Chapter Twenty-Six
Madelaine had her doubts about agreeing to the possibly insane idea of meeting an escaped prisoner by their ship for a confab that was predicted months before they even knew they were going to be here.
Though Draven apparently had Veyre’s seal of approval, as indicated by the Red Harp Nebula insignia—and couldn’t the man have been wearing the beret when they arrived instead of putting it on as they were trying to leave? Madelaine wasn’t so trusting. She insisted that he escort them to their ship.
As soon as they walked through the archway, she saw the convict waiting beside their ship. The warden had Jack flip the forcefield back on, ostensibly to shield them from anyone watching what was about to happen on Landing Pad Twelve.
Varner Kessik was not as old as she’d expected.
Certainly not as old as Winslow. Wrinkles did not crease his face, even though unruly white hair covered his head.
He had a neatly trimmed white beard and small spectacles balanced on his nose.
He looked more like a retired professor who spent his time surrounded by stacks of books and other reading material than a recently escaped prisoner.
Kessik watched as they approached. His expression was not in any way threatening. Despite his unwrinkled face, his body looked much like an old man’s. His shoulders were slightly rounded and hunched. Madelaine didn’t think he could be any less menacing if he tried.
His eyes immediately found hers and a knowing smile spread across his face.
“You are Madelaine Archer Grey, the Paladin Courier.”
“I am.”
“I am Varner Kessik, also known as the Wolf of Nyzarra, The Shadow World. Thank you for meeting with me before you leave.”
Madelaine had to temper her reaction to learning the escaped wolf was this man and made the connection that the man who laughed at danger was very likely Draven. She’d tuck that away for consideration later.
“I know that this is unexpected and out of the ordinary, to say the least.” Kessik nodded once at the warden, smiling as if in appreciation for his aid. “I have something important to give you before you go.” Kessik reached inside the baggy sweater he wore.
Madelaine saw Jack straighten as if Kessik was going for a weapon. She put a hand on his forearm. Kessik was not a threat.
He pulled out a parchment envelope exactly like all the rest she’d been collecting and handed it to her reverently.
“You will need this to complete the Solution,” Kessik said, sounding like he was grateful to be able to participate in this transaction.
“Winslow wanted to give it to you, of course. And he would have, if only you had come sooner. Luckily, the Observer stepped in, realizing astutely that Winslow no longer had the capacity to remember all that needed to be conveyed. And I was happy to assist him.”
“The Observer?” Madelaine asked.
Kessik’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.” The man looked like he was about to bolt into the winter wilderness over the verbal misstep.
“No worries, Mr. Kessik. I promise I won’t say anything.”
“That is very gracious of you. And you can call me Varner.” Kessik straightened. “We’re all counting on you, Paladin Courier.” He sounded earnest.
“Thank you, Varner. I promise to do my best.”
She was about to step away when Kessik’s eyes sharpened and he said in a monotone voice, “When you get to the point where it feels like all is lost, Madelaine, don’t forget to trust your instincts.” His intense gaze shifted to Jack. “The two of you together can resolve the problems you will face.”
Madelaine and Jack exchanged a knowing glance.
It sounded like Winslow had either rubbed off on him or been Kessik’s star pupil.
His gaze had been focused, electric and locked on hers like they were the only two in the area.
Now that the identities of the escaped wolf and the man who laughed at danger had been resolved, she guessed it was time for a new premonition. Awesome.
And with that prophetic tidbit delivered, Kessik stepped away and stood next to Warden Draven as if the man were merely a guide for his day trip out to Landing Pad Twelve and it was time to go back inside the gulag for a juice box and snacks.
Madelaine clutched the parchment envelope tight in her hand until she placed it securely into her backpack. Once it was back on her shoulder, she nodded once to the warden, who had ultimately morphed into a decent man during their visit. He had been trustworthy after all.
Jack tossed the warden the device to open the forcefield at the archway. Warden Draven caught it one handed and said, “Thanks.” He’d lost his annoying amusement every time he looked at the two of them. She understood better now.
When they’d arrived, the warden had to act a certain way with so many others watching, especially since a woman was visiting. But when it counted, he’d helped them with their mission and thus earned her respect.
Besides, they got to leave this planet. Draven had to live here. He couldn’t be a kindly, friendly and obliging soul to unexpected visitors and also run the worst gulag in the known galaxies.
Jack, faithfully clutching the cardboard box under one arm, pushed the fob to allow the ship’s ramp to extend.
Madelaine had never been so glad to board the Paladin Seeker.
When they were both inside and the ramp had been retracted, Jack stowed the cardboard box and hopped into the pilot’s seat.
Madelaine secured her backpack and took the co-pilot’s seat to handle the navigational control to get them off this planet as soon as possible.
Once the Paladin Seeker was well out of communications range of the planet, they set the autopilot to crawl slowly along while they found out where their next package retrieval would be, courtesy of the parchment envelope Kessik had delivered at the eleventh hour.
Jack retrieved the cardboard box and they sat at the table.
Madelaine carefully opened the envelope, unfolded the parchment inside and laid it flat between them.
