Cadet: Star Defenders Book Two: Space Opera Adventure

by Pamela Stewart

  But she’d never forgive me if anything happened to Am and Dax. Hell, I wouldn’t forgive myself.

  I should get her back to base. I should ignore my gut. But I couldn’t, not after watching how this broken girl fought to help her friends.

  “Let me see your com,” I said.

  She extended her arm, and I cradled the device. “Amelie put something on here.”

  I lit the 3-D holoscreen and scrolled through the known commands. The locator showed inoperable.

  I used a security clearance code. My breath caught as the light on the side turned green then flashed back to red. Nothing was working. What the hell had Amelie done?

  “Scroll back two screens.” I jumped at the sound of McKenzie’s accented and commanding voice. I rolled the screen back. A smiley face and an arrow glowed and flashed in the middle of a line of code.

  I tapped it, and a 2-D map unfolded—brightly with three dots on the screen. One was red, one blue, and one purple. Blue and purple were together and about two miles to the north. The red was a distance away and stationary. Rudimentary, but I could recognize the major landmarks.

  “That’s me. The others are Am and Dax.” Vega’s eyes lit, and it seemed that her energy had returned.

  “How do you know?” I asked.

  “I know.”

  No dot for me. That was to be expected.

  I wasn’t one of them. I’d lied and distanced myself.

  Being a spy and instructor was my job, but sometimes I hated being on the outside of everything, always keeping a part of myself hidden.

  “Let’s go.” Vega was back in leader mode but still a bit unsteady. “Thank you.” She cast a long sideways glance at me that soon morphed as she made eye contact with both Binary and McKenzie. “Thank all of you.”

  “Screw it. I had nothing else to do tonight.” Binary gave a single shoulder shrug, and McKenzie half bowed and touched her forehead. A you’re welcome on her station probably.

  We ran, Vega at the front. I scanned the crowd for other Hub gangs and nasties that could appear in a heartbeat. I should have been worried. I should have been damn terrified of the 101 ways in which we could die. But with this group, I felt a sense of security that I hadn’t since the Lazarus.

  If we stuck together, we might just make it out alive.

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Dax

  I was going to die.

  I’d accepted the fact back in the tube when the train was barreling toward me. Everything that had happened since then was moving me toward the end.

  And I was taking Amelie down with me. The girls would have no one after I was gone, and the cursed twosome would probably sell them for guzzle bits.

  But I couldn’t just lay down and take it. I couldn’t allow it to happen.

  Every breath set fire to my lungs, but still, I sucked in, trying to fuel my arms and push upright. Am’s voice echoed through my head, a soft, incessant whisper.

  Why was she staying after everything she’d seen? After my dad threatened her and the Corp gods only knew what my mom had tried. Probably to sell her for enough credits to go back and play in the casino.

  “Can you stand? I’m sorry. I’m just not strong enough to lift you.” The meaning of Amelie’s words finally broke through the thick cotton in my ears.

  “Tryin’, Amelie. Legs aren’t agreeing. You should go. My ma... Well, you saw her. She ain't right.”

  Her intense blue eyes widened more, and she puckered her mouth. “You should know me better than that, Daxson Smith. I do not give up easily.”

  I forced my cracked lips to turn up. “No, you don’t. But you should. Bad things can happen here, really bad.”

  “What? You don’t think I can take care of myself?”

  Amelie loved to spar and prove herself right—a lot. I was good with it. “Right now might not be the best time to discuss this. Seriously, there are worse people than my ma who’d love to snag a Sat girl.”

  Her lips pressed tight. She’d never liked it when anyone mentioned the Sat. I didn’t get it. Being from a satellite meant credits and status, things in high demand in the Hub.

  “I have the capacity to deal with it. Now let’s get you up.” She clasped my hands and pulled me into a sitting position.

  I sucked in a sharp breath as the pain jacked from a level seven to a level ten.

  “Sorry. Sorry.”

