CHAPTER NINE
Justin rehearsed his story as he walked back towards the docks. He would tell Zator that the Backstreet Boys were willing to hand over the amulets as soon as he bought Brian back. He could make up a false rendezvous time and location on the way back to the ship.
CHAPTER TEN Groggily Brian awoke to the familiar gloomy scene of his lonely prison cell. He felt a lot better. The pounding headache had subsided to a dull ache, although the rest of his body still felt awfully sore.
CHAPTER ELEVEN “So they are willing to agree?”
Murat, one of Zator’s crew, was waiting for him agitatedly on the pier.
“You took your time,” he said, sourly.
“Um, sorry,” Justin replied. “I had to wait for ages to see them.”
“Do you have the amulets?”
How dumb was this guy? Did he really expect them to give him the amulets straight away?
“No, they won’t hand them over until we release Brian. They want to meet us here to make the exchange tomorrow morning,” Justin lied.
Murat was obviously displeased. “We’ll see what Zator says. I’ll bet they’re planning something.
Justin said nothing.
The spaceship was bobbing on the surface of the water, hidden in the shadow of the pier. Murat clambered inside and Justin took a deep breath before following. So far so good.
When they docked with Zator’s ship in orbit, Justin was almost trembling with nerves. He didn’t want to see Zator again, not now he knew the truth. Luckily for him, he didn’t have to. At least not yet.
“Zator’s in a conference now with his officers. He’ll see you later on,” a guard informed Justin.
Justin nodded and tried not to let his relief show. All he wanted to do was to find the other guys before getting as far away from Zator as possible.
“I’ll show you to your friends,” the guard said.
“No really, there’s no need,” Justin said. He wanted to be alone.
“I insist,” the guard replied.
Justin shrugged thinking it better not to decline again in case he aroused suspicions. He followed his guide out of the docking bay and into the corridor.
“Justin, how are you planning to get Brian off of this ship?” the guard asked, when they were alone.
Justin froze and faced the guard with a look of horror on his face.
“It’s okay,” the guard replied. “I’m Hazak, Zanell’s friend. She told me that you were going to help.”
Justin breathed a sigh of relief. “You scared me for a minute,” he said.
“Don’t worry, no one else knows what’s going to happen and Zator doesn’t suspect a thing. He thinks he’s still got you wrapped around his finger.”
“Good.”
“Now listen carefully because I have a plan. At 19.00 I am going to disable the ship’s alarms. They’ll only be down for about twenty minutes though so you’re going to have to be quick. In that time you are going to have to get Brian from the prison cell, I’ll give you something to deal with the guards, and then you’ll have to get yourselves down to the docking bay. With the alarms down, Zanell will be able to dock in her own ship and meet you there. She’ll then take you all back to Earth.”
Another crewmember entered the corridor from a side door. The two of them resumed walking.
“What if Zator finds out?” Justin whispered, no longer able to contain his worst fear.
“The rest of the Backstreet Boys will be with Zanell, they should be able to take care of things with their amulets. I’m also going to steal Brian’s amulet. I’ll give it to you just before I disable the alarms.”
Justin hadn’t thought about that. If he did get into Brian’s cell, how would he make Brian trust him? He’d probably think he was taking him to Zator.
Hazak read his mind. “I’ll try and warn him what’s going to happen but if I can’t then we’ll just have to hope that he’ll trust you. If it comes to it you’ll have to drag him to the docking bay. He shouldn’t put up much of a fight, not with that poison Zator has been giving him.”
“Is he okay?”
“A little frail, but he’ll be fine. Zator only did it to upset the rest of the Backstreet Boys.”
“It worked too,” Justin said.
“He was worried in case he escaped somehow. He went to a lot of trouble to find you and get you to kidnap him.”
Hazak stopped outside of a door. “Your bandmates are in here. I have to go now and contact Zanell again. I’ll see you later on.” With that Hazak left him.
Justin watched him go. How was he going to tell the guys that they had changed sides?
******************************
“The plan has been set,” Zanell said, putting away her communication device. “AT 19.00 the alarms will go down. Justin will get Brian and we’ll meet them in the docking bay.”
Nick grinned. It all sounded so easy. He was glad that that something was finally being done to save Brian.
“What time do we leave?” Nick asked, itching to get moving.
“Meet at the woods by the lake at 18.00. Hazak will call me at that time, just to make sure everything’s still on schedule. Can you guys be there for that time?”
All heads turned to look at Kevin. He was currently on the phone to their manager.
