Star Rider and Bonds of Love: A Sci-Fi Space Opera with a Touch of Fantasy

by Heidi Skarie

  “I’m going to stand guard,” Michio said. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”

  She hugged and kissed him, infusing in her kiss all she felt for him. “I love you, Michio,” she said, pained that what she’d decided to do would distress him.

  “Don’t worry. Our scouts are watching Rochambeau’s camp. They have communicators and will contact us if there’s trouble.” He held her close, then left the tent.

  Toemeka listened to the rain beating against the tent and to the reoccuring booms of thunder, knowing the only way to help Erling’s family was by separating from them. She wanted to explain her actions to Michio in a note, but had nothing to write on.

  Toemeka dozed off only to awaken a few hours later when Michio came in and settled down for the night.. When his breathing grew deep and regular, she cautiously sat up. Michio continued to sleep soundly.

  She hunted around in the dark for her things. The air in the tent was cold as she put on her robe, wet slippers and rain poncho. She rolled up her sleeping bag and foam mat. Opening the tent flap, she peered through the heavy rain until she spotted Sharma’s dark form, keeping guard. She quickly shut the flap as Sharma started walking in her direction. After waiting a few minutes, she opened it again and looked out. Sharma stood across the camp, scanning the terrain.

  Toemeka carried her sleeping bag and foam mat outside, tied them to her backpack, then slipped into the dark woods. Once she was a safe distance from camp, she pulled out a small flashlight.

  She traveled the rest of the night in drizzling rain, climbing up into the mountains, stopping only briefly to rest. Her stamina had greatly improved from hiking daily and for this one small thing, she was grateful.

  19

  Unexpected Complications

  When Michio awoke he immediately sensed something was wrong and glanced over to Toemeka’s side of the tent. She was gone along with her sleeping bag and foam mat. It wasn’t surprising that she was up already. He had guard duty the night before and she’d gone to bed hours before he had. She could be getting breakfast. He was being overly jumpy — he hoped. Crawling out of his sleeping bag, he rolled it up and put on his pancho. He was already dressed as he’d slept in his clothes in case they had to make a fast departure with Commander Rochambeau and his men so close.

  Michio’s uneasiness increased when he left the tent and saw that Toemeka’s backpack wasn’t leaning on a nearby tree next to his. He glanced around the camp, noting that almost everyone was up and preparing to move on. Toemeka was worried about her presence endangering the whole camp. Had she struck off on her own to lead Rochambeau and his men away so Erling’s family could escape?

  After collapsing the tent, Michio tied the gear to his backpack and swung it on. If she took off as he suspected, he needed to leave immediately in order to catch up with her.

  Sharma stood guard as he crossed over to her. “Have you seen Toemeka?” he asked

  “No, I haven’t seen her all morning.”

  Michio spotted Jake emerging from his tent and headed over to him. “I can’t find Toemeka and her backpack’s gone.”

  Jake’s eyes narrowed. “Hell, this is all we need. It’s too dangerous for her to be out there alone. If Rochambeau doesn’t get her, a bashe will. Into the mike on his watch communicator he said, “Call Toemeka.”

  No signal. Out of range. It replied.

  Jake frowned. “These things are worthless in the Bvundo Mountains.”

  “I’m going after her,” Michio said. “She probably took the more direct mountain route.”

  “I’ll go with. We need to track her down and make her rejoin the group. Benray, come here.”

  Benray got up from where he sat on a log, eating rations, and walked over. “What’s wrong?”

  “Toemeka took off during the night after Michio’s shift was over. She can’t have more than a four-or-five-hour head start on us. You’re in charge while I’m gone. We’ll try to rejoin the group by tonight.”

  Breezy approached them, her face lined with worry. “Jake, Mother’s too sick to hike today.”

  “I was afraid this might happen. The men will have to take turns carrying her on a makeshift stretcher. Benray, do you know how to make a litter from two tree limbs and a blanket?”

  “Sure, I’ll get to it.” Benray looked at Michio. “There are some clothes in Lizet’s backpack you can take for Toemeka. It rained last night, so she’ll need dry clothes.”

