Chapter 4
Xeradidn’t envy Cort and Ensign Trevor as they followed Toosun and hiscrew outside. Both humans and Scorpio lined the entry tunnel, readyto blast anything that came through the door, though the shelter’ssensors had reported nothing deadly beyond. A flash of light appearedas they exited, then darkened to artificial light as the heavy doorsclosed on the sun outside. It didn’t take long before Ensign Trevorreported, “We found a boot...Scorpio make.”
Therewas grim silence in the room as everyone heard the transmission. Xeraremembered the Scorpio who’d gone down under a flyer.
“There’sa ripped pack. We’re gathering the goods. Doesn’t seem to beanything else.”
Therewas apparently a path carved into the rock that wound up to the topof the shelter, and the team followed it. Toosun explained the pathwas for maintenance on the solar array, and Xera translated. The topof the rock opened up into a rough plateau.
“Goodplace to land a ship,” Cort reported tersely.
CaptainKhan tensed.
“Youcan see for miles up here,” Ensign Trevor broadcast. He was lookingthrough electronic binoculars. “Not that there’s much to see.Desert, rocks, sand.”
“Samething as yesterday,” Cort affirmed. “There’s a few other rockyhills scattered here and there, but that’s it. This rock isn’tvery big, either. Maybe the size of a football field. Makes youwonder why they bothered to build a shelter here at all.”
Thehour of reconnaissance passed quickly and uneventfully, but itprovided a much-needed distraction. The men made it back to theshelter with no problem.
“Sandstormlooked to be kicking up,” Cort remarked as he entered.
“Tellme about the landing pad,” Kahn demanded. “Any sign of recentuse?”
Cortshrugged. “Hard to tell.”
“WhatI want to know is if they have a ship on the way,” the captainsnapped. “For all I know we’re sitting ducks, with no way to knowif or when our own distress signal will be answered.”
Hiscrew tensed. However brief their truce here, no one wanted to be awartime guest of the Scorpio. POWs had no guarantee of fairtreatment, no matter what the GE claimed.
“Theykilled Genson,” one of the men added bitterly. “We’ve got nocall to be trusting them.”
Xeracouldn’t argue; everything her companions said was true. She didn’tlike where this was going, though. The building tension could lead tobad decisions, maybe get somebody killed.
Khanlooked at her. “Harris-d, you’re going to question them. Ask themabout the planet, about its resources. Ask ’em why a shelter wasput up in this place, find out everything you can. Be careful aboutit! They don’t need to know we’re suspicious.”
“Yes,sir,” she said soberly.
“Therest of you, keep your eyes peeled! We don’t need any nastysurprises. From now on, two of you will be on active watch at alltimes.”
Xeralimped back to her bench and waited a while before approaching theScorpio. It was hard to view them objectively; they had been kind toher. There was no telling what would happen to her or her crew on analien ship, though. They could end up under the authority of someonewho was less lenient, with harsher views on the treatment of captivefemales. She hadn’t been home in three years, and she wanted achance to see her sisters again.
TheScorpio didn’t seem disturbed by what the recon mission hadrevealed. Singularly and in pairs, they now performed martial artsdrills. Doing so, they made her years of study look like kid stuff.She held a black belt in two different disciplines, and she had nodoubt any one of these guys could take out her old masters withoutbreaking a sweat. They were unbelievably fast. She could only begrateful that their space technology was roughly on a par with thatof her own people, or they wouldn’t still be here.
Shewaited until Delfane was finished with his kata and had taken histurn in the ray shower before approaching him. He saw her coming andwaved her over to a bench.
“Thatwas impressive,” she said. As she settled down, she winced. Howlong would it take this foot to heal? It was killing her whenever shefailed to keep it elevated. “What do you call your martial art?”
Hesaid something unpronounceable.
“The…killingway?” she translated hesitantly.
“Close.Your foot is better?”
Shesighed. “It hurts, but it won’t kill me. I’m sorry for the lossof your crewman.”
Henodded but offered nothing else.
“Thisis a very cruel planet. Why did your people bother building a shelterhere? Our scans showed some minerals, but nothing that couldn’t befound on an asteroid. Even these oceans are filled with poisons.”
Heshrugged. “It lies within our boundaries. Claiming it is ourright.”
