Welcome back, everyone!

First, my eternal thanks to my faithful readers and in particular to Winchester-grl44, Focus SJS, CriticalAngel, and Louisestarfly for sharing your thoughts and reactions. I can't begin to tell you how much your words of encouragement mean to me when struggling through the final edits of a full-blown novel. Knowing I have people out there wanting to read more, keeps me going. If anyone else cares to join in and post your comments, please by all means, post away!

In this installment, look for a major about-face that leaves our winged hero shocked. The raid goes down with lots of weapons fire, an angry Emperor, and what I hope is a nail-biter chapter ending. And there's a twist intended to pique your curiosity that was foreshadowed earlier. More of that in the chapter endnotes.

Let's get to it!

Chapter 12

The holographic building suspended above the conference table looked like any other building in the industrial center in the city of Mali on the planet Hydeera – nondescript, utilitarian, but well kept. Some equally utilitarian household product was manufactured there. What that was didn't matter – it was a front. Likely, the workers in the first half of the building had no clue as to what happened in the back half. That's where the Etagllot scientists were working on their latest project. If their intel was correct, that project made the General nervous. But then, any Etagllot project would make him nervous.

They sat in the ready room on General Gtar-Cro's ship parked in the Hydeera system. Across the table from the General sat a very determined Emperor. He wanted the Etagllot taken down and he'd settle for nothing less than complete success. An equally determined Emperor's companion sat at their ruler's side. It marked a rare occasion when the human took part in any meeting of Ztar's inner circle – only the second such occurrence. Obviously, Archangel had succeeded in his scheme to come along as Ztar's "babysitter" as the human had referred to it in a private comm to Gtar-Cro. His sole job would be to keep the Emperor out of harm's way. Gtar-Cro wasn't convinced that was going to be possible.

General Rehsaw was to Gtar-Cro's left. The raid was a joint operation – standard military providing the muscle and firepower, military intelligence the brains and finesse. Neither man had qualms about working together; they had done so successfully many times over the years.

The first half of the meeting was spent exchanging background information and mission generalities. The combined MI and regular military forces would hit the Etagllot facility hard and fast with everything they had. Two priorities governed the mission – capture as many Etagllot as possible, hopefully all, and rescue their victims unharmed. From intelligence reports, kidnapped people from several worlds, including Earth, were being used as test subjects in biotech and genetic experiments.

Of overriding concern was securing the facility in prevention of any facility self-destruct attempts by the organization. It wasn't their preferred modus operandi, but when given ample time to flee, such as on Ymoz, they sometimes leveled an entire facility. Under raid conditions, they typically targeted computer databanks in isolation as those could be quickly and easily destroyed while personnel made good their escape. Technicians in mission ops would scan continuously for any signs of energy build up or other indicators of self-destruct intentions. They'd also be watching for approaching ships intent that same purpose and/or to evac the scientists.

Decades of hiding and running made the Etagllot a very nimble organization. If one facility was breached, all facilities were relocated that any of their captured personnel were aware of, leaving only empty shells for others to find. That strategy made the Etagllot challenging to eradicate. You had to be very fast to make good on any gained intel.

Gtar-Cro talked of the eradication campaign of 15 years ago, mostly for Warren's benefit. During that campaign, Etagllot prisoners proved of limited value because of the need-to-know basis under which many of their members operated. Lesser personnel were also subjected to regular memory 'sanitizing' to ensure they remembered little useful information should they be captured or telepathically scanned. There was no reason to believe the organization had changed its mode of operation dramatically and, therefore, any Etagllot captured in this raid may not be as valuable as one would hope.

"How does that sanitizing work?" Warren asked.

"It's done with surgical precision by telepaths trained specifically for the task," Gtar-Cro began. "It's not a mindwipe, but a select erasure of details that could lead someone like us to Etagllot facilities or operations. For example, the sanitized person will remember he or she worked on a genetic experiment prior to their current assignment, but if that previous facility remains in operation, the memory of its location and the names of its lead researchers is gone."

Warren could not fathom anyone going along with such a procedure on a regular basis. "Why would anyone agree to something like that?"

"People will do surprising things when offered the right incentives. The Etagllot organization offers much in the way of tangible rewards and scientific liberties usually not found elsewhere."

"Still…" Warren shook his head.

"The willing recruits are a unique bred, Archangel. But the Etagllot also recruit using other methods that I can share with you another time. For now, know that their use of memory sanitation severely hampers our efforts. But any information gained adds to the overall intel database. I'll take whatever I can get," Gtar-Cro explained.

"And you still believe the head researcher from Ymoz is among those here?" The Emperor wanted verification again before moving to mission specifics.

"We do," the General answered with conviction.

Ztar turned his eyes to his other general. "Her capture is the primary objective."

"Yes, my Emperor. All team leaders are aware," Rehsaw confirmed. "Her capture would be a significant achievement. She will be one of the first they try to get out and extremely well protected."

"Speaking of well protected, what do we have on their facility defenses?" Warren asked. How he wished the X-men were here – they would make quick work of the rousting.

"They have a security force, guns for hire mixed with their own cultivated guards, most usually ex-military. Their goal will be to slow us down while the scientists escape. Likely, they have multiple escape routes, usually camouflaged. In an urban setting like this one, those routes could lead to any number of nearby buildings."

"So Etagllot could be popping up out of the ground like rabbits just about anywhere."

The general concept of Archangel's statement came through the translator. "Yes. Hence, our wide capture net," Rehsaw confirmed. "But our goal is to prevent as many as possible from escaping the facility in the first place – less potential collateral damage."

Gtar-Cro took over the conversation. "If typical, there will be fortified entrances between facility sections and the whole building monitored from a central location via cameras and sensors. The psychic dampeners and scan shields blind us to the layout of the building. However, we know most of the facility is below ground on two sublevels. Our inside operative provided detailed information for upper portion of the facility." Gtar-Cro punched a button on the embedded control panel and a new hologram popped up. "This is the layout of the building created from that intel."

