He scanned the dense, tangled vegetation circling the sinkhole and shook his head. “It’ll take us too long to go around.” Especially with bugs on their tail.
“What?” Jamie looked up at him. “How will we get down?”
Aydin backed up. The noises behind them were getting louder.
Her hand clenched on his arm. “Aydin—?”
He ran. “Hold on tight.”
“Oh, shit.” She snatched the little furry alien off his shoulder and pressed the animal to her chest.
Aydin leaped into the air.
Then they dropped, the air rushing past them. They hit the water with a splash.
Bubbles erupted around him. He kicked hard and they all came up spluttering.
“Hell.” Jamie spat out a mouthful of water.
“I’ve got you, Lieutenant.”
She stared at him for a long moment. “I know.”
His chest warmed. Then the furry alien came up, chittering angrily, and shot Aydin an accusing look.
With a bark of a laugh, he kicked toward the edge of the sinkhole. When they got there, he treaded water and helped Jamie climb out.
The alien leaped up, running around in circles to shake off the water.
Then Aydin gripped the edge and pulled himself out. Jamie was sitting there, shaking, and he slipped an arm around her. They turned and saw bugs pouring around the side of the sinkhole.
It wouldn’t take the aliens long to reach them.
He scooped Jamie up again and ran into the trees. When they broke into the clearing, he saw Caze and Lara at the stealth ship.
“Thank God,” a relieved Lara called out. “You weren’t getting our comms calls. We thought we’d lost you.”
“Bugs incoming,” Aydin said.
The space marine nodded and waved them up the ramp. As Lara came in behind them, she smacked some controls and the ramp started to retract.
Jamie patted the furry alien. “Off you go, cutie.”
The alien creature clung to Jamie.
“Ow. These claws are sharp. You have to go.”
The alien glared, big eyes glowing, and didn’t move.
“Go, or you’ll be stuck on the ship.”
“No time,” Caze bellowed from the cockpit.
Aydin turned and saw the warrior was already firing up the engines. They rumbled to life.
“In your seats,” Caze added.
Aydin helped Jamie into a chair. “I guess your cutie is coming with us.”
As they strapped in, Aydin saw the bugs streaming out of the undergrowth in front of the stealth ship.
“Let’s go, baby,” Lara said.
A second later, they blasted off.
Chapter Ten
Jamie gripped the armrests as they zipped through the Kelaff sky. Her legs were still horribly numb and she pushed that worrying thought to the back of her head.
Her furry friend was agitated, gripping Jamie’s side.
Jamie slipped off her gloves and patted the creature. “We’ll be okay, cutie.” Cutie suited the little thing, when it wasn’t going into a killing rampage. “Think that can be your name.”
Cutie chittered.
A ripple of pain tore through Jamie’s belly and she swallowed hard. “Cutie, it is.”
“Jamie? Are you all right?”
She glanced at Aydin strapped in beside her. “Sure. When will feeling return to my legs?”
His head swung her way. “It hasn’t already?”
Dread filled her gut like concrete. “No.”
Before he could respond, alarms started blaring from the cockpit. Cutie gave a chitter of fright. Jamie heard Caze and Lara both cursing.
“Kantos swarm ships have spotted us,” Caze yelled out. “Hold on!”
Their ship veered to the left, throwing them all against their seats. They raced upward, darting through the thick clouds. Laser fire cut across their path and Jamie felt the ship shudder.
Hell.
This was the bit Jamie didn’t like about missions—being stuck on a ship, under attack, with nothing she could do.
Then she remembered that even if she could fight, she couldn’t even stand up right now.
The stealth ship dived and then pulled up fast, her stomach threatening to follow. The momentum pushed her back into her seat, and she gripped Cutie and gritted her teeth.
Damn Kantos. She wished them all to hell.
Jamie looked down at the trembling alien in her arms and that’s when she saw a rash on the top of her hands. She hissed out a breath. The tiny red blotches were spreading. Her chest tightened.
Boom.
