Galaxy's Way

by E. R. Paskey

  All she saw was black water extending off into the cavern behind them‌—‌the opposite direction from the ledge over which they had both been thrown. “Great,” she muttered through gritted teeth. “Just‌…‌great. How in the galaxy are we supposed to get out of here?”

  “Point that back over at the ledge, will you?” Colin directed, still rubbing the feeling back into his hands.

  Anna obliged, and they both stared at the rocky wall leading up to the ledge. We won’t be climbing that, she thought grimly.

  “Nope, no good.” She could hear the scowl in his voice. “We’ll not be scaling that.”

  “That’s what I thought. Looks like we’re going to have to swim for it.” Anna scowled too; she wasn’t looking forward to it.

  “When I get my hands on that man … ” Colin began, but he abruptly broke off. “Hang on.” He put a hand on Anna’s arm to stop her from swinging the light around any further. “What was that?”

  “What was what?” she asked irritably, narrowing her eyes at his hand on her arm.

  “That.” He raised her arm to shine the light at the cavern wall on the opposite side of the lake from where they stood. “It’s shadowed‌—‌I think it might be an opening.”

  “You think it might be an opening?”

  Colin shot her a look. Anna could not quite make out his expression, but his voice was very dry as he replied, “If you have a better suggestion for a way out of here, lass, by all means, let’s hear it.”

  She swallowed. “I don’t really want to get back in the water.”

  “Well, it’s either swim for it or stay here. Ladies’ choice, but I must warn you, I’ll not be staying.”

  Anna bristled, her mouth dropping open at his presumption. “Well, I wouldn’t ask you to stay. I’m not stupid.”

  Colin shifted closer to her, close enough that she could now make out his features from the light she was shining across the lake. Which, of course, meant he could now see her too. In all my waterlogged glory.

  “Don’t be angry with me, lass. This is hardly my doing.”

  Why would Lobai throw me down here with you? Anna wanted to snap, but she held her tongue. Might need his help later. “Ugh. Fine.” She walked down to the waterline. I hope it really is another cave. “Let’s do it.”

  She regretted her choice of words as soon as they left her mouth, but to her surprise, Colin did not take her inadvertent opening as an excuse to make a suggestive comeback. She did think she heard him muffle a snort of laughter, and rolled her eyes.

  When she made to turn off the light, however, he said quickly, “Don’t!”

  The sharp, almost pleading, tone of his voice made her eyebrows shoot up in surprise; she glanced over her shoulder at him. “Why? It won’t be easy swimming with it.”

  “I’ll carry it in my mouth,” he said grimly, running a hand through his damp hair. “Just‌—‌don’t turn it off. I was down here for hours, and it’s nice to be able to see again.”

  “Okay, whatever.” Anna acquiesced with a shrug. Truth be told, she wasn’t that keen on returning to utter darkness either, but he didn’t need to know that.

  “You want me to carry it?” Colin’s voice evened out.

  “Nah, I got it.” No way am I giving my only source of light to a stranger.

  After a brief second of hesitation, Anna stuck the end of the penlight in her mouth and clamped her lips around it. Theoretically, the penlight was waterproof, and it had survived her swim through the lake, but she was taking no further chances. Sitting down on the stone ledge and letting her legs dangle in the chilly water, she inhaled sharply through her nose and slid off into the lake.

  The water’s temperature was only marginally less of a shock the second time around. Anna struck out for the cave across the lake without turning to see if Colin was following her. Either he is, or he isn’t‌—‌and I highly doubt he’s going to opt to stay here.

  Splashes to her right indicated he had indeed followed her into the water. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye as he came up beside her. He’s fast.

  She was suddenly, horribly hyper-aware of Colin’s proximity to her body. Magnified as they were by the combination of the cave’s walls and the water, the splashes he made as he swam beside her sounded uncomfortably close. She could feel the ripples he made in the water competing with the waves she herself was making. In other, ordinary circumstances, she probably would have never noticed a thing, but this underground lake seemed to lend this situation an unpleasantly intimate cast.

