Return to Dark Earth

by Anna Hackett

  Nera stepped up beside him. “The Inca gold belongs to the Rumin.”

  “Mutated freaks.” Avril shook her head. “They’re a step backward in evolution. They don’t deserve it.”

  “That’s not for you to decide,” Nera said. “It’s theirs. It’s always been theirs.”

  “Look, last chance, Niklas. Join me. Forget your…involvement with Darc. Take your rightful role at the Institute. A man of your dedication and intellect could go so far. You deserve so much more than being a treasure hunter.”

  Nera raised her brows.

  Niklas stepped closer to her, that infinite blue gaze meeting her own. “I love you.”

  God. Her throat tightened. “Not going to toss me over for the Institute and a smart, fresh bitch of an astro-archeologist?”

  “I’d have you by my side any day.” He flicked at her hair. “Ready?”

  She nodded. As they turned away from each other, he was drawing his laser pistol and she yanked her sword from its scabbard.

  “Get them,” Avril yelled.

  Her agents moved forward.

  Nera dived, rolled, and came up in the middle of the group. She slashed out, cutting two Tase prods in half, before attacking the security agent that jumped at her.

  She rolled the man beneath her and slammed a fist into his face. He flopped down on the ground. Nera turned her head and saw Niklas firing at Avril. The astro-archeologist ducked behind some rocks.

  Rumin were fighting against some agents. Nera yelled at those closest to her. “Aim for their weapons.”

  A few warriors nodded and followed her instructions.

  Nera reached to her belt and pulled out three throwing stars. She threw them with practiced precision and even over the commotion, heard the agents she’d targeted cry out. She saw laserfire coming and dropped, sliding along the ground. She bent backward, circling her sword and came up, slicing into an agent’s arm. The woman screamed, dropping her pistol and clutching her bleeding wrist.

  Nera spun, saw three more agents converging on her. Out of the smoke, a figure appeared before her. The Sapa. She held a spear tipped in poison and looked very comfortable holding the weapon. She caught Nera’s gaze and they nodded. Together, they attacked.

  The agents went down and Nera turned, searching for Niklas. She spotted him, the ground littered with agents clutching laser burns. He was still trying to get at Avril. She was firing back with her own pistol from her cover in the rocks. Nera wrinkled her nose. The woman wasn’t a bad shot.

  Then, as she watched, she saw a stocky figure in the smoke. Sneaking up behind Niklas.

  Gunn.

  “Niklas!” Nera didn’t remember moving. She sprinted, not thinking, not planning.

  Just then, laser fire hit Niklas’ shoulder. He jerked and dropped his weapon.

  Nera tossed her last grenade, a smoke one, in Avril’s direction. It exploded, filling the air with more smoke.

  Gunn raised an arm, a large thermo knife in his hand.

  Niklas spun. “Should have known you were working with Avril all this time.”

  “Yep. She’s paying me a juicy little bonus to keep you distracted and to kill you.” Gunn sneered. “I’m going to enjoy shoving this in your gut, Phoenix.”

  “Come on, Gunn. This has been a long time coming.”

  The men rushed at each other.

  Nera reached them and skidded to a stop. God, Niklas was injured and Gunn, for all his failings, was strong.

  The men twisted and turned, trying to overpower each other. Gunn’s knife was still held above their heads, Niklas’ hand wrapped around his wrist.

  Nera raised her sword, searching for an opening where she could safely take down the stocky treasure hunter.

  Then the men tripped and rolled across the ground. For a heart-stopping second, Gunn was on top. He shoved a hand at Niklas’ wound, and Niklas’ face contorted with pain. But then he heaved and the two rolled again.

  Nera circled them, her heart pounding.

  Suddenly, they both staggered to their feet. Niklas was holding the knife out, aimed at Gunn’s gut.

  “Always hated you,” Gunn spat, backing up. “And those brothers of yours. The fucking Phoenix brothers.” Gunn dodged away from the knife. “I’ll kill you, leave you here to rot, then I’ll go and find your brothers.”

  Nera took a step forward.

  Niklas didn’t look at her but said, “Stay back. He’s mine.”

