Gone But Not Forgotten, page 1
part #2 of The Jaxon Grey Chronicles Series
A Dedication to…
Gone But Not Forgotten is dedicated to my niece and nephews; Mya, Jordan, and Kiernan. Great additions to my ever expanding family. I love you all!
Author’s Note: My niece Mya and the one in the story are strictly a coincidence. She was created in the book long before the real Mya was born. Great minds apparently do think alike.
Gone But Not Forgotten
By
J. Wright & K. Hackett
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One - An Almost Fatal Attraction
Chapter Two - Trouble Under Cover
Chapter Three – Serpendipity
Chapter Four - In The Dry Heat; Changing Winds
Chapter Five - We Find Shelter
Chapter Six - Calling In A Favor; Grim News
Chapter Seven - The Gnar River
Chapter Eight - Ruby Territory
Chapter Nine - Black Smoke Rising
Chapter Ten - Unfamiliar Waters
Chapter Eleven - Patience Pays Off
Chapter Twelve - A Time To Kill
Chapter Thirteen - Out Of The Frying Pan And Into The Fire
Chapter Fourteen – The Plan
Chapter Fifteen – The Serpent’s Feast
Chapter Sixteen - Over Water, Under Ground
Chapter Seventeen – Bandits
Chapter Eighteen – Thasol
Chapter Nineteen – Ishmae
Chapter Twenty - Souza IV
Chapter Twenty-One - The Third Eye
Chapter Twenty-Two – Northbound
Chapter Twenty-Three – Trackers
Chapter Twenty-Four - Across The Frozen Sea
Epilogue
Map of Tatora
Prologue
Ryane awoke on a hard-tiled floor in the center of an all-white room. She felt groggy and nauseous, like she had a wicked hangover, and she had no recollection of the previous night or any idea where she was. She tried to push herself up off the floor but her vision swam, and her head, which felt like a ten ton rock, lolled, hitting the floor. She heaved a sigh and flopped her body back down; she wasn't going anywhere. She decided to close her eyes again; hopefully she could sleep this off, whatever it was.
When she awoke again, her head was a little clearer, and lighter. She scanned the room woozily, finding herself all alone in a circular room of blinding whiteness. Her eyes flew open, and she scrambled to get up, but, as she tried to rise, she found it more difficult than it should have been. She felt heavier for some odd reason, like she was being pulled down by some invisible force. Where the hell am I?
She began breathing very heavy, and looked around the room quickly, making sure that she was in no immediate danger. She forced herself to control her breathing. In, and out; in, and out, slowly. Eventually, memories of what had happened began flooding back to her. First the cabin, then Jaxon's disappearance, the leather-bound book, and the bottle of wine...She had never reacted this strongly to a bottle of wine, but at this point she was willing to blame everything on that. At least until she started remembering what had happened next...The strange men, their attack on her, and the sweet, pungent odor of chloroform just before passing out.
At least she figured it was chloroform. She had seen enough movies and TV shows to have a good idea. Her pulse started to race again and she realized how dry her mouth was. Ryane didn't know what to think. She wished Jaxon could be here with her. She paused at that, realizing that Jaxon very well could be here, wherever this was. Indeed, he had gone missing right before she had, and in his place had been only the leather-bound book filled with a strange tale.
Ryane scanned the room again, standing now, though still feeling the awkward and unexplained added resistance. She held onto the wall and made her way around the room, feeling for hidden doors or switches, looking over every inch for a way out, but there was nothing. Just a smooth, empty, eerie white cell.
With nothing else to do, she paced back and forth in the room, pondering dark thoughts and trying to get used to this place's weird effect on her body. Whoever had abducted her would come to see her eventually. They couldn't just keep her in this room forever, with no food, no water, no contact...Could they? What would be the point in that?
Ryane had no way to tell time in the circular room. It was completely bare, lacking windows or any other amenities, and had very high ceilings. It could have been hours or days that she remained there, emotions swinging from hopelessness, to anger, to determination, and back to hopelessness.