  Were it not for the penlight tightly clamped between her lips, she might have laughed. Or maybe snorted, though that was sure to earn her a look and perhaps a comment about a lack of ladylike behavior. No, no, she thought with a borderline hysteric laugh building in her throat, that’s something Bear would have commented on.

  Maybe Viktor too, depending on how much he’d had to drink that night. Usually he didn’t care how close his little sister came to being just like one of the guys, but sometimes he seemed to get a space mite in his ear and he’d break out a lecture about how Anna need to be just a touch more feminine.

  Anna thought that was hilarious, considering he really had no more idea what that was supposed to look like than she did. We live on a freighter, for crying out loud. And her brother had gathered a rather motley crew, if she did say so herself. It’s not like we spend a lot of time around ‘proper’ folks anyway.

  Besides, from what she’d seen of your ordinary, run-of-the-mill females, that was an awful lot of flirting that didn’t amount to a can of engine oil. Batting eyelashes and silly little giggles and other insipid behavior that made Anna itch to slap somebody, or attempt to shake some sense into them.

  “Credit for your thoughts.” Amusement colored Colin’s voice again. “I can hear you thinking all the way over here.”

  Like you’re that far away, Anna thought with a sniff. She did not dare actually move a muscle in her face‌—‌her lips were starting to go numb from clutching the penlight so tightly, and her face was beginning to ache as well.

  “You sure I can’t help you with that, lass?”

  “No,” she mumbled around the penlight’s handle. They had almost reached the opening by now.

  “If you’re sure … ”

  It only aggravated Anna further that he did not sound winded at all‌—‌despite the fact that he had been trapped down here for hours with no food.

  With a splash, Colin put on a burst of speed and pulled ahead. Anna had a few seconds to admire the surprisingly lean lines of his body cutting through the water before she realized what she was doing and jerked her eyes away from him to focus on the opening. She couldn’t keep her face from burning; she was very grateful that he was in front of her and not in a position to actually get a good look at her.

  Colin reached the cave wall a moment before she did and stretched his hands up to the lip of the opening. He just grazed it with his fingertips and Anna realized with dismay that it was a good deal farther up in the wall than either of them had expected. Some of the color drained out of her face as she stared up at the opening; she stopped swimming and just floated there treading water instead. There is no way I’ll be able to get up there by myself.

  “Right,” Colin muttered, shaking his head and sending water droplets spattering onto the lake’s surface. He dug the toes of his boots into the rocky wall for traction and reached for the opening again. He failed and dropped back down in the water again, creating waves that rocked Anna up and down.

  The penlight wavered; she adjusted her grip on it once more.

  Colin set his jaw and tried again. This time, he managed to give himself enough of a boost with his toes that he was able to successfully grab the ledge. The muscles in his arms bulged beneath his sodden jacket as he pulled himself up onto it, leaving a dripping trail of water behind him.

  Anna felt a very real fission of fear skitter down her spine and jolted forward through the water, splashing clumsily. H
e wouldn’t leave her behind, would he? I have the light. She reached the rocky wall and looked up to find a hand stretched toward her.

  Colin knelt on the floor of the opening, reaching down. “Come on, lass. It might be best if you give me the light first so we don’t drop it.”

  Her jaw ached fiercely, but Anna wasn’t sure she trusted him not to leave her once he had the light.

  Colin rightly interpreted her hesitation. “I’ll not take it and leave you here, if that’s what you’re worried about.” He offered her a lopsided grin. “We both know I could have left you down there and found my way in the dark, if I’d a mind to do it.”

  That’s true. Anna made her mind up all at once and acted on it. If she stopped to consider it any longer, she knew she’d change her mind. Still kicking her feet in the water to keep herself afloat, she pulled the penlight from her mouth and handed it up to him.

  Their fingers brushed as Colin took it from her, and then the light partially disappeared as he laid it off to the side. “All right, lass.” He extended a hand down to her again and they locked wrists. His fingers were cold. “Use the wall to help you climb up and reach!”

