In Death's Shadow

by S. F. Edwards

  The sight of a black hover-van pulled her from her musings as Blazer passed it. She looked back at the vehicle. Even the windscreen was blacked out. How many times have we traded position with that thing already? She was about to ask Blazer that question, when he took a sharp turn and brought them to an abrupt halt.

  Annoyed, she turned to find out what the matter was and gasped at the sight before her. The bed and breakfast that greeted them looked ancient, as if plucked from some millennia-old painting. Portions of the stone walls appeared as if they might even have stood during the Vedek Wars. Though modern accoutrements adorned its exterior, including the doors and windows, it had been restored to look as it might have when first built.

  “It’s beautiful,” was all she could manage, as the Dask of Outcome decorations and lights glistened across its face.

  “It’s said that Sir Archen of Qualm brought Lady Speare to the original inn after their state wedding. I saved up to arrange everything for us, this cycle.”

  How did I find this perfect man? she mused and gave him a quick kiss. “I’ll make sure it’s worth it.”

  They leapt out of the car, their clothes tightening their weaves to keep the cold at bay as they ran through the parking lot. Once inside, Blazer checked in, and the innkeeper gave them a knowing wink.

  Marda flushed but could guess why. All around the massive fireplace that took up the foyer, young couples gathered in intimate conversation.

  Before she could say more, Blazer led Marda up to their room. She marveled at it. It was cozy but afforded them a view of the mountain peaks beyond. It even had a private fireplace across from their bed. She couldn’t believe she had never been here in all the times she’d visited these mountains.

  “This is gorgeous!” she breathed in the hearty wooden smell of the place and gave him a kiss. “So what did you have in mind?” she asked, eyeing the bed.

  “I have it all planned,” he replied and took her to the window before pointing across the street. “That little restaurant over there has everything cooked in wood-fired ovens. We have lunch reservations.”

  Marda looked out the window toward the restaurant and spotted the hover van they’d passed before, now sitting across the road. Nothing about the blacked out vehicle stood out in any way, and that’s what drew her eyes. It was too nondescript with no logos or markings, even though it looked like a delivery vehicle. She was about to say something to Blazer when the driver jumped out with a package and ran it into the shop across the way. She sighed in relief and shook her head before taking in the rest of the town.

  “What is it?” Blazer asked.

  “Probably nothing, but you see that van?” she replied pointing to it.

  Blazer looked down, his brow scrunched up with concern. “We kept passing it on the way up here, didn’t we?” A smile crossed his lips a moment later. “You were diplo corps so you’ve probably never seen them before; we used to have vans like that visit us whenever we went places with the Admiral.”

  Marda looked back at him, not sure she understood.

  “It’s an intel courier, I’ll bet there’s a high ranker in that building, and they’ve just run a secure macomm or data chit.”

  “Not very subtle,” Marda remarked. “I mean if I noticed it…”

  “Yeah, the Admiral, my grandfather, has tried for annura to get the intel spooks to use something less conspicuous.”

  Shaking her head, Marda turned back to look out the window. Smoke rose from the chimney of the café Blazer had indicated. Get rid of the holographics and the cars, and I’d swear that Blazer had just transported us back in time. It was such a radical change from the academy and home that it set her mind at ease. And here I am with my brave prince. To Sheol with the war, this right here is heaven.

  “Then there’s a hiking trail over there, up the mountain,” he continued, pulling her back into reality.

  A hiking trail? Is he serious? We’re hardly equipped for a snow hike. She looked back at him with a raised eyebrow. And?

  “The trail leads up to the resort’s main attraction,” he continued pointing at a structure up the side of the snow-covered peak. “The mountaintop inn has natural hot springs inside a vast cavern underneath it.”

  Marda shook with joy. “Hot springs?”

  “Private hot springs. I hope you brought your swim suit.”

  Marda nodded. So that’s why he asked me to bring it.

  “We’ll hike up, warm up in our private hot spring, then go to dinner. After that, we’ll take the underground tram back here and then it will be just you and me all duwn long.”

