The Chains of Freedom (Starhawke Rising Book 2)

by Audrey Sharpe

  Which brought them to their current location. The tropical island in the mid-latitudes looked promising, but Aurora was keeping a tight rein on her emotional investment. Too many things could go wrong. But the list of potential planets was dwindling. If they didn’t find something soon, they might have to seriously reconsider the possibility of co-existence with the rock monsters.

  Mya had helped Aurora select this particular island from the loose grouping that pushed up through the azure water and stretched beyond the horizon. At the moment, Mya and Celia were exploring the landscape to the north. They’d acted like a couple of kids at Christmas as they’d set off to begin testing the local flora for safety and food viability. Hopefully the lush vegetation would prove to be edible as well as beautiful.

  Kelly had remained with the shuttle at the landing site, and Kire was in command of the Starhawke, conducting planetary climate and environmental studies with the help of Star, the ship’s Nirunoc. She was the Star part of the Starhawke, a sentient non-biological intelligence who inhabited the ship and managed its functions.

  Like Jonarel, she was from Drakar. Her race had been created by the Kraed long ago, in much the same way that humans had created AI, but without the negative consequences. While the AI beings from Earth had eventually chosen to abandon their human creators and form a new society in a distant system, the Nirunoc lived in harmony with the Kraed, managing the functions of their advanced technology and living as equal members of the clan to which they were born. The Nirunocs were a carefully guarded secret in the Kraed culture, one the Kraed had chosen not to share with the human race. To her knowledge, Aurora and her crew were the only ones who knew of their existence.

  As Aurora continued walking through the dense foliage, the roar and burble of falling water grew louder. She ducked under an overhanging branch and navigated through a small maze of waist-high boulders before finally reaching the river’s edge. Sunlight glinted off the clear water, the deep browns and purples of the surrounding rocks providing the perfect balance to the lush greenery.

  Jonarel stopped beside her, his tall form casting her in shadow. The light filtering through the trees made his deep green skin and mahogany hair glow. His coloring was so different from her blond hair and pale skin. Moments like this emphasized their contrasts. He blended with their surroundings in a way she couldn’t.

  He’d grown up in the tropical forests of Drakar, an area famous for its warmth and humidity. The rich coloring of his skin and the tendrils of brown that meandered across it fit in perfectly with the foliage, as did the thick hair that flowed down to his shoulders in shades ranging from dark chocolate to caramel, adding to his natural camouflage. Only his golden eyes gave him away, revealing the sharp intelligence within the breathtaking exterior.

  Aurora unhooked the bio-scanner from her utility belt and panned it across the surface of the water, checking for signs of life. The device registered various aquatic creatures, but nothing larger than her hand. Definitely no rock monsters. She glanced at Jonarel. “See anything?”

  Drakar teemed with life, some of it of a very large and predatory nature. While Jonarel’s race had learned long ago how to thrive in their environment, they still maintained their survival instincts and had an uncanny knack for sensing danger. Their keen eyesight and hearing didn’t hurt, either. If he’d been with her on the beach two weeks ago instead of Kire, she probably wouldn’t have taken more than a couple steps onto the sand before he would have hauled her off the ground and rushed them back to the shuttle. Hence his presence with her today.

  He met her gaze. “No.”

  She smiled. “All righty then.” Pulling a small vial from her belt, she approached the water and crouched on one of the damp boulders. Lowering her hand, she allowed the liquid to run into the glass tube, caressing her fingers in the process. She was a water addict, and the tactile pleasure of the coolness gliding over her skin made her whole body tingle.

  Lifting the full tube, she slid it into a compartment on her scanner and waited a few moments while it analyzed the results. “Wow. No bacteria or contaminants of any kind. I wonder if this is what water used to be like on Earth. You could drink this stuff straight from the river.” She returned the scanner to her belt and stood. “Star said this was one of three water sources within walking distance?”

