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“Affirmative,” Neloff said urgently. “The camp leaders are not onboard theMadelle. Go after that shuttle!”
Jobek headed in the direction from which they’d seen the flash.
Tandor scanned for a telltale energy surge or special distortion, but there was nothing.
“They’ve been on Earth for two decades,” Jobek reminded. “Early refraction shields were either good at protecting the ship or hiding it, but many could not do both.”
He was right. Tandor scattered tiny bursts of energy in the widest pattern possible. It took three tries, but a group of energy pebbles struck the other ship’s shields, revealing the location of the fleeing ship. Jobek shot toward them at top speed as Tandor targeted the rear of the other ship, hoping to hit their shield generators.
A sudden flash momentarily blinded him, then the other ship faded in and out of view as it spun in a slow circle. Tandor waited until he could see the ship clearly and then fired again.
“We are teleporting them onboard,” Neloff told Jobek and Tandor. “Wait for my mark and then destroy their ship. We can’t leave it hanging there in space and we are nearly ready to depart.”
“Understood.”
Neloff gave the order a few minutes later and Tandor incinerated the shuttle.
“Good job,” Neloff praised. “Head back. We went ahead and teleported the rest of the females. That light show undoubtedly drew the wrong sort of attention. I think it’s wiser if we leave the area.”
“We’re on our way,” he assured his brother.
Jobek maneuvered their ship into a landing bay aboard theMadellea few minutes later. They secured the ship and hurried to the cargo hold where the conduits had congregated until Commander Cylex arrived to take responsibility for them. They had yet to hear exactly when that would be, so Neloff was doing the best he could with their resentful passengers. Once the females were transferred to Cylex, their contract would be fulfilled and the second half of their fee would be released.
Tandor scanned open the door and cringed at the cacophony of sobbing, shouting, and overlapping conversations.
“This should be fun,” Jobek muttered as he entered the crowded room.
Tandor stepped inside and scanned the throng for any sign of his brother.
Neloff spotted them and moved over to where they stood. “We’re still missing one.”
“One of the leaders or one of the conduits?” Jobek asked, his dark eyes narrowing dangerously.
“We have all of the leaders, but there should be forty-six conduits and there are only forty-five.”
Tuning out the noise and the dizzying surges of emotion, Tandor carefully counted the young females. “My total is forty-five as well.”
Neloff was a commander used to the intensity of battle or covert missions, not passenger management. Like Tandor, strong emotions made Neloff’s eyes appear more red than brown and his emotions were boiling right now. “Everyone shut up!” His roar triggered a fresh wave of hysterical sobbing, but the frightened females quieted down. “As you are counted, sit down and remain silent.”
The old-fashioned method quickly confirmed Tandor’s total. There were only forty-five young females in the cargo hold, which meant one was missing. “The perimeter was established before we started the evacuation. How did one get away?”
Neloff shook his head, but the red fire gradually faded from his gaze. “I run the ship and manage the crew. You, brother dear, get to deal with this mess. Let me know what you find out.” The corners of his mouth twitched as he turned and made a hasty exit.
“Coward,” Jobek teased as Neloff passed him, then he moved up beside Tandor. There was no malice in the insult. Everyone onboard theMadellewas anxious to finish the mission and leave this barbaric planet behind. “Shall we question the females individually? One of them must know who is missing.” Tandor had known Jobek since childhood and they were seldom apart. They’d attended the same schools and applied to the Citadel together. They qualified in separate disciplines, but that worked to their advantage. It took a controller and a source to claim a conduit, and forming a power triad was their ultimate goal.
“Every female in this room knows who’s missing.” Tandor crossed his arms over his chest. Dealing with a group of half-hysterical conduits was well outside the area of expertise for every male on this ship. They were hunters. They chased down violent criminals and rescued kidnapped children. This mission had been unusual in every respect. Tandor had been shocked when his brother accepted the contract. “The question is which one is most likely to tell us the fastest.”
They paused to study the females for a moment. Jobek was a ruthless interrogator, but Tandor was not convinced that ruthlessness was what was needed right now. Cajoling and subtlety would be more effective. That was why they made such an effective team. Their contrasting personalities and divergent skill sets complemented each other. It was unlikely they would be granted the right to claim one of these females, but they would not hesitate if the opportunity arose.
“That one is protecting the others,” Jobek pointed out. “I have an idea.” Putting on his fiercest expression, he shoved his way through the crowd until he reached the small grouping in the corner.
As Jobek predicted, the brown-haired female had positioned herself in front of the other three. Her hostile gaze was a shade between gray and green.
“Move aside,” Jobek demanded.
“Why? What do you want?” She met his gaze without flinching, but Tandor could sense her fear.
“One of your companions is missing. That female is going to tell me her name and current location.” He pointed at the sobbing blonde the others were attempting to comfort.
