by Calista Skye
“And you think they’ll follow you?”
Adaar nodded. “They don’t just need a leader. They need a figurehead. A symbol they can unite behind.”
He clapped Ja’al on the shoulder and smiled.
“What they need is a prince.”
***
The Endurance dropped out of hyperspace just outside the Tarksis System with the screeching groan of metal on metal as the hull contracted against itself in the gravity field.
“Home sweet home,” said Kira. She fidgeted in her chair uncomfortably. “I can’t believe we’re back here.”
“Yeah,” said Lana. “Believe me, I’m not thrilled either.”
“We could have stayed, you know. What happened up there, anyway?”
“It’s complicated,” she said. She wasn’t sure she understood it herself. Too many conflicting feelings. It didn’t matter how much she cared about him. “He’s not the man I thought he was.”
“Yeah, Riley. We covered that. But he…I’ve never seen anyone look at me that way. He had it bad. You had it pretty bad yourself. But let’s ignore for a minute how utterly, insanely gorgeous he is…”
“Please.”
“He’s a good man, Lana. He cares about his crew. And he cares about you. Hell, he devoted his life to getting food and medicine to people he doesn’t even know. Who does that?”
Lana sighed and shrugged.
“Good people, Riley. That’s who. Gods, he’s perfect for you. He’s everything you could ever possibly want. And not only that, he’s a prince. I mean, an actual, literal prince.”
“No, Kira. He isn’t.” Her insides knotted up, squeezing her stomach into a tight little ball. “Not anymore.” She drew a deep breath to calm herself. It would pass, like it always did. She could let it be a memory now. It would always be there, but it didn’t have to hurt her.
“I’m not trying to upset you, Riley. It’s just that…I would give anything for a man half as good as Adaar. You don’t know how lucky you are. Don’t you think you’re being a little bit hard on him?”
“Here’s what I think: I have to take care of Tanner. And we have to figure out how the hell we’re going to explain this failed delivery to the Consortium.”
“Oh, Riley! I almost forgot to tell you,” said Kira.
“Tell me what?”
Kira grinned. “Come and see for yourself.”
Lana sighed. She wasn’t in the mood for games, but at least Kira was on to another topic. Throwing the ship into autopilot for a few minutes would be a small price to pay for a moment of peace. She reached out and palmed the console. The display flashed as she punched in the coordinates that would take them into orbit around Tarksis.
“This better be good,” she said as she lifted herself out of her chair.
“Oh, it’s better than good, Riley.”
As Kira bounce along in front of her, Lana found it hard not to smile. No matter what happened to them, and no matter how bleak her life was back on Tarksis, at least she would have Kira’s spirit to lift her.
When they reached the cargo bay doors, Kira raised her hand to the scanner. A flash of blue read her palm as a small beam shined into her iris, and the metal door hissed open.
“Check it out,” she said as she led Lana into the room.
The motion lights flickered on as they stepped inside. There in the cargo bay was the small, sealed box they had been tasked with delivering to Anara.
“What the hell?”
Kira shrugged. “Parting gift from the Raiders.”
“I still don’t know what’s in that thing,” said Lana. “What was so damned important that the Consortium was willing to pay us so much? And attract the Raiders’ attention in the first place?”
“I have no idea, Riley. But whatever it is, they wanted us to have it back. So…at least we won’t have to explain why it went missing. Maybe we can keep our jobs after all.”
“We didn’t make the delivery.”
“No, but we didn’t lose their cargo either. The worst thing that can happen is that they won’t pay us.”
“That’s pretty optimistic. They’ll be pissed that it didn’t get delivered.”
“Maybe. Or maybe since the wedding was called off everybody will be so panicked that no one will notice.”
“Somehow I doubt that,” said Lana.
A light flashed in Kira’s eyes.
“Oh Gods, no. I know that look. That look never means anything good.”
“Pfft. You don’t even know what I was going to say.”
