Released from their prison, the Aegis crew members waited outside with The Enlisted for the evacuation ship to arrive. "Jupiter, we have a ten-minute touchdown window, until e-vac," Caine stated. "Empty or not, the last thing we should be doing is walking further inward through the heart of the rebel's base.
"I know, but the Jailer said they are holding another woman here. That she's somewhere close by, and recovering."
He exhaled, unlatching the safety on his rifle. "I'll give you seven minutes to find her, if not, I'm putting you on the e-vac and The Enlisted can search for her, if she's even here. Terrorists are not known for telling the truth."
"Agreed." They continued forward, moving from small hallways to oddly shaped rooms, with several confusing doorways within each. Eventually, they came across someone lying motionless on the floor. "Caine look. There's a person passed out, just up ahead."
"Stay behind me," he said, checking the doors and corners.
"Hello?" Jupiter spoke, stepping closer to the injured party. "We're here to help yooouuu.... Ahhhhh!" She screamed at seeing a person with no head.
Caine walked over to examine the body of... a man, nicely dressed. He peered up and into a shallow altar, where the head of Titus Abrasax was exhibited as the decorative focal point of the room. "Jupiter."
She looked up and saw it. "Oh."
"Are you—"
"I'm fine," she lied, turning her head from this scene. "I just thought I'd have a different reaction. Instead, I feel nothing, which is unusual."
"From the decomposition and the smell, I say he's been dead for about two days."
"The Jailer referenced that his group had a falling out with, that ex-idiot-prince.
"Is someone there?" A voice whimpered.
"Who's that?" Jupiter panicked.
"Stay behind me," Caine ordered, aiming his gun. He advanced towards the slightly open doorway and pushed it the rest of the way with the barrel. Inside this tiny room was a woman. Her clothes were ripped, and she was both battered and chained to the wall.
Jupiter entered the room. "Famulus?"
"Lord Titus," she mumbled. She opened her eyes. "Oh... it's you."
"What happened?"
"What does it look like?" she snided. "Once they killed Lord Titus, they had no other use for me, but one."
"Caine has come to rescue us, along with the other women."
"Has he?" she sneered. "I'd rather he'd come to kill me instead."
He aimed the assault rifle at her head, saying, "That's not a problem! Hold still."
"Caine! No," Jupiter exclaimed.
"Please let him, Your Majesty," she begged. "You'd be doing me a favor. So I won't remember what those animals did to me."
"We're taking you back to the ship to receive medical attention. When we arrive at Cerise, I'll explain the situation to Kalique and you can probably stay with her. Caine?"
He exhaled loudly, obeying his queen's wishes. He tapped on his communicator, behind his right ear. "Wise to Sergeant Jedrek."
"Jedrek here," he answered.
"I'm back inside the Rebel Base and have found another hostage, along with the person you were looking for," Caine explained generically.
"Excellent," Jedrek declared. "Keep him immobilized until I get there. Landing in your location, ETA. three minutes."
YOU ARE READING
A Royal Privilege: A Jupiter Ascending Fan-Fiction: Book 3
FanfictionSix months have passed since Caine and Jupiter settled down at the farmhouse as an unassuming married couple. Yet there are still some unhappy about their union and seek to destroy all they've built--together. Can this unlikely couple survive what's...
