Quest for Freedom Read online

  Cheers and congratulations for the Earth girl echoed in Janai’s ears and she took Tish’s hand. “Good work.” The girl turned a proud smile to her, and Janai smiled back.

  The Freedom Team would have to get the virus into the regeneration system. That was going to prove more difficult now that Sarah’s group was aware of them. Training for the greatest and toughest mission was to begin the next morning. Everything depended on their success. Everything and everyone.

  Meanwhile, the raids and rescues would continue. But now there was new hope for a promising future. Janai wondered what the cost of this new life would be but she pushed the thought from her mind as quickly as it formed, knowing it wouldn’t matter once they were free. They were getting closer to destroying the Morgee and she couldn’t help the excitement in her blood.

  Ash wrapped strong fingers around hers as they stood in the hallway and energy pulsed through his body.

  “Come on, Tish.” Vala escorted the Earth girl away from the meeting chamber. “Divia wants you to eat and get some rest.”

  Janai and Ash stood in the hallway and watched as the last of the children filtered out of the meeting room. Divia smiled at Janai then triggered the door to close between them.

  “I’d hate to be a translator right about now,” Ash said.

  “Oh, I think they deserve what they’re about to get.”

  The two turned away from the doorway, chuckling, and headed toward the eating chamber. As they entered, Janai smiled at the memory of the food war that took place a few days earlier. It took quite a while getting the place cleaned up.

  Krav’n leaped into Janai’s arms. “What took you so long? I’ve been waiting forever.” He held her face between small webbed hands.

  “We had a meeting. Didn’t your guardian tell you?” She stroked his head ridges as she carried him toward the serving counter.

  “Yeah, but I didn’t think you’d be this long.” His liquid eyes widened. “Is it true you’re going to shut down the Morgee?”

  “We’re going to try,” Ash said.

  He wrapped arms around the Janai’s neck. “Can I come?”

  “No,” Janai and Ash said in unison.

  Krav’n attempted to roll his eyes. The boy’s black, liquid eyes and vertical lids added a comical air to the gesture, and everyone at the table broke out in chuckles as the trio passed.

  “I’m really hungry,” Krav’n said.

  Janai bounced the boy in her arms as she walked to the serving counter then put him down. The trio got their plates and headed for the table. She placed the food on the table and helped Krav’n onto the bench. “Are we all ready for the new training sessions?”

  Vala eyed her. “I’m ready to drag Sarah’s backside through a glass bush garden.” She took a bite of jumper stew.

  Janai winced at the thought of the non-poisonous, yet very painful, thorns that glass bushes produced. She’d named the plant herself and her foot ached at the memory of an old injury.

  Penny had also gotten one embedded in her foot and she said, “Those things hurt.”

  Vala gave Penny a sideways look. “That’s the point.”

  A few giggles pulsed around the table and Janai turned to see Blal’k’s reaction. Sadness colored the young Ronarian man’s face.

  42 ~ Morgee Virus

  “All right,” the elder said. “Many of the heat distributors were re-programmed to carry the virus. Just remember to fire directly into the tentacle. The virus won’t be effective if it doesn’t get into their energy system. Once the infected soldiers use the rockdome cylinders to regenerate, the virus will contaminate the others, eventually disabling them. That’s it then. You have your group assignments. You’re mission training is complete and the transports are ready.” He stood, his reddish-colored eyes bright. “Good luck, Freedom Team.”

  Janai and the others filtered out of the meeting room, adjusting their gear. Her heart raced with anticipation and fear about the mission. They would probably have only one chance to get the virus into the Morgee systems. The regeneration cylinders didn’t pose a threat but the soldiers would. They would have to get up close to the Morgee in order to fire the virus into the tentacle, so there was no room for mistakes. The past three months of training had been intensive, but no one complained. Not when true freedom was the possible outcome. They were stronger now and trained to perform their assigned tasks.

