Fall of Icarus (38 page)

           
“I have more questions,” she stated flatly.

           
“We have answers,” the Pilgrim stated.

           
“Where do I find Cardax?”

           
The Pilgrim smiled, his face cracking into a web of wrinkles.
 
“So you’ve accepted our mission?”

           
Keryn frowned.
 
“I don’t see that I have much choice in the matter.”

           
“There’s always a choice,” the Oterian explained.
 
“You just wouldn’t like the alternative.
 
Cardax has already established a neutral meeting location in the Demilitarized Zone.
 
It was from this planet that he made the delivery to his Terran agents.
 
The small, desert planet is called Pteraxis.
 
Go there, and bring back the information.”

           
“And Cardax?” Keryn asked.

           
“He is of little consequence once you have the information,” the Uligart said coldly.

           
Keryn smiled softly at the news, though it did little to warm her feeling of being punished.
 
“When do I get my team?”

           
“They are being assigned to you as we speak,” said the Avalon.
 
“They will be joining you on the
Revolution
tomorrow.
 
For the majority of your trip, you will remain on board the
Revolution
as you train your team.
 
Once you are ready, you will take the
Cair Ilmun
and depart the Cruiser.
 
Your ship has been outfitted with extra weaponry and the interior has been modified for extended living conditions.”
 
The Avalon unfurled her wings and leaned back in her chair.
 
“If there is nothing else…”

           
“I have one more question,” Keryn interrupted, staring defiantly at the screen.
 
“Who takes over my Squadron?”

           
The Councilmembers turned to one another inquisitively.
 
Keryn realized with a sudden heartache that a decision on her Squadron was of miniscule importance to the Council, regardless of how important it was to Keryn.

           
“You know the Squadron better than anyone,” the Wyndgaart answered.
 
“Therefore, it only makes sense that you get to decide who takes over your Squadron now.
 
We trust in your decision.”

           
But you don’t trust me enough to lead the assault on Earth, Keryn thought sourly.
 
Without the formal dismissal from the High Council, Keryn reached up and turned off the console.
 
She didn’t want to face any more of their questions, nor did she want to ask any more of her own.
 
Whatever happened from this point on, Keryn was
on her own
.

           
Her mind full of chaotic thoughts, she exited the private transport and stood in the now empty causeway leading into the Farimas Space Station.
 
Thoughts of her few nights within the station warmed Keryn’s heart and left her with a longing for more.
 
Instead of entering the city, however, she turned the opposite way and entered the elevator.
 
Alone on the spacious lift, Keryn stared out the window as they exited the confines of the station and shot upward toward the orbiting ring and the dozens of awaiting Cruisers.
 
The entire Fleet was docked above her, save the few ships still remaining in star systems throughout Alliance space, guarding key planets.
 
The Alliance had invested everything they had to bringing this war to a swift and violent end.
 
And, as her comrades in arms fought for their lives, Keryn would be wandering some arid, backwater planet, searching for Oterian filth among a planet of garbage.
 
Her hatred renewed, she stormed off the lift as soon as it stopped, barely acknowledging the two guards posted outside the entryway to the
Revolution
.

           
There were a lot of decisions to be made, Keryn realized, and many tasks to be accomplished over the next few weeks.
 
Aside from meeting her new team, she would have to do research to learn anything she could about Pteraxis.
 
The last thing she wanted was to lead her team blindly onto an unknown planet.
 
Thought of her brother Eza flashed through her mind.
 
Had his leaders felt the same way before they were led to the slaughter?
 
Or had they done their research and everyone died anyway?
 
More importantly, she knew that she had to pick someone to be her replacement.
 
It had to be someone she trusted explicitly; otherwise she wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving her Squadron in their hands.
 
In her mind, there was truly only one person she thought capable of the job.

           
So lost was she in her thoughts that she ran directly into Yen before realizing he was there.
 
His broad smile distracted Keryn from her thoughts, but simultaneously pained her deeply.
 
Confident in their mutual affection, Yen was oblivious to the fact that their time together had been cut painfully short.
 
After a moment of staring at one another, Keryn noticed that there was a worry behind Yen’s eyes.

           
“What’s wrong?” she asked.

           
“Nothing,” Yen said, suddenly distracted.
 
“Did you hear?
 
We’re going to attack…”

           
“Earth,” she interrupted.
 
“Yes, I had heard.”

           
“You have an uncanny knack for knowing everything before I do, and you’re not even the psychic one in this relationship.”

