Neutral Space(11)

“Jack, wake up. How can you sleep through the siren?” Dan was punching my arm.

“Damn,” I got out of bed to return to the monotony my life had become. The next two weeks were like nothing ever happened. No trial and no Trekes. It was mining, fighting and maneuvering with the guards. God, how I loathed my life. I suddenly longed to be back on a battlefield or in a dogfight anything to break up the mundane.

Then, one afternoon I got my wish. Salea found me just as I was getting into line to head back to the mine. He yanked me hard by the arm and nearly threw me the opposite direction. Dan gave him a hard look, and I shook my head. I had a feeling something was going down.

“Move it,” Salea pushed me forward.

“Where are we going?” I looked back at him.

“You wanted your shot? Well, you’ll get it soon enough.” So I was right they were sending her here after all. How the hell was I going to make this look believable and not get either of us hurt in the process? I was worried now. For weeks I’d been convinced she was on her way to Roteo and now I had maybe an hour to think.

Salea stopped in front of a large workout room that was rarely used and opened the door. Six other men were already inside. I stared at him fuming. “It’s this or nothing.”

I stepped inside, and he shut the door. This was bad. There were four humans and two Kelsairans. The humans were thugs, only one of them would offer me a challenge. I knew the two Kelsairans though. I avoided them at all costs apart they weren’t so bad, but they were always together. Dan and I could handle one, but I wasn’t sure if Kheda could handle both of them and the other four. I didn’t know if I would have the opportunity to help her. I scanned the room looking for cameras. Three of them were on. Whatever I did, it had to look like it was for selfish reasons if I was going to be any help to her after this.

The seven of us stared at one another as we waited. It didn’t bother me, it actually bought me the time I needed to think. I found a seat in the corner and crossed my arms. “Should have known you would show up, Jack.” One of the Kelsairans moved closer. “M says you asked about her weeks ago.”

“Won’t Teesa be mad?” the other chimed in.

“One way or another she’s just another Kelsairan.” They were trying to goad me into a fight hoping to knock out their competition.

“Want to know what your problem is, Jack?” One Kelsairan started, “You don’t know where you belong.” The other finished.

“I certainly don’t belong with that rabble.” Both of them smirked and backed off. It was hard to fight with someone if you found them amusing. They moved back towards the door when footsteps came down the hall, but I stayed right where I was. The lights went out, and the door flew open. They were at least going to give her a fighting chance.

The four humans attacked like a pack of dogs when the lights came on. She punched one in the face, kicked another in the chest and punched another in the ribs. Then she dropped and swept the fourth’s legs. The Kelsairans seemed like they were going to hang back, but when they saw what she did to the humans, they joined in. She grabbed one of their arms and broke it with a resounding crack. Then she moved him in front of his own friend to block a punch. As the second Kelsairan pulled back to punch again, she kicked him faster than I thought even a Kelsairan was capable.

Two of the humans were back on their feet now and more wary of her. She broke one of the human's legs with a swift kick to the shin. He went down which left the two Kelsairans and one human. She kicked the Kelsairan with two working arms in the groin and finished him off with a kick to the jaw. The last human swung at her, and she batted him away focusing on the Kelsairan. I used the opportunity to move in closer. The Kelsairan kicked at her, and she caught his leg. She backhanded him with her free fist and brought her elbow down on his leg dislocating his knee. He collapsed out cold.

She turned looking for the last human, but he was gone. I knocked him out while she was preoccupied. I moved in fast and tackled her to the ground before she could attack me. She fought me with every ounce of strength she had and nearly knocked me off. I smacked her or at least pretended to for the cameras. That surprised her more than anything else.

“Kheda it’s me just pretend to fight,” I whispered so only she would hear. She punched me for real and my vision blurred. I pinned her down and lay on top of her. I recited her beacon code in her ear, and she stopped fighting.

“Jeep, how the hell did you get here?”

“It’s a long story, and for now we have to make this look good, or you’ll be a target for a lot more attacks.” She glanced to the cameras as I moved both her wrists into one hand.

“Surely the guards…”

“Who do you think set this up?” She tried to roll me, and I banged her head on the ground or at least made it look like I did. She lay there as if dazed. “You’re in trouble, like it or not, and you need my help.” She fought again, and I acted as though I banged her head on the ground.

I pulled the zipper on her one piece “Jeep please,” she begged me.

“I won’t do anything, I swear; but, they have to think I did. I’m sorry. And you can’t call me that here. My name is Jackson, but they all call me Jack.” She nodded, and a tear rolled down her cheek. “The cameras won’t see anything,” I unzipped it further and slid my hand inside. She feigned one last attempt at a struggle and I, the villain, knocked her out. She lay there a moment as I pulled her clothes down cursing myself. Then, thankfully, they shut off the lights.