“I believe their method of transportation is called a dune-skipper,” Ricket said, joining them and clearly out of breath. “There is one parked up ahead,” he said, pointing.
Jason squinted his eyes, thinking he saw something in the distance, but unsure. He recalled Ricket’s latest MediPod enhancement procedure—a zoom feature for his eyes.
“Why don’t you use those new eagle eyes of yours to help pinpoint enemy positions? We’re far too exposed here.”
Ricket scanned the distant cliffs on the opposite side of the open gorge. “There, Captain. Between those two cone-shaped pinnacles.”
Both Billy and Jason repositioned their footing for a wider stance, then fired off multiple bursts of distortion waves. Neither let up until all the rock in that localized area burst and shattered. Subsequent to that, a scream emanated from the immense plume of dust.
“He’s toast,” Billy said. “Where else, Ricket?”
“There … thirty-three feet to the left. Almost directly across from us.”
Before Jason and Billy could get him in their line of sight, the Sahhrain let loose with his own barrage of energy waves. Billy was hit and all three dove to the ground.
“You okay?” Jason asked, keeping his eyes on the distant cliffs.
“I’ll live.”
Jason came up on one knee and fired off a series of distortion waves. Two other streams of energy joined his, coming from behind. Glancing back, he saw they’d come from Rizzo and Mollie. Mollie, it seemed, was getting a quick introduction on the basics of enhancement shield usage. Between them, another Sahhrain warrior was killed.
“Any better idea on how many we are up against now, Ricket?”
“There is still one across the gorge. At least six more are up ahead, on this side. They are on the move, Captain.”
He heard the distant hum from multiple vehicles. Across the gorge, moving fast, was a Sahhrain warrior, standing at the controls of what looked like a flattened jet ski. A dune-skipper, Jason surmised.
“They are leaving,” Ricket said. “Moving in the same direction we are heading.”
“Most likely repositioning themselves further up—within Loma City,” Billy said, his voice stifled from pain.
Jason did a double take. The right side of Billy’s head was scorched black. It appeared his right ear was missing too, no longer attached.
“That looks like it hurts bad,” Jason said.
“You think?”
“Your head trauma will be repairable within a MediPod,” Ricket unnecessarily added.
“Let’s move,” Jason said. He gestured for Billy and Ricket to head off, then checked to see if Mollie was still doing all right. She and Rizzo were in a deep discussion. He was moving his enhancement shield around—holding it in different positions before his body—and she was following his example, mimicking his actions.
Their pace as a group had slowed. The enemy could easily be hiding around every bend, or in the rocks on either side of the gorge. Ricket’s sensors were becoming completely useless as they approached the city. Again, Jason was struck by his limited capabilities. For years he’d communicated with his team using nothing more strenuous than mere thought. Not being able to initialize his combat suit now was humbling—what it felt like to be an ordinary human again—before he discovered The Lilly, eight years ago. Before he reconnected with his father … before he met Dira. He pushed the thought of her away.
Billy and Ricket had slowed down their pace ahead, Billy’s shield held out in front of him. Ricket fell back to walk behind Jason. They were entering Loma City. Jason hadn’t paid any notice to it as they made their descent to the bottom of the gorge, now seeing the gorge had opened up into a wide valley, with a crystal-blue stream flowing off to their left. But the sudden awe-inspiring sight before him brought Jason to a standstill. A spectacular oasis: green lush trees—an abrupt contrast to the red rocks of the surrounding cliffsides. In the distance lay a massive cliff city—a city glowing as blue as the enhancement shield on his arm. A city made of Glist.
By the time Jason and the others fully registered the sound of approaching dune-skippers they barely had time to scurry into the trees for cover. Billy and Ricket, close behind Jason, ducked down by the base of some adjacent trees. Looking back, Jason saw Mollie, still standing on the path, out in the open. Rizzo was pulling on her arm. What’s wrong with her?
