Arlo (sci-fi romance - The Ember Quest Book 4)

by Arcadia Shield

  He stepped forward. “Danni, you might remember Juniper. She helped us when we were on a mission in the Badlands. She’s been here before.”

  Danni’s gaze didn’t leave Juniper. “I remember her. How did you discover this base?”

  Juniper’s chin lifted. “I’ve been here before.”

  “Not for long.” Danni’s lips pursed. “Could you detect we were here?”

  Sophia moved next to Juniper. “You can interrogate her later. She needs treatment and rest first.”

  “We could arrest you,” snapped Danni. “You have put this base at risk. There are thousands of lives at stake.”

  “I’m not an idiot. I checked I wasn’t being followed. I’ve spent a lot of time keeping out of the way of the State. I’d never put the base at risk.”

  Arlo let out a sigh. He didn’t want Juniper feeling like a prisoner. Sure, she’d done a dumb thing by trying to get in without warning him she was coming, but she wasn’t here to cause problems. He didn’t want her to think she wasn’t welcome. If she did, she might leave.

  Danni folded her arms over her chest. “Half an hour. I want you in the briefing room after that. It’s important we don’t compromise this base.”

  “I know how to move around without being noticed,” said Juniper. “You’re not at risk.”

  “Even so, I want a full report.” Danni’s gaze cut to Sophia. “Treat this patient.”

  “That’s what I was attempting to do,” said Sophia dryly. “But people keep interrupting me.” She looked slowly from Danni to Arlo, and then to Clarissa.

  Clarissa grinned and held the port screen up. “I work here.”

  “Then get on with whatever it is you’re doing.” Sophia gestured Juniper back to the bed, and after a second of hesitation, Juniper returned and sat on the edge.

  “Half an hour. In the briefing room. Don’t forget.” Danni turned on her heel and left the room.

  Arlo shared a grin with Heath, who had wisely kept his head down and out of the firing line.

  “Is she always like that?” muttered Juniper as she watched the door close behind Danni.

  “Pretty much,” said Arlo. “You get used to it. And she does a great job of keeping us in check.”

  “I’ve no doubt about that.” Juniper winced as Sophia probed the laser wound.

  “Danni’s got skills that put most of us to shame,” said Arlo. “Get on her good side and you’ll be fine.”

  “She has a good side?”

  Sophia snorted a laugh. “Yes. And don’t forget, she is in charge here.”

  “You weren’t afraid to boss her around,” said Juniper.

  “Because this is my domain.” Sophia gestured to the white-walled room and beds. “What I say goes in here. Danni knows that. I don’t tell her how to win a war, and she doesn’t tell me how to treat a patient.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Juniper’s wound was clean and dressed. Clarissa had found her a clean pair of trousers and a black shirt, replacing the grubby clothing she’d arrived in.

  Arlo led her toward the briefing room, pushing the door open and letting her go in first. She looked around at the computer screens and the empty table in the room.

  “Take a seat,” said Arlo. “I’ll be back in a minute.” He hurried to the canteen, grabbed an armful of food, and raced back to the briefing room. He didn’t want to leave Juniper alone for any longer than he had to, in case she did another disappearing act to avoid Danni’s wrath.

  When he got back there, Juniper was seated by a computer terminal, the screen on as she flicked through pages of information.

  “Are you looking for anything in particular?” Arlo dumped the food on the table and pointed at it. “You need to eat.”

  Juniper turned her chair away from the computer screen, her eyes going wide as she saw the mountain of food. “Don’t worry, I didn’t hack into anything. Your security is top-notch. I was just reminding myself of where everything is. It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”

  “The security is all thanks to Kade and Honor,” said Arlo. He watched Juniper grab a protein bar and devour it in two bites. He placed two bottles of water on the table. “Sophia said you were dehydrated.”

  Juniper glugged down the water and then wiped her hand across her mouth before starting on another protein bar.

  “How long were you out looking for this place?” He sat in the chair next to her.

  “Two days,” said Juniper around a mouthful of food. “You guys hide yourselves well. I figured I’d be able to remember the location, but all the alleys look the same around here.”