TheGE would argue that, but Xera wasn’t about to. “Sure. I’m justglad I won’t have to live here....” She trailed off, let a touchof genuine anguish color her words. “At least, I hope I won’t.”
Itwas a perfect opening, but he seemed uninterested in pursuing it.Instead he asked, “You have family?”
Shelooked away. “Sisters.” She couldn’t help a twinge of longing.One more year and her tour would have been up. She could have gonehome. . She’d never regretted her wanderlust, her desire to see thestars. She was independent enough that long separations hadn’tbothered her, but that was when she’d had email and pin beamavailable to send messages. She might want her space, but she likedto keep in touch with those she loved. Now that the tether had beencut, she realized just how much she’d valued the connection. Shedidn’t know if she’d have chosen to go home after her service wasup or settle elsewhere, but she’d never thought to lose all touchwith her family.
Shedrew strength from her family; they were her lifeline. Her oldersister, Gem, had especially had a knack for encouraging her. Now thatGem was out of touch, Xera would have to exercise her little-usedfaith to believe that things could be all right.
Justthinking that positive thought brought a surge of courage. “Ihaven’t seen them in a long time.” It was impossible to miss thewistfulness in her voice.
“Imiss my family as well.” He smiled and showed her a holo-projectionfrom his wrist computer. It showed a woman and child. The girl wasaged six, perhaps, had shiny black hair and elfin eyes.
“Cutekid,” Xera said appreciatively. “I hope you get to see heragain.”
Hiseyes shuttered as he closed the file. “Yes.”
Toosunapproached. “Xera Harris-d, our lord has requested that you givehim and our crew language lessons, as you do for your own men. Itwould be best if we all understood one another, and it will help givestructure to the day.”
Sheglanced at Khan. “With my captain’s permission. He may want someof our men to listen, also, to speed their own learning.”
“Thatis permissible.”
SoXera spent more time teaching, and learned a few things as well.Their society was patriarchal and monotheistic, for the most part.Superiors were allowed to speak first, according to Scorpioetiquette, unless the speaker was given prior permission. In ahostile situation, such etiquette was particularly important.
Chagrined,she wished she’d known that before Genson had been sent to speakwith the Scorpio; it would have prevented a needless death. As thetranslator, she accepted part of the blame as her own. Her trainingwas supposed to help prevent such things.
TheScorpio sat in a semi-circle around her bench, with a few of her owncrew clustered toward the back of the group. While an uneasy mix, thetwo races did cooperate while practicing simple sentences. There wereeven a few smiles as they managed to butcher each other’s words.Some sounds were simply unpronounceable to both groups, and even Xerahad a hard time pronouncing the syllable “frth” (with a rolled“r”, no less), without spitting. For their part, the Scorpioseemed unable to say “v”. Even so, progress was made.
CaptainKhan made no move to learn the language, but Ryven Atarus was not soreserved. He listened closely and made rapid progress, rarelyforgetting a word. After an hour, he dismissed any men who wished it,but he stayed, himself, along with three or four others, to learnmore.
“Thewater is bad,” he said to Toosun with creditable accent. “Do notdrink it.”
“Yourcooking is bad,” Toosun replied with a grin. “I do not likefugs.”
“Bugs,”Xera corrected with a laugh. “You do not like bugs.”
Hesmirked. “Neither do you,” he said in his own language.
She’dbeen surprised to discover that he and Ryven Atarus were brothers,but she could see the resemblance now. Although Ryven was hissuperior, they still teased each other like siblings. Toosun was theonly one permitted to do it, though. No one else dared.
“Howdo you say ‘blue eyes’?” he asked. “Your people have theoddest eye color, like hard gems.”
Shetold him, and then added, “Us? You seem like the odd ones, withyour eyes like fire.” Her gaze darted to Ryven as she said it.
Toosunlaughed. “Yes, he does have pretty eyes. Very like a girl.”
Ryvengave him a cold look. “None have mistaken me for such.”
“Yes,you are very brave,” Toosun allowed, but a smile still lurkedaround his mouth.
EnsignTrevor had stayed behind while the rest of Xera’s crew had wanderedoff. Now he edged closer to her, disliking the camaraderie, perhaps.“You look tired, Xera. Maybe you’d like to go eat?”
