Shadows of Mallachrom, Book 1: Blue Fire

by Michelle Levigne

  "It all depends on our course and schedule," her friend hurried to say. "But it's a big responsibility. We have too much important work to go joy-riding through the whole universe. Speaking of work, I should get back. Rhi, help me do pre-flight?"

  Burkan and Petroc took the hint. They made their farewells and managed to get Danil to leave without bodily carrying the boy away. Nureen tapped the clearance code into her wristband and the hatch lifted open. She climbed in halfway and perched on the double step.

  "He's kind of cute, you know?"

  "All little boys are cute at that age."

  "Petroc." Nureen rolled her eyes. "You must be taking this mission seriously, if you haven't noticed that yet."

  "It must be true, what they say about rocket jockeys and over-active hormones." Rhianni bit her lip, feeling her face warm. "Sorry. Didn't mean--"

  "I've been overdoing 'hail and well met', haven't I?" She slid up to the next step and reached around the side of the tiny compartment. Something started to hum deep inside and lights came on, illuminating the two seats and the slanted control panels full of screens and lights. "You weren't too happy about this mission to start with. Still eating at you?"

  "Mallachrom is my home. The success of this mission means too much to me. I'm too close to it."

  "Caring makes a good Rover. Your father was the best, and he cared about everybody."

  "I care too much. The responsibility hurts. Adventure and challenge, fine. No problem." Rhianni swallowed hard against a crack in her voice. "What if I mess up?"

  "And what if you don't do anything about this problem on Mallachrom? Who will step in and help if you don't?" Nureen rested both hands on Rhianni's shoulders and squeezed. "We've been friends since we were little brats. You always led the way when it came to helping someone. There's got to be something more to this than a fear of failure." She cocked her head to one side and studied her friend. "Maybe Petroc?"

  "What does he have to do with my mission?"

  "He's cute. He watches you whenever you're not looking at him--a lot, by the way." She grinned. "It's about time you started waking up to the lesser gender."

  "Nureen!" Rhianni felt her face warm again. Despite herself, she grinned back.

  "I think I know what the problem is. You're Rover all through. No fun, no thinking about yourself until the mission is over." She let go of Rhianni and stood to climb into the shuttle. "Take my advice. Get this mission over fast so you can give him the attention he wants."

  "Easier said than done."

  "That's what makes it fun." Nureen settled into her seat. "Blessings, Rhi. I'm only a transmission call and short shuttle flight away. If you aren't careful, I might just steal Petroc from you."

  "Not in a million Standards!" Rhianni shot back. She hurried away from the shuttle as the engines squealed into life, feeling the blush creep over her cheeks.

  Rhianni needed to get out into the wilderness. She knew from experience that a two-man sled and one person were harder for satellites and security drones to track than an entire squadron of Rovers. She had to investigate those illegal settlements. She alerted her seconds among the Rovers and packed her sled for a camping trip of only a week. That was all she could allow herself, before someone got suspicious.

  She would broach the topic of Taken repression with Petroc when she had enough data to justify what gut instinct had screamed all along. Maybe then, working together and no longer keeping secrets from him, things would start happening.

  The first step was to get out and see things for herself. Maybe some alone time would help her get her thoughts in order. Fortunately, she knew just who to go to for equipment and advice, all given in confidence.

  "I'd say you were crazy if you didn't look and sound so much like your father right now," Burkan said.

  His voice, mixed laughter and frustration, caught Petroc's attention. He got up from his spot on the sofa, where he helped Danil with his reading, and stepped over to the door between the office and the living quarters. The door hung ajar just enough to permit the sound of voices. He nudged the door far enough to let him see into the next room. Rhianni stood in the doorway, dressed in a field service jumpsuit--reinforced patches at elbows and knees, multiple pockets on legs and arms, heavy boots and a belt loaded with knife, multi-dart, rope and her medical kit. She carried a full pack on her back and held a card key in her fist. Probably for her two-man sled.

  "I'm better equipped for it than any of the scouts and trappers," Rhianni said with a stiff smile. "This is something I have to do."

