Page 41 of Warrior Rescued

“You can always speak to me. I have seen the ravages of war and understand. Believe me, I do. Nothing you’ve felt or have done to handle this will shock me. I am just sorry you experienced this.” He kept ahold of her hand as they walked.

“Thank you. The same goes for you.”

She hoped the sincerity in her voice was conveyed because she felt truly lucky to have Payim. He sadly had experienced some of the same things, if the sorrow in his eyes was any clue.

Payim quo Desero

“Maybe we should’ve brought a light,” Payim commented as Elena led him through the dark tunnel.

“Nah. Everyone is just up ahead.” Her tiny hand squeezed his.

He nodded though she couldn’t see it. They traveled another several paces and he spotted a dim blue light, then another and another.

“Just a moment.” Elena released his hand.

She disappeared for an instant and then a larger artificial light flicked on. He gaped as he took in the staggering number of stasis pods lining the tunnel.

“You saved all of these people, cared for and kept them hidden from the Jurou Biljana for all this time?” He stared at her utterly dumbfounded.

“Sidi helped show me how.” She gazed fondly at the scores of sleeping humans.

The weight of what she’d been through again struck him.

“And you didn’t ever decide to wake some of them up?” He shook his head in disbelief.

“Who would I condemn to the misery of Hell? Like this they are safe, warm, have enough nourishment, and they’re blissfully unaware. Like you said, the environment might not even support all of us. No. I just couldn’t do that to them.” She shook her head.

“Elena,” he rasped and pulled her to him again, hugging her close.

He couldn’t fathom her struggle. His own desire to end his loneliness would’ve broken him.

“Thank you for finding us,” Elena murmured, her voice wavering.

He’d done nothing, nothing that compared to this.

“I wish I’d come sooner.” He stroked her hair.

“You’re here now. That’s what matters.” She gazed up at him. “Now let’s get that power cell so we can contact your people.” She patted his chest.

“Yes.” He nodded in agreement.

“The empty pods are down this way.”

As Elena led him down the rows, he roughly counted off the scores of hibernating humans. He was at the mid three hundreds when they reached the empty stasis pods.

“One of these should work well.”

He studied the pods, noting many of the interiors were still stained with blood. Just like Elena said, the units were undamaged, but the occupants that once inhabited them hadn’t fared so well. As hard as it had been, he was grateful she and Sidi had the foresight to salvage them.

“How about this one?”

He selected one with the cleanest interior, not wanting Elena to suffer any more than she was at the sight of them.

“All right.” Elena tapped on the console and the stasis pod sprung to life, levitating off the rocky floor. “It looks like it’s functioning fine.”

She swiped the sensor and the clear lid parted.

“It doesn’t smell bad. A little stale maybe,” he commented as he set the bag they’d brought into the bed of the hibernation chamber, grateful it didn’t scent of old blood.

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