“Yes, I know we should stay with our security at the hotel but-” Kevin was saying. He frowned as he was cut off by a reply on the other end. “Of course we understand how serious the situation is! But we just feel that it would be good for us to spend some time with our families, especially Nick. He’s worried sick about Brian,” Kevin said, knowing that the younger blond would get all of the sympathy. “We’d feel better if we had a break for a few days.”
The others watched him anxiously. If they couldn’t get away then the mission would go ahead without them. None of them wanted that.
Kevin smiled. “Thank you. Oh, don’t worry we’ll be at the press conference on Tuesday. Alright, bye,” he said, turning the mobile off.
“What did they say?” AJ asked.
“We can have three days off and it’s okay to leave the hotel tonight!” Kevin said.
“Great!” Howie replied.
Nick grinned along with the rest of the band. Soon Brian would be home. Or at least he hoped so.
Zator loomed above him.
“Good morning. Sleep well did you?” he said.
Brian glared up at him but said nothing.
“I’ve had the guards stop the poison. As much as I would like to I can’t kill you. You’re much more valuable alive, at the moment.”
Still Brian remained silent.
Zator raised an eyebrow at the lack of response.
“By the way, I now have the other amulets and your friends are locked in another cell.”
“Liar,” Brian said, praying for it to be true.
“Oh it speaks! You maybe right but soon I will have the amulets and I have no intention of allowing your band mates to survive.”
“We’ve beat you before and we’ll do it again.”
“You won’t be doing anything,” Zator pointed out.
“What do you want me? Am I just here so that you can black mail the others?”
“Me? I don’t have any particular use for you, though you are correct when you say that I’m using you to black mail your friends. Some acquaintances of mine, however, are very eager to meet you.”
“Huh? Why?”
“That’s not my concern.”
Suddenly, Zator reached out and yanked Brian’s hair. Brian yelped in pain as he was pulled to his feet. Then Zator began removing the chains from around Brian’s arma and legs.
“You’re letting me go?” Brian asked.
“You wish,” Zator said. “Step outside.”
Uncertainly, Brian staggered towards the door. His legs felt like lead after three days of being chained up, but he was still prepared to make use of any possible chance to escape. He tried to run as he exited the cell. He didn’t have a clue where he would go, but it was worth a try. Unfortunately, a heavily armoured guard grabbed his arm. Brian, in his weakened state, knew that he couldn’t possibly fight the guard.
“I don’t think so, Backroad Boy,” Zator said, following him.
“Where are you taking me?” Brian asked.
“I scanned your planet and it would appear that my daughter has showed up. I believe that she and your comrades are planning a rescue attempt. I can’t allow that. When they show up, and I know they will, I’m going to be ready for them.”
************************
“So we’re going to help the Backstreet Boys now?” Joey asked.
“How can we trust them?” Lance said. “Afterall, we’re not exactly friends with them.”
“I trust them more than Zator,” Justin replied. “He gives me the creeps.”
“Yeah, me too. I never liked him from the start. Anyway, the bsb’s story kinda makes more sense,” JC said.
“The Backstreet Boys as super heroes? That makes sense?!” Lance said.
“Better than them being aliens!” JC commented.
“If you say so,” Lance retorted.
“C’mon Lance! I know things aren’t too hot between us and them, but can you honestly say that you don’t have some doubt in Zator? If he’s so good then why has he been poisoning Brian?” Justin said.
“To make them cooperate,” Lance replied.
“They’d cooperate anyway! There was no need for it! He did it to taunt them!” Justin said.
“I agree. Zator’s just too suspicious,” Chris said. “Lance, c’mon we’re all in this together, okay?”
Lance stared at them for a moment and then finally nodded.
Justin grinned. At last, things were finally beginning to go right.
*****************************
“Zanell, we have a problem,” Hazak said. “They’ve moved him.”
Zanell stared at the screen in dismay.
“Where? Can you still get to him?” she asked.
Hazak shook his head. “He’s with Zator. There’s no way we can get to him now and there’s guards everywhere.”
“Does my father know?”
“He knows you’re coming. He expected it, but he doesn’t know that Justin is on your side,” Hazak said. He suddenly glanced over his shoulder nervously. “Someone’s coming, I have to go. I’ll try my hardest to get Brian away from Zator.”
The screen went blank as Hazak terminated the transmission. Zanell turned to the Backstreet Boys, who were crowded around her in the cock pit of her ship.
“What do we do now?” Howie asked.
Nick was the one who replied. “We’ll just have to rescue Brian ourselves. Guys, it’s time to power up.”
“Yes,” Justin lied.
He was in the room with the gateway in it again. Zator had called him there to talk. Justin had been surprised and worried to see that Zator had tied Brian up in a corner of the room. What was he doing there? He would never manage to get Brian off of the ship now!
