With the signal now absent, the Legion slept.

[Gan]

Mora!

Grimacing from the sharp pain, I pushed myself up, but only partially, and then collapsed down into the stream bed. The cool water washing over me helped clear my dizziness. I tried again, this time making it to my hands and knees. After a moment of rest to catch my breath, I crawled the short distance to a narrow bank and leaned back against the rocky cliff base.

I glanced upward, but did not see anyone. Hopefully, the Watchers thought me dead, and so nearly I was. Had Amos thrown me off the cliff a little further downstream, the shear drop would have killed me, but instead, I slid and tumbled down a steep rocky slope rather than free-falling the entire distance to the streambed boulders. With a deep breath, I took stock of my injuries — wrenched knee, sore ribs, bruises, scrapes, and a splitting headache, but no broken bones, another stroke of luck.

Dripping wet and cold, I hobbled up the twisting path normally meant to access the ram pump, now cast in shadows as Tau Ceti hung low in the west. Fortunately, no one remained within sight when I reached the top, so limped my way to the project offices, supporting myself with a discarded staff as a walking stick.

Where had they taken Mora?

I needed a good plan. Boldly limping into the residential area to rescue her would certainly fail, and I did not even know where they held her, nor how many men I would face. It could be me against hundreds.

But how to get more intel without giving myself away? The solution laid in my backpack, which I had left at the office — Bob! I took out the survey drone and slid in a fresh power cell. Normally, I used my viewer to control the drone, but they had smashed it earlier, so I used the drone's dedicated controller still in the box, and sent Bob on his way.

First stop was the small shed where they previously imprisoned us. Bob flew high enough not to be heard, but low enough that I could make out visual details on the ground — at least I hoped so. Since no one appeared around the shed and the door stood open, I piloted the drone close enough to peek inside. But Mora was not there.

Next, Bob performed a higher altitude visual sweep of the residential area. Few people lingered outside except for a group in the central courtyard, so I flew the drone closer, positioning it such that the low sun would be behind from their perspective.

Perhaps twenty-five men, all Watchers, sat on a row of rock benches. Before them stood a large man covered in a black robe. I moved Bob closer.

Elder Amos!

I gritted my teeth as my anger flared. A special spot in hell waited for him, and I would be happy to make the delivery.

But there was another figure near him, kneeling on the dusty ground. I adjusted the drone position for a better view.

Mora!

Relief swept through me that she was still alive. But then my heart dropped as I made out her situation. Her head dipped downward as she trembled with hands apparently bound tightly behind her back. This had the appearance of a sick mock trial, and she may not have much time.

But I needed to give Mora some hope so she may hold out until I could come for her. Amos now faced her, pointing a bent finger in sick prosecution, thus only Mora faced the direction of the drone. I took the risk of detection and brought Bob slowly closer, moving it back and forth in hopes it would catch her eye, and pleading silently that she would look up.

She did. I could just make out her eyes tracking Bob's movements. My heart leaped as she nodded slowly. I tilted the drone back and forth as an acknowledgment, then flew some distance away and left it hovering.

But I still had no rescue plan. I hobbled around the project area, praying to find quick inspiration. Behind a storage shed sat a quad-wheeler — I could use that for a getaway. The pocket knife I retrieved from my pack and a short length of a heavy rod would make for weapons. Fortunately, the crowd was limited — there could have been hundreds — even so, what chance would I have fighting against twenty-five zealous Watchers?

I could wait until the middle of the night and sneak in, but a had sinking feeling that Mora did not have that long. What I needed was a distraction or an army. A thought came to me — perhaps I had both, but I had to face my fears.

I threw Mora's and my backpacks into the quad and drove to the orchards, then took a deep breath for courage.

As I picked up a hive, I whispered to the bees, "Easy now, girls. Mora needs us. Easy."

Concentrating on slow breathing as the bees buzzed around me, I gently loaded two hives into the quad back bed, then rigged up a couple of ropes so I could quickly dump them out when the time came.

Wasn't much of a plan — get in, get Mora, get out.

I maneuvered Bob to scout my approach, settling on a west ingress with the setting sun behind me. Fortunately, the electric motor driven quad was much quieter than a hovercar, and with some luck, I could get close before they spotted me.

I drove in a wide arc around to my entry point. Thus far, I don't think anyone noticed me. Closing my eyes for a moment and drawing a deep breath, I said a silent prayer to a loving God that I hoped listened.

As I piloted the drone closer for one more look, Amos roughly dragged Mora before a stacked brick wall and backed away. My gut twisted when I saw the pile of rocks.

They planned to stone her!

The time for action was now. I stomped on the accelerator and raced between the houses towards the center courtyard. The motor whirred as I approached from behind the Watcher men, coming within ten meters before being spotted.

Shouting, the men jumped up as I spun around the crowd, churning dust and pebbles in my wake. When I passed between them and Mora, I pulled the ropes that sent the hives crashing to the ground. Hundreds of angry bees emerged like a militia strike force. The men pulled up, mouths gaping, as the insects attacked, then ran wildly while cowering their heads and swatting at the air.

Spinning around and skidding to a stop next to Mora, I leaped out to help her as she struggled to stand. The crooked smile that rose on her face warmed the depths of my heart. But with no time for gentleness, I tossed her into the quad.

Mora's eyes snapped wide open, and she shouted, "Gan! Behind you!"

I turned to see Amos rushing me, fists clenched and face twisted in rage, but now spotted with stings. While he swatted at another stinging bee, I drew the heavy rod stashed in my boot and brought it down hard against his head. As he fell dazed to his hands and knees, I jumped in the quad, smashing the accelerator to race away.

When we were well away from the settlement, I stopped and rushed around to Mora, helping her stand up and cutting away the rope that bound her wrists. At once, she embraced me, trembling in my arms.

She cried, "I... I thought I had lost you."

I nuzzled her neck as my eyes watered. "And I almost lost you."

The embrace lingered until Mora pulled back. "We had best get away from here."

With a wink, I reached in and picked up the drone controller. "First, we need to get Bob."

As the drone approached, a bright smile returned to Mora's face, and she held out her hand. After I deftly landed Bob on her palm, she bent over and placed a kiss on the small flying machine.

"Thank you, Bob."

"A kiss?" I said in faux outrage. "Now I'm jealous of my drone."

Mora rounded her lips and gazed up at me through long lashes. "Oh, you'll get yours."