CHAPTER 23
Rina
A hard slap on the face and Rina awoke to a dark-haired man with slate-blue eyes. A thick goatee surrounded his thin lips and aside from the furry eyebrows, he was somewhat attractive.
“Who are you?” she asked softly.
“Vorkis,” he said, stiffening up. “What’s your name?”
“Rina.” She was lying flat on her back, unable to move her arms and legs or even turn her head. “Why are you destroying my world?” Her head hurt so bad she wondered if she was slurring her speech.
“What is your species called?” he asked.
“Answer my question first,” she said. Does his breath stink because he eats humans like Zorcons?
“I am not a patient man,” he said. “Tell me or someone you know will die.”
“You killed my best friend,” she said.
“Earth-humans attach themselves to unimportant things. You are not one of them.”
“At least I didn’t slaughter my friends and family. You’re a worthless piece of crap who doesn’t deserve to live.”
His top lip twitched several times. “Be careful, Rina, I’ve—”
A Zorcon tapped his shoulder. “My lord, please excuse the interruption, but I have the information you requested.” He handed him a scanner.
“According to the Earth-human records,” Vorkis said, reading, “your father is alive.” He faced the Zorcon. “Locate him.”
“As you wish, Your Highness,” answered the Zorcon, who bowed and walked out of her vision.
Vorkis tossed the scanner aside and spread his arms apart, resting his hands on the table. His gaze went up and down her body, giving her the creeps.
“I’m curious about you,” he said. “I can read anyone’s mind, but I’m having difficulty with yours. I’ll ask you again, what species are you? And where did you get the Pril?”
“I’m Earth-human,” she said. “My mother found the rock after a volcano erupted.”
His stare told her he wasn’t buying it.
“Very well,” he said.
To her astonishment, he pulled her up to a sitting position as if nothing held her down. The table she was on was completely lit and possibly made of glass. The faint sounds of jabber came from a distance. Against the walls of the cavernous room, she counted twenty terminals with Zorcons monitoring holograms. Vorkis sniffed her hair and she jerked away, grossed by his touch.
“I’m amazed at your resemblance to a Saleran female,” he said. “You even smell like them.”
“You’re sick,” she replied. “Why do you hate so much? Are you a coward?” She’d probably get it for that one.
He grabbed the hair atop her head and yanked her head back. She gasped and grabbed his hand, trying to loosen his painful grip.
“To kill gives one power,” he said, glaring down at her. Spittle sprinkled her face. “After exterminating the fools on Salera, I have become the most powerful being in the galaxy and no one can take that from me. Not even Kalin.”
He pushed her head away hard, letting go of her hair, and she almost fell on her side. She rubbed her head, glad to feel the clump of hair was still there.
“Come,” he said. “I’ll show you what real power is.”
He slid her legs off the table and lifted her to her feet. Her gaze went up his towering physique; he was Kalin’s height and just as broad. She wondered if Kalin could really beat him. He nodded to his left.
Twenty feet away, Marante stood on a raised, round platform, where a white transparent beam of light encapsulated him. A gash opened the side of his head and blue, fluorescent blood was streaming out. His clothes were shredded.
They dragged him.
“Tell me who you are and you will save him,” said Vorkis.
There was a cough and Rina noticed Taru at a podium not far from them.
“You animal!” she screamed and vaulted for him.
“No!” cried out Taru, cowering away.
Vorkis pulled her back.
“I will say this much,” he said, laughing as he tried to restrain her. “I’ve never heard of a woman overpowering a Zorcon. I am impressed.”
Marante groaned. He was pale and weak. She had to do something.
Stall for time, my lady, said Marante in her mind.
She turned around and faced Vorkis. “Why don’t you let me at him again? I can give you a real good show.”
“You intrigue me, Rina,” he replied, “and I love the offer but alas, he is my Captain of the Guard and I need him.”
His gaze focused on her eyes, sending a cold shiver through her bones. Kalin was right; Vorkis was pure evil. He swung her around to face Marante. This time his hands clamped her upper arms tight, holding her in place.
“Marante is in a Telvor Beam,” he said. “It’s a gift from a friend. You’ve met him already, General Vurro. This magnificent creation dissolves brain cells, a very slow and excruciating process. There are five levels. With each level, suffering increases. At level five the brain liquefies.”
Her heart thumped harder with each second. She couldn’t panic. She had to buy more time. “You’re demented.”
“Thank you.” She could hear his smile. “Now it’s my turn to play.”
The beam surrounding Marante began fluttering, and his face scrunched in pain as streams of light attacked his cranium.
“Stop it!” said Rina.
“Tell me who you are,” said Vorkis.
“How can I tell you something I don’t know?” she said anxiously.
“Level two!” shouted Vorkis.
The pulses quickened and Marante clenched his teeth. Desperate to make them stop, Rina squirmed to free herself, but Vorkis squeezed her arms so tight she was sure her bones would snap. Her knees gave way from the pain, but he held her up.
“The longer you take, the more damage you inflict,” said Vorkis. “Now, tell me who you are.”