Eventually she realized just how hungry she was. She tried to push the sensation from her mind, for it would only make her hungrier; but to no avail.
Since she didn't know when, or even if, she would be fed, she began pounding on the white walls of the room, screaming at the top of her lungs. "Hello! Is anyone out there?" but her screams were met with only the echoes of her own voice, and then a resounding silence.
"Let me out!" she screamed. "I don't belong in here! You've made a mistake!"
Still, no one answered her desperate pleas. Where were her captors? She punched the wall with all her might, but only managed to hurt herself. It didn't faze her though, and, as she reached back to launch another assault, a hand grabbed her and spun her around. Two women stood in the room now; one carried a small glass cup and a glass vase filled with what looked like water, while the other held a covered tray, from which emanated a delicious aroma. Ryane had no idea how they had gotten in; they had made no noise and the room appeared unchanged.
They stared at her with expressionless faces, impartial to her distress. The women were not the type to stand out in a crowd. Nothing remarkable or ornamental on them, except for sharp white clothes and a thin metal cuff on each woman's forearm.
"Who are you?" Ryane asked abruptly. "Where am I? Why am I here?"
The two women simply placed the items on the floor near the entryway, not deigning to reply, and then turned around as if to leave.
"Wait," Ryane pleaded with them. "Tell me at least one thing, please." The women stopped for a moment, turning back to hear what Ryane had to say. "Is there a man named Jaxon here too, imprisoned as I am?" she asked, deeply concerned for his safety.
She saw the women smile, and then turn to leave again. "Our master will see you shortly," said one of the women over her shoulder. "Be sure to eat your meal. Master does not like food to be wasted."
Ryane looked down at the tray, and in that second a section of the wall slid silently open, enough for the women to pass through quickly before Ryane even realized what was happening. She ran to the wall where they had disappeared and frantically felt around for a hinge or panel, or anything to get the door to reopen, but not even a seam remained. She pressed her forehead to the wall and sighed. She felt like she was in some sort of high tech medical facility; like where the crazy people in movies take you right before they cut you open and dissect your brain.
Her disturbing thoughts were cut short as another grumble of her stomach reminded her of her ravenous hunger. She turned to the food and water set on the floor. Even her predicament and thoughts of brain dissection couldn't keep her mouth from salivating at the smell of the deliciously cooked meat.
She dropped to the floor and removed the cover from the tray. Underneath was a large portion of what appeared to be finely-prepared pork chops and a serving of apple sauce. Ryane inhaled deeply, taking in the delicious smell. She was wary of eating it though, fearing that it would be drugged or poisoned. She couldn't even be sure of the water since she knew there were clear, tasteless drugs that were almost undetectable.
Eventually, however, she succumbed to her needs, taking a small bite of the meat and chewing it slowly. She almost groaned out loud. It was the best thing she had ever tasted. She put the meat down to wait for any unpleasant side effects. When none came she quickly devoured the rest of the meal and washed it down with the water, which was incredibly refreshing, and, she really hoped, untainted. Then she sat back, again acutely aware of her predicament, and began wondering what would happen next.
After a short time, the portal in the wall reopened. Any other time she would have been completely amazed by this futuristic technology, and any other time she would have jumped to her feet and tried to muscle her way out with her food tray, but not this time. No, this time she froze. This time, she just stared. Because through the disappearing door had walked a living, breathing monster.
Ryane stumbled backwards, drawing away from the creature as far as she could, backing up against the wall on the opposite side of the room. She was trapped, and the giant figure was approaching her. She had to tilt her head up to even see it's face; it was nearly ten feet tall. It had gray, leathery skin, with shrunken black eyes and a small crest running from its forehead to the back of its neck. It had no nose, only two slits where a nose should have been, as well as a set of gills behind each ear. She could see its webbed hands too, and knew that there was no way this was just a human in a grotesque get up trying to scare her. This was something else completely.
