by Gun Brooke
“Are his sounds actually words?” Beaux whispered to Moon as she stopped by her seat.
“Yes, of course.” Moon looked surprised, as if she had thought it obvious. “His sounds combined with his expressions make him easy for me to understand. You’ll see, once you know him better—” Breaking off, perhaps realizing that there would be no time for Beaux to truly know Dancer, Moon redirected her eyes forward.
“I see.” Beaux took the pilot’s seat, and as the propulsion system was on standby, it took her only moments to launch the craft. “All right. Which way, Moon?”
“Due east. I’ll tell you more once we pass the landmarks.” Moon crossed her arms in front of her in a protective gesture.
Beaux took them up and looked out the large viewports in the front as she steered the vessel above the Ilienta camp. Her crew was busy tending to the wounded, while security officers kept an eye out for the beasts. She hoped to hear from Veyar soon, doubting she’d be able to relax before then. This planet seemed as vicious as it was beautiful, yet Moon had survived for more than four years alone. It was mystifying, to say the least, and a testament to Moon’s resilience.
“Heading due east.” Beaux maneuvered the Rapidfire in over the forest, where she had encountered her first brummer, Dancer, and Moon only a few days ago. It felt more like weeks. A gentle hand on her shoulder made Beaux look back. Moon stood just behind her, her feet placed wide apart. “You need to be strapped in.”
“No. I need to guide you.” Bending forward, Moon looked out the viewports. “See that tall tree over on the mountain?”
Beaux leaned forward over the controls and scanned the mountain chain on the other side of the valley. Aligning her sight with Moon’s hand, she saw something that couldn’t possibly be a tree in the far distance. It was beyond huge. It had to be the biggest tree Beaux had ever seen or heard about.
“Damn,” Somas said from where he sat in the copilot’s seat. “That’s some tree.”
“I want to see,” Nia said.
“Nobody else unstraps,” Beaux said firmly. “How close to that tree do you want me to go?”
“That’s my home, right there.” Moon left her, and Beaux heard her strap click.
Beaux pushed the levers and took the vessel in a straight line for the tree. The closer they came, the bigger and more impressive it grew. The leaves displayed colors ranging from light yellow to deep, dark green. Trying to judge its actual size, Beaux had to give up, as its massive crown filled her entire field of vision.
“You can set down on a plateau just above the lake.” Moon’s voice was emotionless, and Beaux wished she could say something to make this invasion of Moon’s privacy any easier. But what was there to say? They had arrived, polluted, prepared to mine and blast to increase already considerable wealth. Nothing Beaux could say about her duties and contracts would make any difference.
Setting down the Rapidfire, Beaux switched off the propulsion system. She looked out the viewports as she unbuckled her harness, trying to make sure none of the crazed brummers were lurking outside.
“Open the hatch,” Moon said. “Dancer’s had enough.”
Punching the sensor, Beaux did as asked, not wanting to torture the unhappy animal any longer than necessary. Dancer bounded down the ramp before it had fully extended, shaking his fur as he disappeared into the woods.
“Where’s he off to?” Nia asked.
“I think he’s had enough of us all for a bit,” Moon said, sounding a little more animated now that she also stood outdoors. “I’m not the only one that’s home. This is his turf.”
“Got it.” Nia glanced around. “This is an amazing place.”
“It is.” Moon looked over at Beaux. “I suppose I better take you to the house. You need to learn how to enter quickly and securely if we run into trouble with men or beasts.”
“The house?” Beaux blinked. Moon had built a house? She pictured a shed, made from fallen branches or something, and wondered how that could protect them all against stampeding brummers.
“Follow me. Bring your stuff.” Moon hoisted her small backpack, and only then did Beaux realize she must have lost her large, well-stocked backpack at the crew’s camp in the mayhem. She hoped Moon didn’t lose anything irreplaceable.
Carrying the backpacks stored in the Rapidfire, rifles, and sidearms, Beaux and the others followed Moon along a pathway that suggested this was a route Moon often took. The sun warmed them, and the air was sweet in a different way than in the woods around the camp they’d left. Here, something else, perhaps the many flowers, scented the air with a fragrance reminding Beaux of the cookies one of her friends at school used to bring.