  Marda turned to Blazer and kissed him, then looked up at him with a mischievous grin. “You sure you have that much stamina?”

  He looked back down at her. Kissing her again, long and hard, he replied, “After a decle withour our dawn runs, most assuredly.”

  ***

  Hects later, Blazer slammed his back into the door. Dinner reservations were the last thing on his mind now as he ground against Marda in the hallway. Had the stupid automated attendant not told them that ‘the exchange of bodily fluids is prohibited within the hot springs,’ he and Marda would have made love right there. Instead, they rushed back in the underground tram, kissing the whole way back to the inn. It took all of Blazer’s willpower not to strip off Marda’s clothes on the ride back.

  Wrapped in a mad embrace with Marda, Blazer managed to key open the door and they stumbled into the room. The rest of the world didn’t exist as Blazer shed his clothes and helped Marda with her own before they flopped onto the bed. Passion clouded his senses, all he could perceive was the woman before him. He slipped off his underwear and kissed Marda again while she wriggled out of her own. He felt as if the slightest touch from Marda would send him over top.

  A cough from the table beside the window and the faint sound of voices from above the fireplace froze his hearts.

  Marda pulled away from Blazer and looked as well. “Jell!” Marda screamed and pushed Blazer off before grabbing the blanket and covering herself with it.

  Blood burned in Blazer’s face as he rolled to the floor and ducked down beside the bed to hide his arousal, lust now boiling into rage. “What are you doing here, Jell?”

  Jell just smiled back at them and turned off the holo-vid playing above the fireplace. “Uh, the Admiral and Grandma booked a room up here. You know, for their annual Dask of Outcome getaway. When they saw your grav-car here, they thought it might be nice to surprise you.”

  Blazer just stared at his sister, his vision focusing on her in a red haze. Why did I ever save your life? You little brat! He glanced at Marda and she motioned him to get Jell out of there. What are you hiding, Jell? “How did you know we were here?” he hissed as Marda drew more of the covers over herself.

  Jell looked over at Marda and smiled. Marda blushed and looked back at Blazer, her eyes screaming at him to get rid of Jell before the moment was lost for good.

  “Come on, big brother. How could I know that they would schedule their getaway here, and so would you?” she asked with feigned innocence.

  Blazer sneered back at his sister and, naked or not, began to stand to exact his vengeance, his fingers tingling with electricity. “You have to be kidding me.”

  Jell turned a wicked smile on both of them. “Yep, and they are waiting for us downstairs. Once the admiral found out you had reservations at the Overlook Inn, he had them pushed back. They wanted me to let them know as soon as you arrived.”

  Blazer could not stand that smirk on his sister’s face, and raised his hand, lightning beginning to arc between his fingers. “You never go on their getaways. You were planning to ruin this the whole time, weren’t you?”

  Jell just smiled as she made her way to the door and sparked her own lightning between thumb and finger, shrinking the gap as she went. “Oh yeah. Payback, big brother. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to let them know that you’re here.” She looked over the pair as she walked to the door. “You kn
ow the admiral. He’ll expect you in about twenty pulses,” Jell said, then scampered from the room.

  Blazer gritted his teeth and pulled back the energy built up in his hands. I brought this on myself. I should have known that Jell would do something like this, after the guys and I kept her and that idiot Kane from screwing two annura ago. But why did she have to be such a brat about it? He looked down, saw that the rage had left him limp, and sat down on the edge of the bed. “I am so, so sorry.”

  Marda slid out from the blanket and caressed his back, driving a shudder up his spine. “We still have the room.”

  Blazer looked back at her. “You don’t know Jell. She won’t let us be alone together.”

  “We’ll figure something out,” she reassured him.

  I truly hope so.

  “Twenty pulses to get ready. That should give us time to at least take a shower,” Marda whispered into his ear.

  “Just a shower,” he remarked. It was a far sight from what he had planned for the duwn, but it would have to do for now. They ran to the bathroom.

