Jazin swayed dizzily for a moment before he locked his muscles. Sweat stung the numerous cuts as it ran down his body but he ignored it. At least he was still standing, he thought in relief. When he heard the footsteps approaching, he had feared it was either the guards or Tai Tek returning. He was prepared to fight. He would not be tortured again. He relaxed his fingers, dropping the rock that was cutting into his palm. His mouth went dry to the point he couldn’t even ask Dakar about Star.
The door opened suddenly and a small, delicate shape burst through it answering his unspoken question. Star’s soft cry of rage filled the cold, dark cell as she rushed toward Jazin’s swaying form.
“Jazin,” she cried out, dropping the crossbow on the floor so she could wrap her arms around him.
Jazin’s body collapsed in on itself at her tender touch. He was vaguely aware of Star and Madas’ arms controlling his descent to the floor. A part of him wanted to rage at his weakness. He did not want his mate to see him too weak to protect her. It was his place to be strong. Unfortunately, his body wasn’t in the mood to agree with what his mind was trying to tell it.
“What have they done to you?” Star whispered running her hand over his bruised and battered face. “Madas, you have to help him.”
Madas looked up at Dakar with concern. “He is very weak. We must get him to the star ship as soon as possible.”
“I’ve notified Armet we are in and warned him Tai Tek had returned,” Dakar said coming to kneel next to Jazin. “He will be in the center courtyard in twenty minutes. Jazin, I need to give you a Fast Patch,” Dakar said grimly.