Haven 6 (32 page)

He pulled out the longest arrow from the bunch and smoothed the feathers in the back. Eri could only stare. She’d never seen his eyes like this, deep and full of emotion, remorse.

He gave her a soulful glance. “Tell Striver I’m sorry.”

A blast hit the hull above them and sparks rained down. Eri covered her head to keep her hair from lighting on fire. When she looked up again, she stood alone.

Weaver ran into the thick of battle, heading straight for Jolt.

She covered her mouth with her hand, fingers digging into her cheek.
It’s a death mission.

Lawless swarmed him like flies on a piece of meat. He deflected the first couple with arrows, but as he ran closer, he had to bludgeon them with his bow. The bowstrings snapped as he whipped the weapon into a man’s neck. Another ran at him from the other side holding an obsidian blade. Weaver raised his bow against the man’s arm and the wood cracked in two.

Eri snapped out of her trance. Weaver was doing this for her. This was her diversion.

Get moving!

She sprinted around the main conflict and ran toward the ramp. Colonists raised their lasers as she approached. “Eridani Smith: Lifer 39723. Don’t shoot.” She held up her arm with the locator, shining the fluorescent green light. Personal body energies and heart rhythms controlled each locator. If her locator shined, then she was the real deal.

The colonists held their fire. A man Eri had seen before at Aquaria’s pairing ceremony stepped forward. “We have orders to take you back to the ship.”

“I know. I can go by myself.” Eri pushed through the front line before he could argue. The last thing she needed was an escort to keep her from visiting the commander.

She climbed the ramp, but a gut-twisting feeling turned her around before she reached the hatch.

Weaver brought up his ruined bow and hit Jolt’s arm as the man fired at another bunch of colonists. The golden light sprawled into the night sky, but Jolt didn’t lose hold of the gun. He recovered quickly, turning in Weaver’s direction.

“Weaver, no!” Eri screamed her lungs raw, but no one could hear her over the din of shouts and lasers.

Jolt’s face twisted into rage as he mouthed Weaver’s name, spittle flying. He brought his laser up, spraying golden light in an arc. The trail took out everyone around him, including Crusty and others in his Lawless army. Weaver ducked and rolled, and the light skimmed the hairs on his head before swirling away. Bare land surrounded him as everyone within a meter of Jolt disappeared. Weaver scrambled up and launched himself in Jolt’s direction.

Eri froze, paralyzed.
I wish I’d given him my gun.

With Weaver’s bow broken, running at Jolt was his only chance, but he’d rolled farther away to avoid the golden light. Jolt glanced in Weaver’s direction as his arm moved to fire the gun again.

No one could run that fast. Her whole body shook with the truth.

He’s not going to make it.

Jolt squeezed the trigger. Striver had to shoot now. He brought the arrow back so far some of the reeds broke, aimed the tip up, and released it within half a second. The shaft glided through the air. The speed was fast, and the arc was high, but not high enough. The arrow landed half a meter from Jolt’s feet.

“Noooooo!” Striver bellowed as the light encompassed Weaver. His brother’s face glowed like some golden god before he blurred into swirling particles and disappeared.

Striver’s world shattered.

He collapsed to the ground with the battle still raging on all sides. His heart folded in on itself, so tightly he couldn’t breathe. He’d failed his brother for the last time.

Shock incapacitated him as ash rained from the sky, blurring his eyes. In a world of heat and flame, Striver thought of the river’s icy touch when he’d found his brother’s hand. He’d pulled him up through the current. He’d saved him. This time he was too late.

Weaver’s words rushed back at him like knives in his throat:
You can’t make the world perfect.

Yes, but I can make it a better place.
Anger coursed through Striver as he dug his fingers into the steaming ash.
Jolt.
This was Jolt’s fault.

Striver pulled himself together and stood up, yanking out another arrow. Jolt had alienated himself from the rest of the battle by blasting his cohorts into the unknown. He was unprotected. Growling in anger, Striver barreled toward him with one purpose in mind.

