We creep through the silent ward, looking around in surprise. The main room is set up like a classroom, but there is a play area on one side with a TV and a gaming system as well as books, blocks, and other assorted toys. On the walls are educational posters showing the alphabet and numbers, as well as posters of foreign countries. I guess they were learning something other than how to be good soldiers. At least that’s something. We follow Xavier, and he takes us to a kitchen. The large dining table, which has the two guards slumped over it, would sit maybe twenty-five people.
“They have this many children?” I whisper, and he nods. “Damn it, hopefully all of their parents are out there, and we can reunite them.”
“Hopefully their parents want them,” Tirrian mutters, and my stomach sinks.
Past the kitchen, there is a hallway with three doors. “Young kids, slightly older, and bathroom,” Xavier says, pointing out the corresponding doors.
“Let’s go in and get the younger ones first. You said there are two women in there? They should be able to help us, right?”
We go to the left door and push it open.
“Freeze. Don’t come any closer,” a woman hisses, and we hear the sound of a safety flicking off.
Xavier forms two balls of light in his hands and tosses them into the air before erecting an invisible shield in front of us in case she gets an itchy trigger finger. Hopefully the bullet isn’t one of the special ones, which can nullify magic and pass straight through.
“Easy,” Brannock says. “We’re the good guys and have come to break you all out.”
“Oh, thank God,” she sobs and lowers the weapon.
“I’m Lila Adams from Galaxy Circus. We have released all the adults and transported them to our ship. We’d like to reunite their children with them, if possible.”
“Yes, yes, of course. Hettie,” she hisses, and her friend sits up. I guess she was just pretending to be asleep. “Wake the little ones and get them dressed.”
“No time, we just need to get them out of here. We can come back for things later,” Tirrian says, and I bite my lip.
“Maybe grab their most special things now.” I glare at him, daring him to contradict me. I know he’s going to torch this facility as soon as we are clear.
“Okay, but make it quick. I’ll get the girls to help. We’re going to need it,” he says as the fifteen small children start to wake up. Most of them look at us with wide-eyed amazement, but one or two start crying.”
“The older children will help. I’ll go wake them,” the woman with the gun says.
“Are you Melissa?” I ask her, and she nods.
“You are needed in the first cell block. One of the women is in labor.” I don’t use her name in case that isn’t what she goes by.
“Oh dear. Poor thing. She hasn’t been very well during this pregnancy at all.” She hurries away, and Brannock grunts and looks around.
“I bet it’s doing to her body what it did to my wife’s, but she managed to withstand it because she’s a goddess.”
“I would say that is a pretty good bet,” Xavier replies as Hettie starts to gather the children.
“Can you see Chloe?” I ask my Aaz’axian, but his face falls, and he shakes his head.
“Maybe she’s in with the older ones. Let’s go wake them,” I suggest, giving his hand a squeeze.
“I’ll stay here and supervise this group,” Saxon tells me, and I give him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Shout if you run across trouble.”
The four of us move to the next room. The woman in this room is fast asleep, and I don’t want to startle her, but there aren’t many other options. I flick the light on and stand in front of the guys. I, at least, look human, and the other three aren’t even close, but then maybe that isn’t a bad thing.
There looks to be ten children in this room, and all of them are awake and alert the instant the lights turn on.
“Who are you?” A boy of about ten jumps to his feet and puts his hands on his hips, placing himself just in front of the rest of them.
“I’m Lila, and we’re breaking you out of here,” I tell him.
He frowns. “Does Smith have a mission for us?” he asks, and a sob escapes the mouth of the silent guardian. She slaps her hand over it when my eyes move to her.
“No. Smith is never going to be involved in your lives ever again,” I promise him.
