“I need to tell you what I know about Rick's plans...." she started, but I cut her off.
“Just hang in there for a bit longer, Eliza. I want everyone to be there when you tell us what you know. Nothing will get lost in translation then. We'll make sure you are safe first, then we'll go to the conference room and discuss what we'll do next.”
When we got back to our compound, a team of explosives experts, one of them being Sam, was ready to dive onto Eliza's leg. I had to order them to give her a bit of space and when she'd sat down in a comfortable chair I let them do their job. It took them a little while to work out the intricacies of the device, claiming it was one they hadn't encountered before. A tense few moments went by and we were all suffering from the barrage of emotions Eliza was pouring out. Finally, the all clear command came and I sighed a huge sigh of relief. They were bloody good at their job.
Eliza visibly relaxed instantly, and the air around smelled a lot better too. Too much tension and fear made for a rank atmosphere!
I signalled to Frank to get the cars back out, to see if they could locate Rick and his accomplices. I didn't really think we would find them now, but it was worth an attempt.
I noticed Eliza perked up somewhat and seconds later I saw the cause of that. Zaphire strode straight past me, aiming directly for Eliza, and if looks could kill, I would be dead. I guess she blamed me for the whole situation somehow and I let her. For now.
She took Eliza tenderly in her arms, who had stood up to greet her. She sank into Zaphire's body and the tears started to flow freely, with Zaphy gently stroking Eliza's hair and back, whispering softly in her ear reassuring and comforting her. The tears came from relief mostly, but I could also sense some anger and disappointment. It dawned on me that part of her felt she had failed her task and felt guilty. She so shouldn't. She'd done amazingly well to come out of it unharmed, not to mention any information she might have gathered. We needed to get the ball rolling on that, and rather perversely I enjoyed putting an end to Zaphire and Eliza's intimate hug.
“Right girls; let's move to the conference room now. People are waiting to hear what Eliza found out. We need to get on top of this.”
They looked at me but Zaphire wasn't budging.
“Give her a break, brother." she said pointedly, her eyes still throwing daggers at me.
I had to be firm. We needed to find out what the story was as soon as possible.
“We have to go now, Eliza. That's an order. Zaphire, comply or you can wait outside the room. Don't fucking disrespect me again."
That worked, although it probably earned me days of the silent treatment. She hated being called to order by me. However, they both got up and followed me to the conference room. Eliza actually keen, eager to tell everyone her findings. Whatever Rick told her had worried her deeply. Enough to tell me to let him blow her legs off, so we could catch him. It was disconcerting to say the least.
CHAPTER 47
It felt like I was in a whirl wind. My emotions were still all over the place and my senses were hyper sensitive. I had to try and lock it all away over the next few hours, otherwise I would not be able to face the people in the conference room and make sense to them.
After my dad had realised I wasn't going to team up with him, the warmth and love he felt for me hadn't disappeared but he had started to cloak it, harder to receive for me. He did keep apologising, and reminding me, and himself I think, that I had made this choice myself. That the end goal was bigger than us, and that he hoped I would see it like him one day. He kept telling me that if I ever wanted to join him I could, he would never close the door on me.
Then he strapped the device to my leg. It was small, but could still inflict serious, life changing damage to me. He had sighed and grumbled.
“Let's hope to God he'll listen to you when you give my message. If I know Zack at all, he'll abide by my rules. He won't want to you to get hurt."
The message I'd gotten from his subconscious was a very different one. Rick hadn't been at all sure. He knew all too well how seriously the Sensorians took their missions. His fingers had trembled ever so slightly when he'd programmed the device. I'd felt dead scared and bitterness crept through my system. If this man was willing to put his own daughter at risk, what else would he be capable off? He was ruthless and dangerous and as I realised that, my heart went cold. That was the moment I had made up my mind.
I would tell Zack not to let him go, whatever the consequences. I would remind him of our motto 'mission comes first' and bear whatever would happen to me. Rick must be captured before it's too late, before he would damage our community beyond saving. It had felt like a little part of my soul died when the reality of the situation and my decision really hit me. I was going to condemn my own father to the death sentence, before I'd even had the chance to get to know him. Sadness had engulfed me and nearly crippled me, but I had gritted my teeth and resolved to
