Chapter 131

As everyone walked down the hall toward the theater, Selina hung back. When Diana turned and caught her eye, Selina, with purpose, walked on past, turned the corner and went on to her suite. If I do not ask, then the answer cannot be no, she thought. Waiting four minutes by her internal clock, she walked back out of her suite, down the hall and peeked around the corner in the direction of the theater. There was no one in the hallway.

Shortly, she slowly opened the theater door the tiniest crack in order to listen. When she heard Diana talking, she eased the door open a little more until she could see through the crack.

Arlene had just set two small garbage cans down near Nat, Nicki and Whitney as they sat on the front row. Fred and his mates sat behind the girls on the second row. "Last chance, girls," the Queen said. "This is actual combat to the death with knives. It's quite ... gross. Whether you watch it or not is your decision. You've been warned."

"We were kidnapped and raped," Nat said. "Jeff rescued us. He or Captain Madison, or maybe both of them, killed Ingles. We're prepared. We've been told what happened at the base, but we want to see it ourselves."

"Okay. We'll show the knife fight first. After that, I'll leave. I don't want to see the fight outside the Retreat. I, like my husband, don't want to bring back the memories of Arlene almost dying." Diana fought the last words out past a lump in her throat as she turned her gaze on her daughter for a moment.

Still standing in front, Arlene picked up the remote and for a second, her eyes focused on the door. There was the barest moment of hesitation. Selina knew Arlene's sharp eyes had seen her. The genius held her breath, but Arlene didn't give Selina's presence away.

Kayla, having decided to come with the others after all, got up and walked over to stand beside Arlene and Diana. "Let me say something, Di, before you run the vid, please." At Diana's nod, Kayla turned to look first at Nat, Nicki and Whitney, then over at Fred and his group. "I need to tell you something about the base and the group that Jeff and I work for. Jeff gave you a general outline, but there are a couple of things I would like to add so maybe you will more fully understand what you're about to see on the screen. Nat, Nicki and Whitney, you've been to the base, but probably didn't get much of a chance to see or understand things while you were there, although you've heard us talk about some of this.

"First off, even though there are a fairly large number of scientists, technicians, and so forth at the base, they have all received the basics of combat training. Let me stress that their combat training in no way provides them with the skills to actually be on a combat team, but neither are they pushovers when it comes to a fight. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, has to qualify on the range every six months. And that doesn't mean that they just go out and fail and then are coached through the course until they manage to shoot a minimum passing grade. Everyone has to put in at least eight hours on the range every month. If you have been off-world, and get behind on your range hours, then you are required to catch up when you return. I understand there have been some pissed-off scientists who thought they were too important for the rule to apply to them. Their blocks were checked, and they were sent packing.

"The idea behind all this is that help may be days or weeks away, even after a Mayday is sent. Our scientists are working to improve the portal, and from what I hear, they are stymied – plateaued if you will – on increasing the diameter of the portal opening. Even when it is working properly, it's an energy hog, is slow to recover, and when a Mayday comes in, there may also be others who have an emergency at the same time. So the portal could be tied up, or even down for repairs when an off-world science team is attacked. There has been more than one group of aliens who has found out that even the scientists have teeth. We push the panic button, and fight, if need be.

"I finished college, was recruited by the FBI and attended their academy in Quantico. Not long after I graduated from the academy, I was given the opportunity to join an organization that is so secret few people not working there have even heard of it. I'm an anthropologist. I spent a couple of years, mostly off-world, answering to a prick who was in charge of the team, and who loved to take credit for his underlings' work. It finally came back to bite him in the butt, but that's another story.

"The fight you are about to see was sanctioned by the General in charge of the base. There aren't many fights, but the ring is used when all else fails concerning a grievance between personnel. Most fights – what few there are – are with boxing gloves, but occasionally there is a true unarmed combat match. It has been a long time since the last fight to the death match, but the rule was in effect when Buckmann challenged Jeff, and it still is. Buckmann was already sentenced to death, so his only purpose was to take his personal enemy with him. Our husband accepted the challenge to personally avenge the attack on us that Buckmann had orchestrated.

