Starfire

by Imogene Nix

  “Twenty-five kilometers. Jem, it looks like there’s one more major narrowing. I’m not sure we’re going to be able to get through without being detected.” His voice betrayed his concern.

  “How far from away is it?” she asked as the craft brushed against the side of the canyon, causing a wobble. She fought the craft once more, demanding it bend to her will, but each time they glanced the rough canyon walls, the craft became a little less maneuverable. It was only a matter of time until the craft would be unflyable at their present speed.

  “Five kilometers.”

  “Fuck! I wish we had known before.” The words escaped from between clenched teeth.

  “The terrain here is unsuitable for mining exploration and housing due to the rapidly changing landscape. It seems that this is a new narrowing. Probably an outcrop that’s dropped.”

  Squinting through the view she caught sight of the new narrowing of the canyon. She could clearly see where it had been formed from a falling piece of canyon wall. She glanced at the altimeter, calculated at lightning speed, and dropped the craft.

  “Barsha!” She bit out the word as she pulled the craft just below the mass of boulders and dirt held in place by the existing walls.

  They flew underneath the massive chunk of red rock, caught precariously between the walls of the ravine. The sky grew dark for just a moment, then they were rising once more.

  “We dipped below the deck. Check to make sure we weren’t seen, Chowd.” She pushed the craft harder. “Raven, I need more speed. Increase the thrusters.” Her gaze peered ahead, watching the cliffs whip by. “Chowd, how much further?”

  “Ten kilometers. Nine. Eight. Jemma, ready to land in five. Four. Three.”

  “Disengaging main thrusters. Five hundred meters to landing point...and...” Her hands raced over the controls as she brought the forward thrusters online to slow the shuttle while her body jerked. The bite of webbing at her shoulders had them screaming.

  Tossing plumes of dirt covered the forward screens even as she toggled the landing gear to drop into position. Jemma engaged the undercarriage air thrusters so they hovered above the ground then slowly descended.

  “Landing now.” She decreased the thrust as they dipped toward the ground, and finally, with a soft jolt, they landed.

  Her heart was thudding as she sat exhausted and wrung out in her seat. They achieved the first part of the mission successfully, she told herself. Her eyes closed as she gulped in air, and for a second, all she heard was blissful silence and all she saw was darkness. It wasn’t quite long enough to recharge her batteries for the next phase though.

  “Good job, Jemma. Now let’s get going before they find us here. We have a hike to get to the bunker and we need to make sure we set up the perimeter security for the shuttle.” Chowd’s voice filled the air, pulling her back to reality.

  Jemma undid the belt and headed for the rudimentary sanitary unit. She splashed her face after using the convenience then hauled the door open. Raven stood outside the door, quickly pushed her back in, and closed it again.

  “We only have a minute.” His voice was rough but warmed her. His lips connected with hers in a brutal kiss briefly before he pulled away. “Barsha, that was some flight! You aren’t just good, you have a magic touch.” Raven kissed her once more, this time softly. “We won’t be able to do this again for a while, so promise me...promise—” His voice roughened as his eyes pierced her, the blue depths deepening. “—that you’ll be careful. No stupid chances. Chowd and I can look after ourselves. You need to look after you.” His eyes entreated her to listen, to promise.

  Her hands gripped his, pulling them from her shoulders. “Raven, too much is at stake now. I will take care, because you promised me forever, so make sure you do too.”

  An urgent knocking on the door interrupted them. “Come on, you two, we need to get moving.” Chowd.

  She gulped, accepting that the next few hours could be the most dangerous of her life. She felt Raven pull away and straightened her flight suit under the cumbersome battle jacket once more as he opened the door. Chowd waited on the other side, holding two backpacks in his hand, a faintly amused expression on his face.

  “Wait until you finish your mission, then you can lock yourselves away for however long you need.” He grinned. For a second, she was sure she caught him winking, but it was gone as quick as a flash. “We need to move.” With that, he pushed the packs into Raven’s waiting hands and turned, opening the shuttle door and striding out.