Jolt turned in his direction. Recognition lit his features as he raised his gun. The end of the barrel shone red, reflecting the flames around them.

Striver had reached firing range. He slowed and released an arrow just as Jolt pulled the trigger. A current of air rushed around him as Striver dove for the ground. The golden light tickled the hairs on his arms, missing him by millimeters. For a brief second, a gentle finger of placid peace brushed his hair, quenching the pain in his heart. Striver yearned to reach out and pull that feeling back, to live in it forever.

Jolt’s voice brought him back to reality. “I’ll send you where I sent your brother.” The pirate aimed the gun at him and grinned.

Hand shaking, Striver reached for another shot. The gun needed seconds to recharge, and Striver only needed half a second to pull the bow back and release his own powerful weapon. Aiming for Jolt’s heart, he sent the shaft ripping through the air.

Living in the Lawless lands his whole life had given Jolt the reaction time needed to step sideways before the tip hit. The arrow slipped by, slicing through the leafy covering of his shirt. A thin streak of blood blossomed on his bare chest.

He chuckled as if they tossed a ball back and forth. “Let’s play another round.”

Golden light exploded from the barrel, and Striver covered his head, closed his eyes, and rolled backward into a dip in the earth. The golden current passed over him again, calling to him like a song from his childhood. Despite all his good sense, he opened his eyes. The golden swirls moved over him, dancing in the wind before coalescing into an image. A face. But not just any face; it was his father’s long nose and high forehead.

Striver’s eyelids fluttered shut, blocking it out.

Soren’s tale was right. The golden liquid brings back your past.

But right now he wanted to live in the present to give Jolt what he deserved. Striver lay closer than Weaver had, and he’d counted how long the gun took to charge. He had three seconds to make it.

Striver stood and Jolt’s gun buzzed.
One
.

He sprinted toward Jolt, kicking up ash.
Two.

Jolt’s face hardened into a frown, and he tried the trigger, but the chamber hadn’t reenergized and nothing happened. Striver rammed into him, knocking them both to the ground.
Three.

Striver landed on top of Jolt’s hard chest, knocking the air out of his lungs. He grabbed Jolt’s neck with one hand, while the other bashed the pirate’s wrist into a rock, trying to loosen the gun from his grip. Jolt’s face reddened as he reached for Striver’s neck. He gripped Striver’s shirt, and the pirate yanked him down. Striver had braced his legs against the ground, and it kept his balance. He smashed Jolt’s wrist into the rock again and the gun fell from his fingers. Striver kicked it into the flames, making sure that’s where it stayed.

When Striver looked back, Jolt’s fist smashed into his face, knocking him over. Striver blinked, sucking in ash as pain exploded in his jaw. Jolt squirmed out from under him and stood, looking for the gun. Forcing himself up through the pounding pain in his head, Striver scrambled toward Jolt. His fingers slipped down Jolt’s leg and grabbed hold of his pants cuff.

Striver jerked him back. “We’re not done.”

Jolt whirled around and snarled, the scar on his forehead pulsing with life. His pockmarked face gleamed in the firelight. “You’re stronger than your brother. I wish you’d come over to my side instead of him.”

Comparing him to Weaver sent Striver over the edge. He yanked so hard, Jolt’s knee gave out, and the pirate tumbled on top of him. They rolled in the steaming ash, Jolt punching and kicking. Striver caught Jolt’s leg as it came up to his stomach. He spoke through gritted teeth. “My brother was a good man.”

Jolt laughed and ripped his leg from Striver’s grasp. “Your brother failed.”

Anger flowed like molten lava in Striver’s chest. This man had led attacks against his village since Striver was a young boy. He’d ruled the Lawless like a greedy dictator, and now he’d taken Weaver away. In Striver’s book, that was one bad move too many.

Striver and Jolt pitched down a hill toward one of the larger fires. Jolt wrestled his way on top, and his hands closed on Striver’s throat. Striver pulled at Jolt’s wrists and the pirate tightened his grip. The fire danced in Jolt’s dark gaze as the corners of his lips curved up.

