Justin ran his hand over the surface of the table to his right. “I can see why. If I were living on this ship, I’d certainly spend time here.”
“Well you’re in luck, Byrnsie.” Drew punched him lightly on the arm. “For the next day, you are living on this ship.”
Justin grinned at her.
Some inner sense prompted Cade to glance over his shoulder. Aurora stood at the back of the room, watching them with a bemused smile. He hadn’t even heard her enter.
“What do you think of our observation lounge?”
He told her the truth. “Impressive.”
Her smile widened. “If you’re going to spend your life among the stars, you should have a great view.”
She’d left him an opening, and he couldn’t resist taking it. “Yes, you should.” Her presence had definitely increased the appeal of the room.
An emotion flickered in her eyes as they stared at each other. Her smile disappeared, but she didn’t look away. “Celia’s put together some snacks to fortify us before the discussion.”
“Cardiff cooks, too?” Justin murmured under his breath.
Cade had picked up on his first officer’s infatuation with the Starhawke’s security chief.
Drew poked him in the ribs. “Just be sure to keep your tongue in your mouth, Byrnes. No woman likes a drooler.”
Justin ignored her, focusing on Aurora instead. “This ship is amazing.”
“Thank you. We’re fond of her.”
Behind her, a curved section of the wall pushed out in a gentle arc, the top opening like an oyster to reveal platters of fresh vegetables, fruits, and sandwiches. Another section opened onto a neat row of plates and glasses next to pitchers filled with assorted beverages.
Justin looked intrigued. “Is that tied to the kitchen on the other side of the wall?”
Aurora nodded. “It’s much more efficient than hauling everything.”
Drew seemed equally impressed. “What I’d like to know is how you acquired all this fresh food. It can’t be from Gaia, since they’re under quarantine. Did you bring it with you?”
“The food is from the greenhouse.” They all turned as Clarek stepped through the main doorway and crossed the room, coming to stand beside Aurora.
The oversized Kraed had placed himself between Aurora and Cade. No way was that accidental.
“You have a greenhouse? On the ship?” Drew’s eyes widened.
Clarek nodded. “The ship is designed to be self-sufficient for extended periods of time.”
“But how do you accomplish that?” Drew had slipped into tech mode. “You don’t always have a stable solar source.”
“True. But the ship can store solar energy and reproduce it in the same conditions plants would experience on Earth. The greenhouse creates day, night, season and temperature changes, and even wind and rainfall. As far as the plants are concerned, they are growing on Earth, not on a starship.”
“Incredible.” Drew glanced at Aurora. “Could I see the greenhouse?”
Aurora smiled. “Of course. When we have time, I’d be happy to give you a tour.”
A stab of irrational jealousy speared Cade. That was more than she’d offered him.
Drew lit up like a Christmas tree. “I’d love it. Thank you.”
“Can I come, too?” Justin asked, his expression uncharacteristically subdued. He’d mentioned to Cade that he anticipated being persona non grata with Aurora’s crew after playing a lead role in the covert surveillance.
But Cade knew Aurora better than Justin did, and she didn’t disappoint him.
“Yes, Mr. Byrnes. You would be welcome, too.”
Justin beamed. “Thanks.”
And just like that, Aurora befriended two of his team members. From the looks on their faces, her natural charm was winning over Gonzalez and Williams, too. It wouldn’t be long before they’d align themselves with her and follow her anywhere. Aurora had that effect on people, whether she meant to or not.
He should know. She’d done the same thing to him many years ago.
Only Reynolds seemed unmoved. But then again, that was her job.
Aurora gestured to the food. “Please, help yourselves. I’m sure you’re all hungry. The rest of the crew should be here shortly.”
His team filled their plates as the remaining Starhawke crewmembers arrived and everyone settled in at the table.
Cade selected the chair across from Aurora. Conversation was minimal as everyone focused on the meal, the platters of food rapidly emptying. But he could feel Aurora’s gaze on him.