  They hurried after him down the ramp, then she turned, pressed the remote retraction button for the ramp, and waited for it to seal the ship. Finally satisfied, they stepped back, and she deployed the shields that should stop anyone from finding and getting in. Without a word, Jemma slipped the remote inside her boot, and turned.

  Chapter 15

  They’d been walking for hours when the bunker came into sight, the burn of two suns baking the ground as they trudged over the rock-strewn track. Every now then, a small rock fall would occur, showering the ground with dirt and pebbles. They’d slide against the walls, until they were sure there was no danger, then would head back out, moving as quickly as possible.

  Jemma’s mouth was dry and dusty before they resumed their trek, and she took a swallow of water, letting it settle in her mouth and drying the membranes that were parched.

  At the entry to the canyon, a small crevasse hid them from sight as they watched two guards lounging by the entrance, joking. It shocked her to see how much they looked like her. Sure, she’d known they were humanoid with gray skin, but seeing them closer thrust home just how much they could all benefit if they could finalize the peace treaty.

  She cast a look at Chowd. His eyes squinted, and for a second, a mushrooming cloud of worry filled her. What if this was an elaborate set up? She shook herself. No, she trusted Chowd. Raven trusted him too, and so did all the other members of the crew. It was a fanciful notion and so unfair to him.

  As if he could read her thoughts, his eyes flicked to her. “I owe them no allegiance, Jemma. I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure the Earth Empire is successful in their negotiations.” His words were terse, and she was ashamed of her thoughts.

  Raven placed a hand on his shoulder. “We know, Chowd.” Jemma placed her hand over Raven’s.

  Chowd smiled then swung back to the front of the cavern, pulling a weapon from the leg holster he wore. “We need to get out there. Raven and I will head around the back. You need to cover us. Once we take care of the guards, we can see about getting inside.” His voice was once more businesses-like and she breathed deeply, reading that he understood her concerns.

  On silent feet, he and Raven were gone, sliding along the edge of the canyon walls. The light was fading, making it easier for them to keep to the deep shadows, and the black of the uniforms merged into the dark, grayish red of the rock at this point. Raven and Chowd crept behind the guards in tandem, clasping hands over mouths so that no sound escaped. She watched as with ruthless efficiency they dispatched the bodies. Then hefting them over their shoulders, they moved quickly and silently toward her hiding place.

  A matter of seconds was all it took, and they were back, dropping the bodies with a barely audible thud behind a large boulder. Her stomach revolted for a minute, and she looked at Raven. He and Chowd had already bent to the task of stripping the dead guards of the combat uniforms and helmets they had worn. Moving speedily, they stripped off their own clothes, and in the gloom she watched as Raven quickly donned one set.

  Let’s go, he mouthed after they had applied skin color and inserted the contacts in their eyes. They moved into the now empty posts. At first glance, they would look like any other guard as they slouched into position. Jemma waited in the shadows behind Raven, watching silently.

  Silence.

  So far no one knew they were there. She hoped like hell it stayed like that and that they couldn’t hear the thudding of her heart. She was sure it would give them away, b
ut she controlled her breathing, her gaze darting back and forth, watching. A creak and groan of metal filled the air, and she shrank further back. Footsteps. It sounded like just one person shuffling toward Chowd and Raven.

  A young girl came into sight. “Dinner,” she said as she thrust two heaping plates toward them.

  Chowd grabbed the girl, her eyes large with fright. Jemma could see bruises on her skin.

  “Time for fun first.” His voice was guttural. She’d never heard him speak like that and watched with horror as he pulled her toward him. The girl seemed to shrink back, as if she knew what to expect, and Jemma realized he was about to molest her.

  Hot bile rose in her throat, and a whimper escaped and Jemma bit the mound of her palm. He bent his head, and the girl’s eyes flicked open, with terror and fear. Jemma noted the girl’s hands, knotted in the skirt she wore, and her torn blouse and dirty, bare feet. Her clothing was little more than rags, and Jemma surmised that the girl had been there when Crick Sur Banden had attacked and taken over the bunker. It horrified her to realize that the girl not only probably slaved in the kitchen, but also in the beds of the rogues.

