Any ideas about going back to Earth to work with Ely and his team disappear out of my head in a puff of smoke. It feels like ages ago when Sylad first hired me to locate and rescue her missing daughter. Stella sounds extremely sure about what is going to happen, and I feel she’s right. War is brewing; probably has been for a long time. If and when it breaks out, I know I will be fighting on the side of the Alliance. Somewhere, somehow… I hope, with her and Bryn. Also… I wish to hell I could speak to Sanchez.

  “We should get to the Storm Dancer,” Stella declares. “And take Sylad with us.”

  “Roger that,” Bryn approves. “Red, are you with us?”

  “Hell, yes!”

  She shoots me an ironic glance.

  “Eager, aren’t you?”

  “Cheerfulness in the face of adversity, Stella.”

  “Uh-uh. Well, okay. We may have extra armor onboard for you.”

  “Very kind, thank you.”

  “I won’t be so kind if you wreck it all to pieces the way you normally do. I’ve never known another human to go through so many Elemtex suits as you.”

  That’s probably true. The last time we saw combat together, I got myself bitten by a galactic hyena, punched, shot, and blown out of a spaceship. Every time, she got pissed off about needing to replace expensive armor.

  “Yeah,” I grin. “I may be human, but I’m special.”

  Bryn smiles at the joke. She doesn’t. Of course not.

  “Not sure you should brag about that, Commander.”

  She’s a special case herself, for sure. We wrap up the banter when Sylad dismisses her bodyguards from the office and joins us for an update.

  “Is Nerys okay?” I ask.

  “Yes. She’s at school and safe. Commander, may I ask you a favor?”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Would you mind going to get her? Everything is fine over there at the moment, and she’s got her security detail, of course. I don’t expect any trouble, and she promised me that she would behave, but…”

  She’s babbling, and I rest a hand on her shoulder.

  “I understand, Councilor. No problem. I’ll go get her.”

  She clasps my hands in hers, and I can feel her trembling. I don’t think it’s fear; just pure adrenalin, and mine goes up a bit as well in reaction.

  “Thank you so much,” she nods. “My colleagues and I will convene at a secret location. There is much to discuss. Arlak’s assassination may be a sign that we are running out of time.”

  She’s on the same page as us, clearly.

  “We’ll go with you, Councilor,” Stella decides.

  “Commander, you can take my shuttle,” Sylad adds. “I will send you the meeting location coordinates via neural net. Please join us there with my daughter as soon as you can.”

  “On my way,” I promise, and just manage not to salute.

  Old habits die hard… Stella walks with me to the shuttle.

  “You think I need a babysitter?” I inquire.

  “You’re still a baby in this world,” she replies.

  News of Arlak’s murder must have spread rapidly through Alliance channels. The same urgency I noticed on the outskirts of the Antalosian system when we were looking for her can be felt here now. Army troops in full battle gear hurry about, security guards have doubled in number, and safety messages are being beamed over the public comm system. As we reach the shuttle, an Elusyan guard clears me for access.

  “Sure you can fly that thing?” Stella wants to know.

  “Better than you, at least,” I retort. “Not that it says a lot, but there you go, eh...”

  “Hold on a second.”

  She grabs my arm as I’m about to jump onboard, and I bite back on a cutting remark. She looks serious, all business. I lower my voice to ask.

  “What’s up, Stella?”

  “Collect the kid and head back, okay?” she says.

  “Yes, that was my intention. I won’t linger.”

  “Don’t trust anybody, even if they’re Alliance. Whoever got close enough to Arlak to kill the guy had to be an insider with all the correct clearance. And now, they’re still wandering freely out there.”

  I was aware of this at the back of my mind, but hearing her say it out loud sure settles it firmly at the forefront.

  “Copy that, Stella,” I nod. “Yes, I’m aware.”

  She smiles. Surprisingly relaxed, for once.

  “Yeah, I know. Give me your pistol.”

  I take it out of its holster and pass it to her without asking why. She’s no longer joking, and I trust her implicitly, despite all her warnings not to. The truth is, I don’t want to be wary of her. If I can’t even trust Stella, I don’t want to be in this crazy world anymore.