  Jonarel nodded. “There’s a large waterfall to the northeast that feeds a river about a kilometer away, as well as a small spring located about the same distance to the south.”

  So fresh, clean water would not be a problem. That was a major plus. She glanced at the sky, where pale grey and white clouds were thinking about having a meeting of the minds sometime soon. Judging by the surrounding greenery, it was a daily event. “Let’s scope out possible building locations.”

  She led the way through the overgrowth, climbing uphill as the sounds of the river faded into the background. The terrain was fairly easy to traverse thanks to patches of rock and sand that created natural pathways.

  When the ground began to level off, she paused and did a slow three-hundred-and-sixty-degree survey of the surrounding topography. This section was elevated from the rivers that ran on either side, and the incline continued to the west, rising to the peak that housed the dormant volcano that had created the large island. Visible through breaks in the foliage, the coastline stretched like a tan ribbon along the ocean’s edge five kilometers to the south.

  It was…perfect. She couldn’t imagine a more ideal setting. Unfortunately, she also didn’t want to get her hopes up. This was their first day, so there was still plenty of time for the planet to show its ugly side.

  Jonarel ran his hand along the trunk of one of the trees, then gripped it and gave it a good shake. The tree’s branches swayed, creating a subtle whooshing sound. “This would make good structural material.” He glanced at her. “What type of design did you have in mind for the buildings?”

  The question caught her off guard and she stumbled over her answer. “I…I don’t know.” She honestly hadn’t given it a moment’s thought. She’d been focusing on finding the location, not planning out what would happen afterward. That had been shortsighted. She’d have to oversee the development of the settlement as well. But she had no idea where to begin. “I’ve never built a house before, let alone designed an entire community.” She shrugged. “You’re the engineer. You tell me.”

  He leaned against the tree trunk and folded his arms, the muscles in his biceps bulging. “It should be something that pleases you.”

  “I suppose so.” She gazed at the trees as they swayed in the gentle breeze. “We definitely won’t be replicating the treetop design you use on Drakar.” Even though a part of her would love to. She’d always enjoyed spaces that were up high, whether it was in the trees, the mountains, or out in space. She’d been enchanted by the Kraed dwellings on Drakar for that very reason.

  “I’d like to camouflage the community as much as possible.” She stroked the leaves of the nearest plant and felt its energy pulse in sync with hers. The sensation felt like a gentle caress. “We’ll need to integrate the native vegetation with the interior and exterior, so that the structures blend in with the foliage.” The longer she stood surrounded by the greenery, the more the sensation of deep nurturing grew.

  The low rumble of distant thunder brought her attention to the clouds. They were gathering momentum, and the scent of rain carried on the breeze. She breathed it in, exhaling on a sigh of happiness. This could work.

  She glanced at Jonarel. He was watching her. “What?”

  “It’s good to see you enjoying yourself.” He pushed away from the tree and rested his hands on her shoulders. “You’ve been working too hard.”

  The tenderness of his touch warmed her through the material of her tunic. “We’ve all been working hard. Including you.” She tapped him lightly on the chest for emphasis and he caught her hand in midair.

  “Perhaps. But you never slow down.”

  She shrugged. “Co
mes with the job description.” As if to emphasize her point, her comband pinged. Jonarel released her and she opened the connection. “Yes?”

  Celia sounded almost giddy, which was not a tone Aurora heard from her friend very often. “I’ve identified at least thirty plants that should be edible, and that’s just to start. I’ve gathered samples to take back to the ship. After Mya and I analyze them, I’ll test them out in the kitchen to see if they’re palatable.”

  Cooking was one of Celia’s secret pleasures, and this mission had provided her with an excuse to experiment. The large galley kitchen that was housed between the observation lounge and the greenhouse on the Starhawke had become her unofficial domain. The crew ate well on the days she had time to make use of it.

  “Mya has roughly the same number of plants to take back for her medicinal studies. We’ll both have plenty to keep us busy for the next few days.”

