Talokta had made sure his human guests were more comfortable with their surroundings. They were even given beds to sleep on and food that would be described by Tremaine as “less spewable.”
But nothing could shake the feeling that this was only temporary. “Fattening us up for the kill, using psychology bullshit,” mumbled Tremaine.
All interrogation had stopped, and all in all, they were being well treated. Both he and Mason were worried about the changes in Pete, who seemed to be, quiet and standoffish. They were lucky if they squeezed two words from him. Trouble was no one was telling them what was going on, and the incessant boredom only made it worse. Tremaine, naturally, had voiced their concern to the guards that they had not talked to Kate for a couple of days, and asked if they were able to see her. Just then, two burly guards marched in, flanked the doorway followed by Kate, dressed casually in jeans and t-shirt. She smiled radiantly, a confidence emanating from her eyes.
“Hi guys, hope you are all well?”
“Well, you have remembered us. Thanks for the beds, and the food sucks less. By the way, when do we get out of this shit hole?” Tremaine spat at her.
She paused a moment assessing the negative moods. “Very soon,” she said evenly. “I would like to tell you about a friend who visited me a couple of nights ago.”
Leah relayed her story, and the fact that she now acknowledged her true self.
The men looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
“It’s a trick,” Mason stated. “Talokta has brainwashed you. I suggest you don’t make any decisions until you meet your wizard mate in the flesh, Kate, I mean, Leah.”
“You can call me anything, just don’t call me late for lunch,” Leah joked.
“Still have a sense of humor, at least they haven’t wiped that,” Tremaine mumbled.
“Think about it guys, all these weird things happening to me, the stones drawing me to, I don’t know, something that I can’t even fully comprehend yet. I won’t know until I get to Heliostronus. It is scary, but so damn exciting!” Leah’s eyes were shining. “Bit different from the mundane, predictable life Kate Willard had.”
“At least you knew a bit more about yourself as Kate than this new persona, this Queen Leah character,” Mason stated.
“Come on, guys, this is big. You know, I am Queen Leah and Kate. I am an ancient royal queen with Kate’s modern day mind and humor,” she giggled. “We add to each other. We enhance. I’ve been looking at things from a very wrong perspective. I thought we were two entities living together that were going to be or had to be separated. We may have existed six thousand years apart, but I don’t see a problem. We are essentially the same person. Yes, I need to learn much more about myself and my destiny, and that is where Cemel will help me.”
“So you are going to join Kalvich, your enemy from six thousand years ago and rule over the Trimadians and maybe, if Her Worship feels like it, go and invade a few other planets and oh yes, don’t forget about Earth. Oh, I forgot, you are a goddess, too.”
“Your sarcasm really does become you, Tremaine. I don’t intend on invading anything. What do you take me for? Look, Talokta and Kalvich, only have my best interests at heart.”
Tremaine looked into her sparkling eyes. She was so different, perhaps changing, changing into what! He could not put his finger on it; it totally unnerved him.
“So, is Kate still in there? Does she remember her mission objectives?”
“Of course, Kate is in here. Kate and Leah are one and the same. I have just told you.”
“Don’t you want to go back to Earth, your family, defend Earth with your powers or whatever you have?”
“It’s different for me now. I am home,” she snapped.
An awkward silence ensued.
She sighed and sat on a bed, clasping her hands together. “I am slowly piecing together my past and present. My future is ahead, and to learn more I must meet with Cemel. I instinctively know I must live among the Trimadians, at least for now.”
Mason held his hand up. “Hold on, girl, what about us, your team, all you talk about is me, myself, and I.”
“I can only help everyone, on Earth or wherever, by helping myself now. It may sound selfish, but once I learn, once I reach my full potential. I could be Earth’s ultimate defense.”
Tremaine began losing patience; she had definitely gone through something that dramatically changed her whole outlet in a short time. “Listen your highness; you are forgetting that we were kidnapped by brutal, highly technically evolved warmongers. Whose objectives are to attack and rape worlds as they see fit.” He lowered his voice, warily glancing at Leah’s two larger than life companions posted at the door. “Not to neglect the fact that they are of great bodily proportions that make the rest, well some of us, feel a little, err, inadequate. Anyhow, why can’t this Cemel come back to Earth with you?”