  Michio tensed, remembering Lizet was killed in a scrimmage the day before. When Benray walked away, Michio said, “Jake, you need to lead the group. I’ll track Toemeka alone. Maybe it’s better if she and I lead the soldiers away from the group.”

  Jake shook his head. “It’s easy to get lost in these mountains and you don’t know the area. Beside we have a better chance of finding her quickly if we both track her. We don’t want to risk her falling back into Rochambeau’s hands.”

  While Jake got his gear together, Michio packed some of Lizet’s clothes in his backpack, then searched for tracks. The rain had obliterated them so the two men headed toward the Bvundo Mountains, hoping they were going in the right direction. Jake kept a fast pace, which suited Michio. He couldn’t help but feel this was his fault. He should’ve realized Toemeka would set out on her own when he’d refused to go with her.

  They’d covered several miles when Erling and Zac emerged from the trees from scouting detail. “What are you two doing so far from camp?” Erling asked.

  “Michio discovered Toemeka was gone this morning,” Jake said. “We’re searching for her.”

  “Do you think one of Rochambeau’s men nabbed her?”

  “No, she took her backpack,” Michio said.

  Erling frowned. “This is bad. We were headed back to tell you Rochambeau and half his men are heading into the mountains. I thought they’d lost our trail and were splitting up to search both directions, but now it appears he’s following Toe.”

  “How far back is Rochambeau?” Michio asked.

  “About three miles and they’re moving fast.”

  Michio and Jake exchanged a worried glance. “Let’s go,” Michio said.

  “I’ll help track her down,” Erling said. “Zac, head back to camp. You’re in charge of guarding my family until I return.”

  “I’m your bodyguard. I should stay with you.”

  “Guard my family. That’s an order.

  Erling looked at Jake. “We need to get through the mountain pass before Rochambeau and his men. From there, we can spread out and search for her.”

  “She won’t know where the pass is,” Michio said.

  “Her communicator gets limited signals in mountains, but the GPS on it should still work.”

  “Let’s go,” Erling said. “We have a lot of ground to cover.” He set off at a run. Soon they left the mountain foothills and were winding up the passes using a narrow trail that looked like it was made by animals

  ***

  Queen Koriann paced the stateroom where Captain Orneil had come to confer with her. “Why hasn’t there been word from Erling yet?” she demanded. “Captain Zachary and Lieutenant Onolyn haven’t reported in either. And Toemeka — you’d think a new mother would call to check up on her baby. Heaven above, I thought they’d all be back by now.”

  “Something must have gone wrong. Give them a little more time.”

  She continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “Even Michio just vanished. I don’t know if he was able to connect with the others and join the mission, was captured or what. I’m going crazy not knowing.”

  Captain Orneil’s bushy eyebrows came together in a frown. “Try not to get so worked up. You need to take care of yourself in your condition. You’re carrying the heir to the throne.”

  “My husband and dear friends are all missing and all you have to say is, ‘Don’t get so worked up.’ They could be dead! I shouldn’t have let Erling go. The mission was too dangerous. I should’ve thrown him into prison until he came to his senses.”
/>   “Hm-m-m.” The general suppressed a smile. “Throwing the prince and head of the military, in prison might not be the best decision.”

  Koriann glared at him. “This is better?”

  “No, but you married a man of action. You can’t expect him to do nothing while his family faces execution.”

  She ignored his comment. “And that Resistance leader — that Jake fellow. You’d think at least he would’ve contacted me by now. He contacted the palace easily enough to inform Erling that his family was in a concentration camp and later when they were scheduled for execution. But now — nothing. Silence. Don’t they know how worried I am?”

  “Perhaps they have no way of reaching you at the moment. They’re a small Resistance force hiding in the woods and mountains. Sending communication to another planet isn’t so easy in those circumstances.”

  She rounded on him. “Erling and Michio both have spaceships with the capacity for interplanetary communication.”

  “Shall I call Dr. Tenzing, so he can give you something to help you relax and get some sleep tonight?

  “Don’t patronize me just because I’m pregnant!” Queen Koriann left, heading to the nursery.

