Humble Beginnings (Tri System's Edge Series Book 1)

by Ron Schrader

  “So he’s all right?” Kalla asked, concerned Reav may have been injured from the crash.

  “Oh, he’s a little banged up, but as long as he keeps the door shut, he should be fine,” Jarek replied. “I knew he’d need a lift, though, so after I got some needed rest, I told him to stay put until I got back. I don’t think he’ll be going anywhere on his own.”

  “Yeah, I sure hope he’s smart enough to stay put. Way too many Vie on this planet,” she said in jest.

  A few minutes later, Kalla spotted the damaged Ghost and landed her ship nearby, anxious to get Reav on board and leave the valley for good.

  Chapter 15

  Kalla watched from the cockpit of her ship as Jarek walked toward the battered Ghost. He moved slowly, carefully surveying the barren landscape that surrounded them. Kalla knew how it felt—almost like a hunt, senses on overdrive—but something felt wrong as she watched.

  Jarek crept toward the ship as if unsure about something. A few meters from the door, he stopped and appeared tense.

  Suddenly the mangled door of the Ghost squeaked open and Reav stepped outside. Though not intentional, the scraping noise from the metal door was enough to alert any Vie in the vicinity, which is exactly what it did.

  Kalla watched as the Vie approached from all directions, headed straight for Reav. She sprang from her seat, yelling at Reav through the cockpit window, knowing he couldn’t hear her. She could only watch as Jarek opened fire, a spray of bullets bursting from his pistol. Then suddenly, Reav dropped to the ground.

  Kalla raced to the door and ran out of the ship, pistols loaded and ready, but by the time she reached them, the excitement was over. Reav was lying on the ground, bleeding from a wound in his left shoulder. She dropped to her knees the moment she reached him. “What happened?” she asked with concern. “A bite?” she said, attempting to examine the wound.

  Reav didn’t answer, having passed out from the pain.

  “Take these,” Jarek said, dropping his weapons on the ground next to Kalla. “I’ll carry him.” Jarek picked Reav up as though he weighed nothing, folding the man’s bleeding body over his shoulder.

  Kalla guarded the men as the three hurried back to her ship, Reav leaving a trail of blood behind them. She cringed at the site; it didn’t look good, and she was concerned for Reav.

  “He’ll be all right,” Jarek said as they entered the ship. “A few stitches and some rest should do the trick.”

  “Did I miss something?” Kalla asked with surprise. “I thought a Vie got—”

  “Nope,” Jarek replied, cutting her off midsentence. “A bullet,” he finished. “Had no choice.”

  “You shot him on purpose?” she questioned.

  “No. I shot the Vie about to tear into his shoulder. Reav just happened to be in the way.”

  Slightly relieved, she directed Jarek to the sick bay, where he laid Reav down on a table. “Stay with him,” she ordered. “I’ll get us to the village right away.” She rushed to the cockpit and fired up the engines, wasting no time getting her ship in the air. Kalla maneuvered the ship high into the sky, then toward the cliff, giving her a clear view of the village. She landed just inside the tree line where she knew there’d be plenty of space and guards waiting nearby to help.

  The moment the ship touched down, Kalla shut the engine off and ran to the door. “We need help!” she yelled as the two guards on duty rushed toward her. “It’s Reav—he’s been shot!”

  One of the guards immediately ran toward a small all-terrain vehicle, returning moments later. “I’ll take him to the med center,” he called out above the noise of the vehicle’s engine. “It’s not too far.”

  Jarek was already at the door, Reav’s lifeless body hanging over his shoulder. “Where is it?” he asked.

  The guard pointed and shouted some directions. “Won’t it be faster for me to drive him?” he asked, a look of confusion on his face.

  “Nope,” Jarek replied. “I’m faster,” he said and then took off running at full speed, Kalla following close behind.

  When they arrived at the med center, they watched through a glass window as the staff worked quickly to repair the wound in Reav’s shoulder. When they finished stitching Reav up, Jarek and Kalla followed a nurse, who wheeled him into a recovery room, where they sat and waited.