  Every inch of my body fought to lay back down and allow the darkness to wash away the flaming hot knives in my chest, but I held it off. When I opened my eyes, Amelie hovered over me. Her golden hair hung around her, making her almost glow. Why this perfect and beautiful human had any care or thought about me, I’d never understand.

  Her head jerked up, and she stood abruptly, her eyes locked on the end of the alleyway. From her expression, the sight wasn’t any version of good.

  She pulled her hair up, locking it back in a smooth ponytail. This was the don’t-mess-with-me Amelie that I feared and respected. She reached down and picked up a blood-covered, tarnished knife.

  Amelie looked about as threatening as an irate gato. I tried to turn and see what was approaching, but movement was almost impossible without help.

  She had to leave me. There was no other choice.

  “Am, please. Go. Just go.”

  She frowned at me, her eyes sad and scared. “Oh, ye of little faith. She refocused on the end of the alley and took a fighting stance and choked up on the knife. At least she had learned proper fighting stance.

  Her grip was too tight.

  Where had the blood come from? My uniform felt wet and sticky. I almost didn't want to know what had happened when I was unconscious.

  A shower of pain meteors riddled my insides. It was one thing to think about dying. It was another to feel yourself sliding. My heart sped and breathing shallowed. I gritted my teeth to keep myself from passing out again. Amelie stood over me like a guardian angel.

  “What a treat to run across such a fine lady. Would you like some assistance?” An unknown voice, low and full of venom. Numerous gangs patrolled these corridors. It could have been any of them.

  The strategy usually would be to soften her up first and see if she would come easy. Then if she fought, take her hard. That was the way of the gangs when they saw somebody with wealth and a lack of protection. They were fair game.

  Amelie’s eyes flashed upward then back down to the gang leader. The smallest hint of a smile curved her lips.

  “I won't be needing your help. My friends are coming.”

  She was going the acting route. Those guys would never buy it, not with the way she held the knife.

  “We can escort you, or we can take you. I don't see any other choice. Now put down that cute, little knife and bring your pretty little self over here.”

  “He knows you're bluffing,” I said. “You gotta go.” I coughed, doubling over and groaning. “My family will be back here any minute. There's no safe place for someone like you, not here. I'll try to hold them off so you can go.”

  I clutched my side, bit my lip, and forced myself up to my knees. When I was halfway to my feet, Amelie spoke again.

  “My friends are here. Your choice. You can leave now in one piece, or you can talk to them.”

  Oh, no, she was going to full-on lie. I pulled my other leg underneath me. A hot poker of agony spread to my stomach. Gasping for breath, I slowly turned and saw a crew of three.

  They were a little younger than I was, typical Hub-born trash, looking for an easy score. But someone stood behind them.

  “Vega! Ethan! How?” I sank back. Amelie dropped the knife and caught me before I fell face-first on the poly-asphalt. I had no more energy left.

  Now that Vega’s help was here, I allowed my tentative grasp on consciousness to slip away. I was falling, falling into a bottomless vortex as black as deep space.

  As black as death.

  Chapter Sixty

  Amelie

  “Took you long enough!” I shouted.


  “We ran into a few problems on the way.” Vega arrowed to Dax.

  I’d already turned him and checked his pulse.

  “What happened to him?” Her voice was low and strained. She reached out to touch the bloody uniform, and I stayed her hand. Touching would equal infection, and the questionable knife was already doing that well enough.

  “Honestly, most of it happened before I found him, so I’m not sure.”

  “How’d you get here?” She cast a dubious look at the alley. Ethan and the others hung back but stayed within hearing range. I wasn’t going to spill any of Dax’s secrets.

  “It’s a long story. We need to get Dax help, but emergency evac wouldn’t respond.”

  Ethan hovered, looking both concerned and wary. His eyes darted toward the indents were people lived. I followed his gaze. Dozens of eyes peered out. It was only a matter of time before more hoodlums descended. And even though I knew some things about medicine, I certainly couldn't diagnose and treat Dax properly here. His life was literally in the balance.

