Page 106 of Shielded in the Shadows

“I also advise you both to arm yourselves with suitable weapons,” Siber continued, undeterred by Jarrix’s attempt to lighten the mood. “First Mate To’vok, I suggest taking a well-stocked medical kit that includes the appropriate antivenoms. I have taken the liberty of synthesizing them and they are waiting for you in the medbay.”

“Thank you, Siber.” I rose and stretched, working the stiffness and tension out of my muscles. Jarrix stood too, and massaged my shoulders as I leaned back against him.

“With your permission, I’ll prep our weapons and the medkit,” he said, his fingertips digging into my tight muscles until I moaned. “While you synth us the gear we’ll need. Unless you’d prefer to trade?”

“No, that sounds good.” I tipped my head back against his chest so I could look up at his face.

Jarrix’s gentle smile contrasted with the seriousness in his gaze. No doubt he was thinking about the dangers of this hike through a predator-infested swamp and what we might find when we got to the little capsule home we’d seen on the scanner. I had no idea what kind of greeting we’d receive—or if this would be another in a long line of crushing disappointments.

He kissed my forehead, slid his hands down my arms, and squeezed me gently before letting go. “Meet me at the weapons cache when you’re ready.”

Twenty minutes later, armed and dressed in rain gear, we stood at the ship’s open hatch staring out into the storm. The wind blew sheets of rain through the doorway, along with the scents of the ocean, the swamp, and all the thick foliage that surrounded the abandoned base.

Was this the sight that greeted my sister each morning when she woke? Did she smile when she heard the rain pounding on the roof of her little capsule home? Did she have to fight the creatures who lived in the swamp, and did she ever go swimming in the churning sea?

A trill made me turn. Zwee was right behind us, glancing purposefully between me and the open doorway.

“You should stay to guard the ship,” I said, crouching to put a hand on her back. “It’s going to be a long walk through the swamp.”

Zwee let out several low grunts, flashed her sharp teeth, and trundled out of the ship onto the landing pad, where she tipped her head up and closed her eyes under the deluge.

“I suppose she’s never seen or felt rain. Maybe she likes it.” I rose and put my hands on my hips. “What do you think?”

“I think she wants to go with us,” Jarrix. “But it is the captain’s decision.”

I’d learned a lot about gorgas while aboard the Wundi ship that took me off Ganai, from just how powerful their jaws and teeth were to how bad of an idea it was to get between one of them and a meal. I’d also gained a healthy respect for their instincts.

“If Zwee thinks she should go, she should go,” I said. “Siber, initiate vessel lockdown and alpha-level defense protocols.”

“Confirmed, Captain. I wish you a safe and fruitful journey.”

I squeezed Jarrix’s hand and led the way out onto the landing pad. The hatch closed and locked behind us.

The raider base looked like a battle had taken place. All the buildings were leveled except one, and as we made our way with Zwee toward the tree line, I spotted several sets of skeletal remains among the ruins. The burned-out wreckage of a single small raider ship lay half-buried in the sand.

In addition to our weapons, waterproof jumpsuits, and thick, bite-resistant boots, Jarrix and I wore matching hoods with clear plas visors that kept the rain out of our eyes. I’d armed myself with a plasma gun, daggers in thigh sheaths and in my boots, and my nivilus, which I carried on my back. Jarrix had opted for a plasma-edged sword and his favorite Havelian stunner staff, in addition to a plasma rifle, gun, and several smaller blades.

Since he carried our medkit, I’d strapped on a cross-body pack containing water, food bars, and other supplies, plus Leomer’s orb and the bio-locked datachip.

With Zwee walking ahead, me in the middle, and Jarrix watching our backs, we set off through the swamp.

True to Siber’s word, her path directed us along narrow strips of muddy land and through patches of marsh. While I focused on navigating and making sure Zwee didn’t stray, Jarrix was on high alert for danger, sword in one hand and gun in the other. During weapons practice, I’d discovered he was an equally good shot with either hand. It made me all the more determined to improve my shooting skill with my non-dominant hand beyond merely decent.

Despite the terrain and heavy rain and a brief stop to rest and drink water, we made fairly good time. Needing to focus on every step with my awareness tuned to detect any sound or movement kept me from thinking too much about what we might or might not find at the end of this soggy walk.

Zwee appeared to be enjoying her excursion immensely. She’d been born on Trakhan, and in her short life she’d only set foot—so to speak—on one planet. Saistea was hardly a treat and as far from nature as one could possibly get. By all accounts, gorgas thrived aboard ships, but her quiet warbles and trills and obvious joy as we slogged across the swamp made it clear I’d need to let her stretch her dozens of little walking tendrils planetside whenever I got a chance.

Jarrix, meanwhile, marched on with grim determination. His wings were naturally waterproof, so they didn’t become sodden or weighted down, but he definitely would have preferred to fly us to our destination rather than walk through a swamp. I would have rather flown too, but the high winds and torrential rain simply made it too dangerous.

When we were about a half kilometer from our destination, our wristcomms simultaneously buzzed a warning that we’d been detected by a scanner. Its origin was concealed, but as far as we knew, there was only one location in the entire area that might have a reason to scan the surroundings for possible interlopers.

Whoever was in that capsule home now knew we were approaching—or rather, they knew two someones were approaching.

My next breath was ragged. The swamp around me blurred. And despite how long and how desperately I’d wanted to be here possibly on the verge of reuniting with Calla, I had the strangest and most inexplicable desire to turn around and flee. Every uncertainty, fear, and gnawing shame I’d harbored for so many years came crashing down on top of my head.

I didn’t realize I’d stopped walking until Jarrix’s arms circled my chest. He rested his chin on top of my head, his chest vibrating against my back. He didn’t coo, but that rumble and his warm reassurance helped me breathe and feel present in my body again. The burn in my thighs and calves from our slog through the mud was a welcome distraction.

I’d never been a coward, and I wasn’t going to start now. And I loved my sister far too much to give up without seeing this through.