by Rinelle Grey
Forsaken Planet
Rinelle Grey
© 2014 by Rinelle Grey
Previously Published as Reckless Recon
www.rinellegrey.com
All rights reserved.
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Table of Contents
Blurb
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
About the Author
Blurb
He expected searing heat. He expected acid rain. He even expected the sunburn from hell. What he doesn’t expect is to meet the most prickly, irritating, and fascinating girl he’s ever known.
Kerit never wanted to explore the universe, or even go into space. Not like his space force captain brother. But somehow he finds himself following him half way across the galaxy to help terraform an inhospitable planet. Maybe he does have something to prove after all.
Folly has plenty to prove, but the most salient is to find her father's ship and show that he was a brilliant scientist. Accompanied by her cheeky albino pet skuttle, Chicken, she doesn't need any more help, certainly not from the cute stranger who thinks he knows what is best for her.
But shadows lurk in the ruined city, and Kerit and Folly realise someone—or something—is hunting them. Can they survive long enough to find out if their attraction is more than just surface deep?
Forsaken Planet is book 3 in the Worlds Apart series.
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Chapter 1
Kerit lay in his bunk, staring at the photo on the wall. The curling wave, with the sunlight glinting off it, was the perfect reminder of all he’d left behind. It almost seemed to be taunting him, yet he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
It had been three weeks since he’d heard the sea. Three weeks since he’d ridden a wave, perfect or otherwise.
What was he doing here? This ship had been named ‘Resolution’, because all the people here had a resolve to find a new home. But in all his twenty-seven years, he’d never been interested in exploring or settling new planets. Yet here he was.
Heaving a sigh, he rolled to the edge of the bed and sat up. He was just feeling cooped up after so long in space. Once Tyris went down to the planet tomorrow and started the terraforming reaction, it would only be a matter of days before they were settling in on Semala and settling in to their new home.
And he’d be able to find the ocean. It wasn’t far from the old city.
It’s not like you can make your living surfing here, his mind taunted him. He ignored it. He’d find something to do. Maybe fishing.
Had any of the ocean life survived the meteor blast that had decimated the planet?
He needed something to eat. It was nearly dinner time and he was hungry. Tyris had been setting the time back by an hour each day to get them all adjusted to the day/night cycle on Semala and it was playing havoc with his body clock. That was all. Things would seem much better after he’d eaten.
He stood up and exited his room, then headed down the empty corridor, his footsteps echoing hollowly. The stale smell of too many people squeezing into this space for too long filled his nose. He tried not to compare it to the fresh, salty smell of the ocean.
Somewhere down the corridor, a baby’s cry pierced the metal walls. He wasn’t the only one sick of being stuck on this ship. The sound stopped suddenly, and the silence pressed in around him.
In the stillness, he heard a quieter sound nearby—a more adult sobbing. Kerit frowned. He was only a few steps from his brother, Tyris’s room. The door was slightly ajar and the sobbing came from inside.
He strode the last few steps and pushed open the door without thinking to knock. “Is everything okay?”
Marlee, his sister-in-law, looked up in surprise, her eyes red from crying. She quickly swiped at her eyes and gave a shaky laugh. “Of course it is. I’m just having a pregnancy hormones moment.” She patted her swollen belly.
Kerit hesitated, but Tyris was absent, and he couldn’t leave Marlee alone here crying. He crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed beside her. “Anything I can help with?”
When his brother had married the first time, Kerit had felt like he lost him. When he’d married Marlee, he’d felt like he gained a sister. He’d spent so much time with her when Tyris was away that he felt almost as close to her as he did to his brother—and a lot more protective.
“No, it’s nothing really. I’m just going to miss Tyris tomorrow when he goes down to the planet, that’s all.” She fiddled with the handkerchief in her lap.
Kerit didn’t argue. If there was one thing he’d learned in the last three weeks on board a ship full of pregnant women, it was not to argue with them. Nor did he try to comfort her with the fact that Tyris wouldn’t be gone for more than a day. There was obviously something more bothering her. But what?
As he pondered the question, her face tightened and the hand that had been rubbing her belly paused. Her breathing changed to almost panting.
Panic filled Kerit. “The baby isn’t coming now is it?” Not the best timing, with Tyris leaving first thing in the morning.
For a few moments, Marlee didn’t say anything, then the lines on her face eased, and she relaxed. “No, not now. It’s just Braxton Hicks.”
The confusion on his face must have told her he had no idea what she was talking about, so she explained. “False contractions. Practice, I guess. I’ve been having them on and off for a couple of months now.” She grinned and he was glad to see her expression lighten, even though he still wasn’t convinced. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to have the baby right now.”
He stared at her one more time, but she was definitely smiling, so he relaxed a little. “Well, don’t worry. If you did, I would rise to the occasion. I’d run as fast as I could to bring Tyris.”
She gave a little laugh. But her hands scrunched at the handkerchief in her lap. “As long as he’s here.”