  I recognized the two other cadets, and my blood turned cold. They were the same girls who had attacked Dax during the trials. Why was Vega friendly with them? I leaned forward and whispered.

  “Can we trust them?” I was at ease with Ethan. Even though he was a Phantom Ops operative and an instructor, he still seemed to have an infatuation with Vega, which would probably benefit us. Anyhow, he had helped back on the Lazarus. He seemed like a friend. The other two’s loyalty was in question.

  Vega looked confused as if she couldn't entirely focus. Bruises marred her cheek and forehead, and blood trickled down from the corner of her mouth.

  What kind of humbleball game had she gone to?

  “They’re good. We have an understanding.” She looked up at Ethan. “Can you get us back to the train station?” She didn't sound like herself.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “Fine.” She waved me off.

  And that's all it took for Ethan to take action.

  “Kenzie, you and Vega carry Dax. Binary watch our six. I’ll navigate and scan for Hostiles.”

  Vega mechanically did as he said. Her attention didn’t stray from Dax’s unconscious body.

  “I really should wrap him better. Find a sterile cloth and cleanse the wound. Direct pressure on it might be better.”

  “We have to go, Amelie,” Vega said.

  Ethan rotated his finger in the air. A military signal meaning move out.

  The pink-haired girl and the planetborn female both had good military instincts from the way they moved and held weapons.

  Vega and the one called Kenzie gently picked up Dax.

  We left the alleyway and went into the main thoroughfare. Rickshaws and taxis and personal transportation devices flew by. I started to hail one, and Ethan grabbed my hand. “Don't do that. Too many questions.”

  I nodded, fear gripping me again. If Dax got expelled or court-martialed, I would never see him again.

  Someone yelled from behind us and sprinted to catch-up. It was Dax’s mom and sisters.

  The girls stopped in their tracks with my dress hanging between them. The mom barred our way and showed her teeth.

  “Why are you taking Daxson? He didn’t give me my credits yet.”

  “He doesn't have to give you anything. If you haven’t noticed, he’s severely injured,” I said.

  “What do you know about it?”

  “I know what kind of person Dax is. I know he cares about others more than himself. I know he risked his life for those girls. He has nothing else to give you. Don't get in our way.”

  She reached toward me. Without thinking, I snatched her arm and twisted it.

  Dax’s mom yelped, wide-eyed, and backpedaled.

  The girls gave me an almost reverent look. The small one, mouth slightly open, placed the packages on the ground next to us. The rest of the group was silent.

  The tall, pink-haired cadet held her blue-fire laser rifle cocked and ready. I think Dax’s mom was more intimidated by her than me, and she backed down.

  They looked worn. Beaten.

  I couldn't let Dax’s family suffer.

  At least the girls.

  I honestly couldn’t imagine this level of poverty. I knew people in the Hub were less fortunate. I'd gone to enough charity events to understand that. But I didn't realize how abysmal it was down here.

  “Keep the dress and the guzzle bits. I'll make sure you get the funds you need to feed the girls—and yourselves.”

  My allowance account overflowed with credits. My parents may not have been very attentive, but they always paid their debts. And when they committed to giving me credits, they did, just like any good business deal.

  The older woman sucked in her breath through her mouth and tapped her bottom lip.

  I got my first good look at her since the fiasco began. She must’ve been pretty once, when she was much younger, like one of her daughters.

  “Fine, take him. Just make sure you keep sending those creds.”

  I waved her off, nausea rolling in my abdomen. I needed to talk to Dax when he was fully conscious and healed. Dealing with this woman was beyond ridiculous.

  My breathing slowed, and my brain started functioning again. We shouldn’t have moved Dax. What if we’d pushed one of his cracked ribs into dangerous territory? I pressed my wrist com device against his neck.

  I’d been touching and kissing him only hours ago. How had it gone so wrong so quickly? Panic spread like poison in my blood.

