by Casey Lea
He leapt from the midst of one plant to the stem of the next, avoiding every mine now activated under the paths and lawns. He climbed a trunk as quick as any whipperwill and swung from a bough to another tree. He was halfway to the crushed hedge that hid the sliver and her gem's password DNA, carried in her blood, still kept the palace scans quiet. Those layered defenses were letting Lady Amber Grace pass. He was going to make it.
Falkyn paused and Amber’s hope caught in her throat. There was a wide stretch of lawn ahead that was nothing but unbroken grass. It surrounded the low stone wall of a shallow pool and there were no trees or bushes within reach.
Falkyn backed up carefully and then sprinted forward, to clear the nearest grass in a diving roll. He flipped to land on his feet with a splash, in the ornamental pool. The long, narrow pond glowed with its own light and Amber could see him bounding across the shallow water like a stone skipped over its surface. He reached the end and launched himself into the last stretch of garden.
Amber peered after him and leaned forward so far she lost her balance. She slid head first off the sill and out the window. One moment she was following Falkyn, willing him on and the next she was up-side-down in some herbs. She spat dirt from her mouth and twisted upright, but it was too late. Falkyn had reached the far edge of the garden, where the plant cover was lower. Someone must have thought to put mines under the shallower roots.
There was a roar and an explosion threw Amber back against the palace wall. Everything went black and red, while the fresh ringing in her head shredded every thought. She didn't need to think to feel though and she felt more than she had ever expected. The physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in her chest. He had been so young. She wanted to scream and rage and spit and claw.
Amber's sense returned, along with her senses and she realized she was pounding the stones of the palace. Her hand was bleeding freely again and the injury made her realize she was a fool. Falkyn had her jewel. He might have survived.
Amber was up and running again. Her body took control, throwing her from plant to plant to follow Falkyn's trail. It seemed to take much longer than when she was watching him. She made the leap into the pond without hesitation, but one foot caught on the stone edge and she scrabbled for balance, terrified of falling back onto the mined lawn. She dropped to her knees instead, soaking her skirt, but was up in an instant. She waded on, with the gauzy strips of her costume plastered to her. She knew the water was only knee deep, but she seemed to be drowning.
It was impossible to breathe and Amber was panting by the time she reached the crater that had been the end of the lawn. She stepped onto its lip and only centuries of experience let her look down into it. The blackened figure within stirred and her heart stopped, then started again faster than ever.
Amber jumped down into the pit and sank deep into the churned up soil. Fortunately she didn't have far to wade before reaching the injured Falkyn. The blast had thrown him toward the edge of the crater. At least, it had thrown most of him. Amber paused. His wounds were severe. Not the worst she had ever seen, but still horrifying and she needed regen. At the thought her wrist grew warm and her com pulsed with returning life.
Power from the sliver, Jace's mind explained.
Amber sent, relief/gratitude/quick thought, but was already decompressing regen strips from her com. All of them. She draped the dozens of organic enhancers over what remained of Falkyn and linked them with consummate skill. Her mind reached into the new network, moving to integrate it and utilize it as efficiently as possible. She needed to concentrate on healing her patient, but they needed to escape too.
Is the sliver ready to lift?
Yes.
Then get out here and collect your passenger.
Amber kept her eyes on the regen hologram, but was vaguely aware of Jace when he appeared in mid-air, ducking from the sliver to help load his brother. He sank into the loose soil and cursed before joining her. He squatted beside her, but then froze on his haunches.
Where's his leg?
The thought was so quiet Amber almost missed it. “Haven't looked,” she said out loud, her mind still busy in Falkyn's chest. “Go find it, then get back here.”
There was no response and she risked a glance. Jace was very pale and his eyes had locked onto the pool that was now his brother. She finished rapid sealing an artery, before turning her attention to the traumatized youngster.