  "I know, but there're nasty critters out there."

  "Want to know what my drawing speed and accuracy were, the last time I tested? I know the signs for all the deadly animals and plants on Mallachrom. This is what I wanted to do when I was a little girl, remember? If it starts to get heavy out there, I'll come home, promise."

  "Your father, all over again." Burkan shook his head. "He'll come back from the grave if anything happens to you. I've got dozens of Rovers--scorch it, I've got General Day to answer to, if anything happens to you."

  "I'm a legal adult, and this is something I have to do. Maybe I've been training for this all my life. You couldn't stop me even if you tried. And I know you won't."

  "No, I won't." He bowed his head over his desk full of paperwork. "Go on. If you come back with one scratch that isn't necessary, I'll whip your rear so hard you won't sit until winter, got me?"

  "I got you." Rhianni reached for the door handle, then dashed across the floor to Burkan's side. She hugged him and brushed a kiss across his cheek before fleeing.

  Petroc stepped into the office before the door clicked closed. Burkan didn't look surprised to see him. Sometimes Petroc wondered just how sensitive Rover-trained people were, and how little they let it show.

  "Where's she going?"

  "Says she wants to get Mallachrom back into her blood. Camping." The magistrate silently studied Petroc. "If you and Gan happen to see her out there, don't let her know."

  "Right." Petroc strode back into the living quarters. "Going hunting--you obey Burkan, hear me?" He scooped up Danil, carried him under one arm into the office, and settled the boy down at his own desk. Danil giggled and agreed without begging to come along, as he usually did. Petroc was out the door before that little detail registered.

  He ran toward the Enforcer barracks, ignoring the soft whine of Rhianni's sled as it lifted from the field and headed for untamed forest. Gan met him halfway and hooked a thumb in the direction she had gone. Before he could ask, Petroc told him. Gan growled a few curses.

  "If she sees--" He shook his head.

  "Burkan wants us to keep watch without her knowing. If she drifts in the wrong direction...well, we'll guide her away."

  Gan stared at him several seconds, then a slow, nasty grin lit his face. He gestured back at the supply depot. "I can get a sled in about half an hour."

  Morning mist from the river beyond the ridge hung heavy in the trees. Rhianni studied the swirls from the lower branches of a tree. Beyond her reach hung purple and gold fruit. Gisseg trees flowered and fruited all year long, but never closer than eight kilometers from the contamination of civilization. They were good eating after being split and scooped out of their hard, transparent casings.

  "Just a little more," she muttered, reaching as far as she could. The branch shifted under her. She snatched at the one above as she slipped. She didn't need to fall to the stony moss below. The noise alone might bring predators to investigate. She didn't want to have to test her own doctoring skills only two days into her hunt.

  Rhianni scooted further out along the branch, praying it wouldn't break. It was already too thin for comfort. She needed another fingertip added to her reach to pick the fruit.

  A warning tingle traveled up her spine as she touched the fruit and felt the knobby rough ridges. Rhianni held still, listening.

  The tingle changed to the itchy sense of being watched. With great intensity, rather than just casual, c
urious observation. Rhianni smelled nothing but crushed moss, damp bark, the mist that washed the world clean. She heard nothing but the soft breath of the wind flipping a few leaves by her head. Telling herself to relax, she lowered her gaze.

  Blue eyes surrounded by blue-black fur looked up at her. The massive canine head tipped slightly to the side as those eyes sparkled and followed her every move, every breath. The tips of its pointed ears were even with the bottom branch of the tree, nearly two meters up. The Shadow directly below her could rise on its hindquarters and reach her dangling feet with jaws or claws.

  Those eyes captivated her, as they always had in her childhood. Rhianni had forgotten the depths of intelligent awareness in those enormous eyes. She saw only curiosity, no hint of threat. Instinct and her happy childhood said the creature was safe.

  And yet, she considered herself lucky to meet one so close to Human civilization. If she could make friends with even one Shadow, she would be safe out here. She might even find what she wanted much sooner.

  But what if the naysayers in Core were right and Shadows had indeed become a threat to all Humans?