  “It’s part of the reason we chose it. It takes a while to get used to the twists and turns.”

  “I was about to give up on this location when you stalked me down the alleyway.”

  “You triggered a door alarm,” said Arlo. “We got a signal and came out to take a look.”

  “And shoot the intruders?”

  “If they need shooting.” He grinned at her as she scowled at him. “So, you staying long?” Arlo was surprised by how nervous he felt asking that question. He didn’t want Juniper to leave. Hadn’t wanted her to leave the first time.

  “Until I find somewhere better,” said Juniper. “You know about the State flattening the Badlands?”

  “We monitored what they did,” said Arlo. “Jude sent a couple of drones to take a look. Neither of them lasted long, but we got images of the devastation.”

  “It wasn’t helped by the volcanoes going off at the same time.” Juniper finished her water. Arlo pushed the second bottle toward her.

  She gestured to the food. “Are you not joining me?”

  “It looks like you need feeding up.”

  “We don’t get many gourmet meals in the Badlands,” said Juniper.

  Arlo grabbed a protein bar and fiddled with the wrapper. “You could have come back sooner. Or you could have stayed. You never told me why you left.”

  Before Juniper answered, the door to the briefing room opened. Danni strode in. She was followed by Heath, Annie, Lincoln, and Jude.

  Juniper’s eyebrows rose. “I didn’t expect such a big welcome party.”

  “This isn’t everyone,” said Arlo as they all took seats around the table. “Kade is buried beneath a mess of coding and most likely shouting at his new trainees. Apparently, they’re not smart enough to keep up with him.”

  “That’s because he has a mega brain,” said Lincoln, nodding a greeting to Juniper.

  “And Tobias is out on recon,” said Arlo. “He prefers to be above ground than in the bunkers.”

  Annie smiled at Juniper. “It’s nice to see you again.” Juniper had helped Annie find her father, Dmitri, when he was lost in the Badlands.

  “You too,” said Juniper. “How’s your dad doing?”

  “He’s as eccentric as ever,” said Annie, giving her a grin. “But he’s in his element here. He’s surrounded by piles of dragon egg and bone fragments from find sites. He’s so busy here, he hasn’t mentioned going on an expedition in months. It’s the best way to keep him safe; give him so many finds to study that he doesn’t need any new ones.”

  Danni cleared her throat. “Now that the pleasantries are over, perhaps you’d like to explain what you were doing breaking into this base?”

  “I THOUGHT I’D BE WELCOME.” Juniper tried not to stare at the eyepatch over Danni’s eye. It didn’t freak her out, but she’d like to know more about what happened. It must have been a hell of a fight to take down Danni Hannigan. The patch didn’t detract from the firm lines of her face, though. If anything, it made her look more intimidating.

  “And you are,” said Danni. “But how the hell did you know how to get to the entrance?”

  Juniper tapped her fingers on the top of the table, the food in her stomach not feeling so settled. “Well, I’ve worked with you. I know your communication signals.”

  Heath leaned across the table. “You monitored us when we worked together in the Badlands?” />
  “I’d have been a fool not to,” said Juniper, refusing to shrink back from his stern expression. “It was the first time I’d met you guys. You could have been undercover agents for the State. I had to cover my back.”

  “Juniper has skills.” Arlo nudged her knee with his.

  She shrugged. “It’s the only way to stay alive.”

  “I’ll need to see your data,” said Danni. “If we have loopholes in the way people find us, they need to be closed, and quickly.”

  “I’m happy to share. I don’t want this place found because of me.”

  Danni nodded. “That will be acceptable.”

  “Why didn’t you reply to my message?” asked Arlo. “I could have met you at the collection point. We have several around the city so those on the run have a safe place. Why the sneakiness?”

  She wasn’t sure about that herself. “I’m not certain this place is for me. The Badlands has always been my home. And, my last experience here, well, it wasn’t so great.”

  “Life here can take a while to get used to,” said Annie. “If you ever need anyone to talk to, I’m always around. I can also show you the little escape routes. The ways to get into the open without anyone noticing you’re there.”