Shelooked at him. He was being doggedly protective, as if she’dalready accepted his offer of companionship. His familiar attitudechafed. She might be just a lieutenant here, but she was also asuccessful, respected businesswoman back home. Her family owned athriving tavern, and she’d had her share of employees under her.She didn’t like the Ensign’s attempt to take charge of her. Ifshe admitted it to herself, it was probably the reason she was stillsingle. “I would like a drink, if you wouldn’t mind bringing it,”she allowed. Her voice was cool. He didn’t seem happy with heranswer, but he left to fetch some glowing tea anyway.
“Youdon’t like him,” Ryven observed.
Howcould she answer that? She decided not to.
“Yourcaptain doesn’t wish to learn our language,” the Scorpio leadercontinued. “He seems tense.”
“Ourbeing here is an awkward situation,” she replied, as diplomaticallyas she could.
“Areyou expecting a ship to come rescue you?” he asked, casual, as ifthe question weren’t central to both their universes just now.
“Hopeis important,” she said smoothly; then she changed subjects. “Howwill you occupy your men after dinner? You seem to keep them busy.”
Heaccepted the new path of the conversation. “They will play games. Iencourage them to think of this time as a brief holiday. It is betterfor morale.”
“Isit a brief holiday?” she asked pleasantly. “How wonderful foryou.”
“Youmake assumptions,” he replied, a gleam of pleasure in thosebrimstone eyes. “But in a way that makes me smile, so I cannotrebuke you. And here is your friend, back with your refreshment….Your people may take part in our games if you like.”
Xerasoon discovered that the games included such silliness as slugracing, yet the men also competed in sprints, long jumps and rocktossing, the goal being to toss rocks of varying sizes onto chalkcircles on the floor. She tried her hand at the latter game withsurprising success.
RyvenAtarus watched with his arms crossed. He’d been observing a slugrace with critical appraisal and happened to glance her way.“Acceptable; for a woman,” he offered haughtily. Humor lurked inthose remarkable eyes.
“Yeah,if I could just turn this into a career,” she quipped. She reachedfor another stone. “I can see it now; the money, my name in lights.People will flock to see the great rock tosser!” She succeededhitting another circle, and her competitors made her back up a coupleof paces.
Hercrewmates mostly watched from the fringes, reluctant to engage,though one or two others joined in. Ensign Trevor was always near tohand. She was tempted to throw a rock at his head.
CaptainKhan watched her darkly from the shadows. He’d probably accuse herof fraternizing with the enemy, but how else was she supposed to getinformation? She’d have to report to him after the games; maybethat would sooth his antsy twitters.
Shewarily limped toward the edge of the room after the rock toss. Khan’seyes bored coldly into her as she approached, and he didn’t inviteher to sit. “You stink of the enemy,” he sneered.
“Sir,you ordered me to spy on them,” she said quietly. “I can’t dothat from a distance.”
“Anddid you find anything useful, or were you just giggling through thegames?”
“I’veonly got impressions, sir. No one would say if a ship was coming.”There was no one near them to hear their conversation, and she wishedshe had witnesses. It seemed the captain was trying to pick a fight,or nerving himself up for something worse.
Obliviousto her concern, Khan spat, “I have an impression, Harris-d. I thinkyou’re flirting with our enemy, just waiting for a chance to jumpship and save your own hide. I see the way you look at that murderingbastard, and I say you’re planning treason.”
Herhead jerked up. “What? You’re wrong, sir.”
“AmI?” he hissed. “I’ve known what you were all along, Harris-d.You’re nothing but an opportunistic whore, aren’t you? You knowwhat we do to whores where I come from, Harris-d?”
“Getarrested by them for harassment, sir?” she said through bloodlesslips. She felt stiff with shock at the force of his attack. Much asshe despised him, she hadn’t seen this coming. Officers didn’tact like this.
Shebarely saw his fist coming, either. Her dodge was slow but mostlyeffective; she was only grazed. Her weak foot screamed as she forcedit to take her weight, stepped back and slammed her rifle butt intohis throat. Even knowing that there would be repercussions, she drewit back and rammed it hard into his knee. There was a crunch. Hescreamed and went down, clutching the joint.
Hardhands suddenly grabbed her, wrenched the rifle from her grip. Therewas a babble of voices as her crew surrounded her.