  She certainly couldn't stay up in this tree for the rest of her life.

  "Hello," she said, her voice cracking and weak.

  Around her, the rising sun cast golden and pink streaks through the mist, burning it away. Rhianni's outstretched arm protested staying in one position. She lowered it. The movement shifted the Shadow's attention to the fruit.

  "Do you want it?" Another twitch of the ears and its jaws dropped open. A long tongue flicked out. "Why do I think you're laughing at me?"

  Rhianni had an idea. She caught the gisseg between three fingers and tugged it free with a soft pop. She hefted it, then let it drop.

  The gisseg hit a stone with a snap. Rhianni thought it cracked on impact. The Shadow snatched the fruit in its jaws and crunched. The case split open, falling to the stones and the creature bent its head to lick the fruit out of the two halves.

  The enormity of what was happening washed over her. A Shadow had found her, sought her out. Rhianni remembered the fun she'd had with Starfire as her playmate.

  Gut instinct told her nothing could have changed in the intervening years to make Shadows hate Humans. With that renewed certainty, she felt much better about being out here alone with no help but her gun, her reaction time, sharpened senses and survival skills. She could dare to roam more than a day's walk from her sled, now. The Shadows in the area would protect her, might even hunt for her. Just like Starfire had hunted for Mandia Day, when the Shadow adopted her mother decades ago.

  If this Shadow adopted her... Rhianni refused to let her thoughts wander into the possibilities.

  She slid down, paying more attention to the Shadow than to where her hands and feet went. It sat back on its haunches and watched her, mouth open, tongue hanging out, eyes sparkling with silent laughter. An invitation gleamed in those eyes. Childhood memories guided her movements. Rhianni knelt next to the Shadow and slowly, gingerly sank her hands into its fur. The Shadow nudged her arm with its cold, wet nose. She laughed but stopped when the Shadow tucked its nose between her arm and side and nudged her hard enough to knock her off her knees. When she was little, such a move from Starfire would have made her burst out in gales of laughter. The sound caught in her throat. She forgot to close her eyes as the Shadow pinned her shoulder to the ground with one massive paw and washed her face.

  "Starfire?" she sputtered, when he stepped back, sat down, and gazed at her with too-familiar amusement in his eyes. Rhianni wiped her face on her sleeve and studied the animal, who studied her in turn, his head tipped to the right.

  Could this actually be Starfire? No one but her mother had ever done any in-depth study of the animals. Who really knew how long Shadows lived?

  "Please," Rhianni whispered. She got up on her knees and wrapped her arms around the Shadow. Starfire--every heartbeat insisted this really was Starfire--pressed his muzzle into her loose hair and snorted. He nuzzled her ear.

  It took all Rhianni's control not to burst into tears.

  An image filled her mind of Starfire sitting guard at her mother's grave pillar. Watching the night sky, studying the stars and waiting for Rhianni and her father to come home. She didn't care if it were true or just her imagination. She felt as if a part of her that had been badly out of tune had finally settled into a larger chord. An emptiness she had never even sensed until that moment filled with the Shadow's presence.

  Starfire whined, the familiar, scolding that had always meant, 'stop wasting time'. She sniffled and rubbed at her eyes as she sat back. Starfire took her jacket sleeve in his teeth and tugged until she stood. What else was there to do but follow? This was Starfire, who had guarded her cradle and fished her out of the spring-swollen river when she was four.

  They followed the riverbank for almost an hour as the day grew older, the sun warmer, and the mists slowly faded. Twice, Starfire nudged her into the shadows of the trees. Rhianni ducked down, making herself as small an object as possible. Each time, the Shadow stood over her, shielding her from the view of whatever was on the river or the opposite bank, but also keeping her from seeing. Rhianni knew better than to complain or resist. Starfire wanted something, and short of running away or turning her gun on him, she would have to obey.

  Then she smelled smoke. She smelled something burning, scorching on metal. There was a sour odor, with something sickly sweet underneath it. A chill raced up Rhianni's back, tightened her scalp and slithered down to churn her guts.