  “Take mine instead,” she offers.

  I noticed her weapons before. Every piece of equipment she owns has been painstakingly modified and improved to fit her personal requirements. She is meticulous with all her gear, and especially her business tools. The laser gun with enhanced sights and an Elemtex grip fits into my hand like a glove. Nothing at all to do with the standard piece I just gave to her, and I can’t help but purr in reaction.

  “Mm…”

  I am a bit of a gear freak myself. Love guns, tactical pieces, all that good stuff.

  “What are you Mm-ing at?” she says.

  “Weapon feels great,” I reply. “Hey, thanks. I appreciate it.”

  “Stop grinning like a fool,” Stella snaps. “It’s an equipment loan, not a marriage proposal. Alright?”

  “Ring on my finger, gun in my hand,” I chuckle. “Kinda the same thing in my world.”

  “Shut up and get on with it, Commander. I don’t think we have much time left.”

  I know what she means by that, and I feel the exact same way. I holster the weapon and briefly touch her arm.

  “See you soon, Stella. I’ll be right back with you.”

  I don’t know yet that this is just wishful thinking.

  CHAPTER

  25

  Nerys is waiting for me outside the gates when I land the shuttle in front of her school. Almost levitating with excitement, I notice, as she watches me approach.

  “Red! Hey, it’s about time!”

  “Hey, kid. Ready to go?”

  “Always!” she replies.

  She’s surrounded by three Elusyan bodyguards who nod at me respectfully. Sylad must have briefed her people about me. It’s good not to have to explain myself, for a change.

  “Hi, guys,” I smile in return. “Everything okay?”

  “All is well here, Commander.”

  Nerys is grinning from ear to ear.

  “You’re dismissed,” she informs her team with a practiced wave of the hand.

  The tallest Elusyan bows in acknowledgment.

  “Yes, Miss, as per your mother’s instructions.”

  “Let’s get out of here, Red,” she continues. “I swear, now is not the time to be languishing in some classroom! I explained it to mom and she agrees with me fully. So, where are we going? To catch up with the Council? Makes sense. I’m ready for action. Please, please, can I fly the shuttle?”

  The Elusyan guard gives me a sympathetic glance as I allow her flood of words to rush out uninterrupted. Conversation with Nerys is an acquired taste, I feel. There is an art to it too. Mainly, don’t stand in the way of her energy, and make sure to pick your battles wisely.

  “I’ll do the flying,” I reply.

  “Okay… But why?”

  “I need practice.”

  “Ah, right. How’s your new arm, by the way? Do you enjoy being a synthetic? Does it tickle? Ooh, nice laser gun! Is it new? It is, isn’t it?”

  I slap her wandering hand off my holster and try not to go dizzy from all the questions.

  “Focus,” I just say.

  “Yeah! On what, Red?”

  “Your surroundings, for instance. A good soldier is always alert.”

  I am paying attention, for sure, and my heart drops when I see it. A single flash of bright light in the sky. Almost subliminal, but I notice, and I know what it means.

  “Incoming!” I yell. “Get dow—”

  Laser missiles make a characteristic whistling sound before they hit a target, and my last word gets drowned in it. I feel my ears pop. Dammit, this one is going to be close! There is no time to get very far; not even to reach the shuttle. I grab Nerys as she reaches for me, and wrap her up in a protective embrace.

  “Close your eyes!”

  The inevitable white-out when this thing hits can make you blind if you’re not careful… And it is a devastating explosion.

  “Red!” Nerys yells over the roar.

  I tighten my grip on her.

  “Just hold on!”

  In the next instant, we are slammed by a powerful pressure wave that lifts us up in a shower of debris. I try as best I can to protect Nerys and cushion the impact for her. We hit the ground hard, some distance away. One of the Elusyan guards is running toward us.

  “Stay down!” I shout.

