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�Oh, Nadine,� Whitney gasped softly. �I�m so glad you�re alright. I was so worried we wouldn�t get to you in time.�
�You were concerned,� Nadine scoffed. �You were the one taken upstairs by that snake, Frazer.�
Whitney hugs Nadine once more than pulls away and looks back at Brent. Neither said a word. They smiled warmly. Ryon approached.
�Well,� he announced to Brent, �it looks like you�ve finally come out of the closet.�
Brent laughed softly.�
Ryon turned toward Whitney�s group. �You did an excellent job. We�re very grateful to have had you with us.�
�Thank you, Ryon,� Whitney said warmly. �Without you, we wouldn�t be here.�
�It�s been one hell of a night,� Nadine said with a tired sigh.
�An excellent battle,� Denny chirped. �But, regrettably, I wasn�t able to blow up anything.�
Nadine pats his back with a tiny smile. �Cheer up. There are always a few space crafts flying about.�
�If you�d like,� Ryon announced, �we have a lovely heat seeker. You can pick them out of the sky when we enter your town.�
Denny�s brows raised seductively. �A heat seeker? Mmm--I think I�m in love.�
Nadine turned to Whitney. �What do you say? Are we going to join with our leaders?�
Whitney turned toward Brent and raised her brows.
Brent smiled warmly. �Let�s reclaim our town.�
All the rebels cheered happily. Whitney hugged Brent.
Ryon slaps Brent on the arm. �Great to have you back.�
Brent returned Whitney�s embrace. The rebels began to filter out of the castle. Whitney pulled back and looked into Brent�s eyes.
�Why didn�t you tell me you were assisting the rebellion all along? All those things I�d said to you--�
Brent smiled gently. �Would you have believed me?�
Whitney shrugged and smiled. �Possibly not.�
�Any poking around could�ve uncovered my operation to the wrong people. That would�ve jeopardized your father�s mission and the lives of many fine men,� he informed her.
�My father�s been a rebel all this time--� She looked at Brent and smiled warmly. �Why the mysterious Zach?�
�A year ago, when the rebellion first began, a lot of my business associates were killed for resisting. Ryon convinced me to keep my involvement a secret, so I could run guns for the cause. Zach was the only way I could actively participate.�
She gently stroked his face with an affectionate smile. �I don�t feel so guilty any more.�
�Guilty about what?� Brent asked curiously.
�For caring about you--these feelings I have for a man I thought was the enemy,� she said warmly.
�I�d hoped you�d eventually come around,� he teased. �That scene in my office really had me confused.�
Whitney placed her arms around his neck and leaned closer. �I�d like to clear up any confusion on the subject.� Whitney kissed Brent gently on the lips. He returned the kiss with more passion. Whitney slowly pulled away and smiled. �Any questions?� she teased.
�None,� Brent replied with a tiny smile.
�And by the way,� Whitney said as she took his hand and guided him to the door. �It�s after my curfew, and I was involved in a lot of trouble tonight with my rebel friends--� Her smile was devious. �That means I�ll have to spend the night in your bedroom, doesn�t it?�
Brent groaned softly and smiled. �Those are the rules--�
The rebels stood on the estate grounds and stared silently into the dark sky. Static voices could be heard on a portable terminal. Whitney and Brent looked up to the sky. There were tiny flashes. The voices on the terminal conveyed messages of resistance.
Whitney glanced at Denny, who was silent one of the few times she�d known him. �What going on?�
Denny didn�t take his eyes from the sky. �They�re attacking the mother ship,� he said softly.
The entire group remained silent except for the static filled reports. Whitney once more stared at the sky. We hear a loud crackling voice over the transmitter. We see a flash as bright as a star in the sky.
�She�s down,� the static voice of Hawk cried out. �I repeat--the mother ship is down!�
The rebels cheered loudly. Whitney turned to Brent and clung to him as the tears rolled down her cheeks. Brent stared into the sky while holding Whitney. Tears filled his eyes and he nodded with a smile. �Well done, Hawk,� he whispered softly.
*End*
