by Amber Stuart
"Hope."
She recognized the sound the alien with the flower had given her, and looked up expectantly. His nonverbal clues told her that they were ready. The other aliens he had been waiting for had arrived.
It soon became clear to her that this alien hadn't been sent by her family. He had revealed that he knew more about her people and their planet than any other alien she had encountered. He knew of her healing powers, but so did the aliens who had kept her prisoner. Unlike them, he knew she had a destiny. From what she could tell from his actions, he intended to see her fulfill it.
Her people would be shocked to know she allowed him to help. To her it made perfect sense. Both her people and the aliens would benefit from the fulfillment of her destiny. Every animal, plant, and being relied on her success. Surely the aliens had noticed the unnaturally long winter period that gripped them all. Winter was already twice as long as usual and would continue unless something was done about it. That something was her. If she had not already known this, the insistent tug at her core would have given it away. It practically dragged her north to a location currently unknown to her, but her alien companion seemed to know exactly where. The rare flower had proven that, although so far he hadn't been able to communicate to her where it had come from, only that he agreed with the direction she felt she needed to go.
A movement behind her savior's shoulder attracted her attention. She raised two fingers, the sign assigned to him, to direct his gaze behind him. He looked and smiled at what she thought was a two-headed alien. Her eyes widened at the sight. She had never seen a two-headed one before. But as they came nearer, she saw that there were two aliens, one leaning on the other to walk. Did that mean one was injured? Did her companion want her to heal his friend? She frowned, not liking where her thoughts led her.
They made noises to each other and she took the opportunity to study them closely. All aliens were hairy, but the injured one was the hairiest one she had ever seen. Shaggy dark hair covered his head and face. He was covered neck to foot in garments, which included hard leg coverings. His hands were bare and she was shocked to find that they were hairy too! This alien in particular unsettled her. His companion at least made an attempt to remove his hair. She had once witnessed this act before in the keep. It was a barbarous practice similar to scraping scales off a live lizard, but at least it made this alien seem less intimidating.
Her companion did not seem impressed with the state of the hairy one. Injury was not what hindered him, she realized, but the liquid all aliens seemed so fond of, the one that made them more violent and destructive than they already were. It could also incapacitate, and he looked ready to pass out. As if feeling her scrutiny, the object of her study flicked his sad gray eyes in her direction. She couldn't help it. She hissed at him. His hairy brow rose before he ignored her in favor of her companion who seemed to have finished with his noises and was now shaking hands with the pair.
"Hope," he said again and she followed him back to their rooms.
The next morning Cord nursed his throbbing head. Before Gerrit could stop him, he threw back a slug of the good stuff. It would have to be enough to keep his demons at bay.
Gerrit shook his head. "That scientist fellow was pretty clear about you not drinking," he reminded him.
"Well he ain't here yet," was Cord's reply. He checked his guns and once they were holstered, made sure his flask was in reach. The last thing he needed was to have the shakes on a job. "You get more men last night?"
"Aye," Gerrit told him. "Half a dozen waiting outside. Why that scientist is wanting to go to the Ashula Mountains is beyond me."
Cord grunted. "He's not paying me to wonder."
"Yeah but to drag his sister out with him, that's mighty strange if you ask me."
"Wasn't asking," Cord said, then pushed away from the bar. Outside he saw it had snowed overnight. He welcomed the cold. The cold left a man numb. So did drink, but drink wasn't free like snow was.
They squinted at the overly laden carriage that waited in the road. "That them?" Cord asked and his friend nodded. "Let's get going then."
Cord hung back while Gerrit went to his mount. He pulled a crude cigar from his pocket and struck the flint stick against the carriage. As he puffed on his stogie, he eyed the occupants inside. The scientist sat with his sister on the other side of him. She wore one of those big hats that blocked more than just the alien sun and had a book in her hand.
"Your sister simple?" he asked the scientist.
"No sir," the scientist said, taking offense. "She is special."
"Special, huh?" Cord said and reached through the window past the man. Taking the book from the girl's hand, he turned it up the right way and gave it back to her. "We're leaving now."
The scientist sputtered but Cord was already striding toward his mount, a horse-like creature native to the planet. Larger, wider, and hairier than a horse, but suited to the environment. Keela was its name. Named by his son. The boy had been adamant that Keela was a girl. Not that Cord knew one way or the other; the animals were that alien. He was waiting for Keela to make a move on another mount so he could find out that way. So far, Keela had no inclination to mate with any mount they had encountered. Not that it mattered. What did was that she was a well-tempered, strong, and faithful animal. What more could a tracker ask for?
Gerrit returned with his own mount and after clambering astride the beast said to Cord, "You seen that flower he was wearing?"
"What about it?" Cord asked, trying not to look back at the carriage with its strange occupants.
"Well aside from the fact he's wearing a buttonhole, how many other flowers you seen in bloom 'round these parts?"
Cord shrugged. "Prob'ly fake," he said and dug his heels into Keela. The men accompanying them took that as a signal to head out. The carriage lurched forward, starting its long journey to the Ashula Mountains.
