The Fated Stars

by Veronica Scott

  Deciding the authorities hadn’t wanted to alarm the civilians, she assumed the government smothered the news coverage.

  “And no mention of me either, which is the best part.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Finally, her ship swung into orbit around Cherram Six. As promised, the entire solar system was deserted, which suited Larissa. “Scan the planet for a suitable landing spot,” she said. “I need a clearing close to really big ass trees. And keep a constant scan deployed for any other ship entering the system.”

  As a mercenary, she wasn’t affected by a tendency to worry, but being so far off the shipping lanes and so far from help from other mercs or the authorities wasn’t her first choice for mission success. Everything about Samell and his situation was unusual, and Larissa expected to be ambushed by Kinterow again, or an ally of his. The AI reassured her three times there was no other spaceship in the entire system and no presence of higher intelligence on the planet itself.

  Nothing to contradict the Survey report of a peaceful, uninhabited planet.

  She donned her utilities and gear, including her blasters, and went to sickbay, where the AI had been slowly awakening Samell. The panels lifted up and away from him like iridescent insect wings as she walked in. Larissa laid her hand gently on his shoulder, keeping her eyes on his face and away from the extremely well proportioned lower half of his body. “Time to rise and shine, my friend. Go see those big trees you’ve been dreaming about.”

  He opened his eyes and stared at her, then at the room they were in, disoriented and confused, his voice thready. “Tulavarra?”

  “Sorry, no, not your home. But I found another planet with ancient trees and no people. First we need to get you dressed then we’ll figure out the next step.”

  He was distressingly weak, hands shaking, and having difficulty focusing his attention on her words. He fingered the utility pants and T shirt she’d had the AI make for him to his measurements and shook his head. “Where are my robes? If I must speak to the trees I should be properly dressed for the ceremony.”

  For a moment she was confused, thinking he meant the cheap seer’s costume Kinterow had given him, but then she realized he must mean his robes from the temple on his home world. She laid her hands on either side of his head and forced him to focus on her.

  Samell blinked, recognition coming into his green and gold eyes. Putting a commanding tone into her voice, she spoke crisply, “We’re not on Tulavarra. I’ve brought you to a world featuring a lot of trees. Stay with me here, ok?”

  He took the clothes she handed him and got dressed while she politely stared at the far bulkhead. The AI had printed off a pair of sturdy military boots, and a jacket, as the ambient temperature was lower than normal.

  “I’m not sure I can walk any distance,” he said. “I apologize for being such a burden.”

  Larissa heard the frustration in his voice. “No problem, part of the service,” she replied in a light tone. “We’ve landed close to a large grove of the trees, not far.”

  “If I can just get out of the ship, to the open ground, I should start reviving.” He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw.

  She didn’t rush him, waiting patiently until he nodded then she moved in to offer support as he stood. She could feel his muscles straining at the effort simply to stand, but Samell made no complaint as she tugged him toward the door.

  By the time they reached the ramp to descend to the planet’s surface she was sweating from the effort of basically carrying him. “Lean on the bulkhead, take a few deep breaths,” she advised as she opened the portal. “I’ll go first and check the situation. The first-in scouts have been known to be wrong before about how friendly a planet might be.”

  Blaster out, alert for the slightest sign of a problem, Larissa descended the ramp until she set foot on the brilliantly green carpet of mossy stuff covering the forest floor. She took a deep breath of the cool air herself, savoring the mixed scents of flowers, forest, and fresh water not far away. Much better than the canned ship air.

  As she stood there, scanning with her eyes and her sensory implants, the sounds of the forest resumed, clicking sounds of insect-like creatures she could see flitting around the flowers blooming off to the side, the wind sighing through the branches of the small saplings at the edge of the clearing, and a few trills of bird call.

  Retreating to the ship, facing the forest, she stepped backward over the threshold and checked Samell. He was alarmingly pale. “Doing okay? It’s a pretty day in the neighborhood here—I think you’ll like it.”