Laser fire hit the ship and sent them spinning sideways through the clouds. Aydin’s hand snapped out, closing over hers. Jamie could tell that he hated just sitting there too.
“Take that, assholes.” Lara worked the controls, returning fire.
The stealth ship’s lasers arced through the sky. There was an explosion outside, a swarm ship breaking into fiery pieces.
“Woo-hoo!” Lara yelled.
“Leaving Kelaff’s atmosphere,” Caze said.
“Get our stealth field activated,” Aydin yelled.
Ahead, the viewscreen filled with the familiar blackness of space. Jamie blinked, her vision blurring.
“Cren.” Caze slammed a palm against the controls. “The stealth engine’s damaged.”
“What does that mean?” Aydin demanded.
Caze glanced back. “I can’t activate stealth mode. We have no camouflage.”
Oh, shit. Jamie fought through the fogginess filling her head. If they couldn’t go into stealth mode, they’d be a big damn target for the Kantos.
“It isn’t far to the border,” Lara said. “We can make it. We’ve been in tighter spots.”
“Lara’s right,” Jamie said. “We can make it—” Suddenly, pain slammed into her. With a cry, she doubled over in her seat. Cutie leaped off with a worried squeak.
Aydin unstrapped.
“Aydin, stay in your seat,” Caze bit out. “We have Kantos swarm ships in pursuit.”
Aydin ignored Caze’s order and knelt down beside Jamie’s seat. He lifted her hand, and when he saw the rash, he pushed her suit sleeve up as far as it could go. The rash was running up her arms. A muscle ticked in his jaw.
“Chest…tight,” she said.
He pulled out his scanner, running it over her. “Caze, Jamie’s reaction is worsening rather than getting better.”
“Give her the emergency ration of havv,” the warrior said.
Jamie knew the healing havv could cure a lot of terrible injuries.
“Wait a second,” Lara yelled. “Brace. Swarm ships!”
The alien ships raced past the viewscreen and the stealth ship rocked. More laser fire lit up the space in front of them. Jamie tried to focus on what was happening, but the pain was too much. She saw Aydin stumble and hit the wall.
Suddenly, the ship rocked violently. She felt pulses of energy through the air and heard glass breaking. The hair on her arms rose.
“What the cren?” Aydin yelled.
More things shattered around them, and with a loud crack she saw the viewscreen break out in a web of fractures.
“Oh shit,” Lara said. “What is that weapon they’re using?”
Jamie tried to pull in air, but her lungs were getting tighter and tighter.
“Get us out of here,” Aydin yelled.
Caze sent their ship into a dive, then several dizzying turns. Aydin stumbled to his knees, gripping onto his seat so he didn’t go flying.
“Caze!” Lara yelled.
“I’m pulling all power to the engines,” the warrior said. “We need to go faster.”
Lights blinked around them and they picked up speed.
“We’re losing them,” Lara said. “They can’t keep up.”
The stealth ship kept up the increased speed and they finally evened out.
“The swarm ships are retreating.” Lara laughed.
; “They won’t for long.” Caze turned, glancing at Aydin who was pulling himself to his feet. “They’ll go back to the battle cruisers and come after us with everything they’ve got.” The security commander glanced at the shattered viewscreen, and then all the broken glass and splintered components around the ship. “Ever heard of that weapon they used?”
Aydin shook his head. Then he lifted his medical scanner. The screen was completely destroyed. “It emits some sound frequency that breaks glass and other surfaces.”
Jamie pulled in a rasping breath and Aydin’s gaze snapped back to her. He yanked open his medical kit.
“Can’t…breathe.”
“Hold on, shara.” He lifted a small case out. “The havv will heal you.”
He opened the case and froze. The color drained from his face.
“Aydin?” Caze said.
“The havv vials are broken.” He lifted a small vial, the tiniest drop of red dripping off it.
Jamie pulled in another harsh breath.
Aydin tossed the vial aside and helped her from her seat, until she was lying flat on the floor. Her breathing was raspy and each pull of her lungs hurt. “Hot.”