"Greetings," it said, speaking in fluent English.
Ryane was shocked that it could speak, and in her own language too. Maybe she could reason with it. "What the hell is going on here?" she asked the obscene creature angrily. "Why was I taken?" She was shocked by the ferocity of her tone, and pleasantly surprised at its steadiness.
"Relax, Ryane. We are not going to hurt you," said the creature.
"How do you know my name?" she asked quickly.
"We have been watching you," said the creature.
There was that 'We' again. It was entirely unsettling, though she tried not to show it. She felt violated, and rightly so. "Watching me?" she questioned the creature, her anger almost palpable.
"Yes," replied the creature calmly. "You have become unexpectedly valuable to us here on Scynthia. We have brought you here for a specific purpose, and if you cooperate, you will be returned home to your planet when the task is complete."
Ryane looked at the creature incredulously. What did it mean 'on Scynthia', and 'returned home to your planet'? It alluded to the fact that she was no longer on Earth, but that wasn't possible. Then again, neither was the presence of this monster that spoke English, but here it was, standing just before her.
I must be dreaming, she thought, but she knew she wasn't, and this whole ordeal only gave credence to Jaxon's story, the one she had read in the leather-bound book. In fact, he had definitely mentioned Scynthia too. Ryane's head was spinning. This was all so much to take in. The Scynthian stared at her, waiting for a response. What could she do? She looked at the creature, defeated, and nodded her head in assent.
Seemingly pleased, the creature continued quickly. "You are familiar with a certain Jaxon Grey, correct?" Ryane's eyes widened but the creature continued before she had time to respond. "And, recently, you read a manuscript written by this Jaxon?"
Obviously the damned alien was well apprised of the recent events. She nodded warily, confirming the answers it already knew.
"I have here another such manuscript," said the creature, pulling forth a small, leather-bound book from inside its robe. The book was almost identical to the one from Jaxon, and Ryane eyed it with suspicion.
“What do you want me to do with it?” Ryane asked.
“For now, you are to read through it carefully, and I will supply you with more instructions when I return,” the Scynthian replied.
When Ryane did not immediately move forward to take the book from the creature, it placed the book on the floor in front of her.
"What does all of this have to do with Jaxon and me?” she asked pleadingly.
“You will find out in due time,” it replied, and then backed through the futuristic doorway. The portal closed behind the creature so fast that Ryane couldn't even catch a glimpse of what lay beyond.
When she was alone once more in her seamless cell, Ryane retrieved the book and hugged it tight against her chest. "What have you gotten us into this time, Jax?"
She then sat down with a sigh and turned the book to its first page.
Chapter One – An
Almost Fatal Attraction
I walked into the living room and saw you lying on the couch, half asleep, enjoying the warmth of the fire. You looked so beautiful, and your eyes lit up radiantly when you caught sight of me. I couldn’t help but admire the perfection that lay before my eyes.
"There you are," you said, half suppressing a yawn as you stretched off your tiredness. "I almost fell asleep."
"I'm back now," I replied tenderly. It was strange; I couldn't remember why I had gone to the basement or even coming back up the stairs. It was slightly unsettling, but still I felt an overwhelming happiness as I made my way over to you. "You know," I said, sitting down beside you, "I’m kind of glad it’s just the two of us tonight.”
"And why is that?" you smiled, tantalizing me.
I leaned in slowly, my heart nearly beating out of my chest, and gave you a gentle kiss. It was a short kiss, but the moment seemed to last forever in my mind. It was sensational. Your lips were so soft and smooth, and fit mine perfectly like you and I were just meant to be together.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time,” I said softly.
You blushed, “Well it’s about time.”
We both laughed lightly, almost childishly, and then my hand was reaching for you, pulling you close for another kiss. This time you welcomed my lips and starting kissing back without restraint. It was a perfect kiss; just the one I had waited so long for.
