His Fallen Star

by Lily Thomas

  She watched the firelight glint off his silver hair in streaks of tangerine and cherry. The Daen’su were such an interesting species. With their elf-like qualities she would’ve expected them to be on the good side of the law, but no, they were the black-market dealers of the universe. Their logo was, “if you want it, we can get it”. And they almost always delivered if their client had the money.

  “We haven’t talked much.” Jessica leaned closer to him, eager to strike up a conversation with Sabo. He tended to be quiet, but she hoped to break him out of his usually silent shell.

  He shrugged, continuing to whittle on the wood in his hands with fast steady strokes.

  “Where were you when you got taken by the Hennians?” She pressed eager to know more about the companions she surrounded herself with. It was about time she tried to get to know him. One day her life could hang in his hands, and it was good to make sure she could trust him.

  Sabo whittled a little faster, chunks of wood flying off in every direction. “I was with my family.”

  Jessica winced knowing this story was going to take a turn that she didn’t want to know about, but it was also good for her to get to know her “friends”. They all relied on each other, so she should get to know their weaknesses and strengths so that she could use them to her advantage someday.

  That might sound harsh of her, but it was an alien kill alien world that she was now living on. There wasn’t too much room for being soft and lovey-dovey no matter how much she wanted to make friends.

  “We were flying through space when we were suddenly attacked by a much larger ship.” Sabo sucked in a harsh breath that she heard whistle past his teeth, his hand moving faster over the wood. “It dropped out of nowhere, and I had no time to react. My wife was caught in a console explosion.”

  Jessica winced again as she watched his silver eyes darken as he recalled the horrid memories. She hadn’t meant to bring up something so horrible, but it wasn’t like she’d known. This was exactly the reason she was trying to get to know him better. Now she’d know what to talk about and what not to bring up.

  “She was killed instantly.” Sabo glanced up for one second, and she could read the relief in his silver depths. “It might seem cruel, but I’m glad she didn’t suffer. Her death was instant, and I didn’t have to watch her suffer.”

  Jessica cringed. She really ought to keep her mouth closed and never ask anyone about their past again. It was horrible how the Hennians had caught him. Just horrible. There were no other words to describe it.

  “Then the Hennians boarded our ship and… shot my daughter in front of my face.” His hand was a blur, then the blade slipped and the sharp metal sliced through the skin of his palm. “Dammit!” He dropped the piece of wood.

  “Oh shit!” Jessica jumped up from where she’d been relaxing and dashed over to her backpack which contained some limited medical supplies. Rummaging through the supplies, she pulled out some gauze. “Here.” She dashed back over to Sabo.

  “I can do it.” He tried to reach out and take the gauze from her hands.

  “No.” Jessica insisted. “I’ll do it.” She squatted down next to him and quickly wrapped his hand up with the gauze stemming the flow of blood.

  “Are you guys okay?” The couple disengaged from each other’s arms to walk over and see what the commotion was all about.

  “He’ll be fine.” She glanced up at them. They were both human, and she was glad for their company because they made this experience at least a bit more normal. It was also nice to see their love for each other. It gave her hope that the universe wasn’t completely evil when love could blossom on somewhere so dismal like a Hennian hunting planet.

  She’d been in love once, but that marriage had ended in divorce. Since then she’d sworn men off until she was sure she’d met the right man. She didn’t want another failed marriage on her record, especially when it came to her mother who would have no qualms about chewing her out about it. At least there was one good thing about the Hennian hunting planet, her mom couldn’t randomly call her and tell her she should do something with her life.

  Jessica rose and backed away from Sabo to go back to her original seat by the crackling flames of the fire. The couple faded off to the shadows of the forest to do some private coupling things.

  Sabo noticed the direction of her gaze. “It’s stupid.”

  “What is?” Jessica’s lips turned down in a frown.

  “What they’re doing.” He hitched a thumb in the direction the couple had disappeared.

  “Stealing a moment with each other?” She asked confused why that would be so foolish. If they were a couple, she’d expect them to do some coupling at every chance they got. Especially on a planet like this one.

  “Being together is stupid.”

  Ah.

