are all alike. It
doesn’t matter what race they hail from.”
His laughter slid from the darkness like a beacon against
the chill. Damn him.
“Yeah, but the different races make them all the more
interesting. Like different flavors of ice cream.”
Kendra reluctantly smirked. “Or different poisons to die
from.”
“You’re such a pessimist.” Reeva sighed dramatically. “But
what a way to go.”
Kendra shook her head and gave Reeva a clap on the shoulder.
“You are a glutton for punishment.”
“You’re only sore because that little hottie is keeping just
as many secrets as you are.”
Kendra snorted. There was nothing little about Azros.
Swampland bled into the rising slopes of the crater. Kendra and Reeva both
breathed easier. They were leaving the slimes behind.
“I think you’ve met your match, boss.”
Kendra sighed. At some point her team had taken it upon
themselves to meddle in her life.
“You look better. The sense of smell back to normal?”
Kendra tentatively inhaled. Rot still overpowered the other
scents, but wasn’t overwhelming. “Yes, it is.” She sighed in relief. “So tell
me about the slimes.” She looked forward to being far away from the swampland
stench.
“We saw them from a distance. Our trip to the cliffs was
pretty uneventful. You were right about the caves, of course. We found plenty
of water, food and fuel for a fire. It would have been nice to have a bed
though.” Reeva and Kendra watched another personnel transport fly overhead.
Kendra wondered if Mark and his Sierra Team had run into any
trouble with the Sheon. They reported to base while she was in the field.
“That’s not one of ours.” Reeva’s fists clenched. Both were
quiet until it disappeared into the upper atmosphere. “How bad is this going to
be, boss?”
Kendra’s chest tightened with fear and expectation. “It
depends on the welcoming committee. The Sheon I’ve known in my lifetime are
from two extremes. One group believed in the serenity of the sciences, complete
pacifists. They wanted to split off from the main world and start their own
colony, one that lived on a planet’s surface.” This planet’s surface. “The other group was bent on aggression, determined to bring change their way.
This group is probably the one we’ll be facing. They tend to shoot anyone who
disagrees with their ideals.”
“Sounds like one of my family reunions.” Kendra looked at
Reeva in surprise. “There has to be a middle ground between the two.” Reeva
slid down a small trail with Kendra following close behind.
“There always is, but I wouldn’t count on this little
welcoming committee to be anything but hostile.” Kendra wondered whether they
were here for the lost princess or the escaped prisoner. Either way this could
turn into a bloodbath.
“Do you really think they’re here for your Valorian?”
“He’s not my anything, Reeva. And I really don’t know.”
“If they’re after him, what will you do?” Reeva’s steps
slowed.
“I’d like to avoid dealing with them at all costs.” Kendra
recognized the shadowed outline of the skiff.
“We’re not alone, ladies.” Mase’s voice came over the comm,
quiet and full of caution.
Three things happened at once—her senses dropped into
hyperawareness, she turned off her torch, and her weapon was drawn with safety
off. Reeva continued on while Kendra moved quickly to the dwindling tree line.
“Friendly?”
Every footfall sounded clumsy and loud, and she tried to
adjust her movements. She was prepared, this time, for the pungent odors
threatening to overwhelm. Kendra didn’t need to see him to feel Azros moving
around the perimeter. This was kind of amazing. For a split second she
considered the benefits to mating.
Before Mase could answer, the sounds of a scuffle came from
behind the skiff. Kendra dropped to a knee, scanning the perimeter. “Kill the
light.”
Reeva complied. Kendra resisted the urge to run to the
skiff. There
doesn’t matter what race they hail from.”
His laughter slid from the darkness like a beacon against
the chill. Damn him.
“Yeah, but the different races make them all the more
interesting. Like different flavors of ice cream.”
Kendra reluctantly smirked. “Or different poisons to die
from.”
“You’re such a pessimist.” Reeva sighed dramatically. “But
what a way to go.”
Kendra shook her head and gave Reeva a clap on the shoulder.
“You are a glutton for punishment.”
“You’re only sore because that little hottie is keeping just
as many secrets as you are.”
Kendra snorted. There was nothing little about Azros.
Swampland bled into the rising slopes of the crater. Kendra and Reeva both
breathed easier. They were leaving the slimes behind.
“I think you’ve met your match, boss.”
Kendra sighed. At some point her team had taken it upon
themselves to meddle in her life.
“You look better. The sense of smell back to normal?”
Kendra tentatively inhaled. Rot still overpowered the other
scents, but wasn’t overwhelming. “Yes, it is.” She sighed in relief. “So tell
me about the slimes.” She looked forward to being far away from the swampland
stench.
“We saw them from a distance. Our trip to the cliffs was
pretty uneventful. You were right about the caves, of course. We found plenty
of water, food and fuel for a fire. It would have been nice to have a bed
though.” Reeva and Kendra watched another personnel transport fly overhead.
Kendra wondered if Mark and his Sierra Team had run into any
trouble with the Sheon. They reported to base while she was in the field.
“That’s not one of ours.” Reeva’s fists clenched. Both were
quiet until it disappeared into the upper atmosphere. “How bad is this going to
be, boss?”
Kendra’s chest tightened with fear and expectation. “It
depends on the welcoming committee. The Sheon I’ve known in my lifetime are
from two extremes. One group believed in the serenity of the sciences, complete
pacifists. They wanted to split off from the main world and start their own
colony, one that lived on a planet’s surface.” This planet’s surface. “The other group was bent on aggression, determined to bring change their way.
This group is probably the one we’ll be facing. They tend to shoot anyone who
disagrees with their ideals.”
“Sounds like one of my family reunions.” Kendra looked at
Reeva in surprise. “There has to be a middle ground between the two.” Reeva
slid down a small trail with Kendra following close behind.
“There always is, but I wouldn’t count on this little
welcoming committee to be anything but hostile.” Kendra wondered whether they
were here for the lost princess or the escaped prisoner. Either way this could
turn into a bloodbath.
“Do you really think they’re here for your Valorian?”
“He’s not my anything, Reeva. And I really don’t know.”
“If they’re after him, what will you do?” Reeva’s steps
slowed.
“I’d like to avoid dealing with them at all costs.” Kendra
recognized the shadowed outline of the skiff.
“We’re not alone, ladies.” Mase’s voice came over the comm,
quiet and full of caution.
Three things happened at once—her senses dropped into
hyperawareness, she turned off her torch, and her weapon was drawn with safety
off. Reeva continued on while Kendra moved quickly to the dwindling tree line.
“Friendly?”
Every footfall sounded clumsy and loud, and she tried to
adjust her movements. She was prepared, this time, for the pungent odors
threatening to overwhelm. Kendra didn’t need to see him to feel Azros moving
around the perimeter. This was kind of amazing. For a split second she
considered the benefits to mating.
Before Mase could answer, the sounds of a scuffle came from
behind the skiff. Kendra dropped to a knee, scanning the perimeter. “Kill the
light.”
Reeva complied. Kendra resisted the urge to run to the
skiff. There
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