As they reached the tree, Beaux looked around, trying to spot any signs of a structure, but couldn’t see anything manmade at all. The trunk of the tree had to measure at least two meters across, and looking up, she became dizzy at the multitude of branches. Leaves moved in the light breeze. Something caught Beaux’s attention and she stepped closer, squinting up between two branches. Dangling there, close to the trunk, a rope ladder made from vines was indeed manmade. Smiling broadly now, Beaux realized what she should’ve guessed. Of course Moon would live in a tree.
“A tree house?” she asked, nudging Somas with her elbow as he had yet to catch on.
“Of course,” Moon said, not returning the smile but looking less tense. “I’ll climb up and make sure everything’s all right.”
“Perhaps she forgot to make the bed,” Tracks murmured as Moon disappeared up the ladder. “I’m not sure if I can balance on any more branches today. This morning was enough.”
“Come on, old man,” Nia said, looking up between the branches. “From what I can see, it’s not about balancing.”
Curious, Beaux joined Nia and saw parts of a structure. “How the hell did she do that? Alone.”
“We’re all right,” Moon called out from above.
“You first, sir.” Tracks motioned for Beaux to climb up. She pushed her rifle onto her back and stepped onto the swaying ladder. Not used to rope climbing, she eventually realized she needed to place her feet heel first, from opposite sides of the ladder to keep it from swaying away from her. Holding on tight to the braided vines, she ascended another five meters and then emerged through a hole in what turned out to be a floor. She grabbed a pole that seemed to be there for that purpose and pulled herself to the side. Moon stood farther into the room, her hands behind her back.
Taking in the room, the sheer size of it, Beaux knew she was gaping but could do very little about it. At least four meters across, the space held a table flanked with two benches. Shelves lined the wall at the far end. Books, tablets, instruments, and some wooden items fought for the space. Each wall had openings that clearly led to other rooms on different levels. “I’m—I’m speechless.” Beaux returned her focus to Moon. Behind her, Nia entered and squealed.
“This is amazing! And look, Captain, more rooms everywhere. I thought I was imagining that from below, but this place is huge.” Nia hurried over to the shelves, then seemed to catch herself. “May I? Just look, I mean. I won’t touch anything.”
Her words made Moon visibly flinch.
Nia blanched. “I’m sorry. I’m too nosy. One of my worst faults, according to my grandmother.”
“No. You’re fine. You can look at anything you want.” Moon’s voice was barely a whisper, and Beaux wondered what about Nia’s words, or action, had gotten to her. Yes, they were invading her home, but something in Moon’s demeanor suggested something else—something more. That, or Beaux was reading too much into things when it came to the woman who seemed braced for impact.
Tracks and Somas joined them, both as taken aback at Moon’s handiwork as Nia and Beaux. Moon graciously gave them permission not only to explore the five levels of the tree house, but also to pick which of the four beds they wanted to use.
“Why so many beds?” Somas asked.
“I enjoy each level differently. If I want to sleep up top,
I do.” Moon shrugged.
“Well, I’m not climbing anymore today, unless it’s down,” Tracks said. “I saw a bed just behind that wall.” He pointed to the left, just behind the table.
A faint smile spread across Moon’s face. “You’re welcome to it.”
Nia came in from the door to the right. “Please. I have to sleep up top. The room sways up there!”
Beaux realized it was time to reel her young crewman in before she forgot they weren’t on shore leave. “I’m sure you can. But before we get too carried away exploring Moon’s home, we need to strategize. And eat. I know we all brought energy bars and emergency rations—yes?”
Moon had placed a hand on Beaux’s arm. “No need to waste the emergency rations. I have food here. Mainly vegetables and dried fish, if you don’t mind.”
Beaux wondered if Moon realized just how fantastic she was. Probably not, as her offer of food sounded like an apology. Wanting to smack herself over the head, Beaux wondered how she could be so dense. Moon had lived here alone for years, and now she had guests, and even if she was a reluctant host, she was trying to be polite, and perhaps on some level, she had wished someone would one day see her stunning tree house.