“Jace,” Amber ordered calmly, “look at me. That's right, just at me.” Calm/courage/help. His eyes jerked back toward his brother and so did hers. She had no time for this. The boy needed a distraction. “Where's the girl? Mistwing.”
Jace gulped and his voice was little more than a rasp, but surprisingly steady. “Don't know. She's supersonic at the best of times. She jumped up and ran away, straight after Fal... after the explosion.”
Amber could hear him now. Very faintly, because everything was still muffled by the latest blast, but it was enough for conversation. “She probably came to her senses-”
“No. I don't think so, anyway. She's not the sort to run from trouble. More toward it and she wouldn't leave a friend.”
“You seem very sure of that.”
“He is,” Misty said and skidded to a halt behind them. Amber moved aside so the girl could crouch next to her.
“Where were you?” Jace wondered, and Misty shrugged a hand.
“Grave robbing.”
Amber almost looked up, but there were still too many blood vessels to reconnect. Did the chick just say what Amber thought she did?
“Yep, broke into the nearest royal tomb and dragged out a noble corpse to shoot.”
What? Jace's outraged mental query carried to all three.
“I took a body from stasis,” Misty said very slowly “and blasted it in the middle of ground zero. Right behind you. I set my com to slow char, so the only parts they find with DNA intact will be from Falkyn. They'll think it's him and there'll be enough organic matter to prove he must be dead. I left his leg to help convince them. Was that right?”
Jace made a strangled noise and Amber was momentarily speechless. “I… ah... yes? That all seems sensible. You're clearly more than capable of tending Falkyn while Jace pilots your craft. I'll show you what to do.”
Misty leaned closer without hesitation and Amber opened her mind to let her see the mental steps needed to direct such complicated healing. The girl watched Amber's rapid hand movements intently, but then shook her head.
“I can't do that.”
“Don't be scare-”
“I'm not scared.” Misty's mind was surprised by the suggestion. “I simply can't heal that fast. I could reach seventy-five, maybe eighty percent of your speed. Will that work? Jace said we could take him to his mother and apparently she's a doctor, so we just need to keep him alive till then.”
Amber gritted her teeth. “You won't. Not at eighty percent. I'll be lucky to save him with all my skill.”
There was an uncomfortable silence while Amber kept automatically healing Falkyn. Approaching shouts broke the awkward stasis. Amber jerked convulsively, her concentration destroyed.
“We need to load him-”
“Now,” Misty finished. She reached for his hips and Jace was already lifting his head and torso. They plucked him from the dirt and he groaned, pulling Amber back to her frantic healing.
“Careful. Load him smoothly. You're not the postal service.”
The two youngsters deposited Falkyn in the sliver and slithered past him, into the remaining space. Amber hesitated on the edge of the hatch, balanced uncertainly, while her hands and mind kept working. The shouts drew closer and Misty drummed her fingers on the bulkhead. “Run or come?”
Amber took a deep breath. There had to be some way to avoid this decision. It was dangerous out on the Rim. Way too dangerous, but if she didn't go the boy would die. She should let him. She knew it. He was only one person.
Amber slid head-first into the sliver, landing against Jac
e's back. “Go,” she whispered, but the door had already vanished and the sliver leapt. It powered into the sky, silent and unseen, while Amber turned back to her patient.
Falkyn moaned at the acceleration and she poured all of the remaining energy from her com into the field supporting him. Her muscles felt instantly limp and she would have sagged if she hadn't been wedged between Misty and Falkyn.
“Take mine too,” the girl offered in Amber's ear and a fresh energy pulse flowed from Misty's com to the med field. Amber had no time for thanks. Her mind dived back into the healing interface and prioritized as only a great healer could, sending energy where it was most needed to keep his brain alive.
Their ship accelerated again, but Amber ignored their flight, until Jace barked a warning. “Planetary defenses are still up. We need to get through without setting anything off. Hold onto your bladders.”
“And bits of Falkyn,” Misty murmured in Amber's ear.
