by S. E. Smith
“What are you doing?” Kella asked in confusion when he reached down and took the blanket she had set to the side.
Ash shook out the blanket and sat down on his pallet. He used both of the blankets to cover them up before he laid back and motioned for her to lean up a little bit. She hesitated a moment before she did. He slid his arm under her head to act as a pillow and pulled her against his body.
“I’m going to keep you warm,” he said, turning his head and brushing a kiss against her temple.
“Oh.” She paused for a moment. “Ash?”
“Yes, Kella.”
She turned slightly into him. “Will you tell me more about this Josh and the woman who raised you with love?” she asked in a quiet voice.
A small smile curved Ash’s lips. He stared up at the ceiling and thought about some of the more humorous adventures he and Josh had growing up. It was amazing that neither of them were ever seriously injured or killed.
“Lesson number 432 according to my grandma, never let two teenage boys near a biplane unsupervised. When Josh and I were sixteen, we took a Stearman Biplane for a joyride. We just watched the Great Waldo Pepper and decided we could do a better job of wing walking…,” Ash chuckled as he reminisced about that adventure.
He spoke in a low, calm tone, losing himself in the story. Josh always told him that he had a gift for the tales. He might have embellished a little, but most of it was true. It wasn’t until he started his third story that he felt Kella’s body relax and knew she was finally falling asleep. He continued talking until he felt her soft sigh and heard her even breathing – only then did his voice fade.
Ash lay on the hard floor deep in thought. He had come to terms with the fact that he would probably never see Earth again before the Gliese had departed. It hadn’t been an easy decision, but he knew he was giving up his life for a greater cause. He had no one left back on Earth to tie him down. His friendship with Josh was the only thing that he had of value.
He hadn’t liked the idea of being celibate for the rest of his life, but staying alive and keeping a spaceship together was a full-time, exhausting job. Now, he needed to come to terms with a new life in a world that was decidedly foreign. These were new cultures, new environments, new everything.
“Josh, I sure could use some of your calm logic right about now, man. I sure hope you and the others made it,” Ash whispered before releasing a sigh and closing his eyes.
He focused on relaxing his body. Fortunately, sleep didn’t take long to come after the busy day he had. It also didn’t take long for his tired mind to fill with vivid dreams of spaceships and alien worlds; or, for the image of a beautiful, exotic, green-skinned woman to make him want the dreams to come true.
12
“Wake,” Abeni’s low, urgent voice whispered.
Ash’s eyes opened and he nodded. He was fortunate he was one of those who woke alert. It had been a necessity both in his career in the Navy and on the Gliese. He turned his head and noticed the pallet next to him was empty. Hell, he must have been more tired than he thought for everyone but him to be already moving. Rolling to his feet, he ran a hand over his hair and down his face before dropping it.
Noma was quietly collecting items and putting them into a bag. Kella was coming out of the bathroom, and Abeni moved to roll up his pallet. Abeni murmured something to Noma in the Torrian language. Ash only caught the word hurry.
“What is it?” Ash asked.
“The Legion forces are searching each home,” Abeni replied.
“Director Andronikos’ forces have no authority here, but he ignores that,” Noma replied.
Ash watched Noma smooth a withered hand over her hair. Regret filled him that he had brought trouble to her home. It would be better if he disappeared into the city and find Kubo again. He could seek refuge with him. It would only be a matter of time before Kubo was able to contact Hutu and he could find out if Josh was the stranger. Hell, with the way his luck was going, Hutu might be in the underground city enjoying some family time with Kubo and Natta and his other thirty-eight imaginary siblings!
“How long before they get here?” Ash asked.
He grabbed his boots, sat down on one of the crates by the table, and slid them on. His gaze flickered over to Kella. She had been decidedly quiet in the few minutes since he awakened. Her gaze flashed to him before she quickly looked away. In that brief moment, he saw the confusion in her eyes once again. He would love to reassure her that she wasn’t the only one confused. Last night was a first for him. He never slept with a woman in his arms that he hadn’t made love to first.
“Not long; I saw soldiers three streets over,” Abeni stated.
Ash absently nodded. He rose from the crate and started to reach for the protective robe when Kella bent and picked it up. His hand reached for it when she held it out to him. Once again, she had that calm mask on her face.
“Your lip isn’t as swollen,” he murmured, lifting a hand to touch it.
She stepped back and nodded. “I heal quickly. It is one of the reasons Tallei chose me,” she said, turning away from him to pick up her bedding.
Ash pulled his robe on and fastened it. He picked up his head scarf and wrapped it in the fashion of the Torrians and adjusted the lower section over his face before sliding on the goggles.
“I think it is best if I return to a friend of mine here. The more distance I place between you and Noma, the safer you will be,” Ash stated, picking up the rifle and sliding it over his shoulder.
“You know others here?” Kella asked in surprise, turning to look at him again.
Ash grinned at her worried expression. She could see the amusement her concern brought to him. His gaze swept over her face. She was right. She did heal fast. The bruise on her cheek was barely visible.
“I met someone. He’s a crazy old man, but he knows his way around. What will you do?” Ash asked.
