Ignoring everything else, he focused at the thermal imager screen, waiting for something, yet hoping for nothing to appear.
I have a really bad feeling. Please be careful. He didn’t know if Guri would get the message but had to send it. They needed to be extra cautious.
The squadron stopped their approach for a moment. Had Guri received the message? Juliet advanced with more caution, but nothing else crossed their path. They’d reached the laboratory.
A part of Tayrym wanted to celebrate, yet he still couldn’t shake his unease. Finally taking his eyes off the thermal imager screen, he checked the video feeds of each of the squadron members. But all he saw were differing views of the laboratory, with Captain Daftar’s feed showing her opening the door to the building. Nothing to worry about. He was fretting over nothing. They’d be okay.
The thermal imager screen glitched. Something he’d been told it often did. Breathe. In and out. Again, nothing to worry about.
But when it cleared, an explosion of red and purple appeared around the squadron. Not just a few bodies, but hundreds, maybe thousands. Tayrym froze, unable to move. He couldn’t breathe any longer, could only stare in shock.
The static in his earpiece brought him back to the situation. “Do you see this, Specialist Tayrym?”
“Yes.” He gripped the edge of his console. “They’re surrounded. The infrared signatures just appeared out of nowhere.” Checking the video feeds, he saw Erebus limbs going every direction. Then their grotesque faces, ready to expel their poison onto the members of Juliet squadron. And Guri was in the middle of it all.
Voices rose around Tayrym, but he didn’t hear a single word. Could only watch the screens, stare helplessly as each Defender tried to fight back. Hands shaking, he gripped the console harder, but it didn’t help. Guri fought well, but there were so many Erebus. And even with the number of bodies he could see, their infrared blob did not dull any.
Then one of the monitors flatlined. The screen of Gnab showed Erebus limbs littering the ground, but more moving around, going after one of the other Defenders.
Chit’s flat-lined next, his screen filling with static then blacking out completely.
Tayrym’s head spun. This couldn’t be happening. It had to be just another dream. He was really asleep in bed with Guri, and would wake up in an instant. His boyfriend was safe, not on a planet full of monsters.
“Specialist Tayrym!”
He whimpered, searching for the person who had spoken to him. “Yes?”
“Do you see a way out for the squadron?”
He rubbed his eyes, his head pounding, and focused on the screens. “I...I wish I did. There’s just too many. I don’t know…. I don’t know where they came from.”
“Neither do we, but we have to get them out of there.”
Tayrym gulped. He didn’t know if that was possible. “An extraction.” They’d never survive without help.
“There’s one preparing to depart from the carrier.”
Preparing? They’d never get there fast enough. Tayrym shook his head. “He never should have gone.”
With a piercing ring, the other three monitors flatlined. The corresponding screens went black. No feed at all.
Guri. He was gone.
Tayrym’s vision wavered. The piercing of the monitors grew louder, filled his head until he couldn’t hear anything else. Bile burned its way up his esophagus to the back of his throat. His entire body spun. Then everything went black.
“Tayrym.”
The voice seemed so far away. He tried to open his eyes, find the source, but couldn’t. His entire body ached. What had happened? Where was he?
His face was wet, and he didn’t know why.
More voices spoke around him. Quieter, but he could still hear some of their words. Guri...entire squadron...gone.
No. No! What they were saying couldn’t be true. He dug his fingernails into his palms. Not a dream. Yet, that pain didn’t compare to the agony ripping apart his chest. He’d lost the man he loved. Guri had died on his first mission. A mission he went on as a Defender. And the only reason he’d wanted to become a Defender was to be with him. Tayrym had caused the death of his boyfriend. He’d led him to the Erebus for slaughter. Though he’d tried to stop him, he should have made a better attempt. Should never have fallen asleep.
Tayrym should have gone in his place. He was the useless Defender they’d put in the communications room because he wasn’t skilled enough to actually fight Erebus. Guri had so much potential. Yet now, he didn’t even have a future. And that was on Tayrym.