The healer grimaced and bit back a curse when they were all swung to one side, still wedged together. The sliver rocked, inertia damping partially overwhelmed by the slalom flying, but Amber kept her attention on Falkyn's cellular matrix. She could only spare a few words for their young pilot.
“Skilled flying,” she said and jumped when he whooped in response, while the sliver spiraled toward clear space. Misty howled too and Amber wondered what she had gotten herself into.
“Thanks,” Jace yelled more sanely. “We're through. Lucky you've got the best pilot in the galaxy.”
“You've tested that against all opposition have you?”
“Sure. In The Void.”
A sudden dip slammed them all into the roof and Amber had to turn back to Falkyn the instant she landed. Her fingers flew through his support field to stabilize him again.
“Sorry,” Jace gulped. “They've got random mines. We almost triggered one.”
Amber managed to keep calm, driving her mind deep into her patient in an effort to ignore Jace's revelation about his lack of experience. However, Misty had no such distraction.
“The Void?” she asked past Amber's shoulder, making her tense again. “Flight simulations? How far have you flown in truth? Off world.”
“Real flying?” Jace checked his data feed. “I've now done 35,000 clicks. That's how far behind Kresynt is.”
Misty started to laugh, while Amber curled up, to tuck closer over her patient and further from Misty and Jace.
“This is your first flight?” she snapped. “How could you fail to mention that?”
“Didn't think it would help passenger confidence. Hey, we're still alive.”
“And I truly need to stay that way,” Amber pointed out, but Jace seemed unimpressed.
“Don't we all? Hang on.” The ship pirouetted again, falling away from a blinking proximity field before the mine within could register their small craft. “Almost there. Yes. I'm opening a passage through Nexus.”
“Can you do that?” Misty wondered, just as the injured Falkyn stiffened and arched backward, pushing Amber into Misty again.
“You'd better,” the healer said crisply. “He's in crisis. Hurry.”
“Hurry it is. Don't worry, I stole emergency access codes from my father.”
Amber was so distracted by Falkyn's failing body she scarcely noticed when her stray thought escaped. Great. I'm being piloted to the most hostile part of the galaxy by a thief without a learner's permit. How in the universe will I survive this one, Sparrow?
21
On Edge
Jace kept his back turned and prayed that no one noticed his eyes were closed. He just needed a moment to clear his head and recharge. Flying through normal space was a no brainer and his fronds could handle it easily enough. Still, Amber seemed to be a jumpy passenger and any screams would be unnerving. Definitely not a confidence booster. Jace sighed and opened his eyes again.
Gratuity was noticeably closer, a misshapen metal ball hanging in space ahead of them. The air around it was crowded by a motley array of craft and their cloaked sliver was still unnoticed.
"Problem, guys," Jace announced and Amber breathed in sharply. "Nothing dangerous. Yet. But we're almost at Gratuity and we don't have clearance to land. They'll hold us until we can find the right people to bribe and Fal doesn't have that long. We need to get him straight to his mother. So I'm going to take us in cloaked and see how far we can get. We won't make it all the way. Soon or late security will spot us and try to shoot us down. I guess this is your pilot saying brace for turbulence."
Amber sounded like she was swallowing a whimper, but her voice was almost steady when she asked "How soon?"
Jace's eyes flicked to the warning globe and he grimaced. "Now."
He slipped the sliver into Gratuity’s atmosphere and all hell broke loose. Sirens shrieked while a voice in his ear ordered him to stop. He pushed the little vessel faster and the voice started yelling. He cut it off, then buried his hands and fronds in the control hologram.
Missiles curved toward them and he dived harder, before braking and rising to let them flash past beneath. They'd survived the first wave.
The satellite city was now so close they were streaking past towers and ducking gantries. Fortunately Harrier lived on the far side of Gratuity, away from the port, in a quiet, low rise quarter. There should be room to fly. He had no idea whether there'd be room to land and it was too late to find out. He shrugged and forgot about it.
