by John Walker
“Look!” Tiller shouted, gesturing to the sky. Alon turned. His body went as cold as if someone had given him a second painkiller injection. Fiery streaks far off on the horizon plunged toward the ground. “That has to be a bunch of pieces from the Flotilla, don’t you think? Nothing else could do that.”
“I don’t know,” Niva said, “might be another starship too.”
“Not from this distance,” Tiller replied, “surely, we wouldn’t see another vessel coming down from so far away.”
“You’d be surprised.” Niva turned back to her scanner.
“Where…” Alon cleared his throat. “Where are the others?”
“Salvaging stuff from the ship still,” Tiller replied. “Though there’s not much left, I’m sure. I think they’re crazy. That reactor goes up…”
“Stop,” Kyle said. “You don’t have to work through every horrifying contingency. We know them.”
“Just sayin’,” Tiller muttered as he paced away.
Alon looked over their supplies. Several crates rested on the ground along with some silver bags. The emergency supplies in the shuttles included weapons, food, and medical supplies. He wondered how much of it they’d try to carry. During his first tour with the military, they tended to bury those goods rather than heft them throughout an op.
Milna returned with a bag slung over her shoulder. Filth smudged her face, hiding the scars. Her hair was matted, sticking straight up in the front and sides. She dropped the gear, drawing several deep breaths.
“You okay?” Alon asked.
Milna nodded. “They will be along shortly. The pilot is rigging the reactor so that when our pursuers come too close or tinker with it, it will explode. Which means we need to be well away from this place before any of that happens.” She gestured to Vesper. “Is she going to survive her injuries?”
“Yes!” Lysa snapped. “Of course she is! And you could afford to be—”
“That’s enough,” Niva interrupted. “Focus on getting her mobile, please. I’m surprised the reactor survived that descent. We hit hard.”
“Those shuttles,” Alon said, “they’re tough as hell. Shields and armor. Andrews must’ve hit the emergency deflectors a few moments before we hit the ground. That absorbed most of the kinetic hit. But not enough to keep us from getting jostled around. During conflicts back home, I’ve seen those things take serious fire without a casualty onboard.”
“Amazing descent technology,” Milna replied.
“It’s done!” Andrews shouted. “We’re good to go!” The rest of their band gathered around. “We should probably leave this area though. As fast as we can. My tampering made that thing unstable.”
Lysa helped Vesper to her feet. “She can walk… though we need to find a safe place to rest.”
“I’ve done a scan,” Niva replied. “We’re heading that way.” She gestured. “A network of caves stretches through the rocks there.”
“Won’t they just find us?” Milna asked.
“We’ll double up our defenses,” Niva said. “First, the ore caused some minor interference. Second, gear from the shuttle will provide additional jamming that should look like a natural phenomenon. Radiation from the core of the world. Whatever you like. It’ll mask our signature long enough to avoid any patrols.”
Alon grabbed some gear as did the others. They headed out. He stepped beside Vesper. “You feeling okay?”
“I feel like I’ve been shot,” Vesper replied. She didn’t carry anything but her weapons. They’d resorted to earpieces for comms. He had no idea where their helmets were. “You?”
“I’m doing okay. Sure could use a lie down.”
Vesper smirked. “You’re telling me.”
“Why the hell would the Kahl follow us down here?” Alon mused. “They have no idea who we are.”
“On the contrary,” Niva said, “they’ve seen that type of shuttle on our previous mission. Which means we’re their best chance of getting the data we found.”
“That’s… fair.” Alon sighed. “How long before they dispatch people?”
“They already have,” Jok replied. “Whether or not they come straight for our shuttle or not is another story. However, they should at least check to see if the data survived. And if there are any bodies.”
“First,” Milna said, “the shuttle will explode. Likely taking a squad or two with it. Second, they’ll realize the data and the bodies were not there. Third, they will be a planet-wide search for us. Which all leads us back to an important question for Jok. Where is our ship? Were you able to tell it to leave the Flotilla?”