Warren was immediately concerned. "Didn't you say the Etagllot use telepaths extensively? They'd pick out an infiltrator in no time. How can you trust this information?"

"We couldn't if the source knew he was source. We are using a blind operative," Rehsaw explained, answering ahead of Gtar-Cro.

Gtar-Cro picked it up from there. "Blind operatives are programmed to position themselves into whatever role is required within the organization being infiltrated, if they don't already hold that post. Then periodically, the operative is telepathically siphoned. They have no memory of the programming or memory siphons."

"Etagllot telepaths can't pick up any of that?" Warren questioned, still dubious.

"Unless they are highly skilled at deep probes, no. Few telepaths are of that caliber."

"Even I would have difficulty uncovering the work done by a highly skilled programmer," Ztar injected. "And we have the best."

"And these blind operatives are willing participants?" Warren feared he might hear people were being used without their consent.

Gtar-Cro met Warren's eyes and held them. "MI does not use unwitting operatives, Archangel. They are willing recruits, but have no recollection of that during the mission. The Etagllot's programmers, on the other hand, don't abide by such moral restrictions."

Warren almost shuddered at all the places that power could lead if abused. "That is a frightening scenario."

Gtar-Cro placed one hand palm down on the table. Ztar knew the body language meant things needed to move along after whatever point the General was about to make on the subject. "It is a tactic used with great discretion. It is also the greatest protection our operatives have – a solid cover," Gtar-Cro said with a tone that declared the subject closed.

The two generals then detailed the raid execution. At no time did they mention Ztar playing a role, a point not missed by the Emperor.

"I'm going down. I will be on one of the lead teams." Ztar announced in no uncertain terms.

Gtar-Cro and Rehsaw exchanged quick glances. This was exactly what they feared their Emperor would demand. Despite knowing Archangel hadn't succeeded in dissuading the man earlier, they held out hope they might still change his mind.

"My Emperor, with all respect, is that wise?" Rehsaw had earlier chosen to try first.

"That is my command," Ztar said simply, sounding very much the military leader.

Warren caught Rehsaw shift slightly in his chair. 'This is about to get interesting,' he ventured silently.

"Your tactical skills are best utilized from a more distant vantage point," the military general offered. "We could use your expertise to its greatest advantage in mission ops."

Ztar pushed his seat back. "The decision is made."

Gtar-Cro leaned toward the Emperor. "General Rehsaw speaks out of concern, my Emperor. Consider the risks. The Empire cannot afford to lose you."

Ztar looked like he considered standing for a moment, but did not. "The Empire cannot afford for us to fail in eradicating the Etagllot threat. I have abilities that will be useful on the ground."

"We have other telepaths to ensure no Etagllot slip through," Gtar-Cro pointed out.

Ztar then did stand, in obvious irritation. "You do, but none match my skill."

"And that skill can be used from a distance. Tell us again why you insist on going on the raid," Warren jumped in. Their chances of changing the Emperor's mind at last minute were slim to none. Ztar's whole demeanor said 'I'm Emperor and I will do as I damn well please.'

"Certain abilities are best used at close range. Empathic sensation from strangers is one. If the dampeners are not quickly disabled, I can use that ability to detect their people. Are any of your telepaths also empathic? Do you have any empaths on this mission?" the Emperor demanded as he strode slowly around the table.

"Empathic abilities gain us little advantage," Rehsaw treaded delicately.

"You are wrong." Ztar's voice hinted of insult.

Warren looked quickly from Rehsaw to Gtar-Cro. He knew psychic dampeners did not block empathic ability for reasons he didn't understand. "Do you have any empaths here?" Warren asked. Gtar-Cro indicated 'no' with his hand.

"It is as I knew – my abilities will be another insurance no Etagllot escape. And if indeed Hercjell is down there, I and only I know her mental signature. She will not escape me. We waste time arguing. I will accompany the raid. I am not foolish enough to risk myself recklessly. I will go with your best team. And Archangel will be at my side, if he so desires." Ztar looked to Archangel expectantly.

'What?!' Warren did a silent double-take. It was a 180-degree switch from what Ztar said earlier. All he could manage was an affirmative nod in his shock.

"I will be as safe as can be managed," Ztar continued, halting across from his Generals. "The Etagllot prefer to run rather than fight. We should not encounter strong resistance until very close to our quarry. And if my generals have done their work well, our forces will quickly overpower whatever resistance we do encounter." Ztar had taken on the intense tone of the puissant ruler he was.

Warren watched the two military men. Gtar-Cro opened his mouth to speak, but Ztar cut him off.

"My decision is final." The voice and body language left no doubt the debate was over.

Warren remained stunned at Ztar's abrupt about face. Had their escape from Ymoz made an impact after all? Warren wasn't about to question Ztar at the moment – he wouldn't risk the man changing his mind. But the why burned intensely.

"Very well, my Emperor." Gtar-Cro acquiesced in a resigned tone, with a glance to Archangel. Now he had not one, but two court members in the line of fire. Not a good day!

Shuffling of team members and a slight change in tactics were ironed out to adjust for the involvement of the Emperor and Archangel. They were assigned to Rindhzart, a seasoned strike team leader. His was a collector team, which meant taking prisoners for later interrogation. More precisely, they'd seek and disable, moving as quickly as possible through the facility, leaving downed Etagllot in their wake for follow-up teams to haul away.

At the conclusion of the briefing, all that remained was to move the teams and resources into final position and issue the go command.

###

Archangel kept glancing at him with an odd expression as they strode to the shuttle bay on Gtar-Cro's ship. In 30 minutes, the assault teams would move in on the facility and they needed to get planetside quickly. He knew the human was on the verge of asking his question several times already, but had held his tongue, much to Ztar's surprise and mild amusement. One didn't need to be a telepath to know what that question was – what prompted Ztar to permit Archangel to go along?