"With probably his last breath, or at least one of his last, Buckmann lunged to kill Jeff before the fight had officially begun – not that it did him any good. Our Prime killed him, anyway."

Kayla looked at Nat, Nicki and Whitney. "The three of you and I seemed to hit it off both at Ingles home and later at the base, and we formed a bond almost instantly. As you know, the General sent me to help ease your transition to your new home and family here at the Retreat, but my true mission is to be the last line of defense for our Prime." She directed her final comment to Fred and his family. "Jeff is the only one the starship will allow to command her, so the General is adamant that nothing bad will ever happen to Jeff. I'm still amazed that the General allowed the fight to occur. Maybe it was male pride on both their parts, or ego. Maybe the General knew beyond the slightest doubt what the outcome would be. Maybe our Prime couldn't be denied. I don't know. I just wanted everyone to fully understand how the fight occurred. And if you have a weak stomach, you had better keep one of those garbage cans close by."

Kayla sat, and Arlene killed the lights completely, then started the video with the sound turned up.

Selina crouched low and opened the door enough to slip through. A few seconds later, the six-year-old slid into a seat just inside the doorway, hunkering down until she could barely see over the seat in front of her.

On the giant screen in the small theater, they watched as the high-res camera panned the audience at the arena, before focusing on the ring. The audience, both on screen and those watching in the theater, became totally silent.

On screen, Major Bailey said, "This is a match to the death. Do you agree?"

"Yes!" Buckmann snapped out before Bailey even got the words fully said.

"And you, Colonel Matthews, do you agree?"

"Yes," Jeff said, his voice quiet, but firm, the PA system, nevertheless, echoing his voice throughout the auditorium as it had Buckmann's. In the theater, everyone held his or her breath.

"Very well, in keeping with tradition..."

Buckmann lunged and Jeff reacted. With the sound turned up, they could hear Buckmann's wrist shatter as Jeff blocked, and at almost the same instant there was the sickening sound as the Prime's knife hissed through Buckmann's body, severing flesh, bone and muscle. Arterial blood sprayed Major Bailey. Jeff's three youngest wives sucked in a simultaneous breath as Buckmann's body toppled backward, his severed intestines spilling their contents as blood, urine and fecal matter joined an ever-widening puddle around the once-colonel's body.

Selina leaned forward, capping her hand over her mouth. As the vid continued on the screen, the camera zoomed in until Buckmann, or what was left of him, filled the screen.

"Isn't that thing hanging out of what's left of Buckmann's pants his..."

"Yep," Arlene answered. "I think our husband shortened him up a bit."

Arlene froze the vid for all to see the gruesome sight of Buckmann split open. Selina peeked over the seat after finally conquering her stomach. Her eyes got big and she ducked her head the second time, trying to suppress a gag.

Arlene hit Play again. The edited video showed different angles, and eventually the fight in slow motion. A bit later, Diana walked by, patting Selina on the head as she passed. "If you puke on my carpet, I'll expect you to clean it up."

She knew I was here, Selina thought. When Diana left, closing the door behind her, Selina smiled, both proud that the Queen had not made her leave and pleased that she (Selina) had not sprayed the contents of her stomach onto the carpet. I certainly have a terrible taste in my mouth, she thought, swallowing. Nat, Nicki and Whitney did not vomit. Nor shall I, she vowed, swallowing again and taking a shuddering breath.

A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER

Selina, much like Jeff, could awaken whenever she wanted. Now that she had received Little One's enhancement, she needed less sleep. At home with her parents, she had taken naps after dinner in order to be able to awaken after her parents and the servants were asleep. She had surfed the net, worked with projects she knew her parents wouldn't allow, or explored her home, her dad's home office and sometimes even the surrounding area of her neighborhood. She had always loved to sneak around and listen to people, and had sometimes played tricks on the servants while they slept. Hiding a shoe well up under the bed, resetting the volume on a TV so that it came on blaring, a lot of little things that amused her and passed the time.

She had watched a couple of movies in the theater with the Matthews, but she had never explored their video collection. She, of course, wasn't interested in the family movies. She had overheard Arlene, Ann, Jennie and Melissa discussing a sex scene they had seen. Although she was almost certain the movie they discussed wasn't a true porn movie, it certainly seemed to have enough sex in it to interest the four young wives.

