finished with her feet—and his inquisition, he gave her some terra inhalants for her pain.
"Mala suerte, Señor Ramirez," whispered Renata as she watched Hunter and Arielle blasting Ramon. "Donde está su sonrisa ahora?"
She smeared a dab of the terra paste inside each nostril and inhaled deeply. Within seconds a lightheaded rush swirled into her head, and she imagined she was soaring above Novia. She saw her home perched at the base of a long sloping mountain, the ground covered with a heavy snow, the branches of the trees swaying in the wind, snow peeling off them like dust. And her three younger brothers were standing outside the door, resolute, like granite, each in turn telling her how special she was to them, how she was the greatest sister alive, how much they loved her.
Then, like a rug had been pulled out from beneath her feet, her euphoria vanished, her shame brutally returning. She tumbled back into the inky blackness of the caves. As she laid back on her mattress and pulled her green thermal blanket up to her chest, she groaned in disgust. What had happened to the intelligent, proud Second in Command? Where was her logic? It seemed to have completely failed her. Something seemed wrong, with her—here. She stared blankly, seeing only Devon's eyes intently watching her. Then Renata slipped into sleep, the inhalant having drained her of all emotion and energy.
Chapter Four
Explora Corporation's MC-101C Expedition
Hunter Larson: 44, Commander, Cavern Scientist, Pilot
Renata Stone: 37, 2nd in Command, Cavern Scientist/Systems Engineer, Pilot
Trent Logan: 45, 3rd Command, Neo-Archaeologist, Robotics Expert
Ramon Ramirez: 41, Subsurface Engineer/Groundwater Specialist
Arielle Talarian: 35, Planetary Geologist
Edison March: 35, Subsurface Engineer
Garrett Jansen: 53, Security Specialist, Pilot, Ex-mercenary Devon Snow: 24, Internal Observer
Isis Sandalo: 29, Biochemist, Subcontractor to Explora
Richelle Ivers: 32, Organic Sedimentologist, Subcontractor to Explora
(All ages in Earth Years)
Hunter had grown weary of the group's admonishment of Ramon and raised his hands to quiet them. He gave Ramon a final, wellspoken warning and told everyone to pack in for the night.
"Hunter," said Garrett. He was on one knee and was attentively gazing around the chamber and at the several passages leading out of it. "I'll take the first two-hour watch. You decide who's next."
"Watch? For what?"
"Just a precaution," he said in a soft, deliberate tone. "If what happened to Rene wasn't Ramon's doing, as he still insists…"
"Ramon did it," snapped Hunter. "Even I don't believe him. I can't imagine how you could."
Garrett continued his probing gazes into the passages.
Hunter waited a moment for a reply. "If Ramon didn't do it, then tell me who did?"
"If word leaked out about the velandrite," said Garrett, "we could have some company."
"Like who?"
"Bedras, Neurox Minerals, TC Mining and Discovery, the Adventurers—does it matter?"
"Our mission has been covered too well for that. If any ships approach the entrance to the Complex, we'll be the first to know. The detect-sensors on our Jumpers are premium."
"So they say. Believe what you want. You've been warned."
"Damn it, Garrett," mumbled Hunter as he laid back on his headcushion. "You're paranoid." He pulled his green thermal blanket up to his shoulders, then glanced at Garrett once more. Then he set his watch for a two-hour alarm. Perhaps having someone on guard duty wasn't a bad idea. Despite his concerns about Garrett, though, within minutes he had fallen asleep.
When his soft chiming alarm woke him, Hunter rolled on his side and peered over toward where he had last seen Garrett. He wasn't there. Hunter sat up and began searching the sleeping bodies. Arielle and Ramon were next to him, curled up together like two pieces of a puzzle. He saw Edison, Trent,
"Mala suerte, Señor Ramirez," whispered Renata as she watched Hunter and Arielle blasting Ramon. "Donde está su sonrisa ahora?"
She smeared a dab of the terra paste inside each nostril and inhaled deeply. Within seconds a lightheaded rush swirled into her head, and she imagined she was soaring above Novia. She saw her home perched at the base of a long sloping mountain, the ground covered with a heavy snow, the branches of the trees swaying in the wind, snow peeling off them like dust. And her three younger brothers were standing outside the door, resolute, like granite, each in turn telling her how special she was to them, how she was the greatest sister alive, how much they loved her.
Then, like a rug had been pulled out from beneath her feet, her euphoria vanished, her shame brutally returning. She tumbled back into the inky blackness of the caves. As she laid back on her mattress and pulled her green thermal blanket up to her chest, she groaned in disgust. What had happened to the intelligent, proud Second in Command? Where was her logic? It seemed to have completely failed her. Something seemed wrong, with her—here. She stared blankly, seeing only Devon's eyes intently watching her. Then Renata slipped into sleep, the inhalant having drained her of all emotion and energy.
Chapter Four
Explora Corporation's MC-101C Expedition
Hunter Larson: 44, Commander, Cavern Scientist, Pilot
Renata Stone: 37, 2nd in Command, Cavern Scientist/Systems Engineer, Pilot
Trent Logan: 45, 3rd Command, Neo-Archaeologist, Robotics Expert
Ramon Ramirez: 41, Subsurface Engineer/Groundwater Specialist
Arielle Talarian: 35, Planetary Geologist
Edison March: 35, Subsurface Engineer
Garrett Jansen: 53, Security Specialist, Pilot, Ex-mercenary Devon Snow: 24, Internal Observer
Isis Sandalo: 29, Biochemist, Subcontractor to Explora
Richelle Ivers: 32, Organic Sedimentologist, Subcontractor to Explora
(All ages in Earth Years)
Hunter had grown weary of the group's admonishment of Ramon and raised his hands to quiet them. He gave Ramon a final, wellspoken warning and told everyone to pack in for the night.
"Hunter," said Garrett. He was on one knee and was attentively gazing around the chamber and at the several passages leading out of it. "I'll take the first two-hour watch. You decide who's next."
"Watch? For what?"
"Just a precaution," he said in a soft, deliberate tone. "If what happened to Rene wasn't Ramon's doing, as he still insists…"
"Ramon did it," snapped Hunter. "Even I don't believe him. I can't imagine how you could."
Garrett continued his probing gazes into the passages.
Hunter waited a moment for a reply. "If Ramon didn't do it, then tell me who did?"
"If word leaked out about the velandrite," said Garrett, "we could have some company."
"Like who?"
"Bedras, Neurox Minerals, TC Mining and Discovery, the Adventurers—does it matter?"
"Our mission has been covered too well for that. If any ships approach the entrance to the Complex, we'll be the first to know. The detect-sensors on our Jumpers are premium."
"So they say. Believe what you want. You've been warned."
"Damn it, Garrett," mumbled Hunter as he laid back on his headcushion. "You're paranoid." He pulled his green thermal blanket up to his shoulders, then glanced at Garrett once more. Then he set his watch for a two-hour alarm. Perhaps having someone on guard duty wasn't a bad idea. Despite his concerns about Garrett, though, within minutes he had fallen asleep.
When his soft chiming alarm woke him, Hunter rolled on his side and peered over toward where he had last seen Garrett. He wasn't there. Hunter sat up and began searching the sleeping bodies. Arielle and Ramon were next to him, curled up together like two pieces of a puzzle. He saw Edison, Trent,
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