Ztar had contemplated the issue twice since they left Sat'rey. It was one of the most difficult decisions he'd made where Archangel was concerned. Ymoz demonstrated Archangel's capabilities quite clearly. Nothing in the five years they'd been together, past telepathic probes included, had driven that home more keenly. Archangel was right – Ztar needed to let him make his own decisions. He wouldn't deny a Turzent warrior the opportunity and as much as it filled him with worry, Ztar decided to release his protective stranglehold of the human and respect the man enough to give him the choice. At least for the raid when Imperial troops would storm the facility in force.

But he would not offer an explanation. If Archangel wanted one, he'd have to ask. Actions say more than words and Ztar would let his decision be his voice. They were equal beings – Ztar needed to treat the human as such, not just say the words. He'd still worry and perhaps even regret the decision, but he had to do it for both their sakes. What better time to show Archangel that he was changing…had changed…than when danger was involved. Ztar's reward was the wild mix of emotions emanating from Archangel – shock, amazement, intense curiosity, and a blend of relief and satisfaction. It was a good day.

### --- ###

Assistant Researcher de'Ulurha was frustrated. Before him was a young female of Sat'reyan descent. Why his superiors were interested in the female, he did not know nor would they share that information. What he did know was she had nothing to do with their current research. His assignment was to examine her, report his findings, and then have the female interrogated. The scientist would do as ordered without questions – that was life as an Etagllot at his level. And if he ever wanted to move beyond that level, he needed to perform every assignment flawlessly. At that moment, things weren't going well.

The female was lying bound to a scan table and he was perplexed. The third scan readings told him the same thing the first two had. He had adjusted the settings and run a diagnostic on the equipment. Something wasn't right. The highly advanced scanner said that a nearly undetectable energy field surrounded the woman, but revealed nothing more. Everything else about the subject was ordinary – native Sat'rey, 19 standard years old, healthy. She had an unusually high resistance to sedatives, but that wasn't uncommon amongst those of her genetic heritage.

His subject was glaring at him with large black eyes, though he sensed the fear beneath the brave front. She struggled constantly and if she didn't settle down soon, he'd try more drugs. It wasn't that he thought she'd get loose, but it was irritating. He made a decision at that point. Having no luck figuring out the anomalous scan reading, he would move on to the interrogation stage of his assignment. Later, he'd see about using a different scanner and perhaps have more success.

Alerting the telepath that was assigned to their section, he had the guards move the subject from the examine lab to her assigned habitat room where the telepath would do his work. A surprised de'Ulurha was commed to that habitat room a short while later with instructions to bring the drugs necessary to induce cooperation. Why was the telepath having problems? Sat'reyans weren't known to have natural psychic blocks. Was the female a telepath?

Entering the room, he glanced at the interrogator and the guard. "Troubles?"

The telepath known simply as Jex frowned deeply. "Can't get a read on her. In fact, if I didn't see her sitting here, I wouldn't know she was. A total block. Never encountered anything quite like it!" he said with a hand gesture signaling bafflement.

de'Ulurha added the new drug packet to the med cuff on the subject's wrist, wondering about any connection to anomalous scan reading. The cuff would dispense the drug as appropriate, along with the strength limiting pharmaceuticals already being administered to the subject continuously when she arrived. All he had been told on that point was their subject was much stronger than she appeared and continue with the inhibitor therapy. "This should help. Give it about a minute to take hold," he told the telepath. "Call me if you need anything stronger."

"You can't do this! Let me go!" the female declared, straining against the bindings. "Who are you people?"

###

No one acted like they had even heard her. She'd watched in dread as the new drug packet was attached. This couldn't be happening! She thought she had been so careful. Now they had her. What were they planning? The big question was exactly who 'they' were. She suspected these were the Shozen; the enemy her mother warned her about in the message recorded 16 years ago, but she could not confirm it. The Shozen were hunting her mother when she was left on Sat'rey at age three. If she was right, her future looked very bleak. Her body began to feel that odd, whizzing sensation. The new drug was trying to take hold and her body was fighting to stop it.

'Dear goddess, don't let this work!' she prayed. If they managed to learn her secrets…

### --- ###

Their disguised transport vehicle neared the rear entrance of the target building as if going about a routine delivery. At the go signal, Rindhzart's team jumped out of the cargo skimmer. Personnel assigned to crack open the building for the assault teams blasted through what turned out to be a fortified dock bay door – not surprising. A second, less impressive blast from the powerful phase cannon mounted inside their truck was all it took to finish the job. Rindhzart's team spilled into the opening, guns at the ready.

Ztar immediately felt the nothingness that indicated the presence of psychic dampeners. Until the teams assigned to cut main and backup power did their work, his telepathy would be useless. Just as everyone got inside the building's cargo area, the lights cut out, then immediately came back on, emergency power obviously kicking in.

Warren heard yelling and the distinct sound of running feet. He was a little surprised that no sirens went off, but then Etagllot security probably had the whole place under constant surveillance and would sound the alarm more quietly.

### --- ###

In the small habitat room furnished only with a cot, chair, sink, and toilet/shower corner, the young woman sat facing her interrogator, hands bound tightly in front of her. The interrogation had been underway for some time with few results. He had to resort to using a persuader device, which he had clamped around a forearm, when drugs had failed to elicit cooperation. The interrogator eyed his difficult assignment. Something was not right. She looked surprising well for someone who had been kidnapped, pumped full of drugs, subjected to multiple deep scans, and now tortured in an attempt to gain the information that the scans, a telepath, and drugs had failed to elicit.

The pain that again shot through her body was fierce and she squeezed her eyes tight and curled in the chair against the restraints as she cried out. It was like fire was crawling up every nerve in her body. How much more could she take and not reveal her secrets? Thank the goddess they hadn't figured out her implanted image inducer, but they knew something wasn't right.

