Jo's Journey

  Manota watched as Tai Tek surged out of his seat when the cover dropped and he saw an image of him, Torak, and Jazin standing in the center of the glass with weapons drawn. He heard the roar of the councilman’s voice as it drifted up to him.

  “Kill him!” Tai Tek roared out pulling the weapon he had hidden at his side.

  Marcus gasped as Tai Tek and his men opened fire at the illusion of glass. The charges shot harmlessly through the prop. Marcus hit the ground and was immediately covered by Marvin, only it wasn’t Marvin any longer. A huge beast, covered in hardened scales covered him briefly before picking him up as if he was a toy doll. Marcus glanced over to where Martin was standing in front of them. Laser fire bounced harmlessly off the massive creature as it roared out before charging the group who was now scrambling for cover. Many of the women who had been used as decoys slid between the opening of the bleachers and worked their way through the maze of metal to escape the fight. The warriors, dressed as merchants, pulled their own weapons and began returning fire.

  Tai Tek cursed as he rolled to the side just as the creature that had been covered with white face paint hit the warrior behind him, driving him up and over the back of the bleachers. He looked around wildly before his eyes narrowed when two more warriors dropped, knives sticking from their chests. His gaze shot upwards. He cursed when he saw the figure of the woman, still in the golden cage from the beginning of the program. Her vivid blue eyes turned to look with icy calm down at him. His eyes moved up higher where the other two women stood. Only they were not alone. Manota stood next to them. His eyes moved to where additional laser fire was being fired. He saw Jazin standing next to a small female and older male.

  He stumbled sideways when one of the females he had hired pushed him out of the way just as laser fire spread a wide path where he had been lying frozen. He raised his arm and fired rapidly, cutting two warriors charging at him. He pushed the female off of him, ignoring the blood pulsing from the wound in her side.

  Hatred filled him as he realized he had walked into a trap. He tried to call for reenforcements but all his communications had been cut. He snarled as he ducked under the bleachers, fighting his way between the metal girders. He pushed aside the heavy fabric of the tent and realized that it was layered. He pushed through it until he could run. He fired as a warrior came at him.

  “You owe me my credits,” one of the two women assassins snarled as she cut down another warrior. “You don’t go anywhere without me.”

  Tai Tek pulled his laser sword from his boot. “Fine, get me out of here and you’ll have your credits,” he snapped even as he drew a long slit down through the fabric.

  Pushing it aside, he looked around the darkened compound. Sounds of fighting and screams filled the air. It had been hidden by the thick layered walls of the huge tent. Now, it echoed eerily in the air.

  “This way,” the assassin muttered under her breath.

  Tai Tek looked up into the dark skies. Flaming balls and bright flashes could be seen. He could only hope it was the Kassisan warships exploding and not his own. His throat filled with bile as the bitter taste of defeat threatened to overwhelm him. Years, he and the others had spent years, planning the defeat of the Royal House of Kassis. It was the most powerful ruling House among the Alliance. Under his control, he would have ruled the other star systems.

  He jerked when he heard the impatient growl of the female. He quickly turned and followed her into the darkness. He could only hope he would live to fight another day and not die this night.

  *.*.*

  Manota clung to the long sheath of material, sliding down it rapidly. His brother Jazin was doing the same on the other side. He looked up and watched in horror as Jo dove off the platform, doing a graceful twist and landing on her back in the netting. She bounced up high and did another flip before she landed on her feet where she walked over to the edge, gripped it and flipped off to land on her feet. He made a mental note to tell her he would whip her ass if she ever did that again.

  “Star better damn well not do that,” Jazin growled out before releasing a sigh of relief when he saw her sliding down the long length of material.

  “Where’s Tai Tek?” Torak growled out as he wiped blood from his cheek.

  “He’s outside,” Stan responded in the comlink. “Him and some creepy blue bitch with orange hair just took off toward the animal pens. That area is still accessible as we needed to be able to move them in and out of the performance. Just be careful, Katarina has the big cats out.”

