I didn't think that my situation could have gotten worse, but it just had.
How was I going to explain being here? I felt like lying flat against the poly concrete and allowing the street rubbish to cover me until people forgot that I had ever existed.
“By Sol, Dax, what is going on? You look like death. Worse than death. I’ve seen corpses look better than you.”
Amelie was as tactful as ever, but I appreciated her honesty. How could I send her away without arousing her suspicions? Why was she even here? My thinking was clouded.
“Why are you in the Hub, Amelie?”
Her lips pursed, and her chin jerked back. She pushed herself to stand and picked up her bag, brushing off her pristine cadet uniform. “I had business in the Hub. The better question is, what are you doing here? And why are you injured? We need to get you help.”
“I...have business here too and had an accident on the way. I'll be fine. Go about your business.” The last thing I wanted was for Amelie to know anything about my past. I hoped she would take the hint and go back to the Academy before she got in trouble.
But she would never have left without a proper pass. She wasn't like me in a lot of ways.
“You obviously need assistance.” Her eyes darted from my face to my right hand, which clutched my side. Looking down at her wristlet, she shook her head.
She met my gaze again, her lips compressed, eyes narrowed. “Dax Smith, you are seriously hurt.”
“I’m fine.” I wasn’t. Not even a little. “You should go back to the Academy where it’s safe. I got this.”
Her face flushed, and her eyes widened. “I almost got run over by a taxi trying to figure out what you’re doing here and if you needed help. You do. I'm not leaving here without you. Now, where are we going, and why are we here?”
Sucking in a breath, I closed my eyes for a beat. The dizziness returned.
Trying to get her to back down in this situation would be nearly impossible.
And I did need help.
I half shrugged with my good side and nodded. That was all it took. She swooped under my right arm, careful not to touch my tender ribs.
“I upgraded my wristlet so it can do simple body scans. It has the potential to be very helpful. I may show you the demo later. But I scanned you, and you have cracked ribs, a slight concussion, and blood loss. What have you been doing in the last few hours?”
Amelie. Always wanting to understand. Needing to understand.
“That's a lot of questions, Am. Not feeling great right now.” The more I talked, the more the pain spread. Breathing kept getting harder and harder. I coughed and leaned hard on her shoulder.
“By Helios, I think you punctured a lung,” Am said. “You need a medic as soon as possible. Come on. I can get a taxi here in a few minutes.”
“I can't leave. I got...I have family business.” Every word was a struggle. I didn’t think my legs could hold me up much longer.
Amelie twisted her mouth and looked up out of the corner of her eye, waiting longer than usual to retort. This problem seemed to be harder for her to process than her typical sums and hard facts. Other factors complicated things, like feelings and loyalty and friendship. Things that weren’t easy to quantify.
“Where do we need to go? And who do we need to see?”
The warm and fuzzy feelings I had about Am, the intense attraction, the joy at watching her discover things, her direct style, all paled at this new feeling of attachment to her.
She was willing to help, regardless of the consequences, and that meant a lot to somebody from the Hub. And at this point, I couldn't refuse her. My sisters needed me, and she was the only way I could make it up the stairs.
“I have to go upstairs. My sisters are alone and need help.”
Amelie’s eyes got bigger than I've ever seen them. And her bottom lip dropped. She quickly recovered.
“You never mentioned sisters. I guess there's a lot we don't know about each other. Where do we need to go upstairs?” This time she almost sounded like her usual, slightly annoyed, self. I wanted to smile, but I didn't have the energy. “Five levels up. Center.”
The stairs rose almost perpendicularly. I clutched my side harder, and Amelie struggled to pull us from one step to the next. I tried to help, and although my strength abandoned me, but she didn’t. I motioned for her to stop. We both panted with the effort.
An opening in the wall was the only indication that something lay beyond. I pulled in the direction of the threadbare blanket covering the entry, but Amelie resisted.
“We have to go in there,” I whispered. Somehow, I felt spooked now too. The place was so dark and quiet.
She pressed her lips together, nodded, and stepped forward but slower than before.
It smelled of a messy sani-station and vomit.
“Ugh, that smell,” Amelie said, then snapped her mouth shut again.
Ramshackle furniture lay in disarray, broken and overturned. Food laid in small heaps covered in gray growth. No hint of my sisters...or anyone else.
Am didn’t proceed, but I limped forward out of her arms.
“Wait!” Am tried to pull me back. “It doesn’t look like anyone is here. Shouldn’t we try to find where they’ve gone? I could use the Mil-station database. Perhaps there’s informa—”
“They’re not in the database. None of this is. We’re off-grid gleaners.”
We were separated by a few feet now, and I looked back to gauge her response. In the dim light filtering in from the alley, she didn’t look disgusted but more confused.
“I didn’t know people really lived like this.” It was short and to the point. And one of the first times Am didn’t have useful info to share. “Maybe they moved on?”
I refocused on the room. The pain still a constant pulse in my body. One of the items on the floor I remembered, a floral-patterned piece of sith-silk. That proved it.
“They’re here.” I slumped forward and caught myself.
Another smaller opening, similar to an escape hatch, was on the floor. We had used it for storage.
