“Imagine how all of them feel,” Brannock says, gesturing to the closed doors. I can’t see anyone watching us anymore, but I don’t blame them. They could be jumping from the frying pan and into the fire. For all they know, we’re worse than Smith.
It doesn’t take long to get the power up and running again, and we release the first room of prisoners. The prisoners are reluctant to come out, and when Xavier announces who he is and that the Galaxy Circus is here to rescue them, it doesn’t get any better.
“Why should we trust you? We were told that the Adams brothers sold that bastard Smith a list of all aliens on Earth,” a voice calls from inside one of the rooms.
“Like fuck they did!” I exclaim.
“Shut up, blood sucker,” another voice calls. “You know that isn’t true.” I spin around to find a female exiting the breeding room, tears streaming down her face. “Is it true you’re getting us out of here?”
“Absolutely. We are going to transport you to the Galaxy Circus and then the Celestian royal family is sending a ship. You will travel to Celestia to be assessed by their medical professionals, both physically and mentally, and once they clear you, you are free to leave. We will ensure you are escorted to wherever you want to go. We have the full backing of not only the Celestian royal family, but also the Vilaxian and warlock leaders.” I wave to Saxon and Xavier. Xavier gives a little finger wave, and Saxon dips his head in greeting. “Not to mention the dragon royal family from Fluxx, the leading streak on Iceen, and the support of the crown prince of Aquilia. I also have the heirs of both Pleasure Bot Industries and the suva trade in my pocket.”
The female purses her lips and whistles. “You have some heavy hitters.”
I nod, taking her hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Yes, and they are all dedicated to seeing the people responsible for your imprisonment get punished. Most of the people in this facility are already dead. We haven’t gotten as far as the nursery yet, but everyone else was taken care of.”
While Tirrian and I were busy with Brannock, Xavier used his handy people dissolving spell to dispose of all the dead bodies.
“And it’s only a matter of time before we catch up with Smith. I guarantee he will pay in blood for what he has wrought here.”
“Come out, everyone, she’s telling the truth,” the female calls, and I blink in surprise.
“You can tell that?” I ask her, and she nods.
“Yes. One of my Skarrian abilities is to discern people’s motives and whether they are being truthful or not.”
“You’re from Skarr?” I ask, feeling tears build in my eyes.
“Yes, and I knew the Adams brothers weren’t responsible. I could feel the lies the scientists and Smith told, but I also knew them personally. I was friends with their son and daughter-in-law. We were neighbors once upon a time, and I was the one who looked after you when they had their accident.” Her eyes blur with tears. “Lila, you’ve grown into such a beautiful young woman.”
I’m stunned into speechlessness.
“Lila’s memories were manipulated, and some of them have not returned yet,” Xavier explains when I can’t talk because the lump in my throat is so big.
“Yes, I know. I was the one who called your parents when it happened and summoned them to Earth. Xylene and I cried buckets of tears the day we handed you over to child services. I wanted to keep you, but they insisted it was what your parents wanted. Thankfully they did, because I was captured roughly a year after their deaths.”
“You’ve been in here for almost twenty years?” Saxon sounds incredulous, and the woman nods.
“Yes, I didn’t think I was ever going to leave.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name,” I say to the woman, and she smiles gently.
“I’m Amanda, but you called me Mandymoo.”
Something prickles in my mind, and a memory of a younger Amanda pushing me on a tire swing in the backyard of a large home flutters through my mind.
“Are any of the children yours?” Zeydan asks gently, and her eyes widen slightly at his appearance.
“Babe, do you want to maybe reel in the whole godly being thing now?” I suggest, and I can see him think about it.
“You’re a god? Which one?” Amanda asks.
“I am Zeydan, the earth elemental god.”
“Come with me.” Amanda grabs his hand and tugs him through the medical facility. I hear the rest of the occupants in the first rooms start to chatter amongst themselves, and I realize they had all ventured out while we were distracted. Most of them are humanoid in appearance, which was one of the conditions for being able to reside on Earth, since they needed to blend in, but I can’t tell you what species they are.
“Go,” Brannock encourages. “We will get these people to the transporter and catch up. The others are all back on the ship and ready to receive the refugees. Link, Mark, Susie, and Aarin are all on standby.”
“Thank you,” I call to him and follow after Amanda and Zeydan. The others remain behind to assist the shaken captives who all seem incredibly emotional now that they know they are being rescued. I think Xavier will probably need to do some mood stabilizing to get them to cooperate.