“Thank you. That’s very generous. We appreciate it.” Beaux motioned for the table. “We need to draw maps from your memory—and now what?”
Moon was actually chuckling. “Go sit down. I’ll fetch the food. And the maps. Honestly.”
Feeling ridiculous now, and glaring at Tracks and Somas, who were snickering at her, Beaux sat down on one of the benches. Nia insisted on helping Moon, and Beaux could tell that the young girl had found a new idol. Tracks might become jealous, as that was normally his place.
Moon placed large leaves from the tree on the table, then canisters holding fruits, berries, edible flowers, and one with the dried fish in the center. “I always eat with my fingers, but I might have a few spoons.”
“Fingers!” Nia grinned and squeezed in between Tracks and Somas on the bench opposite from Beaux. Moon sat down next to her and placed a few rolls of what looked like thin bark and two computer tablets between them.
“You have tablets that still work after more than four years?” Somas asked incredulously.
“No. Well, yes.” Moon pushed the food canisters toward them. “I managed to salvage solar power cells from my, um, vessel. I have power if I need it.”
“Brilliant.” Tracks reached for a tablet but stopped in midair. “Now I’m impolite. May I?”
“Please.” Moon handed him one of the tablets and gave another to Beaux. “The first maps are of the valley. After the first year, I started hiking farther away since Dancer was big enough then to travel with me. That first year, I could walk only as far as I could carry him in my backpack.”
Beaux noticed how the other three hung on Moon’s every word and realized they had never heard her be anything but frustrated and angry. Now as Moon was talking about her world and Dancer in a more relaxed manner, they seemed mesmerized. This sent a quick twitch of what could only be a strange sort of jealousy through Beaux. This was the Moon she had glimpsed on several occasions.
“These aren’t just very detailed,” Somas said, looking at the tablet Tracks was using, “but quite beautiful. Why have you inserted images of animals?”
“To know where their usual habitat is, as they tend to migrate only if something is wrong.” Moon took one of the bark rolls, and after nudging the food to the side, she unrolled it, placing four canisters on the corners to keep it open. “This is the area that I saw on the Ilienta map of their first drilling and blasting sites.”
Beaux regarded the map, and it didn’t take her long to find the location of the destroyed camps, Moon’s tree house, and the lake they’d passed. Farther to the north was something marked as “pod” and, in the opposite direction, “lair.”
“What are those?” Beaux pointed at the words.
Moon became rigid and pressed her palms against the table. “That one is Dancer’s lair. He has a dwelling in a small cave there. I found him close to it. His mother had passed away, as one of his siblings had gotten stuck in the birth canal, trapping the ones still inside. I think he fed off her milk for a day or two.” Her voice caught.
“Poor Dancer.” Beaux placed a hand on Moon’s thigh, out of sight of the others. She was shivering badly. “And this. Pod?” she asked, hoping to distract Moon.
“That’s where my vessel went down,” Moon whispered. “Excuse me.” Rising, she surprised Beaux by climbing out through one of the windows.
“You better go after her, Cap,” Tracks said. “I’d go, but there’s no way in hell I’m climbing out on a branch again.” He was trying to joke, but she saw clear concern on his broad face.
Beaux was already on her feet. “Keep looking at the map of the valley. I’ll bring her back.”
Chapter Seventeen
Moon couldn’t breathe. She climbed as far out on the branch as she could before it started to bend in a dangerous manner. She was at least twenty meters up, and falling from this height meant death or paralysis. The memory of how quickly Beaux had examined the map she’d once painstakingly drawn on the bark roll made her wince and hug her knees close to her chest. The word “pod” might as well have been written with fluorescent ink.
“Moon? Please.” There was terror in Beaux’s voice behind her. “Come back inside.”
“Not now,” Moon said starkly.
“That can’t be safe, sitting all the way up there, and that far out. Not even for you.”
