Chapter Eight

                                    

                                          
"We need to be vigilant about this. I've no doubt Vextian's forces on high alert after the attack on Glacida, so we can't just go in guns blazing. We've got to be smart about this...so I'm suggesting a stealth mission."
                          
I nodded my head to myself as Teiken spoke, my mind going straight to that military mindset. Two days had passed since I almost died, but I was absolutely determined to get my husband back. I didn't care how, I just wanted to hold him in my arms again and reassure him I wasn't going anywhere. Hell, it was good that I let Teiken take the reins on this, considering I probably would have just went for it and inevitably got myself killed. I couldn't have that, not when my husband was being held hostage.
                          
I pulled myself out of my thoughts and shifted my weight, leaning on the holographic table as I glanced at the Volcic. "How do you propose we do that?"
                          
Teiken waved his hand and an image of a battered ship appeared above the table, illuminating us in a warm orange glow. "We can go to Glacida and recover one of their fallen ships, or even just a data core. If we can get them to think we're one of their ships, we can sneak into the castle through the hangar. While we rescue Asurah, my father will be readying us for defence when Vextian comes to retaliate."
                          
Delkele, who, I guess, was already here when I was brought in, crossed those thick arms over his chest, that crimson hair loose over his broad shoulders. 
 So I assume you made a rescue team?"
                          
Teiken nodded his head and straightened himself from the table. "The rescue team will consist of myself, Jox, Delkele, and Joseph. Everyone else will stay here and assist my father."
                          
Teiken's wife, who had been silent this whole time, crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head, her dark hair spilling over her shoulders. "Why must you go? Can you not stay here and assist Temour?"
                          
Teiken turned and cupped her dark cheeks, his orange eyes going soft as he stared at his wife. "Because my love, Asurah is my best friend. One that is very dear to me, and I cannot sit by on the sidelines and allow them to risk their lives alone. I must do this, Crystala. Please allow me."
                          
Crystala's dark gaze searched Teiken's before she finally nodded and gently gripped the Volcic's bicep. "Please take care of yourself, my love. I don't want our baby to grow up without a father."
                          
My brows rose in mild surprise at the revelation, but let's face it, it was bound to happen eventually since they were married...but that was going to make my job much harder now that I had to make sure Teiken remained unharmed, during our mission. And it seemed like Delkele felt the same as me, judging by the slightly annoyed look on his face.
                          
I snapped out of my thoughts when Teiken turned back to the table, those orange eyes trailing across each of their faces. "Alright, it's settled then. I give you all thirty minutes to freshen up before we go to Glacida."
                          
He nodded towards us and left the room with Crystala, both of them hand in hand as I pinched the bridge of my nose, ready to get my husband back. I briefly saw Jox moving towards Delkele, so with the intention of giving them privacy, I left the room and began walking down the halls, the browns and cream colors giving everything a rather homey feel to it.
                          
I sighed and watched a couple of Glacics walk past, their arms wrapped around themselves as they muttered in conversation. And I couldn't help but wonder, when this was all over, if they would even have a home to go back to. From what I had saw, via hologram recreation, Glacida had been hit pretty damn hard. Hell, most of Asurah's castle was nothing more than a pile of rubble, and I knew he must have been feeling devastated. His people were attacked, his home destroyed...not to mention he saw me get stabbed in the chest and probably thought I was dead. His world was basically shattered right in front of him, and knowing that lit a fire within me, one so bright and heated that Vextian wouldn't even know what hit him.
                          
I walked into the room I had been given, and walked over to one of the small side tables, my eyes gliding off of the guns and mags I was going to bring with me. I picked up an automatic pistol, my fingers grabbing the magazine before I popped it into the gun, making sure the safety was on before I put it in my holster, not taking another second before I was loading another pistol, and then an assault rifle. I made sure I had enough ammo, and glanced at my watch, sighing when I saw that we still had about fifteen minutes left before we went to Glacida.
                          
And I'll admit, I was pretty antsy. I wanted to hurry up to Vextian so I could kill the bastard for what he had done...but I knew better than to rush myself. I rushed myself in Glacida and we all know how that turned out. My butt had been handed to me, and I'm ashamed that I let him get the better of me. I was not going to let that happen again, and when he finally realizes what the hell was going on...it would be too late for him.
                          
I huffed and walked over to the large bed, running my hand through my curls as I took a seat on the edge.
                          
How the hell were we even going to do this? Sure, everything sounded easy when it was put on paper...but the reality of it was that was never the case. Something would always happen, which usually ended up with us improvising. 
                          
Then again, we weren't dealing with humans. We were dealing with intelligent species that could easily blow Earth up with one shot. And Teiken was an intelligent man who wouldn't allow harm to befall Asurah. From what I had gathered, the two of them were best friends, or even thought of each other as family. So I shouldn't be undermining their capabilities just yet.
                          
Jox was rather close to Asurah as well, acting almost like a brother to him. So he wouldn't let anything happen to Asurah either.
                          
And Delkele? Well...I'm pretty sure he was still in love with him, and if not, he at least cared about his wellbeing. 
                          
So I shouldn't be doubting them like I was. I needed to trust them and put as much faith in them as I could. 
                          
I rubbed at my eyes and stood from the bed, taking a quick look around the room to make sure I had everything before I left, making my way to the ship hangar. There I found Delkele and Jox waiting, Del with those thick arms crossed over his chest, while Jox anxiously bit at his bottom lip, my brows raising when I noticed he was wearing white leather pants. Though, I was sure there were cooling beads infused in the fabric so that he didn't...I dunno, melt?
                          
When they finally caught sight of me, Delkele inclined his head towards me while Jox pushed away from some shipment boxes, light blue eyes on me. "We're still waiting on Teiken, but he shouldn't be too much longer." That light gaze dropped to where I had been stabbed. "How's your wound fairing, by the way?"
                          
I pursed my lips and casually grabbed the strap to my assault rifle, shrugging slightly as I lowered my gaze to the floor. "I'm fine. Ready to kick some Barney butt if it comes down to it."
                          
Delkele's brows pinched together in bewilderment. "You mean Vextian, yes?" At my droll stare, he nodded, rolling those crimson colored eyes of his. "You have such a strange way of speaking, sometimes."
                          
I snorted. "You just don't understand the references, you giant brute."
                          
Delkele rolled his eyes while Jox sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, as if Del and I were too much to handle as a pair. However, while Delkele and I were bickering, Teiken finally made his appearance, the Volcic's jaw clenched with determination as those eyes darted between the three of us, the man nodding to himself before that orange gaze finally settled on me. "Do you have everything you need, Joseph? Guns? Sufficient ammo?"
                          
I nodded my head and patted the automatic pistol on my right hip, a smirk forming on my lips. "Of course I do. You?"
                          
Teiken nodded and placed a dark hand over the butt of his own gun. "I'm sufficiently stocked." He looked at Jox and Delkele. "Are we ready to go rescue our friend?"
                          
Delkele lifted his chin while Jox nodded, determination swimming in those light blue eyes of his. "Hell yeah we are."
                          


                          
A/N: Early update for today, since I won't be able to update it tomorrow. But oof, LET THE GAMES BEGINNNNNN!