  Gritting her teeth, she stepped back. She knew he could take care of himself, but it went against everything in her not to protect him.

  Niklas made a vicious sound and swung the knife at Gunn, who leapt backward. “My brothers were threatened once before and I stayed quiet to protect them. Not this time. This time I’ll take action to protect them.”

  Again Niklas parried with the knife and Gunn jumped backward again.

  Right onto a sharpened stake that formed part of the Rumin defenses.

  The stake burst through Gunn’s chest, the ugly, black poison visible.

  Gunn’s eyes widened. He opened his mouth, blood dribbling from his lips.

  Nera moved forward now. “Niklas just gave you everything you deserve, Gunn.” Maybe once, he’d been an innocent, wronged by life. But she knew now they were all the choices they made, whatever their pasts had thrown at them. Gunn had made his choices. The wrong ones. Nera bent her head. “Alarah’s free now.”

  Gunn made a gurgling sound, then slumped forward, his chin hitting his ruined chest.

  Niklas stared at the man resolutely then, then closed his eyes. He fell to his knees.

  “You okay?” She skidded to crouch beside him.

  Lines of pain bracketed his mouth. “Fine. Bleeding like hell and hurts even worse. Can’t use my arm.”

  “Hold on.” Nera heard footsteps and spun. She snatched up Niklas’ laser pistol and took down two agents. “We’ll get to cover and take a look at it.”

  “Nera. You need to take down Avril. If she gets back to the ship…”

  She’d leave them here in a heartbeat. Stranding them on a planet that would kill them before help arrived. Nera gripped his uninjured shoulder. “Cover first.” Damn, he was bleeding badly.

  She heaved him up and together they stumbled toward the thick jungle. She saw an agent appear and before she could react, Nik grabbed her pistol from the holster on her hip and fired.

  “Nice,” she said.

  “Thanks,” he grunted. “Can’t let you do all the rescuing. You’ll lose interest in me.”

  She didn’t think that would ever happen. “Well, someone once told me that we make a good team.”

  He smiled.

  She helped him behind a large tree.

  “You two just won’t die.” Avril stepped into view. Her hair was disheveled and her face was streaked with dirt. She held a pistol on them. “You’ve been a huge annoyance to me, and I have a deadline to keep.” Her gaze drifted to Niklas. “It really is a shame it has to end like this.”

  A body burst between them. Nera heard the whine of the laser.

  And saw Jonas Solomon slam into the dirt clutching his stomach.

  God save her from heroic men. Nera leapt. She didn’t care if Avril shot her, as long as she protected Niklas. And besides, she was so done dealing with this woman.

  Nera slammed her arm into Avril’s and drove it upward. The pistol fired, the laser hitting the canopy. A well-aimed kick at Avril’s knees, and the woman went down heavily in the dirt.

  Snatching up the pistol, Nera aimed it at Avril and shot the woman in the shoulder.

  The astro-archeologist cried out, clutching her shoulder and sobbing.

  “First,” Nera said. “You don’t stand around talking to your prey. Just shoot. Or you give them a chance to fight back or escape.” Nera snatched some wire off her belt. She yanked Avril’s wrists in front of her and tied them together. Tight. Nera gave the rope a hard yank and Avril gasped. “And that’s for your continued slobbering over my man. I don�
��t appreciate it.” A punch to Avril’s face had her sprawling in the dirt, dazed.

  Nera moved back to Niklas. He was holding Solomon against him. The young treasure hunter’s face was pale and he was bleeding heavily.

  “Dammit, kid,” Niklas muttered.

  Solomon gave a weak grin. “Shit, it hurts.”

  “Serves you right. What was that all about?” Niklas demanded.

  “You’re one of the good guys, Phoenix. Couldn’t let her kill you.” Solomon sucked in a pained breath. “Besides, I’ll be known as the man who saved Niklas Phoenix’s life.”

  Niklas shook his head. “Reputation won’t help you if you’re dead.”

  “We need a plan,” Nera said.

  But before the men could say anything, more agents appeared, guns trained on them. Dammit. Nera turned, stepping in front of Niklas and Solomon. Even more agents appeared out of the smoke.

  Niklas moved up beside her. “Not looking good.”

