“I’m the sensible one. I’m the sensible one,” Niall chants under his breath while taking in deep breaths.
“Would you rather go down below?”
“My stars, Lyra. You’re going to get us in trouble.”
“You started it.”
“How?”
I open my mouth to answer, but movement catches my eye. Something dark near the back of the pit. Odd. I don’t think anyone is working there. The lights don’t reach all the way so it’s hard to see. I stand to get a better look.
“What’s wrong?”
“I saw…” I take a step.
Niall grabs my arm and pulls me behind him. “Me first.” He draws his weapon. Beau and Menz are hurrying over to us with their guns in hand.
“Where’s the trouble?” Beau asks.
Feeling silly, I point to the back corner. “I thought I saw something move. Probably nothing.”
“Menz, stay here with Lyra,” Beau orders. “Niall, with me.”
They advance to the area, moving slow and keeping the piles of rubble between them and the back wall. Beau signals Niall and they split up, each going around a stack of broken Warriors. When they disappear from sight, a large shadow darts out.
“To the left!” I shout.
Both men burst from cover then stop.
Beau signals.
“Where is it?” Menz asks me.
The shadow is crouching behind another pile, hidden from the men, but not from us. “Can’t you see it?” I ask Menz.
“No.”
I tell Menz and he relays the information via hand signals. Beau and Niall creep up on the shadow without making a sound. Impressive since there is sand and rubble everywhere.
When they get close, the shadow breaks cover and runs straight at me. For a second I’m thinking it’s man-shaped, but then it transforms into one of the shadow creatures from my dreams. And it’s a meter away.
Terrified, I grab Menz’s arm. “There!” I point.
“I don’t see anything.”
I backpedal as it advances. “Shoot it!”
“Shoot what?”
It brushes against me, knocking me down. I yell as something sharp rips my shirt. Then it reaches the bright light and between one blink and the next, it’s gone.
Niall is standing over me in a protective stance. “What happened?”
“Did you see it? See what clipped me?” I ask Menz.
“No.” His voice has an odd tone. “There was nothing there.”
Sixteen
2522:160
From the ground I stare at Menz. Nothing there? Nothing there? Is he blind? “It knocked me over.”
“It?” Niall asks. He’s still standing over me.
“Yes. A shadow-blob thing. It ripped my shirt.” I push up onto one elbow.
“Stay down,” Beau orders me.
“What should we do?” Menz asks.
“Call the boss.”
It didn’t take long for Radcliff and six members of his team to arrive. Using bright spot lights, they do a thorough search of all four pits. Unable to participate, I remain in Pit 4 with Niall.
“Can you describe the shadow-blob thing?” Niall asks while we wait.
I have to give him credit for not teasing me or treating me like I’m insane. “No, but if I get the molding clay from the soch-area, I can try to shape one for you.”
The security team finds nothing. Dusty and sweaty, Officer Radcliff approaches and asks all the same questions Niall did. My answers don’t change, except now that I’m no longer scared, I sound insane. But I pull my shirt away from my stomach and show him the rip. The shadow’s blade didn’t cut my skin, which I was relieved about before, but now I’m thinking a little blood would go a long way in my favor.
Radcliff runs a finger along the tear. “It’s clean. Could be from a blade.”
“Or a shard,” Menz said. “She fell into a pile of them.”
The rest of the security team avoids meeting my gaze. Except Keir, she tilts her head at Menz and rolls her eyes. Nice that someone else supports me.
“There’s nothing here now,” Radcliff says. “We’ll double the guard in the pits. Niall, Keir, Beau, and Menz, you’ll remain here.”
“Yes, sir,” four voices say in unison.
“Morgan, set up a new schedule for the pits.”
Yes, sir,” Morgan says.
“Those on duty can return to your posts, the rest, as you were,” Radcliff finishes.
There’s a bit of muttering as they leave.
Keir comes over to me and lowers her voice. “If you need to chat, let me know. You’re surrounded by all that testosterone and they just don’t get it. You know?”