"All you need to tell us is what the scanners are seeing. Then the pain stops," the man said with a sadistic grin. "Is that so difficult?"

Eyes filled with defiance and her body drenched in sweat, she stared up at the male. "You can ask the same questions until I'm dead in this chair and the answer won't change. I don't know what you're taking about!" The words were brave, but all she wanted was for the pain to stop. She was reaching the end of her endurance.

"Sadly, my scanner says you're not being truthful."

"Your scanner lies just like the other scanner. You should ask for better equipment."

Her nerves screamed under the assault that followed and this time she couldn't help but scream. 'Goddess help me!' she prayed as her body nearly convulsed.

The lights suddenly went out, only to come back on almost instantly. The telepathic interrogator glanced over at the guard who jerked to alertness.

"We've got a security breach," the telepath announced.

The other man nodded. "Just got the word, too. We need to move." The guard quickly activated the room door as the interrogator turned off the pain inducer.

She took shaky gulps of air as the pain dissipated. Through the open door, she could see and hear people running and shouting. Obviously, the breach was serious.

"Evacuate now! Test subjects as well," a man yelled from somewhere down the hall.

### --- ###

They moved rapidly through the bay cargo. One of their team phase-stunned a man and woman trying to slip out behind them through the blast hole. Rindhzart advanced toward the door they knew led to the main facility. Beyond the door was a hallway leading to several areas of the first level.

Their intel said Hercjell's labs were on the next level down. That's where they were headed. A single portable cannon blast blew off the door to the corridor beyond, sending it flying several yards down the corridor. They charged to the pre-selected stairwell a short distance away. There they encountered a small group of people fleeing the scene up the steps. Falling with grunts and moans as stunned, the team left the unconscious bodies for the mop-up crews.

Using typical storming tactics, they cautiously but quickly descended to level two. So far, no armed resistance, but Rehsaw and Gtar-Cro predicted little at first. The outer fringes would not house assets of significant worth. Those would be deeper inside the facility. The Etagllot's first priority would be escape of their valuable researchers. The farther they penetrated the more resistance they'd face as Etagllot security would attempt to hold them off, giving the scientists time to slip away.

Exiting the stairwell, they entered the hallway and headed left as planned. After stunning a couple more strays, they came upon the first high-security entrance. Warren recalled that their schematics intel pretty much ended beyond that gateway. Gtar-Cro had explained their blind operative, a low-ranking telepath, did not have security clearance beyond this point and his telepathic signature was blocked everywhere his security did not allow him to wander. He could provide only knowledge gleaned from others who occasionally emerged from the high security lower levels.

Another assault team came running up the hall from behind them having breached the facility at different entry point. Each team had their assigned routes and only a quick nod passed between leaders as the other team continued down a side corridor. Rindhzart's squad faced the fortified double-door. It obviously guarded something important and looked built to withstand a full-on cannon blast.

"I sense many people beyond that door," Ztar informed Rindhzart, who nodded acknowledgment. "From the feelings I'm picking up, there are likely armed guards waiting for us."

'This could be our first resistance.' Warren braced for battle, reminding himself his first priority was protecting the Emperor.

### --- ###

Her interrogator swore in three languages as he found a place on his person to tuck the phase weapon the guard handed him.

"What is happening?" she asked knowing it was wasted breath. No one bothered to respond as the guard fumbled with the restraints, yanked her to her feet, and hurriedly pushed her out into the hall behind the telepath. She resisted as well as she could, but with little to show for the effort.

"Keep that up and you get stunned," the guard said gruffly, jerking her with an iron grip around her upper arm.

### --- ###

Rindhzart turned to the female officer carrying the scanning equipment. "Shields and dampeners still active?" he asked. The female nodded affirmatively. Rindhzart was not happy with the news.

The two squad members carrying portable phase cannons aimed in unison at the double-door and fired, the backlash nearly kicking them off their feet. As the barrier gave way and they charged through taking advantage the blast effect to cover them for a precious two seconds. Two Etagllot guards were quickly overwhelmed and fell unconscious on the floor. Its two-shot wallop spent, one of the cannons was discarded on the floor.

"I sense no one else in close proximity," Ztar told the team. "But I sense many fleeing ahead of us."

Scanners blocked and psychic dampeners still on line, their team would be running blind from that point forward, except for Ztar's empathic senses.

'What the hell is taking so long?' Warren wondered about the blocks and dampeners.

Suddenly, the lights winked out again and in a couple seconds barely-there emergency lighting kicked in.

"Scanners?" their squad leader demanded immediately from the female carrying the scanner.

"Still blocked. Psy-damps operational as well."

"Damn Odiryn!" their Alcab leader swore. "Must be on independent power," the man surmised, lowering his faceplate. "Let's move!"

"Who's Odiryn?" Warren leaned toward Ztar.

"An Alcab god of luck. Apparently, not on our side as yet," the Emperor replied quietly as they began to move again.

"Know any good sacrificial offerings?" Warren quipped. Warren's night vision kicked in and he saw their team had lowered face shields that he knew incorporated infrared capabilities. Unfortunately, Ztar was not so equipped since the Emperor had decided he'd crashed the party without bothering with such trivial matters as combat gear. The only piece of equipment he agreed to was upper body armor. Unfortunately, they didn't make body armor with openings for wings, so Warren worn a makeshift chestplate only.

"How's your night vision?" Warren asked the Turzent, staying close to the man. He actually had no idea how good Ztar's vision was in darkness.

"Don't ask," came the gruff reply. "And don't say I told you so!" Ztar warned with his next breath. Turzent's weren't known for their night sight. It wasn't bad, just nothing remarkable.

"Who me? I'd never do such a thing to my Emperor," Warren put as much bewildered surprise as he could into his voice. If Ztar looked, which he didn't, he'd have spied a devilish smirk.

"I'll be your eyes then," he offered. "Shall we hold hands?" Warren asked sweetly.