  Torak jumped when he saw a flash of silver fly over his shoulder. He glanced up at his mate with a scowl before he turned to see the dead mercenary behind him. When he turned to look up again, the scowl deepened when he saw the cage was now empty.

  “I am going to tie her to my bed for the next fifty years,” he snarled as he looked around for his mate.

  “I’m going after Tai Tek, you two finish up here,” Manota said as he fired his laser pistol only to find Marvin had already taken care of the threat. “And we need to have a talk with those two Mimes when this is over.”

  “No shit,” Stan’s awed voice came over the comlink.

  Jazin rolled his eyes as he turned to help a warrior fighting off two mercenaries. He turned when he heard a scream of rage. One of the women with Tai Tek was rushing toward him. He raised his laser pistol but it wasn’t needed as the female flew back, an arrow protruding from her chest.

  “Take that, you bitch. Try to attack my man!” Star growled out as she reloaded.

  “Remind me to tell you how sexy you are when you are mad,” Jazin called out as he turned to help a warrior.

  Star grinned as she continued to aim for the bad guys. She turned as River came up to her, resting her hand over her swollen belly with a small grimace of pain. Star raised her eyebrow in inquiry.

  “This fight better not last too much longer,” River said ruefully. “I think I’m in labor.”

  Star’s lips formed a perfect ‘O’. A loud roar filled the area as Stan heard what River had just said and relayed the information to Torak that he was about to be a daddy so he better hurry. River watched as her mate went into a frenzy, clearing a path as he fought to get closer to her. A moment later, River leaned on the arm of Alan Strauss as he wrapped it around her waist.

  “Time to go, honey,” Alan said to River even as Tami slipped around to the other side. “Even I draw the line at any of my girls having a baby during a battle.”

  River met Torak’s wild eyes and smiled. He slashed another mercenary as the male got in his way. His only focus being on his mate.

  “Where’s Jo?” Star asked looking around and realizing that her big sister was missing.

  *.*.*

  Jo slipped through the opening. She smiled at Mattie who looked around with terrified eyes. Jo knew if anyone could track Tai Tek down, Mattie’s dogs could. She had found the quiet girl in the back, hiding under Sacha’s cage.

  “Mattie, I need your help,” Jo had whispered when she saw Peewee’s big paws sticking out from under the cage. “Please, I need you to get the dogs to find someone.”

  Mattie had reluctantly crawled out from under the cage, looking very frightened and young. “Who?” She had asked softly.

  Jo pulled a small piece of fabric out by the corner from where she had found it where Tai Tek had been sitting. A piece of his pant leg had ripped when the female next to him knocked him sideways. Jo had seen it from her position up high.

  “Tai Tek,” Jo responded. “Please, I know your dogs can find him.”

  Mattie had looked at the torn cloth before she nodded. Taking it by the corner, she had called her six pound puppies to her. She gave a short command and dropped it on the ground. All six dogs repeatedly sniffed it before sitting back and waiting. Mattie gave them another short command and they took off, skirting around fallen warriors, fighting warriors, and those in between. Oscar’s loud baying sounded showing off the foxhound in him. He took off like a flash of lightning,
the other dogs following close behind.

  “Let’s go,” Jo said following close behind them.

  Mattie nodded but didn’t say anything. Jo knew the young girl was terrified of being captured and held hostage again. Deep down, she knew it had taken a lot for Mattie to climb out from under the huge tiger’s cage.

  They both ran through the night, following as the dogs stopped and retraced their steps before they moved through the maze of animal cages, compounds, and corrals. Jo cried out when a dark shape came at her. She raised the staff she was carrying and flicked the switch to open the blades. Her teeth shook as a mercenary swung at her with one of the metal stakes that held down the roping for the tent, hitting the staff with a blow that knocked her backwards. Jo shook off the blow and circled around. The dogs had stopped and were growling at the male, the smaller ones darting in to nip at his booted foot.

  “You will lead me out of here,” the male growled out. “Dead or alive, I will use you to get out of here.”

  “Dead sounds good to me,” a voice said softly before the male stiffened and collapsed at Jo’s feet.