I did. “Thanks.”
She touches my shoulder and joins the others.
“Miss Daniels, come with me,” Radcliff says.
I’m back to Miss Daniels. This can’t be good. Niall’s conferring with Beau and has his back to me. I follow Radcliff through the pits. I scan the dark areas. Not that I have any desire to see another shadow-blob, but spotting one would prove to everyone it exists. My parents are waiting for me in the archaeology lab along with two more security officers. That’s the entire team. Great.
Of course they pounce with the questions. And of course they don’t like the answers either. My mom presses a cool hand to my forehead, checking for a fever. Then they escort me to the infirmary for, you guessed it, a brain scan and cognitive tests. Afterwards, I lie in a darkened room, listening to the hushed voices just outside.
“…too soon…concussions…slow to heal…”
“…post-traumatic stress disorder…”
“Couple days…”
“…better…some rest…”
I’m discharged with orders to limit my activities for the next few days. No extra projects, just soch-time and school. Mom and Dad say good night, giving me supportive hugs before I trail Radcliff back to our unit. Huh? Did I just say our? I’ve only been on probation for ten days.
When we return, it’s late so I go to bed. Except I can’t sleep.
Did I imagine the shadow creature? Could it be just a manifestation of my dreams because of my concussion? Like a waking dream? Menz was standing right next to me. If he didn’t see it… But I felt the blade. Or did I? Could it have been just a shard? I know from experience that if they’re broken just the right way those little suckers can slice open a finger. By the time I drift off hours later, I’m convinced it was an overactive imagination due to trauma. Sounds better than going crazy.
The next day, no one says a word to me about what happened in Pit 4. I do my school work in Radcliff’s office. And Keir escorts me to lunch. Of course, I can think of a million reasons why Niall doesn’t want to see me. I probably embarrassed him and pissed off the entire security team.
In the canteen, she fills her plate until it’s almost overflowing, while I take a few pieces of cheese and some crackers. The heavy mass rolling in my stomach since yesterday has destroyed my appetite.
She points to my meager rations. “You gotta eat more than that. It keeps your strength up.”
I glance at her pile. “You must be very strong then.”
Keir lets out a hearty laugh. “You bet your pampered ass. I can take down half the security guys and boy do they hate it.”
“Pampered ass? Do you not know I’m on probation and can’t do anything without an escort?”
“Yup. You have us all running around attending to you like you’re the Queen of Yulin,” she teases.
I can’t help it, I laugh. “Lyra Daniels, Queen of Yulin has a nice ring to it. Perhaps you should start calling me Your Majesty.” I add Queen of Yulin to my career list along with Criminal Mastermind and Refuses to be Ignored.
“You wish.” Keir spoons some of her meat onto my plate. “Eat. Once your doctors say it’s okay, you’ll be burning calories like crazy.”
“Uh, why?”
“Training. Officer Radcliff wants you able to defend
yourself and guess who’s gonna be your instructor.”
“You?”
“You bet your—”
“Pampered ass?”
“You catch on quick for a spoiled lab rat.”
“So says my glorified babysitter,” I shoot back.
“Ooh, nice. You’ll fit in well with the team. Well, once we get you into fighting shape. You’d be surprised how much confidence you gain when you can take down a man twice your size.”
What about shadow-blobs? Then I realize what she’s doing. “Is this about yesterday? To help me so I don’t jump at every shadow and cause the entire security team to rush to my rescue?”
She studies me. Long dark eyelashes curl from beautiful oval-shaped eyes. “Partly. But the training has always been included with your probation.”
“Do they do that for everyone who gets probation?”
“You’re the first person ever to get probation. Officer Radcliff usually tosses the person in the brig for a few days for a first offense. I don’t know what this is all about, but I’m second to last on the hierarchy. I’m given orders, not asked for my opinion.”
I wonder how the others rank so I ask her.
“Your lover boy is last.” She grins. “Then me, Zaim, Menz, Dorey, Rance, Ho, Bendix, Vedann, Tora, Morgan, and Radcliff at the top.”
