Requiem

by E L Strife

  “I’m fine.” A gust of air burst from her lips. Her hands wrapped around her arms as if she were cold.

  For a moment, their eyes met—the color of the sky in hers and the sand in his—a reflection of the one who had their backs. Satisfied it was the truth this time, he stood, offering a hand. When her fingers slid into his, he pulled her up beside him.

  Tanner finished wrapping the tape around Cutter’s leg when they approached. “Shirt up.”

  Cutter lifted his tactical vest and black fatigue top without a sound, despite a visible flex in his jaw. Tanner bandaged up the cuts in his back and double tapped Cutter’s shoulder, who let the shirt fall. “Are we heading to Home, sir?”

  “Yes.” Bennett offered Cutter and Tanner a hand. “Think you two can circle back, reassure the civilians so they don’t panic? Atana and I aren’t dressed for the assignment.”

  “Sure, B,” Tanner said as he and Cutter staggered upright. The two hustled off toward the raucous crowd a few blocks away.

  “You must stop guarding me so tightly. Your life is important too.” Atana wiped the blood from her hands on her dress.

  As they jogged to their acquired collector, Bennett scoured building openings and rooftops. “It’s my job. I failed once already. I can’t let it happen again.” Hooking a thumb over his shoulder, he gestured to the recent confrontation, not wanting to delve into the subject. “What sort of weapon was that? We don’t have anything with spinning rings in our database.”

  Her eyes darted to him. “I don’t know. There isn’t anything like it on the Agutras either.”

  Plural? You’re too precise for that to be a slip of the tongue.

  “I guess. Azure says I’ve been on Zephyr Station. I must’ve seen more than one.” Her stride slowed. Passing a large building, the curtains waving in the breeze, she stopped and sniffed.

  He followed her eyes to a sheet with a crimson stain on it. Fresh.

  They crept toward the doorway.

  Atana gestured for his SI. You didn’t fail me, she corrected. You saved my life. I don’t like the thought of other people sacrificing themselves for me. That’s my job.

  Our job, Nakio.

  I can take the pa—

  Atana fell to her knees in the entrance. Her mouth hung open, the SI dangling from her fingers.

  Her reaction made him peer inside. Sticky pools of blood darkened the sandy plaza floor beneath bodies of locals. Linoans spared no one by age or gender.

  The desert winds picked up, filtering through their clothing. Atana choked out a sob, her body wavering. Strands of her loose waves drifted in front of her face. She didn’t bother to brush them away.

  Bennett rested a comforting hand on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “We can’t help them now.” He squatted at her side slipping the SI from her fingers. “There are others we can help. We have to focus our energy on them.” Burying his nose in her hair, he wrapped a supportive arm around her waist. “Come on.”

  She leaned into him. “Don’t tell Command I’m compromised.”

  Gathering her close, Bennett lifted her to her feet. “Mutual secrets kept safe.” He rubbed her back once before letting go so they could pick up the pace.

  Chapter 12

  MED-EVAC HELICOPTERS were in position, props thundering, when Atana and Bennett rounded the last building. Security Shepherds were pushing the safety boundary outwards and the civilians away from the wreckage. Bennett’s team had gathered the survivors Azure awakened from the collector’s life-slots and escorted them into the transports.

  A little girl, around three years old, whirled in nervous circles in the debris field, rubbing her eyes and squinting through the smoky haze.

  Atana stopped in front of her. “What are you looking for?”

  “Mommy.”

  Atana couldn’t help a sad smile. She knew her fear and disorientation. “The sand is very hot. Can I carry you while we search?”

  The girl bobbed her head, and Atana lifted her into her arms.

  “Does this thing self-destruct?” Bennett shouted behind her. Atana turned to watch him peek inside at Azure, who helped a man climb out of the crushed lower deck.

  Azure glanced through the tear in the hull to the crowd. “That’s the last one, and yes. Why?”

  Bennett waved the line back farther. The shepherds acknowledged. “Time’s a factor. This is how we do things. Move civilians to a safe zone. Destroy what could harm them.”