That was the issue. “You’re worried the baby will come tomorrow, while he’s down on the planet?” he guessed.
She shook her head, but her hands didn’t relax. “It’s really not likely. Dr Benton said she thinks it will be another week. But babies are never predictable. Especially first ones.”
Kerit patted her leg absently and stared off into space. His brother should be here, with his wife. She was putting on a brave face, but he could tell she was nervous. This could be their only child, Tyris shouldn’t miss the birth.
But the mission he was going on down to the surface tomorrow was important too. The baby could be born tomorrow, or it could wait for weeks. They couldn’t put the mission off.
Someone had to go. But if it wasn’t Tyris, who then?
He stood up abruptly. “Tyris should be here,” he told Marlee.
She grasped his hand. “No, he has to do this mission. I’m sure it will be fine, and everything will be better when we get down to
the planet. I’m okay, really.”
“I know you’re okay. But you’d be better if Ty was here with you. I’m surprised he’s going, knowing you’re worried about the baby coming.”
“He doesn’t know. I said I’d be fine, and Dr Benton said the baby wouldn’t come tomorrow. And I’m sure she’s right.”
Kerit patted her hand. “I’ll sort it out,” he repeated.
“Don’t tell him,” Marlee begged. “Please. He’ll just worry. But he has to go anyway, I know that.”
Kerit looked down at her. It was just like Marlee to try to protect Tyris. She always thought of everyone else’s needs before hers. “I won’t tell him,” he promised.
She relaxed a little. “See, I’m feeling better already. I just needed to remind myself that everything will be fine. You know how everything always seems worse when you’re all alone.”
Kerit gave a wry grin. “I know exactly what you mean. I was just going down to the mess for some dinner because I’d had enough of being alone myself. Do you want to come?” He could talk to Tyris later. After he was sure Marlee was okay on her own.
She shook her head. “I’m okay now. Tyris and I are going to have dinner here later, just the two of us. I might have a nap instead.”
Kerit hesitated, but she genuinely seemed to be feeling better and more relaxed, so he squeezed her hand once and let it go. “If you’re sure? I am rather hungry.”
“Sure. Thanks, Kerit, I feel much better now.”
When he left the room, closing the door softly behind him, it wasn’t in the direction of the mess that Kerit headed. Instead, he walked the opposite way down the hall to the hanger bay where Tyris would be loading his shuttle for tomorrow.
His brother wasn’t alone. “Here, this jacket should protect you from most of the UV rays,” said Imyne Bekkert, head scientist on this project, and also their mother.
Dr Benton was packing lots of smaller packets into a drawstring bag. “I’ve packed a first aid kit for you with lots of burn cream and a couple of extra bottles of water.”
None of them noticed Kerit, standing in the doorway. He cleared his throat and everyone looked in his direction.
“Hi, Ker,” his brother greeted him. “Come to help me pack?”
“No,” Kerit said. “I’ve come to say I don’t think you should go.”
Everyone stopped and stared at him.
His mother’s lips pressed together. “What are you talking about? We’ve come all this way to terraform this planet, this is no time for your jokes.”
“I’m not joking,” Kerit said quietly. He’d promised Marlee he wouldn’t mention that she was worried, but he had the perfect reason to use instead. “I’ve been thinking about it, and it doesn’t make sense for Ty to go. You’ve all said it’s dangerous, with the UV and stuff, and there’s always a risk to climbing, even if this mountain does look easy. And Ty is the only one who can fly the Resolution.”
“Well someone has to go,” his mother said. “If not Tyris, who? You’re not offering, are you?”
“What’s so strange about that?” Kerit said. “I’m as good a climber as Tyris. Better probably. Why not me?”
Everyone was silent for a moment.
“You can’t fly the shuttle for one thing,” Tyris said finally. “There will be plenty of things you can do to help out once we’re down there.”
“He has a point though,” Dr Benton spoke up. “It doesn’t make sense for the only person who can fly the ship to put himself at risk.”
“I’m not going let Kerit put himself at risk either,” Tyris objected. “And anyway, being the only person who can fly is the reason I’m going. The only way to get down to the surface is by shuttle, remember?”
“Flying a shuttle is easier than flying the Resolution though, right?” Kerit said.
“Of course. This type of shuttle practically flies itself, but…” Tyris began.
“Then show me. I’m a quick learner.”
“It’s not that…” Tyris seemed at a loss. “It’s just… It’s my responsibility.”
When did his brother get all sensible and responsible? An image of Marlee, her hand resting on her belly, came to him. Probably about the time he found out he was going to be a father.
“Your responsibilities are here, Ty,” Kerit said softly. “To the people that followed you and are trusting in you. I can handle this.”
He met and held his brother’s eyes. Tyris nodded slowly. “I know.” Then with more certainty. “I’m sure you can.”
Dr Benton and his mother were still just staring at both of them. Tyris turned to them and said with a smile. “Change of plans. Better fill Kerit in on all the details.”
