21. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Faelin

The guards lead us down a row of tiny cells, each separated from the hallway by a shimmering force field. Most are empty, but I catch sight of a few figures curled up in the furthest corners, sobbing and trembling. I also see several bulky males and females who stand by the force fields, glaring at the guards as we pass by. They would be useful in a fight. If only I could get them out of their cells and disable our collars.

The guards stop in front of an empty cell, deactivating the force field. When I move to enter, they stop me.

“Just the child,” the lead guard says. His hands appear to be leisurely resting in his pockets but I know he’s holding the fucking collar remote.

“Come on. Let me stay with her for a couple more hours,” I try to reason with them. “We won’t make any trouble.”

My collar tingles as the tiniest voltage flows through it. A warning. “Just the child,” the guard repeats, his expression stone cold.

There are four of them. Under normal circumstances, I could take them out easily but the damned collar is making everything impossible. “Alright, alright,” I mutter as I set Ellen on the floor. “Hey, my beautiful, big girl,” I whisper into her ear, keeping my voice low, hoping that the guards won’t hear me. “I need you to go into this room and wait, alright? I promise that either me or your mama will come pick you up soon. I just need you to stay brave a little longer.”

The tears welling in her eyes break my heart. “I’m scared, Failin,” she whispers, eyeing the guards surrounding us. “I don’t want to wait. I want Mama now.”

“I know. I know, sweetheart.” I pull her into a hug and place a kiss on the top of her head. “Just a little longer. I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”

Ellen’s little body is trembling so much I’m amazed she’s still standing. I’m about to beg the guard again when she stiffens her little back then nods and enters the cell. Her wide, tear-filled eyes follow me as the guards roughly lead me away. They won’t even let me stay in the cell next to Ellen’s, even though it’s empty. They lead me one floor up and further down the corridor before finally stopping.

“Get in,” the guard barks.

Realizing they can’t use Ellen to threaten me anymore, I lunge at the nearest guard. It’s a desperate attack, doomed to fail, but if I could just kill or injure at least one of them, it would be worth it. Sadly, I must have telegraphed my intentions as my collar activates before my fists land on the first male’s face. Damn it! One second later and I could have rearranged the fucker’s face to make him look a lot better than he does now.

The guards laugh, watching me jerk and twitch on the floor. “You’re an idiot,” the lead guard says, poking me with the tip of his boot. “What did you expect would happen? We’re surrounded by wannabe heroes all the time. No one has ever succeeded. Ever. The sooner you understand that, the better for you. And forget about the child. You won’t see her again. Now, get in the fucking cell.”

Grunting, I slowly pull myself up on all fours. One of the bastards promptly plants a boot into my naked ass, sending me tumbling back down to the floor.

After several more kicks and one more collar activation, I manage to crawl past them into the cell, the force field humming as they turn it on. “Enjoy your last few hours of peace, idiot,” the lead guard smirks at me. “Once your new mistress takes you, you won’t get any.”

I ignore their taunts, focusing on stretching out my aching limbs. After so many shocks in a row, my muscles are cramped up, twitching randomly and hurting like hell. Pushing through the pain, I begin the basic warm-up exercises I use every workout session. There’s a fight coming and I need to be in top shape when it arrives.

I’m halfway through my third set of stretches when the sound of multiple footsteps echoes down the corridor toward me. Recognizing the person approaching, I grin. “What the fuck took you so long?”

“We were taking in the scenery, obviously. You look like shit. Why are you naked?” Tareq replies, cocking an eyebrow.

“So that my new owner can suck my cock, of course. Or eat it,” I add, shuddering in disgust. “I’d rather not find out, to be honest. Is Nala okay?”

“Faelin?!” My perfection runs over to me, her hands colliding with the invisible barrier. “Ohmygod, you’re okay!” Nala scans the cell, her expression quickly turning from relief into abject terror the instant she sees I’m alone. “Where’s Ellen? Please, tell me she isn’t—”

As Nala’s overwhelming grief and despair begins to take over, I quickly reassure her, “She’s fine. She’s in a different cell. One floor down, the corridor to the left. I will—” I don’t get to finish my sentence because Nala sprints off, the chain attached to the collar she wears clanking as she runs. “Nala? Nala!” I call out but she doesn’t stop, disappearing from my field of sight. I slam my hands against the force field. “Fuck!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll go with her,” Lyriana says, turning to follow Nala.

Astra casts a worried glance at Tareq. “Should I go too?”

“Absolutely not,” he proclaims, pulling her into his body. “You’re not leaving my sight. Lyri will make sure Nala is safe.”

The menacing growl that escapes my mouth has Tareq and Astra turning back to me. “Can’t you get me out of here already?” I bark, pushing against the force field again. I’m supposed to be the one protecting my perfection.

“Do I look like a tech wizard to you?” Tareq sneers. “We need to wait for D’Aakh and Cai to open the cells and deactivate everyone’s collars.”

“Did you just say deactivate collars? Like, everyone’s collars?” I can’t see who just spoke because the voice is coming from the cell right next to mine, but by the growly accent, I’m guessing he’s an Okri. “Who the fuck are you people?”