  “It’s stupid.” He continued. “One or both of them could die at any moment. The Hennians won’t leave us alone for much longer. Their hunting parties will be back. We shouldn’t relax too much. It’s just a matter of time until one of them is killed.”

  “I think it’s smart of them.” Jessica challenged as she folded her arms in front of her chest.

  Sabo scoffed. “Perhaps you’re stupid as well.”

  She scowled at him but ignored his comment about her being stupid. “Seriously, it is smart!” She reached over and punched his arm.

  He rubbed his arm as he sent her a glare.

  “It is! They should enjoy every moment they have together. As you said, it could be ripped away at any second. Better to have loved than not… or something along those lines.” She wasn’t the best at remembering quotes, but at least she got the meaning across.

  “I still stand by my original opinion.”

  She understood why Sabo might think it was foolish. After having his family ripped away from him in such a horrific way, it made complete sense why he thought the universe was no place for love. It also broke her heart because he genuinely seemed like a good guy. He deserved a better deck from the universe than he’d been dealt.

  “What are they thinking?” He was on a roll, and she feared she wouldn’t be able to get him off the subject now. “What if they get pregnant on this hunting planet? This is no place to raise a child.”

  Jessica rolled her eyes.

  “You think I’m being ridiculous?” Sabo scoffed, seeming almost offended by it.

  “Yes, yes I do think you’re being ridiculous. Let them have their moments together without us judging them.”

  “You know I’m right though.” Sabo turned to face back towards the fire as he draped his injured hand over one of his knees.

  “It’s stupid for us to have a fire.” Jessica challenged. “More stupid than a relationship. People might be able to find us easier with the smell of the smoke and the light of the flames.”

  “Perhaps.” He picked up another piece of wood and began chipping at it.

  “You think it’s wise to do that so soon after cutting yourself?”

  “I’ll be fine.” He grunted.

  So, Jessica shrugged it off. He wasn’t working on it as fast as last time so she hoped he wouldn’t cut himself again. He was also an adult, so he knew what he should and shouldn’t do, and if he didn’t, it would be his fault.

  Settling down near the comforting heat of the popping fire, she allowed her eyelids to slide close. She was tired. No one got much sleep when they were prey on a hunting planet, so she had to take advantage of this opportunity to catch some z’s.

  “We should probably move campsites.” Sabo put forth the next day as the afternoon rolled around. “Sticking to the same spot could be dangerous.”

  Jessica stared at the still smoldering coals from last night’s fire. “I guess we have gotten too comfortable here.” She conceded. They’d been here for a few days, and probably staying past one night had been too much.

  “We’ve been safe here,” Theron complained, one of the humans who’d been coupling last night.

  “Sab
o’s right.” Jessica sided with Sabo despite the fact that she wasn’t looking forward to tromping all over this planet. “We should keep moving around, keep gathering supplies, and try to find better protection than the forest. Like a cave perhaps.”

  “Gather your supplies.” Sabo directed them. He was the unofficial leader of their tiny gang. They’d be willing to accept others into their group, but a lot of people treated this hunting planet as a free for all and didn’t see the benefit of joining together.

  Jessica grabbed her pack, which was always at the ready in case she had to run for her life. Picking up a spear, her weapon of choice in case she had to fight a Hennian in hand to hand combat, and she was ready to go. Not that many people got that far, since the Hennians hunted with plasma weapons sometimes, which was really unfair if she got an opinion.

  The Hennians only gave their prey primitive weapons, while the Hennians were able to hunt them with primitive or plasma weapons. To say it was unfair really was an understatement. It was more like a sad bloodbath, but if someone could kill the Hennian hunting them, they might just get their hands on a plasma gun. Although she had yet to meet anyone who’d gotten their hands on a plasma gun.

  Once everyone had their packs, Sabo led the way into the forest. He kept up a brisk pace as they searched for another spot to make camp. She hoped they’d be able to find somewhere they could stay longer than a day or two.

  A cave would be ideal.

  Then again, she could see some flaws with a cave. It would mean they’d be trapped and easy prey for the Hennians. She bit the inside of her cheek, so she didn’t cry out in frustration. All she wanted to do was get off this planet and begin living her life again. She missed so many things, like ice cream, a soft bed, and moijo, which was an alien delicacy she couldn’t get enough of because it was crunchy and delicious and she loved the way it melted on her tongue.