  At Atana’s nod, Azure replied, “About five minutes to detonation.”

  “I’ll stay and guard him.” Bennett gently grabbed her arm, a hardness in the features of his face that begged her not to resist. “Get the girl and yourself on a helo. I don’t want you here when this blows.”

  Shouts from the crowd made her grimace. “We don’t know how they took this thing down or who. Be careful.”

  “We will.”

  Atana spun and scanned the helicopters until she found one with a screaming woman, shaking arms extended, face soaked with tears. Trudging barefoot through the sand, Atana lifted the girl to her mother. The two shared a desperate embrace.

  Slapping the side of the helo twice, Atana yelled up to the pilot. “You’re full up. Take her back.”

  At a brief flash of his eyes over her scars, the pilot called after her. “Sergeant Atana.” He looked away at the sand. The co-pilot busied himself over the controls. “We need a minimum of one field sergeant on board. All others are securing the perimeter.”

  She was back to a shepherd’s life, to being regarded as the feared one. Confirming his statement with a quick scan, she hopped onto the platform, resting her feet on the runners. “Understood.”

  Atana grabbed a handle by the door and summoned Bennett and Azure with her mind. I’m guarding a helo. I’ll see you back at Home. The propellers stirred up more sand, blurring her view.

  Copy, Nakio.

  Azure didn’t respond.

  Flashing red signals zipped around the intact pieces of the broken ship. Azure bolted out, Bennett at his side, aiming for their acquired collector. There, in the open, in the light, Azure had no place to hide.

  Gunfire erupted from the crowds.

  “Go, go, go!” Atana shouted, clinging to the bar as she hauled her legs inside and tugged the door shut. They catapulted up and out of harm’s way, the disoriented people screeching as the helo’s belly canted.

  Up in the sky, she had a perfect perspective of the mayhem.

  Several of the civilians yelled and pushed toward Bennett and Azure. Weapons popped up, causing the security team to lift theirs and add to the verbal war.

  The riled up crowds plowed through the shepherds.

  Azure stumbled in the sand, falling behind Bennett. They stampeded, piling over his shoulders, punching and clawing. Azure pushed and pulled them off, only to be taken down by another the moment he was freed.

  “Why isn’t he fighting?” Atana’s heart froze.

  If any of them knew what Azure had done, the risk he took to save this planet, they wouldn’t dare lay a finger on him. Despite Bennett’s rag clothing and the fact he’d been running with Azure, the civilians paid little mind to him except a few shoves on their way to Azure.

  Atana grabbed the radio mic from the ceiling and called in to Home Station. “Dispatch, Tango Sierra One One. We need a backup security transport to Linoan crash site. Security team compromised.”

  “Tango Sierra One One, Dispatch. Negative. No other teams available.”

  She flung the door open, sending wind whipping through every person in the cabin. “Set us down!”

  Atana watched Bennett draw his SI and barrel toward Azure, knocking out anyone in the way. Ten meters from the ground, Atana couldn’t wait any longer.

  “Everyone, stay put!” she barked over her shoulder and leapt out of the open door.

  Her shield surrounded her as she dropped, taking some of the impact. Her legs trembled with fatigue.

  “Get up!” she growled, forcing her ach
ing body upright. Atana kicked back hot sand as she raced toward the crumpled warrior. Not Azure, not now, not after all this. Damn it. Run faster!

  The diameter of the teal bubble surrounding her expanded at her will, its twisting flames pulsing out across the land. The closer she got the more civilians stumbled away until the beaten Xahu’ré lay limp and alone.

  “Azure!” she cried out.

  His shoulders shifted, sand pouring off of his skin. He groaned, deep and hoarse. Bennett reached Azure’s location and knelt to check on him while those he’d stunned picked themselves up and rejoined the scattering masses.

  Several bullets flew in her direction melting the instant they contacted her shield. Little ripples dispersed their impact like raindrops in a puddle. She slowed to a walk, placing herself beside Bennett and Azure, protecting their bodies.