"Archangel…" the voice was nearly a growl.

Then Ztar slowed as they neared a T-intersection. "Targets approaching," Ztar said just loud enough to be heard by their leader. Maybe Ztar had been right. His empathic senses were proving valuable, Warren conceded.

Sounds of sporadic phase weapon fire echoed distantly. They edged cautiously forward.

"Right or left?" Rindhzart whispered.

"Left," Ztar informed.

His back to the wall, Rindhzart risked a peek around the corner. Instantly, the darkness was sliced with an orange-tinged phase beam, impacting the opposite wall at end of the corridor with a sharp shringing. The squad leader ducked back.

Rindhzart hand-signaled his team members. It was apparent they were going to lay down cover fire while a couple members advanced. Warren quickly approached their leader. "I can fly a lot faster than any of you can run. Why don't I take point? They won't expect an aerial attack." In the dim light, Warren saw Rindhzart's scowl even through his faceplate. "Besides, if I get hit, I heal quickly – very quickly," he added to sweeten the pot.

The leader looked to Ztar. "Emperor, it's your call," Rindhzart deferred, very obviously not wanting to place member of court into harm's way, yet finding good strategy in Warren's offer.

"I don't like the idea…" Ztar started, but Warren cut him off. No time for hesitation in the heat of battle!

"While we're talking, the bad guys are getting away. I'm going! Cover me." Warren jumped into the air and darted down the hall, phase weapon at the ready. Almost instantly, weapons fire sliced the darkness, but it was too low. Were their targets not equipped with night vision equipment? If not, things would be much easier. By the time his quarry realized their mistake, he was upon them. In one massive gulp of air with his wings, Warren braked hard and swung his legs around beneath him. The first gunman he downed by a two-footed slam to the face and the other with a nasty bash to the side of the head with the phase gun. Nope, no face shields on these two.

As he hovered above the fallen bodies, the rest of the team quickly made their way down the cleared corridor, checking doors and rooms as they went. The female carrying the high-tech scanning and surveillance gear was sticking by Ztar, apparently assigned babysitting duties in Warren's absence.

Getting Rindhzart's attention, Warren signaled his intent and then flew down to where the hall turned again and risked a hovering peek. Seeing nothing, he rounded the corner and continued in a blur down the hall. A slight movement caught his keen eyes at the far end of the corridor. Suddenly, the hall was ablaze with phasefire, this time aimed right at the right height. He dodged and darted, putting all his tight-space maneuvering skills to the test as beams hit the walls and ceiling and the air filled with shringing.

"Shit!" he yelled aloud, laying in a phase beam strafe. Too many to tackle himself. Performing a tight somersault maneuver, he retreated back toward his team.

### --- ###

Legs shaky from her ordeal, she apparently was not moving fast enough as they hurried down the corridor. "Move!" the guard ordered and yanked her into a near run. They stopped to join up with two other guards coming down an adjoining hall, also with bound captives in tow; one a female Alcab and what was a likely male of a species she didn't recognize.

"Any idea what's going on?" her escort asked the other guards as the expanded group began moving again. Just then the lights flickered out and subdued emergency lighting took its place.

"We've been breached by Imperial troops. Everyone's getting out however they can," one of the other guards said as they rounded another corner and neared a room with a large doorway that was wide open, bright light flowing out. One room still had full power. They stopped.

"Which exit?" One of the guards asked the people in front of a bank of camera monitors and control panels.

"Level one emergency exit two is still secure," was the stressed-filled replied. "Shuttles are standing by, but we don't know how long that route will be clear."

She watched the monitors as cameras followed various groups leading bound subjects like her out, others simply running unencumbered, and on some screens she saw people in military garb likely to be whoever breached the building. She overheard one of the people in the room give the order to destroy the main databanks since everything had been uploaded.

Then her keen eyesight saw a flash of movement on one screen that made her heart race even faster – a winged being flying down the hallway. Even with the night-vision image and the fast movements of the flier, she could see enough to know he looked like her as the cameras followed him. She dug her heels in as the guard pulled to get her to move. Was it possible? Could she dare hope she was catching a glimpse of another of her kind? Then she saw him dodge phasefire and her heart jumped.

"Move!" the guard ordered sharply as he pulled hard and tightened his grip on her arm.

'No! I want to see more!' she screamed in her mind as her view of the screen was robbed by a wall. 'Please goddess, let that have been one of my people. Let at least one other of us be alive!' But that hope was filled with foreboding that he may be in as much danger as she. If only she wasn't pumped full of strength suppressing drugs, the only ones that seemed to have an effect on her!

### --- ###

With sound of nearby phasefire in the direction Archangel disappeared, Ztar's chest tightened. Was he hit? Refocusing empathically on the human, the connection was void of pain. He sighed. It was times like these when Ztar was thankful for the talent that as yet no one had developed technology to render inoperable.

"Targets!" Warren announced, rounding the corner in a flash above the heads of his team, as if they hadn't already figured that out.

The team turned the corner, heading toward the source of the weapons fire. Ztar was growing increasingly concerned. With each passing moment, the Etagllot could be slipping away unless other teams were having better success. At that moment, he felt the nothingness of the dampening field lift.

"Psy-damps off line!" the tech announced. "And there go the shields,"

Someone on their side was having luck anyway. Ztar immediately reached his mind out to Gtar-Cro's. 'General, have we gotten anyone important?'

'We believe so, my Emperor.'

'The one I want?'

The connection was suddenly not so positive. 'Not as yet that I know.'

Ztar swore and pulled away from Gtar-Cro to scan for the mental signature he burned into memory those weeks ago on Ymoz – Hercjell.

Warren landed behind Ztar, relieving the tech of her babysitting role. The man had that look telepaths get when busy elsewhere. Warren pulled him along to keep up with the team. Many running paces down the hall, Ztar "returned." He looked at Warren.

"Hercjell's not here!" he declared in hot anger.