  They’d also stolen another ground transport. Two team members lost their lives in that raid just a month ago. Three of Sarah’s recruits had also lost their lives. Sarah still kept young children in holding chambers and the girl wasn’t above using them to get what she wanted. They had to keep her from discovering the team. Once they dealt with the Morgee, the Freedom Team would take care of Sarah and her followers. Which actually frightened Janai more than she let on. As a healer, her instinct was to save lives, yet she knew that might not be possible. Sarah was determined to fight and would probably use any means necessary to win.

  Ash slipped a strong hand over Janai’s wrist. “Don’t let her muddle your thoughts.”

  “I’ll try, but that girl worries me. She’s so unpredictable.”

  “Yeah, I know.” He stepped up the pace. “We’ll stop her. Don’t worry.”

  “I have a few things to say to little-miss-traitor,” Vala said in an angry tone.

  “I think we’ve all got words for her,” Janai said, trying to keep her own anger at bay.

  ****

  The group was silent as they turned the corner of the last hallway and into the large cavern, where the three stolen ground transports floated silently above the floor. The technicians had routed energy from the free-zone caverns to regenerate the crafts, giving the Freedom Team six days to complete the mission and get back to the free-zone before the transports ran out of power. But they all knew they’d have only one chance at attacking the Morgee and the regeneration system. It wouldn’t take six days. They had to succeed the first time, no matter what else happened. We have to win.

  Janai sucked in an audible breath and gave Ash a slight smile when he looked at her. His hand squeezed hers. She hoped she lived to see her wedding day. Ash gave her hand another squeeze and her thoughts turned to the mission again.

  Initially, stealing the portable energy tubes had only a slight effect on the Morgee. The bin Janai’s group had raided held spare tubes. The camp soldiers carried two with them at all times. Only now, they were forced to relinquish one every few days for regeneration. Janai wished her group had been able to steal those, too. Transporting run-down soldiers back to the dome for regeneration would’ve been much more of an inconvenience for the Morgee and a better chance of success for the Freedom Team.

  The original plan was to infect the portable tubes with the virus and return them to the dome, but the virus code became unstable after two days in the tubes. The E’treuns still didn’t know why. And there was no guarantee a soldier would use an infected tube within that time frame. Nonetheless, the Freedom Team would put infected tubes in the bins.

  Janai sighed and turned with her team down another corridor. Any infected Morgee that regenerated in the dome cylinders would pass on the virus, thankfully. That much, the E’treuns could ensure. The hope was that the virus would spread and eventually disable them all. Janai hoped with all her being for that scenario. She allowed herself a smile at that thought. She came out of her reverie when she saw Krav’n and the other younger children waiting near the transports. The little Ronarian boy had been crying. He pulled away from his guardian and ran into her arms.

  “We’ll be back before you know it, little brother.” Janai hoped that by saying the words aloud, she could make them come true.

  “I know.” He wiped his nose on his sleeve. “But I’ll miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you, too.” She kissed his head ridges. They went through this ritual every time she left on a mission. He seemed to need it. And, she hated to admit, so did she.

  “I made something for you.�
� He held up a small skin drawing.

  Janai took the drawing and studied it. Krav’n’s artistic talents were blossoming under the E’treuns tutelage. She recognized the figures. She was standing in front of the rockdome and the two suns shone brightly overhead. Ash stood near her and Krav’n had drawn himself between the two. They were all smiling. She didn’t recognize the symbol at the bottom and she knelt next to the boy. “What’s this say?”

  “Tish says it means freedom.” He gazed at her with innocence.

  She glanced up at Ash and caught the moistness in his eyes. In one smooth movement, she pulled Krav’n close and put her lips to his ear. “Thank you. It’s a beautiful drawing.” He hugged her and pressed his forehead to hers.

  He then did the same to Ash. “Bye, little man,” Ash said. “You take care of things while we’re away.”

  “I will.” The boy reluctantly allowed his guardian to lead him a safe distance from the crafts.