“Yes.” Jok nodded. “It’s here somewhere. I had it land and shutdown. When we feel comfortable turning it back on, we can. But until we know they aren’t going to blast it to pieces, we need to keep it offline.”
“What about you?” Alon turned to Quilla. “How’s your ship?”
“Gone,” Quilla said. “I guarantee it. I did not have a fancy system like him. So either someone else stole it or it’s been destroyed. And I blame you!” He pointed at Vesper. “If you wouldn’t have spoken to me, brought me into your problems, I’d be far from here, instead of trudging around in some miserable low-tech planet!”
“That’s enough!” Niva grunted. “There’s absolutely no point in complaining like that. We’re in this together. I swear to all of you, I’ll do my best to get you home and even compensated for your losses. Right now, you need to dedicate all your passion and wit to our survival. Work together and we’ll be free of this place.”
“How exactly?” Milna asked. “You seem quite certain.”
“I got word to the Brekka… the ship I normally serve on. They’ll be on their way. I guarantee it.”
The group fell silent. Alon wondered if their new companions bought Niva’s commentary or if they simply didn’t have it in them to fight about it. He agreed with her. They didn’t have any other choice. Cooperation was not an option. The people from the Triton would all do their parts.
He worried about Quilla the most. The other two had a military vibe. They were survivors. Most criminals Alon encountered took shortcuts. They skirted hard work whenever possible. Would that be the case with Quilla? His saving grace came from the fact he’d helped Vesper without question.
But his little outburst against her painted him in a negative light.
Maybe he’ll see the error of his ways. Alon wondered if the Prytin might put him in prison. I guess it depends on the severity of the crimes he’s wanted for. If he’s ever been documented performing any. How many Flotilla visitors had records? Something about the place suggested it was for the best undesirables.
Which meant they had to fly under the scanner. Specifically, if they had run-ins with the law, they might squeal to save themselves years of prison time. So he guessed the moment such a person was caught, they were dealt with. Otherwise, the Flotilla would not have been a rumor for so long.
“Quilla,” Alon figured he’d just ask, “have you ever been detained?”
“Not at length,” Quilla replied, “and not in a cell.”
“Ah.”
Quilla scowled. “Why do you ask?”
“Curious about how the Flotilla worked.”
“Doesn’t matter now.” Quilla turned to look at the sky. “Not since the Kahl took it upon themselves to destroy the thing. That’s the end of an era, my friends. The loss of a haven for us smugglers and thieves.” He sighed. “It’ll take a while for another such place to be established. I wonder if I’ll receive an invitation.”
“Who do you think will start it?” Niva asked.
“Oh, I won’t be telling you anything about it.” Quilla chuckled. “You’re with Prytin Intelligence. There’s no way I’d tell you anything.”
“Clever,” Milna said. “It’s a shame you haven’t decided to turn your back on such places.”
“That’s the life I know.” Quilla shrugged. “I’m not about to walk away from the best thing that ever happened to me. Af
ter my time in the military, I needed something to do where I called the shots. Not some commander who thought of me as a number… a resource to bolster a group.”
The air seemed to vibrate. Alon paused, turning his gaze to the sky. Fire flickered against the blue, unmistakably a starship. At that distance, he could only guess at the size, but it was larger than a regular shuttle. Maybe a ship from the Flotilla. One of the pirate vessels. But why come down here?
“They’re doing a basic sweep,” Jok said. “Though we need to pick up the pace. We have to be in the cave long before they get to our crash site.”
Alon asked, “Vesper, can you do it?”
“I will regardless.”
“Then let’s do this,” Niva said. “Come on.” They broke into a jog, double-timing it until they reached a part of the forest that wasn’t burned.
The foliage grew denser until a thick canopy hid them from casual overhead view. TCN scanners struggled to pick up human life signs with so much life teeming around them. Equipment employed by their enemies and the Prytins, on the other hand, could cut through quite a lot.
