Defending the Galaxy: The Sentinels of the Galaxy

by Maria V. Snyder

  “Mouse?”

  I open my eyes. “Nothing.”

  Instead of responding, he pulls me close. I’m not as devastated as I’d expected. Perhaps when all this is over it will hit me. I do know there will be times I’ll regret coming back before we either stop the looters or die in the attempt. But not when I’m wrapped in Niall’s arms. He is why I came back. I breathe in his scent and enjoy the moment. We might not get another.

  I spend the rest of the day recovering and messaging Beau. Q won’t help him the same way as me, but I can give him advice on how to layer in extra alarms around Ruijin to alert us to a missile strike. Seems all my secured channels between the active Warrior Planets are still working. Radcliff sends me a question as to why a gigantic file titled murderer-missives and filed with messages between Jarren and a bunch of people landed in his portable. I explain and receive the equivalent of a grunt in response.

  Everyone takes the news of the loss of my super Q-net power in stride. I think my parents are secretly relieved. Can’t blame them. I concentrate on getting better and stronger because I don’t want to be left behind. Morgan is organizing a team to rescue the survivors on Ulanqab—Ceridwyn Trant and fourteen children! That’s super exciting.

  As soon as I’m discharged on the morning of day two hundred and seventy-three, I change into my security uniform. Then I sling my ruck over my shoulder and head out to track Morgan down before my parents can waylay me. Niall told me that all the officers are sharing the empty units in Ruijin’s security area. My parents are in an empty housing unit—one of the few. Most of the people from Pingliang are bunked in various labs, and the recreation area. No one except security is allowed into the pits.

  In the security conference room, I find Morgan, Elese, Zaim, four of the Pingliang officers, and four strangers—they must be from Ruijin’s security team. Niall and Bendix are taking a shift guarding the pits. I set my ruck in a corner and join them.

  Morgan glances at me, but continues with her explanation. “We’ll arrive on Planet Ulanqab in Pit 32. We’ll need to travel to Pit 50. That will bring us back to Ruijin. The survivors will be on the surface and will join us once the pits are secured.”

  “Do we know how many hostiles to expect?” Officer Kingston asks. A few healing cuts still mark her face.

  “Lawrence?” Morgan asks.

  I consider. “Not many.”

  Kingston turns to me. “Are you sure? We went from none to a thousand in seconds. They’ve had more time for their pits to fill with hostiles.”

  “The HoLFs avoid the intact pits,” I say.

  “What if those pits are no longer intact?” Kingston shoots back.

  A good question. Q? Oh, right. A pang of sadness grips my chest. I borrow Elese’s portable and pull up the camera feeds in the Ulanqab pits. There are no lights so I can’t confirm if they’re intact or not. “If that’s the case, then we can expect a ton of hostiles.” There’s a moment of stunned silence.

  “We have our mechanical techs working on building multidirectional null wave emitters,” one of the strangers says. He appears to be near fifty and has the posture and demeanor of a Security Chief.

  “How effective will it be?” Kingston asks him. “Once there, we can’t retreat. We have to travel through eighteen pits.”

  “Unknown. It hasn’t been field tested yet,” he says dryly.

  There’s some grim smiles.

  “No one will be assigned to this dangerous mission,” Morgan says, looking at Kingston. “It’s voluntary. While I’d prefer that my team members have experience fighting the HoLFs, I’m not forcing anyone, including my squad. I’d like to have fifteen officers total—one to escort each child through the portal, but the kids can double up if I’m short.”

  “I volunteer,” Elese says.

  “Bendix and I are in,” Zaim says.

  “I’m in,” I say.

  “Which means Niall’s in,” Elese says. Then she cocks her head to the side. “And probably Dr. Daniels. The doc is fearless.”

  That’s seven if I include my mom. There’s an uncomfortable pause.

  “I’ll go,” Officer Cole says.

  Except for Kingston and Ruijin’s Security Chief, the others avoid Morgan’s gaze. A clear no.

  “I bet Torin and some of the techs will volunteer,” Zaim says, breaking the awkward silence. “Considering they couldn’t see the enemy, they handled themselves well during the attack on Pingliang. Do we have more Warrior hearts for them?”