“I don’t know!” she cried.
“Level four!” yelled Vorkis.
“No!” shouted Rina.
The streams of light changed into pulsing white halos. Marante’s face was drawn and pinched tight, contorting with every wave, his thin body twitching with each contraction.
“All right!” she said. “Release him and I’ll tell you!”
“Excellent,” said Vorkis.
He signaled Taru and the beam shut off. Marante slumped forward and fell off the lowering platform, hitting the floor with a thud.
“Let’s see how well you handle the Telvor,” said Vorkis. He gripped a wad of hair on the top of her head and dragged her body to the platform, her legs sliding on the floor. She dug her nails in his hand while she pushed with her legs trying to ease the pain. He clutched her arm and flung her body onto the platform. Instantly, the white beam encased her, straightening her out and stiffening her muscles. She was unable to move. It felt like a vice. Breathing was difficult. The platform raised her to a foot above Vorkis.
“Now,” said Vorkis, crossing his arms over his chest. “Tell me, who are you?”
Rina eyed Marante lying on the floor. At least he’s out of the Telvor. Vorkis was attempting to read her mind again. Somehow when she was told she wasn’t an Earth-human, her mind began doing amazing things, and she hoped it would continue.
“My mother and I are from a planet called Verlea,” she said. “We came to Earth when I was a baby.”
“Verlea?” he mused. “What sector?”
“Sector?” asked Rina. “I have no idea. All I know is Verlea was destroyed by a comet. My mother and I were the only survivors but she died three years ago.”
Rina hoped the story was believable because she still had a hard time believing it herself.
“And the stone?” he asked.
“Six months before my mother died, she was on assignment to study an active volcano. She found the rock at the base of the mountain and brought it home. She put it in the pendant and gave it to me. That’s everything. Now let us go!”
Vorkis
nodded then suddenly stepped onto the platform, startling her, and moved himself into the beam.
“The Telvor is programmed for your bio-readings,” he said. “Only you are affected.”
His hands slipped around her waist and he lifted her to his eye level. She still couldn’t move. He pulled her close, nose-to-nose, sniffing her skin and hair.
“I must say I didn’t realize how much I missed the scent of a Saleran woman,” he said.
“Don’t you dare,” said Rina. “I’ll—”
He kissed her hard. Warm blood filled the inside of her bottom lip as his teeth dug into her skin. He pulled away slowly, leaving a string of bloodied saliva between their lips. Angered and repulsed, she spit it at him.
Vorkis signaled Taru and the platform lowered. After wiping the red spit from his cheek, he backhanded her face. The brunt force sent her sliding across the floor and into the rock wall. For a moment, she was incoherent, her mind wavering in and out of consciousness. She moaned and rolled onto her right side, facing the lab. Taru’s frightened voice jostled her awake.
“My lord! The Oridians are rampant throughout the complex!”
Angry roars and laser fire sounded outside the lab.
“How could that be?” Vorkis demanded, glancing down at his Neth Blocker. The red light was off. “What the—” He tapped the unit.
“Your NBs are dead,” said someone out of sight.
Vorkis quickly spun around. Rina smiled. Kalin was just inside the entrance, his Barra pointed at Vorkis. Seven Oridians entered the room from behind him. Gathering her senses, Rina checked the NB on her shirt; it was on.
“They can’t see me,” said Kalin, “but they can see you.”
A large female stood on her haunches and whooped. The Oridians began hobbling towards Vorkis, their bodies moist with hunger. Vorkis swiftly pulled Marante off the floor and pinned him in a headlock, clutching his forehead with his other hand. The creatures halted their movement, looking at each other as if confused.
Vorkis just went invisible because of Marante’s NB, thought Rina.
Taru and the other Zorcons were trembling in a corner when the animals growled and began racing towards them. The Zorcons ran out of the lab screaming with the Oridians in pursuit.
“I can snap his neck,” said Vorkis. “Back off, Kalin. I’m leaving.”
Rina jumped to her feet and charged, barreling her body into Vorkis. He tumbled to the floor with Marante. Kalin fired and hit Vorkis in the chest. His body bashed into the rock wall where it bounced off and hit the floor with a thud. He wasn’t moving.
“Did you kill him?” asked Rina, staring and wondering if it was over.
“No,” said Kalin, pulling Marante away. “Not yet.”
He knelt on one knee and gently tapped his friend’s cheek.
“It is about time,” said Marante.
“You need to stop the dredging,” Kalin told his friend. “The planet has one hour left. Take, Rina, she’ll help you. I’ve got Vorkis.”
“I will not allow your death,” said Marante as Kalin helped him to his feet.
“Please, Marante,” said Rina, tears forming in her eyes. “I need you to save Earth.”
“Let us go, my lady,” he said. He turned to Kalin. “Do not die.”
“Down the hall and to the left,” said Kalin. Now go!”
Marante and Rina rushed out of the lab.
In a dark corner of the cavern, Kalin saw the moving shadow of something large.