By all that was holy, they hadn’t put them in there? I forgot my pain. I forgot Amelie. I forgot anything else as I lunged for the circular opening, pushed down, and turned.
Rust mottled metal squealed and popped up, and I fell to the flooring, peering into the black.
A thin hand rose from the depths. It was coated with oil. Bony and long. Not a child’s hand. I flung myself back, stumbling and falling against some broken piece of furniture.
Am gasped and recoiled as another hand pushed out of the hole, clutching the edge.
She snatched up a long-discarded piece of plywood from the broken table like a weapon. I didn’t have any energy left to fight, so I crab-walked back as a head pushed up through the opening.
Chapter Fifty-One
Vega
We all stood side-by-side under the watchful eyes of Gleason’s black armored brigade.
Dealing with Gleason was like dealing with an alien horde. There was no escaping his endless questions and accusations. I’d gotten in less trouble when I hadn’t had permission. Thankfully, Ethan was taking the brunt of his verbal attack.
Gleason threw both his arms in the air. I could see the outline of the hand cannons, and the cold feeling I had every time I looked at him grew. There was something uncompromising about him. Dark and unforgiving.
He had saved Ethan from the Hub-life. But every time I looked at him, all I could see was the way he kept punching Am. He’d known she had no real experience, not even a full basic training. It was as if he took pleasure in it.
Ethan remained stoic and at attention, like the good soldier he was. How much trouble would he be in for this? How much would I be in? Only time would tell.
“Vega. I’ve been recalled to my ship. I’m sorry,” Jess whispered.
Of course, he had. My run of luck remained as usual...bad.
“Begging your pardon, sir,” he said loud enough for
all of the others to hear. “I’ve been called to duty by the Admiral.”
Gleason flicked his eyes up and sneered. I’d never seen an officer with so much disdain for others. Maybe Wu, but even she seemed more...tame.
“Dismissed.”
Jess’s jaw twitched and locked. He was a squad leader at barely twenty revolutions. He’d been a tough but fair trainer when I was in Basic, and he’d risked his life to support me when the aliens attacked.
To be insulted by the likes of Gleason was a travesty.
I felt the words bubble up and began to move toward Gleason and Ethan.
Jess patted the air.
It meant stand down. I didn’t want to. Every instinct in me wanted to yell, then kick the crap out of this idiotic tormentor.
“It’s okay.” He grabbed my arm and squeezed. “I’ll check on you later. I don’t need to tell you not to take any crap from Gleason, do I?”
I just smiled, and he nodded and flagged a transport scooter. He watched me as he sped away. Jess was good and loyal and kind. I needed more of that in my life, but would we ever have the time to figure out what we meant to each other? I sighed as he spun out of sight.
Gleason’s patrol had started cleaning up the mess left by the explosion.
At last, the conversation broke. Ethan came over to me as Gleason broke off and helped his group gather up the injured.
A big part of me wanted to just go back to the barracks and hide under some blankets. Even the uncomfortable blankets were better than being out here with all this craziness.
“We’re free to go. I agreed to take full responsibility for you all. Perhaps we should return to the Mil-station?” Ethan asked.
Kenzie and Binary both groaned loudly.
“They’re getting ready to start the second half. I don’t reckon we’ll get passes like this again,” Kenzie said. She had a point.
I loved humbleball. It was one of the things that my dad, brother, and I all obsessed over.
“What are the chances we’ll run into more trouble? I vote we stay.” Binary’s warm simper had turned down to ice-planet cold. Something had happened between her and Ethan that stalled any kind of romantic entanglement.
Good. It would cause trouble for both of them, although I didn't like the look on Ethan's face. Pensive, unsure, worried.
He closed his eyes for a moment as if warring with himself. “I need you all on your best behavior from here on out.” And with that, he gave me the most pointed stare in the history of mankind. I snorted and looked away.
“This time, we all stick together. Deal?” Ethan said.
Binary raised her eyebrows. Kenzie didn't respond.
I shrugged.
My nerves were still ragged from the encounter with Gleason as we circled the block and headed toward the humbleball pitch. It was still about a half-mile away.
At least I was getting to see a real live humbleball game. My dad would be so excited.
If my dad was still alive.
I couldn’t control that. Or the unrest in the Hub. Or Gleason.
All I could control was me at this moment. If I could get through the game without any more trouble, I’d be fine. But knowing my luck, that was a big if.
“How much further—?" My words froze in my throat as a monolith appeared.
The Big Green.
It was as large as a starship and soared fifteen stories over us. The smooth white wall dominated the entire block. People streamed in and out of the large rounded entries as ticket bots scanned palms and wristlets at crowded gates.
Binary and McKenzie sprinted, snagging a place in line. I kept up, only steps behind.
The rush was real.
"Guess I'm not the only one who's excited." Ethan had to catch up to us.
I gave him my close-lipped smile. I was beginning to like this version of Ethan, the officer who was willing to be a supportive friend.
"Enjoy the game," the cube-bot said in a hyper cheerful tone.
I didn't feel as stressed as I had in the marketplace, even with the massive gathering.