  Oooh nice dig, implying the techs are braver than trained security officers. Then he adds on guilt about Kingston and her team using up precious hearts.

  “I’ll go,” Kingston says, but she doesn’t sound happy.

  Another of her officers volunteers. None of the Ruijin staff say a word.

  Chief frowns at his officers. He says to Morgan, “I have to remain here, but you can ask the next duty shift.” His tone implies they might be more courageous. “The multidirectional emitters should be ready later today.”

  “Thanks,” she says. Then she addresses us. “We’ll assemble in the archeology lab at oh-six-hundred tomorrow. Our exit pit is number 62.”

  Everyone who volunteered groans. That pit is very far from the base.

  “We have motorbikes,” Chief says.

  Wow. Ruijin gets all the cool toys.

  “Bring your rucks, and enough supplies for a couple days,” Morgan continues before dismissing us.

  Morgan pins me with her hard stare and I remain in my seat. Elese, sensing she might be needed, hovers nearby.

  When everyone else is gone, Morgan asks me, “Are you sure you’re up for this, Lawrence?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “You were discharged not two hours ago.”

  “I’ve had plenty of time to heal.” Which is true.

  Morgan continues to stare.

  “I’ll eat extra rations today to catch up on my calorie intake,” I offer. Then add, “And I’ll take it easy the rest of the day. Come on, you need me. I’ve the most experience with fighting HoLFs.” I realize that I am the Expert with a capital E when it comes to shadow-blobs. It’s rather sad, but at least I’m not totally useless.

  She glances at Elese. “See that she follows through on her promises.”

  “Yes, sir. Where should she rest?” Elese asks.

  “Lawrence can bunk with us.”

  “Woo hoo, slumber party!” Elese swats me on my back.

  Morgan just shakes her head, but before she can leave, I call her name.

  “Yes?”

  “Thanks.”

  “Don’t let me regret it, Recruit.”

  “I won’t. But I was thanking you for getting me to Ruijin so fast. You saved my life.”

  She grunts. “Just returning the favor.”

  Before I can ask her what she means by that, she’s gone. Instead, I look at Elese.

  “Girl, if you don’t get it, then you’re not giving yourself enough credit. Come on, I’ll show you our unit. It has bunk beds!”

  “Really?”

  “Yes!”

  She wasn’t kidding. The beds are holdovers from when they had extra security at the Warrior bases, back when they worried the race of aliens that built them might come back. Little did they know what eventually showed up.

  Elese plays nursemaid to me for the remainder of the day, ensuring I rest and eat large quantities of food that she fetches from the cafeteria. My parents are allowed to visit, which I think is very funny. They don’t. Niall is given a strict time limit when he stops by.

  He sits on the floor next to me since I’m on the lower bunk. Lacing his fingers in mine, he asks, “Are you going to be strong enough for the mission to Ulanqab?”

  I reassure him just like I did my parents and Morgan. It’s a surprise I haven’t gotten messages from Radcliff and Beau asking the same thing. Well, not yet.

  “Has everyone been evacuated from Yulin?” I ask.

  “I believe so. My dad and the re
st of our team are still there, along with a few brave souls who volunteered to guard the looters. And Drs. Carson and Edwards stayed behind, too.”

  No surprise. “Have any of the looters come to investigate the base?”

  “Not yet. Dad has a few techs keeping watch outside the base. And he’s monitoring their communications in case they come in range. Let’s hope the looters are confident the base was destroyed.”

  “Does DES know any of this?”

  “No. Both Ruijin and Qingyang are keeping quiet about the portals and evacs. Those secure channels you created between Warrior planets haven’t been wormed. DES believes Yulin is gone. Dad sent a quick message about hearing a missile, and they’ve gotten nothing from Yulin since. DES also thinks Pingliang went silent. They’ve been sending warnings to Ruijin, Qingyang, and Nanxiong. We sent the security chiefs instructions through the secure channels, on how to build those null wave emitters.”

  What about Suzhou? Jarren discovered and experimented with the portals there. There’s a factory there as well. He had to have at least the archeology techs cover for him, maybe even help him. But what about the rest of the base? Suzhou is still an unknown.

