Page 72 of Gates of Rapture
Not long after, probably because of Leto’s advance warning, several healers arrived.They moved Diallo off the platform, but not very far, as they began healing him.
Thorne arrived running up the ramp toward her.He drew her into his arms.“Are you all right?”
She nodded, then looked around.“Where’s Leto?”
“He took Mei-Amadi straight to the hospital from here.”
She could sense that Leto’s arms were wrapped around his stomach and that he was blinking rapidly.Leto, I’m at the landing platform.I’ve got Diallo.He’s alive.
Oh, thank God.I could feel that you had folded and that you had him with you.Thebreh-heddenis really something, but who the hell is hugging you?
Grace didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.The whole situation was so horrible, yet Leto had time to be jealous?Thorne.Just Thorne.
Okay.Sorry about that.Diallo’s wife has been calling for him.What can I tell her?
We got him in time.The healers are with him.He’s really messed up: drained, cut up, some broken bones.I’m going to wait here with Thorne.Come to us when you can.
I’ll come back as soon as Alison gets here, probably just a minute or two.
Okay, that’s good.Is Casimir with you?
There was a slight pause, thenHe just left.I told him you were with Thorne.
She knew he was angry, and she knew exactly why, so she sent,Leto, you must not fault him for not staying with me.He is your guardian.You know how critical that feels.You’ve served as a Guardian of Ascension in centuries past.You know he did what he had to do.
I know.But I don’t have to like it.I’ll leave here shortly.
She turned to Thorne and told him what she’d seen.“The mist was destroyed and the colonists are being slaughtered.Diallo’s house was crawling with death vampires.”
“We’re getting ready to launch.Donna, who works the grid here at HQ, moved the grid to the colony’s location.Seriffe is with her.He has his eye on everything as well.He sent out a general call for Militia Warriors fifteen minutes ago.We’re assembling the squadrons in the flight hangar now.They’ve already started arriving.A couple dozen squads are just about ready to fold.”
As if his words were magic, the landing platform officer called out, “Incoming.Friendlies.”
More squadrons folded in from all over the Metro Phoenix Two area.By long habit of drilling and preparation, the Thunder God Warriors marched off to the left toward a large departure hangar.
Thorne took her hand.“I want you to see this.”
Grace went with him to the double doors.Within were dozens of tight squads of four, repeated over and over.Wherever a squad awaited one of theirs, the warriors stood grouped at the back.Once a squad had all four members, they moved into position to the fore awaiting orders on several sets of departure platforms.
Thorne leaned close.“We have a reconnaissance team, couched in Endelle’s mist, over the colony right now.We’ll have a report within seconds.”
As if on cue, the large screens came to life and the horror of the attack on the colony caused Grace to list.A moment later, Leto arrived and slid his arm around her waist to support her.“Alison is with Mei-Amadi now.God, I felt you start to fall.What is it?”But his gaze found the screens soon enough, and he murmured, “Creator help us.”
Hundreds of death vampires roamed what had been the fair-like atmosphere of the warrior games.The bodies of several colonists could be seen lying prone on the sawdust, but fewer than Grace had expected.A number of death vamps were using them, going after dying blood.The enemy appeared to be celebrating, gathering around the feeding spots, shouting, raising their fists in the air.
“I thought there would be more casualties,” Grace said.
Leto squeezed her waist.“The colonists are well trained.Remember the drums?”
“Yes.I didn’t know what they were.”
“That was the secondary alarm.Once the electronic alarm failed, the HQ warriors would have started pounding the drums.The death vamps would have had no idea what that was.”
“So you’re saying a lot of the colonists would have gotten away?”
“Yes, as many as heard the drums would have folded to the Portland Colony.We should have a report soon.”
“Thank the Creator for that.Leto, were the drums your idea?”