“Arresther!” Captain Khan screamed, writhing on the floor. He erupted in astream of curses as his men tried to help him up. Xera hoped she’dbroken his friggin’ knee.
“Whathappened?” Cort demanded. “Why’d you attack him?”
“Yousaw what happened! He attacked me!”
“Youmust have said something,” Cort insisted. “You always saysomething, Harris-d.”
Sheopened her mouth to defend herself, then shut it. She wasn’t goingto help anything when she was angry.
Besides,there was a growing pool of silence around her. Men stilled. Shelooked over her shoulder and saw the Scorpio had gathered behind her.
“Whathappens here?” Ryven Atarus asked quietly. He looked much as he hadthe first day she’d seem him: cold, deadly. The starburst in hisear winked with deceptive light, and those brimstone eyes nearlyglowed.
Sheturned to face him as her captors did, though she noticed their gripsloosen.
“Thisis our business,” Cort answered, unable to understand what wasbeing said. The intimidation of the Scorpio commander was plainenough, though. The engineer licked his lips. “We’ll deal withit.” The silence stretched uncomfortably. “Translate, Harris-d!”
Shelooked at him as if he were stupid. “How will you know what I tellthem? If they do something you don’t like, then you’ll blame me.”She was shaking from the aftereffects of adrenaline and couldn’thelp her cheek; it was all that was getting her through.
Cort’seyes narrowed. “If you don’t speak and they attack, I willblame you.”
Grimly,she said to the Scorpio, “This is a matter for my people.” Shetold Cort what she said as she said it, in case it might help saveher hide.
“Your captain attacked you,” Ryven remarked. “We witnessedthis.”
“Yes.”She was very slow translating, as emotion choked her.
“Wewill not allow you to be punished.”
Shewas speechless for a moment with the force of her thoughts. It took aprod in the back from Cort for her to translate. After she did, therewas heavy silence.
Eyeson the floor, Xera said to the Scorpio leader, “You are making thisdifficult for me. My people will say I am a traitor.”
“Thenwe will not give you a choice.”
Ithappened too fast for her to track. She saw two Scorpio lunge forher. In seconds she was released from her former captors and drawn tothe rear of the Scorpio ranks. Brirax and Delfane flanked her. Noneof her crewmates dared move.
Ryvenlooked at them as if they were nothing, less than nothing.“Confiscate their weapons. Leave only what they need for survival.”
“Youcan’t do this! You can’t meddle in our affairs!” Captain Khanprotested from the rear. Someone had pumped the captain full ofpainkillers and plopped him on a bench.
Ryven’ssmile was cold. “Confiscate their painkillers. From now on, theymust come to us for this medicine. You may leave the antibiotics andsuch.”
Xerafelt dizzy. The Scorpio commander was going to let Khan suffer aspunishment, and Khan would never forget it. Nor would he forgive hismen being disarmed. He’d want revenge.
Ryventurned his back on his enemies as his men followed orders. Xera hadto wonder if this was just the opportunity he’d been waiting forall along.
Hestopped in front of her but addressed his men. “There is heat inher ankle again. Take her to the balcony and ice it. Check her feetas well.”
Delfaneswung Xera into his arms and headed for the stairs. She didn’tbother to protest, knowing she’d waste her breath. Most of hercrew’s attention was on the Scorpio going through their packs, butone or two glanced her way with accusing eyes. Khan was one of them.
Onceup the stairs Delfane sat her down on a woven fiber mat on a benchset along one wall. It seemed luxurious compared to the stone benchthat had been ruining her back. There was even a boxy pillow toaccompany it, and a brown blanket that looked like rubber folded atthe foot.
Briraxappeared with a cold pack for her foot. “Do you need help to takeoff your footwear?”
Xerastared at him a moment, then slowly reached down and unfastened herboot. Shock had rendered her momentarily docile. She didn’t knowwhat would happen to her now, but she would choose her battles.
Itseemed clear as time passed that nothing bad would happen. The mentreated her with courtesy, tended the healing blisters on her feetand then left her alone. As the evening wore on, the lights weredimmed and she could see out through the thick glass that separatedthis bunker from the outside. The black shapes of fliers tracedacross the unfamiliar stars, searching for food.
Thestars. Somewhere out there, up in that sky, was her family. It took along time for her to turn her back on those winking lights and fallasleep.