If that wasn’t bad enough, t
he whole time Gracie
had to deal with the Admiral
shoo
ting
out a question in his language to Mo
han who would then translate it while he kept touching her. Gracie tried to ignore it at first when he sat next to her on the row of seats she used as her bed and played with a strand of her hair. She kept pulling it away from him at first and tucking it back behind her ear. A minute later he would pull another strand out and begin playing with it. When Gracie slapped at his hand, he had the nerve to tug on her hair forcing her closer to him. Gracie finally got fed up with the distraction and pulled her hair up into a ponytail. That, unfortunately, seemed to amuse him more! Gracie flushed as she remembered having to ask Mohan to repeat a question or answer several times. The Admiral decided if she wouldn’t let him touch her hair he would run his fingers along the back of the neckline of her t-shirt. Gracie kept slapping his hands away and they kept coming back until she finally turned and gave him her toughest ‘knock it off’ look. The jerk just raised his eyebrow at her and smirked.
Gracie finally had enough and tried to move to sit on the floor next to Mohan and the giant standing over her but the Admiral grabbed her as she stood, pulling her onto his lap. Gracie’s gasp was almost as loud as Mohan’s. Gracie was never so happy as when the first shuttle arrived and the inquisition ended.
Gracie turned a dark look towards the man currently directing orders to the men disembarking off the new shuttle. She flushed a bright pink when he seemed to sense her glaring at his back and turned to look her in the eye. Gracie was determined not to let the pompous jerk intimidate her so she just stared back refusing to give in first. She had dealt with four macho guys for too many years and learned a long time ago if she gave in she would never be able to stand up to them. His vivid blue eyes told her he knew what she was doing before he turned to answer a question from one of the men.
“The Admiral desires you.” Mohan said as she came to sit next to where Gracie was told to sit and not move.
Gracie rolled her eyes. “Well, he is just going to have to get over it. I have a guy and I’m not looking for anyone else.” Gracie said stubbornly.
She refused to focus on the huge dark warrior issuing command after command. No matter how he made her insides quiver and warm up. She had her own warrior back home on Earth.
“You have a male?” Mohan said in surprise looking around. “But, I thought you said you were alone.” Mohan added in confusion.
“I am here but not back home on Earth. If your father is from there then I can go home. I have to go. I promised Chance I would come back.” Gracie said anxiously.
“Chance?” Mohan asked faintly. “This is the male Chance from the Freedom Five?”
Gracie was nodding with a soft smile on her lips. “Yes. I love him so much. It almost killed both of us when I left. He probably thinks I’m dead but once I get back I can be with him again. Oh Mohan, he makes me feel like…” Gracie turned away as tears choked her at the thought of seeing all of the guys again. “I can’t wait to see him again.”
Mohan felt a horrible sense of dread as she watched a tear drop onto Gracie’s hand as she sat with her head bowed. Mohan glanced at Kordon then back to Gracie. Placing her hand over Gracie’s, Mohan squeezed it gently.
“Gracie Jones.” Mohan began gently. “You cannot return to your male.”
Gracie’s head shot up at Mohan’s words. “What do you mean I cannot return to him? Of course, I can. If your dad could…” Gracie was saying but stopped when she saw the sadness in Mohan’s eyes.
“Your male is no longer alive, Gracie Jones.” Mohan said quietly.
“What…but you said…” Gracie fought for control as she wrung her hands together and looked around frantically. “You told me they lived. You told me Chance lived. You said…you lied?” Gracie asked in a strangled tone.
“I did not lie to you, Gracie Jones. The males lived…over eight hundred of your Earth years ago. It is the calendar year 2851 in your Earth time. I believe…” Mohan said quietly gripping Gracie’s hands tightly between her own. “I believe the explosion in hyperspace created a rip sending you forward in time.”
Gracie sat frozen for a moment as Mohan’s words slowly sunk in. Everything she knew, everyone she knew no longer existed. They had not existed for a very, very long time. Gracie let her gaze travel over the supply ship that had been her home for the past three years before lett
ing it move to the thick forest
. The sounds of another shuttle approaching drew her attention to the sky. She was seeing everything as if for the first time. Everything was gone. Chance was gone. There was nothing to go back to, no one to go home to. All the strength that kept her going from the moment she entered the dark tunnels of the subways to her subconscious hope that she would find a way home suddenly deserted her as overwhelming grief flooded her. She had lost everything! Her parents, her sister, her world, and the one man she loved. She should have died when the explosion happened. It would have been a more humane death than what she was feeling right now.
Gracie pulled away from Mohan without saying a word. She moved slowly around the stack of containers they were sitting on moving towar
ds the thick edge of the forest
. She looked down startled at Mohan’s hand on her arm as she took another step away.
“Where are you going, Gracie Jones?” Mohan asked in concern as she took in the pale complexion of Gracie’s face and the blank look of shock on it.
Gracie looked up a
t
Mohan for just a moment and a small, sad smile curved her lips. “Where I should have gone three years ago, Mohan. I’m going home.” Gracie said softly. “I’m going home.”
Gracie pulled away suddenly an
d took off for the thick forest
. She knew where she was going. She had been there hundreds of times the first six months. Back then, she thought she had a reason to fight to stay alive. Now, she knew differently and would not hesitant.