  He hauled her up out of the water‌—‌with her doing her best to use his support to climb up the wall‌—‌and onto the ledge beside him. They both collapsed onto the rocky floor. The dry, rocky floor, Anna was happy to note.

  “Well, that was exciting,” Colin said between breaths. He shot a dirty look toward the lake beneath them. “And that was downright evil. How did Lobai expect you to get out of there?”

  Anna darted a sharp look at him, but she tried to keep her voice level. “Noticed that, did you?”

  Colin just shook his head, his mouth flattening into a grim line. “I expect your brother will be less than pleased.”

  “Probably. I’m less than pleased.” Anna sucked in a deep breath and forced herself to stand, palming the penlight as she did so.

  Colin climbed to his feet as well, and motioned to the dark cave tunnel that lay behind them, leading off‌…‌somewhere‌…‌into further darkness. “Shall we?”

  Anna scowled at the tunnel. “It’s not like we have much of a choice.”

  Chapter 4

  THEY MIGHT HAVE ONLY JUST met, but Anna was surprised by how remarkably reassuring it was to have another human being at her side as they ventured deeper into the cave tunnel. She kept her ears peeled for any suspicious noises, but the only sounds to be heard were their footsteps, the sound of their combined breathing, and the distant drip of water. It helped that Colin hadn’t left her in the lake. She was trying so hard to be cautious, but she knew she was already starting to trust him a fraction.

  “I really hope this isn’t taking us straight into the middle of a mountain.” Colin broke the silence a little while later.

  “Me too.” Anna was beginning to fear her scowl was permanent; she had a sudden, horrifying vision of herself emerging with it etched onto her face. If Viktor doesn’t kill Bear when he gets his hands on him, I might.

  “How long do you think it’ll take your brother to realize you’re not coming back?”

  Anna heaved a tight, frustrated breath. “I don’t know. Depends on what Bear tells him.”

  She sensed Colin giving her a sidelong look. “Is that usual?”

  “No. Usually I talk to Viktor myself, but he trusts Bear. We all do‌—‌did,” she corrected herself abruptly. I sure as heck don’t trust him now.

  “Bear?”

  “Short for Berenger.” Anna wondered suddenly if the name might be familiar to Colin, but he showed no sign of recognition.

  “Ah.”

  “Yeah.”

  They rounded a curve in the tunnel and both stopped short in dismay. “Oh, no,” Anna groaned, shining her penlight over the fork that had appeared in their tunnel. “Which way do we go?”

  Colin was silent for a moment. At last, he said, “Right.”

  Anna’s eyebrows shot up; she was impressed, despite herself. “How do you know?”

  She was unprepared for the surprisingly devastating grin he shot her. “I don’t, lass.”

  “You’re guessing?” Anna inhaled sharply, the penlight wavering as her fingers tightened around it.

  “Never been here before, have I?” He shrugged. “No logical way to know which way we’re meant to go.”

  Anna let out a shaky breath. “I hope you’re right.”

  “No need to sound so worried, lass.” Colin started toward the right-hand tunnel. “We can always double back.” When she hesitated, he stopped and stretched out a hand to her. “No need to be afraid.” He wiggled his still-stiff fingers for emphasis.

  That brought her back up; she prickled. “I’m not afraid,” she grumped, stomping toward him and ignoring his outstretched hand.

  This did not seem to bother Colin; as she reached his side, he caught her free hand, tangling their fingers together, and resumed walking. “It’ll be easier this way,” he said cheerfully. “Keep us from getting separated.”

  “You have some nerve.” Anna made a scoffing noise in the back of her throat, but she allowed him to hold her hand. He’s got a point, she admitted to herself.

  His fingers were still cold; she shivered in the cool air flowing through the cave system. Oh, for a hot shower, she thought with a sigh.

  “Problem?”

  “No.” Anna shook her head automatically, but then paused. “I’m cold. And I’d really like to wring Lobai’s neck.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  They walked on in silence for a moment, and then Colin asked unexpectedly, “What were you selling him?”