  He circled her wrist with one hand. “If this doesn’t work, I thank you for everything you’ve done. I call Thuun’s blessings upon you.”

  His voice was formal and a shiver ran through her nerves as if in response to the words.

  Before she could say anything, he gave a dry cough and continued, “If I die, bury me here, not in space. Please.”

  “You aren’t going to die on my watch—I keep telling you that.” She gave him a few sips of water as he coughed more deeply, then she urged him to step onto the ramp with her.

  At the first lungful of the planet’s air, he straightened. It was all she could do to keep him from falling as he broke into a shambling run to the base of the ramp. He sank to his knees on the green moss as he gazed hungrily at the edge of the forest fifty yards away.

  Larissa had deployed her speedster, guessing he wouldn’t be able to walk too far, and now she urged him to his feet and to take a spot on the bike. She mounted in front of him and extended the antigrav field, floating a few feet off the surface. Slowly she moved ahead, as the ship sealed itself tight behind her. The saplings grew close together but Larissa found a path of sorts to follow, hooved animals going to and from the water source, she guessed. The trail meandered in the general direction of the large trees towering above the forest floor, so she kept on it as long as she could. The deeper she penetrated into the actual forest, the cooler the air became and the less sunlight reached them. Larissa switched on the speedster’s lights and kept going.

  The big trees grew far apart from each other, as if each knew exactly how much space its neighbors required. Larissa thought the growth pattern of the grove was in oddly symmetrical concentric rings.

  “This is amazing,” Samell said over her shoulder. She was encouraged to hear more strength in his voice.

  “Like home?”

  “Not at all,” was his prompt answer. “But awe inspiring and beautiful nonetheless.”

  “Pick your target, um tree, and I’ll stop.”

  “The one straight ahead. Clearly it’s the parent of all the others in this vicinity.”

  His observation wasn’t clear to her, but she wasn’t a plant expert. The tree he indicated was massive, with a trunk so broad it resembled a wooden wall from an ancient fortification. She estimated it had to be two hundred feet around, easily. The branches didn’t begin until halfway up, and the crown appeared to be six or seven hundred feet in the air. A small fogbank drifted lazily, trapped by the densely woven branches and leaves at the top. “Makes its own weather,” she said in awe.

  Samell was silent as Larissa brought the speedster to a halt a few feet away from the tree he’d selected. She helped him dismount.

  He patted her hand on his arm. “I can do this myself.”

  She stood aside. “I’ll stand guard. Take as long as you need.”

  As he took the first step, she grabbed his elbow. Eyebrows raised, he stared at her in surprise.

  “I hope this works for you.” She rose on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Good luck.”

  “Meeting you was my luck.” He kissed her firmly on the lips then broke free.

  She had to hold herself back from touching her lips. The kiss had been fast but promising and left her a bit shaken.

  His steps wavered a bit, and he fell against the tree with a grunt of pain. Larissa took a step to help, but he straightened almost at once and took a deep breath. Silently, he placed his h
ands palms down on the tree bark and leaned his forehead on the trunk as well. Hissing as if in pain, he retreated a step, rubbing his hands together then massaging his temples.

  “Problem?”

  Hands on his hips, he peered into the dense foliage at the top. “This being is immensely old and completely unaccustomed to sharing its power, other than to nurture its own seedlings until their roots grow apart. The power is—” He shrugged. “Inconceivable. Like trying to drink from the ocean. But intoxicating, like finely aged wine.” He stepped closer to the trunk again, resting just his fingertips on the bark, and began to sing.

  Larissa was mesmerized by the song, not at all like the terrifying death song, but melodious and joyful. After a few bars something swooped by her head. She ducked and reached for her blaster as she realized an entire flock of colorful avian creatures had come to roost in the surrounding trees. The creatures were now joyously harmonizing with Samell’s voice. She forced herself to stop watching Samell and did a slow scan of the surrounding forest instead because it would be all too easy to lose herself in the spell he was weaving. She was the armed soldier here, her task to guard.

