You’ll see, she thought defiantly. I’ll show you. The minute Roarn sees me, he’ll recognize me and the Fury will fade. He’ll be his old warm, cuddly self again—I just know it!
She was so certain of this that the minute they reached the end of the enormous room, she marched right up to the cell two Monstrum warriors—both lion-types like Rarev—were guarding.
Both the guards frowned but Commander Rarev raised a hand.
“It’s all right,” he told them. “This female has a claim on the prisoner. She believes she can drive back the Fury and bring him to his senses and we are going to give her a chance to try.”
“But surely you’re not going to let her go into the holding cell with him, Chief Commander?” one of the Monstrum warriors asked doubtfully.
“He’ll rip her to shreds!” the other added. “We’ve been watching him and I’ve never seen a more savage male in my life—he’s so deep in the grip of the Fury he’s nothing but a beast!”
“No, of course she can’t go into the cell,” Rarev said, frowning. “That goes without saying. But she believes that the sight of her will bring the prisoner to his senses.”
“Really?” The first guard looked at her doubtfully.
“Yes.” Christine nodded firmly. “So please, can you just make the walls clear up so he can see me and I can see him?”
“Just make it quick,” the second guard said, leaning in to press his hand to the control pad by the door of the holding cell. “The Time Lock is set to go off very shortly—we can’t miss our window of opportunity.”
“I understand.” Christine nodded again impatiently. “Just let me see him—I’ll bring him around.”
The guard pressed his hand firmly to the pad and the opaque glass walls began to clear. Inside it looked like a miniature jungle, filled with tropical plants with broad leaves and glowing blossoms. Christine peered around eagerly, searching for Roarn.
“Roarn? Honey?” she called anxiously.
“I’m afraid he won’t be able to hear you,” the guard said apologetically. “Our holding cells are sound proofed.”
“What?” Christine looked at him anxiously. “Okay, well, never mind! He just needs to see me. Where is he? Where—?
But at that moment, she saw him.
The big Monstrum was crouching in the corner of the holding cell, his back to her. He was on all fours—exactly like an animal! Christine thought in dismay—and he wasn’t acting remotely sentient.
“Roarn?” Even though she knew he couldn’t hear her, she couldn’t help calling his name as she stooped to try and catch his eye. He was facing away from her but Christine tapped on the glass, hoping to get his attention.
Of course the glass was extremely thick so there was no way the big Monstrum could hear her, but he must have either felt the vibrations of her tapping or maybe he simply sensed her eyes on him. For whatever reason, he whirled suddenly, moving with that lightning speed and cat-like grace she had become accustomed to.
Christine gasped when she looked into his face at last.
“Roarn?” she asked timidly.
His mouth was open in a silent snarl which showed his long, curving fangs, and there was no recognition in his golden-green eyes when he looked at her—none at all.
He looks just like he did when I first saw him, Christine thought, as despair welled up inside her. When he was caught in the trap. He’s stuck in his animal mind—he’s not thinking at all right now. He’s just feeling and everything he’s feeling is bad.
Still, she couldn’t help trying.
“Roarn,” she said, forming his name carefully, hoping he might read her lips. “Roarn, it’s me—it’s Christine. I’m here because I love you! Oh, Roarn honey, come back to me!”
But still there was nothing in the golden-green eyes. Nothing but savagery and rage. Roarn snarled at her and began backing away warily from the window, like a tiger trying to get away from a threat.
The thought that the big Monstrum might see her as a threat or someone to avoid brought tears to Christine’s eyes.
“Roarn, please—it’s me!” she begged, forgetting he couldn’t hear her. “Don’t you remember me? Please, baby—I love you!”
But there was still no recognition in the big Monstrum’s eyes and now Commander Rarev was leaning down to tell her she had to step away from the holding cell.
“I’m afraid the Time Lock is just about to disengage,” he told her. “And the guards have to be ready to tranquilize Roarn so we can get him on a shuttle.”
A shuttle to a prison planet where I’ll never see him again! Christine thought desperately.
She wondered if she ought to stall for time somehow. If they missed the opening of the Time Lock, it would keep the big warrior here aboard the Monstrum Mother Ship for a whole other week. That would give her more time to work on him.