Beyond the Stars: INEO (37 page)

Gaelan exhaled sharply with the snide remark while Loic signaled two of the Grulanti to take hold of him and Urit. Gaelan tried to shove the beast away; unfortunately, he was no match for the massive creature. Hastily, the three of us were taken aboard the Grulanti ship, with their deadly weapons held against our backs as the rest of the Katarians around us helplessly watched.

* * *

The ship reminded me of the Grulanti ship we had boarded at Dalinova, though it appeared to be much better staffed. We passed more Grulanti and drones than I cared to see in one place.

Loic shoved me inside a holding cell and followed me inside. It was dark, lit more by the passageway outside than the single purple light bulb that hung just inside the entrance. I backed away from him and watched in horror when the guards continued onward.

“Gaelan,”
I screamed when he and Urit were tugged past the doorway.
They better not hurt them.
I didn’t know what was worse, going with the Grulanti or being left alone with this maniac. I took a step forward to leave, causing Loic to come between me and the door.

Loic smirked. “I knew there was something different about you on the first day we met. I thought it was because you were from Earth. Then I thought it was because the Dreons meant to take you instead of Nia, which would explain the crew’s overprotectiveness of you. Only that wasn’t it. You’re full of surprises. It’s because you have this remarkable tool called an Ineo. G must be totally obsessed with trying to get it off you. Tell me, how does one acquire such a thing?”

I wasn’t sure of how much he knew, so I decided it was best to let him do the talking to avoid saying too much. If there was one thing I was sure of, Loic wasn’t dumb. He seemed to possess a sixth sense. I thought he could always sense the ancient force taking refuge in my body. And right now, his words were filled with hate.

“Samantha, I’m going to ask you nicely. I need you to tell me where you’re hiding it. I’d fess up if I were you. You’re not getting out of here until you tell me how it works. Come on, things will go so much smoother if you’d just cooperate.” He paced around me, eyeing me up and down with a disturbing grin. “And don’t even think about using it to call your ship. I wouldn’t so much as blink wrong if you want to see any of your friends again.” He leaned his face within an inch of mine.

“I should have known it was you who overhead us,” I said in defeat.

“Yep, and I saw what you did in the simulator, navigating the ship at mind boggling speeds. Do you know what that’s worth, to be able to zip here and there in a flash? It’s fantastic, really. I would love to keep the Ineo for myself. I wonder if the Grulanti would be satisfied if I offered to give them Gaelan and Urit instead? Then you would be free to leave here with me. That way, we could both keep the Ineo. You could take me to the other side of the galaxy, and I wouldn’t need the extra money. I’d be so far away, my boss would never find me,” he said, pausing to give me an odd look as though he had said too much. Loic was obviously running from more than the Grulanti. “Imagine the adventures we could have, Earth girl. Perhaps you would consider me now that your situation has changed? I’m sure you could find a way to be friendly towards me over time. I could give you everything you ever need, or want.” He lightly brushed the side of my cheek with the back of his hand.

I gave him a dirty glare.

Loic was undeterred. “Fine, I know we can’t keep the Ineo, but the only way I can save you is if you give me it. That way, you and I can go free with a ship load of money, while the Grulanti auction off the Ineo, a medic, and a starship commander. You see, everybody benefits.” He paused and said in a low tone, “Besides, it seems as though it’s the only way I’ll get to keep
you.”

I glared at Loic with anger. “You’re demented. I could never be with you. I love Gaelan.”
And you’re a psychopath and an egocentric jerk!

“Hmm
—that’s too bad, your loss. Oh well, I better not miss all the fun. I imagine G or Urit will be getting ready to talk soon. They’ll tell me how to get the Ineo from you.” He glanced at his watch and turned to leave. “Now, be a good little hostage and stay put.” He smirked at me mischievously, knowing I had no choice but to comply.