  “He’s pretty lucky,” Jarek said, holding Kalla’s hand as the two sat close together.

  “You saved his life,” she replied. “I know he’ll be fine,” she continued, “but I want to hang out to make sure. As soon as he wakes up, I’ll set the shield up and we can get off this planet.” She looked up at Jarek with a nervous feeling inside her stomach, hoping he was planning to go with her.

  “About that . . .” Jarek hesitated. “I don’t . . .” He paused as if trying to find the right words. “I can’t go with you.”

  An anxious feeling rushed through Kalla’s body as she processed the words. “You have to go with me!” she argued. “I thought . . .” She paused as the anxiety built up inside of her. She could feel a bond with him unlike anything she’d ever experienced, and though she was afraid to admit it, she needed him now. “Please, Jarek, you need to come with me.” She looked into his eyes as the words softly slipped from her mouth.

  Jarek turned his head away from her. “This is my home. It’s all I know,” he said, unwilling to make eye contact. “You could stay,” he offered as Kalla took him by the hand. “We could be happy here.”

  Kalla smiled as she contemplated the idea for just a moment before pushing it aside. “There’s so much more than this place, though,” she countered. “And I’d rather not spend my life worrying about the Vie. I have one final job that’s worth a huge payout. We’ll be able to go anywhere we want.” She watched Jarek’s face as he appeared to be deep in though. “Please,” she pleaded one last time. “Come with me.”

  Before Jarek was able to respond, Reav began to stir. “You made it,” Jarek said, turning to Reav and avoiding Kalla’s question.

  “Did they bite me?” Reav asked immediately as he sat up in the bed, reaching for his injured right shoulder.

  “Yeah, by a bullet,” Jarek replied with a smile as he stood and walked toward the bed.

  “So I wasn’t bitten?” he asked again, his tone more calm.

  “No, just shot,” Jarek replied. “Clean through the shoulder. It was close, but I killed the Vie just in time. Sorry I had to shoot you too, but I didn’t have much choice. Bought me enough time to get you out of there, though.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” Reav said as his eyes began to water. “You both could’ve just let me die out there, more than once, but you didn’t. Thank you for that.”

  “Well, someone’s got to look out for this place, and I sure don’t want the job.” Jarek let a smile slip as he turned and walked back toward Kalla. “Just get some rest.”

  Kalla stared up at Jarek, perturbed that he was avoiding her question. “Yes, get some rest,” she said to Reav, still looking at Jarek. “We’ll be leaving in the morning, after I finish my end of our agreement.”

  Jarek looked back at her, shaking his head as if annoyed.

  “You two are good together,” Reav commented. “Thanks again, both of you. I’ll see you in the morning.” With that, he closed his eyes and relaxed, in need of some rest.

  Kalla stood and headed toward the door. “You coming?” she asked.

  “I guess so,” Jarek replied under his breath as he followed her out the door.

  ~

  Kalla and Jarek worked tirelessly through the night, installing the shield generators she’d promised Reav, positioning them around the village. Each device was staked into the ground and then connected to a master control tablet, allowing Kalla to bridge the devices, turning them into one large shield that would protect the entire village.

  “So, about leaving,” Jarek spoke as they installed the last device, “you said you needed me.”

  Kalla blushed at his comment. “Yes,”
she replied. “I feel connected to you in a way I can’t really explain.”

  “I know. I feel it too. It’s just . . . this place is all I know.” He stood still, looking down at Kalla, who was sitting on the ground with her legs crossed where she’d been working on the tablet.

  “I’m not leaving without you,” she said, looking up at him. “But I don’t want to stay here.”

  Jarek let out a sigh as he shook his head. “Let me think about it a little longer.”

  Kalla nodded with a smile.

  Finished with the work outside, the two headed to Reav’s office, where Kalla could finish configuring the settings on the tablet. Once inside, Kalla sat at Reav’s desk and went to work, typing away. “Shouldn’t take much longer,” she said.