Gracie vaguely heard Mohan’s cry of alarm but it did not slow her down. In fact, it helped her increase her speed. She ran with experience through the thick growth. She knew the path by heart and the quickest way to get there. There was a deep ravine dropping into a river almost a mile from the supply ship. Gracie discovered it the second week she was on the moon. She had visited it many times during the first six months when she was deeply lonely and depressed. It was only her promise to come home that drew her away from the edge time after time. But, that promise no longer held her. Gracie knew that in death she would finally be with her family, with Chance, because in living the pain was too much for her young heart to bear any longer.
Mohan’s questions and answers played through Gracie’s mind as she ran. It explained so many of her questions. Mohan already knew everything about what happened because it was history. That was why her father was from Earth. Space travel and aliens were now a daily part of Earth living. There was no fighting for your life, no camps with millions of human prisoners, and no living in subways. Hell, there probably weren’t even any subways anymore. A sob tore through Gracie as pain speared through her. She ignored the branches cutting her face and arms and the burning in her lungs from not enough oxygen. She focused only on ending the overwhelming pain burning her alive.
Kordon was directing the engineering team on repairing the supply ship so it could be transported back to the
Conqueror
. The technology and computer systems would need to be analyzed to see what could be learned about the Alluthans. Kordon had no doubt they were responsible for the destruction of the mining camp.
He was discussing what he wanted done with Bran and Cooraan when he heard Mohan cry out. Kordon turned quickly catching a glimpse of Quan as he was entering the forest. Mohan ran over to them pointing in the direction Quan had run.
“Gracie Jones!” Mohan called out urgently.
Kordon took off following Quan. Bran and Cooraan were right behind him. He heard Quan yell out up ahead and picked up speed catching him as Quan turned in a circle.
“What happened?” Kordon growled out.
“I don’t know. I heard Mohan cry out and saw the huma
n female running for the forest
. I tried to catch her but she was too far ahead. I am not sure which way she went.” Quan grounded out in frustration.
Cooraan was looking at the ground while Bran was moving along the path studying the foliage. Cooraan called out suddenly and began moving through the undergrowth. Kordon could see a small, narrow path.
“This way.” Cooraan said softly. He took off at a slow run keeping his eyes on the ground.
“There!” Kordon growled out pointing to a piece of torn clothing from Gracie.
Confident they were heading in the right direction, the men picked up the pace with Kordon taking the lead. They covered almost a mile when Kordon caught the choke sobs of Gracie. Pushing ahead, he burst out of the forest onto a small rocky clearing. Gracie stood looking down over the edge of a deep ravine. Her shoulders shook with the force of her sobs and she had her arms wrapped tightly around her waist. She never turned around but her quietly spoken words stopped him.
“Don’t come any closer, please.” Gracie whispered keeping her back to him.
Kordon growled out in frustration. He didn’t understand her. He needed Mohan, NOW!
As if just his will was enough to make it happen, Mohan burst out with Quan holding her by the arm. She was breathing heavily and had a small cut along one cheek. She impatiently pushed Quan away when he tried to wipe it.
“Gracie Jones.” Mohan called out softly. “Come away with me, Gracie Jones. Things will not seem so bad.”
Gracie turned slowly and the look on her face tore at Kordon. He remembered the look on his mother’s face when their village was attacked one night by slavers
when he was younger
. It was not until she saw his father and her sons safe that the look disappeared.
“Ask her what is wrong?” Kordon said taking a step closer only to stop when Gracie moved backwards. “Tell her I will fix whatever has upset her.”
Mohan looked at Gracie for a moment before moving slowly towards her. “I am so sorry, Gracie Jones. I should never have told you. Please forgive me.” Mohan whispered as she moved a step closer. “Please, Gracie Jones. Come to me.”
Gracie shook her head. “I would have found out sooner or later. I think I must have always known I would never see them again.” Gracie’s voice caught on a sob. “It’s not your fault, Mohan. I was stupid to believe in the hope. I shouldn’t be here, Mohan. I shouldn’t exist. I belong with them.” Gracie said taking another step back and closing her eyes briefly as she pulled a picture of her parents and sister into her mind.
The look in Gracie’s eyes when she opened them froze Mohan for a moment. There was a sense of calm acceptance that made Mohan realize that nothing she said would stop Gracie from completing her next decision. Mohan wondered vaguely if this was the same strength and resolve that gave Gracie the courage to board the Alluthan mother ship so many years ago before leading it away knowing she would not live.
“Admiral, she means to end her life. She knows everything…everyone she ever knew is dead.” Mohan murmured softly as she watched a small serene smile curve Gracie’s lips.
Gracie felt a sense of peace come over her as she took the last step bringing her to the edge of the ravine. She didn’t look down at it. Instead, she thought of her new friend and was thankful she had met her and found out the truth. She thought of Mark, Adam, and Adrian and the way they used to tease her and call her ‘little britches’. And, she thought of Chance and wished she could have spent that one night in his arms.
Gracie smiled at Mohan. “Goodbye.” Gracie said softly. “This is Gracie’s Touch signing off one last time. I’m coming home at last, guys.” Gracie closed her eyes and took the step that would take her home.