  Noise reached her ears now, diluted by crossing the river. Men talking. Metal hitting metal. The dull thunk of someone chopping wood. The stench alone made her want to turn and run. It reminded her of bad situations when she had come in after a raid or rescue mission to tend the wounded, and had to walk through the filthy base camp left by the enemy.

  Poachers? It had to be a temporary camp, because of the distance from the nearest illegal settlement.

  Starfire sat next to her while her mind spun through the implications. Rhianni dropped to her knees, rested a hand on the Shadow's neck, and whispered, "Poachers?"

  Starfire turned to her, and for a moment she was lost in his sapphire gaze.

  "Is that why you brought me here? To see them?" She couldn't quite believe the Shadow just wanted her to know of poachers. Was she supposed to do something? Sunlight flashed off her tool wristband. A slow grin stretched across her face.

  She didn't doubt for a moment Starfire knew what she could do and what resources she had at her disposal. It only took seconds to activate the signal beam. Captain Solrak responded from the Star Sword before Rhianni could sit down to wait.

  "Are you sure they're poachers?" the Rover captain asked, after Rhianni had explained her situation and what she needed.

  "Hunting has always been forbidden in this sector."

  "Are you sure they're hunting?"

  "I smell the rotting carcasses." Rhianni wrinkled her nose. The scent of old, drying blood and rotting flesh conjured images she preferred not to remember.

  "You are within five kilometers of one of those illegal settlements inside the satellite line."

  "More weight to the argument."

  "If we come down during the day, they'll see us and have a chance to run."

  "I can keep watch until then."

  "Davo just gave me a schematic." The captain's voice took on some eagerness. "There's a meadow perfect for landing, surrounded by trees for sound buffer and camouflage, on their side of the river, about a kilometer from their site--you say you're directly across the river from them?"

  "Pretty much."

  "Meet us there. We'll go in on foot. What do we do with them when we've caught them?"

  "You're taking all the fun out of this." Rhianni sighed. She was in charge of this mission, after all. She hadn't considered what to do with the poachers yet. Stopping them from killing animals illegally had been the priority until now.

  "If they come fro
m that illegal settlement, then somebody high in authority knows what they're doing."

  "If we turn them in to the authorities, what are the odds they'll just be released?" she continued. "You could take them to visit the General."

  "We'd get answers that way, wouldn't we?"

  Chapter 10

  Rhianni spent the day with Starfire after finding the meadow where Nureen would land the assault team. A stream meandered across the far corner and cut through the forest to trickle into the river. She washed her clothes and took a much-desired bath.

  All her life, she had been too sensitive to smells. She hated synthetics and being enclosed. It had taken discipline and years of exposure before space travel became anything other than a trial. She had reacted badly to the first three contraceptive/STD-preventive implants the Rover Corps used, and had been hospitalized once before the right combination of totally natural ingredients had been found. She preferred being barefoot whenever she could, so she could read the life of the planet through her feet.

  As if she had been born a Taken.

  Maybe the Shadows had affected her in her mother's womb? Rhianni rather liked that idea.

  Starfire liked her much better after she washed and changed her clothes. He nuzzled her, even as he took nips at her sleeve, urging her to get moving again. Rhianni had looked forward to a lazy afternoon, but she knew better than to ignore Starfire now, after he had led her to the poachers.

  They walked--so far, Rhianni feared getting back to the meadow to meet Nureen and the assault team on time. She made notations in her datapad, taking visuals of the terrain they went through, as well as chemical and biological scans. This was the farthest anyone had ever gone out into the wilderness of Mallachrom in an official, recorded capacity.

  Two kilometers from the poachers' camp, the terrain turned rough, as if the ground had been churned with massive, spiked wheels during a flood and then left to dry hard. Rhianni didn't like the feelings she got from the land as she followed the Shadow into a rut wide enough for three people to walk abreast. There was something sour here. Like a wound gone bad. Not quite rotten, but close. She didn't want to be around when the illness she tasted on the air finally did turn bad. It would be like a massive boil erupting, spewing corruption like a volcano.