“He has been on Heliostronus for thousands of years, awaiting my return. I need to learn from him, as I keep telling you. And I have to talk to the Trimadians’ leader. I wish you would trust in me.”
“From our view here, it is hard to trust anyone!” Tremaine shouted aggressively.
The guards instantly readied their gloctols, but Leah leapt up and waved her hand to stop them.
Mason and Tremaine were thoroughly agitated but knew not to push too hard. Besides, they knew they were not getting anywhere.
“Look guys, I’m going to see if I can get you back to Earth. Kalvich has a BSP, so you will be back in no time.”
“You really think he’s going to let us go?” Tremaine seethed. “For all we know, we’ll be enslaved like all the other prisoners and end up in those mines. By the way, where are Sataal and the other Cantals? The Trimadians put us together and now have separated us again.”
“Just like you, they are being treated well. You guys mean the world to me, and nothing will happen. I won’t let anything happen.” She took in their sullen expressions. “God, I’m not getting anywhere with you.”
Leah, frustrated, walked over to Pete.
“Hey,” she said softly, “how are you? You are so quiet.”
Pete looked up to her face and seemed to be finally aware of her presence. “Just feeling a bit queasy,” he managed.
“Last time I was here you were very distant. Have you been feeling queasy all that time?”
He nodded.
Leah, concerned held her hand out. “Come on, come with me and I’ll get them to look at you. I’ll take you to the infirmary.”
In a stupor, Pete slowly stood, and numbly walked to the door with Leah’s arm around him. Next second he shoved Leah, straight into the wall, banging her head with a sickening thud. He ran out screaming, “Gotta get outta here NOW!”
One of the guards aimed his Gloctol at Pete. Leah, dazedly tried to grab the guard’s arm, “No, no, he’s sick; don’t kill him!”
It was too late. The shot hit him in the upper back. Pete flew through the air with the force and collapsed face first.
Leah leapt forward to Pete but maddingly felt the world was stuck in slow motion. The other guard was holding her back.
The guard, who had fired, turned and stated matter of factly, “He’ll be alright, it was a stun shot, not set to kill.”
“What!” To Leah a blast like that would kill a dinosaur. She did not know the Gloctols were anything other than lethal weapons.
She tried to gather her thoughts.
“We will take him to the infirmary.”
That was where I was fucking going, you bloodthirsty moron.
She looked back at Tremaine and Mason. All signs of agitation and anger were gone. Instead, they were just plain petrified. Leah surprised herself with a steady unemotional tone. “Don’t worry. He’s okay. I’ll go with them, and I’ll speak to Talokta about getting you home with Pete.”
“Leah, are you—” She heard a voice, but chose to ignore it as she walked away.
Pete was lying prone
on an infirmary gurney. The gloctol at short distance had resulted in third degree burns to the skin, and the sheer force had misaligned his shoulder blade. His back and shoulder had been treated for infection, bandaged, and strapped up. The physician was just about to administer some pain killer, when Leah grabbed his arm thinking he was going to hurt Pete. Stop being so paranoid, girl!
“I’m sorry. He will be alright won’t he?”
The physician nodded and pressed some type of hypodermic device, against his throat.
He was still unconscious and Leah insisted on keeping vigil by his side. One of her bodyguards stayed alert near the doorway. The other, she assumed would have reported directly to Talokta.
Being with Pete again made her realize how she missed their laughter and conversations, before all this hit them. She was not going to give up on him. Though she had only known him for a short time, she shared a special bond with him. She wished she had met him under different circumstances. Then again, if it was not for the stones they may never have met.
Was it still possible for them to get together?
She vowed not to neglect her team from now on, especially Pete. He had not been himself, and she was so friggin’ wrapped up in herself. She felt more than guilty. She felt responsible.
Boy, will I make up for it. The guys were right; I am being selfish. Why can’t I be two separate people and keep everyone happy! Nah! Don’t be silly. I am one.
Heal him! The thought hit her like a brick. Why can’t I heal his wounds like I healed myself on Marone’s ship? Should she play God with another’s life? On the other hand, if she healed him, it would be first hand proof to her teammates of how important it was for her to develop these skills with Cemel. Perhaps she might just see if Cemel would come with her back to Earth. She recalled their mixed reactions when they were told about her adventure on Marone’s ship, concern, shock, and disbelief, well, initial disbelief when she told them she healed herself.
