by Enid Titan
“See? It’s only a dark, empty cave. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“If there’s nothing to worry about, you go first.”
“Fine.”
Kazim charges ahead. I carry the rear. Nova mutters under her breath about the fifteen different ways she’s going to wring Kazim’s neck if we don’t make it out alive. With our headlamps, the cave isn’t so bad. But sulfur isn’t the only smell.
“Tell me you can smell that!” I tell Nova. Her face sinks as she holds her nose.
“That’s disgusting.”
“Can you tell where it’s coming from?” Kazim chokes out.
“There.”
Poop. A lot. It’s about four feet tall.
“What kind of creature creates poop that big?” Nova says.
“Whatever it is, we’d better hope it isn’t home,” I mutter.
“Right. We’ll hope the scary monster away,” Nova grumbles, “I hope that works out well when we’re all dead.”
Kazim puts his arm around her shoulder and Nova gasps, but leans into him. They fit so naturally together, but I know their closeness will only last a second before they’re at each other’s throats again.
“Don’t worry,” Kazim murmurs, “If there was something in this cave, wouldn’t it have responded when I yelled? There’s nothing to worry about.”
Nova cocks her gun.
“People I can handle. Mysterious cave creatures… no way in hell.”
“Keep that gun lifted then. Let’s go.”
“We’ll need one hell of a mining team to excavate these walls,” Nova whispers, “They’re solid.”
“We can handle it, especially if we’re stuck here long while Connie fixes the ship.”
A few rocks clatter across the floor out of the darkness. Nova swings her gun around and points her headlamp into the direction of the pebbles.
“What was that?”
Kazim whispers, “I don’t know.”
The three of us have our guns raised. We stop in our tracks when we hear it. A low growl. Nova can’t help herself.
“Does this sound like nothing to you, Kazim?”
“Sh,” he whispers, “We don’t know how large it is.”
“It left a pile of shit just about my height!”
The growl gets louder and we feel the footsteps as we hear them. Nova’s right, the creature must be enormous.
“Nova, get back.”
“Like hell, I will. I can handle a fight better than you bastards.”
Kazim shoots first — a literal shot in the dark. And a piercing cry erupts throughout the cave. The creature comes running out. It’s over fifteen feet tall, a body of green scales, small vestigial wings and a jaw like a snake’s. It lunges forward when I realize the creature’s neck could do as much damage as its legs.
Nova screams. I shoot again. The creature absorbs the energy blast. The creature’s head lunges forward and its tail swipes at the front of its body. Nova dodges the head, but the tail knocks her over ten feet back. She hits the cave wall with a thud and falls to the ground, her glowing wings going dim.
“NOVA!” Kazim yells.
“Kazim, stop! We need to get this creature immobilized before we check on her.”
He pulls out his hunting knife. We’ve killed together before, but not a creature like this. I fire two shots into the cave ceiling, loosening the rocks and probably causing myself future trouble. It’s a distraction. Then I shoot the creature’s head, allowing Kazim time to approach its body and stab the hunting knife repeatedly into its belly. I shoot the creature in the neck as it lunges for Kazim. He dodges and rolls beneath it. I shoot again. It’s getting weaker.
The creature slumps against the cave wall. Kazim rolls out from underneath the beast in the nick of time as it gives a final shuddering gasp.
We’re out of breath and Kazim’s covered in green goop, which I can only guess is blood. He doesn’t stop to make sure the beast’s dead. He leaps over the tail and runs toward Nova.
“Nova!”
I heard the thud. Her wings are dim. I doubt she’s alive.
Chapter 23
Bonbon
“I can’t feel a pulse, Gavriel. I can’t. She can’t be dead. She can’t be. DO SOMETHING!”
“Relax. Let me look at her.”
I edge Kazim out of the way. He’s losing his mind because it’s Nova. Anyone else and he’d be eerily cool. He’s not entirely crazy. She fell hard.
“I don’t want you touching her.”
“Jesus Christ, Kazim. I’m checking her pulse, not fondling her knickers.”
I kneel next to them and touch her neck. Nova’s unconscious, but she definitely has a pulse.
“She has a pulse. She’s alive. She took a hard fall. Do you have an emergency med kit?”
“Aye.”
He pulls out the medkit and shines light onto her as I assess Nova’s injuries.
“That thing’s dead, right?” Kazim whispers.
“Yes. We’ll have Garth send people in here to strip it for meat.”
“You can’t seriously expect us to eat that thing.”
“Humans. You’re so picky.”
Kazim snorts, “Am not.”
“I think she broke her wrist, and she has a burn where the beast’s tongue touched her. We’ll need Xanth to treat it.”
“I can’t lose her, Gav. Promise me I won’t lose her.”
“Don’t be dramatic. She’s fine.”
“I’ve never told anyone before, but… I’m in love with her. I really am.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“What? I confess my deepest feelings to my best friend and he tells me I’m an idiot?”
“Everyone knows you love Nova. But you can’t keep sleeping with every woman on this ship and expect her to get a clue.”
“She knows that’s how I am. She gets me. She’s perfect, you know?”