  The Freedom Team boarded the three transports. Janai watched through the front window as the craft silently moved out of the cavern and into the night. She felt her weapon secured to her belt next to her sinsabe. A heat distributor was looped into the belt, also, and she made a silent wish that the virus it carried would be successful. She adjusted the tie that held her onto the hard stone bench. The other two ships’ dim lights shone on the ground in front of them, along with their own. This one was crowded. The other two held just as many.

  Sarah had a Morgee soldier guarding the energy control panel now, but that didn’t matter this time. They needed the dome’s power on to get the virus into the regeneration system. The girl had created another problem by assigning several followers to watch the tunnels. Janai worried about those. The Morgee couldn’t cross into the tunnels but Sarah’s followers could. This was going to be a problem that Janai hoped wouldn’t lead to bloodshed. She watched for a moment as the two drivers moved hands over the control panel of the transport. A strong hand grasped hers.

  Ash smiled when she looked at him. “We’ll do everything we can not to hurt the children.”

  “I know. But I don’t think all of Sarah’s followers will give us the same consideration.” She shifted in her seat. “Some of them actually believe the girl. And that worries me.”

  43 ~ Morgee Infiltration

  All except the drivers disembarked the transports and made their way into the dome, where they split up for their assigned tasks. Janai followed directly behind Vala and kept one hand on her weapon, while she adjusted the small pack that hung on her shoulder. The familiar rumbling of the dome was steady and constant. The first tunnel proved empty and opened into a vacant holding chamber. Vala led them through this room and into the next tunnel. They followed the blue floor lights until they came to a sharp turn. Vala stopped, earflaps shifting abruptly. The Aknidean girl turned to Janai and motioned toward the end of the lights. Someone was in the tunnel with them.

  Janai’s heart raced and her mouth became dry as she drew her weapon. “How many?” she mouthed with only a breath of sound.

  Vala listened intently for a moment then held up one finger. The others looked to Janai and she nodded. Slowly the group crept toward the end of the lights. At first, the person was just a shadow and didn’t seem to notice the group. As they got closer, Janai suspected it was a girl child about twelve Earth years. She was looking into the next holding cell. The group was so quiet the girl didn’t acknowledge them until Vala grabbed her, clamping a hand over her mouth, and spun her around. Her white hair and pattern neck spots revealed her as Kritine.

  Vala held the struggling girl’s right arm behind her back and put her lips to an ear. “Quiet.”

  Blal’k wrestled the light-fire weapon from the girl’s left hand. Her eyes widened when she saw Janai and she immediately stopped struggling. She was wearing a simple gray jumpsuit, not the gold color of Sarah’s soldiers. There was something familiar about her, besides the fact that she was Kritine. Something in the eyes. They seemed to recognize Janai. The girl reached out a hand to her.

  “Vala,” Janai said. “Let her speak.”

  “You going to scream?” the Aknidean girl said in a dangerous tone.

  The girl shook her head. Vala slowly took her hand from the girl’s mouth. “Janai?” the girl said, her lip quivering. “Is that you?”

  “Yes.” She narrowed eyes on the child. “How do you know me?”

  “I was hoping it was you. Don’t you recognize me?” She sounded hurt. “Chivia.”

  “Chivia?” The hairs rose on her arms. “Little Chivia?” She had watched over a small child by that name in her village when she was a young girl herself.

  Chivia nodded and began to cry and Janai gently took her from Vala’s grip. She hadn’t seen anyone from her own village in years and emotions were rising in her. She held back her own tears. Barely. “It’s all right.”

  Chivia pulled away and wiped at her tears with one hand. “I’m so glad to see you. I didn’t think I’d see anyone from home ever again.”

  “I know the feeling.” Janai offered a smile. “I’m glad to see you, too.”

  “I’ve heard stories about you here and in the camps.” Her eyes widened. “You’re famous, you know.” She scanned the group. “You’re here to help us, right?”