The sliver tucked in a tight curve, twisting and dropping as it circled Gratuity. Harrier's clinic appeared in the hologram, but so did something else. Jace swore softly. A glowing matrix was forming ahead of them. A giant energy mesh powered up between them and help. Another pulsing web appeared beyond it. Take-down nets.
Jace ground his teeth and switched power from the cloak to their shields. The sliver darted on and the first net was launched. It shot upward straight at them with its strands spread wide. The net hurtled close and then flicked like a whip, but he spiraled the sliver to twist clear. The other web of lightning closed on them and Jace accelerated, throwing the ship forward. He drove it recklessly fast and they scraped past the web just before it caught them. It faded behind them and then scattered in sprays of light. The sliver dived straight at Harrier's med center.
The tiny ship bucked when its pilot switched all of its power to reverse thrusters. The passengers sank into each other and Falkyn groaned, but Jace hardly heard him. He was too busy aiming for the... Crap. Crammed together huts? This crash landing was going to be way more crash than landing.
Jace felt his upper lip curl back and braced himself for the inevitable- no, there was a flash of green. Beyond one sagging wall of the med center were plants and a strip of bare earth. A garden. Perfect. Perhaps they'd survive after all. His fingers flew, adding just enough upward thrust to clear the crumbling wall and then flicking it back to braking. The ship dropped like, well, like a ship falling out of the sky.
It hit the dirt and bucked, twisting back into the air. Behind Jace someone screamed, while someone else whooped wildly. He ignored both female voices, fighting with the sliver to touch it down again. It dug deeper this time and he added just enough thrust to stop it digging too deep. Everything turned to chaos and his hands were thrown from the control interface. There was noise and darkness and screaming and more noise that swamped the screams. Then there was silence and everything was still.
Jace blinked and a shiny curve swam into focus in front of his nose. He was on his back, staring at the sliver's ceiling and lying on something soft. The something moaned and then squirmed. Oops. Someone soft.
“Get... off,” Misty panted in his ear and Jace rolled away.
He tapped the sliver's hatch and kept rolling, to squeeze through the exit before it graunched fully open. He landed on all fours in churned earth and blinked rapidly, struggling with the harsh light, before slowly realizing he was actually in the shade. He was kneeling under branches. The ship had ploughed into the only tree on Gratuity.
A massive trunk rose from a furrow of earth mounded against its base. Within that trough of dirt lay a severely shortened sliver. Jace gulped at the sight. His first landing had come close to being his last. It would sure as hell make a good story for the grandkids, sometime in the far distant future. He pushed himself up until he was kneeling and a hanging branch swayed past his face. He swatted it aside and it sobbed in response.
“Whoa.” Jace propelled himself backward, skidding out from under the tree on his hands and heels. More of its hanging strands swung in the breeze of his passage and he heard a woman weeping. Great choking sobs brought goosebumps to his skin.
“Misty? Are you okay?”
A disheveled blonde head appeared in the hatch. “You don't believe that's me, do you?”
“Not really, no. Is it... ah, strange rescue lady?”
“No, idiot. It's the weeping willow.”
Jace looked back to the tree towering over the crash site. “Okay, it looks like a willow, but they don't actually weep you know.”
“Unless they're modified by the gentik to produce extra aspirin. The weeping makes them easy to verify.” Misty fell from the lip of the sliver and into softened soil. She leaned forward to kiss the ground and looked up with a dirt mottled grin. “Haven't you ever read a gentik catalogue?”
“Nope. They're illegal in the Alliance.”
“And you still haven't read one”
“Of course not.”
They studied each other in genuine surprise. Misty smiled first and shook her head.
“Of course not,” she repeated and paused to spit to one side. “That dirt tastes truly-”
“Dirty?”
“You kissed it too, huh?”
Jace laughed, but sobered when he looked past Misty to the sliver. “I should have. I could have killed you. I don't know why I thought I could fly-”