She raised her eyebrow at him. “Go with you,” she stated in a cool tone.
“Go with…. I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Kella. In case you haven’t noticed, the Legion is crawling all over the place looking for someone. I hate to admit it, but I could be that person,” Ash replied with a shake of his head. “As much as I’d love to spend more time with you, darling, I don’t think it would be wise for you to be seen with me.”
Kella stepped closer to him and lifted her chin. The smile that faded from his lips returned. Damn, but he loved that stubborn tilt to her chin. It was sexy as hell.
“My name is not darling, it is Kella. Remember that. I go where you go. That is also not going to change,” she bit out in a hard tone.
“I apologize for interrupting your argument, but it is best if you leave before the soldiers arrive,” Abeni interrupted.
Ash glanced at the boy’s nervous face. Abeni was right; he and Kella didn’t have the time to argue at the moment. Ash nodded and turned toward the doorway. Abeni hurried forward. He cracked it open to peer outside. His loud hiss and softly muttered curse drew all of their attention.
“What is it?” Ash asked, walking over to stand behind the boy so he could see outside.
Across from them were four Legion soldiers – and the man from the alley who had been with Abeni last night. The man was talking to the soldiers, pointing to his head, and then waving his hands in moves reminiscent of the ones Ash used when he was fighting him last night. Abeni closed the door when the soldiers turned in their direction.
“What will we do? Carbo will kill me,” Abeni said in a trembling voice. His eyes were wide with fear. “The Legion… I have heard what they do to their prisoners. Noma….”
Ash glanced around the tiny room. “Is there another way out of here?” he asked.
“No,” Noma replied.
Ash watched her place the bag on the table in resignation. His lips tightened into a grim line. He wasn’t quitting just yet. He would give himself up before he allowed Noma, Abeni, or Kella to be harmed because of his presence.
>
“What is behind the relief room wall?” Kella asked with a nod in the direction of the bathroom.
Abeni stared at Kella in confusion. “The back alley,” he replied.
Kella turned to gaze at Ash. “You block the door so no one can enter, I will make a door to the alley. You two will have to come with us. Abeni was right. The Legion will use your love for each other against you to gain information,” she instructed with a pointed look at Ash.
“How will you make a door through these walls? They have to be at almost a meter thick,” Ash asked.
“I have my ways. You must be prepared to exit quickly. Do not breathe in the gas. It will quickly overcome you,” Kella said, turning toward the bathroom. “Let me know when you are ready. We will not have long to exit the dwelling.”
Ash didn’t ask any more questions. He and Abeni picked up the crates and placed them in front of the door before moving the table and bracing it at an angle to jam it. Noma stood to the side of the kitchen counter and the opening of the bathroom while Kella stood in the doorway.
Kella had ripped the curtain down and torn several pieces from it. She held one out to Noma and another to Abeni. From her waist, she pulled a small cup-shaped object and held it over her nose and mouth. With the push of a button, it expanded, creating a filtered mask.
“Ready,” Ash said before drawing in a deep breath and holding it.
Kella nodded and turned. With a flick of her wrist, she threw something toward the back wall. Ash barely caught a glimpse of the small, silver and black device before it disappeared. Almost immediately, smoke rolled out from the room.
He watched Kella turn and grip Noma’s arm. With a wave of his hand, he motioned for Abeni to follow the two women. He shouldered the rifle and stepped through the dense smoke, glad he was wearing the goggles. At the same time, a loud thump on the door and a booming voice ordered them to open up.
Kella stepped over the crumbled remains of the mud-bricks and into the back alley. She glanced both ways before turning to help Noma through. The old woman drew in a gasping breath. Her eyes glistened with tears from the smoke. Abeni stepped through next. He was trying not to cough.
“Ash…,” she started to say, concerned before she saw him appear through the smoke.
“We have to go that way, the other way is a dead end,” Abeni choked out.
The small group moved down the narrow alley. Kella felt uneasy. There were a dozen or so doors on either side of the alley. She eyed them warily as they passed. The alley was a death trap – narrow, long, and with limited exits.
She breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the end of it. Peering around the corner to see if the coast was clear, she leaned back and gazed at Ash. He stepped around Noma and Abeni to stand next to her.
“Where is your friend?” Kella asked.
Ash glanced around the corner, trying to get his bearings. It was dark last night when they arrived, and he and Abeni wove through the streets to avoid the soldiers. A frown of frustration creased his brow and he shook his head.
“If we can get back to the Sandsabar, I can guide us from there,” he said.
“Abeni will have to guide us. I am not familiar with the city enough to know its location either,” Kella admitted, glancing around Ash to the boy. “You can lead us back to the Sandsabar?”
“Yes,” Abeni responded.
“We’ll follow you,” Ash replied.
Kella glanced around the corner again, scanning it. She waited until a large group of pedestrians walked by before they merged in with them. Abeni kept a slow, steady pace. He glanced back over his shoulder frequently to make sure he wasn’t going too fast for his grandmother.