Right, believe in yourself, girl. She bit her lip, closed her eyes, and concentrated on Pete.
Nothing.
She looked around her. The physician had his back to her, ensconced in his computer. There was not much time.
Instinct, use your instinct.
She sat closer to Pete, hovered her hand over his wound, and concentrated.
Damn, it worked in the movies! Maybe she was too wound up; that bump on her head she felt had grown into a golf ball, or the pain killer the physician administered was hindering her ability. Was that it, or was it simply she didn’t know what to do? Useless queen I am. Maybe I’m the missing link, because I have something missing all right!
Logically, she knew it was only a temporary gift from that elderly couple. Shit! Sidonio and Kalvich’s parents, wow! That gift obviously was depleted. Should she tell Talokta about their intervention? Could they come back and help? No, somehow, she did not want to betray her little secret with them. She did not know why, but she felt that was the right thing to do. Besides, she had deliberately left it out of her report, and Talokta would not be happy. And if he reported it to Kalvich, how would he react?
No, this can of worms remains shut. She was responsible now.
Leah stood up and paced back and forth, feeling like an idiot. Stuff it; she would see if Talokta would let her talk directly to Cemel via the stones, via their ships’ communicators, via whatever.
Talokta came storming in, with the guard behind him. She sensed his dark mood as he forsook protocol in her presence. The other guard by the door stood stiffly to attention.
He glanced at Pete and said sternly, “I’ve been told that this one panicked and tried to escape.”
Leah walked up to him, “He’s not well. He told me he was feeling queasy, and he has been very quiet lately.”
Talokta looked thoughtful. Could it be the implantation caused this? More experimentation was required. He turned to the guard and stated a few sharp words in his native tongue. The guard acknowledged, saluted with a clenched fist on his chest, and marched to the doorway to remain on guard.
Talokta turned to Leah with compassion in his voice, “Are you alright? You got pushed and hit your head.”
“Oh I’m fine, just a bruise. My heart though, that’s a different matter.” He looked at her not understanding.
“I thought that particular weapon was used to kill.”
“Oh, they do alright. Gloctols are an excellent hand weapon amongst a great variety of arsenal. However, all weapons carried on my ship are set on stun, for this very reason.”
“Thank God for that. I–I want to heal him. Like when I healed myself when Marone shot me.” Talokta winced inside at the memory.
“But at that time I had received a little gift, er, from Cemel to help me temporarily. I’m on my own now and I, I need Cemel’s guidance.”
“So you have tried.”
“Yes, no luck.”
“Luck has no bearing. You must wait, be patient and in time, with training and insight from Cemel, you will do wonderful things.”
“Can I talk to Cemel now? He may be able to advise me. I can get my stones and use them to help.”
“I assure you, he will be all right. His shoulder will heal and the burn will clear. The stun knocks out the nervous system, like a short circuit. He’ll regain consciousness soon.”
Leah sat down and gently grasped Pete’s hand. He stirred, and shifted to lie on his good side facing her.
“Pete, hey, it’s me, hey sweetie,” her voice low and musical. He slowly opened his eyes and smiled at her. He saw Talokta. In terror, he jerked upright, looking around frantically for escape.
The guards moved to hold him down, but Leah waved them away. “Please he is only scared, give him a chance!”
She grabbed his wrist. “Pete, it’s okay. You got stunned by a Gloctol. Hey, look at me.”
Pete, breathing rapidly, tried to focus on her then collapsed back down on his side, exhausted. She carried on reassuring him, stroking his hair. Pete settled down when he gazed at her familiar face. He went to lie on his back and gasped with pain.
“Not a good idea,” she helped him lie back on his stomach.
Talokta had deliberately stood back, watching the scene, noting how she cared for him. He tried to read her… Yes, she had real sympathy and there was love. If he were lying there instead, would she feel the same way toward him? Stop it.
Pete cleared his throat. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I don’t know what came over me, Kate, umm, Leah.”
“It’s going to take me a while to get used to it too,” she said smiling, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I’m so glad you are okay. You gave me a hell of a fright.”
The physician came over and she reluctantly moved aside. He pulled the bandage aside and he and Talokta examined the wound. The physician nodded, satisfied. Leah looked and gasped. The wound and the bruising were fading before her eyes.
“What the hell is happening? I’m no doctor but that type of zap he received…it can’t just fade like that. Surely, I didn’t have anything to do with that?” she stated, staring bug-eyed at the wound.