I boldly ran after him to try and escape, except he’d already activated the invisible force field door behind him. “Ouch,” I moaned to myself as my fingers were zapped by the electrically charged barrier. Struck with panic, I looked around the dimly lit cell. The corners were so dark and shadowy. I worried I wasn’t alone.
Help! Get me out of here!
I felt my way around the boxlike room, to be sure it was empty so I could appease my fear. It was. I slunk down on the floor and leaned my back against the wall. I hated myself for being only human. I didn’t know what to do. My inability to use the Ineo to my advantage made me feel unworthy of having it. Why was I the one it chose to bond with? Couldn’t it have picked Tyden or Gaelan?

I felt burdened with the responsibility to help. I didn’t want to fail. My friends deserved better. I needed to use the Ineo correctly. Maybe I could get us out of here. I never tried to visualize how I could change my future. Perhaps I could dream myself out of this. I thought about asking Jack to help me find a way to escape. I had to try. I quieted my mind and focused my thoughts the way Tyden had instructed me. I pictured where I was and how desperately I wanted off this ship.

In an instant, I felt the Ineo’s power start to radiate through me, but instead of being engulfed in warmth, I felt a sickening chill that made my fingers feel numb and cold. I saw images I didn’t ask to see. My subconscious mind appeared to be the one in control—the part of me that was panic-stricken. I pictured Gaelan and Urit being hurt by the Grulanti beasts. Was this really happening?
No. I can’t watch.
Struck with sadness, I fought to think of something else. The Dreons came to mind. If it weren’t for Ellison, I wouldn’t even feel bad for their demise. I relived the moment when Hyril first showed her to me. She looked so vibrant and thriving. It was hard to believe she was gone. Her sweet little face was smiling at me. I reached out and touched her hand. Her smile disappeared. She looked at me with empathy. I think she felt my pain. She seemed to understand how worried I was, that I was captured by the Grulanti. That I feared I would never see Leah or Jackson again, or even get to know her. Hopelessness filled me. This auction would be the beginning of the end of my life. Sadness crushed my strength and I became weak. Losing my ability to concentrate, Ellison’s image began to fade. I felt the force inside me abate, and I began to cry.

I looked at my watch. Two hours passed by and there was still no sign of anyone. My fretting turned into an obsessive need to pace around the little room. For all I knew, Gaelan and Urit were still being tortured by those vile creatures. When I grasped the Katarian band on my wrist, I knew Gaelan wasn’t well. Normally, his vibrant essence emanated from the metal. Now, all I sensed was an aura of despair. I jumped and released the metal abruptly when a painful wave of anguish tore through me. I wished they would have taken me instead.

At last, a Grulanti drone appeared at the doorway. It briefly deactivated the barrier and slid a tray of food and drink across the floor in my direction. Being both starved and thirsty, I pulled the tray near me. The bowl was filled with a tan mush and the cup held a red drink. I dipped my finger into the cup and took a taste. It was sweet, like grape juice. Without hesitation, I gulped it straight down. I finished it all before I realized drinking it was a terrible mistake.

I became dizzy and started to drool when my mouth began to foam. The room started spinning in circles, and I could no longer see clearly or hold myself upright. My body went numb, and I collapsed face forward to the floor in an uncoordinated slam. I released the cup from my hand and heard it ping and roll across the floor. My eyes bounced around in their sockets. It made the room swirl around as if I was trapped inside a kaleidoscope. I tried to yell, but couldn’t. Within seconds, I realized my throat was scorching. I took shallow gasps of air. I desperately needed water.
Help!
I couldn’t move. What did I drink?

The reverberating hum of their ship droned in my ear as I rested my head against the floor. I couldn’t help falling asleep. Sometime later, I lifted my head with the sound of approaching footsteps. My blurry eyes fought to focus on a pair of black military-style boots tapping loudly near my head. I knew they were Loic’s. Behind him, I saw more feet. They harshly tossed what looked like people into my cell. I hoped it was Gaelan and Urit. I couldn’t tell. It was too dark. One of them fell silently to the floor, and the other moaned and fidgeted clumsily, as though he was in pain.

I could hear Loic’s muffled voice shouting orders. He sounded as though he was talking underwater. Then, a Grulanti drone at my side lifted me off the floor by the back of my shirt like a rag doll. I feebly looked up. I felt Loic place his hand under my jaw and lift my head to stabilize it. My vision was too distorted to see his face clearly, and being too weak to fight back, I rested my chin on his hand. I closed my heavy eyelids, unable to reopen them. I must have appeared to be sleeping.