“She’s burning up and can’t breathe.” Aydin looked up. “Without the havv, she won’t make it to the Desteron.”
Jamie thought she heard panic in his voice. That couldn’t be right. Aydin Kann-Ath didn’t panic.
Pain hit her again and she started writhing. Everything turned into a blur, her vision a tunnel. All she could see was Aydin’s strained face.
He leaned over her, trying to help her.
“Caze, we need a plan,” Aydin said.
There was a pause.
“We can go to Daarna Waystation,” Caze said.
Aydin grimaced, his gaze dropping to Jamie. “Do it.”
“Daarna Waystation?” Lara asked.
“A pocket of independent space,” Caze replied. “It’s a small moon on the Eon-Kantos border. It’s for traders, travelers…”
“And criminals and scoundrels,” Aydin added.
Jamie tried to turn her head. The warriors didn’t sound happy. “Aydin…”
“Shh, shara. I’ve got you.”
It was the last thing she heard before she passed out.
* * *
Aydin stared hard at Daarna Waystation as they approached. Linked domes in pristine white stood out starkly against the rocky, gray surface of the moon.
Hurry up. He wanted them down. Now. He kept his fingers wrapped around Jamie’s wrist, feeling her erratic pulse. Her skin was burning hot.
Without his scanner or medicines, he was completely useless to her.
Caze brought them in to land in the large, cavernous docking bay. All around, starships of various makes and models were parked.
Aydin blew out a breath. They’d all been worried that the viewscreen wouldn’t hold. The cracks had worsened, leaving it hard to see out of the screen.
He looked at Jamie. Her face was flushed and her body twitched. Cutie rested beside her, the alien creature clearly worried.
“I’ll take care of her.”
Big green eyes looked at him.
“You need to stay on the ship.”
Cutie chittered, bouncing upright.
“No arguments.”
The side door of the stealth ship opened and a silhouette filled the door. The man wasn’t very tall, with a sturdy body, large mouth, and green-tinged skin. He wore baggy coveralls—the standard uniform of maintenance workers across the galaxy.
“I’m Larrs.” He made a harrumphing sound. “Eon.”
Caze pushed out of the cockpit. “We’ll pay for docking and repairs.”
Larrs made another phlegmy sound. “Your kind aren’t very welcome around here.”
Lara cocked her head. “Really? Why?”
The maintenance man’s gaze narrowed. “You aren’t Eon.”
“Nope. Terran.”
“Never heard of Terrans.” He flicked a glance at Caze, then Aydin. “Eon are arrogant, try to boss everyone around, and always think they know best.”
Lara grinned. “Sounds about right.” She elbowed Caze and her mate rolled his eyes. “They do grow on you, though.”
Aydin leaned down and scooped Jamie into his arms. “She needs medical help.” Edgy panic was like a vise around his heart. His helian was agitated as well, enhancing the uncomfortable sensation.
He was used to fixing people, not feeling this horrible sense of helplessness.
Larrs grunted. “Was a fight in the Medical dome three days ago. Two rival gangs. Smashed the place up real good. They’re still rebuilding it and we haven’t had the medical transport in to replenish supplies yet.”
Aydin’s stomach dropped. “What are you saying?”
“Don’t have what you need to heal your woman.”
Swallowing, Aydin looked at the rash on Jamie’s hands. It was getting worse, as was her fever. “Someone must be able to help her.”
The man glanced at Jamie, then back at Aydin. “Go see Dass at the Outlaw’s Rest. It’s a bar in the main dome.”
A bar? Aydin glanced at Caze. The Outlaw’s Rest didn’t sound like the kind of place where they could get help.
Then Jamie moaned. The pain in the sound tore at him. He lifted her higher against his chest. “I’ll take care of you, shara. No matter what.”
They strode off the ship after Larrs.
“You stay here,” Aydin said to Caze and Lara. “Get the ship operational.”
The security commander hesitated, then nodded. “Call me if you need us.”