Neither of us wanted the moment to end, and it was like our passions had finally been released. I pressed you back against the couch cushion, surprised by how natural it felt, and finally gave way to my pent-up desires. We tore at each other’s clothes, laughing happily and relishing in the pleasure.
The moment was suddenly interrupted by a loud "Tack, Tack, Tack!" at the door.
The knock couldn't have come at a worse time, and, needless to say, I was very reluctant to leave your side. We considered ignoring the interruption, but after a second round of knocking, we knew one of us needed to see who was at the door. It didn't sound like a normal knock though, as if someone were using a club or stick instead of their hand. Nevertheless, I went to the door and reached for the handle.
"Who the hell could be knocking at this hour?" I asked myself. "Did I give someone the wrong date for the party?"
I opened the door, expecting to see one of our friends through the doorway, but, before I even knew what was happening, I was pinned to the wooden floor of the cabin. An instant later came the pain, a terrible excruciating pain that ripped straight through my body. I clutched helplessly at a massive tail stinger that stuck straight through my abdomen, and you screamed from the couch in horror.
My body began to tingle and spasm, and then I couldn’t move at all. I was stuck with my head tilted sideways, gazing directly into the snarling jaws of the dreaded Osolisque!
The rest of the beast was trapped outside of the cabin, too big to fit through the doorway. I stared dumbstruck at its nigh impenetrable exterior and its spiked tail stinger, like some sort of giant mutant scorpion come to end me. It withdrew its tail stinger slowly, pulling my skewered body along with it, and then held me in the air level with its glossy black eyes. It looked at me curiously, and then slowly began to lower me into its mouth. I lost all nerve, screaming helplessly. I didn’t want to die, not yet, but this didn't deter the osolisque from enjoying its meal. Soon it had its jaws fully around my head, and then it bit down with one loud crunch.
My body leapt, and I instantly awoke to find myself lying outside on the hard ground, completely disoriented. My heart was pounding furiously and I was drenched in sweat. I quickly felt around my body, relieved that the stinger was gone and my head was still attached to my shoulders. I looked around quickly in my half-sleep, searching for danger, but the night was calm and quiet, and soon my senses came back to me. I realized I was still on the edge of the Tatoran jungle, and that I had only been having a nightmare.
With me, sleeping around the ashy remains of our small cook-fire, was the rest of my party. On the far side of the fire lay Pharon and Nadina, the father-daughter pair from Scynthia, along with their human servant, Mya. Closer to me was Demtrius, the blue-skinned alien from the planet Dotara; my close friend and fellow fugitive on this savage world. And lastly there were the adventurous Tatoran brothers, Lorthredo and Montaug. Of the seven of us, Montaug was the only other person awake, as it was his turn to keep guard. He merely looked at me with a raised eyebrow, but said nothing.
“It had only been a dream,” I told myself again. “Just another nightmare.” I was beginning to grow accustomed to them.
I lay there in the dark for a while, not able to get back to sleep. My eyes wondered aimlessly around the camp, searching for phantom danger, but finding none. I watched my rapt as it rolled around on the ground, crushing stink beetles with its lizard-like body and using their scent to fend off insects. My eyes kept wandering until I caught sight of Mya. She was awake now, and was staring back at me. I knew she was still upset with me for refusing her company several nights before, and I was still feeling very guilty about it. Her life on Tatora had been wrought with tragedy. She had come to the primitive planet with another woman named Minka, but Minka had perished in a devastating syer attack. A syer, if you don't remember, is like a giant wasp, and its venomous stinger kills its victims quickly and cruelly. After the attack, Mya found herself a slave of the Tatorans, and later fled Aanthora with the rest of us, so now we were all on the run from the indigenous population. She had initially sought comfort from me, but I was of little help in this area, dealing with my own set of issues, and so now she felt scorned.