  Anna blew out a breath. “I’m not sure I should tell you that.”

  “Would it help if I told you what I was selling him?” An odd note colored his deep voice.

  “Why does it matter?”

  “Because, lass, it has occurred to me that they might be connected.”

  Anna bumped his shoulder with hers. “Get out of town. You thought that up in the last five minutes?”

  Colin chuckled, but the levity faded from his expression too quickly. “Think about it, Anna. What are the odds that he would betray two separate sellers in so short a time?”

  Well, when you put it like that‌…‌ She swallowed, a shiver wracking her small frame that had nothing to do with her damp clothes or the chilly air flowing through the cave. “I suppose the timing is a little suspicious.”

  “A little?” Colin sounded mildly incredulous, but then his voice darkened. “Just a little, Anna?”

  She bit her lip. “Okay, a lot. It’s very suspicious, all right?”

  “That’s more like it.” He gave her fingers an approving squeeze.

  Anna could have smacked him for the smug undertone she heard in his voice, but clenched her free hand into a fist at her side instead. You can’t kill him or maim him, she reminded herself. You might need him before this is over. There was also the fact that he had helped her when he could have left her‌—‌though leaving her would have meant soldiering on through the dark by himself and that would not have been the smart choice.

  If Colin guessed the direction of her thoughts, he kept them to himself. “So what was it, lass?” he asked, returning to the subject of Lobai. “What were you selling him?”

  “You first.”

  “Couple of chunks of some new alloy.” In the shadows beside her, Colin shook his head. “He was willing to pay top dollar for them too — ” He chuckled darkly. “Suppose that should have been my first clue.”

  Anna frowned. “What kind of alloy?”

  “Ah, ah, ah, not so fast. I’ve already answered one question about my cargo, lass. It’s your turn to volunteer some information.”

  She considered it for a full minute before heaving a sigh from the bottom of her feet. “Microchips.” The word tasted bitter in her mouth; in her mind’s eye, she saw the contents of that velvet bag carefully spilled out on the table in her brother’s cabin. “We were selling him
a special kind of high-end microchip he’d told us to keep an eye out for a while back.”

  “Microchips, eh? And he told you to look for them?”

  “Yeah.”

  “That is curious.”

  “We didn’t think so at the time.” Anna shook her head. “Not the first time we’ve picked things up for him.” She looked sideways at Colin; they were walking close enough together that their shoulders nearly touched. “What was the alloy for?”

  Colin let out a contemptuous huff. “Nothing I’d have ever thought I’d be double-crossed over, I’ll tell you that much.”

  “Colin … ” Anna gave his fingers a tight, warning squeeze. He did not look at her, but the light from her penlight illuminated his profile and the lopsided smirk on his face. She narrowed her eyes, not amused at all. “Fine,” she said brusquely. “Don’t tell me.” She tried to drop his hand, but he refused to let her go.

  “Quick to assume the worst, aren’t you, lass?”

  Guilt prickled her skin, but her fraying temper overrode it. “I have already been jacked around enough for one day. If you don’t want to tell me what they were, just say so!” She jerked her hand away again, and this time he released her fingers.

  “The alloy has a number of uses. One of them is prosthetics or joint replacements that don’t set off scanners at Customs.”

  Bone or joint replacements? Anna was so gobsmacked she actually stopped walking. “What? Bear double-crossed me for a hip replacement?”

  Colin realized the light was no longer moving and turned to face her. His dark hair had dried curly around the edges, and were it not for the weary pallor of his face, he might have looked amused. “Well, that’s one of its uses, lass.”

  Anna gave him a withering look, mostly to counteract the hysterical laughter she could feel building in her chest. She sucked in a deep breath and blew it out her nose before she caught up to him. “Viktor’s going to love this. Just keeps getting better and better.”

  “The microchips do put a different slant on things.”

  “How?”

  “I’m no engineering expert, but even I know those microchips are far too high-end for a prosthetic.” Colin shook his head, his arm brushing hers as they continued to traverse the tunnel. “He must be gathering other parts.”