  “No. But whatever happens, we’re together.” She’d always been alone, and now she wasn’t. She looked into his blue eyes. Eyes that had haunted her dreams for so long. He was hers now, something she’d never imagined would happen.

  “Always.” His hand reached for hers. “I love you, Nera.”

  Suddenly, laserfire lit up around them. Nera flinched, pulling Niklas closer.

  But nothing hit them. Instead, the laser shots took down the agents closest to them.

  Nera lifted her head and saw Agent Ryant appear through the smoke.

  Niklas saw him and groaned.

  Two of the agents shifted, grinning as they raised their weapons and aimed at Nera and Niklas.

  Ryant shot, sending both of the agents tumbling backward over the rocks.

  Nera frowned and watched the man stop in front of them. He had an ugly bruise forming on his face.

  Niklas looked at the downed guards, then at Ryant. The agent shot a dark glance at Avril.

  The astro-archeologist stirred. Spying him, she blinked, and held up her bound wrists. “Ryant, release me. And kill those two.”

  “Shut up,” Ryant snapped. His gaze moved to Niklas and Nera. “If you two had just waited a second before conking me out, I could have explained.”

  Niklas frowned. “Explained what? How much you were planning to sell the zombies and the artifacts for?”

  Ryant dragged in a deep breath. “No.”

  Niklas’ frown deepened. He stared unwaveringly at his former friend. “You aren’t working with her.”

  “No, Phoenix. I’ve been working undercover for several years trying to catch all the people running the black market ring.”

  Nera felt Niklas go stiff.

  “Well, I’ll be damned,” he said.

  “You traitor!” Avril screeched.

  Ryant pulled a Tase stunner from his armor and zapped her. She collapsed back onto the ground. He looked around. “Well, this is a mess.”

  “Solomon’s hurt,” Niklas said. “He needs to be in the medbay.”

  Ryant glanced at where Solomon was clutching his stomach. “Roger that.”

  The Sapa appeared through the dissipating smoke, a group of her blood-stained warriors at her back. Agent Ryant stiffened and moved closer to Niklas and Nera.

  The woman stopped, her gaze taking it all in before settling on Nera. “Thank you for your help.”

  Nera nodded.

  “This one.” The Sapa shot Avril an unfriendly look. “Attacked my people and tried to take the treasure.”

  “We didn’t know—”

  The Rumin leader nodded. “You are free to go. As friends. It is your choice if you take your dead or not.”

  Nera looked at Niklas. “We’ll go now.” Her gaze dropped to Avril. “She’s all yours.”

  Avril blinked, confusion on her face.

  “Thank you.” The Sapa inclined her head. “Before you go, I have something else for you. A token of friendship.” She waved to some of the warriors behind her.

  Two stepped forward, holding more gold artifacts in their hands. The golden animal and the metal bowl Niklas had admired.

  “Damn,” he muttered reverently.

  The Sapa gestured. “For you. For a warrior like this woman to cherish you, you must be a good man.”

  Nera and Niklas took the precious items, and he grinned. “Thank you. We’ll care for them. And I’ll take care of her, too…when she lets me.”

  “Again, I wish you safe travels Nera Darc and Niklas Phoenix.”

  Nera and Niklas made their way toward the ship, listening to Ryant gather his loyal agents and give them instructions on moving Solomon and collecting the other agents who were still alive.

  “We can finally get that hot shower,” Nera said.

  “No!” Avril’s scream echoed through the trees. “No, no. You can’t leave me!”

  Nera didn’t look back. Neither did Niklas.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Nik stood at the large observation window on the Drake and watched Earth’s surface recede beneath them. He felt a surprising pang—he wished he could have had more time to explore it. To uncover more of its secrets.

  But a larger part of him was more than happy to be heading back to the Magellan. He ached and he was tired. He rubbed a hand over his face. Maybe he was getting too old for this treasure hunting gig.

  He smiled. No. He didn’t think so. He kept staring at the black ocean below until the clouds finally obscured it from view.

  He heard the whisper of the door sliding open. He was hoping it was Nera, but instead, Jonas stepped up beside him.

  “Shame to be leaving so soon,” Solomon said.

