by Leslie Chase
Amanda didn't wait for them to decide what to do, vaulting over the side of the ship and descending quickly. Markath swore under his breath. He'd hoped to make a quieter entrance, but there was no way that he was going to allow her to be alone facing those men.
Leaping over the railing, he opened his wings to slow his descent at the last moment, slamming into the red sands with a thump. Standing, Markath put himself between the gunman and his mate before she could reach the ground. His sudden appearance caught the men by surprise, but Jim had quick reflexes. The gun came up smoothly to cover Markath. Baring his teeth, Markath met his gaze steadily. At his distance, he'd bet on his ability to reach the human before the man could squeeze the trigger.
"Point that somewhere else before I take it from you," he snarled. "If I was here to fight you, we wouldn't be talking."
Jim hesitated for a moment, but the other human had more sense, reaching out to push the barrel of the gun off line. Now that he wasn't focused on the weapon, Markath recognized Dieter's suit too. Of course he'd be okay, Markath thought. Dieter seemed like the kind of leader who took no chances with his own life, no matter what happened to his followers.
"He's right, Jim. Put it down before you punch a hole in the rescue ship," Dieter said, before turning back. "This is a rescue, right?"
"Of course it is," Amanda said, pushing past Markath's wings with an irritated sigh. Now that the gun was pointed elsewhere, he let her. "What did you think we were?"
The man shrugged. "Never can tell. You're not the rescue we were expecting, that's all."
Then he did a double take. "Dr. Cain? Is that you? Thank God, we needed a doctor."
"That's me, Mr. Dieter," Amanda said, and Markath let out a breath. The humans might not have recognized him, but Amanda's presence settled them down. "What happened here? Where's Hannah?"
The silence that followed her question lengthened uncomfortably. Markath gave the two humans the count of three before he stepped forward, tension rising in him. He didn't like the implications.
"She asked a question," he snapped. "Tell us."
Dieter held up his hands. "I'm sorry, I don't have a good answer. Down below, somewhere."
"How can you not know?" Markath demanded, grabbing Dieter's shoulder. The gunman took a step back and started to bring up his weapon when Dieter waved him off. Markath had to admire his calm under pressure.
"I've got more people to worry about than just her," Dieter said, voice remarkably steady. "We lost contact after the... accident. I hope she's alright, but Howard and Yuri definitely aren't and that's taken priority. Doctor, we've got patients for you. I didn't think that they'd make it, but here you are like some kind of angel."
Jim muttered something under his breath, and Markath could feel the human's desire for a fight. He shared it — but he knew it wouldn't help anyone. Dropping Dieter, he stepped back, watching Jim carefully. The human lowered his weapon again, reluctantly.
Amanda stared at the human leader, and Markath saw the conflicting emotions written on her face. Her sister was in danger somewhere, but she was a doctor and there were lives on the line. She looked to Markath, eyes full of pain, and then back to Dieter.
"Fine. Take me to the casualties, and you can tell me what happened while I work," she said. "Then I'm going to get Hannah."
The two humans looked at each other, then back to her and Dieter nodded. Before he could say anything, she turned away from him and rounded on Markath. "And you, stop posturing and go fetch my bag. And bring the airmaker: this is going to be a lot easier if I don't have to worry about oxygen."
Her tone was harsh, but it didn't hurt. He understood her pain and he could help. Even if it was only by fetching and carrying, and letting her take out her frustration on him. Whatever his mate needed, he would give.
Leaping into the air, he went to get her the supplies she asked for.
10
Amanda
Captain Harshaw brought the Golden Kite down to rest as Amanda hurried to the wreck. Her heart was torn between her desire to run to her sister's aid and the need of the people already here.
I can't just turn my back on them, she thought. They needed her medical training and saving lives had to take priority. But it wasn't an easy choice to make.
"I'm sure Hannah's fine," Dieter said, pulling off his helmet as Markath brought the airmaker closer. "She's looking for a safe way up from the ruins we found, that's all."