  The song ended. She studied him closely, glad to see his color was improved, and there was more energy in his movements. Hands on her hips as he turned to her, she said, “Well?”

  “Progress. Of a sort.” He came to her. “The tree wishes to know us better.”

  Larissa laughed. “How does a tree—even a giant one—get to know a human?”

  “The tree wishes to absorb us into itself and study us more closely. I’ve been assured we’d not be harmed, even if the being ultimately decides not to allow me to draw power through it from the planet.”

  “Wait—us?”

  “The tree doesn’t perceive a difference between the two of us.” Eyes twinkling, he dipped his gaze meaningfully for a moment to admire her chest. “Not even the obvious one of sex.”

  Larissa clenched her hand on the hilt of her blaster. “I—I don’t know about this.”

  “It’s your right to refuse, of course.”

  She studied him. “But if I refuse, can you get enough energy to be well? To be healed? To survive the journey to another planet with more co-operative trees?”

  Dutifully, he chuckled at her small gibe. “The tree allowed me to sip. Not enough to sustain one who has been so starved for so long, I fear.”

  “And you used all your energy singing ten bad guys to death to save my ass,” she said. At his raised eyebrows, she nodded. “I read the news accounts while you were in stasis. Impressive.”

  “I was looking out for myself as well.”

  “Uh huh.” Staring past him to the tree, she took a deep breath. “How is this going to work?”

  “The sentient thinks of herself as Moratiu or the Mother of All, if you prefer a loose translation. Apparently, she has the ability to absorb us into her being, her energy stream for a period of time, where she can study us and communicate more directly.” He held out one hand in invitation, as if asking her to dance. “I would advise against taking weapons. I’ll do my best to protect you.”

  “Why is nothing ever simple when it comes to you?” Larissa unbuckled her holsters and locked the blasters into the small compartment on the speedster. “I’m doing this against my better judgment.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Hey, how many people can say they were eaten by a tree? If we survive.”

  He held out his hand again, and she hesitated. “I believe we’ll be safer if we’re physically linked,” he said.

  “Makes sense.” She liked the reassuring feel of his grip as his fingers entwined with hers. The idea the priest would have her back during this strange ordeal quieted a bit of her apprehension. This weird mystical stuff was his specialty, let him take the lead. She could cope.

  Hand in hand, they marched to the base of the tree, standing in front of a particularly smooth section of the ruddy brick-red bark. Samell studied her face and she nodded resolutely. He placed his free hand on the trunk. “We’re ready to be your guests,” he said.

  The avian creatures set up a shrill, discordant song, and the insects clicked like small arms fire.

  Larissa glanced around. “See, the local fauna don’t think this is such a good idea.”

  “Moratiu says they’ve never seen her do this.”

  “Oh, another reassuring indicator. Not. No soldier anywhere ever wanted to be the designated guinea pig, and I’m no exception. Could she please just get on with whatever she needs to do before I lose my nerve?”

  “I can’t imagine you ever losing your nerve.” Samell looped his arm around her shoulders and drew her close, facing him. “Perhaps it would be best if you don’t watch this part of the process, however. Hang onto me.”

  “Is this for my safety or your enjoyment?” She gave him a quick wink to let him know she was teasing then got as close to him as she could manage. When she worked with male mercenaries, even those who were her friends and former combat allies, the protection was the military kind – make sure no one gets the drop on your team mate, make sure your aim was swift and true. Don’t screw up. This was more elemental, like sheltering from a storm. She thought she could hear his heart beating as a shadow crept around them. Larissa took a peek and recoiled, watching the bark creeping around them like a coffin, enclosing them inside the tree’s boundaries.

  Samell hugged her tighter, rubbing her back. “Deep breaths.”

  As if she’d been hit by lightning, a blinding white glare wiped out her vision, and a sizzle traveled along all her nerve endings. She couldn’t feel Samell’s grasp, although she knew at a subliminal level he was still there with her. There was a rapid sensation of being drawn upward. She realized she wasn’t breathing but neither was she suffocating. Larissa felt like she was floating in a river of energy.

