Chapter 50: Mission Planning

Shooter

Everrie and the others spent a little while discussing who had family and where. Some had family being held in the place we'd just escaped. I assured them my siblings would get them all to safety.

Not surprisingly, when I blew our cover, Galaxy had changed tactic and was taking over the base. I knew they could handle it, and we probably would have anyways. One of us deciding to help out people in need was basically inevitable so they couldn't get too mad at me.

They called to me a few times. I understood they were worried because of my sudden exit and the way Everrie had controlled me, but I just didn't feel like explaining to them at the moment. I tried to press back to them that I was fine, but otherwise blocked them out for the time being. I needed to sort my own thoughts.

No matter what, I was going to help Everrie and the others. Hearing that she had a child made my heart sink, but rescuing him instantly felt like a top priority. She wasn't mentioning a partner, and part of me wanted to check her thoughts to find out who she'd had her child with. If I could help him too, I would. The fact she wasn't mentioning him made me fear he might be dead. The thought of her having lost a love hurt more than it should have.

"Can you make three jumps, that's what you called your ability, right?" The warrior asked.

"Yes, I think so." I could probably make five more, depending on distance and how many people we added. One of those needed to be reserved to get us all to safety.

"If you're certain everyone back at the base will be safe, three trips should get those dearest and in the most danger."

I scanned the surface thoughts of those present. Everrie's son. Another man's wife and children were hopefully together. The woman that had lifted the water with telekinesis had thoughts of several adult children, but seemed intent on rescuing a number of young children and at least one grown daughter and grandchild that were hopefully together at a facility of some sort. The young man standing next to her seemed to be her son as well. She had no thoughts of a partner to save.

"This facility you want to go to, what is it?" I asked her. She seemed taken aback, but only for a moment.

"So you are telepathic as well." She nodded. "It's a breeding facility. For civil servants. Nehwalians that are bred and trained specifically for jobs that involve using combat abilities. Females are kept for breeding. Males are trained for service." She gripped the hand of the young teen next to her. "It can be brutal, and..."

"I fought back." Her son added. "The master trainer was a monster...I snapped, tried to escape to join the rebellion. They were gonna kill me. Mom tried to protect me and I got us both sent to the labor camp."

"I have two older boys who are in service. I don't know where, or if they're even alive. But I have young ones that are probably still there. And I daughter who was already made a breeder with one child. I don't know if they were punished for my actions." She bit back tears. Her son clutched her hand tighter, guilt clear on his face.

"I can use my telepathy to locate all your children. If you allow me?"

She nodded, not questioning my technique or flinching when I placed my hands on her head and closed my eyes to focus. This was not my strong suit, but I focused on following the familial bond the same way I would to find my own family.

Three young children were close to each other. A toddler was tucked into bed with other kids they were not related to. A child only a few years older was in a different room with other boys. The next was maybe a year or two older and alone in a bare room, curled up in the corner. All three had collars on their neck.

The adult daughter was in a different place. She was also wearing a collar and doing chores. It seemed to be a different time of day so clearly not near the younger three. I touched her thoughts and felt a flood of anxiety and grief. I followed her thoughts to a baby not even a year old. She was in a nursery with other little ones. It looked like a hospital or military base, not like a loving home.

Rage was already building, but I quickly checked on the two adult sons: one was in a large room that was filled with only Nehwalians, but the general energy was different. It felt more like a refugee camp than a prison. He was not wearing a collar. His mind had more hope, though colored with anger and a resolve to fight. He was already a part of the resistance.

The last and oldest son was in a cell. Chained to a wall with a collar around his neck and fresh bruises.

Shit.

Priorities needed to be determined. I moved to the man with a wife and kids and placed my hands on either side of his face without asking. I saw a flash of a young woman and followed the bond. She was wearing a uniform and looked like she was cleaning...I followed her thoughts to two young children. The man I was with felt love for these children, but clearly had no blood relation to them. He also wasn't aware that his wife was pregnant. Curiosity got the better of me and I touched the woman's thoughts to try and find out about the actual father of her children.

'Who's there?' She froze in her work and asked in her mind. 'Telepathy without permission is taboo, and rude.'

'Oh! I wasn't expecting you to notice. I'm a friend... I'm with your husband.'

Her mind instantly invisioned the man in front of me and filled with a mix of joy and worry.

'Is he alright? How far away are you? I don't know of any telepaths that can communicate across worlds. So are you close? Will I get to see him?' She was starting to cry and her mind kept racing.

'He's safe. We're not near, but are planning to come get you.'

'Get me?' realization seemed to dawn on her and she seemed to struggle to stay on her feet, panic flooding her mind. 'Are you with the rebellion?'

'Not officially.... But he was in a prison camp, I helped him escape, and we're now trying to get everyone's loved ones. He wants to get you and the kids to safety.'

'How? I'm on Ratar. The rebellion hasn't reached here yet.'

'Don't worry about that. I can get you and your family to safety with ease. Can you get your family all together?'

'I'm at work... My little ones are at home with my grandparents. We're owned by a family cleaning service... We'll all be home in the evening.'

'Ok... I'll check with you in a while. Get everyone ready. If you can all be together with no one else around that would be ideal.' I was realizing this was going to be a big trip but I couldn't exactly leave part of the family behind. At least they seemed safe for now, so if I couldn't get them today, I could get them after a rest.

'Wait--'

I cut communications. I didn't want to waste too much time and energy explaining. Next, I moved to Everrie. She nodded and cupped my hands as I held her face. I followed her bond to her son. The young baby was being rocked by an older woman who was cooking something. I couldn't sense any connection between Everrie and the woman.

"Do you know who he's with?"

"I'm not sure. Probably other Nehwalians his master owns. The master wanted him raised to be a bodyguard for his son...I was selected for my ability and pedigree as a good match for the master's bodyguard. I thought I'd be able to raise him a little longer, but they took him as soon as he was weened...I think he's being raised by the nanny..." She sniffled and wiped tears from her eyes.

I instinctively pulled her into a hug. "He's safe. And you'll have him back in your arms soon. I promise."

Leaving one hand on her shoulder, I turned to the warrior. "How about you? You only mentioned three jumps, though it'll take a few more than that..." I gestured to the older woman with a scattered family. "But don't you have anyone?"

"I was raised in a civil servant breeding facility. But haven't been there in ages. My mother was old when I was born. Doubt she's still alive. I don't have any connection to her other children. I have a lover. But he's either still with the rebellion, or was at the base with a different group. So if he's alive, he's safe. If he's not..." He clenched his jaw. "We have other priorities."

I reached out and touched his temple, he immediately swatted my hand away, but physical touch only helps focus, it's not actually required, so I found the man that was on his thoughts. He was with my siblings. Not in great shape, but alive and safe.

"He's alright. As I said, my siblings are liberating the rest of that base. I'm sure we'll meet up at some point, but they may take a bit longer. Let's not waste any more time."

The warrior's face twitched and he swallowed hard before nodding. He had obviously been trying not to think about if his lover had been killed instead of taken prisoner, and had been afraid to find out. He quickly wiped the look of relief from his face as I turned to the older woman.

"Your kids are first. Looks like night where the oldest and youngest ones are, though on different worlds. The oldest is not in great shape, but alone in a cell, so should be a quick in and out. I'm just gonna go grab him and bring him here."

"He's hurt?"

"He'll be fine, I'm gonna make this as fast as I can. Should be back in a minute." I nodded and took a few steps back, hoping a little on the third step to leave the ground and jump to my first destination.