  Elese arrives to shoo Niall out. “What are you two doing anyway?”

  I tell her about Suzhou and my theories.

  She makes a disgusted sound. “This conspiracy has as many tentacles as a HoLF. Is there anyone we can truly trust outside security?” It’s a rhetorical question. “I should adopt Tora’s philosophy.”

  “What’s her philosophy?”

  “Everyone is guilty until proven innocent.”

  That explains why it took her so long to like me. Wait, she still doesn’t like me. Oh well, I’m not completely innocent. Then again, who is?

  Oh-five-hundred comes oh-so-quickly. During the night, Officer Morgan and I learned, much to our chagrin, that Officer Keir snores. Loudly. I’m stiff, but keep it to myself since my every movement is being scrutinized by both of them. I resist snapping at them that I already have one mother and I don’t need two more. My restraint is due to not wanting to give them any excuse to leave me behind.

  When I pull on my form-fitting security jumpsuit, I notice I’ve lost weight. And don’t get me started on the profusion of scars, scabs, and multicolored bruises decorating my skin. At least I still have my curves but they’re not so curvy. Oh well, less mass to move when I run, which makes me wonder if there are size or weight limits for the Warrior portals. What’s too big? The looters managed to transport military shuttles, which hold twelve soldiers and two pilots. But what about a troop carrier? Or a space ship? Q? Do you know?

  No response of course. And I wonder when I’ll stop automatically reaching out to Q or when the silence will no longer hurt so much.

  I click on my weapon belt then shoulder my ruck. Wow, it weighs a ton. Morgan hands out energy bars before leading us to the pits. Niall, Zaim, and Bendix are already there along with my parents, who immediately come over to ensure I’ve recovered enough to go on the mission. I suppress my sigh because I know they mean well and I can be mature, even though a small part of me is glad to have my parents coming along as well.

  It doesn’t take long for the rest of the team to arrive. There are thirteen of us and I try not to be superstitious about the number. We already know Officers Cole and Kingston and we’re introduced to the others. Officer Dan Flynn and Antonia Bernardo are from Kingston’s team, and the other one, Officer Pero Jutras is the sole volunteer from Ruijin’s security. He’s the only one without any experience fighting HoLFs. Morgan hands the man a heart. I wonder how many she has with her.

  Morgan issues orders and we load up on the motorbikes. Except they’re more like glorified scooters and the Ruijin techs won’t let us drive, so we have to hang on to the back while loaded down with our rucks, weapon belts, and null wave emitters. No one thinks the ride to Pit 62 is fun.

  Everyone is a bit stiff after we dismount. There’s nothing to distinguish this pit from any of the others except the alien symbols on the eight key Warriors of the innermost octagon. The techs trail us so they can watch my mother open the portal. After warning everyone to keep out of the center, Mom touches each of the eight Warriors. Green light fills the symbols and we now have sixteen minutes before the portal is ready.

  It’s not long to wait, but if we were being attacked by HoLFs or looters, it would be an eternity. I glance at Niall. Did he think those sixteen minutes overly long when I was unconscious?

  He notices my gaze and leans close, whispering, “Longest sixteen minutes of my entire life, Mouse.”

  The desire to hug him pulses inside me, but I remain in place. Instead, I pull out my portable to message Ceridwyn that we’re on the way and give her an estimated arrival time. Beau and Q created a secure connection to her portable. Her response is almost instant. Poor woman must be exhausted. Unfortunately, being evacuated to Ruijin isn’t a guarantee of safety. No Warrior planet will be safe until the looters are stopped.

  Like before, Morgan arranges us in a particular order. Once again, I’m right behind her with Niall next in line. The newbies are put in the middle and Bendix is assigned the sweeper position. When the portal first appears, there’s a collective intake of breath from the techs. Guess they missed seeing the one we arrived through. It’s fun watching their rapt expressions as the green light pulses through the surrounding Warriors and a portal forms in the middle of the key Warriors. Surprise and wonder ripples through them and I have to admit, I’m equally entranced by the light show.

  We’ve no idea how or why the portals work. And we may never understand the complex scientific principles. Right now, it’s magic. Pure and simple.

