Nyteria Rising (The Thirteenth Series Book 3) (29 page)

They watched as a humanoid figure wearing a full black metal uniform, stepped through the air towards Nathan. Its eyes were as black as the metal of its uniform. Val could feel her skin crawling. There was no waiting, no jury. A dark hand grabbed his neck and Nathan screamed in anguish. She looked at the creature and its dark shadow of a face looked back at her. She felt her soul freezing. This was a truly horrible creature, exactly as the
Warden had described. She closed her eyes, breaking contact. When she looked back, Nathan was writhing and flailing in the creature’s grip. Slowly, Nathan and his captor faded and eventually disappeared.

For a moment no one moved; no one spoke. Hadwyn broke the tension by slapping her on the back. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” she replied, “now I think it’s time to get rid of some unwanted visitors.” She made her way to the edge of the balcony. Leaning over, she called out to the now subdued crowd, no one sure what their next move should be. “My advice to you Nyterians,” she shouted over the stunned crowd, “would be to head home, take your ships and never return. You have exactly one hour. Or we can help you all face trial, after all, you’re in a Prison, and it’s our PRISON!” She raised her fist into the air and her fellow Guards broke into a chorus of joyous triumph.

Val gave further orders and the Guards moved the Nyterians out to the docking bay where she had almost been married. They all worked together and she was relieved to eventually see the Warden come to join them.

He greeted her with a warm smile. “I see you have been busy with all my toys.” He pointed at her wrists.

“I’m so sorry, I had to.” She blushed, pulling off his watch and bracelet and handing them over.

“Do not apologise to me, ever. You and your friends have saved our home. We will forever be indebted to you, Val Saunders from the planet Earth. We will make preparations for the people of the Space to be welcome
on the surface and we will work to integrate them back into our society.”

“Thank you,” she said.

“Do you remember what you asked me for? Does that still stand?” he asked her.

“Yes. I want you to please send my family and friends home as soon as possible.”

“What about you?” he asked, but he didn’t get an answer. The High Judges arrived and arranged themselves in a row in front of the Warden, Val and the others.

“Warden, I’m pleased to see you old friend.” A female Judge removed her hood. “But I’m sorry to say I’m the bringer of sad news.”

“What would that be at such a time when we should be rejoicing?” he asked.

“Nathan Akar’s partner is to be extracted immediately. The law states very clearly that if a criminal has a partner they will also be held accountable for his crimes. She also united with one who wasn’t a Ranswar.” Her eyes were sad.

Sam reacted first. “Are you mad? Val has just risked her life to save our Prison, and we did it.”

The Warden cut in. “Sam, I will deal with this.”

“Sam stop, she’s right,” added Val, having somehow downloaded all the rules, she knew about this one. “I knew what I was doing. I knew the risk.”

“Be quiet!” the Warden said, pain filling his sharp response. Sam and Zac stepped forward, moving in close to her.

“Selene, Val saved you and me and just about everyone still alive.”

The woman seemed grieved at what she had to do as much as them. “I’m truly sorry.”

Sam moved in front of Val. “I wish to defend her.”

“Sam, you are a wise Judge, but your heart rules your head when it concerns this individual and so your judgment will not be taken into consideration.”

“I understand,” the Warden interrupted. “I will take her for extraction now myself.” He took Val’s arm and with his bracelet she felt his strength returning. He coaxed her away from the others. “She will be dealt with.” He relayed his words of compliance as they started to move. Val looked back at Sam who had broken into a heated argument with the High Judges. Wendy was crying and Boden had a firm hold on Hadwyn’s arm. Zac followed them. “Just keep moving,” the Warden instructed.

As she was paraded in front of the Prison, the Guards bowed their heads low in respect. Val thought it ironic: one day the sinner, the next, she was a saint going to the bonfire like Joan of Arc, just as Wendy had predicted.

“Warden, please re-think. Maybe a position as a Mechanic? Surely you can’t do this.” Zac pleaded as they made it around the corner.

“Zac, you’re a good Hunter and her friend, I would no more extract this girl than do it to myself.” The Warden led them into his office.

They stood together like bemused children. “You must extract me; it’s the law. I can’t stay here. Just keep your word and get my family to safety.” She couldn’t believe how matter of fact this felt. “I can give you what you asked for, but you will go back to Earth too, and no one will ever know.” He looked around him; then made his way over to a shelf and pulled out a crystal box. He placed it on the upturned desk. “If you go now, your family and friends will be safe. No one will remember
you Val. You are no longer a Guard of this planet. I release you from your duty.”

“Can you promise the Space will be safe and you will not be in trouble?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Then as I have been released from my duty, I will go. One condition, no one comes looking for me, no one tries to make me work for you again - ever. You keep Sam safe.” Her voice was failing as tears started to fill her eyes.

“I promise.” He placed his bracelet on the box and it opened. Inside was a ball of fuzzy light. Val actually thought how beautiful it looked through her tears.

“Bye Zac.” Val kissed him on the cheek. “I hope your next Guard is a little less problematic.”

“There will never be another Guard as useless as you.” He tried to smile.

The Warden leaned down and spoke to the ball of light. “Let this Guard be free. Let no one remember her but her loved ones and family. Take her home to her parents and allow her and her friends to be united once more.” The ball jumped into the air spinning over their heads. “This is not what I would have wanted. You have been brave and we owe you a debt of gratitude, not this. The ball started to spin around her and Zac. She grabbed his hand sure he wouldn’t be taken to Earth if she was no longer his Guard.