  We travel in one of Moratiu’s nourishment streams. She allows me to drink of her bounty while we’re here as a courtesy.

  His voice was deep, calming as always. Larissa tried to think back an answer but her mind was curiously fuzzy. Voices rumbled through her head like echoes in an empty cave, nothing she could understand. Although she thought perhaps one of the tones was Samell’s. Panic ate at the edges of her consciousness, and she deployed one of the mental exercises she’d been taught as a raw recruit, but it was hard to concentrate on the calming mantra. The voices distracted her.

  Your aura flashes with anxiety. I wish I could help, but you’re one of the few humans on whom my powers refuse to work. I’m sorry.

  She laughed, or would have, if she hadn’t taken on the form of a disembodied lightning bolt. Just hearing your voice helps.

  Good, you’re getting used to the process. He sounded proud of her.

  Don’t let me distract you – I’d like this to end sooner than later. Grumpy, she wondered why the tree-being insisted on having her along for this ride if no one was going to ask her any questions?

  Suddenly, she regretted her thought, as she had the image in her mind of a giant eye fringed with leafy branches instead of eyebrows opening and regarding her as if she was an infinitesimally tiny bug, too insignificant to notice in the ordinary course of events. Easy to squash. The energy rippling in her being ebbed and anxiety tipped into full panic as she realized she’d stopped moving anywhere in the stream of energy. For a terrifying moment, Larissa felt alone and abandoned.

  I’ve got you.

  With his words in her head, a comforting pressure enveloped her like a warm, fuzzy blanket. Sheets of coruscating colors filled her vision as Samell’s voice rang out in a language her hypno implants couldn’t translate. Larissa began to move again, cocooned within the color and reassuring embrace.

  I told Moratiu you’re essential to my survival and insisted her promise to us both must be honored.

  Suddenly, Larissa’s vision cleared as if a switch had been flipped, and she was floating in a cool pond, surrounded by green leaves. Is this easier for you? The voice was not Sam
ell’s.

  “Yes, thank you. Not having a body is disorienting.” Larissa thought she spoke aloud but couldn’t be sure.

  There was a flash of amusement in her head, cold, and a bit cruel. You are not the same as the other. He has no problem immersing in the life force. Why does he need you?

  Was Samell hearing this? Larissa told herself to stick to simple responses. “I’m a soldier, I protect him.”

  That being can protect himself, foolish one.

  “You can generate your own weather yet you still need the rain,” she said. “I have different capabilities than he does.”

  Nothing else was said, so Larissa concentrated on floating in her tiny pond, hoping Samell was persuading the tree to give him what he needed so they could both get out of here in one piece. Wherever ‘here’ was. This had to classify as one of the weirdest experiences of her life.

  She’s granting me the right to drink fully of the energy. I’ve persuaded her to let you go, as you cannot survive the experience.

  “We should stay together.” Her protest was instantaneous, born of worry for him, dealing with the alien entity alone. Although I’m not providing significant backup floating in this damn pond, draped in lily pads and whatnot.

  Samell’s gentle laugh echoed in her head. In this case we cannot remain linked.

  The tree’s huge voice echoed in her head next. I will send you back to the ground. The amusing ones will tend to you while you wait for the other being to complete fulfillment of his needs.

  Larissa barely had time to ponder who or what the ‘amusing ones’ would turn out to be before the pond disappeared and she was again a disembodied flash of lightning, streaking downward, faster than she’d ever moved without a rocket assist. She tried to send Samell a thought of good wishes, but her mind was fuzzy. She wasn’t sure she ever got the words assembled.

  A caress on her cheek, or where her cheek would be if she was a corporeal being, and a whisper of her name then she was shoved away from the tree, stumbling across the soft green moss. Larissa fell and somersaulted with the force of her expulsion from the grasp of Moratiu and wound up spread eagled, too weak to move. She closed her eyes, struggled for breath, and consciousness fled.