  When Morgan steps into the blackness and disappears, the techs gasp as one. Bendix is monitoring his portal for signs of Morgan’s arrival. I glance at the new officer. He appears as if he’s going to be sick. I have to give Officer Jutras major credit for being here, though. At least we’ve had time to get used to the idea of shadow-blobs and traveling through the Galaxy in a matter of seconds…well, not really. I don’t think anyone is used to it. But we’ve had some experience.

  “There’s nothing,” Bendix says. “I can’t see a thing.”

  Everyone looks at me.

  “The HoLFs probably cut off the electricity to the base. The cameras won’t work. Look for Officer Morgan’s flashlight through the portal.”

  “But doesn’t the portal only go one way?” Dad asks.

  It does. Except I remember seeing a person the very first time we woke the Warriors. And if the looters are using them to communicate, then electromagnetic radiation can go both ways. “I think that’s just for physical objects. Light can pass through both ways. ” I stare into the blackness.

  Soon enough a flashlight beam pierces the portal. That’s my cue.

  “Wait,” Dad says; he’s rummaging in his overly large back pack. He pulls out a lantern. It’s round and about fifteen centimeters long. Dad hands it to me. “Compress the ends and twist to light it. It won’t be as bright as a floodlight, but better than your flashlight.”

  “Handy. Thanks.”

  “I’d rather have the lights on, but this’ll do in a pinch.” He dips in and removes three more, giving one each to Niall and Mom. He keeps the last one.

  I hurry to the portal, step through, and experience the strange nausea. Curious about what will happen, I open the lantern. It doesn’t work. The batteries must be dead. Except when I’m propelled out into the pit, its white light just about blinds me.

  “Talk about making an entrance, Lawrence,” Morgan says. “Get your ass out of the way.”

  I stagger to the side. Once my eyes adjust, I scan the Warriors. They’re bathed in that green glow. The shadows appear to be normal. “Any signs of HoLFs?” I ask Morgan.

  “None so far.”

  Good news. We’re in Pit 32 on Ulanqab. At least, I hope we are. Q hasn’t made a mistake yet, so I shouldn’t worry. Ceridwyn and the kids should be above
Pit 50, which will take us back to Planet Ruijin. According to Beau, she was on a ten-day camping trip with the kids when the looters attacked. They received word from the base’s leader to stay away until the danger passed. It never did. Their ten-day trip turned into a forty-six-day ordeal. Good thing Ceridwyn was teaching the kids survival techniques and some of the plants on Ulanqab are edible.

  I check the shadows again even though I’m not too worried about shadow-blobs. We’re pretty far away from the destroyed pits. The looters have been consistent in targeting the four pits right next to the base for obvious and murderous reasons.

  Niall appears in the center as if stepping from thin air. Cool. Morgan assigns us to secure the hallway that runs parallel to all the Warrior pits. Niall takes the left and I take the right. I shine the lantern down the empty corridor. Since I’m surrounded by intact Warriors, looters are more of a threat, so I draw my pulse gun, keeping my thumb poised over the trigger. Although I wonder how quick I can draw the null wave emitter if I spot shadow-blobs. Something I probably should have practiced—in all my spare time.

  Voices from the rest of our team echo and my parents join me in my vigil.

  “Anything?” Mom asks me in a whisper.

  “There’s a dust mote that’s making figure eights in the air, but, other than that, nothing.”

  She swats me on the shoulder. “This is serious.”

  I glance at her. The dragon stares back, and she’s holding a pulse gun as if she’s just looking for a target.

  “Yes, sir,” I say and get swatted again. There’s no pleasing her. Maybe we’ll encounter something for her to shoot.

  When everyone has arrived, Morgan gives us the same orders as the last time we portaled into unfamiliar pits, explaining what to do should we encounter hostiles—both human and alien. Pit 50 is to the right. Morgan takes the lead and we follow in order. She slows at the entrance to every pit, seeking hidden ambushers. A nervous flutter twirls in my stomach at each one.

  The Warriors stare at us impassively and I wonder if they know what’s going on. If there’s a part of them that’s aware. Or are they like machines and wake when needed? I’m sure they’re not like Q, but I do hope they’re not trapped in some half-life.