“As I told you, the Gloctol is designed to knock out the nervous system. It is also designed to cauterize and help heal. Not all our weapons are designed for mortal wounding.”
Cathexistomes are hardy little beasts.
She turned to him. “Sorry? I thought I heard you say something about a Cathexistome?” She said looking confused.
Talokta jumped, but hid his expression. She had heard it in his mind. Shalash! Be careful. Like when he first met her and communicated telepathically. He, of course, could do that to anyone, but her skills were starting to get sharper, and she learnt fast.
He frowned, “No, I was just commenting that not all our weapons are designed with death being the result. Our weapons are sophisticated and technical.”
Don’t forget the warriors get the glory, but it is the engineers that build the technology. Leah remembered
that impromptu line from somewhere.
The physician asked that they leave so Pete could sleep. Leah wanted to stay, but now that she knew he was going to be fine, she could leave him for now. She went up to him and whispered, “Sleep well. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I need to have a private talk with you anyway,” Talokta said as they headed down the corridor. The two guards followed at a discreet distance.
Leah had cheered up now Pete was in the clear. “Private eh? Do you ever get time for yourself, to do things for yourself without having to rely on others?” Leah asked indicating the guards.
“Of course!” he stated indignantly. He instantly turned to the guards and said something that left no misinterpretation. To leave, disappear, Leah settled on vamoose! Trimadian language was sometimes astringent and from what she had observed, most verbal commands were generally sharply spoken. They duly saluted and marched down the opposite direction.
In contrast to his words, he reached out and gently took her hand, placing it firmly under his arm. He knew this old fashioned Earth custom thrilled her, sober or drunk. As they walked in companionable silence, Leah felt the wonderful pain killing drugs contributing to a warm tingle deep in her lower belly.
After a brief soft lift journey, they arrived at his quarters. Talokta’s manservant was laying out refreshments and he too discretely disappeared.
“What I was also going to ask, out of curiosity, was—” He looked at her, eyebrows raised. She felt her cheeks brighten as embarrassing shyness gripped her, “Do you ever fight yourself, I mean, you know, facing an enemy one on one?”
Talokta laughed as he seated her down on his sofa. He silently offered her a drink, which she readily accepted. He watched, amused as she gulped it down, and he unquestionably refilled it. He quickly followed suit.
Leah sighed and lent back letting the drink do its work. Her head buzzed slightly. Her body sunk into the soft material. She remembered not so long ago she would sit up ramrod straight in his presence, out of fear she guessed. Now a short week later, here she was flopped on his low sofa, relaxing, devouring delicious mulled wine.
In all fairness, when they were alone, she had observed his stiff ass demeanor had dissipated and, he had revealed a more relaxed, informal side. Was it all because she had now willingly accepted herself as Queen Leah, or simply they had attained a better understanding of each other?
He placed the gourd on the table beside her and with goblet in hand, he sat closely to her.
“A warrior is not called a warrior in name only. A Trimadian warrior will rise though the ranks of the fleet because he has earned it. Not just on merit and discipline. He must possess the experience, skills, and instinct to keep him alive and consistently defeat or dominate his enemy. He must master all practical and psychological tactics. He must improve, create, and practice battle strategies if he wants to continue to leadership rankings and earn due respect among his fellow warriors and his masters.
“But,” he said, shaking his finger at Leah as he downed his wine. “In battle when an enemy is face to face, you don’t have time for well planned strategies. It is imperative to possess animal sharp reactions. You kill him before he blinks. Never show mercy as you will always be second best. For a Trimadian warrior there is no such thing as being second. There is only death.
A Trimadian master must harden his heart and make decisions that not all will like or appreciate. Survival is the ultimate. I have killed many with my bare hands and with weapons, some as basic as sticks. If I hesitated, I wouldn’t be talking to you now. As you know, within Kalvich’s regime I wear…many hats,” he winked at her. “Most importantly, as second in command over the fleets.” Leah heard the unmistakable distinct pride in his voice as he spoke. “To earn the privileged rank of a Trimadian master normally takes many years. Most accomplished masters in Earth years range between forty-five and fifty-five years’ experience. I became the youngest, at forty-one.”
Leah burst out laughing.
“What is it?”