Which said a great deal about how unusual the situations they kept finding themselves in were. Radiation, odd ore, ancient tech… Alon didn’t realize how strange their encounters had been until he had a chance to chat with Prytin soldiers. Years of experience hadn’t prepared them for the oddities.
The scent of pine struck him as odd. Of all the places he’d visited, each of them had some permutation of those trees… even if they looked vaguely different. One of the colonies sported red, bushy branches. Another nearly black they were so green. Those around them happened to border on lime green.
And they always smell the same.
Alon wondered if his mind might be playing tricks on him. A terraforming engineer once told him they used various plants from Earth to improve the quality of a colonial world. Prytins knew about humanity and though they didn’t explicitly suggest it, he began to wonder if they did the same to his home.
I’ll ask one of them when we aren’t running for our lives from a bunch of Kahl assholes.
“Ground’s getting rocky,” Tiller said, “we gotta be getting close.”
“I know I’d like to be there!” Quilla complained. “This is more walking around outside than I ever bother with. Get me a decent promenade on a real station any day over all this… filthy nature.” He spat. “I can taste the gore of these trees in my mouth. It makes me sticky just walking through.”
“‘Gore’?” Kyle asked. “Did the translator mean sap?”
“Probably,” Niva replied, “though he used slang for the term blood which is what confused it. However…” She held up her hand for them to stop, cocking her head. “Listen.”
Roaring engines rattled the heavens. Alon put them at a few hundred miles out though they seemed to be coming their way. If they were performing a thorough sweep, that would slow them down. Did they want to immediately analyze the crash site? No one explained Kahl standard procedures.
No time to ask right now. Alon’s heart battered his rib cage, a cross between adrenaline and injury working him over. He couldn’t remember being scared on the flight down. Okay, I admit it. Without a way off this planet, we’re done. It’s just a matter of time before the Kahl scour the place and find us.
The thought of becoming their prisoner worried him more than death. Not that he heard anything particular about their attitude toward such things. I’ve seen how they fight. The only reason they’d take us at all is for the key. To find out more about what we know about this pilgrimage thing.
What all do they know?
The fact they tracked the Flotilla through warp said they were clever. More so than Alon gave them credit for, based on all he’d seen. After facing defeat several times, the Kahl hadn’t seemed as dangerous up close and personal. I’m getting a taste of why they’re actually dangerous to the rest of the galaxy.
Elevation changed. They started up a hill. The exertion made him pant. His lungs burned, and his head throbbed. Even if we get to the cave, will that mean we can take a rest? Or are we going to be hounded until we escape or die? None of the others spoke during their climb. The fact Tiller held his tongue should’ve made history.
Niva took point. She called back, waving over her head. “This is it!” A dark hole plunged into the ground, one possibly big enough to crawl through but not what Alon envisioned. He figured they were talking about a proper cave. Or at least one they could get into easily. Maybe that was stupid. This will be easier to protect. I guess.
Niva stopped by the entrance. She gazed at the horizon then waved emphatically. “Move! Get your sorry carcasses in here now!”
Lysa went first, followed by Milna, then Quilla. Alon followed Niva’s gaze, staring at the four streaks heading in the direction of the crash. Fortunately, plenty of smoke blew up from the crater, acting as a beacon. Providing they didn’t do anything to announce themselves, their dead shuttle provided some reasonable cover.
“You’re next!” Niva grabbed his arm, urging him in. He dropped down on all fours, scuttling through the entrance. He turned, helping to pull one of the crates through before Niva joined them.
Only a little light managed to come through the hole, barely enough to see. Milna shoved them both out of the way as Jok shoved a rock into place, blocking them. That took away what little light they had until Lysa clicked on a torch.
“Can we stay here?” Kyle asked. “Or should we keep moving? My scanner’s still trying to map out the cave network, but it’s going to take a while.”
