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Chapter 24
Ambassador Taylor and Farrin Gnarff had been talking for over two hours. Finally Taylor got to his feet. "Well, Your Excellency," he said, "I am pleased that we have agreement. My Council will be most satisfied, Lord Protector, that Forgwin is to become such a valued ally of the Federation."
"Of, course Ambassador," Gnarff accepted the ambassador's compliments with grace, "surely you had no doubt than we would stand by our commitments to the Federation?"
"No, indeed, but now we have a practical way forward. It is also most satisfactory that are you able to be so helpful in identifying and addressing the problems of the inter-galactic criminality that so concern us all. Your assistance in attacking the malevolent forces in the galaxy is invaluable."
"Yes. Your troopers will wish to take action, immediately I assume."
"Indeed." Taylor gestured to the communicator on his belt. "With your permission, Lord Protector."
"Naturally."
Taylor pressed a button on the communicator and moments later two Federation troopers arrived at the door of the meeting room. Taylor handed the first of them a paper. The two saluted and withdrew.
Inside their cell, Kelli and Shana had spent the last twenty four hours in chains. With nothing but water to drink and no contact with the outside world of the Gnariott ship they felt abandoned. They were, at least, able to exchange thoughts with one another. They had tried to recover from the trauma of their public rape and the bizarre humiliation of their Gnarriott costumes but there had been no further medical attention once Mead had left them. They thought about their escape plans. They now knew how to take Mead hostage. They were sure she would come to them in their cell before the Tallaxapod left.
Demanding safe passage on the Thallaxapod was their best opportunity for escape and they were determined to try when Mead appeared. Brutalised sexually, naked, stiff and sore from their chains, they could only wait in hope.
Then, miraculously, hope seemed to be rewarded. The cell door sprang open to reveal the figure of a Federation trooper. He picked up his communicator and called into it, "I've found them, sir. Yes, No, they're shackled. Right, Sir. I'll bring them up." He strode over to where they sat and unlocked the ring that held their chains to the wall. "Come along with me ladies," he smiled. "You won't see any more of this cell."
The two girls gave grunts of relief as he helped them to their feet and led them from the cell. They knew that they were following the corridors back towards Gnarff's suite but now they were less fearful, taking comfort from the Federation trooper's presence even though their wrists and ankles were still shackled.
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