Justin found his eyes wondering to the Backstreet Boy. He glared back and even with his back turned Justin could still feel the bright blue eyes burrowing into him. He hated the fact that Brian despised him so much. He wished he had some way of letting him know that he was going to help him.
Zator paced up and down the room, ignoring his prisoner completely.
“What are you going to do?” Justin asked, knowing that Zator had a plan in mind.
“I have known the Backstreet Boys too long and I don’t expect them to give the amulets up without a fight. Tell me, when you were with them did you see my daughter, Zanell?”
“Yes,” Justin said, knowing that Zator would be suspicious if he said she wasn’t there.
“In that case I am certain that they will attempt a rescue mission,” Zator said. “Fools. They’ll find that I have a little plan ready for their arrival.”
Zator laughed and turned to Brian.
“I’ve had him moved here as well. I have no intention of letting him get away. The Backstreet Boys will fail in their mission.”
He paced up and down the room. With each pounding footstep Justin felt his hopes drop away one by one. He knew! He would probably have robots ready to capture the Backstreet Boys as soon as they arrived!
“I’m beginning to think that it would be a good idea for you to go and see them again. Pretend to be their friend and see if you can find out anything about their plans,” Zator said.
Uh oh.
Justin knew that if he left now then there would be no one to help Brian. He doubted if the Backstreet Boys could get Brian and themselves off of the ship without help. Zator would be down on them in seconds. He wondered if Hazak knew that Brian had been moved and if he had an alternate plan. They could certainly do with one.
Before he could think of a suitable excuse, though, Brian spoke up.
“Don’t you dare try to trick them! I swear if you again near them again I’ll - ”
Zator cut Brian off by slapping him hard across the face.
“You’re in no position to threaten us!” he roared.
“They’ll beat you. They have the power of the amulets and they’ll use it to destroy you!” Brian said.
“I don’t think so,” Zator said, evilly. “They’re bringing the amulets here and that is all that will be needed. The trap has already been set. When they come looking for you, the gateway will open and they will never see you again.”
“What do you mean? What’s the ‘gateway’?” Brian asked.
“Nothing for you to worry about,” Zator said. “Yet.”
Suddenly, a panel began bleeping. Zator went to it turning his back on Justin.
“Well, well, well, a ship is approaching us. On board are four hu - Daorians and one zophacian. Your friends are about to arrive I believe.”
Justin could feel the palms of his hands sweating. It was all going wrong! He had to get Brian out of here now. Zator was clearly planning to send him through the doorway which would open when the others arrived. Something had to be done…
A small laser on the table next to Justin caught his eye.
“I think I had better send some men to meet them, don’t you?” Zator said.
Justin grabbed the laser.
“Then I can send them back to their own dimension and - ”
“Turn around Zator,” Justin ordered.
Zator did so and found himself face to face with a laser. Justin felt his hand trembling slightly.
“What are you doing?” Zator said. “I am helping your planet.”
“No you’re not. You’ve been lying to me. You’re going to use the amulets to destroy my home!” Justin said.
Zator’s face contorted with rage.
“I knew I shouldn’t have trusted a pathetic worm like you!” he shouted before lunging at Justin.
Justin fired the weapon but it had a depressingly small effect. A thin green beam of light hit Zator, but he didn’t fall back. Justin was in trouble.
Frantically he fired again but Zator merely laughed.
“I am looking forward to killing you. I will sever your head from your body,” he hissed.
Justin backed away, fearfully. His hands brushed against a console and a smooth object.
“Justin! My amulet!” Brian called.
Justin wrenched the amulet from the console and threw it to Brian.
Zator advanced again and Justin closed his eyes.
The blow never came. Instead, he heard an explosion.
“NOOO!” Zator screamed.
Justin opened his eyes. Zator was lying on the floor. Brian stood above him, a glowing basketball hovering just above his hand. In the other he held the rope. He flashed a grin at Justin.
“Nice to see you’re not a traitor to the human race afterall!” he said.
Justin said nothing but stared at Brian in amazement. He’d changed. Now, he was wearing the clothes of a basketball player, his amulet around his neck. In just a few seconds, he seemed to have become stronger and Justin could have sworn that his muscles were bigger.
“You won’t get away!” Zator said.
Brian grinned again.
“Watch this,” he said to Justin.
Brian suddenly moved so quickly that he was a blur. He ran around Zator and soon had the evil emperor tied up. Zator roared in frustration.
“Come on, Justin, let’s go,” Brian said, turning away from Zator and his bellowing cries. “I think the others will be here soon.”
“But how did you- ”
“They don’t call me Top Speed for nothing!” Brian said.