  “Sun will be up soon,” Jarek replied. “When you’re done, we can check in on Reav.”

  “Yeah,” she said, stopping her work to look up at Jarek. “Will we be saying good-bye then?”

  Jarek turned away, his arms folded and head bowed. “If I don’t like it out there, we’re coming back. Agreed?”

  “Of course,” Kalla answered with enthusiasm, sitting up tall where she sat. “I’ll hurry and finish this up so we can go see Reav.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Kalla worked to make the final adjustments to the shield configuration as the sun began to make its way into the morning sky. “All done,” she finally said, setting the tablet on Reav’s desk. “Do you think Reav’s awake yet?” she asked, knowing it was probably still too early.

  “Only one way to find out,” Jarek answered as the two headed back to the med center.

  ~

  Jarek and Kalla sat in the room as Reav began to stir, clearly still in pain from the wound to his shoulder.

  “Good morning,” said Kalla. “Glad to see you finally waking up.” She smiled as she stood up from her chair. “How do you feel this morning?”

  “Like I’ve been shot,” Reav answered with an irritated scowl.

  Kalla let a laugh slip out. “Drugs must be wearing off.”

  “Yeah, and it hurts. Still,” Reav paused, “it could’ve been worse,” he said, trying to crack a smile.

  “Well, we’re leaving soon,” Kalla said, getting straight to the point. “You able to get up yet?”

  Reav sat up and winced in pain, reaching for his injured right shoulder. “I’ll . . . manage,” he said.

  “You sure?” she questioned, watching him struggle to sit.

  “I’ll live. Just let me get dressed,” Reav said as he shooed them away, waving his hands toward the door.

  “All right,” Kalla replied with a smile. “We’ll be waiting outside.”

  Jarek followed Kalla out the door, where the two waited for Reav to join them.

  “We leave as soon as you’re done showing Reav the shields?” Jarek asked.

  “Yeah,” replied Kalla. “Shouldn’t take long.” Staring at Jarek’s face, she could see he was still conflicted about going with her. “You still okay with leaving?”

  Reav suddenly opened the door, interrupting Jarek’s response. “So what now?” he asked.

  “Your office,” Jarek responded, leading the way.

  When they got outside the med center, the sun was shining bright, stinging Kalla’s eyes for a moment before they acclimated. “Can’t wait to show you everything,” she said to Reav with excitement.

  Reav just nodded and gave her a half smile.

  “Still in a lot of pain, I imagine.” Kalla knew it was too soon to get him out of bed, but she was anxious to leave and wanted to personally show Reav how to work the shields.

  “I’m fine,” Reav replied. “So why my office?”

  “You’ll see,” Kalla said with a big grin. “It’s a surprise.”

  Walking as fast as Reav could handle with his injury, they soon approached the building where Reav’s office was and entered, Kalla leading the way up the stairs. Once inside, she walked straight over to his desk and picked up the tablet.

  “What’s that?” Reav probed as Kalla walked back toward him.

  “This is the control panel for the shield generators I installed,” she said, handing it to Reav. Kalla went on and began instructing him how to operate the ten shield generators she and Jarek had spent most of the night setting up and configuring. “It’s pretty basic,” she insisted. “To control the shield or make any necessary adjustments, just open this program.” She pressed an icon on the device that immediately opened the shield application. “Here’s the power switch, and this menu lets you make changes to the configuration as needed.”

  “So this tablet controls the whole thing, then?” Reav asked.

  “Yep, and it’s all ready to go. Pretty straightforward, really.” Kalla could see the excitement in Reav’s face as he stared down at the tablet in his hands.

  “And the barrier will protect the entire village?” he asked.

  “Yeah, that’s why I needed several of them,” replied Kalla. “They’re linked together for more power and coverage. Should even have some room to grow if needed, but the configuration settings will tell you their limits.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” Reav said, looking up at Kalla, then at Jarek. “Thank you both.”

  Jarek shook his head. “This was all her, so don’t thank me.”

  “You risked your life to help me, and besides, this was our deal,” Kalla said. “So, any questions about the controls?”