“Alright, fine.”
“After everything we’ve been through in the last week, maybe it’s a good thing that we didn’t deliver this…whatever it is. I mean, think about it: The Raiders were all into helping people and doing good. They didn’t just randomly pilfer crap from rich people. They only seized things that people needed.”
“Okay…”
“So, what if we say that we did deliver it, but it was stolen. While you and the prince were in there being lovebirds…”
Lana glared at her. The memory stung more than she expected.
“…we managed to get quite a bit of cargo off some of the other ships. It wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine that whatever this is got stolen, too.”
“But why, Kira? Why would we do that?”
“Lana, I don’t know what happened between you and Adaar. Personally, I think you’re crazy, and you should go running back to him as fast as you can. But even if you don’t,” she shook her head. “I believe in what they were doing. Don’t you?”
Lana heaved a sigh. They were doing something noble. It wasn’t the way she wanted, but they were doing what they could. They were helping people. Maybe she had been too hard on him.
“Of course I do, Kira.”
“So let’s continue their work. Let’s open up the mystery package and distribute it to the people of Tarksis. It would be a fitting tribute.”
“Kira, that’s…not a bad idea at all.” Kira was crazy, but her heart was in the right place. And she was right, it would be a fitting tribute. What the Raiders were doing may be a drop in the ocean, but even the smallest drops made ripples. “Alright,” she said. “I’m in.”
She beamed. “Great. Let’s see what’s in this thing.”
Kira unclipped a small, round tool from her jumpsuit and pressed it against the locked crate, securing it in place. The device flickered to life and spun on its axis, emitting a warm red light and a high-pitched squeal.
“What the hell is that?” said Lana.
Kira flashed a playful, innocent look. “Parting gift from Ja’al. I may or may not have won it from him in our last game of Traps.”
Lana cocked her eyebrows. “Turning to a life of crime?”
“Hush, you,” she said with a grin. “It’s harmless fun.”
The device whirred to a stop, and the lock flashed green and popped open.
“Ready?” said Kira.
Lana nodded as she approached the crate. She wrapped her hands around the smooth steel edging and eased the lid open. Suspended in the center of the crate was a row of vials protected by a thick foam lining. A soft blue liquid glowed inside.
Lana’s jaw dropped. They stared at each other in disbelief.
“You don’t think that’s…” said Lana. She couldn’t bring herself to utter the words, fearing somehow that saying it out loud would cause them to suddenly vanish.
“It’s the serum,” said Kira. “Lana…”
Lana pulled a vial and shook it in her hand, swirling the liquid around. Her face fell. “It’s only half the serum. This solution isn’t active unless it’s mixed with the extract from an Anaran moonlily.”
Kira grabbed her shoulder, her eyes wide. “Lana.”
“What?”
Her face lifted into the widest smile Lana had ever seen. “I thought they were just trying to get rid of me, but…”
“What, Kira? What’s going on?”
“While you and Adaar were ins
ide the palace, the rest of the crew went out to raid supplies.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“But I didn’t go with them. I thought they were just trying to keep me from causing trouble. Lana, they sent me off into the jungle to pick flowers. My feelings weren’t hurt. I mean, I would have been in their way, and I wanted to spend some time planetside anyway.”
“Sure, why not?”
“Adaar told me to keep my eyes out for a particular flower. He described them, told me they were extremely rare…that they only bloom once every five years, and we were lucky to be there when it happened. He said it made them priceless. I thought he meant that they were valued for their beauty.”
“He’s right. They are rare, and insanely valuable. Did you find one?”
“I did…but…”
“You don’t have it.”
Kira shook her head. “It was supposed to be a gift for you. From Adaar. I’m guessing you didn’t get it.”
Lana shot her a look, tears welling up in her eyes. “We were so close.”
“Look,” said Kira. “There’s a note.”
Lana pulled the handwritten parchment from inside the crate.