“Is it based on experience or age?”
“Both are a factor, but also ability. Rance and Bendix are blockheads—muscular by-the-book guys, but not leaders. Once you show you can keep a cool head in a dangerous situation, you’re moved up in the ranks.”
It sounds like the labs. You start as a tech once you graduate and work your way up to scientist. The smarter and hardworking ones tend to be promoted faster.
Having lunch with Keir was fun, unlike soch-time, and, instead of worming with Beau, I’m escorted back to Radcliff’s unit to rest.
Keir stops me before I shut the door. “You want me to stay?”
“Huh?” Confused, it’s all I can manage.
“My last assignment, my team was ambushed—for lack of a better word—by Shredders—these big doglike creatures on Planet Epsilon. Big teeth, acidic drool and hooked claws. Nasty things. We fought our way out and no one died, but for many days—and I’m talking close to a hundred or more—I had nightmares of those Shredders ripping into me. I’d wake stabbing my pillow with my knife.” She shudders. “My security partner figured out what was going on and he—the stubborn fool—camped out on the floor of my bedroom until the nightmares stopped.”
Now I understand what she’s doing, but I can’t help ask, “How long did that take?”
“Only a couple nights.”
Ah. “Thanks for the offer, Officer Keir—”
“Elese, that’s my first name.”
I smile. “Elese, but I’m not having nightmares about the looters.”
“That’s good.” She slaps me on the back. “You’re pretty resilient for a spoiled lab rat.”
“And don’t you have other work to do? Like guarding the toy chest in the rec room?”
“I like you.” She waves and heads out.
The feeling is mutual, causing guilt to squeeze my chest as I wasn’t completely honest with Elese. Shadows and not looters haunt my dreams.
Dinner is a sad affair. Niall and my parents are a no show and Radcliff has to work so I’m on my own.
By the third day of this, I invite Elese in to play cards. She’s easy to hang with and she fills me in on the security gossip. “Menz needs to deck Dorey right upside his spiky head, but Ivan’s too nice, which is why Beau keeps picking at him.”
“Beau’s nice to me,” I say in his defense.
“Oh yeah, he’s just testing Ivan, like he does to everyone. Sees how much they can take before they get angry enough to deck him. It’s always good to know a person’s snapping point. We go into some dangerous situations and these people are protecting your back.”
“How long did it take before you decked him?”
“I didn’t have to. Every time he started that nonsense, I gave him my hard stare.” Elese demonstrates. It’s chilling. It’s a don’t-even-think-about-messing-with-me-or-I’ll-tear-you-in-two expression. “He stopped picking on me soon after.”
“Impressive. Can you teach me?”
“Definitely, but don’t try it on Radcliff, he’s immune and he’ll respond with his own stare that’ll about knock you across the room.”
Remembering Radcliff’s glare on my first date with Niall, I say, “I think I’ve seen it.”
“And you’re alive to tell the tale?” Elese says with mock amazement.
“It was aimed at Niall.”
“Ah. He’s not immune to his dad’s killer stare, but he’s not as affected as the rest of us.”
Once Elese beats me at Sevens five games in a row, she heads out and I’m left standing in the middle of Radcliff’s common area. It’s sixteen-hundred hours and since no one has joined me for dinner the last three days—don’t bother the crazy woman—I figure I’ve eight hours of nothing ahead of me. And to think detention is all day of nothing—I would have gone insane. I shuffle to my room and crawl under the covers.
A knock wakes me.
“Lyra, dinner,” Radcliff says.
“I’m not hungry. I’ll eat later.” I pull the blanket back over my head.
Another knock, but then my door opens.
“I said I’m not—” The material is pulled down and reveals my mother’s concerned face.
“Are you okay?”
No, everyone thinks I’m crazy. “I’m fine, Mom.”
“Then why aren’t you hungry? You’ve had three days of rest.”
“Resting doesn’t exactly work up an appetite.” I didn’t mean to snap at her. “I’m sorry. I’m just bored.”