Jason ran back to her side. “Take cover, Rizzo!” He shook Mollie then grabbed her by the chin—forcing her to look at him. “They’re coming … we need to take cover. Mollie!”
Her eyes finally focused on Jason’s. “A beast … it’s after Boomer … she’s running for her life right now!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Boomer … she’s in danger … oh God!”
Chapter 31
Completing the obstacle course, Boomer heard the others cheering and applauding her success from the nearby path. The obstacles—so similar to the kind of trials she’d endured back on Harpaign—certainly were difficult. But, to be really honest with herself, she had expected something more—expected them to have a higher degree of difficulty. If she was able to best this course, wouldn’t others have done so also? But, then again, who would ever want to come here in the first place? The planet, Clorvious Noles, was selected for one reason. No one would visit here by choice. It was off the beaten path of most space routes and an inhospitable planet, to boot. The ancient Daccis knew that, deciding it was the perfect location to hide a won effigy.
Now, standing atop the final raised platform of the course, Boomer stared downward. A section of rock slowly descended below—revealing a chiseled stone stairway. She stepped closer and peered into the black void below. Cool air rose up from its depths. She glanced up and caught Drom’s eye.
“You want me to go with you?” Drom asked.
“Yes. But it’s probably best I go alone. Who knows if something’s rigged—if more than one person progresses from here on in. Let’s just hope this doesn’t close up on me while I’m down there.”
Both Gain and Rogna nodded their heads.
Drom said, “Be careful.”
Boomer stepped onto the first step, then waited a moment to see if anything new happened, triggered by her added weight. Satisfied, she progressed down slowly, quickly realizing she wouldn’t be able to see much of anything soon in the growing darkness. An idea came to her. Holding her shield out, she directed a low-level distortion wave into the shadows. Emanating bright energy cast a violet glow ahead, illuminating the space around her. She continued down the stone steps for what seemed an eternity. She guessed she’d descended several hundred feet when she finally reached the bottom. Three things immediately became evident: One, beyond this point the Dacci hadn’t changed the stark natural surroundings. She was standing in a natural, below ground vault—an underground world that looked pretty much untouched by civilization. Two, the only non-natural item in view was off to her right. Barely able to make out what she was seeing, the object appeared to be four or five feet tall—perhaps rectangular in shape. Like a pedestal? As she slowly moved forward in its direction, a third thing occurred to her. The little life they had encountered above ground didn’t seem to reflect a similar reality below ground.
Boomer was keenly aware of the movement of many small critters down here—well hidden in the dark recesses around her. She stopped as a question occurred to her—what caused the hundreds, no thousands, of bones scattered throughout the obstacle course above ground? Boomer shivered. Seeing a mist rising from her outgoing breath, the temperature below, she realized, had to be near freezing. She took several steps forward, still pondering on the bones, when her thoughts flashed back to Rogna—standing next to a bone that looked as long as her pratta-shaft. What kind of an animal did that once belong to?
Reaching her destination, she confirmed that it was, indeed, a pedestal of sorts. She increased the amount of emanating distortion waves to better see in their light the circular
base pattern of what had once sat atop the cut piece of rock. The outline matched perfectly the size of her own Goldwon. She obviously, then, wasn’t the first to successfully complete the obstacle course above. Someone else had plucked the effigy from this pedestal. Was the missing won in the hands of Lord Zintar Shakrim now?
She gave the top of the smooth rock surface a few pats, coming to terms with this new setback. Time for them to move on to the next won.
About to turn away and return to the surface, a different kind of roar echoed forth from the darkness beyond her—a noise carrying both substance and weight. Boomer glanced over her shoulder, back toward the stairway. Thirty yards. At a dead run—with the aid of her enhancement shield—she could make it there in seconds. She should run—now! But curiosity got the best of her and she peered ahead, toward the escalating snarling sounds. Again, she increased the power of her shield, moving it in a slow arc—like moving the beam of a flashlight. Nothing there. Wait … she brought the violet swath of light back a quarter turn, this time swinging it around much slower. Then she saw it. It would be easy to miss. Its coloring was the same as the rocky walls, a brownish gray. But walls don’t have glowing, bright green eyes.