“I’m sorry, you know the short answer to my question would have been a simple, ‘Yes.’”
Talokta stared at her, his lips curled into a smile and he chuckled, “I am used to giving speeches and pep talks.”
Leah wiped a tear from her eye. “Please, don’t let me put you off,” she giggled. “Sorry, so seriously, being 2IC, is obviously a huge responsibility. Do you get any free, personal time?”
“Yes! There, how was that, succinct enough for her ladyship?”
She giggled and screwed up her nose at him.
“So,” she continued with a big grin. “Has any fleet ever dared disobey?”
“Under Kalvich’s prestigious leadership–no, except our friend Lord Marone. He has always been a bit of a rebel within our system. I certainly would not under estimate him as he is quite powerful and has a great many followers, as he is reasonably cunning and charismatic. But what he did…To put it mildly, Kalvich was not happy with what he did to you.” Talokta’s eyes darkened. I will punish him, but much later.”
“Do you know where he or Manutaai have gone?”
“I have a fair idea, and I have many contacts on planets throughout the systems that traitors and criminals inhabit. There is never escape.”
They both finished their respective drinks.
“So, how old is Kalvich, in Earth years?”
Talokta refilled her goblet. “He is around eleven thousand years old, and of course, can rejuvenate at will. His power and your power combined, once you open your mind to your potential, will be a formidable force.”
She nodded, her mind wandering happily. “So Trimadians generally live much longer than humans?”
“Yes, the Cathexistomes promote excellent health, remember? They can live for several hundred years at a stretch. Cathexistomes need a life tank if they cannot be immediately implanted into an organic host. Though as you know, Kalvich is not a true Trimadian; he does not have a Cathexistome. He had watched our race develop and he chose to lead us to glory. The Trimadian race wholly accepts him as the Supreme Ruler. Apart from the fact of his immortality, he is a natural born leader. He saved me from death many years ago during battle. I will always serve him faithfully.”
She studied his face. He was opening up to her, and she shyly knew she held a certain fascination for him.
For the short time, that Leah had known Talokta, and putting aside her initial fear, she found their conversations absorbing and stimulating. Like she had with Pete. She was learning so much more about this unique race.
At the moment, she just wanted to hear Talokta talk and did not care if they had already covered these subjects. They were nearing their destination, and she hoped this would not be their last lengthy conversation. Well, she reasoned with herself, I am female, and for an alien warrior, he’s damn handsome and, I think we have got a real affinity.
Talokta interrupted her thoughts. “But what I need to tell you, is there has been a slight change of plan. I will be leaving the ship tomorrow as Kalvich has reassigned me.”
“Oh, but aren’t we going to be landing on Heliostronus in two days?”
“Yes, you will be. In one hour, I am taking a scouting ship called a Vectra. It is capable of short distance travel at twice the speed of light. It’s our latest short range speed vessel. Its interstellar sub drive’s crystals change the vessel’s molecular structure when we reach 550,000 miles per second, and we are technically traveling in a sub space dimension, invisible to the naked eye. I need to be on Heliostronus as soon as possible. Kalvich has requested my presence for a covert mission.”
This time Leah did not chide him for his long explanatory answer. She cast her head down and Talokta sensed a wave of disappointment.
His hand lightly touched her chin, she looked up, and their eyes locked. The urge to hold and kiss her welled in him.
He sprung up as if scalded.
Sworn duty and hardened discipline aside, the re
cent memory of his premonition type dream smacked him full force, instantly stomping on the intrusion of emotion.
Leah, startled, looked up at him.
Shalash! What am I doing! What am I thinking!
His loyalty to Kalvich, and his vow to never let love weaken him again was his chosen path. His memory went out fleetingly to his love, killed during a Locum battle that took place on the planet Trystor, her home world. The Trimadians had held their own but suffered a great loss of lives and a huge personal loss for Talokta. His discovery of the loss tested his sanity that bore an extraordinary pain he did not think existed. He had vowed he would never go though that again.
Leah sensed intense pain and hurt emitting from him.
“You have suffered,” she whispered, lightly touching his arm.
He jerked away.
“I’m sorry your highness,” he exclaimed brusquely. “I have just remembered some urgent business I have to attend to before I leave, you must excuse me. I will arrange that you are escorted to your quarters.” He briefly bowed and sped out leaving Leah’s head spinning.
What the hell was going on?