His mother sighed. “Lucky you’re both about the same size.” She looked Kerit up and down. “The jeans will do, and Tyris’s jacket will fit you.” She held out her hand, and Tyris passed it to her.
Kerit tried it on, flexing his arms, checking to see that the jacket didn’t impede his movement. The baggy, slightly reflective material was comfortable enough and shouldn’t hinder his climbing ability. When his mother handed him a full face plexiglass mask though, he stared at her. “Can’t I just wear sunscreen?”
She looked at him over her glasses.
“Fine,” Kerit agreed with a sigh.
When she handed him a pair of leather gloves though, he couldn’t believe it. She might know a lot about the conditions on the planet, but it was plain she’d never climbed a mountain in her life. “The sun isn’t even going to be up. That’s why I’m going so early, isn’t it?”
“It won’t be up when you start the climb, but by the time you get to the top, then back down, it will be mid-morning—and if it rains...” She shuddered.
“If it rains, you need to put up the umbrella immediately,” Dr Benton added picking it up to show him. “The plastic coating on your clothes will protect you to some extent, but if it gets into creases or gaps between layers, then it can burn your skin badly. The umbrella is specifically designed to be able to withstand it.”
Kerit was diverted. “Seriously? You think I can stop on the side of a cliff and put up an umbrella?”
Dr Benton smiled a little. “It may be a little tricky, but do the best you can. Luckily the weather patterns make rain in the next day-night cycle unlikely. Just keep it in mind.”
Kerit nodded. He’d keep it in mind, even if it was pointless. None of them had any idea of what climbing was like. Especially not his mother. Sunburn would be the least of his worries if his handhold slipped. “I can’t climb in gloves though,” he said. “Not thick ones like this at least. I won’t be able to feel the rock, or get a firm grip. Falling to my death is going to be worse than a sunburn.”
His mother frowned, turning to Tyris and raising her eyebrow questioningly. “Surely gloves won’t make that much difference?”
Kerit waited, sure his brother would back him up. Tyris frowned. “Climbing in gloves isn’t ideal,” he agreed. He turned to Kerit. “But neither is the risk of getting burnt. It’s serious, Ker. This isn’t just a regular sunburn.”
“Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” his mother said. “If Kerit doesn’t think he can climb in the gloves, maybe it’s better that you go.”
“It’ll be fine,” Dr Benton interjected. “Kerit has all the equipment he needs to stay safe. He just needs to use it.”
Tyris didn’t let it go that easily. “Mum’s right. This isn’t going to work. This climb is dangerous. I should be the one taking the risks, not Kerit.”
“This climb’s a cinch,” Kerit said. The climb wasn’t the problem. He’d climbed far higher mountains back on Urslat. And that was just for fun. “I could do it in my sleep. No vertical faces and plenty of decent sized ledges.”
“How about in gloves then?” His mother raised an eyebrow.
Kerit stared at them, and sighed. “Do you have any thinner ones?”
They searched through the supplies they’d bought, but the rest of the options were even
worse. Thick, heavy gardening gloves, or slippery plastic ones. The leather ones really were the best of a bad bunch.
Kerit sighed and pulled them on, flexing his fingers. Oh well, if it turned out his mother was exaggerating the danger from the sun, he could always ‘lose’ them once he was down on the planet. “Okay then. But give me some sunscreen, just in case.”
His mother sighed, but Dr Benton added a tube of thick sunscreen to his backpack. “Don’t rely on this to protect you for more than five minutes at a time,” the doctor warned. “It will cut down on UV exposure, but we don’t have anything that’s strong enough to block it completely.”
Kerit nodded. “I’ll remember,” he said, mostly in the hopes of getting everyone off his back.
Tyris thumped him on the shoulder, dislodging his headgear so that it fell in front of his face. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Kerit straightened it. “That leaves me a fair bit of leeway,” he teased.
His brother gave a mock frown. “Come on, Ker. I’m a sensible married man now, I don’t do crazy things anymore.”
“Well, it’s not like I’m going down there to meet girls.”
His mother frowned. “No, you’re going down there to place this beacon, and if you don’t get it high enough then the whole reaction could fail. You need to take things seriously for once, Kerit. This isn’t a game, like your surfing.”
Of course she’d found a way to disparage his chosen career. “You think there’s no precision in riding a wave?” Even as the words came out of his mouth, he wondered why he bothered. Nothing she said was going to change him.
His parents had waited patiently when he started surfing at fourteen, sure it was just a passing craze. They were convinced he would give it up and devote himself to study and ‘become something’ once he got it out of his system. It didn’t matter that he’d been surfing for twelve years now and supporting himself comfortably with sponsorship money for the last seven.
He’d never measured up to Tyris and his prestigious Space Force career, but that had never really bothered him. Until now. There wasn’t much need for a surfer on a space ship. He could have stayed comfortably where he was if his whole damn family hadn’t packed up and left.