The beast was easily twenty feet tall. Dread washed over Boomer as she stared into its two unblinking orbs. The face was wide and horrible, as if it were inside out. Massive yellowed teeth reflected off the light, along with an exposed musculature—pinkish tendons and gooey flesh. Gobs of thick moisture—drool—dripped down the sides of enormous jaws on a cheekless face.
Boomer ran the light up and down the creature’s powerful-looking body. The rest of it was thick and hairy. Of course it is! As expected, she also saw long claws on more than two sets of arms—claws like those on a grizzly bear—only much, much larger.
Transfixed, Boomer didn’t immediately react when the beast charged. She simply watched it move, as if her feet were somehow affixed deep into the ground. Only its terrible roar snapped her from her trance-like state. Fight or flight? She turned and ran—using her enhancement shield to propel her both upwards and farther forward. Soon, she was practically flying. She reached into the folds of her Tammy Wrap. Where is it? Where is my damn SuitPac device! She then remembered, she’d given it to Drom … Crap!
Thunderous stomping filled her ears—somehow—the beast was already upon her. Boomer knew she couldn’t make it all the way to the stairs. Her mind flashed to Mollie and she knew, without a doubt, that Mollie was experiencing this same terrifying moment right along with her. Welcome to my world, Sis. A smile spread across Boomer’s face—even in light of her dire present circumstances. Knowing she wasn’t alone beneath the surface of this dreadful planet gave her the psychological boost she needed.
Fight … not flight.
Boomer repositioned the face of her enhancement shield downward, concentrating with all her willpower to slow her forward momentum. She sensed, rather than felt, the swiping motion of the beast’s claws several feet below her body. A blow, if it had reached her, would have undoubtedly killed her.
With another swipe of her shield, she back-flipped even higher. Briefly upside-down, she gazed upon a face she’d not soon forget. Its breath—a mix of rotting meat and the sour stench of something putrid—perhaps death itself—caused her to gag reflexively. Mere inches from its gaping open jaws, Boomer brought her shield up, putting everything she had into that next burst of distortion waves. No longer violet—the bright-red waves coursed into the beast’s garage-sized mouth. For a split second, the inside of the beast’s throat was illuminated. Then it was gone—blown apart, along with the whole back section of the creature’s head.
It fell backward, as Boomer continued her own flip rotation. Landing softly on the ground and facing in the opposite direction, she didn’t look back—knowing it was dead. She walked somewhat unsteadily toward the softly illuminated staircase before her, and turned her thoughts back to the latest connection she’d experienced with Mollie. She recognized her surroundings—they were unmistakable—Why is she at Loma City? Who was shooting at her?
* * *
Boomer emerged into bright sunlight and saw Gain, Rogna, and Drom still standing about where they were earlier.
“Where is it?” Rogna asked, looking disappointed. “Couldn’t find it?”
“I found where it used to be—before someone else grabbed it,” Boomer said, jumping across onto the pathway where she joined the others.
“So that was the one—the won effigy Lord Zintar Shakrim has,” Drom said.
“Could be.”
“Hey … we heard a ship taking off … above … beyond this valley. I tried to get up there, but I must have just missed it. I think someone was observing you,” Drom said.
“Observing me? You mean when I was traversing the obstacles?”
Drom shrugged.
Boomer flushed. She’d looked like a spaz. She remembered falling and needing to be saved by Drom. She idly wondered who had come to watch. Pursing her lips, she nodded, suspecting who it might be.
Chapter 32
Back on the Sahhrain gunship, along with their few remaining teammates, Boomer and Drom released the Sahhrain crew from the hold and soon everyone converged into the small, onboard mess. Boomer ate little—the mental image of Mollie in danger weighing heavily on her mind. She’s here in the Dacci system. So close, which means Dad must be nearby too!