She read out loud: “Now that you have retrieved the housing for the Solution, your next stop will take you to planet Earth. Specifically, Alienn, Arkansas.”
“What? We’re headed to Earth?” Jack sounded as shocked as she felt.
Madelaine continued reading. “You must silently and without detection land your ship on Earth without the Alphas in charge discovering how you got there.
“Once you have secured your ship, make your way to the Fearless Leader at the Big Bang Truck Stop.”
“That is crazy,” Jack said. “I guess that fulfills Winslow’s prediction of going to where it all began, right?”
“I guess so,” Madelaine said.
“Well, I’ve taken longer than the two weeks of vacation time Axel okayed, so I get to face that when I get back. Not fun.”
“And we still have to get to the final location and assemble all the pieces
with an element from your brother. I guess he’s the one who will give us further instructions as to where we need to assemble the things we’ve gathered and apply ‘the solution’ that Winslow was so joyful about.”
“Yes.” Jack looked a little sad. She understood. Once they completed this errand, it would mark the end of the time they got to spend together.
“I wonder if the final location will be on Alpha-Prime.”
Madelaine shrugged, though she’d been thinking the exact same thing. “Maybe. It wouldn’t surprise me. But since this whole errand has been shrouded in mystical secrecy, the final location could really be absolutely anywhere across the known galaxies.”
“I suppose so.”
“And I guess Alienn, Arkansas, is also where it all began.” She was quoting Winslow again.
Jack smiled. “Truth.”
He hadn’t been wrong in any of his woo-woo predictions thus far.
He’d been right about Warden Draven. He’d been right about the escaped prisoner, the wolf of wherever, giving them part of their package on their way and the warden who laughed at danger being helpful before they left Galactic Gulag XkR-9.
Now they were headed to where it all began. Madelaine’s journey had truly begun in Alienn at a bachelor auction, of all things, seeking the help of the man who was now her husband. She wanted so much to keep him.
However, heading to Alienn, while offering a coming-full-circle feeling in this crazy adventure with Jack, put him right back in his hometown.
But not hers. Not anymore.
Perhaps Alpha-Prime was the final location where she’d have to assemble and deploy the solution for her Paladin Courier errand.
The thought of having to leave Jack behind on Earth before she made her journey back to her life on Alpha-Prime made her eyes water. She sniffed, turned away so he wouldn’t see her emotional musings and put her thoughts elsewhere.
Jack was still hers, for now.
The only woo-woo message left from Winslow was the silver nugget information Madelaine didn’t understand, but was convinced would eventually be absolutely accurate.
The trust your instincts message along with the two of you together can resolve the problem from Varner Kessik was the other prediction she’d have to mull over. He’d seemed so earnest.
The part of the phrase about trusting her instincts had resurrected a strong memory from her childhood.
Madelaine’s mother said the same thing when she was little.
Especially when young Madelaine got frustrated with the world around her and how it worked—or rather, didn’t work—in her favor as often as she expected.
“Trust your instincts, my little ladybug,” she’d said. “And you’ll never go wrong.”
Gwen Archer had died when Madeline was ten and Natalie, her sister, was not quite three. Their heartbroken father had found love again two years later, bringing Faith into their little family. While, Madelaine still grieved her mother being gone, Faith had been a wonderful addition to their lives.
It had been difficult for Madeleine to leave her close-knit family behind when she went to Alpha-Prime for Paladin training, even though her father had initially pressed her to take advantage of the opportunity.
As with Jack, the Paladin Cabal had forced her to break off communication with her family until her primary task was complete. Quell-don had assured her that they were kept apprised of her progress, so she had to be satisfied with that.
She couldn’t even risk running into them in Alienn, which was why she’d gone to such lengths to conceal her identity. She planned to do a slow drive by of their house before she returned to Alpha-Prime in the hopes of getting a glimpse of her family.
Jack startled her out of her sad reverie when he said, “I don’t know what I’m worried about most. Having to face Diesel or Cam once we return to Alienn, Arkansas. I have no idea what Axel told them.”
Madelaine said, “Well, why don’t we try to avoid everyone except Diesel.
We can get to his office by way of the convenience store main entrance where all the humans come in, instead of traversing the basement, where there is no doubt we’d see all manner of people we know who’d line up with a plethora of questions. ”
“Good idea,” Jack said. “Because you’re right. That’s exactly what would happen. The less fuss the better, since I’ll be late getting back from the two-week vacation Axel generously granted me. And I know we can’t get back to Earth today.”
“No. From here, even using the express wormhole—which I plan to—it will take at least two and a half days to get to Earth.”
Jack nodded as if resigned to the fact their timeline made him late getting back home. Madelaine felt like this last bit of time to pick up the last package was all she truly had left with Jack.
Maybe he wouldn’t be able to accompany her to where she needed to assemble the pieces and find the final location. She shook off that melancholy thought and changed the subject.
“On the bright side, once I set the autopilot for Earth, we could spend the time continuing our honeymoon,” Madelaine said with a grin.
Jack smiled. “Great idea.”