  If both their macomms hadn’t beeped to pull them away, Blazer and Marda would have remained in the luxuriant hot water spray of the shower until the water had gone cold. Considering the microfusion plant which powered the inn and heated the water that would have been a long time indeed. It refreshed them both in ways that the sonic showers at the academy never could. The confines of the shower allowed them unfettered access to each other, and Blazer did not waste the opportunity to explore every part of Marda’s body, a favor Marda returned to his great pleasure.

  The admiral, Blazer’s grandmother, and Jell sat waiting at one of the tables near the main fireplace as he and Marda came down the stairs. Feeling the Admiral’s eyes on them, Blazer removed his hand from Marda’s back and clasped it around her hand. The old man had been squad leader to Blazer’s maternal grandfather, after whose death he had delivered the death notice to his wife. A widower himself, he’d spent the next few annura attending command school and falling in love with Blazer’s grandmother, Cherela. They’d only been married two annura before her daughter, Blazer’s mother, Laresse, had graduated school.

  A lifelong civilian, Cherela served as the family record keeper. She’d used to regale the youthful Blazer and Jell with stories of their mother. Hearing them had helped ease the pain of losing his parents. She was also a fantastic cook. Blazer’s friends and teammates constantly found their way to her house after games to celebrate with one of her big Vacnit dinners.

  Cherela waved the two over. Doing his best to stay calm near his sister, Blazer led Marda to sit beside her. “It’s so good to see you two. We thought you’d head straight onto Capben.”

  “Blazer surprised me too, with this stopover,” Marda replied.

  “Oh, well, we don’t want to be a bother. We have the next few cycles to get to know you dear. When are our reservations dear?”

  “We can stay a bit longer,” the admiral replied.

  “So what made you choose Heshin this annura?” Blazer asked, flashing an evil eye towards Jell.

  “It was a gift from Jell,” the admiral replied, as a waiter arrived with mugs of hot buttered rum. Only the mug in his hand kept Blazer from balling his hands into fists as he and Marda both shot Jell looks of contempt.

  Jell just shrugged and took her own drink.

  “Drink up,” the admiral commanded.

  Blazer felt sure the Admiral had noticed the nonverbal exchange. Marda gave his hand a reassuring squeeze and he took a drink, savoring the warm brew.

  “I only wish I was able to get my own room. Somehow my reservation got lost,” Jell remarked.

  Blazer almost gagged.

  Cherela looked up and smiled, wiping away the liquid on her lips with a dainty handkerchief. “I didn’t realize that, dear. Maybe you could stay with Blazer and Marda.”

  “Great idea, Grandma. I’m sure they won’t mind,” Jell replied with false relief. “Though for some reason, the inn booked them in a room with only one bed.”

  Blazer blushed as his grandmother looked his way. I will kill that girl some cycle.

  Cherela was of a conservative lot. Despite the all but compulsory use of conception blocks, she still believed physical intimacy outside of marriage was, at best, improper. “Really? Well, I guess we know what that means.”

  “No, that’s okay,” Blazer responded, trying to avoid the old lecture on impropriety. “I meant to have that corrected, but the inn is all booked up. I was going to sleep on the couch.” I could kill her while she sleeps! But no, she’s not worth throwing away everything I’ve worked for. He looked to Marda and the halfhearted smile she managed. We’ll find a way, we have a decle together in Capben.

  Marda’s smile brightened, and she gave his knee a squeeze. He caught the cruel smile on Jell’s face. The subtle change on Marda’s told him that she’d seen it too.

  “Perfect! Jell can stay with you two. Now come on. I love the steaks at the Overlook Inn. I’ve been told that they’re almost as good as mine.”