“Tayrym, can you open your eyes? Can you get up? We need to get you to the med bay.”
No, they should just jettison him into space. Or send him to Gyoun as a sacrifice to the Erebus. That’s what he deserved.
He squeezed his eyelids shut even tighter. The instant he got up, he’d have to acknowledge what had happened. And he’d have to inform their friends back home. Though they’d all hate him after they found out. Guri would still be alive on Hemera if it weren’t for him. First, he’d taken Guri away from all his friends. Then he’d failed to prevent him from being slaughtered by Erebus. All the blame laid on Tayrym. And he deserved to die.
“Captain Hyomin, we’ve detected something. A signal.”
All those he’d sensed around him earlier disappeared. He wiped his eyes then slowly opened them to see where they’d gone. The captain as well as other specialists stood in a semi-circle around a piece of equipment they’d told him was too old for him to worry about. Yet, he already knew how to use the old radio system, had taught himself on Hemera as a young boy. He’d been the one to send a distress signal to space when the Erebus had attacked his planet.
With a deep breath, he rose to his elbows. “What’s going on?”
The captain turned her head. “We’re receiving a signal from the shuttle on Gyoun. I’m not sure what it means, though.”
He reached his hand up. “Help me up. I can figure it out.” Even though Guri hadn’t made it, Tayrym had an obligation to help whoever was on that shuttle. It was the least he could do. He was a Defender, after all. But it still wouldn’t rid him of the guilt of losing Guri.
Chapter Eight
Turning the dial with minute movements, Tayrym strained to hear a clearer message. There were words sent along with the distress signal, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t refine the static enough to understand. “I’m sorry, Captain. I don’t know what they’re saying. I’ve sent a message back, but I can’t even determine if it’s been received. The only thing I know for sure is the signal hasn’t changed.”
She patted him on the back. “It’s okay. But, you’re sure it’s definitely a member of Juliet squadron who activated the signal? It’s coming from the shuttle?”
“Yes, and it takes precision to activate the signal. Something I don’t believe the Erebus have.” At least he hoped not. Not like the genetically-modified ones Katrina and Jager had told him about encountering on Terra. “If they could even get into the shuttle.”
“Okay.” The captain nodded. “Delta squadron is ready to go. They’ll extract any survivors then immediately return.”
After a brief glimpse of the squadron loading onto the shuttle, Tayrym chewed on his bottom lip while playing with his fingers. As much as he longed for Guri to have survived the massacre, he refused to get his hopes up. It would only hurt that much more when he learned his boyfriend was still on Gyoun, a puddle of Hemera gel and Erebus waste. His vision had shown him Guri’s fate. It was inevitable. He was all alone.
“Specialist Tayrym, I want you to report to the med bay for a checkup.” The captain rested a hand on his shoulder. “Your shift is over, and I need to make sure you’re okay.”
He took a deep breath before glancing up at her. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather just return to my room. I’m fine.”
“I don’t believe you.” Her grip tightened. “I really need to know that someone is with you at this tim
e. If you go back to your room, I want you to contact home.”
“Sure.” He attempted a weak smile, trying to convince her he would even with no intention of doing so.
“Okay.” She let go of him and backed up. “I’ll have someone let you know when the survivors of Juliet are extracted and safely on their way back.”
He shrugged. “Whatever.” He doubted more than one member had survived, and likely not Guri. He was too fresh, raw just like his nickname back home. Plus, he was terrible with technology. There was no way he could have figured out how to send a distress signal.
Head down, Tayrym left the communications room and shuffled toward his room. The one he’d shared with Guri. Where they’d made love only hours before. His eyes burned with the onset of tears, and he quickened his pace. He didn’t need the concern of any of the Defenders he passed.
By the time he reached the room, he was a mess. The vision of Guri covered in Erebus waste clogged his mind. Tayrym’s eyes burned and were so swollen from crying, he could barely see through them. His sinuses were clogged with snot, the excess running down his top lip. But what did it matter? Nothing mattered with Guri gone.