She took a sip from her glass and cleared her throat. As silence descended, she folded her forearms on the tabletop. “Before we discuss our plans going forward, I want to thank Mr. Ellis’s team for agreeing to work with us on this mission.”
The acknowledgment was unexpected. The flash of anger that appeared on Clarek’s face was not.
“It’s my hope that by combining forces, we can achieve a quicker and more effective resolution than either team could accomplish alone.” She glanced around the table. “With that in mind, does anyone have a recommendation for how we might proceed?”
Cardiff wiped her fingers on her napkin. “We need to find a way to detain the—” She made a swirling motion with her hand. “Whatever we’re going to call those creatures.” She frowned. “They need a name.”
“You’re right,” Aurora said. “Any suggestions?”
“How about Night Monsters?” Emoto said. “That’s what the child at the RC headquarters called them.”
Cade’s head snapped up. Some child at the refugee camp had seen those things and no one had told him?
Cardiff shook her head. “Too wordy. We need something concise and descriptive.”
“What about Leechers?” Justin suggested.
“Not bad.” Cardiff replied. “Except these things kill. Leeches generally don’t.”
“True.”
“Vile Vultures?” Drew volunteered. “It’s what they look like.”
“That’s still long,” Gonzalez said.
Silence fell. Everyone in the room seemed to give a collective shrug.
“Necri.”
The word hung in the air like a dark cloud as the focus shifted to Aurora.
“Necri,” Mya echoed softly. “Well, that definitely fits. They are death personified.”
Having seen the creatures up close and personal, Cade had to agree. “Any objections?” No one offered a dissenting opinion. “Then Necri it is.” He held Aurora’s gaze. “And getting back to Cardiff’s plan, she’s right. We need to detain the Necri without putting the Gaians at risk. We also need to get onboard their ship. There’s a good chance we’ll find most of our answers there.”
Williams leaned back in his chair, the weight of his upper body making the wood creak. “It’s my understanding that Clarek and Cardiff got a good look at the transport vessel tonight. What are we dealing with?”
Clarek responded first. “The design is unusual. The hull is heavily shielded with smooth plates. The physical shields prevent sensors from penetrating the interior. They also extend to the ground, enclosing the landing gear and lower levels. We were unable to locate any access points.”
“The Necri are using what appears to be a shuttle bay to exit,” Cardiff said. “They left it open during tonight’s attack. Our best bet is to slip in through the opening right after the Necri and guards leave.” She tapped her fingers against the table. “But that bay is a good forty meters above the ground. Even if we found a way to get inside, a squad of guards could be waiting for us and we wouldn’t know until it was too late.”
“We could use the trees,” Clarek said.
Aurora glanced at him. “What do you mean?”
Cardiff was already nodding. “You’re right. We’d have visibility and access inside.” She glanced around the table, her gaze settling on Reynolds, her counterpart on Cade’s team. “The entire ship is surrounded by tall trees with wide branches. Climbing th
em would be easy, and it would put us on a level with the open bay door. We could see inside before we had to enter.”
Reynolds looked intrigued by the plan. “And we could use zip lines to slip over after the Necri and guards have exited the ship.”
“Sounds like we have the first two members of the assault team,” Cade said. No surprises there. Cardiff and Reynolds had both been trained for this type of operation. “Which brings us to the Necri and guards.” He turned to Drew. “What do we know about them?”
Drew tucked her hair behind her ears. “Each of the winged units is controlled by a signal that’s sent by one of the guards, approximately ten Necri per guard. The entire group follows a rudimentary flight path for their initial formation and return flight, but as the events from tonight prove, the guards can override those commands and take control of the individual Necri if necessary.” She glanced at Aurora before continuing. “There’s no indication of signals coming from the ship itself. Everything is handled by the guards.”
“Which means if we control the ship, we still don’t control the Necri and guards.” Emoto laced his fingers together. “We need to be able to override those signals somehow.”