Moon turned her head and regarded Beaux, who had climbed out on another branch about two meters below her. This was worrisome. Beaux was no more of a tree climber than the rest of them. “You should go back.” Moon turned, pushing her palms forward toward Beaux. “I’m fine, but you could fall.”
“I’ll go inside when you come with me.” Beaux straddled the branch. “Or at least join me down here.”
Moon wanted to simply disappear farther up among the branches. On the other side of the tree house was her hammock, and she wanted to hide in it, cover herself with her blanket— Her mind stalled. Her blanket. It was still in the camp, in the backpack she had left behind. The threadbare piece of fabric that had saved her, been her comfort before she found Dancer, and she’d covered Beaux with in the cave—gone. It hurt. Hell, everything hurt, and she had no idea how to fix it. If she could have backtracked and never approached the people that arrived on the Empress…then perhaps Beaux would be dead, assassinated, Ilienta’s miners be even further along with their operations, and Haven wouldn’t stand a chance.
Slowly, Moon shifted and then began climbing down. Not used to the constricting uniform, she had to focus to not misstep as she joined Beaux in the wide fork where two broad branches met. “All right.” Moon sat down and ended up closer than she’d realized.
“Thank you.” Beaux kept her gaze on the scenery around them for a while. “I know you must feel that we’re prying information out of you, regardless of what you want.”
“Information? You’re tearing up my life, and you make me feel so damn…exposed.” Moon kept her voice calm, but she could hear the intensity in her own words. “Ever since yesterday, I’ve been on night-old ice with you and your crew. I’m the one making allowances, giving in, having to justify myself.”
Beaux sat in silence for a few beats. “You’re right. We’ve cornered you several times, but I want you to know that I believe you when you say this planet is not like any other world I’ve ever been to or heard about. And your personal circumstances, no matter how curious I am on a personal level—if you don’t want to share that part of yourself, I’ll respect your decision.”
Moon blinked. “What? What do you mean, personal level?” Leaning away from Beaux to see her face, she could tell the top of Beaux’s cheekbones had turned the faintest pink. Oddly enough, this reaction relaxed her to some degree.
Beaux studied her hands, not answering at first. Then she flung her
right hand in the air. “You interest me. Not only because you’ve saved me and showed such great courage under fire, but because of the way you’ve survived, the way you are with Dancer, the bond you two share—I happen to find it mesmerizing, and that’s saying a lot, considering I’m a renowned arrogant bitch.” Beaux smiled.
“You’re not.” Moon gaped, but then she had to return the smile, even if plenty was going on that didn’t warrant any type of joy. “Except when you are.”
“See?” Beaux shifted in order to face Moon. “This isn’t important to me, but it is to you, obviously, so let’s clear the air before we set out to find the Ilienta workers.” She took one of Moon’s hands in hers. “The word ‘pod.’ It wasn’t a true vessel, like a ship, right?”
“Right.” Moon’s lips felt tense as she responded, but she didn’t yank her hand back. This voluntary human touch might never happen again. If Beaux and the others discovered her true social status, it would be a miracle if they let her remain on Haven, but if they did, these touches would have to sustain Moon for all the years to come.
“Was it an escape pod?” Rubbing her thumb in a gentle circle against the back of Moon’s hand, Beaux regarded her levelly.
“Yes.”
“Passenger ship?”
“Yes.”
“And you said a little more than four years ago.” Beaux frowned but didn’t let go of Moon’s hand. “We had problems with piracy stemming from rogue nations on the border to the Namatu sector back then. I had to circumvent them at great cost several times.” Not looking at their joined hands, Beaux laced her fingers between Moon’s. Their increased intimacy made Moon tremble.
“A cruise ship belonging to one of the luxury lines on Cimeria Prime went missing around then,” Beaux said slowly.
“The Utopia.” Moon raised her chin. She refused to cower.
“It was never found. Everyone was lost.” It was Beaux’s turn to whisper. “Or almost everyone?”
“Yes.”
After a few moments of silence, Beaux nodded. “I can’t even imagine living through such a traumatic event, only to lose your family once you reached relative safety.” She extended her free hand and cupped Moon’s chin.