As soon as he stepped inside, he toed off his sandals then flopped onto the bed. The musky scent of his boyfriend wafted up at him upon impact, bringing on the launch of new tears. How could this have happened? He’d been so happy Guri had wanted to come with him, so they wouldn’t be apart. But that hadn’t been the case during training. Now they’d be apart forever.
Tayrym shook with each sob. His chest hurt, and he struggled to catch his breath. But that was surely nothing compared to what Guri experienced during the last moments of his life. He grabbed his boyfriend’s pillow and hugged it tight to his chest. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I should have done something more. I should have kept you from going. I knew.” He sniffled hard. “I knew something was going to happen. I should have stopped you. I should have tried harder. Why did I fall asleep?”
His tears and snot trailed onto his own pillow as he began to gasp. It was all too painful. He couldn’t do this without Guri. And when the darkness came, he ran toward it.
“Tayrym.”
He sniffled, sure he’d moved on to the next realm. Was Guri there with him? Had they been given another chance together beyond their previous lives?
After wiping his eyes, he glanced up toward the source of the voice. Only it wasn’t his boyfriend. And he hadn’t moved on to the next realm. He was still in the Alliance’s carrier, still without the love of his life. “Leave me alone.”
“But I was told to give you a message.” Kutcha, a new coms specialist like him, shuffled through his doorway. “I have good news.”
“I don’t care what news you have.” He pulled Guri’s pillow over his head. “Please just get out. I need to be alone.” As he’d be for the rest of his life.
“But Delta squadron found survivors in the shuttle on Gyoun. They’re bringing them back now.” He yanked the pillow off Tayrym and smacked him with it. “One of them is Guri.”
Tayrym lifted his head and glared at the Defender. “That’s not a funny joke.”
“Not a joke.” Kutcha waved all four of his arms in front of him. “Captain Hyomin told me to let you know as soon as we received the news from Delta.”
Tayrym remained silent and stared at the Defender for the longest time. His vision hadn’t come true? Or maybe it had, but somehow Guri survived. He scrambled from the bed, catching his reflection in the mirror. “Oh Gaspra I look horrible. I can’t see him like this.”
Kutcha shrugged. “I’m sure he looks just as rough from what Delta said about their condition.”
“No.” Tayrym grabbed a change of clothing. “I need to clean myself up first. Tell Captain Hyomin I’ll be there soon.”
Tayrym rushed past Kutcha toward the showers then paused. “Hey, who were the other survivors?”
Kutcha frowned. “Just Captain Daftar. And they’re not even sure she’ll make it.”
“Oh.” He wanted to be happy about Guri but hoped with everything he had that Captain Dafter survived. She had many who loved her, too.
***
“I’m fine.” Guri pushed away at all the medical staff clad in hazmat suits trying to make him sit in a wheelchair. “I can walk on my own.”
“Second Lieutenant, you need to cooperate, or we will tranquilize you. You barely survived an Erebus ambush and need to be examined under quarantine before you go anywhere.”
That explained the suits worn by those who came to meet their shuttle, and the tarp around the wheelchair they wanted him to sit in. He plopped into the seat and waited for them to seal him up. Anything to get back to Tayrym faster.
As the Erebus had loomed over him, he’d believed at that moment he’d never see his boyfriend again. Their short time together had come to an abrupt end. And it was his fault for ignoring all of Tayrym’s gut feelings, his warnings.
But he couldn’t accept that. Somehow he’d managed to roll and shimmy through dead bodies and thick, sticky waste on the ground to get out of the cluster, finding one open space after another through the writhing bodies to finally escape. Launching to his feet, he’d searched to see if anyone else had survived the attack and hoped he could find a way to contact the carrier for help.
About to race for the shuttle, he’d spotted a hand reaching out through the mass. If he hadn’t helped the being then, he couldn’t have been sure they’d survive until more Defenders arrived. So he’d grabbed the hand and pulled hard. The being that came out was barely recognizable, covered in Erebus waste except for their arm. And they’d flopped to the ground like a rag.