  “If I stay, I’ll take you up on that.” Juniper gave Annie a grateful smile.

  “You’re not certain you’re staying?” Arlo leaned toward her, a look of concern on his face.

  “Like I said, I’ll stay for now,” said Juniper, not liking the intensity of Arlo’s gaze. “And, after everything that happened in the Badlands, I’ve no place else to go.”

  Arlo slumped back in his seat. Juniper glanced at him. What had she said that was so bad?

  “What the State did to that area is unacceptable,” said Danni. She pressed a button recessed into the table and a screen slid from the ceiling. Images of the Badlands flashed into view.

  Juniper felt her breath catch in her throat as she saw images of her old home. There was nothing left. Everything had gone. There was just piles of rubble and smoking ashes of former homes. Some of her friends would be lying dead under that rubble. The thought made her throat tighten, and she looked away.

  “What’s the latest on the volcanoes off the coast of the Badlands?” asked Heath.

  “Check with Hive two,” said Danni. “They were monitoring live feed just this morning.”

  Heath activated the comms link, and the images of the Badlands were replaced by Colton Conner. His dark hair was pushed off his face, and the corners of his blue eyes crinkled as he looked around the group.

  “How are things in Old London?” Colton’s voice had a soft Irish burr to it. He’d barely escaped as the State had obliterated his homeland. Colton had come to the bunker with specialist skills in dark web research and had excelled in establishing Hive two as a vital information resource.

  “Better than life in the Badlands,” said Danni. “What can you tell us about operations there?”

  “My advice is to stay away,” said Colton. “Let me show you the latest images.” His face was replaced with a long-distance shot of two active volcanoes belching lava and ash.

  Juniper’s stomach clenched. The spike of anger that ran through her was familiar. The State needed to pay for all the cruel, sadistic things they’d done. That included destroying her homeland.

  She flinched as Arlo’s fingers brushed across her arm.

  “I know this is hard to see.”

  “I will end the State for what they’ve done,” she growled through her teeth.

  “The only way you will achieve that is by joining us,” said Danni. “Is that something you’re interested in? Or are we to assume this is another passing visit?”

  She looked around the table, the expressions she saw a mixture of friendliness and interest. Her gaze settled on Arlo, and she thought she saw something else in his eyes. Was it hope? Having snuck out of the base the last time, leaving without saying a word to him, maybe the look on his face was caution. She’d abandoned their friendship and had regretted it ever since.

  “You should stay,” said Arlo. “Spend enough time here, and you get used to the place. It really isn’t so bad.”

  Surprised by the lump in her throat, Juniper swallowed. She wanted to stay. She was sick of being alone. Sick of always having to look over her shoulder, never sure when she’d get a good night’s sleep or find a decent meal.

  “What do you say?” asked Danni. “Do you want to join our fight?”

  Juniper nodded. “I’m in.”

  Chapter 3

  After the meeting with Danni and the others ended, Annie took Juniper on a base tour to remind her where everything was before setting her up in her own living quarters. That left Arlo alone with his thoughts. That was never a good thing.

  He returned to his quarters. Every room was small and the provisions basic, but his was clean and had everything he needed. It was his own tiny piece of privacy, something most people welcomed when living underground with several thousand others.

  He paced backwards and forwards across the small space. It felt too claustrophobic. He’d never minded small spaces before. It was his older brother, Tobias, who hated enclosed spaces. But this afternoon, he felt the need to blow off steam, and being stuck underground was not helping.

  As hard as Arlo tried to ignore the feelings, he was still drawn to Juniper. He wanted to find her, spend more time with her. He wanted to know what she’d been doing while she was out there on her own. Just how desperate had she been to return to the bunker? Had this been a place of last resort for her? Or, was she happy to be here?

  Leaving his quarters, Arlo strode to the canteen. He gave a nod to Juliet, who was behind the counter filling food trays as the ever-hungry army of workers and residents in the base emptied them. It was lunchtime, so the place was busy. He saw Heath and Annie sitting together at a long table, their heads close together, deep in conversation. He didn’t feel like joining them.