  The nursemaid was giving Baymond a bottle when Koriann arrived and she tried to let go of her anger and frustration. It didn’t feel right to be angry around an innocent baby. “Please let me feed him,” Koriann said in a much softer tone than the one she’d used when speaking to Captain Orneil. Baymond smiled at her when she took him in her arms. Her heart opened. The baby brought Koriann the only peace and joy she had in these tense days of worrying about Erling and the others. She knew more than most that life was uncertain. Her entire family had been murdered. Now she was afraid of becoming a widow with only her dear friends’ infant to comfort her.

  She dismissed the nursemaid and gave Baymond the rest of the bottle. “Where are your parents, little one?” Her voice broke. “I hope you aren’t orphaned like I was as a child.”

  Her stomach churned. Would she face another sleepless night? Would she lay in bed hour after hour, staring at the clock, knowing she needed sleep for the sake of her unborn child?

  “Please contact me, Erling. Let me know you’re alive.” A tear slid down her cheek and splashed onto Baymond’s face. He looked up at her, startled. She realized he’d finished the bottle and held him to her shoulder to burp him. Then she carried him to the adjoining room and lay fully dressed on the royal bed with him in her arms. He was a beautiful baby, dressed in a white outfit with tucks and lace that looked made for a prince. She kissed his forehead, breathing in his sweet scent, feeling his soft skin on her lips. “Go to sleep, Baymond. For now, all we have is each other.”

  ***

  Zac returned to the location of the former the Resistance camp, then began following their trail at a fast clip. Before long, he caught up with Benray who guarded the rear of the line. “We need to move faster,” Zac said. “Commander Rochambeau and half his men are following Toemeka — the rest are following us. They’re close behind.”

  “We can’t go any faster, carrying Najetta on a stretcher.”

  “What can we do?”

  Kynail emerged from the woods where he’d been out scouting. “Fight!” Kynail said. He always looked ready for battle with a rifle over his shoulder, two blasters and a knife on his gun belt.

  “Too many will die in a fight,” Zac said. There had to be a better way. Erling was counting on him to get his family to safety.

  “You and I can pick off a few soldiers to slow them down, while Benray leads the group to a spot where we have the advantage.”

  “It’s the best plan,” Benray agreed.

  “It’s a terrible plan!” Zac exclaimed. “These are fully-armed, trained soldiers at our heels.”

  “You have a better plan?” Benray demanded.

  Zac was silent for a moment, then an idea came to him. “Yes, I think so. We’ll hide until they give up looking for us.”

  “Hide where?” Kynail asked.

  “I almost fell into a small sinkhole not far back. When I peered in, I saw a cavern beneath the ground.”

  Benray looked thoughtfully at Zac. “Is it big enough for twenty-four people?”

  “I think so.”

  “I don’t like it,” Kynail said. “I want to be in the open where I can see my enemies. We won’t have a chance if they catch us in a swallow hole. Besides Jake, Michio and Erling were hoping to find Toemeka and rejoin the group tonight. They won’t be able to find us hidden in a hole.”

  “Kynail, you can outsmart these men and you know how to stay alive in the wilderness,” Benray said. “We’ll hide in the cave. You stay above ground so you can cover the sinkhole and dust away our tracks. Then you lead the soldier away from our hiding place. You can also watch for Jake and the others”

  Kynail nodded sharply. “Good plan.”

  Zac was suddenly nervous that he wouldn’t be able find the cenote again. Or that soldiers would find them hiding in it and shoot them all, but he didn’t have any better ideas.

  “Kynail, find out how far Rochambeau’s men are behind us and create a distraction if they’re too close,” Benray said. “Zac, catch up with Erling’s family and start leading the group to the sinkhole.”

  Zac took off down the narrow animal trail at a full run. Time was against them if he was to get Erling’s family hidden in the swallow hole before the soldiers caught up. As he tore through the trees, he realized that if Toemeka hadn’t set off on her own, Commander Rochambeau himself would be following them. The sorcerer’s powers were strong enough to detect them even if they were hidden in the ground. He passed several Resistance members before he finally reached the Fenians.