  A flash of light and a loud rumble brought Aurora’s head up. The afternoon rains were getting serious. “Then let’s pack it in for now. We’ll meet you at the shuttle.”

  “On our way.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  THE NIGHTINGALE HAD TURNED into a prison.

  After more than two weeks on Burrow with nowhere to go and nothing to do, the feeling of claustrophobia was beginning to wear on humans and Lumians alike.

  Cade was no exception. The spacious box canyon where the ship rested had dwindled to the size of a thumbnail. He’d decided to climb to the top of the surrounding rock formations to trigger endorphins and get some breathing room. He’d left Justin in charge and set out before dawn, when the temperature was still bearable. This hemisphere of Burrow was in midsummer, with long, sweltering days, and nights that seemed to go by in a blink.

  When he reached the peak, he stretched out on his back and gazed at the blanket of stars. Somewhere up there, one of those beacons of light represented the planet Aurora was currently investigating. He’d received a brief communication from her yesterday. She’d estimated her crew would finish their assessment in about a week. If everything checked out, they’d head to Drakar to gather supplies. That was the good news.

  The bad news was that even if things went according to plan, building the settlement would take four to six weeks. Minimum. And until it was completed, his team and the Lumians would have to remain on Burrow. Given the current level of tension, another month of confinement and inactivity might stretch them to the breaking point.

  What they needed was a distraction, something to keep everyone occupied while they waited. But so far, he’d come up with zip.

  The rattle of pebbles alerted him to the presence of visitors headed his way. He sat up and glanced over his shoulder, expecting to see Reynolds or Gonzo. Instead he spotted a familiar trio of teenagers climbing the steep incline in the dim light of dawn.

  Raaveen, the current de facto leader for the Lumians, was in front, her dark hair standing out in sharp contrast to the beige and tan of the surrounding rocks. Paaw was right on her heels, her blue-eyed gaze focused on the summit as she pulled herself up. She reached back to offer a hand to Sparw, a brown-haired boy of fifteen who was the smallest of the three.

  Cade lifted a hand in greeting. “Good morning.”

  The teens returned the gesture as they reached the top. “We join you?” Raaveen asked in Galish, folding her hands in front of her.

  Justin had uploaded the Lumian language translation into all the team’s combands the previous week, which had solved the ongoing communication issue. But Cade’s translator wasn’t turned on at the moment. Raaveen, Paaw and Sparw were all learning Galactic English, or Galish as it was commonly referred to, from Justin.

  Cade nodded. “Of course.”

  Raaveen stepped around him and settled on his right while Paaw and Sparw sat to his left. The teens mimicked his posture, ankles crossed and arms around their knees as they gazed at the vista.

  “Pretty.” Raaveen nodded to where the sun’s first rays painted the rocks with streaks of gold.

  It was pretty, in a stark way. But compared to what the teenagers were used to, any sunrise would be considered pretty, even one as bland as the one before them. Burrow wasn’t a beautiful planet, particularly in this arid region, but the early morning light gave the harshness of the landscape a softer look that brought out the subtle variations in color of the rocks and the mountains in the distance.

  Raaveen turned her head, the sunlight revealing the faint lines between her brows and around her eyes. The adult Lumians were still recovering from the physical and emotional wounds inflicted during their long imprisonment, and Raaveen had stepped into the void. She shouldered a heavy responsibility, taking care of the Lumians and coping with the recent death of her mother and her father’s permanent catatonic state. Her expression often looked as it did now.

  She cleared her throat. “We talk idea.”

  He should have guessed this wasn’t a social call. He tapped his comband to turn on the translator. “Go ahead.” The nearly instantaneous translation allowed him to follow her words and gestures as she spoke.

  “We are grateful for all that you and your team have done to help us,” she said. “We know that without your intervention, we would still be captives on the Setarip ship.”

  He acknowledged the comment with a nod.

  “But after such a long confinement, we want to be productive and useful, not a burden.”