  Jo looked up to see Shannon standing over the body. The young FBI agent gave a small smile and shrugged. She glanced at Mattie who was pressed against the side of one of the fences.

  “Where’s Jade?” Jo asked looking around for Shannon’s partner.

  “We got separated about twenty minutes ago,” Shannon replied, looking around the darkened area. “How are things going inside?”

  “I think they have it under control,” Jo said. “What about out here?”

  “Pretty good if you go by the number of bodies I’ve come across. I swear there was this blue dude who was killing everything he could get his hands on. You didn’t bring any of the Blue Men back with you, did you? ‘Cause I have to tell you, I’ve seen them perform and none of them ever moved like what I saw tonight,” Shannon said. “Listen, if you see this big guy with short black hair and he asks if you’ve seen me can you tell him ‘no’? He’s being like all weird and everything,” she muttered as she continued searching the dark.

  “Do you know his name?” Jo asked quietly as she wondered what Shannon was looking for.

  “Armageddon, Armstrong, Army… something like that,” Shannon said turning as the dogs began to growl. “Bingo!” She muttered as she pulled her gun out and fired two rounds.

  Mattie screamed and covered her head as a huge male fell forward, dead. Jo wrapped her arms around Mattie’s quaking shoulders. She looked up at Shannon with a frown.

  “That bastard has been following me for the last ten minutes playing cat and mouse. I knew if I stopped long enough he would show himself,” Shannon mutter coming to squat next to Mattie. “Hey, are you okay?”

  Mattie looked up at Shannon with dark, accusing eyes. “No, I’m not okay! Ever since I made the mistake of coming to this horrid world I haven’t been okay. Why I ever thought it would be better I don’t know. I want to go home!” Mattie cried out before silent sobs shook her body.

  “Take her out of the shield and to her home. Stay with her,” Jo said standing up.

  “What about you? What about the dogs?” Shannon asked as she helped Mattie stand up.

  “Take them with you,” Jo said as she looked around. “I can go alone from here.”

  Mattie sniffed and shook her head. “Take Oscar. The command is ‘Go find’ in German. He’ll find the man you are looking for. Just tell him ‘hush’ and he won’t bay.”

  Jo looked at the small animal trainer with gratitude. “Thank you, Mattie. Gehe finden, Oscar. Hush,” Jo said and took off after the small foxhound mix.

  Chapter 29

  Manota moved sideways as Tai Tek and the female tried to get on each side of him. He had cornered the two of them as they tried to get through the back side of the defense shield. The female had a large knot on her temple showing where she had been knocked backwards. She snarled at him, showing sharp teeth. If Manota wasn’t mistaken, they were razor sharp and deadly if she got near his throat.

  “It’s over, Tai Tek. You and the rest who wished to overthrow the Alliance have been defeated. Even now, the other star systems are attacking the hidden bases and the lists of names of traitors has been turned over to them,” Manota said as he blocked a strike by the female.

  Tai Tek snarled. “At least I can kill one of you. Trolis should have killed your brothers when he had the chance,” he snapped out as he tried to step to the left of Manota.

  Manota swung one of the two laser swords he had in each hand up, blocking his path. “Too late for wishes. Trolis learned that when River embedded her sword in his brain.”

  Tai Tek roared out in fury and struck out at the same time as the female. Manota blocked both and sliced a path along the female’s arm as he stepped back. Her loud hiss filled the area as she danced several steps back.

  “Those females ruined everything! Trolis’ men should never have picked them up. They have been a thorn in my side ever since,” Tai Tek hissed in fury.

  “I’m glad to know we’ve made your life as miserable as you are,” Jo said stepping out of the darkness. “You and your bitch are going to die. Oh yeah,” Jo said with a small grin. “Your bitch is already dead, isn’t he Tai Tek?”

  Hatred filled Tai Tek’s eyes as he stared at Jo’s cool, calm expression. “I was going to kill you quick but now I’m going to enjoy doing it nice and slow.”

  Jo shook her head, swinging her staff up to block the female assassin’s attack. Sparks flew as the laser sword connected with the special metal of the staff that Manota had developed for her. She twirled the staff, knocking the sword out of the female’s hands.