“Think carefully, Kazim. You and I know better than anyone how easy it is to lose people you love out here.”
“Cynical bastard.”
“I’ll carry her out of the cave. Keep your weapon loaded. I don’t care to find out what other creatures lurk around here.”
By the time we get back to the encampment, Nova wakes up. She tries to refuse treatment from Xanth, but he has authority over medical matters and she has no choice but to let him set her wrist and keep her for observation. The graze from the beast’s tongue might contain toxins.
Jaen bursts into the tent, but when she sees me and Kazim, she scampers off without saying a world. Kazim elbows me.
“Did you sleep with her?”
“No.”
He rolls his eyes and whispers, “You’d better be careful. If you don’t get to her first, someone else will.”
Kazim thinks he knows everything, but he doesn’t. I don’t have to worry about anyone else. I leave Nova and Kazim in the tent with my hands in my pockets. A tug on my sleeve snaps me out of my deep thought. It’s Jaen.
“Gavriel,” she whispers, “Come with me.”
“Where? And why? Don’t you have a duty shift?”
“No. Hurry.”
I follow her because, well, it’s Jaen. I’d follow her to my death. We’re a few feet into the forest, off the path Garth ordered us to stick to.
“What is it?”
“Promise you won’t tell,” she whispers.
“Do you have another tip about the saboteur?”
“No. Something better.”
She reaches into her pocket.
“Jaen…”
“Look…”
She unfurls her hand. It’s a little creature. It looks like a hedgehog, but it’s cerulean and fluffier than any hedgehog I’ve seen.
“Where did you find that thing?”
“It crawled into my pocket. I think it’s a he.”
“You can’t bring that back on the ship or keep him in your quarters.”
“I know, but he’s so tiny. Please, will you help me kee
p him?”
“If we brought pets into space, we’d have a ship overrun by ferrets and cats and raccoons and skunks.”
“Who keeps these things as pets?”
“You’d be surprised…”
“Do you know what he is?” She asks, glee all over her face.
“I think so. He must be some type of hedgehog.”
“What’s that?”
Right. She’s never been to Earth. So she doesn’t know.
“Let’s just say they make decent pets.”
The hedgehog sniffs Jaen’s hand furiously until she hugs it close to her.
“I have to work with Xanth later. Will you hold on to him?”
“You’re making me an accomplice?”
“I’ll let you name him.”
“Fine. I’ll hold on to him. But if Garth finds out about this, I’ll rat you out.”
I wink and take the little creature into the palm of my hand. It scuttles up my arm and over my shoulders, nuzzling its snout in my neck. I chuckle as it tickles my neck. Jaen’s grin is too bright for me to bear without kissing her. But I don’t want to misstep and cause her new pet to careen to its death. I carefully take the blue ball of fuzz off my shoulder and put it into my pocket where it curls into a ball.
“Name him,” she whispers, “Go on.”
“Kevin.”
“Kevin?!” she giggles, wrinkling her nose, “that’s an ancient Earth name.”
“Hm… what about Edmund?”
“Too posh.”
“Bonbon.”
She giggles, “That’s adorable!”
“It’s settled then. I watch Bonbon, but he sleeps in your tent tonight. I don’t want him crawling all over Kazim.”
“Fine. I’ll get him after supper.”
She takes a step to dash away, but I grab her by the wrist.
“Don’t you owe me for looking after your new pet?”
“I let you name him already!”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Her eyes shimmer, but her body tenses nervously.
“If you expect me to sleep with you, you’ve lost it.”
My mouth drops open. Does she really think I’m so horrid? I only wanted a kiss.
“A kiss,” I whisper, “That’s all I wanted.”
She kisses my cheek.
“Good bye, Gavriel.”
She runs off before I can react. She knows that wasn’t the type of kiss I meant. She has to know that.
Chapter 24
Friend Zoned
Jaen retrieves her new pet after her duty shift. Kazim watches us carefully in the tent's doorway but doesn’t question what I covered in my palm to exchange between us. Once Jaen leaves, he throws a pillow at the back of my head with excellent aim.
“Ouch! What the hell was that for.”
“It was a pillow, Gavriel. Don’t be so dramatic.”
“I’ve heard these pillows hit the ground with a thud before. And that doesn’t answer my question.”
“You’re wasting your time pining after her like a lost pup. I told you to act quickly.”
I lie on my cot and close my eyes. I’m tired of Kazim playing matchmaker. I don’t need his advice or his help. His last sexcapade ended with the girl slapping him so hard across the face that he’s red several hours later.
“I don’t recall asking for your input. Jaen and I… are fine.”
Kazim scoffs.
“There’s no you and Jaen. She’s going on a date with Xanth. Tomorrow evening.”
“What?”
I sit up and scowl, searching Kazim’s face for signs of laughter. This has to be one of his “hilarious” jokes, right? But he’s serious.
“I told you to ask her out.”
“I… She’s not going out with Xanth. He’s old enough to be her father.”
“Some girls like a daddy.”
“You’re disgusting.”
“It’s true. I slept with this Denebolan girl, nails that left scars, that one, and she called me daddy. She was older than me though, which was a bit fucked up…”
“Stop telling about your stupid exploits. That has nothing to do with Jaen. She’s not dating Xanth and she… she wouldn’t.”