My Dearest Lana:
The contents of this crate have always belonged to you. As will my heart. No matter where life takes us, know that I am forever changed because of who you are and what you’ve meant to me.
-Adaar
“What it means, Riley, is that Prince Adaar was looking out for you all along. Whatever happened between you…I think this makes up for it. And you really need to give him another chance. I’ll bet he still has the lily.”
“First thing’s first,” she said. “Let’s go get Tanner.”
Chapter 18
The sky grew dark as a blanket of clouds closed in over the Tarksis sky. Lana kicked her magnecycle into gear and sped off through the city towards her home with Kira gripping tightly to her back. She didn’t know how they were going to find Adaar and the Raiders again, but she could deal with that later. She still needed the moonlily, but at least she had the serum. And Tanner couldn’t wait.
Bright emerald flashes of sheet lightning crackled through the air, lighting up the horizon as she raced her cycle over the city streets. Lana relished the feeling of control that only her cycle could give her. Here, she was in tune with the motions of her body and her craft as she wound through the streets with practiced precision. She was home.
The wind whipped across her face, blowing her hair wildly as she flew around the corner past the entrance to the Bazaar. The streets were empty tonight. Storms on Tarksis were rare, and everyone would be huddled indoors to protect themselves from the piercing blasts of sand stirred up by the wind.
Lana thought of Sakaj. The old man would be worried sick about her. She was supposed to check in with him when she got home, but that would have to wait. Nothing mattered more than getting the serum back to Tanner. Sakaj would still be there tomorrow.
She gunned the engine. The vibrations shook her body as they roared past the collapsed archway and back through the canyon. She could hardly wait to see the look on Tanner’s face. This nightmare was coming to an end. Everything that she had gone through, all the struggle and pain. After so many years, it was finally over.
Another flash of lightning lit up the sky. Thunder rumbled in the distance as the clouds burst above her. Lana imagined her father looking down at her. She remembered the suffering on her mother’s face when the Rend overcame her. Those final years that she wished she could forget. Her parents had been good to her. In spite of their struggle, they managed to keep their spirits up. Somehow, they held on to hope. And they had passed that hope along to her.
There was good in the world. There were good people out there. Lana just needed to open her eyes and look.
She rolled the cycle left out of the mouth of the canyon, barreling back towards her home as fast as the craft could carry them. It felt like an eternity since the last time she’d seen the place. Lana hammered the throttle, trying to outrun the storm as the rare Tarksian rain erupted behind them.
When they pulled up outside the red clay dome, she saw the dim, flickering glow of holovid light coming from inside. She had half expected to find two little pairs of eyes greeting her at the window.
She threw open the door and found Tanner hunched down on the floor, wheezing.
“Tanner,” she said as she ran in towards him. “Oh gods, Tanner, are you okay?”
He drew a labored breath and nodded. His face was ghostly pale. She had seen that look before. “I’m fine,” he coughed. “It’s okay.”
Onni’s eyes flashed yellow and white as his head spun toward them. The little bot beeped and clicked.
“Onni’s glad you’re home.” He sat back on the floor and contorted his face into a smile.
“I was gone too long, Tanner. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, Lana. Onni took care of me. Sakaj came by, today, too.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay. How are you feeling?”
“Oh, you know,” he said. “Can’t complain.” He coughed violently. He was always so strong, trying not to show his suffering. He didn’t have to pretend anymore.
“Tanner,” she said. “I…” She looked over at Kira. Her friend smiled warmly and nodded. “Listen, I wasn’t able to get the parts for Onni. He’s still not going to have a voice transducer.”
Tanner nodded. “It’s okay. He understands. Onni’s tough.”
“Yes, and he always has been,” she said. “But I have some good news. I have something for you.”
“Something for me? What is it?”
The holocomm continued to flicker in the background, its light strobing through the room and illuminating Tanner’s face.
