by Keira Conrad
33
The hours and days passed in a blur. Callie had all the assistance she could dream of, but her heart and body were still recovering. Her days and nights were a blur of dirty diapers, breast-feeding, and rocking the baby to sleep. She rarely left her dwelling; she spent most of her time shuttered inside her bedroom, recovering from the trauma.
"It's starting to smell in here," Andromeda said when she cracked open the door.
"Well, we have four and a half people crammed in a place designed for one. The air exchange can't keep up. Maybe you want to check the filter?" Callie couldn't quiet her inner engineer.
"I don't think it's the filter."
"Babies make bad smells," Callie reminded her.
"You're still so sad." Nobody but Juno would broach the subject with her. Everyone else just pretended her relationship with Vaka had never happened. "I can't imagine how hard it is for you, going through a breakup while you have a new baby. You've been really strong."
"I feel a 'but' coming on," Callie said.
"But..." Juno stretched the word out for emphasis. "I think a walk would do you good. Why don't you get outside for a while? Soak up some sunshine."
"I don't feel like it." She just wanted to stay in her safe little room, curl up in the fetal position, and shut out the rest of the world. "I just want to stay here."
"You need to take care of yourself." The mattress dipped as Juno settled herself next to Callie. "For the baby."
"I don't want to." Callie knew she sounded like a spoiled toddler, but didn't she deserve a little time to wallow in self-pity?
"Remember our time in training?" Juno asked.
"How could I forget?" Those long days were seared into her memory.
"Fake it until you make it, right? That's what you always said to me when I didn't think I could do something." Juno reached out and lightly rubbed Callie's shoulder. The tenderness in her touch was exactly what she needed. "Now it's your turn. Start acting normal and you'll start to feel normal."
"I miss him so much."
"I know you do."
"I thought he'd come for me. I guess he doesn't care."
"He cares. I know he does. It was plain to anyone who saw the two of you together. But are you sure you want to see him after what he did?"
"I never wanted to see him again when I first found out," Callie said. "But we have a child together. That brought everything into focus pretty clearly. And it's not like I was blameless in this whole deal. He wasn't the only one who lied. I wasn't honest either. I hadn't been from the start."
"I guess we all do the best we can with what we're given," she said.
"Has Riyad said anything about him?" Callie was anxious for any news.
"I haven't talked to him in a few days," Juno said. "But I'll see him in a little bit. We're going hunting again."
"Maybe you could feel him out a little?" Callie asked. "Tell me if he has any news?"
"Ask him yourself." Juno rose to her feet. "We're meeting at the edge of camp in a little bit. You can walk with us to the woods. It'll do you good to get some fresh air."
"I can't leave Naomi." Callie had struggled with the perfect name for her daughter and when another colonist suggested “Naomi” she realized it suited her perfectly.
"So, bring her along," Juno said. "She's not made of glass. She can handle a walk outside."
"Since when do you know so much about babies?" She handed her daughter to Juno as she disentangled herself from the nest of blankets on her bed. "Okay," she said. "I'm coming with you. Give me fifteen minutes."
Juno swaddled Naomi while Callie took a shower. She luxuriated in the steaming hot water and stood beneath it until it ran cool. By the time she changed into fresh clothes and pulled her hair back into a bun, she was starting to feel better. Maybe Juno had the right idea, she thought as she stepped into the sun with her babe. She took a breath of fresh air and prayed that she would recover from the brokenness inside. She couldn't go on this way forever. She looked down at her daughter's sweet face and knew, somehow, that everything would work out.
"Want me to carry her?" Juno asked as they walked to the fence. Juno had been struck with baby fever. Ever since Callie asked her to be Naomi's godmother, she couldn't get enough of the babe.
"Nope," Callie said as she bounced the bundle in her arms. "She's all mine today." They saw Riyad waiting for them and waved in unison.
He met them as they approached and leaned forward for a glimpse of the miracle child. Callie offered to let him hold her, but the idea seemed to terrify him. "She is lovely." His voice was full of wonder as he examined her delicate little face.
"Have you seen him?" Callie asked as they stood together. Riyad shook his head no.
"He sees no one," he said. "Talks to no one. Not even Shiva can reach him." Callie's focus on Riyad blocked everything else from her view. She didn't see the dots gathering along the horizon, darkening the sky like a flock of giant birds. She failed to notice Juno's look of confusion, and she missed the concern, and then terror, that was plain on her face.
"Oh my God." Juno activated an alarm from her wrist-mounted comms device and then pointed to the sky. "They're coming again."
34
Callie instinctively knew what they wanted. Riyad confirmed her suspicions when he gave voice to her deepest fear.
"They are coming for you," he said to Callie. "And your child and the rest of the women."
"We have to warn everyone," Juno said as she raced off. "Get to the bunker," she yelled over her shoulder.
“The bunker” was their affectionate name for their one fortified, defensible stronghold. Constructed from the wreckage of their ship, it was fierce and formidable, but Callie knew it would not withstand the coming attack. They were outnumbered, outgunned, and outmaneuvered. The realization of their impending doom settled over her like a thick fog.