  Nik glanced his way. “We’ll be back. How are you feeling?”

  The younger man spread his arms. “All healed.”

  “Thanks for diving in front of me.”

  “Saving your life.”

  Nik fought a smile. “Possibly.”

  Jonas grinned. “I owed you. Now we’re even.”

  “You still owe Nera.”

  The young treasure hunter winced. “Don’t remind me.”

  Nik laughed. “You did good work on this hunt. I think you’re well on your way to that reputation you’re so hungry for.”

  Another grin. “I still have to knock your brother off his perch as the best treasure hunter in the galaxy.”

  “Good luck with that.” Nik held out a hand and they shook.

  Jonas winked. “I like a challenge.”

  As the treasure hunter left, Galen walked into the room and Nik’s mellow feeling evaporated. He turned back to the window and Galen joined him.

  After a long moment, Nik sighed. “I owe you an apology.”

  “No, you don’t.” The other man crossed his hands at the small of his back. “When I accepted the job, I knew I had to alienate everyone.” He glanced at Niklas. “Even my best friend. When I saw what they did to you…I wanted to catch them.”

  “Dammit. You are making me feel even guiltier, Galen. I hated you. I hated what you’d become.”

  “Good. Because I was playing the part of a pretty bad dude.” A small smile. “Your reaction told me I was doing a believable job, and it helped solidify my cover.”

  k rubbed his forehead. “I need a drink.”

  “There happens to be a mighty fine Jaarlan whiskey in the cabinet over here.” Galen walked over to a small, in-built bar. He pulled out two glasses and a bottle of amber liquid. He set the glasses on the food printer. “Computer, ice.” After several cubes tinkled into the glasses, he splashed a generous portion of whiskey into them and held one out to Niklas. “I did what I had to do to bring down the bastards in the Institute. They were breaking the law and getting worse as each year went by. Avril wasn’t just planning to sell the artifacts she found here. She’d already made deals to sell off any viable biological samples that could be used for weapons’ creation.”

  “The zombies.” God, the woman was worse than Nik had thought.

  “Yes.” Galen swirled
his whiskey then lifted his glass. “To better days for the Institute.”

  “Yeah.” Niklas took a large sip. The whiskey was good. “I’ll drink to that.”

  “After I get back, the evidence I’ve collected on this trip will finally be everything I need to send a lot of the higher-ups at the Institute to prison.”

  Nik wouldn’t lie. He felt a savage sense of satisfaction. “Good.”

  “It will create a lot of openings. The Institute will need people like you, Nik.”

  He froze. “What?”

  “People who care about history, preservation, about safeguarding the pieces of our past for those in the future to admire.”

  Nik took another sip and this time the fine whiskey burned a little. He thought about sitting at a desk in a fancy corner office in one of the grand museums in the central systems. Or of hours studying artifacts in the research labs. But one thing was wrong.

  He just couldn’t make Nera fit into the picture.

  A short laugh escaped him. “I have the treasure-hunting bug now, Galen. I enjoy exploring.”

  The ice in Galen’s glass tinkled. “Then become Director of Acquisitions. It would come with the Magellan and the Drake. You could travel the galaxy, searching for artifacts.”

  Nik’s heartbeat was a loud pounding in his ears. He looked at the door. “I’m not sure.” Jesus, he should be jumping at the chance…but again, there was one big piece of his heart that was just more important to him now.

  If she chose to stay with him.

  Fear was a quick slash of pain. Hell, no. If she left him, he’d follow her.

  Galen smiled. “As Director, you’d need personal security. I think you’ve got that covered.” He set his glass down. “Think about it on the trip back, and let me know.”

  Nik grabbed his friend’s arm. “I…I’m really glad you’re back.”

  Galen clasped his hand over Nik’s. “Me, too. I plan to whip your butt at crossfire again soon. You always sucked at that game.”

  Nik stepped back and made a scoffing sound. “I’ve been hanging out with Dathan a lot more these days. He’s a master at it.”

  Galen laughed. “We’ll see.”

  Nik smiled back. He had his best friend back, and a tempting offer of a job.

  Now he just needed the woman who held his heart to stay with him.