"Not here or you can't detect her?" Warren asked Ztar.

Archangel made a good point as Ztar recalled the headgear he had been up against on Ymoz. "I can't find her," he snarled in frustration.

The team advanced to the opposite end of the corridor, again checking doors along the way, covering each other's backs. In one room, a couple of abandoned test subjects strapped to tables cried out for help, but left where they were for mop-up teams to free. Ztar focused on his telepathy and scanned continuously, sensing numerous minds – fleeing and chasing – but none of them the one he sought. They were at a T-section with a short hall when Ztar felt something familiar. He opened his mouth to yell…

Shr-ri-ing!! Phasefire exploded from the far end of their corridor sending team members diving into recessed doorways for cover as they returned fire. Warren pushed Ztar into the side hall with Rindhzart and two others using their bodies as shields. The man carrying the remaining cannon wasn't fast enough and took a blast in the back, sending him flying to the floor, weapon clanging and sliding down the corridor out of everyone's reach. He was dead before hitting the floor. A second soldier was grazed in the arm and yelped in pain as he escaped to the relative safety of a recessed doorway. Phasefire then erupted from the opposite direction. They were caught in crossfire.

Their leader swore under his breath as he quickly assessed their situation.

Warren looked down the corridor where they had taken refuge. Dead-end. "Rindhzart, I'll check the doors." The team leader gave a quick affirmative. Warren ran down the short corridor checking the two doors, hoping he might find an escape route, but both were locked and it would take more than his strength to break them down. The Etagllot apparently didn't believe in anything less than secure entrances. Warren sprinted back to his teammates to the sound of intense phasefire. "No go unless we blast through."

"Phase cannon's lying in the hall – no way to get to it. How'd they sneak up on us?" Rindhzart demanded, looking at Ztar.

"Headgear dampeners. I detected them, but too late!" Ztar seethed at his slow reaction; he hadn't been fast enough sounding the alarm. Now one of their team lay dead and a valuable weapon lost.

### --- ###

As they continued forward, other people joined them along the way, with and without captives. Suddenly, the guards halted the group in front of a blank wall. One placed her hand on that wall, the surface shimmered, and then the image flickered out revealing a door and control panel. Once the exit door opened, the group spilled through into a dimly lit tunnel. The prisoners were yanked, pushed, and nearly dragged through a maze of dark and cramped service passageways. Then up two flights of steps to another door. A quick palm to the control pad and the door slid opened. At that moment, the dampening field collapse.

'Ettwanae!' the voice rang in her mind.

'Volu!! Thank you, goddess!' She nearly cried in her joy as the familiar alien mind caressed hers.

She was pulled again hard as their group emerged into what appeared to be a cavernous, nearly empty building, their footfalls echoing off the walls. At the far end, two shuttles were waiting, hatches open, engines hot.

'I have been trying to find you!' The mental touch was filled with relief.

'Dampeners for sure and likely shields. Where are you – I need you now!'

'In orbit. I have your location. I will be there in 59 standard seconds.'

'Don't hold back, Volu. I'm not with friends.'

'Understood, Poda,' Volu replied using the term of endearment she had come to use for Ettwanae. In Ettwanae's native language, it meant special one. She was learning her native tongue with Volu's tutoring.

'Scan for bio-sigs similar to mine in my general location,' Ettwanae commanded as she was propelled toward the shuttles.

There was a pause and then the reply. 'Ettwanae, I am reading a second bio-sig nearly identical to yours!' the surprise coming through in Volu's voice.

'Don't lose him!' she pleaded as they neared the waiting crafts. She could see others inside through the open hatches. 'Hurry, Volu, I'll be inside a shuttle in another few seconds. Likely it will have dampeners.'

'My scanners show the shuttles are equipped with cloaking devices as well. I am 41 seconds away – stall if you can!'

### --- ###

Far above Hydeera on Gtar-Cro's command ship, one of the technicians operating the scanners suddenly raised a warning. "Sir! Something just appeared on scanners. Whatever it is, it's entering atmosphere with a current trajectory toward the facility and heading in fast! Forty-nine seconds out."

One of Gtar-Cro's tactical officers quickly approached the viewscreen at the tech's station. "What do you mean something – a ship?"

"That's just it – the computer doesn't recognize the signature. Partially cloaked perhaps?"

That single word got Gtar-Cro's attention out of all the conversations taking place around him. Since the kidnapping on Gamas II, all military scanning equipment had been modified to no longer filter out the atmospheric phenomenon that the Etagllot had cloaked their shuttle as. "The Gamas II signature?" the General inquired moving quickly to the tech's station.

"No, but the sensors are picking up something they can't identify."

"ETA to the Etagllot facility?" the TO asked.

"Forty seconds, sir."

"It's traveling that fast in atmosphere?" Gtar-Cro asked in amazement, watching the scan screen readouts.

"Yes!"

"Alert our ground teams now and tell General Rehsaw to intercept! That could be an Etagllot ship," Gtar-Cro ordered as he reached out his mind to the Emperor hoping Ztar would pick up on the call. If an Etagllot ship was being sent in to destroy the facility…

### --- ###

They were pinned down with no easy escape. Their team would need to fight their way out unless reinforcements arrived quickly. Rindhzart commed command with their situation as he heard more phasefire from both ends of the cross corridor. They were trapped.

Just then Ztar picked up that Gtar-Cro wanted contact and he entered the General's mind. 'Emperor, we may have a possible Etagllot ship heading your way. ETA less than 35 seconds.'

Rindhzart turned toward Ztar. "Emperor, I got commed we may have an Etagllot ship closing in."

"Yes, Gtar-Cro informed me. They may use that for an escape or to destroy this facility."

Warren didn't like the sound of the second possibility. "So that ship could blast this facility to smithereens and here we sit."

Neither Ztar nor Rindhzart bothered replying. Whether the facility was destroyed or not depended on other people intercepting the ship. In the meantime, they had troubles much closer by.