  A second explosion ensures that he does… Sadly, not in a good way. It is followed almost instantly by a third blast. Pieces of rock the size of baseballs hit me in the back. A random one impacts the side of my head. Fuck! It hurts. Baptism of fire for the synthetic arm, I suppose. I grit my teeth and curl up around Nerys’ smaller body, making sure nothing hits her. By the time things settle down and I am able to look up, I barely recognize our surroundings. The shuttle is gone. The building on the side has been obliterated, and most of the school is destroyed.

  “Oh-oh,” Nerys comments in a blank voice.

  She’s covered in dust, but I see no blood.

  “Are you okay, kid?”

  “Yes… But, Red, your head is bleeding.”

  I can feel that, but it’s the least of my worries. Five military shuttles with heavy guns mounted on their flanks are about to land. These are not Alliance vehicles, and the soldiers who jump out the side doors are also not the kind I would hope to see on the ground.

  “Krohn,” the tall Elusyan hisses.

  He’s made it to us, at least, although there is no sign of his two colleagues. We cannot afford to wait for them, or go look for other survivors.

  “Let’s move,” I instruct. “This way, before they see us.”

  We duck out of sight into a side street. Debris everywhere, bodies on the ground. Some are clearly beyond help. I activate my private comm system.

  “Stella?”

  “Red. Got you live on the tracker. The kid with you?”

  The communication link that keeps us connected also gives her my exact location at all times, and I am grateful for that now. I give her a rapid sit-rep.

  “We’re under attack here too,” she confirms. “Krohn troops are landing all over the place. The ERP has been activated.”

  “ERP?” I inquire as we run.

  I’m holding Nerys’ hand and she’s gripping me tight, as we fly down the ravaged street. The Elusyan bodyguard stays close, rifle in hand.

  “Emergency Response Plan,” Stella explains. “The heads of the Council have been whisked away to a secure military ship in orbit of the planet.”

  “Sylad, too?” I exclaim.

  “What?” Nerys wants to know when she hears me say the name.

  “Sylad is with us,” Stella confirms, and I tell the kid.

  “Yes,” she nods. “Mom would never leave without me!”

  “We’re on our way to the Storm Dancer, Red. We’ll catch up with you asap, okay?”

  “Roger that, Stella.”

  “Take care of my weapon, Commander. I’ll make you suffer if anything happens to her.”

  She’s off the air before I can reply, but I smile all the same. Her weapon is a ‘she’? How cute, eh... What next? A teddy bear? She also could not resist the parting remark. Caustic and rude, enjoying pushing... I like that she’s predictable with that. Always the same, whether we’re biding our time onboard a traveling starship or in the heat of combat. What you see is what you get with Stella. She never pretends, doesn’t lie. Straight as an arrow. And so damn sexy…

  “Commander! Enemy approaching – Ten o’clock.”

  The Elusyan’s urgent warning interrupts this pleasant train of thought. I shake myself out of it. Time to heed my own advice, and concentrate on the job at hand. A troop of Krohn soldiers are rounding the corner up ahead. They have not seen us yet.

  “Come over here, Nerys.”

  We find a spot to hide behind a piece of broken wall, and I tighten my grip on Stella’s beloved gun. That thing really does feel good to hold. It’s almost as nice as having her here with us in person.

  “Give me your spare, Red,” Nerys whispers.

  She’s at it again… But this time, I don’t mind.

  “You sure?” I ask.

  “Sure,” she replies, with all the confidence of a seasoned sniper.

  I pass her my loaded backup, and watch her wrap her little hands around it. Despite the size issue, it’s obvious she’s held a gun before.

  “Can you shoot as well as you fly?”

  “Almost,” she nods. “At the range. Never done it live.”

  She, too, is honest about her capabilities, and I marvel again at her maturity. Stella would remind me that it’s nothing special, in a sense, and not to apply human limiting beliefs to others.

  “No shooting unless you need to defend yourself, okay?” I warn her. “Or I tell you to.”

  “Copy that, Red,” she nods.

  “Let’s go,” the Elusyan instructs.