Here, positive electricity danced over my skin. A roar went up from the stadium, and my heart almost beat through my chest.
I had to hold myself back from running up the stairs into the main arena. Binary led the way, using her size to part the crowd. She was usually calm and collected, but she had a gleam in her eye and a flush on her face.
McKenzie’s expression remained stoic, but some of the tightness drained. She stayed at Binary’s side, ever watchful.
We climbed for what felt like an eternity. "Where are the seats?"
"The tickets are stellar. Don’t worry. My dad never does anything in half measures, little Vega."
I would usually bristle at the name, but the way she said it was more endearing than harmful. And I was at my first humbleball game. She could do a lot, and I’d still let it slide.
We finally came into the intensity of the stadium.
I allowed the feelings to wash over me. I was there—the place I’d been watching since I was born. My dad, brother, and I had sat rapt every seven days during their season, during the harvest, no matter how busy we were. The games came first.
I’d learned the stats. The strategies. I’d become a massive fan of our favorite planetborn players. But even being planetstrong didn’t matter in the arena. Not with the mechsuits and enhancements.
We scooted in among dozens of other cadets in the military section.
The remainder of the Stadium was jam-packed and divided by allegiances. The Agri-station had come out strong for the Cutters. Many had holo signs trash-talking the War Wings. “We will cut your Wings.” And “Go back to your Stryker.”
Instead of the usual pastel, many had their hair dyed green in honor of the Cutters with elaborate cornrows and ponytails. Others wore iridescent, flashing pieces of clothing.
The War Wings were from the Mil-station. Our area was decked in their gray, white, and black colors. Not very festive but extra loud. Handheld and very illegal fireworks blazed with bright blue fire over our heads.
I noted some planetborns obvious in the crowd of tall, willowy Axis-borns. Man-station citizens clustered with their tattooed faces. Boxes hovered high above the game, which I assumed were premium seating for satellite-citizens, as always separate and above.
The ongoing game sucked me in. The Cutters were on the offensive near where we sat. Three forwards lifted their electrified batons and drilled in the direction of the goal. The ball holder, Ruffio, jumped the line, flying twenty feet into the air using his mech suit.
The Wings defensive guard snagged his ankle and slammed him to the ground.
The crowd erupted in cheers and boos.
I couldn't help myself. I screamed right along with our section.
Binary made a point of sitting on the far end. Kenzie sat next to me, and Ethan settled on my other side. A bit awkward, but we quickly grew laser-focused on the game.
The ballholder from the Cutters had one more shot before the game ended. They were tied, and it would’ve made sense to lay back and hold the humbleball and not risk a steal, take the over time, and work out a plan.
But I knew Xera. She never took the easy way and wanted to ensure a solid victory.
“She’s going to splice,” I said.
Both McKenzie and Binary turned to me with narrowed eyes.
Binary shook her head. “No way!”
“Like hell,” McKenzie said. “I got my last credit on this game. She’d best not.”
“No. Vega’s right,” Ethan replied. “Xera’s planetborn. Planetborns like to take risks.”
It was my turn to give a side-eye. “Oh?”
“Yes.” He pointed back to the play, already in motion.
Xera shot up using some backup jet I’d never seen and cleared the line. The defense of the Wings plowed into the Cutters. They held them to a standstill while Xera jetted to the five-point goal post and slammed the humbleball dramatically into the ho
op.
The arena exploded in screaming. It had been a ballsy move, and it had worked.
“Xera! Xera! Xera!”
We all jumped to our feet, cheering and screaming. Technically, I shouldn’t have been cheering for the Agri-station when we were from the Mil-station, but the Cutters had always been one of my favorites. Binary and Ethan joined in. McKenzie was more animated than I’d ever seen her and put a fist to her heart and then extended it in a kind of tribute. Almost a salute.
I’d have to ask her more about her planet back in the barracks. Her customs were so strange.
The adulation rocked the stadium, and I let it engulf me.
This.
This was what it felt like to be part of something positive and uplifting. The connection between us was electric. The shared experience amplified until I felt dizzy. I slapped hands with Binary and turned and grabbed Ethan into a hug.
His body was warm and hard against mine.
His heartbeat vibrated my chest, and a tingling sensation swept through my veins.
The feel of him against me was intoxicating. I didn’t want to let go. My head leaned toward him. My mouth opened slightly, and I could barely breathe as I looked into his lapis lazuli eyes.
“Vega.” A tentative smile crossed his face. I blinked rapidly. The sound of the cheering returned and brought me back to the moment.
Realization shook me like a thunderbolt, and I jerked back, dropping my hands as if scalded. “I’m... I didn’t mean...”
He exhaled hard and shoved a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry.”
“No. No. It was me,” I said too loudly.
Binary stared at us pointedly, eyebrows up, arms crossed.
I cleared my throat. “I got excited.” Laughing a little, I dared to look back into his hypnotic eyes.
He cocked his head to the side and smiled a gentle smile. “Yeah, me too. We should be going and beat the crowd.”
My mind was still jellified. I looked to Binary, who nodded tersely. “Junior Lt. James is correct. We should leave now.”
Cadet: Star Defenders Book Two: Space Opera Adventure Page 25