  “Don’t mess with me, bitch,” Jo said with a grim smile. “I’ll slice your ass into thin strips.”

  “I can kill you with my bare hands,” the female growled out as she moved around Jo.

  Tai Tek struck out at Manota at the same time as the female charged at Jo. Jo swung her staff like a bat, catching the female in the stomach. The woman grabbed the staff, pulling Jo forward. She kneed Jo in the stomach before kicking her, sending her sprawling on her back on the ground. Jo grabbed her stomach, fighting to draw in a breath.

  Jo’s eyes widened in fear as the female laughed viciously and raised her staff up in the air, the sharp blade pointing down. The woman’s face turned from triumph to shock as she was suddenly lifted up by the very staff she was holding onto. Her scream ripped through the air as she was flung backwards. A few seconds later, Jo’s staff was tossed over the railing next to her. Jo grabbed the staff watching through the lower half of the railing as the woman rolled over onto her back. Her terrified scream ended suddenly as Myrtle pressed her foot down on the female’s chest, crushing it. Jo heard Tony’s soft voice a moment later talking to Myrtle as he coaxed her away from the dead body.

  Jo rolled over. She staggered to her feet, still holding her stomach as she watched Manota and Tai Tek locked in battle. Her eyes narrowed as a quiet rage filled her. This was the man who had tried to destroy her family. This was the man who had planned to kill the man she loved for his own power hungry ego.

  Jo began twirling the staff in her hand. It spun faster and faster until it was a blur of blades. She hissed out a warning to Manota as Tai Tek fell backwards, drawing a laser pistol. Jo attacked, slicing his arm to the bone. The pistol dropping as he screamed. Lifting the staff above her head, she drove it all the way through Tai Tek’s chest.

  “I am one of the prophesied warriors sent to unite the House of Kassis, you sorry-ass-son-of-a-bitch,” Jo growled out as she twisted the staff. “You will not harm my people or anyone else ever again.”

  Manota jerked forward as Jo collapsed, a sob ripping from her chest as what she had done sunk in. He looked up as Tony climbed over the fencing for the elephants. Tony paused as he saw Jo’s shaking shoulders and heard her quiet sobs.

  “Is she okay?” He asked quietly.

  Manota looked at the male who had saved his mate once agai
n. His respect for the human grew as he stood looking with concern at Jo. He would have to find some way of repaying him though he didn’t think there was a treasure more valuable in the universe than what he was holding in his arms.

  “She will be,” Manota said. “Can you inform the others that Tai Tek is dead?”

  “Sure,” Tony replied glancing briefly at the dead man on the ground. “Remind me never to piss her off when she has a staff in her hand.”

  “You are such a dweeb, elephant man,” Jo’s muffled voice choked out.

  “Yeah, but you still love me, circus girl,” Tony teased with a small grin.

  Jo turned her head to look at the man who had changed so much since she first met him. Her gaze softened as she realized that he had kept his promise to protect her. A promise he had sworn when he was seventeen.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  He shrugged as he looked up into the dark skies. “You know, I think I was meant to find you so you could bring me here. For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m home,” he said looking back at Jo before he nodded to Manota. “Maybe that was why I needed to follow you around. I’ll go tell the others.”

  They both watched as Tony walked away. Jo shifted, her eyes falling on Tai Tek’s body. A wave of dizziness washed over her as she saw the staff sticking out of his chest. She looked up in distress at Manota.

  “Manota,” she whispered.

  Manota brushed a strand of hair back from her damp forehead. “Yes, mi t’belle?”

  “I need you to catch me,” she whispered as her eyes rolled back in her head.

  Manota scooped Jo’s limp form up in his arms. A rueful smile on his face. His eyes glanced down at Tai Tek’s stiffening body, a grin spread across his face as he realized the bastard was finally dead. Killed by one of the prophesied warriors. It had taken all three of them to change the Houses of Kassis and bring them together. No longer were they scattered, living their own lives. They were now stronger – with a future. Manota suddenly heard Torak’s frantic voice in his comlink.