“Then you’ll be happy to know we have all the materials for the symbol project. You can start tomorrow.”
Energized, I sit up. “Really? You’ll let me work on it?”
“Why not?”
I tap my temple. “Brain damage.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Lyra.”
“And Niall might not be interested anymore.”
“Let’s ask him before you assume.”
“Ask?” I squawk.
“He’s having dinner with us. Unless you’d rather stay in here and pout?”
“But—”
She sits down next to me on the bed. “You were almost killed in Pit 4. It’s not unusual to have an adverse reaction the first time you return. We shouldn’t have asked you to work on the General so soon. Everyone understands. Now get up and join us.”
Typical Mom—comforting softness followed by bossy orders. Just what I needed. I change out of my rumpled clothes and fix my hair. The conversation at the table doesn’t even pause when I join them. Niall flashes me a smile and I about melt into a Lyra puddle.
Eventually talk turns to the symbol project.
“Of course I’m in,” Niall says, sounding offended by my question.
“When’s the best time to work on it?” Mom asks us.
Niall glances at his dad. “Are we still—”
“For a couple more days.”
“Evenings are best,” Niall says to me. “Will that work?”
Considering everyone knows my schedule, it’s nice of him to ask. “Yes.”
“I’ll bring the supplies to dinner tomorrow.” Mom spears another piece of meat with her fork.
I gaze at Radcliff. Did he expect to have a full table when he put me on probation? He did invite my parents that first night and he appears to enjoy their company. The man left his ship family to protect us on Yulin. Perhaps I shouldn’t give him such a hard time… Nah. Where’s the fun in that?
After the adults leave, Niall and I snuggle on the couch. He drapes an arm around my shoulders. I lean against him and tuck my feet up underneath me. His body heat soaks into me and I would be content to remain here all night. There’s a couple of his sketchbooks on t
he table along with a small box. I wonder what’s in the mystery container. His chalks?
“I can’t stay long,” he says with regret. “My shift starts at oh-two-hundred hours.”
“Why so early?”
He tenses. “Ah…”
I sigh. “Your dad is still doubling the guards in the pits.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry I freaked out,” I say. “Does the entire security force except Keir hate me?”
Niall pulls away. He looks me in the eye. “Not at all. They understand. In fact…”
“What?”
He scrubs a hand through his hair. “I’m not supposed to tell you.”
I straddle his lap and grab his T-shirt in both my hands. “Oh no. You can’t do that to me. Out with it, Toad.”
“Or what?”
Ah, hell. Didn’t expect that. A memory from my childhood bubbles to the surface—my brother’s sure fire way to get me to talk. Releasing his shirt, I bend my fingers so they resemble claws. “I find out if you’re ticklish.”
He gives me a sly smile. “You do know where my hands are right now. Don’t you?”
They’re resting on my waist. Under my shirt. Skin on skin. Oh my stars.
“I’ll bet that you’re a lot more ticklish than I am.” Niall moves his thumbs.
Instead of bursting into uncontrollable giggles, my breath catches as heat spreads over my stomach. His hands move upward, brushing my ribs. Fire races across my skin. All thought of tickling him for information dissolves when his thumbs reach higher. They slide under my bra and I gasp as they graze my breasts.
“So much for that bet,” he whispers before kissing me.
The combination of his lips on mine and the soft strokes of his thumbs create a pulsing desire deep inside me. I tangle my fingers in his hair. Then it’s all raw sensations and lustful thoughts. The need to be in contact with more skin drives me to pluck at his shirt. I want it off. Now.
Niall groans and breaks away. He grabs my wrists before I can pull him back for another kiss. “My father… return…anytime,” he pants.
Cold reality douses me. The rest of the world rushes back in. Somehow I ended up underneath him on the couch. My bra is above my breasts. Niall moves to the far end. I straighten my shirt and fix the annoying undergarment. Sitting up, I settle on my side of the couch. Is it bad that I’m considering not wearing a bra the next time Niall and I have some alone time? Probably.
Navigating the Stars Page 22