As Rindhzart's squad was shooting from the doorways they had ducked into, he was concerned with the odd sound he was hearing. Sneaking a peek around the corner, he watched in dread as their weapons fire was deflected by some sort of shielding. Three of his people then concentrated their phasefire simultaneously. Still the enemy advanced. "What the…?!"

He pulled his head back as another shot came from the opposite direction. "Emperor, they're using some form of mobile force field. Personal shielding that strong? Ever hear of such a thing?"

A shudder ran through him. While his two top generals and their key staff knew of the advanced Etagllot shielding, it wasn't information shared with the assault teams. It had been a calculated risk to go ahead with the raid. They bet that the technology would not be employed in force by the Etagllot in the surprise raid. Their team lost.

"Unfortunately, I've seen it once before at another Etagllot facility. It is quite…robust," Ztar answered with dread. The fact that Ztar could not sense the second enemy squad meant they were also equipped with portable dampeners. They were safe from his psychic and bio-energy blasts. Just like on Ymoz.

"Damn!" Rindhzart swore. They were in a dire position and he had the Empire's ruler with him. 'Odiryn, if I ever needed you, it is now!' he prayed. He commed control declaring an all out emergency situation. He hoped someone with appropriate weaponry arrived in time, assuming the whole facility wasn't turned to a pile of rubble first.

### --- ###

Ettwanae yanked her arm in a quick movement, mustering every ounce of strength the drugs allowed her and perhaps then some. She broke free and ran like the devils of Jandur were at her heels. She heard the man she left behind swear very colorfully.

"We lift off in 10 seconds with or without you, Marnzos!" someone yelled as she heard running footsteps behind her. But Ettwanae was weak and drugged and she couldn't run as fast with her hands bound. She would not take to the air – the risk of exposure was too great. She just needed to delay a few more seconds. It was mere moments until the man caught her from behind by one arm and yanked her around so fast their bodies collided.

"Got you, you little bitch!"

She spat in his face and she was rewarded with a blow to the head. She let herself fall to the ground, kicking at her captor. "Let me go!"

"Marnzos, now!" came the stern command from the shuttle.

### --- ###

Far more than thirty seconds had come and gone, Ztar noted. Perhaps the ship was intercepted or it wasn't going to destroy the building. One problem perhaps dealt with, leaving the other coming down the corridor. Shields or no, Ztar would not let the Etagllot kill them that day. Ztar began powering up.

"What are you doing?" Warren asked, worried Ztar was about to do something really stupid.

"We need to be ready, Archangel," he said implying he was not about to do what he was about to do.

Warren eyed the Turzent. Ztar made it sound like he was only building his biofield as a precaution, but Warren didn't trust the former military officer. Ztar shimmered in the low light, making him look even more like a mirage. Then he did exactly what Warren feared.

### --- ###

"Sir, our ships cannot lock on the target," the bridge officer announced urgently to General Rehsaw.

"Can't lock? Our ships are where exactly?"

"It's faster than anything we've got, General. They are still dropping through atmosphere."

"Damnation! What's it doing now?" Rehsaw was close to having a meltdown. How could a ship get so close to the planet and elude their sensors until on the fringes of the atmosphere?

"If sensors are correct, it has destroyed a building and landed near the target zone."

"Taking on passengers – I'd put my life on it! Scan for bio-sigs heading to that ship."

"Scanners are blocked in the immediate vicinity; I'm picking up very little information."

"Get one of our ships down there now!" he yelled in frustration. If Hercjell was among those escaping on that ship, Ztar would not be pleased – not pleased at all.

### --- ###

The building began to shake violently around Ettwanae and all activity came to an abrupt halt. Loud sounds of things snapping, tearing, and breaking filled the air. Everyone watched in stunned fascination as the roof split into large pieces that flew off in multiple directions as if caught up in an invisible whirlwind. Then the walls of the building fell flat to the outside as if all their corners supports were suddenly cut. People began yelling and scattering in all directions. The man she'd been fighting raced toward the shuttle, apparently deciding to abandon his prisoner. A low roar filled the air and Ettwanae jumped up and grabbed the Alcab who had broken away from her guard in the chaos and was running pass.

"Stay with me, you'll be safe!" she yelled over the rising roar. Then she sprinted over to the man of unknown species who seemed frozen in place, staring up. "Come with me! We're being rescued!" she told him loudly and began pulling on his arm, nearly dragging the man toward the Alcab.

Phase weapon fire began crisscrossing what used to be a building. Glancing around quickly, Ettwanae spotted military troops closing in on their location. Their captors were returning fire and the trio was caught in the middle. "Goddess, no!"

'Do not worry Ettwanae,' came Volu's reassuring words in her mind as a shield bubble materialized around them.

The air took on a laden feel and a slight mirage-like shimmer filled the space in front and above them. One shuttle lifted a few feet off the ground and jerked to a stop with an odd thud against an unseen force. Then in surreal slow motion, the shuttles they had nearly been forced into crumpled like a paper boxes beneath an invisible foot. Ettwanae hoped no innocents had been on board.

Like a portal to another dimension, a suspended doorway dilated opened several feet in front of them.

"Hurry!" Ettwanae encouraged and the threesome jumped into the opening, the bubble shield staying with them.

### --- ###

In a move too quick for anyone to prevent, Ztar exposed himself in the hall, stretched out his arms in either direction, and let loose simultaneous energy blasts down opposite ends of the corridor. The cracking boom against the shields was nearly deafening in the enclosed space as it reverberated off the walls. Just as on Ymoz, the protected attackers were pushed back, but not felled.

Ztar cut loose with two more quick bursts, hoping against hope to have weakened the shielding, but was again thwarted. "Damn the gods!" the Turzent shouted. He was stripped of his weapons – bio-energy ineffective and telepathy blocked. He seethed with rage. He wanted the Etagllot – every last one of them that had dared intrude in his Empire. And he most eagerly wanted Hercjell and anyone else associated with Ymoz. Yet here they were, pinned down, and possibly facing death.

