The smell of rain filtered into Jacks nose and the hair on the back of his neck stood up on end. His hands clenched the steering wheel as he leaned forward in his seat, pushing the SUV down the road. The skies suddenly opened up around him with crashes of thunder and bolts of lightening flashing down. Old memories of another darkened mountain road came flooding back into his mind. His hands began to tremble and sweat dripped down into his eyes. He could feel the perspiration covering his whole body but he couldnt stop. He had to keep driving. The rain quickly turned to sleet, with the freezing slush covering his windshield. In the darkness he could barely make out the front of the SUV. The wipers pounded, as he kept moving, creeping along at scarcely ten miles an hour. His defroster was on full blast, pouring out hot air. But it was only able to clear a small spot in the windshield for Jack to see through. He was a fool to be driving in this storm, but there was no place to pull over and wait for the storm to subside. The road was much too narrow and there were too many dangerous curves that dropped off to nowhere. He couldnt just stop in the middle of the road. He had to keep driving. Slowly he urged the SUV down the road, while the fears of the past reached out tormenting his every thought.
Rounding a turn at the top of the mountain, the storm lifted as suddenly as it had begun. To Jack it seemed like a lifetime had past since hed left Santa Fe. The road widened and he pulled the SUV off to the gravel covered edge of the road. Pulling up the emergency brake, he slumped forward, hugging the steering wheel while the warmth of the sun shone down through the windshield. With sweaty palms he opened the door, stepped down and nearly fell under the weight of his own body. Gripping the doorframe tightly, he steadied himself and stood carefully until his shaky legs found solid ground. Deeply breathing in the cold air, he watched as his own ragged foggy breaths disappeared in front of his face. A bone chilling shiver shook his whole body as he looked out over the edge of the mountain. The clouds slowly drifted apart before him, revealing what hed been searching for all along. Directly in front of him in the valley below was the town of Rain Cloud. Peacefully slumbering in its own little spot of sunshine
They watched her hands as she clinched tighter and tighter into the wall of the ship. Her knuckles white and fingers gripping so tightly they began to bleed. Her body tensed and she shook uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her face and her hair was drenched with perspiration. Valerie wanted to run to her, to free her from the hold the ship had over her. But she knew this would only endanger her friend even more. Disrupting this strong of connection could result in permanent harm to anyone, especially a Human. They could do nothing but observe and be there for Katharine when it was over.
Roftel remained calm, certain the ship would not harm Katharine. But as he watched her hands and her wrists disappear into the inner walls of the ship, his concern for her safety began to mount. After all, she was only Human. How much could she endure? Would the ship really know when it was too much for her body to handle? Would it stop in time? His mind raced until the ship suddenly silenced him. Shocked at the ships abruptness he sought to regain his self-control. Valerie sat next to him, staring questioningly at him. Closing his eyes he transmitted his thoughts into Valeries mind, Yes Valerie, I am all right. It is time to get Paul.
Valerie moved towards the door and rushed straight into Paul. The ship had summoned him and in his haste he had not sensed Valerie was coming for him. Quickly reaching for her arm he managed to keep from knocking her off her feet. With the fleeting of a glance he conveyed his concern, steadied her, released her arm and headed for Katharine.
In a matter of seconds he was on the floor beside her, holding her in his arms and entering her dream. He found her as he always found her in the dream, shivering on the freezing wet rocks
Roftel knelt on the floor and closed his eyes searching his inner spirit. He sat for a long time, preparing his mind for the link and emptying his thoughts. Suddenly his eyes shot open and his head jerked back. What do you mean you have already begun? What is it that you did days ago without consulting me? I must know. Tell me now!
Roftel held his fury inside and waited impatiently for the ship to bow to his command. His mind was empty, silent, waiting for the thoughts of the ship to filter into his consciousness. Slowly, like a child that had misbehaved, the ship revealed the fears that had been tormenting it for the last few days. It had been saturated with the knowledge that something ominous was about to take place in Phoenix. Fearing the worst for its people, the ship had only done what it thought necessary.
Roftel shook his head in disbelief, I cannot believe you have done this. Why did you send him out into the desert alone? He is but one man and he is not even Castieon. How can you even think he will be of any help to us?
But the ship remained clear in what it had done. This mere Human was exactly what they needed to fight the threat in Arizona. Unpredictable, yet trained, he could be their only chance.
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