“You gave her too much, you moron. We’ll have to try this again later. Put her down,” Loic ordered.

With a crash, my body was released and I hit the floor hard.

“Jeez, be careful. Don’t break her,” Loic said in a distorted voice.

I forced myself not to react and listened to them leave. I got a searing headache from trying to concentrate and let myself doze off again. When I reopened my eyes, I heard someone sliding across the floor in my direction. Then I felt a warm hand on my cheek.

“Sam, hang in there,” Urit said, slightly out of breath.

I was relieved to hear his voice. He held a lighted penlight in front of my eyes and scanned me with one of his gadgets.

“Can you hear me?” he asked.

I clenched my throat because I was unable to answer. It felt like I had swallowed baby powder. With much effort, I pointed in the direction of the cup, which held the mysterious liquid. Urit extended his leg to retrieve it by kicking it with his foot, grunting with the movement. With my vision blurred, I saw him look in the cup and bring it to his nose before he scooted back.

“I am so glad. I never thought …,” he said, talking to himself. He pulled out a container from his pocket, opened it, and took out a small tablet.

“Sam, open your mouth and put this under your tongue,” he instructed me.

The medication was bitter and made me gag when it started to dissolve. A moment later, my heart rate took off, pounding so hard I could hear my pulse roaring in my ears. My body flushed with heat, and I felt perspiration form on my brow.

“Urit, what did you give me?” My voice cracked.

After regaining control of my speech, even if it was a little slurred, I knew I was on the mend. His image became clearer. He must have given me an antidote.

“Boy, are you lucky. You ingested koshpa. It’s used to remove inhibitions or, in high doses, as a truth serum. It has a distinct smell. And amazingly enough, I brought a cure. I was paranoid enough to pack a drug capable of binding to any foreign substance requiring metabolism and voiding its effects.”

With my sobering strength, I pushed up on my arms and sat back on my folded knees.

“Oh no, Urit. You’re hurt,” I said with alarm. I reached out to touch the wet blood seeping through his shirt on his lower back.

“Nothing fatal. I’ll live.”

I looked across the room and noticed Gaelan was sprawled out across the floor a few feet away.

“Oh, God …
no,”
I screeched when I saw him lying lifeless.

“He’s sleeping, Sam,” Urit called after me.

I had to see for myself. Quickly, I crawled over to him and delicately scooped his head onto my lap.

“Please, be okay. Gaelan, wake up,” I cried, and leaned down to kiss his forehead, tasting the blood on his beaten up face.
“Gaelan.”

He barely made a move, but aroused enough to open his eyes when I called his name again. He looked as though he had been in a horrific fight. He was covered with scrapes and bruises and had dried patches of blood by his left eyebrow and lip. And judging by the crusty spot in his hair, he probably had suffered a blow to the head as well.

“Hey,” he said quietly and fought to open his eyes to gaze up at me.

“You scared me. How bad are you hurt? Will you be okay?”

He didn’t answer. He just gave me a thumbs-up with his left hand.

I sighed and pulled him closer.

“Hmm,” he moaned in pain when I moved him.

“We have to get out of here.” I said adamantly. “Let me think.”

I closed my eyes briefly. Holding Gaelan in my arms allowed my perseverance to return. I wouldn’t give up. I fought to regain hope. Being in the best shape of all, I knew our escape was up to me. I didn’t want any of us to endure any more pain. I was ready to fight. I had to find a way to harness the powerful Ineo inside me with some control.

* * *

Manipulate my reality,
I thought. Sure, it was easy. After all, the Ineo had no problem popping visions in my head when I least expected it.
Think good thoughts. Ask for what I want and don’t worry about the how.
I pictured us being back on our ship, mentally imagining every detail of the command deck. I wished we were there so forcefully, that I could almost swear we were there in my mind. I could see the room swirling around my body with Tyden at the helm. I wished he was here to guide me. His presence gave me strength. I could only hold the vision briefly. It was unbelievably draining to concentrate with such intensity. I slunk my shoulders in disappointment when nothing miraculous happened and the cell around me came back into view.