“Ask her yourself.”
“What, did she tell you?”
“Not exactly. I was tending to Nova earlier and heard them. It was awkward, really. I think Xanth’s in love.”
“That bastard…”
“Why is he a bastard? You snooze, you lose. I tried to warn you.”
“Damn it, Kazim. I’m tired of your snark.”
“I’m tired of your sullen attitude. How hard can it be to get laid?”
“Easy for you to say. You’ve already slept with half the ship.”
“So?”
“Not everyone relishes dipping into your sloppy seconds.”
“Sloppy seconds? So once a girl’s been with me, she’s ruined?”
I make a low growl in my throat.
“I don’t want to argue with you, Kazim.”
“Then don’t. I’m sick of your shit, Gav.”
“Sick of my shit? You’re full of it. You have all this advice for girls, but Nova nearly dies today and you can’t work up the courage to tell her how you feel. Do you really think you’re in any position to give me advice?”
Kazim gets off his cot, even if he was clearly about to fall asleep.
“I’m going to see if Licker has any liquor left. I’m tired of dealing with you.”
“We’re leaving this planet in 48 hours and you’ll have to deal with me a hell of a lot longer.”
Kazim storms off, saying nothing. I shouldn’t have mentioned Nova. I know how sensitive he is about her. I don’t have long to linger in my despair. Garth enters my tent.
“Where the hell is Kazim?”
“He’s gone to find alcohol.”
“Good. We need to talk.”
Garth pulls a camp chair across from my cot. I rub my eyes and act like I wasn’t about to pass out from exhaustion.
“Yes, Captain?”
“Connie’s nearly ready for us to leave. We’ve been scrambling the signal on the planet, so if there are any confederate ships nearby, they’ll probably assume we’ve crashed with no survivors.”
“No risk of them coming for salvage?”
“No. We’re in the clear. Any information regarding the saboteur?”
“No. Not even a clue.”
“The crew found the creature you slayed. Xanth analyzed a tissue sample. The closest comparison in our database is an Earth creature called a dinosaur.”
“Right. What about Nova?”
“She’ll be okay by the time we’re ready to launch again.”
“Perfect.”
“I wanted to ask you something else.”
“Anything, Garth.”
“It’s about Jaen. She’s been cold the past day or two. I… Have you said anything to her about me?”
“No. Nothing. I… I think she may be… dating someone.”
It hurts me to admit. Garth’s surprised, but he tries to hide it, casually running his fingers through his hair. I should have known. First Garth, now Xanth. Jaen has a thing for older men. She wouldn’t want anything to do with me — I’m only a year or two older than her. You’d think that would be old enough. Garth grunts.
“Dating someone, eh?”
“She can handle herself, it seems,” I mutter.
“No,” Garth shakes his head, “I don’t think so. I talked to Poke, and perhaps everyone else’s instincts are correct. I want you to keep a close eye on her.”
“I’ll try. I have her working for me. Spying.”
Garth doesn’t react to the news that I’ve recruited Jaen as my personal spy. He’s still thinking about the fact that she’s dating someone. I can’t blame him.
“Dating someone, eh?” Garth repeats, “Who? Is it Kazim?”
“No. Xanth.”
Garth falls silent for a while before mak
ing an indistinct sound between a murmur and a growl.
Connie bursts into the tent, red-faced.
“Captain. We have a problem. Gavriel, you come too.”
“What’s going on?” Garth grumbles, rising to his feet with his hand on his weapon.
“It’s the ship.”
“Not another fucking problem,” Garth snarls.
“Not exactly. Hurry.”
Connie leads us to the ship and we board. She races us through the repaired corridors until we get to the dome.
“Check the computers, Garth. Please.”
“Do you need me to look for something in particular?”
“It’s missing. All the information we have about the salvage site and navigating this sector of space. Gone. All our information about getting through this part of space safely has totally disappeared.”
“That can’t be right.”
“Was it damaged in the crash?” I ask Connie.
She shakes her head morosely. Garth’s fingers flit across the screen furiously. He swears loudly in his native tongue — we all speak English, the universal language of the confederacy, but most of us have native languages. And most of us haven’t forgotten them.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Connie. Join the crew. Don’t speak a word of this to everyone. We’re getting off this planet in 48 hours — sooner if you have to work all night.”
She argues, “Captain—
“Don’t defy my orders, Baharozian. Leave. Now.”
Garth turns to me.
“We have a problem, Gavriel.”
“An enormous one.”
Garth swears again and continues in English, “Jaen’s voice accessed the logs. She’s the one who deleted them.”
Chapter 25
A Knife On The Belly
Garth’s orders ring clear in my mind as I sit in the first officer’s chair. Poke’s off duty. I’m here to help as Garth launches the ship. I’m experienced with this part of space and few know why. The third asteroid from this planet is where my family lives. I’d never share that with other pirates. Once this mission’s over, unless we form our crew again, we’re all free agents. And Odilian refugees are prime targets for illegal slave trade and confederate indentured servitude.