Tired of watching her companion scratch black markings on sheafs of pressed tree, Hope turned her attention to the view through the carriage's portal. She would have preferred to walk to her destination, but he had persuaded her this form of transport would be faster. He was right. At this speed they would make it there in hardly any time at all.
She occasionally caught sight of the two aliens as they rode up and down the trail. The clean-faced one seemed more at ease than his hairy brother. That monster would often reach into his garment and withdraw something that caught the light. He would then press it quickly to his lips before hiding it once more. The vile liquid, she decided. The knowledge that this alien who was charged with escorting and protecting them was so dependent on the noxious substance made her uneasy.
The familiar push of thought into her mind distracted her from her worry. One of her kind was nearby and they were looking for her. She yanked open the portal and shoved her head through, as if the carriage itself impeded the message. Her hat flapped wildly in the wind but it was tied tightly under her chin. Nothing would dislodge it.
The message was from her family, passed along by people from other tribes, to her. They were coming for her. She communicated that she did not wish it, that she would make her way to her destiny on her own, and that they shouldn’t worry. This was sent back through the link. Their response was what she had expected. They were not satisfied. All their hopes for the future rested with her. Her people were sending others to accompany her. She understood their concern; there weren’t many like her left, and if she didn’t make it, then they would have to find another to take her place. Before the aliens had arrived, there had been more than enough to ensure this. Now, after the slaughter and the still occasional attacks on her people, there were few like her left. If only the aliens knew that their fate was entwined with that of her people. Would they have done things differently? Would they help if they weren't being compensated for their efforts?
No, she replied vehemently. If her people attempted to join her, there would be bloodshed. She could not expl
ain to them why they should stay away. They wouldn’t understand and would probably attack the aliens. She would not let anyone die—alien or otherwise—because of her. She implored her family to call them back, reminding them of the rules, which stated that only she and one other were to enter the sacred cave. They relented, however; a lone male was to still to follow. He, they said, would be the other.
Hope hissed quietly into the air. All she could do was hope that their choice would keep his head and his distance from them. At least until she could leave the aliens.
"We're being followed," Gerrit said suddenly.
Cord relit his cigar and shook out the flint stick. "You talkin' bout the trained men or the lone Camo?" he asked.
Gerrit pulled on the reins and wheeled his mount to face Cord. "Damn it, Cord. Why'd you not tell me?"
Cord shrugged. “More interested in why they're following us," he said and slapped Keela's behind. His mount lengthened its stride to a loping run as Cord steered them off the road into the countryside. He caught a glimpse of the scientist's "special" sister as he rode by. If she saw him, she showed no sign, too busy hanging half out the window catching a cold.
Cord didn't know what surprised him more: being followed by Corps-trained men or the lone Camo, a member of the native population. Either way, it didn’t sit well with him. Most of the Corps members who had traveled to the planet had disbanded not long after settling the planet. Those who weren't able to take to living on the land had joined a former general who created his own army to drive out every last Camo. Cord didn't care for them either. A Camo had killed his wife and son two years ago, while he had been away hunting. As far as he was concerned, the general, now self-proclaimed governor, could do what he liked with them. He wouldn't lift a finger to stop the man. What was worrying though, was them leaving their keep and following him. Not for a moment did he think they were after him in particular. They wanted the scientist or something he had. That he was sure of. He knew the man was a Camo sympathizer. Why he'd taken the job from a known Camo-lover was beyond him. Oh yeah, he needed the currency. For all that drinking and whoring, like Gerrit had said.
His plan was to confront the men first. They, however, had a different idea. The first shot came from the front of the carriage Cord had been leading. He cursed and yanked on Keela's rein. If he had been at his peak, he would have known they'd split the party. Keela's huge feet ate up the terrain as they rushed to join in the fight.
At the sound of the first gunshot, Hope's companion had dragged her back through the window and thrown her to the floor of the carriage. He had then jumped atop her, using his body as a shield. The animal pulling their vehicle panicked and bolted, taking them with it. The alien riding above screamed.
Hope hissed and shoved the scientist aside. She held the bench seats to keep balance and looked up in time to see the alien who had been driving them fall to the ground. They were now at the mercy of a frightened animal.
"Hope!" the scientist yelled as she disappeared through the window.
She hadn't jumped. They were moving much too fast for that. Instead she climbed to the driver's seat. From that height she could see the gunfight as it played out behind her. Aliens killing aliens. She couldn't save them from each other. Their kind of senseless violence confused her. What she could do was save herself and her companion by stopping the animal.
She quickly surveyed their surroundings and saw they were fast approaching the edge of a cliff. Far below there was nothing but sharp rocks and water.
She looked up to find her companion had joined her. He was frightened, but had risked his life yet again to save her. She smiled to assure him she was fine, and before he could take her hand, she flung herself forward, over the edge of the carriage.
Cord had both guns drawn. He and Keela worked as one, weaving their way among obstacles with just the nudge of his knee. Adrenaline had taken hold and he relied on his experience in the Corps, which he had eaten and breathed for years, to get him through this fight.
