Finale 1 - The end of the beginning

When I first came up with the idea of Rome's Evolution, I had only thought it through to Rome and Rei capturing Troutman and Steele. But when I started writing it, suddenly, I realized that this was not the end but the beginning of a deeper, more insidious plot. So here is a 6 part series on what was supposed to be the finale.

Yesterday, Rei and Steele tussled with Steele getting the upper hand, so to speak. Unfortunately for Steele, he did not know that he couldn't stab Rei and Rei inadvertently cut off Steele's right hand. Was that going to stop the bad guy? Nope:

     A lesser man might have crumbled but Steele’s military training kicked in. He was so completely consumed with the need to end Rei and Rome’s life that he blocked the mutilation out of his mind. Even with the stump of his right arm spurting arterial blood, using his remaining hand, he willed himself to reach down. He grabbed the knife that was stuck in the ground, still held within the useless, severed limb. He pulled it free and lifted it in the air, preparing to stab Rei who had only managed to get himself to his knees.
     Steele changed his mind. Based upon what he had just witnessed, he decided he would better off slitting Rei’s throat. He twisted his wrist to an underhand grip. However, before he could deliver the fatal, slashing blow, Rome came up behind him and used all of her strength to strike him in the back of the head with a rather sizeable rock. The sound of granite against bone was a nearly indescribable crunching noise. Steele crumpled to the ground.
     Rome sank to her knees and began crying. Ignoring the blood pouring out of his nose, Rei put his hand to his temple and MINIMCOM’s livetar instantly appeared. The all-black being “borrowed” a willing ‘falling blanket’ and quickly secured Steele before he could regain consciousness. In just a matter of seconds, the livetar transported the would-be assassin, falling blanket and all up to his cargo hold for more permanent incarceration.
     Rei scrambled over to where Rome was huddled and put his arms around his sobbing wife, dripping blood on her shoulder. “It’s OK, honey,” he said as soothingly as he could. “It’s all over. We got him. We’re safe now.”
     Rome looked up him, her face twisted in anguish. “No, you don’t understand.”
     “What? Why?” Rei asked, confused, wiping his nose very gingerly.
     “When he had his arm around my throat; I was connected to him. I was able to see into his mind.”
     “So what?” Rei said. “We captured him. He’s no longer a threat.”
     “No,” Rome said haltingly. “Not him. The Vuduri woman that was aiding them. I saw her face in his mind.”
     A sudden chill went through Rei’s spine. “Who was it?” he whispered.
     “It was Sussen,” Rome moaned. “She knew you did not die in the explosion. She used the Deucadon cloak and was hiding at my mother’s house the day we were there, making our plans. She knows we sent Aason to Earth. She went after him days ago.”
     Rei rocked back on his heels and his shoulders sagged. “Goddammit,” he said.

So there you have it. All the pieces tied together. Troutman and Steele are now in custody but Rome and Rei's precious Aason was sent to the worst place possible. They have no choice. They must go after their son.