Selina wasn't really interested in sex – could not fully understand why anyone would be, but intellectually, she knew she would probably have a different opinion after undergoing puberty. But, she was bored and there was nothing else she wanted to do at the moment, so she turned on the lights in the theater and began to explore the Matthews video library.

Jeff and his wives had just settled in for the night. Diana was snuggled on his left shoulder with Arlene on his right. The muted sounds of surf came from hidden speakers about the room, Laura having chosen the seashore sound tonight after being reminded of the ocean from hearing about their friends' trip to Florida in the RV. Diana was worried because Jeff had seemed preoccupied. When she had asked him about it, he had just shrugged and said he was a bit uptight for some reason.

Just as they had drifted off, the phone rang with the distinctive sound of a call originating in the Retreat. Caitlin, on the outside of the big bed nearest the phone, rolled to her side and fumbled the instrument out of its charging cradle and to her ear.

"Caitlin," she mumbled.

"This is General Whitworth. I need to speak with your husband ASAP."

"Yes, Sir," Caitlin said, snapping fully awake at the General's tone.

"Jeff, it's the General," she said, sitting up and reaching the phone over to her mate. As Jeff took the phone and sat up, Caitlin brought the lights up with the remote.

"Sir?" the Prime answered.

"Colonel, when you were attacked Little One called the ship. Could she do it again?"

Jeff was fully awake now, fatigue and sleep washed away by a surge of adrenaline. "The ship made some ... enhancements to Little One. I can call the Ship through her."

"Do so, Colonel. I'm alerting your team as we speak. You need to be in Atlanta five minutes ago. I'll meet you out back. If we hurry and are lucky you may be able to keep a number of FBI agents from dying tonight. Get the ship here, Colonel."

"Yes, Sir."

Jeff made his way quickly to the side of the bed. Kayla thrashed to get her legs free of the sheet, then scrambled to the foot of the bed. "What is it?" she asked her new Husband as she stood.

Jeff tossed the phone back to Caitlin and spoke up so everyone could hear. "All I know right now is that some FBI agents are going to die unless we help them. The General is activating the team, and I'm calling the Ship."

Jeff snatched Little One's drawer open, picked her up and placed her on his shoulder. Standing still, his eyes lost focus for a moment. His mind seemed to meld with Little One's for an instant, then reached out to the Ship. They touched for a heartbeat, then his mind was back in the room. Jeff didn't notice that all his wives, in varying degrees, had seemed to feel something too. Kayla, already hurrying toward the closet, staggered. Arlene and Diana groaned and grabbed their heads; Nat, Nicki and Whitney as one, shivered and let out a sigh. They all looked at each other.

"Wow!" Arlene exclaimed.

"Jeff?" Diana said quietly, but he was already in the big walk-in closet with his thumb pressed against the safe lock where he and Kayla kept their weapons. There were Glocks hidden about the Retreat and an assortment of other weapons locked in the case in the inside range, but the enhanced and off-world weapons that he and Kayla had were locked in the gun safe in the closet.

Jeff turned to Kayla, but before he could say anything, she, with a defiant look, said, "Don't even think about it, Husband. You know what my job is. I'm going with you. Besides, if I didn't, the General would have cause to have me up on charges. You wouldn't want one of your wives to embarrass you, would you?"

"I don't know what we're going to do, but you stay behind me. You let the team do what they are trained to do. I want you alive when this is over. Understand?"

Jeff's last word was so intense that Kayla could feel it. "Yes, My Prime," she said, meekly, as they hastily put on their uniforms and armor.

As Jeff tossed Kayla's pulse rifle to her, Diana came storming into the closet, grabbed Jeff and kissed him hard on the mouth, then turned to Kayla and did the same to her. "Take care of each other," she said as she backed up to give them room, tears streaming down her face. "I don't like this. I don't like this one damn bit."

Jeff knew better than to answer. He sat in a chair and forced his feet into the camouflage mesh, then stood to pull it up his body. Kayla, already in her camouflage suit, helped him, then fastened everything together in the back. When she turned her back to him, he finished fastening hers. Their equipment only took a couple of minutes more.