It wasn't entirely convincing, but what could she ask for? Hannah would have to wait, no matter how painful that was.
"What happened here?" Amanda asked as they reached the makeshift airlock on the Outrider's hull. Someone had done a good job of setting it up under the circumstances, but it was clearly an improvised solution. The hull had torn under the falling rocks, and the crew had simply glued plastic sheeting over the openings to hold in the air. It didn't look like a solution that would last for long, and they had to have lost a lot of air while they were setting it up. Without an airmaker, she'd be surprised if they could last a week out here.
"I'm not sure exactly," Dieter said, and the gunman by his side muttered something under his breath. Dieter shot him a look and continued. "We found the ruins we were looking for, buried under the sand here. There's a way down into some caves by these rocks, we had our base set up there—"
"Then some damned alien stuff woke up," Jim added. "Set off a quake, collapsed some of the tunnels. And brought the rocks down on the Outrider, stranding us here. Fucking alien shit."
Amanda frowned. A Marsquake powerful enough to do this much damage was an unusual thing, but why would the alien technology have caused one? She promised herself she'd ask Markath when she had a chance, but for now there were more pressing matters to attend to. The pressure in the airlock equalized and the doors opened. Inside was darkness. Amanda switched on her suit's lamp and swore.
Of the twenty people who'd set out on this expedition, six were lying in bunks nursing various injuries in the dark. They all looked up at her and the others, smiles of relief blossoming on their faces. One, a tall blonde woman whose legs were both crudely splinted, started speaking in what Amanda thought was Russian. The others joined in, a confused mix of languages in which Amanda could hardly make out a single word.
Dieter interrupted her quickly, holding up his hands. "Shut up, everyone," he said, overriding the babble of greetings. "Maybe you remember Dr. Cain here: she's come to help. Along with, uh, one of our alien hosts."
Everyone fell silent except one man whose words faded into a litany of pained swearing. The blonde woman frowned and said something in Russian, and Dieter responded in the same language.
"That goes for all of you," he said, switching back to English. "Our sponsors are still sending a rescue party, but they might not be here for days yet. So Dr. Cain's help is very, very welcome. And yes, if any of you don't know, this is our Hannah's sister."
Turning to Amanda, he smiled. There was something guarded about his smile, something that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm going to go and check to see if there is any news at the dig site, maybe Hannah's found a way up or gotten into radio range. It's time to spell Jones anyway."
Amanda ground her teeth, wanting so badly to go with him. But this was a room full of casualties, people who'd only had simple first aid. She couldn't turn her back on them.
"Maybe Markath can help you? He knows more about the alien stuff than any human could, after all," she suggested. And he'd make finding Hannah a priority. I don't know how much effort you're putting into it, she added silently. There was no need to be rude about this, and Dieter had a lot on his plate too. She couldn't blame him for not risking his few healthy crew to search for Hannah, not really, but she wanted to.
"Your alien friend?" Dieter didn't sound as though he liked the idea, but he nodded reluctantly. "I suppose it can't hurt to see if he can help. Won't you need his assistance yourself, though?"
Amanda snorted. "He's not a nurse," she said. "He has no i
dea how to help me. Might be able to help move rocks, though."
"Alright," Dieter said, pursing his lips and looking unhappy. "I'll give you our radio frequency, if you need to get in touch just shout. It doesn't work underground, too much interference from the alien ruins, but as long as we're on the surface it's fine. If there's any word from Hannah, I'll let you know straight away, of course."
That last sounded like an afterthought, and Amanda knew that he didn't expect to have any news for her. But being able to contact him couldn't be a bad thing. She nodded, adding the frequency to her suit's radio.
Then she turned to her work. There was a lot to do, and not much time to do it.