Alon stood up straight, which surprised him. He thought they’d be suffering from serious claustrophobia. Instead, they were in a reasonably sized chamber with two corridors stretching off deeper into the hillside. Should we leave this space or stay put in an area we at least know we can escape?
Vesper flopped on the floor, leaning against the wall. Lysa sat on the crate, bent over panting. Quilla looked like a bedraggled cat fished from a river. Andrews hadn’t said anything, but he looked haunted, his eyes staring into space. They needed downtime whether they could afford it or not.
“Good news,” Niva said. “I can’t scan outside the area. The ore, as I hoped, is masking our signature. If they happen upon this cave, we might be in trouble, but otherwise, I think we’ve ditched them for a while.” She gestured. “Milna and I are checking the caves. I don’t want to be right by the entrance.”
“Why not?” Quilla asked. “Seems to me we’re safest if we don’t stray. We can leave if we have to.”
“Yes,” Niva nodded, “and any noise we make might be heard outside. No. You guys ensure this rock can’t be shoved out of the way easily. We’ll find a place to hole up. Stay put and keep focused. We’re not out of this yet.” She stepped away, pausing at the corridor on the left. “Alon, you’re in charge until I get back. We’ll hurry.”
Thanks. Alon rolled his eyes. Like Quilla or Jok have any intention of listening to me. He worried most about the pirate. The man seemed ready to bolt at any moment. We can’t let him go if he starts making noise like that. He’d reveal our position the second the Kahl grabbed him. And that wouldn’t take long.
The guy had proven to be a decent shot, but that wouldn’t help him against a trained squad of Kahl. Hopefully, he knows that.
Alon leaned against the wall, staring at the rock. He had no idea how they’d keep it in place. It wasn’t that big. And a group of guys could easily move it. He turned to Jok, gesturing to it. “Got any ideas of how we’re going to secure this entrance?”
“A few.” Jok patted Quilla. “Come on. I need your help.” They trundled off to the back of the cave.
Alon drew a deep breath. A sweet scent hung on the air, like burned sugar. We still have to receive treatment for radiation poisoning too. What a cheery thought. Add to their problems. He figured Niva had it on her to-do list. It’s a bit long considering our situation. Still, the means of their escape sat out there somewhere.
/> Jok’s ship, if it made it to the surface, represented their best hope. Long as we survive long enough to get there. That’s the key. But hey, the fact we survived that crash deserves some optimism. We’re meant to get away from here. If only fate had the ability to explain why it had to be so hard. Question for another day.
***
Niva took the lead down the corridor. She unholstered her sidearm, gripping the handle tightly. Not for whatever might be waiting ahead but rather for her companion. Milna, she did not trust. Which was why she brought her along. Keeping her under scrutiny seemed like the best way to protect the others.
Something about her and her companion didn’t ring true. Maybe they did belong to a secret resistance. Without evidence or proof, they had ingratiated themselves in the group. Niva wondered what they might’ve done if Andrews hadn’t needed help. How much danger had he been in with them?
I can’t wait to get aboard their ship. She wanted to go alone, to see what data their computers hid. I can’t put it past Kahl intelligence to send people undercover to get information about the pilgrimage.
General Renz acted as the overt means of following the path. Along with trying to thwart the Triton’s efforts. While he had managed to keep up with them, Niva believed the Lord Marshal never relied too heavily on one tactic. He had many divisions, many secrets. Which provided evidence against Milna.
After nearly forty yards of weaving through the corridor, they came to another chamber. They were a little too natural to feel planned, but Niva couldn’t shake the sense that the place had some help in forming rooms. Another corridor branched off across the way and there seemed to be no exit to the outside.
The ceiling sloped at the edges, dropping as low as a few feet above the floor but the majority felt like a proper room. It even felt warmer than the entrance, though only barely. Something in the walls reacted to the light from her torch, gleaming like tiny gemstones hid just beneath the surface.