  “What do you two plan on doing when you get off this planet?” Jessica turned to the couple who were holding hands and being all sorts of cute. They made her heart pinch with envy and hope that they would be able to survive and spend their lives together.

  “Probably getting married.” Theron turned to Sally whose eyes beamed at the declaration.

  Jessica couldn’t help the smile that turned up the corners of her lips. It was nice to see something good happening on such a miserable planet. “I hope the best for you two.” And she truly meant every word.

  “We’ll invite you to the wedding.” Sally nearly skipped with the excitement bubbling inside her small frame. Her ponytail wagged behind her as she glanced over at Sabo. “We’ll send you an invite to, Sabo.”

  “Please don’t.” He grunted.

  Jessica elbowed him.

  “But I’d be happy to attend.” He added as he rubbed his side where she’d nailed him with her bony elbow.

  “Much better.” She whispered.

  Sabo grunted as he rolled his eyes. She could tell he was focused on trying to find them another spot while doing his best not to get too attached to any of them. She couldn’t blame him. After everything he’d gone through, he wouldn’t want any attachments affecting him.

  A low hum filled the air, and her heart stopped, then it began beating furiously in her chest. It couldn’t be. Everything had been so peaceful lately.

  Their group stopped, and no one said anything as they all listened to the hum fill the air around them with an electrical buzz that had her hairs standing on end. Jessica glanced down at her arms to see the fine hairs standing up on end at the buzz that shook her to the core, and the feeling sent her reeling. They were about to be hunted.

  “Is that what I think it is?” Jessica asked no one, in particular, hoping beyond hope they would tell her she was just hearing things. After being on this planet for months, it would make sense if she slowly lost her mind.

  “Hennians.” Sally croaked as her face paled highlighting the freckles spray painted all over her face.

  “It must be a hunting party. Quick.” Sabo got them moving again with a wave of his arm.

  They sprinted through the forest. This time they weren’t looking for a spot to stay, they were looking to get away. If they could hear the hum of engines, that meant the ship was near, and they’d become targets for the Hennian hunting party that was about to be deployed.

  Her lungs burned as she kept her legs moving. Her feet crunched the fallen leaves, and the smell of the earth permeated the air.

  She didn’t want to say it, because it would come off as cruel and unusual but all she had to do was outrun the other people in her group, and she might just live. This planet was about survival. She couldn’t do much against a hunting party, and they all knew that when the water got hot, they all would be on their own.

  She leaped over a fallen log, landed on the other side, and began eating up the ground with her legs.

  Then a zing noise shot past the side of her face. It was an arrow! It looked like the Hennian hunting party had found them and was hunting with the same primitive weapons they gave their prey.

  Jessica heard Sally cry out but didn’t stop to assist the other woman. Hell, she didn’t even spare a glance in the woman’s direction. One misstep and she could land on her face, giving the Hennians enough time to kill her. She couldn’t do anything to help, and she wasn’t willing to sacrifice her life for no reason. If she stopped, the Hennians wouldn’t be kind enough to spare her life.

  Theron sprinted up beside her and if she hadn’t been concentrating on her running her mouth would’ve popped open with surprise. Guess the wedding was off because he wasn’t even stopping to try and save Sally.

  Jessica glanced around and noticed the three of them were still heading in the same direction. Quickly, she decided to split off and immediately heard Theron cry out in pain.

  There went another of their group.

  Now it was just her and Sabo left alive, wherever he was. She hoped him the best, but she wasn’t sticking around to find out how he fared. She was determined to make it out of this alive.

  Jessica could hear people running after her. Leaves and branches crunched under their feet, and she didn’t know how much longer she could run before her lungs exploded and they caught her. Dread filled her as images of her death flashed before her eyes.

  If she tripped, she could imagine a Hennian jumping on top of her and stabbing her to death with the sharp metal of a blade. Or if she slowed down or stopped, she could easily see them filling her body full of sharp-tipped arrows.

  She couldn’t die. Not now. She had so much to live for and a life not yet fully explored!

  Suddenly, Jessica was thrown to the ground, a strong hand clamped over her mouth, and she was dragged down a small cliff among tree roots.