           
Keryn laughed softly.
 
“Call it women’s intuition.”

           
“I call it unnerving,” Yen replied with a smile.
 
“Where have you been?
 
I looked for you during the briefing, but I never saw you come in.”

           
“That’s because I never did.
 
I had… another obligation to take care of.”

           
“Want to talk about it?”

           
Keryn shook her head.
 
“Maybe later.
 
Right now, all I want to do is go back to your place and curl up in your arms.
 
If I don’t, I think I might scream.”

           
Yen stepped aside and motioned for Keryn to lead.
 
Because they were in uniform and supposed to act like professionals, they didn’t hold hands while they walked.
 
In truth, Keryn wasn’t sure if she would have, even if given the opportunity.
 
Right now she felt strangely alone, even when next to someone with whom she felt so comfortable.
 
That loneliness extended outward like an aura, pushing away anyone trying to get close.
 
There was a tension throughout her body that she yearned to release, and as they entered Yen’s quarters, she was pretty sure she knew what she needed to from her whirling thoughts.
 
As the door closed softly behind them, she turned and grabbed the front of his uniform, pulling his face down to hers.
 
She lost herself in his passionate kisses.
 
Her eyes closed, she didn’t notice the small blue tendril extend from Yen’s groping hands.
 
As it brushed against her arm, chills of pleasure ran up and down her spine.
 
She pulled away suddenly and placed a hand on his chest.

           
Keryn shook her head as she spoke.
 
“Not tonight,” she begged.
 
“No powers, no enhanced emotions or sensations.
 
Tonight I just want it to be you and me.”

           
Nodding wordlessly, Yen led Keryn past the dinner table and into his bedroom.

           
Keryn buried her face in Yen’s arm as they lay in bed together.
 
He looked over, an obviously concerned look on his face, and caught her distant stare.

           
“Would you like to talk about it now?” he asked.

           
Keryn rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling.
 
“I’m going to be leaving soon,” she muttered.

           
He rolled toward her, propping his head up on his elbow.
 
Smiling, he ran his finger gently along her arm.
 
“I know.
 
We’re all going to be leaving, just as soon as the Fleet is ready.”

           
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

           
“Then explain it to me.”

           
Keryn rolled away so that only her back faced Yen.
 
“The High Council tagged me for a special mission.
 
I’m not going to Earth with you.
 
In fact, I’ll be gone in the next few weeks, once my team and I have completed our training.”

           
Keryn could feel the bed move as Yen first sat up, then climbed completely out of bed.
 
She could hear him pace as he ran through a myriad of questions.
 
“Where are you going?
 
Who is on this team of yours?”

           
She could hear a slight hint of jealousy in his voice; a hint of anger coating the corners of his words as though frustrated at not being included in her mission.
 
“I’m supposed to capture a smuggler.
 
Top secret
mission and all that.
 
I don’t even know who’s on my team yet, only that the High Council sent out reassignment orders to the people already.”

           
“Then I’m coming with you,” he said matter-of-factly.

           
Keryn sighed and sat upright in bed, catching Yen’s irritated gaze.
 
“You can’t Yen.
 
I know you want to protect me.
 
It’s a sweet gesture, but you have more important things to worry about than babysitting me.”

           
“Keryn, there is nothing more important than you.”

           
“Quit saying things like that!” she said angrily.
 
“This isn’t the time for mushy romance.
 
We are at war and this war is about to get a lot more violent.
 
You and I are really not that important in the grand scheme of things.”
 
She climbed out of bed and walked over to him.
 
Sighing, feeling guilty for the surprise and hurt in his eyes, she reached out and took his hands.
 
“And yes, there is something more important than taking care of me.”

           
Leaning down, Keryn picked up her discarded uniform jacket.
 
She pulled the shiny metal rank from the collar of her shirt and placed it in Yen’s outstretched hands.
 
“You’re the Squadron Commander now.
 
You have a lot more people to take care of than just me.”

           
“Just like that?” he asked, dumbfounded.

           
“Just like that,” Keryn reaffirmed.
 
“The High Council granted me the responsibility of identifying my own replacement.
 
I can’t think of anyone better qualified or more capable of taking care of the Squadron than you.”

           
“But I gave up flying to be in the Infantry,” he muttered.

           
“Maybe, but I saw how well you flew during the last battle.
 
You’re still a pilot at heart.
 
And, luckily for you, you’ll have plenty of time to realize your abilities before you reach Earth.”