Drew nodded. “There should be a way to hack in, but I need time to analyze the data from tonight’s attack.”
“How much time?” Cade asked.
“That depends.” She looked at Clarek. “Are you available to help me?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
Drew smiled. “Then we can be ready by tonight.”
Cade glanced at Justin, who was gazing out the window at the planet. “Byrnes? Any thoughts?”
“Something doesn’t fit.” Justin’s focus shifted to Aurora. “Captain, do you know how the Necri were able to track you and Dr. Forrest so easily?”
Aurora’s expression shuttered. “No, I don’t.”
Justin sat forward. “But clearly they knew you were there. It just seems to me that the movement was focused, with obvious intent. What if they were trying to establish contact, to communicate somehow?”
Reynolds smirked. “No offense, Byrnes, but you always think everyone’s trying to communicate. From what I heard, it was an aggressive move, not an attempt to chat.”
Justin frowned. “Then why did the guards only send five of the Necri rather than the whole group? For that matter, why did the guard pull them back as soon as Cade arrived? One person shouldn’t have made much of a difference considering their destructive capability. They also could have easily brought in reinforcements to finish the job if that was their intent. But they retreated instead.”
It was an excellent point. Cade was embarrassed he hadn’t considered it himself.
Aurora looked similarly stunned.
Reynolds scowled. “I don’t know. But unless we get a look inside that transport or somehow capture the Necri, we’ll just keep talking ourselves in circles.”
“Which brings us to how we’re going to handle the guards and Necri after we take control of their transport signals,” Cade said. “It’s unlikely they’ll go quietly.” He turned to Gonzalez. “Any ideas?”
Gonzo stroked the close-cropped beard on his chin as he considered the question. “I can establish a containment fence as a holding area, and disperse an inhalant so they’ll be knocked unconscious. I just need someone with me to assist and monitor the targets after they’re down.”
“I can do that,” Byrnes offered.
“I want Kire to join you as well,” Aurora said. “We’ll need both of you to keep the teams informed of the status so we can coordinate our efforts.”
Cade leaned forward. “You said teams. Do you have a third team in mind?”
She nodded. “Since Mya and I don’t know how the Necri were able to locate us, I think it would be wise if we avoided close contact. We can be in charge of transportation and act as the command center for the other two teams.”
Good. That plan placed Aurora in the safest possible position, far from the Necri. “Can you fly the shuttle?” He honestly didn’t know.
“Yes. But if Jonarel joined us, he could pilot the shuttle and then control the Necri and guards from our location.” She glanced at Drew. “Are you okay with that?”
Drew nodded. “I’d much rather get a look at the ship.”
Cade liked how this was shaking out. “Williams and I will fill out the assault team. I assume Kelly will be remaining here?” He glanced at the young pilot, who’d remained silent through the entire discussion. She nodded.
Aurora’s gaze flicked briefly to his. “Then we have a plan. Let’s get to work.”
26
Then why did the guards only send five of the Necri rather than the whole group? For that matter, why did the guard pull them back as soon as Cade arrived?
Aurora sat at her desk, staring out the viewport. Sorting through the mystery of the Necri felt a lot like putting together a picture puzzle without knowing what the final image looked like.
Why had the Necri tried to reach them? Byrnes’s comments made an attack seem unlikely, but what other reason was there? What would have happened if Cade hadn’t arrived in time? And how the hell had they known she and Mya were nearby in the first place? The Necri hadn’t taken note of anyone else, even though Jonarel and Celia had been right under their flight path.
The physical response she’d experienced to the Necri’s nearness was not a coincidence. Of that she was certain. The sequence of events indicated they’d sensed her presence as well. It was the only answer that fit the facts. But the implications staggered her. And it wasn’t something she wanted to share with the group, especially now that Cade’s team was onboard.
With a frustrated sigh, she shoved out of her chair and headed toward the bridge, determined to do something productive rather than running circles in her head.