  He’d be okay. But only if I kept it together. The wristlet buzzed again and displayed his stats: low bp, high heartbeat.

  Fear raked razors through me.

  “He needs medical assistance. Real medical. But if we go to the base med cente—”

  I couldn’t think. List of doctors’ names, specialties, and addresses flowed through me, but if I couldn’t find something useful, what good was all the random knowledge. I wanted to cry. To shout.

  Vega blinked like she was coming out of a cloud.

  “I know a guy. But we have to get back into the station first.”

  My shoulders sagged in relief. “Yes. I got it covered. Just get us there fast. Dax doesn’t have much time.” I reached out and smoothed a hand down his chilled face.

  Ethan powered on, leading the way. I just hoped he knew what he was doing.

  Chapter Sixty-One

  Vega

  We arrived at the train station and stood about twenty feet from the main entrance.

  The station seemed more dangerous than when we had arrived. Eyes lingered on our group. I scanned for weapons and aggressive body language.

  I never loved crowds, but after the marketplace experience, low-grade panic gathered underneath my heart, swirling like a mini-cyclone twisting my lungs tight.

  Star-shouldered security patrolled. Amelie passed by. A no-neck, beady-eyed officer swiveled his laser rifle to take aim and fire, his eyes locked on Dax. He marched up and motioned for his comrade to come with them. He grunted and pointed the barrel of the gun at Dax’s unconscious form.

  “Here's the kid they've been looking for all night.”

  “You must have the wrong person,” I said.

  He wasn’t taking Dax. I rolled my hands into fists and felt the moisture growing in my palms.

  A slow smile spread across his mushy face. He looked a lot like the Hub bully who’d attacked me earlier, just wearing different clothes.

  I straightened my back and reviewed his weapon. A laser pistol. Good for distance, not for close fighting. The other security guard fingered his sidearm and fixed me with a confrontational stare.

  Did I just have a gravitational field around me that attracted trouble?

  Yes, my mind whispered.

  Not very helpful. Stupid, sarcastic mind.

  “Sergeant, I’m Junior Lieutenant Ethan James, and I authorized these cadets to accompany me to the Hub.”

  “You’re a Lieutenant
?” The Sergeant’s slight head shake and tiny derisive smile matched his disbelieving tone.

  “I am. I’m also a flight instructor at the Academy.” He pulled up his wristlet and flashed an id badge.

  The man’s leer transformed into a blank soldier expression. He struck his fist against his chest. His partner copied him quickly.

  “Sir, we do have a record of this cadet being AWOL. Sorry to have detained you.”

  Ethan nodded, pulling out a sense of ease and charm like a shield. Another mask he wore. The longer I was around him, the more versions of his personality I saw. This was the leader and officer Ethan, but a few hours ago, he’d been all street talk and negotiating with backstreet black market dealers.

  Who was the real Ethan? Did he even know?

  We moved into the station and onto the train without further incident. The trip back to the barracks would take an hour at least. Dax rested on the floor between our facing seats. Ethan, Amelie, and me all on one bench. Kenzie and Binary on the other.

  They both fell asleep quickly. Binary cradled her newfound laser rifle like a baby.

  I should have gotten some rest too. My body ached, sore from the beatings, and my mind cranked faster and faster, filling with questions and images of what would happen when we returned.

  Finding some of my answers before I arrived would help mitigate some of the damage.

  “Am, do you know what happened with Dax? Why were you there? How’d you get a pass, anyway?” I asked.

  “My parents have a great deal of clout with one of the admirals.” She rolled her eyes. “Not enough to get me into the Academy back in the day, but enough to grant me latitude.” Her haunted eyes glanced out the window, which showed nothing but streaks of light and the occasional variation in the tube pattern where the track would veer off toward another space station.

  “And Dax?”

  She flicked her eyes up to the sleeping girls across from us and must have decided they weren’t listening.