“Where ya goin’?” Rogna asked, over a mouthful of something green.
“Don’t worry about it,” Boomer said, getting up abruptly from the table and rushing from the mess. She needed to get away from the others; her heart was racing and her palms suddenly felt moist and clammy. It had been years since she’d spoken to anyone in her family. Long ago, she’d disallowed her thoughts to even ponder them … miss them. The heartache she first endured no longer having them as part of her life. So why was this moment so difficult? Boomer hadn’t used her NanoCom for over two years—she had told her father she was deactivating it until she was finished training. “Don’t even try to contact me,” she had said to him. But her training was now complete and they were apparently within range of one another. Truthfully, there was nothing she wanted more than to reconnect now with her family. She regretted the years apart, feeling remorse that she’d somehow lost perspective of what was truly important. After all, what was more important than family or kinship? Nothing.
Boomer stood in the empty gunship passageway, her back flat against a bulkhead. She inwardly stared at the floating menu option, hovering right before her eyes:
Reinitialize Nano-Devices?
She realized she was trembling. Oh, for God’s sake … get a grip, girl! Sure—she could go up against the worst villains and monsters imaginable, but simply calling home made her want to pee her pants.
She affirmed the virtual selection.
Nano-Devices Reinitialized
Within a split second, her internal nano-devices began springing to life within her consciousness. With the reconnection to advanced technology now activated, an influx of sights and sounds she’d taken a sabbatical leave away from came alive. A flurry of virtual menus flashed into view—some she dismissed, mentally waving them away, others she pondered over, and eventually either affirmed or declined activation. She was over two years behind in implementing new updates to her nano-devices. She’d forgotten how tedious being connected could sometimes get. Apparently, her internal nanites had been faltering for months now too, unbeknownst to her. She affirmed the virtual updates and instantly, like a jolt of caffeine, felt a surge in energy. Eventually, NanoCom menus began to pop up. Older audio messages she had never listened to streamed in—a growing list—heightening her anxiety. Some messages were stored from two years ago. When time permitted, she’d have to listen to each and every one of them. Suddenly, they were all extremely important to her.
Boomer scanned the most recent messages, hoping to see one from Mollie or her father. But the most recent one was from her mother—and only two minu
tes ago. She selected it and gasped, not realizing it included a hi-def video. Hovering before her eyes was her mother, holding a flailing child on her lap. Tears filled Boomer’s eyes. Her baby brother seemed immense—chubby and unrestrainedly happy. Her mother wrapped her arms around Michael and laughed at his antics.
“Boomer … I so hope you are receiving this message. I miss you and I love you. You must be tired of hearing me say that in all my stored past messages, but it’s true. I … we … all of us thought you died on Harpaign …” Tears welled in her mother’s eyes. “I have to keep this short since I’m scheduled to shuttle up to Liberty Station later today.” Finally she released Michael from her grasp, and he ran from view. Nan’s face turned serious. “Boomer, your father and Mollie are looking for you—out there, in the Dacci system. On Harpaign. The problem is, we can no longer contact him. Some localized interference down on the surface, apparently. I cannot reach any of the team, including Mollie—”
Boomer cut the playback message off in mid-sentence. She hailed her father—old functions coming back to her as if no time at all had passed. He wasn’t acknowledging her hail. She tried Mollie and got the same result. Frustrated, she stamped her foot down on the decking. She thought quietly for another moment, then, with no other option apparent, hailed Orion.
“Go for Gunny. Boomer? Is that you, girl?”
“Orion!” The tears began to flow down her cheeks in streams. What the hell is wrong with me? she thought, swallowing and trying to speak.
“I’m so happy you’re alive … so happy to hear your voice—”
Boomer cut her off, “Me too, Orion … you have no idea … but where is my father?”
“He’s looking for you, Boomer. Your sister Mollie, Billy, Ricket, Rizzo, and the prince are too.”
“Prince Aqeel?”
Boomer (Star Watch Book 3) Page 18