  The Krohn have moved off, and we creep along at a careful pace. I can hear sustained gunshots in the distance and isolated bursts of fire all around. No doubt Alliance personnel have boots on the ground by now, and are responding appropriately to this treacherous attack.

  “Look! Our guys are here!”

  Right on cue, Nerys points to the smoldering sky. Three jets flying in close formation scream overhead, soon followed by two more. Excellent. Looks like the Alliance are kicking ass up there, and I feel ready to do the same down here. We don’t have long to wait for that. As soon as we come out into the open again, laser tracers flashing in front signal an end to our stealthy progress.

  “Stay back!” the Elusyan orders Nerys.

  He leaps in front of her, clearly committed to protecting her with his own life. We crouch down behind a pile of rubble and begin to return fire.

  “Can I shoot as well, plea—”

  “No,” I growl. “Keep your head down, Nerys.”

  “Fine,” she grumbles.

  Stella’s gun comes alive beautifully in my right hand. I’m pleased to see that all my targeting issues with the synthetic limb seem to be resolved. Either that, or the placebo effect is strong. Whatever. The only thing that matters is that I’m back to shooting accurately. The Elusyan is pretty deadly with his own weapon, as well. He flashes me a quick smile as he reloads.

  “Good eye, commander.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Matek.”

  “I’m Red.”

  Call me quirky, but I prefer to be on a first-name basis with the people on my team.

  “Red,” he nods, and neutralizes two more Krohn with lethal shots to the head.

  I also enjoy working with talented people, and he is one, for sure. We pause briefly to watch an Alliance jet pulverize a Krohn transporter that just landed. Someone is happy about that.

  “YEAH!” Nerys yells. “GET SOME!”

  The kid sounds like she’s been watching lots of awesome movies from 2086… Good girl.

  “Plenty of friendlies out, as well as Krohn,” Matek remarks. “Our gunners will have their work cut out for them, not hitting at the wrong targets.”

  Civilians are darting about, in small groups or on their own. Everyone is looking to hide, but I wince when I see a group with kids rush inside the nearest building. The Krohn still have plenty of their own jets up in the air. They are still shooting missiles at the biggest structures…

  “Wish we could save them all,” Matek mutters, as he sees me looking. “Let’s keep going and find a reasonable LZ for your ship to touch down, alright?”

  “Yes.” I force myself to look away. “Let’s do that.”

  The Krohn are obviously intent on killing as many people as they can, and destroying as much property as possible at the same time. Doing a great job of it so far, I must say. Everywhere I look is just the same: official buildings have been annihilated, private homes flattened, and transport shuttles turned into dust. The whole place is on fire. It looks like Armageddon out there, and it is also getting hard to breathe and see anything through all the smoke. At least, I’m not the only one struggling with the conditions, which becomes apparent when a Krohn stumbles out right in front of me. Obviously lost his way. My dagger is in his neck before he’s even noticed my presence. One quick twist, a burst of arterial blood, and he drops at my feet, face first into the rubble. Then, I hear a scream.

  “Red… Urgh—”

  Matek has been hit, and I turn back in time to see him fall. Goddammit! Now, Nerys is left to stand on her own in front of an attacking Krohn. He’s tall, thick, built like an armored vehicle. With bloodshot eyes and long gleaming fangs sticking out of his snarling mouth, he looks like a monster from the old legends I was recently told about.

  “Nerys, run!”

  But she appears rooted to the spot, and I don’t think she can hear over the noise. No one is there to cover for me, which is another issue. Ah, well… That’s what the smoke is for, hopefully. I put all my faith in the lucky star that I seem to have been born under, and sprint across open space toward her, in full view of any Krohn soldier who might like to take a shot. Of course, they do… I feel the heat of a laser bullet graze the side of my head, and another one almost gets me in the leg. I’m naked again, running around without armor. ‘Vulnerable like Bambi’, Stella would say, and I sure as hell don’t want to add to my collection of synthetic limbs. The Krohn lunges for Nerys. Fuck! I am still too far from her to be able to help. Before I can reach her, in the blink of an eye, it’s all over…

  CHAPTER

  26