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command center. Your administration skils are better than mine, so you’l be in charge of putting it together. Once it’s up and running I’l take over and you can help me keep track of what’s going on. Start on that right away.” Clajak’s shoulders lost some of their stiffness, his focus sharpening as his quick mind took hold of the mission. He turned to his assistant Korkla and the two dozen members of the Royal Guard awaiting directions. “Al of you with me. I want the conference center on the first floor set up with al the coms, vids, and computers you can lay your hands on. Meet me there in fifteen minutes.”
    “Yes, my emperor,” Korkla and the crowd of Nobeks chorused, and with a blur of movement the room emptied out except for Bevau and Egilka.
    The Nobek Emperor turned to his remaining clanmate. “Egilka, assemble a medical team, smal but prepared in case she’s found…” He swalowed before spitting out the next word. “…injured. Clear a surgical room and have Flencik on standby.”
    “You expect they’l do damage?” The Imdiko’s voice was almost lost in an animal growl. His teeth flashed white behind his mustache.
    “Every woman who’s been abducted has been hurt.” Or killed . Not many knew of the five horrific homicides, only that the women had gone missing. The information that Earther Mataras had actualy been murdered had been kept from even Jessica. “I’m hoping the bastards wil be too busy trying to spirit her out of the hospital before that happens.”
    “If she is injured, you wil kil whoever harms her.” It was a flat statement, almost an order.
    Bevau gave his clanmate a humorless smile. “Slowly and very painfuly,” he promised.

    * * * *
Jessica lost al track of time in the silent darkness as she battled against panic and the paralysis that gripped her body. It was easy to believe she’d been entombed, never to see the sun again.
    Terror and determination traded places innumerable times. During the fear-filed periods she cried silent tears, convinced she’d never escape, never see her clan or her children again. Noele and Wayne were too young to remember her should she never return to them. To miss seeing her babies grow up, to never witness them fulfil the promise the toddlers showed…
    Moments later, she’d steel her resolve. Concentrating on the finger that had twitched earlier, she narrowed her focus to laserpoint precision, silently insisting it obey her and move again. Once she thought she felt her toe move instead, but it could have been wishful thinking. A muscle spasm, maybe.
    Jessica was working at her finger again, determined she would lift it this time. She would not give up, would not give in to tears again. There was a way out of this. And when she got her hands on those bastards who had made her cry, they’d be the ones bawling.
    Her finger jumped. Jessica caught her breath with excitement. That’s it. Come on, do it again , she coaxed. It jerked.
    Okay, progress was being made. Whatever they’d drugged her with was wearing off. But she had to hurry, because whoever was coming to get here would be taking her away at any moment now. And only heaven knew where she’d end up.
    Jessica switched her attention to her entire hand. She steadied her breath, going back to the breathing exercises Flencik had taught her for the birth of her firstborn, Wayne. Calm and steady. Thinking about energy and strength filing her hand, giving it the power to move. She could do this. Lifting up … lifting up … lifting up…
    Nothing.
    Damn this shit all to hell! Fury at her helplessness blazed red and angry through her mind, giving rise to words her frozen vocal cords couldn’t utter. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck you, motherfucker!
    Her hand jerked.
    Jessica would have laughed if she could. Calm mind, no results. Giving into her temper had achieved a better outcome. No problem. She had temper in spades.
    All right, body. Let’s show these shitheads they don’t fuck with