  Oh, this is breaking so many rules. Bennett slid an arm under Azure and helped him stand. Command is going to eat us alive.

  We’ll deal with it later. She hesitated, noticing a few bent forms amongst the civilians. Dropping her shield, she disregarded their actions and raised her voice. “This collector will blow in—” She inspected Azure, who wheezed and wiped the blood from his nose with the back of a hand. “Three minutes, nine seconds. They are the ones who took our people.” She pointed at the dark figure of the mothership in the sky. “We have gained control and are returning our Earthlings to their homes.” The crowds mumbled in confusion. “I do not want to see us fight any longer. Go home so I don’t have to request a full medical transport. Go!”

  The civilians fled, the increased flashing frequency around the crashed ship encouraging their retreat.

  “I’ll guard the helo,” Bennett offered, assisting Azure to her side. “The last of the security teams will wait for the clean-up crew. You two take the collector.”

  Not waiting for approval, he jetted to the helicopter setting its feet back in the sand.

  Thanks, Jameson.

  He lifted a thumb in the air as he climbed onto the deck and slid the door shut.

  Atana guided Azure through the sand and up the collector’s ramp while he freed the grit from his eyes. Sitting down in the pilot’s seat, blinking hard, he raised the gate and had them hovering in seconds, thrusting them out over the sea.

  The explosion of the wreckage sent a faint rumble through their hull. A screen in front of her illuminated with a code for the ship, its coordinates in the galaxy, registered crew, and life-slot count.

  The sight of Azure’s darkening bruises next to her was more disturbing. She scolded herself for letting her exhaustion make her complacent enough to leave his side and guard a helo. To Earthlings, he was an alien. She didn’t bother with her seat’s harness, more concerned about the ache he had to be feeling from the take-down.

  “I am fine, Sahara,” he murmured, leaning sideways to nuzzle her face. “I see you staring at me.”

  Her fingers traced his discoloring features before rounding out to cup his cheeks. You have been through a lot. Will you rest when we get back? There are other shepherds who can care for the people.

  If you will join me.

  We’ll see. She sighed and hung her head. In my life, Command and the universe get the final word.

  —Deviation—

  Chapter 13

  AZURE’S SKIN WARMED beneath her touch. Atana swept her fingers back and forth over the thermo-stripe hugging the base of his neck. She’d done it on instinct after apologizing for not being able to promise him any special treatment.

  She stared at his skin, listening to the signal from her fingertip. Over the gray, it was cool, but the instant she encountered the edge of his stripe, it felt electric-blanket hot. When it had heated at her contact, she couldn’t stop and didn’t want to—as if the action could soften the hard truth.

  His neck prickled. He smiled enough for her to notice as his hands danced over the lucent, red controls, guiding the collector through the open doors in Home Station’s cliffs. “What would your command think if I crashed now?”

  Azure landed with no more than a soft bump. Shutting off the engines, the pitch of the whir sank until the ship shuddered before dissipating into silence.

  The words spilled out before Atana could stop them. “When I saw them running at you, I—”

  He spun in his seat to face her, his sapphire eyes scouring her every facet.

  “I panicked.”

  He leaned close and brushed his nose against hers. “You? Worried?”

  “Yes.”

  His parted lips met hers in the dim light. Atana drew in sharply at the pungent spice of his skin. With a rumble from his lungs, he deepened the kiss, sliding a hand into her hair. The world tipped around her at a rush of heated desire, his velvet tongue grazing hers, delving deep, searching for lost time. Leaning back, she clung to the seat.

  He broke the kiss, to scour her face. “You are worn out, running on adrenaline.”

  She nodded, still working the addicting taste of him around in her mouth.

  “Can we try this again after we rest? You’re shaking.”

  Blood rushed into her face. “If we can find time to be alone again, maybe.”

  Azure dropped the rear gate, exposing the entrance to the collector’s lower level. “Some days, I am tired of hiding.”

  Fighting the burning exhaustion in her legs, Atana stood, hoping Azure hadn’t noticed her struggle. “The shadows are where we belong, where we can do the most to balance the universe.”

