“Commander, we stand by you.”
“I appreciate that. Let’s divide up our group and take the separate tunnels.”
“Do we have the coordinates to the Katieran transport?”
“No, but I will send out a signal for assistance. They’ll get it.”
For the next few hours, MarIK and his warriors with the air carriers traveled the underground tunnels. It was taking longer than he expected because they had to move slower in order to prevent the Katierans from falling off the carriers. Also, the carriers were not built for speed. He kept in communication with the other team in the other tunnel.
“Sir, the tunnel ahead has a blockage. It will take a few minutes to clear.”
“Leave a few warriors here with me to guard the Katierans. The rest of you go help clear the tunnel.”
“What’s going on?”
MarIK turned to find Sharon rousing. He went over to her and squatted down next to her. “All of you were drugged. I found out just in time to get you all out of there. OrIN was going to give you to the Morins.” Just saying that sent a chill down his spine.
“Where are we?” She looked around, but her eyes weren’t completely focused yet.
“We had found some underground tunnels hidden and we kept that information from OrIN. We have shuttles waiting at the other end of the tunnels. We’ll take you to the Katieran transport.”
She turned to look at the Katieran warriors behind her. “You piled them up like blocks.”
“We had no choice. They were passing out all at one time.”
“Why aren’t I still out like the others?”
“You may have had smaller amounts of the drug. Can you see my fingers?”
“Yes, you’re holding up two fingers.”
“Good, your eyes are starting to focus better.”
“Does OrIN know we’re gone?”
“Yes, he’s tried to call me and my warriors on our comm links. We turned them off the frequency he uses so that we can speak to the warriors in the other tunnel.”
“I have another problem,” Sharon said, biting her lip.
“What’s that?”
“I have to go to the bathroom.”
He didn’t understand at first. “Bathing room?”
“I need to...relieve myself.”
“Oh.” He looked around. There really wasn’t any place that would give her much privacy. “I can take you a few feet back in the direction we came.”
“Thank you.”
MarIK helped her stand up, steadying her as she swayed. He turned to his warriors. “We will be right back.”
Helping her walk back down the tunnel, he listened out for any signs of OrIN’s men but didn’t hear anything.
“I can’t go any further without...going.”
“Go ahead.”