"I must take you away from here." Riyad wrapped his fingers around her upper arm. His touch was gentle, but she felt the steely strength he disguised.
"We won't make it," Callie said. The ominous cloud of attackers grew closer with impossible speed.
"A dragon can outfly anything," he said. "Come with me."
She resisted his pull. "I can't abandon my people, but I need to make sure Naomi is safe." Callie extended her arms and offered him the swaddled child. "Will you take her to her father?"
"No harm will come to her while I draw breath." He cradled her in his enormous arms. Panic ran through the camp like wildfire as they said their goodbyes. Women screamed and pointed at the sky. A few raced into the woods, unwilling to entrust their safety to the security team in the face of such odds. It may have been the smarter move, but Callie was too tired to consider it an option. Besides, Captain Hudson had assured them the bunker was better suited to handle an attack than the ship itself had been. She didn't always like him, but she trusted his military expertise when it came to their personal safety.
Callie watched as Riyad sprinted across the rocky plain, away from the attacking forces. He started to change before her very eyes. His body swelled in size and his flesh-toned scales turned silver and green. He looked like a stone skipping across the water as he leapt across the ground with increasing distance. Then, he was bound to the ground no more. It was magnificent to watch, and several of the colonists froze in place and stared before resuming their frenzied stampede.
He soared into the sky. Callie felt as if she had witnessed some kind of magic. No tears clouded her eyes as he and her daughter departed. Riyad carried her to safety. She knew her girl would be fine. Her father would watch over Naomi. Callie held that knowledge close and let it comfort her.
"Callie, we gotta go!" Juno was back. Callie's empty arms didn't faze her, and Callie knew she understood everything.
Callie tried to move, but her feet felt as heavy as cement blocks. It was like someone glued her in place. Juno grabbed her hand and tugged and she jolted back to reality. It was still a surreal scene, but she was b
ack in control of her senses. Together, they raced for the bunker with a throng of other colonists. They had to get inside before the thick steel doors closed. The Obeday fleet was close enough for Callie to make out individual ships. The majority were small crafts suitable for a single pilot only. Several larger vessels flew among them. They meant to take prisoners, she assumed. Why bring the transportation barges otherwise?
"Wait!" She planted her feet and she and Juno ground to a halt. She clawed at the leather strap around her neck. She hadn't been able to take it off, even when things between them had gone terribly wrong. She indulged in this one reminder of him.
"Make it fast, Callie." She'd never seen Juno gripped with true fear before, but her shrill voice and clammy hands betrayed her. Callie raised the whistle to her mouth and blew. She didn't hear a single thing, but she wasn't expecting to. She sounded it two more times and then tucked it back into her shirt and followed behind Juno.
They raced into the bunker with the last trickle of colonists. A young officer from the security team barked orders as he strained to close the heavy doors.
"These lock from the inside," he said as he pointed to a metal bar that ran along the floor. "Pop the latch and don't open it for anyone."
Juno followed his instructions and secured them safely inside. The entire room shuddered when the doors closed and the lock engaged. The dim emergency lights flickered on and a quiet settled over the room. They huddled together and tried to comfort each other as an awareness of their dire situation settled over them.
All hope isn't lost, Callie tried to tell herself. The security detail, half-convinced the planet was uninhabited, was caught flatfooted during the first attack. They were prepared this time around. They removed the giant mounted guns from the Sentinel and attached them to towers that dotted the perimeter fence. Their array of traditional weapons was impressive, and Callie was sure Captain Hudson had a few tricks up his sleeve.
She lowered herself to the floor and rested on the cold metal. She was hoping for a rescue of another kind. She thought back to the night, all those months ago, when she'd watched a dragon burn a surveillance drone right out of the sky. She could only imagine what a group of them could do. Probably take down the entire fleet with a band of flying flame throwers. All she had to do was stay alive until help arrived.
"He'll come for us; I know he will." She whispered the words in the dark but her voice sounded hollow.
35
He was a fool. A god-damned fool and everyone would pay for his sins. He heard the commotion outside his tent and at first paid it no mind. His men were excitable these days with the prospect of mating once again on their minds. They jockeyed for his favor in an attempt to secure the next breeding selection, and scuffles had broken out more than once. God knows he understood their uncertainty and anticipation, but he grew tired of their constant altercations. He should have bargained for more than ten Earth women. The scarcity of the fairer sex in his village would be a thorn in his side for years to come.
A scream pierced the air and he knew something was wrong. His heart raced as his adrenaline spiked. The commotion he heard took a frenzied turn. He sprinted out of his tent and tried to process the scene unfolding before him.
It took his mind a few moments to piece together the truth of what was happening. He'd been lost in a haze of anguish and regret since Callie had fled with his daughter. He didn't blame her for leaving. He blamed only himself for her hasty departure. He should have protected her better. Cared for her better. Trusted her better. Instead, he'd lost her forever. He wanted to be there for his people, but he could barely rise from his bed in the morning. His second in command, Arnar, temporarily assumed Vaka's duties while he hid in his tent and licked his wounds. He cursed himself for his inattention as he watched the Obeday swarm his home.