“You are sending me home to my Mum and Dad. And Sam will definitely be safe, you really promise?” She asked as the ball’s speed now made it look like a solid line of light.

He nodded. “I promise. Be well and thank you.” The Warden was now only visible in flashes and glimmers.
She held on to Zac’s hand, but she could feel him pulling away from her as the light started to lift her off the ground. Everything she had done was wasted. Or was it? She had saved the planet, captured alien criminals and made some good friends - and lost some. Her body was whipped up and she knew she had left; she could no longer feel Zac’s hand in hers. She just let the energy take her away. She wanted to cry, but the light lifted the tears from her face and drew them away. Just think: home, a Hawaiian burger, no more aliens, and no more Sam. Well, it wouldn’t have been permitted anyway; he wasn’t a Ranswar. She almost laughed at the irony, then she landed hard on the ground.

Sam teleported into the Warden’s office. “Where is she!” he demanded.

The Warden was sitting at his chair, head hung low. “She’s gone,” he replied.

“No! You can’t have extracted her after all she did for us. Why? If it wasn’t for her you would all be in cages still.”

“Don’t you think I know that, Sam?” He lifted his head.

“Where is she? Please tell me,” Sam pleaded.

The Warden knew he could trust Sam. “She’s safe. I sent her home, to forget and be forgotten and to finally be with her parents in peace.” As he spoke a small light appeared in the room, still spinning but slowing it came to a halt in front of the Warden. He lifted the box and the light floated back in. Then he closed the lid once more.

“I need to find her.” Sam’s voice was full of pain.

“If you do, you will put her at risk and you know it.”

He turned to leave. “You should know that she’s been transformed.”

“Are you sure?” The Warden stood up, looking and sounding shocked. “How do you know?”

Sam didn’t look back. “I saw it happen, I saw the symbol.”

The Warden groaned. “Then she’s truly at risk now.”

“I know.” Sam walked away. He made his way down the corridor towards the main teleportation room where a group of Collectors were ushering the Nyterian’s home. He knew who he wanted and who would help him.

She was there near her portal. He walked towards her and dropped to his knees at her feet. “I won’t live without her.” He sobbed.

The Collector placed her small hand on his face and wiped away a tear. “No we won’t.”

Val opened her eyes. She was lying on the ground and her back hurt no end; it hadn’t been the easiest of journeys. But now everyone would be safe, no media circus, no Delta, no Excariot and no unwanted job. She lifted herself up onto her elbow. They could have at least dropped her off somewhere closer to home. There were leaves and foliage all over her. Where was she? She stood up, brushing herself down.

She was surprised to find she was still wearing her stupid uniform; she looked forward to putting this one away in her cupboard for Halloween. Then she could get out her favourite Spiderman t-shirt and jeans. Oh how she had missed her jeans, and better not even mention the Converse. Then Sam popped into her head; she pushed him out. He would be better off without her. She tried to rationalise that one for a whole thirty seconds and then gave up. She would miss him until the sun went out, but she had to be brave. This was for the others, and at least she hadn’t been extracted. She knew Sam would make sure the people from the Space were safe.

She was wandering down a path when reality started to dawn on her. Surely the Warden hadn’t dropped her off at Manningtree? It would take her hours to get home, and she didn’t have any cash for a taxi. Then she heard a scream coming from the distance and her awareness kicked into overdrive. She moved though the bushes and forged forward. If her mum had arrived in a bush then she would freak out.

Val burst into the opening to find Jason, and Fran who had clearly screamed at a deadly leaf, Wendy, Belinda, and Zac. “What on Earth’s going on? Why are you here?” She pointed at Zac who looked as shocked as them.

“I do not know. We were separated and I arrived here. What about you?” he asked Jason and the others.

“We were in the Space, then something like a ball of light surrounded us and that’s the last I remember.”

Wendy nodded in agreement, “Same here. I’m so pleased you’re ok. I was so scared and Sam was going mad.”

Fran interrupted. “There was a mouse, a real one.” She pointed sheepishly at the ground, justifying her scream. “Can someone tell me where we are?” she asked.

“It seems we’re back at Manningtree for some reason,” Belinda observed.

“It turned out that I had to pay for my new husband’s crimes. I was sentenced to extraction, but the Warden helped me to come home to my friends and family. Good news is I got the sack, and no one will remember Val Saunders off the TV. We just need to find my Mum and Dad now,” Val replied.

“We left the truck here, so we have a ride at least,” Jason reminded them, to everyone’s pleasure.

A joyful voice from the distance called out to them. “Welcome!” A woman waved.

“Who’s that?” Jason asked pointing over Val’s shoulder.

She span towards the voice. “Oh no, this can’t be happening,” she said as the cloaked woman made her way towards them.

“What? What can’t be happening, Val?” Fran asked, tension in her voice.

“That’s my mother… Wyetta.”

Special acknowledgement goes to:

Miss Nichola Boulton, Deputy Head, Market
Rasen C-of-E Primary School -

for your advice and support in everything
I have asked of you.

Competition winners:

Jade Paul, Conner Janney, Matthew Eckersley,
Jade Pennell