Tareq examines the male speaker, then glances around at the other holding cells, seeing what I saw before—several strong, determined males and females ready to fight. “In a few minutes,” he announces, loud enough so that everyone in this corridor can hear, “these cells will all open and the collar remotes will be temporarily deactivated. We’ll be using that opportunity to get out of here. I strongly suggest you all do the same.”

“Where are we?” a female asks. “A station? A planet? I’m guessing we’re no longer in UGC-controlled space?”

“We’re on a battleship called the Arcade, currently somewhere in sector F-5.” The word “battleship” causes a wave of nervous whispering. “There are at least eight ships currently docked on the starboard side of the Arcade. If I were you, I’d make a run for one of them.”

The female scoffs. “And our escape will provide the distraction you need to get your friend out of here? I will not play decoy for you.”

“Then stay in the cell and await your glorious future as a slave,” Tareq replies, shrugging. “Your choice. There is another distraction planned already, big enough to allow everyone to leave, provided you get to the ships in time.”

The female must have nodded because Tareq nods back in her direction. Using his comm unit, Tareq asks, “D’Aakh, what’s the status on the holding cells?”

I don’t hear D’Aakh’s response but knowing him, he’s probably telling Tareq to fuck off and let him work. Sure enough, Tareq shakes his head as he grins, deactivating the comm. “It looks like we have to wait a little longer.”

I want to roar out in frustration and slam my fists into the stupid barrier, but neither will help me escape any faster. Instead, I opt for pacing the tiny cell. “Fuck this. What kind of stupid plan was this?” I complain, mainly to have something to occupy myself with. “Couldn’t you have brought some magical door opener or something? How long am I supposed to wait—”

The barrier flickers. I’m out of my cell before the shimmering field has completely finished dispersing and I’m not the only one. The corridor is now filled with freed slaves. Some take off running, others hesitate.

“How do we know the collars are deactivated?” asks the female from before, who I can now see is a Syndoran. She’s tall with a well toned athletic figure, wearing nothing but a few scraps of leather over her private parts. A week ago, I would have lusted after her. Now, I’ve only got eyes for Nala.

“My friend says they are,” Tareq shrugs dismissively, “but it will only last until the ship’s main security system reboots, which won’t take more than twenty minutes, even with our team actively slowing the process down. I suggest you hurry if you want to get out of here.”

The female eyes Tareq suspiciously, then visibly relaxes, deciding to believe him before muttering a quiet thank you and racing off.

“Okay. Time to regroup with Omni and D’Aakh and—HEY! Where the fuck do you think you’re off to?!” He grabs my arm to stop me. “We’re going this way.”

He’s pointing in the opposite direction from where Nala went. From where Ellen is. “No,” I respond sharply, shaking off his hand. “I’m going after my females.”

“Lyri’s there,” he objects. “She will—”

“I don’t care. I’m going.” Without waiting for a response, I take off quickly toward the staircase.

Exasperated, Tareq runs after me. He catches up when I pause at the staircase, the chain from Astra’s collar now in his hands. Offering it to me, he grumbles, “Here, take this at least. You can’t run around here naked and unarmed.”

“He could always knock the guards out with his cock,” Astra suggests as she approaches Tareq and I, smothering her giggle with a hand over her mouth.

Tareq rolls his eyes. “Yeah, or they’ll die laughing at the sight of it. Come on then, let’s find the girls before someone finds us.”

The sound of heavy boots thudding in our direction tells me it’s too late. A group of guards emerges from around the corner. I recognize the one in charge.

“Get back in your cell!” he roars, raising the collar remote. “NOW!”

I flinch as he presses down on the button, but nothing happens. I owe D’Aakh a big, sloppy kiss when this is all over. And Cai too, I suppose.

The guard’s eyes widen at the realization that his torture device isn’t working. He presses the button again and again in the vain hope that it was just a momentary glitch. His frantic button clicking is abruptly halted by me as I leap forward and wrap the chain around his neck. “Look at me,” I growl into his ear as I tighten the chain, “I made it out of the cell. And the child will too. Too bad you won’t be around to see it.”

I yank the chain hard, reveling in the sound of crushing cartilage. The lead guard’s body twitches a few times, then stills. Letting go of the chain, I roll away just in time to avoid being smashed in the face with a shock stick. As the attacker rears back to strike again, he’s hit in the chest by a stunner and collapses.

I nod appreciatively at Tareq. “Where did you get that from?” I ask, picking myself up off the ground and searching the disabled guards for weapons.

“We stole it on our way here,” Astra grins. She’s also holding a stunner and has a fierce look in her eyes. “We should go before more guards arrive.”

Staring into Astra’s eyes adoringly, Tareq whispers, “You’re so perfect.”

These two are so sickeningly sweet, it makes my teeth ache. It also makes me miss Nala more. “Yes, yes, she’s the greatest thing since sliced warp-threads,” I grunt. “Shut up already. Let’s go.” I desperately need to find my perfection and her adorable mini perfection.