With a nod, Aydin strode out of the docking bay into a dingy corridor. It was wide, the floor uneven, and the walls patched in places. The people of waystations like Daarna were good at making do with the resources they had. Lots of people were walking through the corridors—some well-dressed, others in rags, all of them lots of different species.
He got plenty of strange looks—curious to belligerent. The Eon didn’t agree with the unruly and often illegal waystation way of life, but generally didn’t bother them too much. He reached the main dome. It was filled with echoes of noise—laughter, voices, the hum of machinery. On the far side, he saw a row of doorways leading into various restaurants and bars.
He spied the sign for the Outlaw’s Rest and headed in that direction.
As he neared the door, a man came flying out, landing on his belly before he rolled. He threw his head back and laughed, clearly drunk or high.
Stepping over the man, Aydin entered the bar.
The place was fairly busy, with people drinking, gaming, and doing business at the rectangular tables.
He headed for the bar.
A young man stepped in front of him. He wore a gaudy outfit of neon green and yellow. “An Eon warrior.” The man’s voice was filled with awe.
“Out of my way,” Aydin said.
The man flipped his long, styled hair back from his face. “I’m Jesk. The best bard in all of Daarna.” The man sketched a low bow.
A woman leaned over from a nearby table. “The only bard on Daarna, thankfully.” She laughed.
Jesk shot the woman a searing look, then cleared his throat and returned his attention to Aydin. “Can I sing of your noble Eon greatness?”
“No.” Aydin sidestepped the man and headed for the bar.
But Jesk followed. “I can sing tales of your large, manly physique.”
“No.”
“How about—?”
Aydin stopped, Jesk running into his back. He swiveled and skewered the man with a sharp look. “See her?” He nodded at Jamie.
Jesk’s gaze dropped.
“She’s a hard-working, tough warrior who’s sick. I don’t have time for singing.”
The young man swallowed. “Right.”
“I never have time for singing.” Aydin reached the bar and caught the eye of the female bartender. The woman was older, with graying hair and a small set of horns nestled amongst the gray strands. Wh
en she looked his way, setting some glasses on the scarred bar, he saw she had old, old eyes of a light brown. A woman who’d seen it all.
Then her gaze dropped to Jamie’s unconscious form and she headed toward him. “What do you want, warrior?”
“My friend is hurt. An allergic reaction—”
“Medical was destroyed. Nothing I can do to help.”
Aydin dragged in a breath. “A man at the docking bay said you could help.”
The woman sniffed. “Larrs is an old fool.”
Jesk leaned in from the side. “Long before she became the proprietress of the best drinking establishment on Daarna, Dass’ family were known as healers.”
The bartender swung her head around, pinning the man with a laser-focused stare.
Jesk coughed. “Ah, I think I’ll go and see if someone needs my singing.” He scurried off.
Aydin looked back at Dass. “Please.”
Dass wiped a glass and set it on a rack. “Never heard an Eon warrior say please before.”
“She needs help.”
“You care about her.”
Aydin felt a bunch of different emotions fill him. “I’ve never met anyone like her before.”
Dass released a long breath. “Come.” She ducked out from under the bar and jerked her head at one of the other bartenders. “Flax, take care of the bar.”
She led Aydin toward the back of the bar and through a doorway. A narrow hallway was lined with closed doorways. His enhanced senses picked up conversations, a trio having a loud bout of sex, and several people sleeping. He noted the walls were covered in dents and laser scorch marks.
Dass pushed open the door to a small room. Inside, it was simple, with a narrow bunk and a metal side table.
“I don’t have any fancy medical tech,” Dass said. “All I can offer you is old-fashioned healing.”
He laid Jamie on the bed. “I’ll take whatever you have.”
A young man bustled in holding a large bowl, cloth, and a jug of water.
“You need to cool her fever,” Dass said. “And then give her this.” The woman put her hands in the pockets of her voluminous pants. She pulled out a small vial of brown liquid.
Mark of Eon: Eon Warriors #5 Page 8