Sataal, Manutaai, and their followers were right next door to the OBF team, but each room was soundproofed, and they would never hear each other if they screamed blue murder.
Sataal was very weak from his brutal interrogation, and Manutaai was putting drops of water in his mouth, trying his best to feed him without him vomiting.
Manutaai and some of the fitter men were discussing their situation at hand, and as Sataal was out of action, they had voted that Manutaai, being second in command, should assume leadership for now.
Sataal told his men that his captor, Lord Talokta, knew full well he was the traitor that Marone was looking for and threatened to hand him over if he did not tell him more about the rebel movement. Sataal knew Talokta and his methods very well and refused to show fear. He also knew Talokta would never hand him back to his old boss Marone. The Supreme Ruler would be rubbing his hands together.
He took the torture saying nothing, and finally fell unconscious.
Talk of escape arose: everything from overpowering the guards, feigning weakness from interrogation, and surprising them. All were discussed and dismissed. Manutaai suggested giving them what they came for–the surrender of the rebels, the precious mines, and new hosts. “We will tell the Trimadians exactly what they want to hear. By telling our people to surrender peacefully to the Trimadians, acknowledging that their way of life is the only way, but only if we can speak directly to our Leaders. We can convince them that subjugation would be a better alternative than wiping out the population.
“There is no honor. That is not our way!” was the retort.
Manutaai lowered his voice as if the walls had ears. “At least this is a chance to allow time to get our forces together.” He looked at each of his men. “Extinction would mean no hope for the future.”
That statement stamped an eerie silence.
Sataal’s men knew they were going to be sacrificed or forced into slavery, but they had to give their families, their people a chance to act.
So this too was discussed and overall decided it was the best thing they could do under the circumstances. “They probably won’t agree,” said Manutaai. “As they know we are a proud, honorable, fight to the death people. But on the other hand, the Trimadians are extremely arrogant and egotistical. If the Trimadian leader knows he will quickly get all the crystals and everything he is after, plus millions of new recruits willing to be implanted quickly and quietly. This would indeed reflect favorably on him and maybe further his promotional chances. I don’t know, but it is worth a shot.”
No one could think of anything else, and at this stage, they had nothing to lose.
Sataal was listening but still floated in and out of consciousness. He whispered, “They certainly will never let me go. They will always view me as a traitor and make an example of me. Good luck, my friend.” He lifted a weak arm and patted his friend on the shoulder.
“Freedom to the Cantals!”
Sataal remembered something about a very fetching Earth woman accompanying the OBF team. He had touched her hand and felt a surge of current flow into him causing excruciating pain. She collapsed, convulsing. Who was she and why did that happen? All Pete had said earlier was she had some telepathic abilities. He hoped his Graffite friends were alive. Though, the woman would not fare well with the Trimadians. Despite their short, rather electrifying encounter, there was something about her he could not put his finger on. But right now, there was a high chance he would be dead soon, and nothing then would matter.
Manutaai had requested an audience with Talokta and it was granted. Talokta agreed with what Manutaai had proposed, but whether it was for the reasons that Manutaai had suggested, he could not say. All Manutaai knew was they had to buy some time.
It turned out better for them than they realized, at least for now. Unknown to each other both Manutaai and Kate were to deliver total surrender to their respective leaders or accept the dire consequences. They must return in three days.
Kate remembered how Pete had leapt to his feet to stop the guards from taking her away again. Would she ever see them all alive again? And Pete—God! Would she ever see him again?
“Don’t forget!” he had shouted to her before the door had slid shut.
She had an overwhelming sensation that she had bitten off more than she could chew and it was churning in her stomach.
Man! This was her very first off world visit and it could end up being her last!
Kate and Manutaai were escorted separately by the Trimadian guards. Just as a sweetener, they were each told if they did not come back with favorable news, their colleagues would be executed, though Kate had suspected that was coming.
Manutaai was escorted to the outskirts of the Cantal city, Manooalta. Kate told her guard, with a slight air of smugness, she would have to wait for an indefinite time before her homebase would open the BSP to let her through. The guard shook his head and garbled something at her. She heard “Graffa” as he fiddled with a large silver ring on his finger. A laser type light shot out of the ring onto the BSP opening it. By Christ that scared her! What would stop them from walking right through! But Talokta had stated his terms, and she was not in any position to stop them regardless. She had been given back her personal coded I.D. device informing the base she was coming through.
The last thing she wanted was her beloved planet to be taken over by an enemy that was taunting her through disjointed visions.
Just as she stepped through, her consciousness spelled out the worst scenario. Just think, girl, you could be the one ultimately responsible for the destruction of Earth.