  UCSB DATE: 1001.011

  Star System: Classified, UCSBA-13, Command Building

  Why couldn’t the Admiral have been wrong about just this one thing? The smell assaulting Blazer’s nose sent shivers up his spine. He stood in his PT uniform, so deeply outspin beneath the command building that he could feel the extra gravity. He’d been dreading this moment since before security had rousted him and his roommates out of bed, blindfolded them, and had rushed them down here. The iris hatch he stood upon just confirmed what his grandfather had said before. Blazer braced himself as he remembered the e-mail he’d received the cycle before.

  Beginning on UCSB Date 1001.011 you will commence Special Operations Training Course 103. The initial training period will take one tridec, during which time you will be under the direct command and supervision of Commander Tadeh Qudas. This training will test every aspect of your bodies, minds, and spirits. Any who do not live up to the commander’s high Telshin standards will be dismissed from the program. Regular classes will continue as usual. Any who cannot make up the missed work will be dismissed from the academy.

  He took a moment to look around. All twenty-four remaining members of the Blade Force and Explosions were standing on one of the stinking iris hatches. Every one of them was shivering and trying to block out the smell. Their only source of light was a counter on the wall. It took Blazer a moment to realize what the giant shining numbers meant.

  “1598.” It was the number of cadets remaining in their freshman class.

  Blazer hung his head. That’s what, another hundred and fifty who’ve quit over the break?

  Blazer looked around and saw recognition in the others’ eyes. It sobered them all. Gavit’s physical scars had healed, for instance, but the emotional toll of Seri’s loss still weighed on him. Blazer had heard him mutter “Just five more cents…” in his sleep far too often after lights had gone out.

  Seri’s death had left the Blade Force, and the squadron, with a power vacuum. Do I step up? Do I have what it takes to lead these people? He looked over at his chief competitor to lead the Blade Force, Zithe, the Lycan standing as tall and regal as ever, despite the smell curling his nose. Is Arion right? Will he really sacrifice any of us to make sure he succeeds? He shook his head, unwilling to think about that, not now. The team would have to make a decision soon, though, before life took that choice away from them.

  A squeaking hinge drew Blazer’s attention to the rear of the room. He could see nothing in the darkness. Then a call rang out, “Room! Ten-HUT!”

  The icy voice of Commander Tadeh Qudas forced Blazer’s spine rigid as the whole squadron jumped to attention. Tadeh Qudas emerged from the shadows, his grim human skull-faced death mask causing even Blazer to break his bearing when the dim light fell upon it. “At ease,” he called, and the squadron complied.

  Blazer didn’t feel any ease in that moment. The cold grey green lenses covering the eye sockets of the skeletal vis
age concealing Tadeh Qudas’s face made him shiver with primordial dread. If only Blazer could see his face, read some emotion, he might not feel such apprehension, even knowing what was to come.

  “Welcome to Special Ops Training 103, or as it is more commonly known…” Tadeh Qudas announced without a hint of emotion as he scanned the room, “…Death Squad 101. Sixteen potential Special Ops teams are currently enrolled. Of those sixteen teams, the equivalent of seven will not make it past the first two decacycles. Of the remaining nine teams, four might make it to graduation.”

  Blazer considered those numbers and felt the bottom drop out of his stomach again.

  “If you do the math right, it’s a 75% attrition rate overall with over half of that in the first twenty cycles alone. Not a single one of you is worthy of being Special Ops. Not until you prove it to me,” Tadeh Qudas said, then paused for a moment.

  Blazer swallowed hard and firmed up his resolve. He exchanged tense glances with his teammates. He tried not to count how many would fail. Looking at Marda, he found a sobering reminder of the kind of losses the Commander was speaking of. The slump of her shoulders reminded him how much the loss of her original Training Squadron still haunted her.

  “Everything you have done in your careers has led up to this. No matter whether you were on the front line or in a reserve guard, you have all proven yourself able to be here. But taking the life of an enemy is just the beginning, now you will find out what you are truly capable of.”

  Tadeh Qudas disappeared into the darkness again, reappearing high above them on a catwalk a moment later. Blazer stared up at him, the man silhouetted by the numerals. How did he get up there so silently?