  He could certainly relate to that sentiment.

  “We have a plan that will allow us to do that, but we need your assistance and approval.”

  Her tone indicated she wasn’t certain she’d receive either. He hoped he wouldn’t have to disappoint her. “What do you want to do?”

  Raaveen glanced at Paaw and Sparw before continuing. “Build a growing structure for plants.”

  A growing structure? It took him a moment to figure out what she was describing. “Do you mean a greenhouse?”

  The translator apparently couldn’t come up with a match for “greenhouse” in the Lumian language, because Raaveen frowned. “What does that word mean, greenhouse?”

  “It’s an enclosed structure for protecting and growing plants.”

  All three teens smiled and nodded. “Yes,” Raaveen said. “A greenhouse.”

  A greenhouse. It was an intriguing idea, except for one major problem. “Where would you get the plants?”

  A shadow of doubt passed over her face. “We would need your team to help us gather them from the surrounding area. It would mean leaving the canyon.” Hope lit her brown eyes, as well as the fear of rejection.

  Cade really didn’t want to douse that flame. But as the person in charge of everyone’s safety, he had to be practical. He rubbed the back of his neck, the dampness he encountered reminding him of how hot it was getting now that the sun had taken control of the day. “I don’t know, Raaveen. It’s a creative idea, but there are a lot of potential problems.”

  She dropped her gaze and nodded in acquiescence. But when she started to rise, he grasped her arm.

  “Hang on. Give me a minute to think about this.”

  She immediately resumed her seat and kept her gaze averted, as if she didn’t want to invade his personal space.

  All the Lumians took consideration of others to a whole new level, and dammit, he wanted to reward that. There had to be a way to make this work. Constructing and populating a greenhouse would certainly keep everyone busy. The building materials could be obtained from items in the freighter’s storage systems. And trading emergency rations for fresh fruits and vegetables would be a big bonus.

  But gathering the plants could be tricky. They hadn’t seen any sign of the Meer since arriving, but his team hadn’t ventured very far from the canyon, either. He didn’t know how big a project the teenagers had in mind, but even a modest greenhouse would require several trips, especially since they’d have to locate suitable plants first.

  Gonzo could oversee construction, and Williams could supervise selecting and
gathering the plants. The good doctor would certainly approve. Cade had been on the receiving end of Tam’s philosophy regarding nutrition for years. He affirmed that diet was the number one source of good health, and he’d turned identifying what would benefit a particular person into an art form. If there were edible plants nearby, he’d find them.

  If they used the stealth pods for transport and worked at night, they could bring the risk factor to almost zero. He wouldn’t be sending the teens out to gather the plants, which they clearly wanted to do, but he didn’t need to tell them they’d be staying in the canyon until his team agreed with the basic idea of building the greenhouse.

  Cade stood. “I can’t make any promises, but let’s see what we can do.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  “THAT LOOKS PROMISING.”

  Jonarel glanced up from the drafting table in his cabin. Tehar, or Star as the rest of the crew knew her, stood beside him, studying his preliminary sketches.

  He was used to her sudden appearances in his room. Tehar had gained sentience shortly before his birth, so they had grown up like siblings. The projected image of her non-biological essence, with her long dark hair, hunter green skin and honey-colored eyes, was as familiar to him as the face he saw in the mirror. More so, in fact, since he did not waste time looking at his own reflection.

  She peered at the drawing of the proposed settlement, her voice drifting to him from everywhere and nowhere, the ship acting as a speaker. “The layout is lovely. Aurora will like it.”

  He hoped so. “I want to please her.” In fact, pleasing Aurora was his top priority.

  Tehar rested a ghostly hand on his shoulder. “You will.”

  As the sister of his heart, if not by biology, Tehar knew all his secrets, all his dreams…and all his fears. She was his closest confidant, the only one who truly understood the powerful emotions that had driven him to build the Starhawke. And the real reasons he had given the ship to Aurora.