Maddie covered her ears with her hands and screamed, “Stop! Say no more! Right now, my only concern is for Rayn. I could give a bloody damn about Earth’s security!” Her breath was coming in short and rapid gasps.
Maddie couldn’t think straight. Her imagination was running wild with visions of Rayn being tortured. She couldn’t bear the thought of it.
“We must get him out! I’ll arrange for an envoy of ambassadors to go, and I’ll accompany them.”
“Maddie, that has already been attempted. The Xanthians have refused us an audience. They say Rayn violated their space, and they had every right to capture him and his ship.”
“Then, we must break him out. We cannot leave him there. Can’t we get his location and teleport him out?”
Rowan shook his head and explained how they had checked into every possibility, and nothing seemed viable. According to their intelligence, he was being held in a high level secured cell on Xanthus. Escape was impossible.
“What method of security are they employing?” Maddie demanded to know.
“His cell is equipped with a weighted method of fortification. The way it works is that Rayn’s weight, coupled with his DNA is programmed into his cell. If his weight leaves the floor for longer than 2 seconds, his cell is vaporized. The same applies to his DNA. If, at any time, the scanners cannot detect his DNA within the cell, the cell is vaporized. So, if we storm the prison and try to pull Rayn out, then whoever is in the cell at the time will be vaporized,” Xarrid explained. “We cannot get him unless the security is deactivated.”
It sounded like a no-win scenario. Xarrid detailed everything they had tried to entertain using with no success. The end results in all cases were vaporization.
“What about an exchange? A trade? Do we have any Xanthians we can trade in return for Rayn?” she wanted to know.
“They were not interested in that,” Sharra added.
Maddie thought for a moment, and then she asked, “How about a trade for another Vesturion?”
Therron looked at Maddie and said, “I know I am going to regret asking, but who did you have in mind?”
“Me.”
They all looked at her, and every one of them voiced a resounding, “NO!”
Rowan added, “Absolutely not. I will not allow it!”
“Hear me out. Maybe I could be a decoy. Act like an exchange, but then have an escape plan routed out. I could pose as his intended mate. We could pretend that the unification date is set and that would make me a more valuable trade. Maybe they would take the bait. Please, we have to at least try.”
They all looked at each other thoughtfully.
Maddie knew that she had their attention now, so she pushed ahead.
“Look, we could have a team of Guardians ready to teleport us both out as soon as Rayn was moved out of his cell. I could preprogram a teleporter with our destination and just hit it at the appropriate time.”
“Maddie, a teleporter wouldn’t get you back to Vesturon.”
“True, but it could get us to a ship waiting somewhere en route. We could stagger our destinations and hopscotch until we got back here.”
Again, they all were quiet. Maddie knew their wheels were spinning.
“I know it can work if we fine tune the details. We HAVE to try. We cannot just leave him there!” Maddie yelled, tears streaming down her face. She was quickly enfolded in Sharra’s arms.
Xarrid was the first to speak. “I think she may have something. Let’s go over everything we know about where he is being held and how we can get Maddie there. Maybe we can establish a detailed plan and see if we think it’s feasible.”
They agreed to reconvene in an hour to come up with a master plan.
Maddie flew up to Rayn’s room as fast as her feet would carry her. She threw herself across his bed and sobbed. She hadn’t felt this dastardly since Rayn used his Power of Command on her and immobilized her the night of her graduation party. She wondered how much more of this gut-wrenching pain she would have to endure. Her head and belly throbbed with thoughts of what Rayn was dealing with. If she dwelled on that much longer, she would throw up. She was worried the Yarristers would decide it was too risky for her to go through with anything. If that happened, she would simply have to go it alone.
She grabbed the small handheld device on the bedside table and turned the compsys on, calling up images of Rayn. She wanted to see him how she remembered him, in all his dazzling allure. He was so handsome and larger than life. She couldn’t imagine him any other way.
She leaped off the bed, entered coordinates into her
shadar
, and moments later, teleported to her favorite mountain top on Earth near the Compound. She briefly scanned the horizon before dropping to her knees.