He might have been the worse for wear owing to drink, but these men weren't of the same caliber as those he had once fought with. Some were better than others, but none was as good as Cord. They did, however, have numbers.
Keela stopped without warning. Cord barely managed to keep his seat. He had reflexively squeezed his knees into Keela's sides and instead of urging it forward, he stilled as well. Something was off and Keela had sensed it. He tracked his gaze across the fight. One of theirs was dead, while two had lost their mounts. Gerrit and another were still atop theirs and were picking off those on foot. That just left…
"Crut," he ground out as he and Keela leapt back into action. The carriage was missing its driver and careening out of control toward the cliffs.
Hope landed astride the beast but slipped sideways. She frantically grabbed shaggy hair that reminded her of the hairy alien and pulled herself into a safer position. The poor thing was sweat-soaked, its fear overwhelming. Even if they survived this, the animal wouldn’t and that saddened her.
With fingers threaded through its mane, Hope forced her healing warmth into the animal. It slowed the animal's wild stampede but it wasn’t enough to stop him.
Cord leaned low over Keela as they thundered after the carriage. He caught sight of the scientist leaning over the driver's seat. Good, he thought. He's trying to stop the cursed vehicle. Then he saw the scientist’s sister riding the panicked beast, which brought another curse to his mouth.
He chanced a look at the fast-approaching cliff and raised his gun. Without thought, he pulled the trigger and the animal beneath the girl staggered and fell. The carriage, still hitched to it, lurched before it tipped on its side.
Cord and Keela pulled up behind it. The crazy girl was alive. Alive and hissing, he amended. The scientist popped up nearby, a little worse for wear.
"Why'd you let her do a stunt like that?" Cord yelled at the man. "What're you touched, like her?"
"I couldn't stop her," he replied. "What is going on?"
"What's going on is an ambush. Who else knew about your little foray to the mountains?" Cord asked.
"Probably the governor," the scientist told him.
"I was right, you are touched in the head," Cord said and turned Keela back to the fight. Gerrit probably needed his help and he wanted to interrogate one of those men to find out what the crut was going on.
Unfortunately, his flight had not gone unnoticed. Two had split from the main party and had given chase. Cord shot and killed the first one before either of them could aim their own weapons. The second went down not soon after, but not fast enough to keep him from firing.
From the corner of his eye he saw the scientist’s body jerk as the bullet tore through him. The man stared at his chest and coughed up blood.
Cord whirled Keela around and swore again. It wasn't proper to let your employer get shot. Not while you were still on the job and hadn't been paid yet. He jumped from Keela's back and knelt beside him. One look was all Cord needed to know there was nothing they could do.
“Please take her," he said.
"She's not my type."
"To the Ashula Mountains," the scientist told him.
"Right," Cord said and mentally kicked himself for what he'd said.
"She can pay you," the scientist said, correctly understanding that the man still wanted to get his currency. He made a gesture to Hope who tried to get past Cord.
She made a gesture back but whatever the scientist had communicated to her, he seemed insistent. The girl relented and climbed back into the carriage. She emerged with a bag and shook it for effect. She had the currency.
The scientist tugged on Cord's sleeve, drawing him closer. He pulled a small notebook from his clothes and forced it into Cord's hand. "Your word, sir," he whispered.
Cord watched as he coughed up more blood but didn't give his word.
"Your word as a soldier," the scientist tried again.
; Cord remained silent.
"As a man," he said. "Take her to the mountains. Your life depends on it."
The girl shook the bag again and Cord closed his eyes. A dying man, a bagful of money, and a girl in need. When he opened his eyes, the man was dead. "I give you my word," he murmured.
Cord stood, shoved the notebook into his shirt pocket and regarded the girl coolly. She was tall and gangly. The dress she wore was ugly and that dammed hat annoyed him. Still, he'd made a promise to a dead man and as long as she had his currency, he would make good on that promise.
She hissed when he grabbed her by the waist and tossed her on Keela's back. He put his foot on Keela's hind leg and climbed on behind her.
"I better not regret this," he told her.
As they returned to the fight, a third smaller group of soldiers joined the party. Cord cursed their luck and emptied one of his guns into the closest ones. Gerrit, he was happy to see, was alive and still on his mount. Cord, however, couldn't afford to get his new employer killed as well.
"Scientist's dead," he said when they were in earshot. Knowing Gerrit he probably swore at that piece of news. "Meet at the cabin!" he added before kicking his heels into Keela. No doubt something else for Gerrit to swear about, but Cord had confidence in his friend's ability to survive. Besides, he had a crazy girl with a bag of currency to worry about.
Hope stiffened. One of her kind was close by. She could feel his presence and tilted her head to face him. The alien noticed and followed her gaze. He made a loud harsh noise and raised his arm, his instrument of death in hand.
She acted on instinct and threw her head back, the top of it connected with a part of the alien, which prompted more noises. The instrument boomed and when she looked again, she saw it had gone wide and missed. She sent a request to her fellow and he lowered his spear. Although he wouldn't understand the situation, she knew he would respect the wishes of someone with her status. At least for the time being.