  She watched and suddenly noticed that the girl relaxed. She nodded her head, and Chowd motioned her forward. “Get her to the crevasse quickly, then we can get inside.” His eyes held some distant thread of hurt, and she realized he’d seen and heard her reaction. Shame washed over her as she pulled the girl toward the hiding place, moving quickly into the shadows and towing the girl behind her.

  She pulled the girl into the small hiding place, placing a finger against her lips. “Stay here, and whatever you see or hear, don’t come out until you see us. Right? Promise?”

  The girl sniffled and nodded.

  “And most of all, remain silent.”

  The girl looked at him once more and slowly nodded again.

  Jemma slipped back to her spot behind Raven. She desperately wanted to speak and apologize to Chowd for her belief that he would hurt the girl but knew she couldn’t for fear it would give them away. Anger at herself boiled through her veins. She should have known better than to think he would act like that.

  Chowd motioned with his hands to follow silently, and she did. They padded through the doorway and into a small anteroom. She noted the reinforcing immediately, a dull gray metal that curved overhead, and even more underfoot the blood that washed the walls, a coppery- brown tint. The scent of stale blood remained though. Her stomach heaved as she followed the two men through the door at the other end and into a large corridor. The smell and feel of death seemed to hang all around the building.

  Voices drifted from left and right, some rowdier than others, and chuckles and yells filled the air. Chowd once more signaled that they should move swiftly to the left at the small junction ahead, and they moved fast. Time was precious. They had only moments before discovery, and they had several tasks to accomplish.

  Chowd and Raven took position, pushing up against the wall, while she assumed a defensive position, keeping an eye ahead, gun firmly in hand. Chowd’s hand flicked.

  Once more, they moved together around the corner, silently flowing onward. She followed and checked down another hallway and was surprised to see yet another corridor at the end and one in front of her. The place is a labyrinth! She looked back; they were midway along a corridor that mirrored the one right ahead.

  Raven and Chowd moved forward, communicating with hand movements, and she followed their directions and took up the rear position. With the two dealing with the corridors, it was up to her to ensure no one crept up and surprised them. Terror sparked along her nerves as she moved as silently as she could in her heavy boots and controlled the sound of her breathing, only expanding her lungs as much as she needed to.

  Her ears ached as she strained to hear noises over the raucous calls from the door at the other end of the corridor. The creak and groan of the bunker’s dull metallic plating roared, and she shivered.

  Creak. Surprised, she spun around to see Chowd opening a door. Gun ready, she watched as he quickly inspected the room then motioned to them to enter. The door closed with a snick behind them, and she looked around.

  Jemma inhaled. “Raven, you need to shut down their shields, enable the locking systems on the barracks and disable the security systems. Be quick. We only have minutes now before they realize the guards are missing.”

  Chowd turned and looked at her. She opened her mouth, and he lifted his hand, his smile sad.

  “Jemma, I am what I am. You’ve not been with the Elector long enough to know me. Your fears are natural and normal, especially in a combat situation. Perhaps when this war is over, you’ll come to see me as Raven does. I bear you no ill will though. The girl had to believe what I was doing initially, and it would have been easy for you to think the same given the circumstances.” He smiled at her then turned back to Raven. “I have to get to the communications point. Once you close this down, get to detention and find the infiltrator. Her name is Kera Aarens, and she will recognize you with the code Reiver Arch.” He nodded quickly then, motioning Jemma to move to the side, opened the door and was gone, the door softly closing behind him.

  She lifted her gun once more and trained it on the door. She turned briefly to look at Raven. He grinned at her then reached into his backpack for a tool kit. It was hard to turn away and not concentrate on the sounds he made. But she did.