Diving into the task at hand, she lost herself in it. The scavengers' injuries were severe and though the first aid they'd received had been competent, it was no more than that. Worst of all, they'd run out of pain medication. No wonder that some of them wouldn't stop swearing. Fortunately, Amanda had enough supplies to deaden the pain as well as treat the wounds. Even her supplies of painkillers wouldn't last long at the rate they were needed here, though.
Hours later she paused for the first time, sitting back and letting herself relax. Some of the injuries were bad enough that they really needed attention in a proper medical facility, but at least she could be confident that none of her patients would die before they could reach one. With any luck, at least. She didn't have the equipment here to run all the tests she wanted to.
Svetlana, the blonde Russian, had proved a useful assistant. She couldn't move, not with both her legs badly injured below the knee, but once her pain was under control she'd been able to pass Amanda the tools she needed. The sedatives Amanda had given each of the other patients had let them sleep, but Svetlana had refused to take hers while there was work to do. Someone, she insisted, had to help Amanda out.
Now that the work was done, she handed Amanda a flask of clean water and smiled
"Good? We'll all live?" Svetlana asked, and Amanda nodded, drinking deep. She wished it was something stronger, but right now wasn't the time.
"I think so. Yuri's the biggest risk, he's lost a lot of blood we can't replace. And I'm worried about Howard."
Svetlana grinned. "They have a chance, that's more than if you hadn't arrived, yes? Yuri... I thought he was done for."
He had been the worst of them, and was still the one in most danger. Something sharp had torn through his suit and he'd lost a lot of blood and air before his colleagues had dragged him into the ship. His wounds were a mess, and Amanda wasn't quite sure what could have caused them. Not that it mattered, as long as he lived. It was something of a miracle that he'd lasted until she arrived to help, and he really needed more blood than she'd brought with her. But he had a good chance, Amanda told herself. That was all she could give him.
"Are you two...?"
"Yuri is my brother," Svetlana said, taking back the water flask. "We came out here together early, before the aliens turned up. Did construction work back then, but there is more money in this."
"More risk too," Amanda pointed out. Svetlana shrugged, saying something in Russian and lying back. She closed her eyes, and for a moment, Amanda thought she was asleep. Then she spoke.
"There is always risk," she said quietly in English. "And we get to see alien technology before anyone else. Seems to have been a bad gamble this time, but that's the chance we take. I owe you Yuri's life, though; promise I'll repay that."
"He's not saved yet," Amanda said, sighing. "And I have my own sibling to find. If you feel you need to repay me, then help me rescue Hannah."
Svetlana tensed, muttering under her breath, and then shook her head. "Too dangerous to go after her, Doctor. You can't go down there."
"I have to. You would, if it was Yuri."
Svetlana's mouth twitched into a sad smile. "Yes, but I'm stupid. You're a doctor, meant to be smarter than me."
Amanda couldn't help laughing at that, but she shook her head. "I have to," she repeated.
"Doctor." Svetlana opened her eyes, fixing Amanda with a warning stare. "You have saved my brother and my friends. So please listen to me, do not go after your sister. It will not do you any good, or her."
"She's stuck under there, she could need medical attention, and your rescue team won't be here in time to save her."
Svetlana snorted. "Ah yes, the 'rescue' team. Much good they would do any of us, yes? If we waited for them, Yuri would be dead. Some of the others too, probably. For them it's not about us, Doctor, it's all about what we found and how much it's worth. Don't go looking, yes? Dieter... he's a good leader in lots of ways, but he's not a good man. If you count on his gratitude, you will find yourself disappointed."
"Then Hannah needs my help even more." Amanda stood up, pacing. She felt drained from the work, but her nerves wouldn't let her sit still. "How can you ask me to leave her be?"
Svetlana looked away, wincing as she moved. The painkillers must be wearing off, Amanda thought. "I cannot say more, Doctor. Just — please trust me, yes?"
With that she lay back and Amanda could get no more from her.
11
Markath
Even compared to the Outrider, the dig site was a mess. Markath followed Dieter into the depths of the cave, shocked by how bad the devastation was. The basecamp the humans had set up inside was largely buried under fallen rocks, their supply stockpile crushed. Whatever generator they'd brought for power had failed, too — the only lights they had were flashlights.
