THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

pointed look at Callan who came to his feet and offered, “I will join you on the walk.”
    What walk? And would that be the time to make a run for the transender?  But how could they when he couldn’t even talk to Gabby or Rayen?
    Giving Callan a quick head dip, Mathias added, “I ask Rayen to join us as well.”
    Nooooooo. This was a bad time for Rayen to leave. We probably got less than twenty minutes now.
    Mathias’s statement also startled Zilya and Etoi whose confused gazes darted from Mathias to Callan to Rayen. Zilya jumped to her feet, mouth open to protest.
    With a lift of his hand, Mathias cut her off. “This is my choice.”
    Rayen didn’t stand, but she did say, “I want to know that Tony and Gabby will be safe while I’m gone if I agree to go.”
    You tell ‘em, Rayen. But don’t go.
    Callan addressed Zilya and Etoi. “As long as those two don’t attempt to escape, they’re not to be harmed. To do so will result in painful punishment.”
    Etoi blanched at whatever Callan alluded to, which gave Tony a moment of relief about being left tied up.
    With that settled, Rayen spoke quietly to Gabby then stood and followed Callan and Mathias from the common area.
    Gabby got up and crossed to Tony. She squatted down and reached up to pull the gag off his mouth.
    When she did, Etoi shouted, “Do not touch him!”
    Gabby didn’t even look back when she answered, “Chill. I’m only letting him breathe.”
    Go Gabby!
    Etoi grabbed her spear and rushed over to point it at Gabby’s back.
    Tony shook his head. Much as he wanted to tell Gabby what he’d found out, he didn’t want her hurt.
    Gabby shoved up to her feet and pivoted to face the spear, looking down as she scoffed. She slapped aside the tip. “Everyone has the right to be stupid, but you’re abusing the privilege.  Taking his gag off doesn’t constitute trying to escape. But if you want to stab me then argue that point with Callan. I’m game as long as I get to watch you being punished.”
    Careful, Psycho Babe, but man that is so hot . Tony let out a muffled chuckle when Etoi backed down.
    Sulking, Zilya stood off to the side, not offering an opinion.
    Jaxxson strolled up. “There are better uses for your energy, Etoi. Such as helping the others clean up, and making sure the smallest ones retreat to their chambers before moonset.”  When she turned away sharply from him, he added, in a lower, tighter voice, “Please follow Mathias’s example by giving the children encouragement. Do not spew venom when they face enough hardship.”
    Etoi stomped off without agreeing or spouting another snotty comment.
    Jaxxson’s serious gaze bounced from Tony to Gabby. “Do you give your word you’ll not attempt to escape or help him escape, Gabby?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then you may remove his mouth covering.”  The healer moved on to each group of children, touching their heads lightly and issuing compliments on the decorations and food.
    When Gabby sat back down, Tony noticed her hands had been clenched, ready to fight.
    He had a whole new respect for Psycho Babe.
    She slipped her fingers inside the leaf across his mouth and started tugging it down, whispering to Tony as she did. “If Rayen can’t talk sense into Callan then maybe Jaxxson can. I’ve gotten to know him today.”
    Tony sucked in a deep breath of air and sighed. “Finally. We don’t have much time.”
    “What’re you talking about?”
    “I followed the scout back to his transender location.”
    “You did break him out of the prison hut?”
    Tony didn’t know whether to be impressed that she thought he was capable of that, or insulted at her you-did-try-to-leave-us tone. “No, someone here shut down the power. When the scout jumped out, I did, too. Barely made it before the power zapped back up. Has to be someone in this village who helped him, but that’s their problem.”
    “We have to tell Jaxxson.”
    “We can tell him on the way out , but right now we need to grab Rayen, because I’ve found our ticket home.”
    Gabby’s lips parted. “What are you talking about?”
    “I saw how the scout called up the pod. Then I tackled him and made him tell me everything about how to get into one. I think we have to call up our original transender to go home, but we have to do it before that red moon sets.” He nodded to the darkening horizon. “I’m guessin’ we don’t have more than twenty minutes, tops.”
    “But...I don’t want to go home. I’m staying