  Grabbing a bowl of soup and a few slices of bread, he looked around for a quiet spot, somewhere he could sit and mull over his thoughts about Juniper. Then he spotted Mary, carrying a tray out of the canteen. It looked like she was taking her food to their workshop. That wasn’t such a bad idea. He hurried after her, catching her as she entered the workshop.

  She turned and smiled as she set her tray down. “Are you planning on eating and working as well?”

  “Something like that.” Without thinking, he flicked on the radio. It was tuned to his favorite station, Flame. Well, it was either that, or the State-approved lies they fed through their broadcasts every day. He’d rather eat gunpowder than listen to that bullshit propaganda.

  Flame played his favorite kind of music: loud, hard rock. It always got him pumped. But, this time, listening to the tunes did nothing to quell the unsettled feeling inside him.

  “How’s Juniper settling in?” Mary took a sip of her coffee, her steady gaze on Arlo.

  “I haven’t seen much of her.” Arlo spun his spoon in the bowl of soup.

  “She’s had a rough time. It might take a while for her to settle into somewhere new.”

  “This isn’t new for her. Besides, you took to base life okay,” said Arlo. “Why should it be any different for Juniper?”

  “Yes, but I had connections. Juniper was always a little... spiky when I knew her in the Badlands. She made enemies quickly and took a long time to forgive when someone crossed her.”

  Arlo had to smile. Spiky was a good description for Juniper although he thought a lot more of her than that. Her purple eyes haunted his dreams. “Maybe she feels she has to keep her guard up. A woman on her own in a place like that will always be a target for some slimeball.”

  “There are slimeballs everywhere.” Mary opened her protein pouch and looked into it glumly. “I should have chosen the soup.”

  “You can have mine.” Arlo pushed the bowl toward her, his appetite gone.

  “We’ll swap.” Mary passed him the pouch.
>
  Arlo looked at it with an equal lack of enthusiasm. “I need to go out on another supply run. If they’re serving protein pouches, it means we’re running low on everything.” Base food was nutritious enough, but there was only so much you could do with herbs and spices. The dehydrated mush in the pouches was just that, no matter how you tried to dress it up.

  “You could take Juniper with you when you go,” said Mary. “The two of you got on well when you worked together in the Badlands.”

  “You think so?”

  “I know so,” said Mary. “I saw the start of a friendship there. And you were together a lot when she was here the first time.”

  “But she left,” said Arlo.

  Mary was quiet for a moment. “You missed her?”

  “I’m too busy here to miss anyone.” Despite those words, he had missed her. He was pissed that she’d left without saying anything to him. If she’d talked to him, perhaps they could have sorted something out. She could have stayed. She should have stayed.

  “Then we need to make you time,” said Mary. “A lovely young man like you shouldn’t be stuck here working on these bombs. You have me now, and you’ve taught me well. I’m happy to pick up the slack if you would like an evening off with Juniper.”

  “I wouldn’t know what to do with a spare evening,” said Arlo. “If Heath caught me slacking, he’d only make me do boring inventory in the weapons room.”

  “Well, I’ll tell him you need a night off,” said Mary. “If you work yourself into the ground, you’ll be no good to anyone. If we make a mistake in this kind of work, then that’s the end of us. Drop a bomb or put a detonator in the wrong place, mess up some wiring, and that’s it.” She flung her hands in the air, splaying her fingers out.

  “If I need time off, then so do you,” said Arlo as he picked up a half-finished explosive and turned it over in his palm. “You’re hardly a spring chicken. You need more rest than me.”

  Mary threw a piece of wiring at him. “Behave yourself. I can run rings around you.”

  He grinned. Maybe Mary was right. Time off wouldn’t be such a terrible thing. He loved his work but had let everything else go so he could focus on it. Explosives were in high demand, but now he had Mary and was training up others to help with the simple devices, so maybe it was time to have a bit of fun again. It had been ages since he’d attempted to brew a decent home beer.