He'd always expected their next attack to come from the skies. But they overran his village from below, spilling from the depths of their mountain caves like rabid bats. They Obeday had made significant advances in their exoskeleton technology since he last saw them. Years ago, they had lumbered around encased in giant, metal suits. Now, the metal was delicate and thin. The suits had been scaled down in size dramatically while offering increased speed and agility.
The Obeday were still just as cunning. They swamped his warriors with a speed that made hand-to-hand combat their only option. Their proximity to the enemy eliminated the dragon advantage. The fire that spewed from his warriors would kill as many of their own people as the enemy.
They fought with a ferocity he had never seen before, but their numbers were too small. The Obeday clearly meant to take them alive; they used their superior numbers and technology to subdue the Verakai but were careful to leave them unharmed. They had no collars with them this time, but they slapped small red patches on anyone within reach. Once his people were tagged, they were herded, kicking and screaming, into a giant holding cage.
Vaka was among the last of his people to be conquered, but he was overpowered and tagged nonetheless.
He strained against the metal bars but there was no give in them. He tried to shift, to assume his dragon form to break free from their cell, but his body wouldn't listen to his commands. The cunning wretches had discovered a better way to control them. At the expense of the warriors still trapped within their city, no doubt. Vaka picked at his skin until it bled, but the device was fused with him and could not be extricated. It was bad enough the Obeday had placed the cursed translator in his head all those years ago. Now their technology would steal his gift as well.
A sound rose above the din of his people and snaked into his ears. He recognized the source immediately. There was only one person who could call for him in the ancient way. He closed his eyes and pictured the way the small whistle danced at her slender throat, secured by the leather strap. Callie. She needed him. His daughter needed him. Of course, the Obeday wouldn't attack his camp alone. Callie and the child were everything the Obeday had dreamed of.
An imagined future passed before his eyes as he clung to the bars with clenched fists. Images flashed before him like pictures in a slideshow. Vaka and Callie together with the babe cradled between them. His little girl tottering to him as she took her first steps. Callie thick with their second child. He held her hand as they walked through the forest together and laughed.
He would not be denied that future.
He'd never felt fear or panic before in battle but both surged through him now. He harnessed the emotions. Focused on them with laser-like intensity until he had taken a lump of charcoal and compressed it into a diamond. White-hot rage erupted from his soul and it fought back against the restraints on his abilities. The effort of it sent lightning bolts of pain through his limbs. His skin burned with agony, but his heart leapt when the color of his skin took on a reddish hue.
He bore down and directed all his concentration to his inner dragon. His men backed away as he swelled in size. He screamed in agony but nothing would stop him. The physical pain was meaningless. The misery his heart had recently endured was everything. He wouldn't let Callie, his daughter, or his people down again.
He was nearly blinded by the pain of the transformation but it passed the moment he embraced his true self. He burst from his cage and his men knew instinctively what to do; they stayed together and moved out of the way. Vaka sprayed the Obeday with his fearsome flames. His fire was liquid and it clung to them like napalm. The air was filled with smoke and screams and the smell of burning metal and flesh. He showed them no mercy. He'd scorch them off the face of the planet it if was within his power.
He cleared the camp of their foulness and soared above the mountain. He turned to the human camp and what he saw there gripped his heart like an icy hand.
36
He wasn't coming. Callie had to face that fact as she waited with Juno, Andromeda, and Flora. It had been at least a half hour since she sounded the call and the attack still raged outside. She stared into the dark recesses of their fo
rt and tried to mentally prepare herself for what was to come.
If the security team failed, the colonists didn't have very many options. It would be like shooting fish in a barrel if their attackers wanted to wipe them from the planet. If they wanted to take the colonists alive, there wasn't much Callie and the other women could do to stop them. Callie didn't much care what happened to her. Naomi had made it out and she couldn't ask for more than that.
She looked around the room. The initial shock was wearing off and the women tried to cope with the situation any way they could. Some chatted quietly, trying to distract themselves from the war going on outside. Others sat near the walls and listened with perked ears and tense bodies, trying to decipher the sounds and movements coming from outside.
"Riyad will come back," Flora said. Callie usually appreciated her friend's optimism in the face of the unknown, but it just seemed like a delusion under their current circumstances. "Even if Vaka can't, for some reason, I know Riyad will come back."
"He's not coming back." Callie couldn't keep the harshness out of her tone. "I told you, he took Naomi. He's taking her someplace safe."
"What about the others?" Andromeda asked. "I mean, now that we have proof that cross-species reproduction is possible between humans and the Verakai, you'd think they'd have a vested interest in making sure we aren't all snuffed out in one afternoon."
"What makes you think they aren't being attacked, too?" Juno asked. Callie's heart froze mid-beat. "If the creatures out there have been able to surveil us and launch such a coordinated attack, I'm sure it's happening at the mountain as well."
Callie's eyes filled with tears, but she had to hold onto hope. Vaka had told her once that only death would keep him from her if she called to him, and he was not the type of man to break a vow.
"You're right, Flora," Callie said. "Vaka and Riyad are probably on their way here right now." She reached out and took Flora's hand in her own.
