Chapter 10

Back on Earth…

Normally Flash was happy to be back on Earth but this time it was different. He felt sad and angry at the same time. They had to leave Dale on Mongo, in the hands of Ming.

On her own free will…

He was not able to understand why Dale was willingly living with Ming though he fully understood her plans. But why this way? Why her!

Worse was to tell her parents that Dale was all right but not reachable for an unknown period. What was he should he tell them? That Dale had been forced to bond the tyrant Ming? Impossible to tell, was it not?

He sighed while he watched Baylin taking two bottles of water and offered him one. He took a deep sip, trying to think and free his mind, but it did not help.

"And now?" Baylin wanted to know. "Tell her parents or wait? Perhaps she's fleeing from him soon!"

"Dale's phoning her parents every couple of days. They'll become suspicious and extremely worried if she does not! I have to tell them."

"Shall I come with you?" offered Baylin calmly. "You then have to explain them where she is. Mongo. Perhaps I can help you with that."

"Thanks, yeah, this would be probably better" he sighed. "The Arden's live in Kendall as well, not far away from her daughter's apartment. I think we go visit them immediately."

"Agree. But what about Norah? Your mother?"

Baylin was right. They did not just tell her parents but also Flash's mother, since Norah had befriended Dale. She would be surprised if Dale would not come by from time to time for a cup of coffee and for talking. And since Dale had been at the Gordon's house quite often in the last months…

"She's in Europe and won't be home before next week. Until then we have enough time to make up some plans."

"To explain something like that there's never enough time."

Flash was taken aback. Normally Baylin was not that sensitive. So, life on Earth changed her.

He did not want to know if Dale was about to be changed on Mongo as well. And if so to what extent.

Meanwhile on Mongo Dale tried to settle in. Early in the morning Ming's clock alarm had woken them up. But while she had turned around and had fallen asleep again Ming had gotten up tiredly. She had not heard him coming in again to wake her up.

"So tired, dear? You like to sleep a little bit longer?"

She had just nodded sleepy and he had left the room. Two hours later she had woken up again and had made herself ready for the day.

In the dressing-room she was awaited by Izah, her hand maid. The young woman about her age had already opened the wardrobe. All Dale had to do was to decide which outfit she liked to choose.

"Milady,…I was contacted by Terek."

Dale starred at her. She was really surprised how high Terek's connections already were. Surely it would not be a problem for him to get unseen to Ming and back. She did not spend a single second on warning Ming. He was never unprotected and Terek was not that stupid to come here on his own, was?

"If you ever want to send him a message, please…" she added, but Dale waved her hand and made her stop.

"Ming could be listening…"

"The Benevolent Father has already started on his appointments. We're here on our own."

"Ok. So you're in contact with the Deviates? Why is it?"

"My sister is one of them."

"Understood, ok. So, I can send them a message through you?"

"Yes, Milady. Anytime."

Dale nodded, but she said her she had no message for them by now. But she thanked her hand maid. But there was another request Dale had, an urgent one.

"You can help me out with…something special…" Dale started. "Is it possible for you to organize birth control for me?"

Izah turned white: "Only the illegal stuff and that might expose you to danger. It's barely known what's in these cocktails; I suppose you need to ask the doctor."

"Then he'll find out, no! Perhaps…Aura?"

"The princess? Perhaps, yes."

"Would you please ask her hand made or her if she's interested in a cup of tea sometime today?"

"Of course, Milady."

Dale sighed. Her life was not easy on Mongo; socialising was important to settle in. Her stepdaughter was once not very nice to her, but she had changed a lot. Aura was now the only one who was able to help her. She knew Aura would set everything in motion if it was possible for her.

Although she had made first steps to accept her bond mate she was not willed to get pregnant.

Dale parents were irritated when Flash Gordon, a former ex-boyfriend of their daughter, came by for a visit. They had already heard that Dale and Flash got friends again, but on the other side they had been sad about Dale split off with her fiancée.

Dale's mother Amy led them into the living-room. She had already met Baylin. To her she was Flash's cousin. To other people she was Dale's.

"Is Dale not with you?" John, Dale's father, asked them, after he greeted them friendly.

"That's why we're here…uhm…, Sir" Flash began slowly and then, after they sat on the couches, he told them everything about Mongo, the Rifts, the complete story, just from the beginning. About Ming, Aura, Rankol, Barin, Terek and all the others far, far away.

"Where is Dale?" Mrs Arden finally interrupted Flash's story. "Is she on that planet?"

"Yes, but she's safe…" Baylin quickly answered.

"Uhm…somewhat…safe" Flash added. "Dale was caught a few days ago. Ming first sent her into prison and then…he bonded her…"

"Bonded her? What's that supposed to mean?" Mr. Arden asked.

"It's comparable to an Earth marriage", Baylin told them simple with a dry voice.

"Dale is married?" Dale's mother went white, her voice worried, unbelieving.

"Unwillingly, but yes, she is. Problem is we can't rescue her; she's way to heavy guarded to just step inside Ming's rooms and grab her. But she'd sent us a message through her stepdaughter who is on our side."

"What was this message?" her father wanted to know.

"She did not want us to run into the trap Ming had placed to get the information to fix the IMEX. Instead she plans to work against him from within."

Speechless Dale's parents starred at Baylin and Flash. Honestly Flash was now not that sure if he would not probably warn Ming to never ever set a personal foot on Earth.

Dale's father would not hesitate for a moment to kill him at once.

"Who is this Ming again? The ruler?" Mrs. Arden again.

"He calls himself the Benevolent father. Ming's about forty-something, has two grown-up children and is…sadly but true…good-looking."

Finally after finding back to words Dale's father had just one more question: If Dale would ever come home again.