Extract from Chapter 16 - Confrontation.

“It is nice to see you again, Kate.”

Kate jumped and turned.

Talokta, silently watching her from the entrance, smiled at her reaction. He was immaculately presented, and despite herself, Kate could not help but notice how handsome he was. She stopped thinking that just in case he was reading her mind as he had during their first encounter. He was back to speaking perfect English. She took in his attire, similar to when she first saw him. A shiny leather‑like, long dark jacket that fell to his knees, a bright flash of color revealed a gold shirt, knee‑high boots, dark pants, and a gold belt that had weird‑looking markings over it. His long light brown hair was tied back in a neat ponytail. Kate’s eyes noted he had a silver ring on his finger. Could that be the device she had visualized that would scan for the enemy? It did look familiar.

He signaled to a guard who lowered the force field allowing his leader through the entrance. Dressed the way he was, he seemed to match the surroundings better than she did in her base uniform.

Kate decided the indignant approach, “You guys were very late picking us up.”

His face wore an apologetic smile, but his eyes twinkled. “Yes, there was a small Locum problem that has dissipated for now. They did attack Ahmadeus, but we prevailed and drew the battle off the planet for your own protection.”

Geez, this guy was something. “So it was the Locum that attacked Ahmadeus?”

“Yes, and from the reports I got back, I heard Ahmadeus suffered.”

“Yeah, the Cantals lost a lot, including precious lives. Well, I guess it explains why the Locum never got a chance to land and carry out their . . . absorption. My team, Sataal and his men, are you going to set them free now I have kept my end of the bargain?”

Talokta smiled warmly and walked slowly over to her. “Oh you loyal humans, always putting your fellow man ahead of yourself . . . so honorable. I am a man of my word. However, I thought I might hold on to them, just in case you don’t keep to your word.”

“In other words, no . . . and you will kill them.”

“I will probably set them free in due course.”

Man of your word, huh.

“Why did you torture them? You could have read their minds just like you did mine.”

He towered in front of her, and Kate felt dwarfed, he must have been a little short of seven feet, and she was around five ten.

“They are not your concern, but if you must know, Sataal and his rebel followers are criminals and will be bought to justice. Your human companions, well, they are associatives. But I am not an unreasonable man. As I have told you, I will not harm your human companions, if you behave.”

“I don’t believe you; you are lying!”

Unperturbed, he continued, “You however Kate, are . . . very special, and you know that don’t you?”

She looked defiantly up in his dark eyes; he knew something all right.

Did the answers lie with this man?

Talokta was enjoying himself. She was strong, but her eyes exposed just how vulnerable she really was. Humans . . . so emotional.

“I have some . . . questions I need answering.”

“Oh do you now. Yet, you call me a liar Kate. . . . Whatever I tell you, you won’t believe me.”

“I don’t know you from squat,” she yelled, eyes blazing from his arrogant attitude. “What I do know is you are torturing friends of mine . . . ”

“In time, these answers to your questions will come to you, not necessarily in simple words. . . . Time and trust is what you need, you shall see . . . ”

“Well thank you for that Doc!” she sneered at him. “You’re the type that not only makes the rules, but you change them as you go along . . . trust . . . ha!”

Furiously, she turned her back on him, her face thunderous, and folded her arms.

In her heart though, she knew she was a prisoner herself now, and it was pointless arguing. He was in control.

She took some deep breaths, forcibly calming herself and slowly turned back. Slightly subdued she looked him dead in the eye, “Can you at least promise me you won’t harm them?”

Talokta stared back at her boldly, “As I keep repeating, no harm will come to them if you behave and they cooperate.”

“Why do you want my stone?”

“Stones, you mean.”

Back on Ahmadeus, Kate had instructed Manutaai to hide the second stone she had entrusted to him with his men, replacing it with a fake one that she had made before she had returned to Ahmadeus. The plan was for Pilcher’s men to retrieve it from the Cantals later. Convincing Pilcher to let her have both stones was a battle in itself, and she did not want to lose one, let alone both.

Kate made Manutaai not tell her where he hid it in case her mind was read.

However, she knew she would need her stone. She had made Manutaai take the fake one on board representing the second.

There was no way she would let Talokta get his hands on both real ones that represented so much, for Earth’s future. Besides, they were hers!

Unfortunately for Manutaai, who could not resist touching the stone she had entrusted to him, almost jumped out of his skin with the intensiveness. He knew he could not hide the damage to his hand and admitted to her what he had done. It felt like a savage shock or bite, similar to when Sataal touched her hand when they were introduced. Though she thought that was caused through her experiencing a simultaneous vision. Perhaps direct contact with the stone was worse.

It was like the stone knew it did not belong.

In the end, Kate had wrapped it in thick cloth and placed it in a box and handed it to Manutaai who disappeared for several minutes and came back, assuring her, he had hidden it well. Though his hand was red and swollen, it only lasted a short time.

Would Talokta have the other fake stone from Manutaai by now?

Kate moved over to a couch, “I could only bring my own stone,” Kate said assessing Talokta’s reaction.

He awarded her a terrific smile, which unnerved her. He followed suit and sat opposite her, his smile remained but his eyes were cold. Kate continued in a small voice, “My superiors would not allow me to sacrifice their property.”

“Is that so? They don’t think very highly of their men or your life.”

“Maybe the stakes are too high.”

Talokta looked at her. What was the point in her lying? Manutaai had presented him with the other stone. He had obviously successfully gained her trust.

“Do you wish to see your friends alive again?”

“What do you think?”

Talokta smiled again, which irritated her.

Amused at her reaction, he steepled his fingers together. “You have no idea what these stones represent, what they do, and your role?”

Kate at first fought an overwhelming urge to punch him, scream, or burst into tears, as she needed answers to those very questions to keep her sanity. But she took a breath and held back.

She matched his stare but how long would he hold his patience, especially when they realize one of the stones was a fake. She felt very nervous. Perhaps if she could win his trust she and her colleagues may get out of this situation alive, intact, and sane. But there was far more to this puzzle than met her eye, and what was the point in denying it.

She remembered the old adage: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. She had no idea that very same philosophy was shared by his Master.

Right now, Lord Talokta had all the aces.

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