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�Where does this go?� Blain asked while prepared to charge down it.
�Back to the dungeon, if I'm not mistaken,� Ryon announced simply. �I want the general.� He turned toward several other men. �You continue searching the second floor.� He looked at Blain. �Come with me.�
Ryon and Blain entered through the secret door in the wall.
Whitney reached the dungeon and stared at Zach�s empty cell. She looked back at the dead guard. She heard a heavy breath behind her. Whitney quickly spun around to see the general standing in the cell Zach had once been inside. Before she could react, he shot her in the arm with the laser, only grazing her, but it was enough to make her drop her gun.
He kicked the gun away from her feet. �You're my ticket out of here,� he snapped coldly.
Whitney began to sob uncontrollably. �No, don't take me out there. They'll kill me to get to you,� she cried out in panic. �You can't just let them kill both of us!� She pleaded as a few tears rolled down her cheek while she clutched her injured arm.
�Then you had better plead for your life to your rebel friends,� the general growled and grabbed her arm.
Whitney kicked him in the shin. When he jumped in pain, she punched him roughly in the mouth. The gun flew as he staggered back. The general�s claws appeared. Whitney laughed softly.
�You certainly are a brave fool,� she remarked in sarcasm. �You're going to need to get real close to use them.�
�Just keep laughing because soon you'll be nothing more then a dead rebel,� the general growled lowly and coiled back.
�You have to kill me first,� Whitney hissed. She motioned for him to come get her with her hands. �Come on, stubby, come and get me.�
The general slashed at her with his claws. Whitney jumped back, blocked his arm from returning, then kicked him under his arm several times. Whitney released his arm and spun around, kicking him in the head. The general flew into the wall but quickly recovered. He foolishly lunged for her. Whitney dodged out of the big man's way then jabbed him with her elbow in the middle of his back. He jumped in pain but quickly spun around. The general came at her again and swung. Whitney blocked his claws with her arm then punched him roughly in the face. The general was knocked to the floor. Whitney saw him reach for the discarded gun. She quickly tossed herself in a sideways roll, removed the knife from her leg holster, and threw the knife. The general had just straightened after snatching the gun, when the knife embedded itself into his stomach. He gasped, grabbed his bloody stomach, and fell to the floor while dropping the gun. Whitney stared a moment then slowly stood. Ryon and Blain quickly ran toward her then paused before the collapsed general. Ryon gave Whitney a shocked look.
�I'm glad you're on our side,� Ryon gasped slightly.
�I'm just grateful you guys showed when you did. Where are Zach and Nadine?� she asked.
Zach kicked at the tower door. He backed up for another kick when the door was flung open. Frazer jumped into the doorway--armed with a sword. Zach jumped backward. Zach defended himself while blocking each blow. Frazer came at him with such force and aggression, Zach lost his balance and tumbled down a few steps. His sword fell from his hands and slid along side him. He quickly grabbed his discarded sword and jumped back to his feet. He swung at Frazer as he neared. Frazer jumped out of his sword's reach. Frazer suddenly laughed and came at Zach while swinging his sword. Zach defended himself once more.
�You're not the only one who knows how to fight with a sword,� Frazer announced with some humor.
Zach swung and slashed Frazer's pants leg. Frazer looked surprised. He suddenly began to strike out in rage, hitting Zach's sword with force and anger. Frazer backed Zach down the tower steps and into the second floor hallway. Frazer was becoming overly confident as he struck Zach's sword over and over again. Zach suddenly flipped the sword in this hand with great wrist strength and thrust the sword at Frazer. Frazer jumped back and fell onto his backside. Zach stepped aside and allowed Frazer the opportunity to scramble to his feet. Zach swings his sword once more. Frazer blocks it and backs up nervously.
The rebels and the aliens were in battle in the castle corridor. They exchanged fire from a distance. As the fight closed in, the aliens began attacking with their claws. Several rebels got too close and were diced with the long, sharp claws. Whitney entered the corridor and cut down an alien before her. She saw Frazer and Zach still fighting with swords. An alien appeared behind Zach with his claws prepared to shred.
�Zach! Behind you,� Whitney cried out.
Zach eyed her without turning away from Frazer. He pressed a button on his sword and a blade appeared from the back. He thrust backward and stabbed the alien behind him without missing a stride with Frazer. An alien jumped in-between Frazer and Zach. Frazer ran the other way. The alien slashed at Zach. He cut Zach�s gloved hand. Zach slashed the alien across the throat then cursed and pulled off his glove. He shook his bleeding hand. Whitney shot an alien approaching her then looked toward Zach. She saw the blood on his hand then the tattoo. Her mouth fell open.
�Brent--� she gasped softly.
Zach ran toward the ballroom after Frazer. Whitney hurried after him. Zach entered the ballroom and stopped to look around. There were several slain aliens, but there wasn�t any sign of Frazer. Whitney entered the ballroom several feet behind him.
�Brent,� she called out with surprise.
Zach spun around with a startled look on his face. Frazer dived from behind a pillar for Zach. Zach spun around and caught Frazer�s sword with his own. Whitney gasped and jumped back a step. She�d almost cost him his life. Frazer stabbed at Zach. Zach dodged to the side, allowing Frazer�s sword to become embedded in the wall. Zach placed his foot in Frazer�s stomach and thrust him backward. The sword released and he stumbled backward. Frazer blocked another blow then swung again. Frazer swung at Zach several times then attempted to stab him again. Zach flipped the sword in one hand and thrust it into Frazer�s mid section. Frazer gasped with wide eyes, clutched his stomach as Zach pulled the sword back, and then fell to the floor.
Whitney ran to Zach. She jumped into his arms and hugged him happily. Zach let his sword fall to the floor. He gathered her in his arms and held her. Whitney pulled back just far enough to look into his eyes. She pulled the mask from his head and stared at Brent. They stared into each other�s eyes in silence. Whitney smiled and kissed him passionately. Brent appeared surprised but returned the kiss almost immediately. Cheering could be heard in the hallway. They slowly pulled away and smiled at one another. Brent took her hand and guided her toward the hallway.