  He grabbed her wrist, spinning in front of her, blocking her view of the main hangar and it of her. She stumbled to a stop. Azure loosened his grip, eyes trained on her, and lifted her hand to his mouth.

  The plush, hot skin of his lips pressed into her palm, stealing her breath. His fell over her fingers once, twice, a third time, before he lowered their hands. The sensation melted her insides and left her at a loss for words.

  “Thank you for saving us.” His grip tightened.

  Azure looked like he wanted to say something else. Instead, he let go and closed his mouth, shifting out of her way. She slowly walked past him, wondering what made him change his mind. His thoughts were silent between her ears despite her attempt to pry.

  They padded through the fuselage, splitting off as they took the side ramps to the main hangar floor, around the doorway opening to the life-slot level below.

  A sergeant spoke up from an approaching team. “Command has ordered all collectors dock here for sorting and medical treatment including shepherds, perimeter guards, captives, I mean workers—”

  “Our injured,” Azure cut in, “are healed by our kind up in the cage.”

  The man stared at Atana.

  She tucked a loose strand of mahogany waves behind an ear. “We dropped our injured off earlier.”

  “Many gave all,” he stated in realization. “Does anyone have their bands?”

  “Sergeant Cutter has the ones we could find. He will take them in.” She tossed her nose toward the helo pads in the distance, where Tanner and Cutter were making their way into the open bays, wind rippling their clothing.

  “At least four are in the void,” Azure added.

  Atana whipped around, alarm fraying her senses.

  Not from us. He took a breath and looked away. “Verros locked one of each of our teams in a container when it purged.”

  The shepherd typed a message in on his wristband. “Noted.”

  Behind them, civilians from the crash site were being handed bottles of water then escorted into the bays by topographical zone. Medical staff swarmed them like white and gray mother hens, poking and inspecting. Cots were unfolding in grids around the hangars, IVs being strung in a corner, and food spread out on tables against the far wall.

  “Sergeant Panton and Josie?” Atana scanned the crowds for his tall, stocky frame and her short, fiery one.

  “Already out on maneuvers with the remaining field teams, ma’am. Something about EMPs and leveling the court.” The shepherd c
leared his throat. “Command wishes us to begin the unloading process.”

  “If someone will show us how to release our people from those capsules, we can teach others and make this go faster,” another shepherd cut in from beside the ramp. “More collectors are coming in five, and we’ll back up if we don’t get moving.”

  Azure waved everyone inside the lower level to the filled life-slots. The shepherds filed in behind him, eyeing his exposed skin and the threads clinging to his body.

  Bennett hustled over from the last helicopter, its propellers still winding down. “Hey. Get back okay?”

  “Yes.” Atana pointed up to the collector controls. “I noticed something during the trip. They monitor each other’s status, occupancy, even destruction. It might bite us in the backside if the Agutras and Kyras also receive the signal.”

  His brows lifted. “Good to know. Maybe we can figure a way to use that to our advantage.”

  Atana’s nerves prickled at the sight of the glowing glass tombs. The pale green light was reminiscent of the coils which had slung her up into the air when she was a child. She stared, numb and fighting the flashes of memories.

  The hatch lifted, and Atana’s young body leapt out of the prison, bolting out the doorway. Into the enormous, dim hallways, her tiny legs carried her as fast as she could make them move. She didn’t know where she was going, and she didn’t care.

  Pulling the knife from her waistband, she paused in the intersection, trying to decide which way to turn. A hand grabbed her by the hair and picked her feet up off the floor. Frightened, she swung and got lucky, hooking the muscle of the beast’s arm. The Warruk dropped her with a howl. She leapt at it out of desperation and rammed her bladed fist into its stomach.

  She’d never hesitate again.

  “Code for unlock.” Azure demonstrated it again as he opened another slot, occupied this time.

  She didn’t realize she’d gasped and stopped until Bennett shifted in close, grabbing her elbow. His face tightened.

  “I’m fine,” she whispered behind the shield of his shoulder, hoping no one else would overhear. “Just need a little more rest.”