“Hello God, or the Deity, or whatever you want to be called, it’s me, Maddie. It’s been awhile. I know I have been avoiding you lately, and I am sorry for that. I need your help now more than I’ve ever needed it before. If you could please come to me now, I am desperate for some guidance.”
As she patiently waited, she soon felt a comforting mist descend upon her. A feeling of absolute peace washed over her, allowing her mind to dispel itself of all anger.
Maddie inhaled sharply and began, “Dear God, thank you for being here. I know I have been a terrible person lately, selfish and proud, but I am here to ask for forgiveness and for help. Rayn is imprisoned, and I need to get him out. I ask for your guidance in this matter.”
“My child, you must ask yourself what Rayn would do, and in that, you will find what you are seeking.”
“But, he hates me so much right now. I don’t know what he would do. It is tearing me apart to think of him in this situation. To even know that he is being tortured is killing me.”
“How can you even think he could ever hate you? His anger has masked his true feelings, but you know in your heart and soul where his love lies. Follow the path of your heart, and you will have your answers.”
“But I need power, and I can only get that from you. Without it I have no hope because I don’t think I am strong enough on my own. Please help me before it’s too late.”
“You already have power and strength. Just tap into it…it is within your mind.”
Before she realized it, the mist had dissipated, and she found herself alone. Maddie knew she could never leave Rayn to rot in that prison. She absolutely must do something, and quickly. The Xanthians were a vicious and cruel species by nature. Maddie knew this firsthand from all the negotiations that she had with them. She had seen the results of their brutality over and over, and it sickened her to think of Rayn experiencing that.
Maddie knew it would be up to her to get Rayn out. She sent a quick prayer of thanks to the Deity and entered coordinates again in her
shadar
, quickly taking form back in Rayn’s room in the palace. She threw herself back across the bed, and her thoughts went haywire.
She suddenly felt the anger surge within her like a raging blaze. She leaped off the bed, feeling the room crackle with her energy. She let the ferocity wash through her. She wanted it to infuse her blood with the strength that she knew would ensue. She felt her powers increasing, and the more she thought about what the Xanthians had done, the angrier she became. Her eyes took on a reddish glow, and her skin flushed with heat.
Maddie marched down to the living area, where everyone was assembled. She burst into the room, tearing one of the doors off its hinges.
“You all had better come up with a bloody good plan, because I’m going in to get him whether you sanction this or not. He will not spend
one more minute
than he has to in that prison, and I don’t care if have to destroy the entire planet of Xanthus to get him back.”
Xarrid jumped to his feet and shouted, “Now, that is what I am talking about! That is why we need her here!”
Everyone’s excitement level rose a hundred fold with Maddie’s announcement, and then, they plotted out their game plan
Maddie was alone in the stripped down Star Fighter that was being flown by the robopilot. Sharra and her team of six Star Fighters had escorted her for as far as it was safe. Five of the ships remained deep in space, a distance that was safe for them to avoid any Xanthian contact. They would sit and wait, under the protection of the veiling system, until they received the command from Sharra to move. Sharra stayed with Maddie until just outside of the drone patrol zone. Her ship was also stripped down, in case they would have to sacrifice it.
If their mission went as planned, Rayn and Maddie would be teleported to Sharra’s ship and off to Vesturon before the Xanthians knew what had hit them.
Maddie was going in as bait, as a trade for Rayn. She told the Xanthian chancellor that she would exchange herself for Rayn. The chancellor was under the impression that Maddie was Rayn’s intended mate. His thoughts were that he would use Maddie to pull in the rest of the Yarristers, because he knew they would attempt a rescue. The truth of it was that Maddie had no intention of remaining behind.
The communications link lit up when Maddie’s ship entered the patrol zone.
“State your name and purpose,” the voice demanded.
“This is Ambassador Pearce of Vesturon here to see Chancellor Druaha. He is expecting me.”
“One moment. Our tracking beam will be locking on to your ship and we will tow you from here. Please ensure all veils and shields are inactivated.”
