Part 18 (1/2)

”We'd never get across the Pyropean boundary without being discovered and then recaptured. We can't use them as hostages; to get us back, Taemin would sacrifice those men's lives. I must blow up the s.h.i.+p and get rid of this threat. It has to be scheduled to perfection. We take off almost at detonation time; that way, the pod might be mistaken for debris being shot off by it. There's a large planetoid nearby; we can make it there.”

”Then what? We'll still be stranded in their territory.”

”Only until we can be rescued by our forces. I sent a message to them from the Wanderl.u.s.t telling them to watch out for us. If this s.h.i.+p is sighted when I lower its cloaking s.h.i.+eld, they'll know where we are, for a while. The pod has a rescue beacon, but we can't use it. I've taken one of their communicators to see if I can rig it to signal our side. Right now, our only hope of survival is to get away in the pod and cover our escape with the explosion. With luck, Taemin will think either the s.h.i.+p blew by accident or I destroyed it rather than allow us to be captured.”

”Why did he do this to us?”

”I'll explain later. We have to hurry, woman.”

Jana climbed into the only available pod, donned the protective helmet, and strapped herself into one of two seats. She told herself they had no choice but to blow up the s.h.i.+p and let their captors perish. If her husband did not fear for their lives, he wouldn't be making this daring attempt to get away.

Varian returned in a near-run. He leapt into the seat, yanked on his helmet, and buckled his harness. He readied the controls and continued the verbal counting which Jana knew not to interrupt. When he reached the chosen number, he pressed a b.u.t.ton to jettison the pod. Almost the minute they were outside, the s.h.i.+p began exploding from the engine room upward and outward. When debris was flung in all directions, he turned on the thrusters and off they went at a speed that bobbled the tiny craft.

Jana remained silent, rigid, and alert. Varian concentrated on his flying task to make them appear a shooting fragment of the s.h.i.+p. He hoped Nigel wasn't too far a way chasing the decoy drone to notice the brief blip on the radar screen and to surmise its meaning. No matter, he couldn't risk sending a signal to his friend. With luck, Taemin and Ca.s.s would think them dead, or quickly give up the search for them.

It was a b.u.mpy, scary, swift ride as they zoomed through the atmosphere of the planetoid Luz at the edge of Pyropea. Varian used the optical scanner and sensors to crash-land the craft. Just before impact, he gave her a warning of what was to come and told her to brace herself.

Jana obeyed, but it didn't do much good. The rocky terrain and rapid pace made for a rough and tumbling touchdown that seemed to jar her every bone. Her head spun as they twisted and turned and collided with objects. Her body pressed against the tight restraints. Her head was yanked about on a neck that would be sore later. Shrieks of panic were torn from her lips. She feared they were going to be killed, either in the crash or from obstructions.

When all movement ceased and the engine was shut off, Varian looked at her and asked if she was all right.

Shaken to the core, she glanced around to see if they were really stopped and still alive, then nodded.

He relaxed a moment. ”I couldn't slow it down or anybody on radar would suspect something. No fragment or debris has brakes. Let's get out of here. We need to unload the gear and skuttle this pod. I brought along a charge to handle that for me. We have twenty minutes before the auto-beacon turns on. We need to find a safe place to hide from Taemin's scouts, possible bad weather, and any other perils on this hunk of rock.”

”What if they come after us?”

”I brought along weapons, and we have enough supplies for a week. Let's move, woman; we don't have much time.”

Varian released her straps and his. They doffed their helmets and tossed them into the seats they vacated. The supplies and weapons were hauled to a safe distance. Jana remained with them while ”Ryker” set the charge to destroy the escape vehicle. He raced to her and flopped down on his belly beside her.

”Duck your head and cover your eyes from flying debris,” he got out before the loud blast. When it was quiet and all scatterings had settled, he lifted his head and took a deep breath. ”That takes care of that threat. I want you to stay here while I check for a good place to hide. Keep one of those weapons handy; Martella said she told you how to use them.”

”Why don't we stay here until morning when we can see?”

”Too risky. If they come over the area tonight in shuttles with light beams, we'd be spotted on their monitors.”

”Shuttles with searchlights?”

”Yes. Stay put. Yell if you hear or see anything.”

Jana accepted the weapon he placed in her grasp. She sat on the rock seat and waited for him to return. Not once did she allow her attention to stray. She strained to follow him in the full moon with her eyes and ears; then he vanished from sight and hearing. She focused on watching the sky for approaching s.h.i.+ps, enemy s.h.i.+ps. She waited, and waited, and waited; and became nervous and frightened. ”Ryker!”

”I'm coming, love.” When he joined her, he said, ”I found a rock shelf that will s.h.i.+eld us from detection. Let's get us and our stuff under it.”