He found himself surprised that the humans had survived as well as they had. This was a disaster, and one he couldn't understand.
What the hell happened here? He couldn't fathom it — Marsquakes weren't common, and the sensors at the Dragon Palace should have picked up anything that caused this much damage. Unless it was somehow localized, and that didn't make sense unless it had been artificial.
And the damage seemed to get worse the deeper into the cave they went. The humans had set up a portable airlock against a wall, but the quake had twisted and broken it.
"What did you find down there?" he asked Dieter as the two of them pushed their way inside. Now that the airmaker was set up nearby, the damaged airlock wasn't a problem, and that was a relief. Though Markath wasn't that familiar with human technology, even he could see that this was beyond repair.
Dieter looked at him, seeming to weigh his words before answering. "We're not sure," he said eventually. "Some kind of settlement, buried a thousand years ago. Not too big, but there's a fair bit of crystal down there."
Beyond the wrecked airlock the cave floor evened out, and Markath knew he was standing in the entrance to a dragon ruin. But the damage of a thousand years was dwarfed by the fresh rockfall, the roof bowing in dangerously and parts of the cave sealed off by fallen stone. The oppressive weight of stone over their heads weighed on him, and he wondered how stable the roof was now.
Dieter gestured into a corner of the makeshift chamber, showing Markath a pile of blue crystals. Old technology of his people, dug up by these scavengers as a treasure for sale. His fists clenched involuntarily, and he took a deep breath to relax. I knew that was what they were here for, he reminded himself. It's not a surprise that they're robbing the graves of my people. And they have imperial permission.
If it was up to him, he'd drive off all the human scavengers... but the emperor did have a point. Rewarding humans for bringing this technology back to the palace would be far quicker than trying to recover it all themselves. There were simply too few dragons for the job, but they needed to have the crystal if they were ever going to rebuild and go back to the stars.
That it was necessary didn't make it any easier to accept.
Markath turned away, not wanting to look at the crystals for long enough to recognize what exactly they were. He wasn't sure whether he could control his temper if any of them came from implants. Bad enough that this place was being pillaged at all; if the humans were digging through the corpses of his fellows that would be i
ntolerable.
While he'd been distracted, Dieter had approached a tunnel leading deeper into the rocks. It looked to Markath as though it had, long ago, been the main corridor though this place. It had once been large enough for a dragon in warform to get through. Now, after it had collapsed and been blasted open again, it would a tight fit for him in his humanoid form.
"Jones? Any word from below?" Dieter called into the dim interior of the cave.
"No luck, boss," another speaker answered him. His voice sounded flat and drained, emotion buried under despair and fatigue. "If anyone's still down there, they aren't talking."
Markath pursed his lips and shook his head. "Your primitive radios won't work well around our technology. Just because you can't contact them doesn't mean that they aren't trying to reach you."
A new face emerged from the dark, looking at him with shock. The human stared for a second before turning to Dieter. "Holy shit, what's—"
Dieter snapped something in another language, one that Markath didn't know. Jones replied in the same tongue before speaking in English again.
"Sorry, sorry, wasn't expecting you that's all," he said to Markath. "Yeah, you're right, but we took precautions. Chained relays should pass the message out despite the interference, and that was working before the quake. Maybe the rocks took out too many of the relays, or maybe there's no one left to use them. I don't think there's anyone left."
That wasn't an acceptable answer.
"I am here for Hannah Cain," Markath said. "And I will go and get her."
"No, no, you can't!" Jones looked panicked at the very idea, and Markath frowned. Before he could interject Jones continued. "Look, she's not the only one trapped here, we've got eight people unaccounted for. Cain was the last, the lowest down. If you dig all the way to the deep tunnels, you'll destabilize everything. If anyone's still alive down there, you're more likely to kill them than save them."