The chime of the door stopped her. “Yes?”
When Cade’s solid form filled the doorway she took an involuntary step backward.
His gaze locked on her like a magnet. “I need to talk to you. If you have a moment,” he added when she hesitated. But his expression made it clear she’d get an argument if she said no.
She really wasn’t in the mood for a verbal sparring match.
He stepped directly in front of her. “Please.” That was a word she’d rarely heard from Cade’s lips.
She met his gaze. Worry lurked in his green eyes. Something was really bothering him. “All right.” She gestured to the chairs by the viewport and perched on the one closest to her desk.
He dwarfed the second chair, making the room feel smaller, more intimate. He studied her closely. “I need to know what happened to you and Mya in the orchard.”
So that’s why he was here. She should have guessed. “Why?”
He made a noise in his throat. “Why wouldn’t I? It’s my job to protect you, and I can’t do that if you’re keeping key information from me.” He rested his forearms on his knees. “I know something happened, and I suspect it’s tied to your abilities.”
She glanced out the window. What should she tell him? What could she tell him? After all, she had more questions than answers.
He must have taken her silence as a rejection, because he reached forward and clasped her hand in his. The contact sent a zip of energy up her arm. Her gaze flipped back to his. The intensity in his green eyes didn’t help matters, or the warm timbre of his voice. “I won’t share anything with my team that you don’t want me to. I promise. But Aurora, I have to know.”
He was right. Hiding the truth wasn’t going to help their situation.
“I can’t explain why, but Mya collapsed the moment the Necri began destroying the plants. It was almost like their actions were somehow draining the life out of her, too.”
His eyebrows lifted, but he remained silent, obviously sensing there was more coming.
He wasn’t going to like what she said next. “And my first instinct was to move toward the Necri, not away.”
His hand snapped c
losed, caging her fingers in. His voice deepened to a growl. “If that’s true, neither one of you has any business being down on that planet tonight.”
She pulled her hand from his grasp. “I disagree. Mya was only affected when they began the attack, and activating my energy shield helped her. If everything goes to plan, there won’t even be an attack tonight.”
“And what does Mya think about this?”
“She agrees with me.” In fact, they’d discussed this very point as soon as they’d returned to the ship. “Last time we were unprepared. That won’t happen again.”
“And what if you’re wrong?”
“Then we’ll be far, far away from the Necri where they can’t affect us.” He might not like it, but she couldn’t ignore the persistent voice that was telling her she needed to be there.
He shoved his hands through his hair. “I don’t know, Aurora.” His gaze searched hers. “Why can’t you wait until after we capture the Necri and the ship? Then you can get your answers without putting yourself in harm’s way.”
“Are you listening to yourself?” She shook her head. “I know you’re worried about me.” She stopped him when he started to protest. “Let’s be honest, okay? And I appreciate your concern. But you have to understand that this is my command, my ship, and my choice. I’m not going to take unnecessary risks, but I have a job to do and I will be with the rest of the team tonight.”
He swallowed hard, holding her gaze. “Why do I always feel like I’m in a no-win situation with you?”
She could feel his frustration, and a lingering sadness that pulled at her. But she couldn’t help him.
He searched for signs of uncertainty in her gaze. When he didn’t find any, he sat back. “I have one more question for you.”
She waited.
“Who is Star?”
Her jaw dropped open. At least, that’s how it felt. How the hell had he found out about Star? But the answer came to her in a flash. She’d been talking to Star shortly before Cade had arrived in the orchard. He’d said his team had been monitoring all their communications. He would have heard their conversation.
He was watching her, waiting for an answer.
And she realized she needed to give him one. After all, Star might end up being pivotal if anything went wrong. As the co-commander of the mission, he needed to have a working knowledge of the assets at his disposal. But that didn’t mean she had to reveal the truth.
The Dark of Light (Starhawke Rising Book 1) Page 16
