“We have secured the island. All weapons have been confiscated and the island inhabitants are being lined up on the beach for your arrival.”
Commander TylOR responded, “We’re landing now.”
Within minutes the shuttle landed smoothly on the beach. The ramp lowered allowing them to depart. The other warriors, including CristOF, left the shuttle first before Commander TylOR. As the highest-ranking commander, TylOR was the priority. His safety had to be ensured at all times.
CristOF noted that their warriors had the males from the island lined up on the beach, kneeling down on their knees with their hands behind their heads. Some were bleeding; others were uninjured but looked scared.
Walking the line he looked down at their faces. How young were they? Fifteen? Seventeen? Warrior training could start young but these males looked worn out and beaten, exhaustion evident. He then paused at one male in particular.
“I know you,” he said to the older male who was holding a hand over a bleeding gash on his chest.
The male looked up squinting from the suns shining in his eyes. Recognition flashed in his expression. “Did you save the girl?”
It was the older male from the cabin. He helped the elder get to his feet. “I did and she is safe. My name is Warrior CristOF.”
“I am RedENkalachu,” the elderly male said. “Your female called me Red.”
He looked at RedENkalachu’s injury. “You have need of a medic.”
“I will be fine, though some of my people have a greater need for assistance.”
“Who is this Warrior CristOF?” Commander TylOR came to his side.
“This is RedENkalachu, one of the elders that had been imprisoned and tortured to keep his people in line. He needs a medic.”
TylOR called for another medic to come and help. There had been several medics brought with them. “Do you see the rebel leader, or can you recognize his followers?”
CristOF looked over the males. “I’m sorry, I can’t see the leader and I didn’t see the males who had abducted Tera. I would recognize them. As far as other rebel followers, I would not be able to identify them” Looking around at the males he added, “This can’t be all of them.”
“Warrior CristOF?” RedENkalachu called out as CristOF was about to keep walking down the line.
He turned back to the elder. “Yes?”
“If it helps, I can identify my own people. That might help reduce the number of males you have to interrogate.”
CristOF looked at TylOR. “Commander, it’s your decision.”
“Do you trust him?” TylOR asked not caring it was said right in front of RedENkalachu.
“I do. He was kind to my female when he didn’t have to be. He could have escaped the island but refused to leave his people,” CristOF stated. RedENkalachu’s shoulders pulled back in pride at the words.
Commander TylOR nodded. “Do it. I still want every male here questioned though. They might know where the leader is hiding. Splitting the group up would help quicken the questioning. At least we’ll know which group won’t be harboring the rebels.”
CristOF turned to RedENkalachu. “We would appreciate your help in pulling your people out of the line-up. We’ll question them separately, but also make sure they receive medical treatment.”
“Thank you.”
CristOF watched as RedENkalachu walked down the line of males, tapping his people on the head. They stood to follow their elder protectively. It was amazing to see how much respect the younger males had for their elder. He too admired the male for surviving such torture and refusing to leave them when he had the opportunity.
About half the males on the beach line-up were from the mining colony, but that didn’t mean the other males were volunteers. They could also have been taken from their families and threatened to submit or die.
There were five interrogators including his teammate that were pulled to do the questioning. They went down the line of about twenty males questioning each one. Then they did it again changing up the order of questioning. Thirty minutes of questioning felt like hours.
Commander TylOR had the rest of his warriors walk the island inch-by-inch looking for the leader and his followers in case they were hiding somewhere. News came back that no one else was on the island. If the leader and his followers were not here, they must have escaped. CristOF turned his attention back to Commander TylOR, but a skirmish caught his eye.
Both CristOF and TylOR ran over to see what the problem was. The skirmish was between two of the males being interrogated. The interrogators themselves were holding each of the males back from fighting one another.
“What is happening?” TylOR demanded.
“The leader and his personal detail left by boat an hour ago,” one of the males on his knees said.
“Shut up!” the male next to him yelled trying to attack him. The other warriors pulled him off.
“The leader is not on the island,” CristOF repeated. He had just come to that conclusion too but where would they go? How did they get off the island? They had taken out their shuttle, and the other islands had no ships that they could use to leave the area. There was only one shuttle left that they could use. He felt his heart clench tight.
“Tera,” he whispered in alarm.