It took the Etagllot guards only moments to recover, then a barrage of weapons fire lit up the corridor from both ends as Ztar ducked back behind the corner. The enemy was so very close!

"Stay down!" Rindhzart ordered over his shoulder not caring that he was yelling at his monarch. 'Why was I the one to be chosen to have him along? Will my name go down in history as the Alcab who allowed our Emperor to be murdered? This can't be happening!'

"While we're trapped here, the Etagllot are getting away!" Ztar roared back, his eyes burning.

His team was returning fire with earnest in the face of the impenetrable shields knowing the direness of the situation. They would fight to the death to protect their Emperor – no discussion required or orders need be issued. Surrender was not an option. It was foolishness that Ztar was there at all. Emperor or not, former military notwithstanding, he had no business on the mission.

Rindhzart then heard a shot followed by the unmistakable sound of a death gasp as the enemy overran another of his team. A couple doorways more and he'd be facing enemy guns with no effective defense.

He'd had enough. "Trapped is what we are, Emperor! Some or all of my team is going to die in the next few seconds trying to protect you. You should not be here! What are you doing here?!"

"No one else will die here – I won't allow that!" Ztar cried out in heartfelt pain of the truth. What was he doing here? 'Stubborn, arrogant fool!' The valiant strike team and his beloved faced an enemy they may not be able to stop. He dug deep for every ounce of energy his body could conjure.

Warren knew instantly what Ztar was going to do, but before he could grab an arm, the energy field flared with incredible intensity, forcing Rindhzart and Warren to back away.

"Ztar, no!" Warren shouted as the determined Turzent stepped into the line of fire to let loose a powerful bio-blast fueled by anger and desperation that pushed back the advancing Etagllot security despite their shielding. Warren jumped into the hall to drag him back out of harm's way when something slammed into his side knocking him hard into the Turzent. It took a second for the pain to register. Grabbing Ztar's arms to remain upright, he sucked in air. That brought even more searing agony to his side, nearly forcing consciousness from him.

"Archangel?!" Time stopped for Ztar. He felt, heard, saw nothing but his beloved. The human's eyes grew wide and his face lost all color.

"Get them down!!" Rindhzart screamed to the nearest squad member. Archangel had taken the full brunt of a well-aimed phase blast.

### --- ###

'Volu, where's the bio-sig?' she immediately telepathed.

'The signature remains within the underground complex. He has been seriously injured, Ettwanae,' Volu explained within her mind as the door sealed shut behind the trio.

"No! We must get to him!" she yelled aloud, her two companions giving her a startled look. She ignored them.

'We must leave, Ettwanae.'

"This way," Ettwanae signaled to the Alcab and the mystery man as she ran down the short passageway toward the lift.

"But if he's one of my people, we need to save him!" she pleaded. To be so close to finding one of her kind only to be denied was a cruelty beyond words. Ettwanae felt the ever so slight sensation of the ship rising, her desperation rising with it. She must reach him.

'The number of Imperial ships and weaponry here is great. I will not risk you or myself at this time.'

Volu's calmness and seeming dismissal of how important the other was riled Ettwanae. Who was in charge here anyway? Her or Volu? She slammed her still bound hands on wall in anger. "Bridge!" she yelled.

'Ettwanae,' Volu's voice seemed hesitant. 'I believe the bio-sig to be in eminent danger. Scanners show armed sigs surrounding his location and they do not appear to be Imperial. The bio-sig is trapped.'

Ettwanae's chest tightened at the thought of losing the most promising connection yet to her past. "Do something, Volu!"

### --- ###

It seemed like everyone around Warren moved in slow motion as he and Ztar were pulled back behind the temporary safety of the corridor corner. Then blackness swallowed him.

The smell of seared flesh filled Ztar's nostrils as he cradled Archangel in his arms, moving down the hall. The human had gone deathly still, his breathing shallow and ragged. "Heal, my Archangel, please!" Then Archangel's body stiffened and jerked in convulsions. It was not an unusual reaction from a serious phase weapon hit.

As their team continued firing meaninglessly at the advancing shielded guards, Ztar held onto his beloved. The convulsing ended as suddenly as it had begun. "Please…heal," he whispered, holding on gently, afraid to move the injured man.

'General, we need assistance right now!' Ztar sent the mental message, filling the telepathic link with desperate urgency.

'The team is close, Emperor.'

Phase weapons fire came from just beyond the corner as a sickening sound told them another of their team went down. 'They had better be very close!'

Ztar couldn't hold Archangel and fire his blasts at the same time; the bio field would further injure the human. He kneeled to lay Archangel down when three Etagllot guards appeared at the end of the corridor, weapons instantly trained on them. He froze, his heart stopping.

'General?!!'

### --- ###

My favorite chapter ending – a cliffhanger. Will rescue arrive in time? Hoping to continue posting more frequently now so perhaps the wait for answers won't be long in coming. That's the plan, anyway.

As promised, here's a touch more on that twist – Ettwanae, Merryth's acquaintance that disappeared a year earlier. She is an original character I've been toying with for quite sometime; actually, before this trilogy was even a concept. There's a story brewing that I hope to pursue after "Circle Complete" is finished. The AU aspects of Warren and certain storylines in this trilogy dovetail into the Ettwanae story concept, unintentionally at first, but then the pieces began to fit together. To be honest, I don't yet know how everything will evolve, but the seeds are planted. I'll likely need a break after finishing this novel (at least that's how I feel now) before diving into another. Over a year of writing Sacrifice, then Esserru, and now this third book has been fun and fulfilling, but a little draining.

First though, must get through the current saga. Busy working on Chapter 13 and hope to post soon. Thanks for sticking with me, everyone. Until next chapter…