The Erebus noticed them outside the crowd and began to lumber in their direction. Guri hadn’t had time to check the being’s condition. He’d picked up the limp body and flung them over his shoulder then ran as fast as he could toward the shuttle. It wasn’t until he’d had a chance to clean up after he’d sent the distress signal that he’d realized the being was his captain.
“Guri!”
He turned to see Tayrym sprawled against the partition keeping him and everyone who had returned from Gyoun away from the rest of the population on the carrier. Even with the plastic cage he was in and the medical team in protective suits, the Alliance was taking every precaution.
Attempting a smile, he waved to his boyfriend, thankful he had a chance to see his always beautiful face again. On the way back to the carrier, he’d vowed he would listen to Tayrym from now on. If he said not to go, Guri wouldn’t. He refused to take that chance again. Somehow, Tayrym had known.
“Guri, I missed you so much.”
He hadn’t even realized Tay had found a way past the barriers until he was in front of his chair, unzipping the plastic. “What are you doing?”
Tayrym shoved away the medical staff trying to restrain him. “I had to see you. I need to touch you, kiss you, make sure you’re alive. I thought you were dead. I thought I was all alone.”
Tears streamed down Tayrym’s cheeks. He quickly wiped them away, still struggling to get closer while others attempted to keep him away. With the drugs he was given upon landing still in Guri’s system, he could only watch from his chair. A good thing they’d made him sit in it. “Tay Tay, I’m here. I’m okay. Don’t get in trouble for me.”
“It’s too late,” the Warwa pushing his chair noted. “He’ll have to go into quarantine, too.”
Instead of panicking, Tayrym grinned. “I want my bed next to Guri’s.”
He couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. Yet, he wouldn’t complain about the chance to spend more time with his boyfriend.
So many tests were run on them. Blood taken. And the medical staff even took samples of the Erebus waste on him before they allowed him to clean up. Unlike the captain, who was finally stable but needed more recovery time, he was released after only one night in the med bay and allowed to return to his room. But Tayrym was asked to stay behind.
Guri glanced over at
him, his boyfriend’s eyes wide with fear. “What do you want with him? If I’m clear, so is he.”
“This is an entirely different matter.” The Warwa doctor pointed to the door. “He will be released shortly.”
Tayrym pouted and tugged on the edge of the doctor’s sleeve. “But I want him to stay. Please let him stay.”
After a heavy sigh, the doctor nodded. “Fine.” She turned on the com screen and loaded up a chart written in a language he didn’t understand. “Tayrym, when we took a blood sample from you yesterday, we learned some interesting information.”
Tayrym’s pout disappeared. His eyes hardened as he examined the monitor. Guri had no idea what the results meant, but rushed forward to comfort his Tay Tay.
“This can’t be right.” Tayrym squinted. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
Guri tucked his hand into Tayrym’s, still unsure what information had been shared.
“You remember we took a second set of samples?” the doctor asked. “We wanted to be sure nothing had been mixed up or tampered with. But the results were the same.”
Tayrym’s mouth hung open, his eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. “I don’t know how, though.”
“Likely two or three generations back.” After turning off the screen, the doctor folded her arms across her front. “No more than that, based on your abilities.”
“What’s going on?” Guri shrugged at Tayrym with no clue what any of it meant. “What abilities?” Sure, his boyfriend was superior in using Alliance technology as well as pleasing him, but how did any of that relate to his ancestors? They never had such technology and would not have engaged in a same sex relationship.
“I’m….” Tayrym paused as if still trying to process the information. “I’m part Yarwin. That’s why I sometimes get these bad feelings and that vision. I knew something bad was going to happen on Gyoun.”
“But that makes no sense.” Tayrym didn’t look like a Yarwin. He had only two arms, no gills, and regular, plump, rosy, and oh so kissable lips. Nothing like those from Yarwa. “You’re Hemera.”
Tayrym (Galactic Defenders Book 4) Page 9