  Onolyn was guarding them and her eyes lit up when she saw him. “Zac!” She went into his arms. “I was worried. You were out all night.”

  He held her close, catching his breath before he spoke. “Some of Rochambeau’s men are close by. We need to get Erling’s family hidden in a sinkhole I discovered a short way from here.”

  She turned toward Breezy, Richwood and Sharma who had gathered around them. The two men who carried Najetta on a stretcher stopped and waited for new orders. Zac quickly explained the situation, then they all started hiking toward the sinkhole.

  Benray reappeared. “I’ve let the men at the head of the line know the new plan. I’ll carry Najetta. It will be faster.” Benray helped her off the blanket that was stretched between two stout tree limbs, then the burly man easily hoisted her over his shoulder. “Zac, lead us to the sinkhole.”

  Zac tore along the trail, grateful Benray was as big as a bear and could easily carry the sick woman. Zac reached Resistance members who were waiting for his return. “This way,” he said, taking the lead and starting toward the sinkhole. In his mind, he clearly saw the layout of trees where he’d nearly fallen into the hole. He broke into a run again. Before long, he located it near a fallen pine tree that still had its roots attached to the ground and needles on its branches. The tree must have tipped over when the earth over the cave collapsed, creating a swallow hole. The tree roots half-covered the opening, leaving an space just large enough to climb through. Several Resistance team members gathered around Zac.

  “This is it,” Zac said. “I’ll check it out.” He removed his bulky backpack before lowering himself over the edge and letting go. He dropped down a few feet and landed on limestone. Shining his globelight around, he was relieved to see he was right. There was room for all in the cavern. He yelled up, “It’s good. Start down.” Several backpacks were lowered down, followed by five men and a woman. By then the Fenians reached the hole and Najetta was lowered into the cavity.

  “Are you all right, Najetta?” Zac asked.

  “I’m fine,” she said in a weak voice. “See to my daughters.”

  Zac helped Sharma and Breezy into the sinkhole. Then Richwood dropped down and went over to his wife.

  The rest of the Resistant members and their backpacks came next.
Onolyn was next to last. She climbed into the hole and hung by her hands. Zac grabbed her around the waist then lowered her to the ground. He held her close a moment before leading her away from the hole as Benray came barreling through.

  “Tight squeeze,” the big man muttered. “Soldiers are close,” he added in a whisper that was loud enough to be heard by all in the small cave. “Kynail is covering the hole and using fir branches to wipe away our footprints. Make yourself as comfortable as possible. We’re going to be here a long time. Maybe several days. Kynail will let us know when it’s safe… if he makes it.”

  Onolyn held the globelight while Zac unrolled their foam mats and arranged sleeping bags over them. Then they sat down and huddled close. Zac put his arm around her, feeling his heart hammering in his chest. Don’t let them find us, he thought.

  “Lights out,” Benray said. “We need to be completely silent.”

  Zac’s arm tightened on Onolyn as he strained to hear.

  Suddenly two shots rang out, then all was quiet.

  Had the soldiers shot Kynail or had he shot at them so they wouldn’t spot their hiding place and any remaining footprints? Kynail wouldn’t have had time to wipe away all of them. A good tracker would detect a broken twig or bit of footprint.

  An hour passed. Zac’s arm hurt and his back was stiff. He lay down on the sleeping bag, drawing Onolyn with him and she cuddled into his arms. She smelled of pine needles and fresh air. He imagined he smelled of sweat and fear.

  He hadn’t heard any more shots and wondered where the soldiers were now. They would eventually find their trail further up the path and be puzzled about where they’d gone. The soldiers would come back to search the area sooner or later. If the Resistance team and Erling’s family were found and killed, it would be his fault. He took a deep breath and focused within. Gradually a blue Light appeared, bathing him in its warmth.

  20

  Bvundo Mountains

  In the early morning, Toemeka slept under a large evergreen for a few hours. When she awoke, she discovered it had stopped raining. She ate some meat jerky before starting off again. She used the GPS on her communicator for guidance. According to it, if she walked long hours each day, she could get to the farm in three days.