  Janai gave a nod. She couldn’t help but feel slightly self-conscious that stories were circulating about her. Chivia didn’t seem to idolize her as much as Segr’n had, but it made her uncomfortable just the same. She fought back a feeling to trust the girl. She’d been away a long time and knew from experience that even old friends could betray.

  Chivia must have caught her doubt. “I’m on your side. Many of us are.” She placed a hand on Janai’s shoulder, and Vala jerked into a defensive position. “Segr’n disappeared, along with some of the younger children. I was hoping he was with you.” She looked expectantly into Janai’s eyes.

  “He and the others are in the free-zone,” Janai told the girl. She would leave out the part that he was injured.

  Chivia dropped her arm and relaxed. “Good.”

  She wanted to believe this child, this girl from her village, and she reached down to take Chivia’s hands.

  The girl pulled her right arm away and hid it behind her. “Don’t.”

  “If you’re hurt—”

  “You can’t help me.”

  Janai reached out and gently took hold of the hidden arm, pulling it toward her into the dim blue light. Chivia resisted only a little then focused her eyes on the floor. Janai slid her hands down the girl’s arm to her wrist. Chivia’s arm stopped at the wrist and all that was there was a scarred nub where a hand used to be. Janai put gentle fingers under the girl’s chin and forced her to look up. “What happened?”

  The girl’s lip quivered. “I was trying to disable a Morgee. Like I’d heard about in the camps. When—” she stopped, eyes falling to the floor again.

  “It’s okay. When what?” Janai encouraged.

  “Sarah caught me. I didn’t have a brother or sister for her to threaten.” A single tear rolled down the pale cheek. “There was just me. She said it was to teach me a lesson, so I would never betray her again.” Janai’s face grew hot with rage and she cursed. “But I don’t care. I hate her.”

  Janai used all her strength to control her emotions. “I’m sorry, Chivia.”

  “Janai,” Vala said with an apologetic look in her eyes. “We have to get going.”

  Chivia looked almost panicked. “Please, take me with you. I’ll do anything you want me to. Just don’t leave me here.”

  Do you think we can trust her, Janai? Ash sent mentally.

  I don’t know. But we can’t leave her here. If she’s planning to reveal us, we’re better off keeping her close. She scanned her friends. They nodded without her having to say a word. “All right. But stay close and do what you’re told.”

  The girl looked relieved. “I will. I promise.”

  Pethe’s group is almost to the regeneration
room, Ash sent.

  Janai motioned to Vala to lead them through the holding chambers, while Blal’k kept his weapon pointed at Chivia. Janai walked with the girl and kept an eye on her movements. She hated not trusting her, especially after what the child had been through, but things were different now. They made their way through the next set of tunnels and toward the regeneration room.

  Chivia stopped. “Wait.” Vala and Blal’k both aimed a weapon at her. She seemed to ignore them. “There’s a soldier guarding that room.”

  Janai looked to Ash. He focused on the illusion doorway and shook his head. “I don’t sense any Morgee in there.”

  “Not Morgee. One of Sarah’s soldiers. He does whatever she tells him.”

  Janai scanned her group then turned back to the girl. “Is he the only one?”

  “I think so.”

  Janai motioned to Vala and the Aknidean crept to the illusion with the others on her heels. They could see just one soldier in the room, an adolescent boy. He wore the same type of gold suit and helmet that Segr’n had worn and cradled a light-fire weapon in his right hand. Janai wasn’t positive, but from the eyes and mouth, which was all she could see with the gold face covering, the boy looked to be from Earth. He wasn’t quite yet an adult but close enough that he would have the ability to put up a good struggle. And he was in a position that he would see anyone who came through the illusion doorway.

  Pethe’s group is in the next tunnel, Ash sent. He motioned to the boy. They know about him. I told her to wait.

  The Morgee regeneration cylinders were open and empty. That, at least, was a good thing for the Freedom Team.

  “We’ll have to rush him,” Vala said. “And hope we get to him before he fires at anyone.”

  “No,” Janai told the girl firmly. “That’s too dangerous.”