And then it hit her. She should have realized something was wrong the minute they walked in the door. Hell, before they even came into the house. The holocomm shouldn’t have been flickering like that. Not unless there was something urgent happening. How could she have missed it?
“Lana, what’s the matter?” said Tanner, the color still missing from his ashen face. “I feel fine. It doesn’t even hurt.” He shrugged. “I hurt worse than that every day of my life.”
She shook her head. “Tanner, how long has that comm been flashing?”
“I don’t know. Since before the storm, I guess. Some guy I’ve never seen was babbling about something or other. It’s been playing on repeat like that all afternoon. I couldn’t turn it off.”
Lana bolted up and raced over to the device, snatching it off the table.
Adaar’s image leapt into the air, a stern look on his face.
“…People of Tarksis…if you’re receiving this message, it’s because you’re ready. If you can hear my words, it’s time to take action. Tarksis is yours. For too long, the Empire has held you down. For too long, they’ve taken what isn’t theirs to take. And for too long, you’ve waited in the shadows, unable to break the chains of your oppressors….”
“What the hell is going on?” said Kira. “Is that Adaar?”
Lana’s heart pounded against her chest. Oh gods, she thought. She shot Kira a panicked look.
“Did you know about this?”
Lana swallowed hard and squeezed her eyes closed.
“…But the citizens of Tarksis are slaves to no one. The Empire holds no claim on you. Their reach has expanded unchecked. But this is the beginning of a new day. Today, you reclaim your birthright. Today, you take back your lives. Today we take up arms and storm the palace. And we will tell those who would rule us…that our lives are theirs no more!”
“Oh gods, this is my fault. This is all my fault.”
“Lana, what’s going on?”
She shook her head.
With a crash, the door flew open, and Ja’al stood in the entryway.
“Ja’al,” said Kira rushing over and wrapping her arms around him. “I thought we’d never see you again.”
“I wasn’t so sure myself,”
he said. “But if the looks on your faces are any indication, you’ve heard the news.”
“We saw the speech,” said Lana. “What the hell is happening?”
Ja’al looked over to Tanner, who sat wide-eyed and terror-stricken on the floor.
“It’s okay, Tanner. He’s a friend.”
“The Kamaran is your friend?”
Lana looked up at Ja’al and smiled. “He sure is.”
“Wierd,” said Tanner. “You’re wierd.”
“You must be Tanner,” said Ja’al. “Nice to see you’re feeling better.”
“He will be. As long as Adaar still has the moon lily.”
Ja’al nodded.
Lana wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you.”
“No Lana. It wasn’t my decision to make. Tanner’s life doesn’t belong to any of us.”
“You sound like Adaar’s speech,” she said. “What the hell is going on?”
Ja’al stepped into the room and raised his hand toward the table. “May we sit for a moment?”
“Be my guest,” said Lana.
They each pulled up a chair around the small wooden table as the rain pounded outside. Ja’al looked at each of them in turn. “We don’t have much time, but you need to know what’s happening out there.”
“Yeah,” said Kira. “That would be nice.”
“I don’t know what you said to Adaar…”
“Welcome to the club,” said Kira.
“…but it struck a chord. He decided that it was time to act.” He paused, looking to Lana. “How well do you know Sakaj Namat?”
“He’s an old family friend,” she said. “He was close with my parents. And since they passed, he’s always looked out for us.”
“You know what he does?”
“He’s a junk dealer. He has a shop down in the Bazaar.”
“I don’t think that’s what he means Lana. Besides, he obviously already knows.”
“Sorry,” she said. “Habits die hard, I guess. I’m not used to discussing Sakaj with anyone.”
“Your discretion is admirable, Lana. But things are happening fast. We’ll need to speak frankly.”
“Right. Sure. Sakaj trades in information. He always seems to know everybody’s business. He has eyes and ears everywhere. He’s pretty handy about getting us the scoop on shipments that have gone missing.”