  Reav shook his head. “Nope. I think I’m good.”

  “All right,” she said. “I guess this is good-bye, then.” Kalla turned toward Jarek. “You ready to leave?”

  Jarek didn’t respond, giving her a blank stare instead.

  “You’re leaving now?” Reav said with surprise, waiting for Kalla to respond.

  “Yes,” Jarek said from across the room. “You ready?” he asked, now making eye contact with Kalla.

  She walked toward the door where Jarek was standing. “Good luck, Reav. I’m sure we’ll see you again sometime soon,” she lied, hoping she’d never have to come back here again.

  With that, she turned and walked out the door, Jarek following close behind.

  ~

  Walking toward the edge of the village where her ship was docked, Kalla began to wonder if leaving was the right thing to do. She wanted Jarek to come with her, but was she being selfish?

  “So we’re coming back soon?” Jarek asked, interrupting the debate in her mind.

  “Huh?” she responded, caught off guard by the question.

  “You told Reav we’d see him soon,” Jarek reminded her.

  “I guess it depends,” she replied. “If you end up wanting to come back, we’ll come back.” Though she’d agreed to come back here if necessary, she hoped deep down that he’d like the change in scenery and want to avoid this awful place.

  Arriving at her ship, the two entered and made their way to the cockpit. Kalla sat in her pilot chair and fired up the engines. Moments later, the ship lifted off the ground, hovered momentarily in the sky, then shot off into space.

  Jarek glared out the window of the cockpit, looking down toward the planet as it quickly disappeared from view. “Where we headed?” he asked.

  “Svati Prime,” Kalla replied, initiating the autopilot and turning her chair toward him. “It’ll be a while,” she said. “Let me show you around the ship.”

  Chapter 16

  With several hours of autopilot behind them, a sensor on her ship began its alert, announcing their arrival at the planet of Svati Prime, where Kalla hoped to complete her original objective and unload the remaining Directive property on board.

  Kalla had been a smuggler and a con artist for most of her life, but she’d wanted out for a while now. This final job would have meant the end of a life as a smuggler for both her and her crew—until fate had intervened. While it was too late for her crew, she still had the chance to finish what she’d started. One more job and she was done. She had to finish, for her crew.
r />   She could see Svati Prime from the cockpit, a planet she hated. Because it was on the outer rim of the Dar system, the Directive had almost no control, making it the perfect destination for those involved in questionable, even outright unethical and illegal activities.

  Entering the planet’s atmosphere, Kalla followed the coordinates in the navigation system, searching for a place to land. Within seconds, her ship’s nav computer connected to the local planetary directory, uploading landing coordinates, finding a match to the location she’d been given a long time ago.

  Kalla guided the ship down toward the destination and gently touched down, landing just on the outskirts of what looked from above like a small, undeveloped town. Once on the ground, she shut the engine off and stood. “Stay here,” she told Jarek as she prepared to leave the ship. “I’m over a week late as it is, so my contact will only be more suspicious if I bring a big brute like you along.” She winked in jest as she brushed past Jarek who, from the look on his face, didn’t like the idea of letting her go alone.

  “No, I’m coming with you,” he demanded. “This place looks a little too dangerous.”

  “Look,” Kalla responded convincingly, “I’ve gone up against the Vie by myself. I think I can handle anything I run into here.”

  “I’ll stay out of sight—” Jarek pressed, “act like we’re not together.”

  “Staying in the ship is staying out of sight,” she countered. “I promise I’ll be fine. Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

  “Fine,” Jarek conceded. “But I don’t like this.”

  “It’s just a meeting. I’ll find a buyer and tomorrow we’ll get rid of this stuff and get out of here.” Kalla left the ship, closing the ramp behind her, and began walking toward the run-down town. She glanced back toward her ship only once to see Jarek standing at the cockpit window, arms folded, a stern look on his face.

  Up ahead she could see the perimeter of the town, a rusted metal washboard fence standing a good four meters high, surrounding her destination. As she approached, her eyes searched for an entrance but found none.