Chapter 24
Loni was boiling mad! He was so angry that, as he passed along the corridor the light bulbs along the way popped, and blew out. Until...the man calmed, and realized, he was exposing his power for all to see. Fortunately for him, no workers, or cameras, were near at hand.
For his own safety, Loni quickly willed the broken light fixtures to repair.
He had tried everything to find Gem. He finally deducted, that the only place left for Galar to hide her, was where he worked.
The first place he had searched was the twins' sleep quarters, but only Scar was there, asleep. He had entered his mind only briefly, just long enough to determined that the man knew nothing of the present whereabouts of the two. It angered Loni to realize the pair had worked together to corner her. He also knew, how brutally Galar had handled her.
Loni then search the showers, and lastly, the cafeteria, and had at last come to the conclusion, the only place left was Galar's work station. He had tried that door, only to be zapped.
He had expected something of that nature to happen. Then he travelled along the outside perimeter, looking for another way in. But everywhere Loni touched the walls, around the meat packing plant, he received an excruciating shock that sent him flying.
Loni was so angry, he would like to fry Galar's brain; if ever he got at him, he would do just that, even though he, and Gem, had made a pact never to use their powers to kill...
But what of in self-defense? Isn't this a case of protection, safeguarding one's mate? Gem was given to me! First!
He was determined to keep trying to get in; to find his girl.
Loni knew, it was pointless to ask the overseers for help. They would only laugh, because he had lost the female given into his care. They'd say it was his own fault; he had been lax.
Besides, Loni would have to use telepathy to tell them; they wouldn't understand any other way.
It wasn't worth the risk. He was on his own to get Gem back.
****
Da was upset. He didn't know what to do, and he couldn't find Loni to tell him what was happening.
He and Lydia had done okay alone, for the first while, but Loni had been gone a long time. As the older man had taught Da, the couple lived comfortably, up by the waterfall. Da would bring home the food, fruit from the stands, water from the drip pool at the side of the huge plunging waterfall.
Da took Lydia to work each day; protected her in the showers, cuddled her at night.
He never fed Lydia the meat dishes anymore, and she hadn't gotten sick for many a morning. She had shown him how her belly had swollen, told him the little round thing inside was his baby. They had created it together while playing.
The little thing kicked at Lydia sometimes, and when he touched her belly, Da too felt the movement against his hand. It sent shivers of excitement through him, and many an hour, the two spent laughing, and giggling over the phenomenon; petting their baby.
Lydia said, when it was big enough, it would come out.
He knew that!
Da had witnessed a birth many times, peeking from above in the rafters of the hospital.
His baby was still too small to come out, yet.
The ball that was a baby continued to grow, and still Loni stayed gone. Da didn't know why; neither he nor Gem ever came back.
Perhaps, they have been given a place of their own?
But they didn't come to work, either.
One day, Lydia appeared weaker than usual. She kept doubling over, holding her belly, as if it hurt her.
Baby is being naughty. I will let Lydia rest a bit.
Da kept digging the plot they were preparing. It was time for a different round of vegetables at this place in the garden.
Out of nowhere, the overseers came, snatching Lydia away with them. Da dropped his shovel, and made to follow, but they prevented him.
He waited. Went back to work; waited some more.
When Lydia had not returned by sleep time, Da went to the showers alone. He ate his meal, then slept by the waterfall, as usual.
The days passed slowly. Da did as he had every day; went to work, labored alone all day, showered, obediently eat only from the fruit stand, slept alone, and repeated the process again the next day...and the next; and the next.
He was very lonely; no one to share a companionable meal; no one to play with; no baby to pet...no Lydia. He went searching for Loni.
He will know what to do.
But no Loni...or Gem either. And there was no one else who understood him...who could read his thoughts so well...only Loni. And he had gone away too far to be found.
Da went back to the job.
Now, weeks later, as he watered the new plants in his fresh plot, two overseers brought Lydia back to him. He was so glad to see her, at first he didn't notice the changes. He didn't think to try to challenge the men, before they were gone again.
He hugged his returned mate with enthusiasm, near crushing her against him, but she was so limp and lethargic she just sat there. She flinched when he touched her face, his gesture questioning. She did not want to play.
He realized, then, she was hurt. Her clothing was covered in dry, and wet, red blood. Da took her to the showers, where he stripped her, and let the hot water run over her