She followed his lead, then was left under the overhang while he covered their tracks. Her gaze grew accustomed to the darkness in the sheltered spot. Beyond it, there seemed to be plenty of moonlight for his task and for sighting dangers. She was relieved when he returned.

”That was not an enjoyable journey!” he joked to relax them. ”You sure you're all right, love?”

”A few b.u.mps and bruises, but fine. You?”

He leaned against the stone and stretched out his legs. ”Fine. Relax, love. We're safe for now. Snuggle up to me and get some sleep.”

Jana propped her back against his torso and rested her head on his shoulder. It felt good when his right arm crossed her chest and his fingers curled around her left arm to hold it there. She raised her hand and pressed it over his. ”You timed our escape perfectly. You're a good pilot. Your skills and wits never cease to astonish me. What now?”

”We try to get some sleep; we'll need it. Tomorrow, we move farther away from the crash site and cover our trail as we go. If the pod is located, there will be nothing that would indicate it was occupied. Hopefully they'll think it was thrown clear during the destruction, crashed, and finished exploding. We could be here a long time, Jana, so we'll need to be careful with our rations and look for others. Mostly water. We can do without food for a while but not liquid.”

”Whatever you say, I'll do.”

He hoped and prayed that was true. As soon as he put a safe distance between them and this spot, he'd confess all. ”Thanks, love, it could save our lives. Sleep now. I want to move out at first light.”

”Shouldn't we take turns standing guard or something?”

He chuckled. ”No need, I'm a light sleeper.”

The moment dawn appeared, Varian had them up and traveling away from the crash site and the scouts Taemin was sure to send eventually. He urged them onward all day with nothing more than short breaks for rest and nourishment. Jana did not complain or hold them back, despite the fact that she was in a dress and heels. At one point, she tried to lighten the grim situation by joking about her inappropriate hiking wear and shoes. She jested about packing better the next time. The blond alien had grinned and agreed. He seemed to enjoy her sense of humor in such a precarious predicament. He praised her stamina, courage, and good mood. Yet, he journeyed, in dread of what faced him at dusk: his confession.

They trekked over rough and difficult terrain that was filled with craggy peaks, arduous hills, large boulders in giant piles, and rocky ravines. They skirted bluffs and jutting mountains, walked around craters, avoided p.r.i.c.kly plants and sticker trees, and challenged dry scrubland. Most of the large formations on the landscape were in browns and blacks that sent out gloomy messages.

In one spot, the rocks and grit around them were a mingling of light and dark blue, but the blond alien told Jana they held nothing of value. In places where sand was abundant, it was in large grains and was the color of carrots. So far, they hadn't come across water, and that worried Jana.

”Is the entire planetoid this rugged?” she asked during a short break. ”Have you ever been here before?”

”Yes and yes.” He wasn't ready to tell her that all Star Fleet officers made it a point to know the terrain and demands of most places in enemy worlds and in their own in case that information was vital to them one day. He hadn't been here before, but he knew where he was leading them: to a destination he hoped was safe. ”I travel all over in search of things I need to know and gather.” That was misleading but true.

”Do you remember your way around? Is there any water available?”

”In a few places. We're heading for one. We'll make camp there.”

”Won't Taemin or his searchers look for us at water holes?”

”He doesn't know I'm familiar with Luz; that's where we are.”

Jana took a deep breath and slowly released it. ”That's a relief and good fortune. Mercy, I hope we have plenty more.”

”So do I, Jana love. After we camp and sleep, I'll begin work on the communicator signal in the morning. Blink your eyes and hope we have good luck with it. If so, we could be rescued soon.”

Jana didn't ask, But what happens if our luck runs out?

Sunset neared and the horizon became blood-red with streaks of bright orange. The clouds overhead were indigo with lavender bases. In the distance in both directions, the largest and tallest formations looked like black silhouettes against the lighter or vivid backgrounds.

They finally reached their destination. They were hot, sweaty, tired, dusty, and apprehensive. Their muscles ached from their exertions. He ordered her to hide while he proceeded onward to make certain the location was deserted. When he was convinced, he waved her into what would become their camp.

”The seep's around that big rock. We don't want to camp beside it. Whatever kind of animal life Luz has in this area will come to drink there. We have enough trouble without tangling with strange or ill-tempered creatures. Let's eat and settle down. A lot might happen tomorrow. We need to be rested to face whatever comes.” Varian wondered if he should make his confession tonight while she was weary in mind and body or wait until morning when she was fresh and alert.

”Are you sure that shuttle we hid from this morning was one of Taemin's? What if it was help for us? We might have given up our only chance of rescue.”

”I promise you it wasn't one we wanted; it was Pyropean.”

Jana a.s.sumed the size, or shape, or sound, of the shuttle had given him his answer. ”Why did Taemin do this to us?”