  There was an occasional clack as Raven worked, racing time to disable the shield. When he dropped a tool with a clunk, she nearly hyperventilated.

  No one came. The door remained closed, and she continued to breathe in and out, eyes narrowed on the handle of the door.

  My hands are steady. Jemma couldn’t say why that surprised her, given what she’d managed in the long gone Raptor.

  When a grunt sounded behind her she gasped and whirled, her gaze colliding with Raven’s. He was levering up off the floor and smiling. “One job down.”

  She let out a breath and watched him gather his tools and stash them in a small cupboard, out of sight.

  “According to the layout we have seen, detention should be next door. I’ll go first. Okay?” His eyes glittered, and she nodded.

  He quietly opened the door and looked out, his hand waving her forward as he clicked the door shut. He motioned to the door next to the one they had just come out of, and she assumed a position back-to-back with him.

  So far so good, she mused as the quiet click of the door sounded loudly through the corridor, then she turned her head, watching Raven in action. As she’d seen Chowd do, he entered, gun forward, gaze flicking here and there before he motioned her forward.

  The room stank. Wafts of who knew what, filled the air, making it oppressive. Cages lined the walls; at least seven as far as she could see, some of them spattered with blood and excrement, but no one inhabited them. Her stomach roiled, threatening to expel anything that was in it. Raven was beside her in a minute.

  “Don’t breathe deep. Open your mouth and take shallow breaths. That will help.” His hand touched her shoulder. “You’re doing great, Jem. We just need to find Kera then get to Chowd. Hopefully we can bag Crick Sur Banden while we’re at it.”

  “No mean feat, that,” she said, her tone dry.

  He patted her shoulder, “We already have most of the personnel locked down in the barracks.”

  “What?” She looked at him.

  He tugged her close. “I took care of that while I worked on the shielding systems. Now we just need to neutralize the rest, grab a couple of spooks, and get out of here. See? No problems.” He smiled at her.

  If only it was that simple. Jemma knew exactly what he was doing—lifting her spirits and making their mission as easy as he could. She worked a smile onto her face, but knew he wasn’t fooled when he frowned. “What?” he asked.

  “If she isn’t here, then where could she be?”

  “The schematics have me thinking there’s a room toward the back, near the communications center. I t
hink we need to check down that way and see what we can find.” His hand lifted from her shoulder, and she felt the loss keenly. She cast her gaze around the room.

  “No one should be held like this.” She gestured to the restraints on the bars.

  “We don’t. But the rogues don’t follow any acceptable forms of imprisonment. When this is over, we can raise this with the captain and Admiral, but right now, we have to get the job finished.” He looked into her eyes, captured her gaze, and smiled slightly. “Come on, we don’t have a lot of time.”

  He held out his hand, and she grasped it, allowing him to pull her back to the door. She cast a last glance over her shoulder, burning the memory into her brain, before she looked forward.

  Raven opened the door quietly, and they slipped outside. The danger was acute now as they moved closer to the main areas within the bunker. Somewhere nearby there had to be a secondary hidden exit, and the closer they moved toward it, the more chance they would be found. He moved around the corner silently, slipping against the wall and motioning her to do the same. The first door on the right would take them to the kitchen, and they moved slowly. Inching forward, while the proud head of rivets scraped her back.

  Every few steps, Raven would glance at her, checking to ensure she was still with him. Once she returned his small nod, he’d move on again. At the door, he held his fingers to his lips and opened the door just a crack, but enough to let her scan within, then he waved her forward.

  Within was an enormous, cavernous room. Women stopped and looked up, fear evident in their faces, until Jemma touched one finger to her lips. She glanced around and noted no guards.

  “Are you all prisoners?” The words were out of Jemma’s mouth before she could stop them.

  The woman nearest her rose, and Jemma backed off, gun at the ready. The woman looked at it and said simply, “Yes.”

  Jemma looked around. There were probably thirty women, each in various states of recovery, some sporting bruises, others clutching ripped and torn clothing to their bodies. They cast worried looks toward Raven.