Frustration burned through Kella. Tallei always told her that the Turbinta moved like shadows, even during the day. They did not walk in the sun where they could be seen. She focused on her skin coloring, changing it from her natural green to the red of the Torrians. Her ability to become a chameleon allowed her to walk where most assassins couldn’t – among their targets.
Kella glance back at Ash. He was scanning the crowds as well, searching for danger. She turned away before he sensed her appraisal. What was it about him that confused her? He was her target, she was sure of that, so why did she hesitate?
She could have eliminated Abeni and Noma last night and incapacitated Ash while he slept, then notified the Legion Director that she had captured one of the creatures from the fallen capsules. True, she had no proof except the story Ash told her and his odd physical and verbal characteristics, but she could have left it to Andronikos to prove who Ash was. She was hired to find and deliver, not to verify his history.
Yet, she was unable to bring herself to harm the boy and old woman – and Ash. She thought of the stories he told her last night. Love – Ash said love controlled him, and yet, so far it had not led to a short life. He had described how it made him stronger, not weaker. He held her close to his body to keep her warm and shared his blanket; and while he kissed her, he did not try anything else, which confused her even more.
Kella wanted to growl in frustration. This was her first mission and all she found was confusion, uncertainty, and a man who made her feel things she had thought she was immune to. She was also quickly running out of time. The Director gave her until the end of the lunar cycle. Her time was already half elapsed.
“Stop!” a shout from behind them rang through the crowded street.
Kella turned to look over her shoulder. Her hands automatically moved to the two laser pistols at her sides. Six Legion soldiers, two more than before, were pushing through the crowd toward them. In front of the group was another man who looked like he was beaten badly from the gash across his forehead and the bruising down one side of his face.
“Carbo!” Abeni hissed.
“Get your grandmother out of here,” Kella instructed, aiming her gun at the man in front. He was unprotected and a liability. If Ash had killed the man instead of beating him up, the soldiers would never have found them. She squeezed the trigger, and a dark hole appeared in the center of the informant’s forehead. His body froze for half a second as if it took a moment for it to realize what happened before collapsing. The suddenness of it caused two of the soldiers to stumble over the body in front of them. Kella took out the two soldiers before they could recover.
“Shit!” Ash cursed in a loud voice. “There are civilians!”
“They will help provide protection,” Kella retorted.
She fired at the other four soldiers who were trying to seek shelter. Ash lifted the rifle and fired. Another soldier twisted and fell. The other three split up. One took the right side of the street while the other two took the left side. Pedestrians ran in all directions looking for a way to escape.
Kella yelled for Ash to follow her. They both turned and began threading their way as quickly as possible through the panicked crowds. It didn’t take them long to catch up with Noma and Abeni. Noma was struggling to move through the throng of people.
“You must go on without me,” Noma replied in a tired voice.
“Like hell,” Ash said.
Kella realized he meant it – he would not leave the old woman behind even if it endangered them all. Kella glanced around. An empty push cart sat near an abandoned stall.
“The cart, put her in it,” Kella ordered. “Abeni can push her. You go ahead. I will take care of the guards.”
Ash’s hand shot out and gripped her upper arm. It was impossible to see the look in his eyes or the expression on his face due to the goggles and covering, but she could feel the steel in his grip. She shook her head.
“I will catch up with you, Ash. I promise,” Kella said.
His fingers tightened for a moment before they relaxed. His hand dropped back to his side and he turned away. Kella paused for a brief moment, observing as Abeni helped Noma into the cart, hurried around to pick up the handles, and began to push her down a side alley at a brisk pace.
Turning her attention bac
k to the soldiers cautiously making their way down the street, she stepped behind a market stall and waited. They would have called for reinforcements. She would need to make sure she took these soldiers out before the reinforcements arrived. As she expected, they moved back into formation once they believed the threat was gone.
Kella waited until they were in the center of the street before she stepped out and started firing. The first two dropped quickly. She went into a roll and came up in a crouch, shooting a series of blasts when a third soldier returned fire. She winced when one of his blasts grazed her shoulder. Only when he finally dropped to the ground and remained motionless did she turn back toward the alley. Now, she needed to catch up with Ash and the others.
Behind her, street merchants and pedestrians returned to their daily activities as if nothing had happened. Kella didn’t see the group of men who appeared like ghosts to remove the bodies – or the old blind man who stood in the shadows. When the reinforcements did arrive, they did not see anything amiss.
13
Ash, Abeni, and Noma emerged out of another back alley and into the crowds. This street was calmer than many of the others. Ash started to recognize some of the buildings and realized they were just a few blocks from the Sandsabar.
Kella hadn’t joined them yet. Ash had to continually fight the urge to turn around and look to see if she was behind them. He hadn’t missed the fear people exuded when they saw her. Hell, he would have given her a wide berth too if he’d seen someone coming at him packing the heat she was wearing.
Ash knew Kella could take care of herself. It was just a few guards – a significant threat to the two he was protecting, but not to her if her moves earlier were any indication of her abilities to protect herself. She would come join them soon. They needed to keep moving.
The cart was awkward with so many people. Ash was glad to be free of it for a bit after he parked it in the shade along the side of the road and told Abeni and Noma what he was going to do. He was going back for Kella.