“Consider it done,” Maddie responded.
She felt the tracker grab her ship, and within the hour, it had docked her in the bay. She knew it was now do or die for both her and Rayn.
She dropped to her knees sending up a brief prayer, “ Okay God, this is it. Thank’s for the gifts you have given me. Because of them I am strong, agile, and fast, and thanks for my Powers of Telepathy and Telekinesis. I will strive to use them the best way I can. Please help me get Rayn out alive. If, for some reason, it comes down to a choice between the two of us, please save him over me. He deserves it much more as he is a better person than I.”
She rose to her feet and set the ship to self-destruct in one hour, and then, they were demanding she open her hatch.
As soon as the door slid open, soldiers stormed her ship, weapons drawn, and they grabbed her arms to take her away.
“Where is Chancellor Druaha? I am to meet with him.”
“Our orders are to take you to him immediately.”
They were none too kind in their escorting of her. She jerked her arms out of their grasp, but they still pushed and shoved her along until she reached her destination. The doors slid open, revealing a large table where six Xanthians sat.
Maddie bowed when she recognized Chancellor Druaha. She had to hold her anger in check. It threatened to consume her, and if that happened, she would completely lose her cool and possibly blow this whole operation.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “Chancellor, as you can see, I have kept my side of the bargain. Now, I would like to see Guardian Yarrister.”
“There has been a slight change of plans, Ambassador Pearce.”
“What kind of change?” Maddie asked. She had expected as much from this traitorous bunch. From her watch, she had about fifty-three minutes until the docking bay exploded. She had to have Rayn out of there before then.
“Before we release the prisoner, we want to ensure there will be no retaliatory efforts by the Vesturions. We think that in exchange for the prisoner, we would like some information on where the Vesturions are planning to attack us next.”
Maddie breathed an aggravated sigh, “Tsk, tsk, tsk, Chancellor. You know as well as I the Vesturions are peacemakers, and at no time have they ever launched overt attacks on the Xanthians. The only attacks have come at the protection of other planets or the protection of themselves. We have been begging you to cease this useless war and to return to peaceful ways. We will defend and protect those planets that are unable to do so themselves, but there are no plans nor will there ever be plans to attack Xanthus.”
“Then we will need some form of collateral.”
“You already have that: me. I am the collateral. Just release Guardian Yarrister and let him leave. I will stay in his place, and you can do as you will with me.”
“As enticing as that sounds, Ambassador Pearce, you are simply not enough. Perhaps we can keep your Star Fighter as well.”
Maddie had expected this. “Chancellor, if you keep the Star Fighter, Guardian Yarrister will not be able to leave. More importantly, I am of much more value to you as a hostage than any Star Fighter. As soon as the Yarrister family is aware of the situation, your bargaining power will increase a hundred fold. Now, please take me to Guardian Yarrister. Need I remind you that you are reneging on your part, Chancellor Druaha?”
He flicked his head to his right, where a soldier stood.
“Take her to him, and then bring her back here.”
The soldier grabbed Maddie’s arm and escorted her to the cell where Rayn was being held.
They walked through the maze of the building, and finally, they came to a row of cells. Maddie could hear the hum and see the beams of the shields that held the prisoners within their cells.
When they finally reached Rayn’s cell, Maddie looked in to see Rayn lying on a cot. He didn’t move a muscle, even when she spoke. She couldn’t tell if he was conscious or not. She tried to reach him telepathically but again, received no response. The security beams were effectively blocking everything from either getting in or out.
“Let me enter. I need to be sure he is alive and well.”
“I cannot. The security beams are in place.”
Maddie shot him a look that spoke volumes. “Then shut them down,” Maddie growled.
“I do not have the authorization to do that.”
“Then I suggest you get it, and fast.” Maddie was furious. From her vantage point, she could not even tell if Rayn was alive. “Listen to me and pay close attention to what I say. If you don’t do something now, I will bring this whole section of the prison down. Now, I
Command
you to deactivate the beam so I can enter.”