“Now you’ll die, too.”

Striver struggled to suck in air as he spoke in a raspy voice. “This one’s for Weaver.” He turned his body sideways, pulling Jolt into the fire beside them. The hot flames seared Striver’s face as they licked up Jolt’s back. Jolt screamed and released Striver’s neck. Striver turned away from the fire as the pirate squirmed and rolled, trying to put the blaze out. The dead leaves he’d threaded in his clothes for camouflage fed the flames as the fire spread throughout his body.

Jolt’s dying screams did not satiate Striver’s pain; they only added to the horror of the battle surrounding him. Emptiness sucked a hole in his chest. Refuge seemed like a smaller, more barren place without his brother. He could kill as many Lawless as he wanted, but none of them would bring Weaver back.

…

Eri pulled herself together and trudged up the ramp. Weaver had given his life for her to make it, and the least she could do was try. Tears streaked her face as she bolted through the familiar corridors and buzzed an elevator. She gasped back a sob, trying to calm herself enough to speak with the commander as a person and not a blubbering mess.

How am I ever going to tell Striver?

Weaver’s death was her fault. She was the one who’d lectured him about responsibility, playing the guilt card. She was the one who needed the diversion.

The elevator beeped and the doors parted to an empty corridor.

Where is everyone?

Fighting outside in the battle or locked in their rooms hoping for the best? At least, that’s what she needed, because someone had to help her gain access to the commander.

Eri shot down the corridor and buzzed the door panel, bouncing on her tiptoes as she waited for a response. Aquaria’s face flashed on the screen, her eyes widening. “Eri? Is it really you?”

The sight of her sister brought her comfort she’d not had in a long time. She soaked it up, collapsing against the screen. “I need your help.”

Aquaria rushed off screen to press the panel. “Of course. Come in.”

The door dematerialized, and Eri collapsed into her sister’s arms. Aquaria smelled like soap and perfume, all the luxuries Eri had left behind. Those smells used to be so natural to Eri, but compared to the scent of real blossoms they seemed fake, one dimensional, and derivative.

Aquaria held her close, squeezing all the air out of her lungs. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

“The commander blocked my communications, so I had no way—”

Aquaria smoothed over Eri’s hair. “I know, I know. Litus told me.”

“You know everything going on?”

“Litus has kept me informed since you rescued him.”

Eri breathed a sigh of relief. This wouldn’t take as long as she thought.

Aquaria looked her up and down. “What are you wearing? You look as though you’ve been trampling in the jungle all this time.”

Brushing dirt off her crudely knit clothes, Eri shrugged. “I have.”

“Look at all the scratches on your arms, and your boots are torn up beyond repair. What’s this? A leaf in your hair! Come, sit on the couch. I’ll get you some water and antiseptic spray.”

“I don’t have time.” Eri slumped onto the couch. It wouldn’t be long before someone emerged the victor outside the ship. But she had to take her time convincing Aquaria to help her break into the commander’s control deck. She still didn’t know how deeply her sister’s rebellious streak ran, and she couldn’t have Aquaria turning her in.

Her legs ached and her cheeks burned from the flames outside. She hoped Striver was all right.

The plastic felt oddly sterile against her skin after sleeping on fern beds and the ground of Haven 6. She felt like wherever she touched, she smeared dirt. The room looked as though Aquaria hadn’t changed anything since the last time Eri visited. The same holopainting of daises undulated on the wall, and the plastic couch had a shiny green gleam. It was a dream in a chaotic world.

“Nonsense.” Aquaria rushed back in with a bottle of mineral water and a soywafer. Eri chugged the water and threw the wafer on a side table. As Eri gulped, Aquaria sprayed her arm and rubbed it down. “Litus has changed so much since you first landed. And I owe it to you, Eri. You’re the one who saved him from the Lawless. You opened his eyes.”

“You know about our conversations?”

She nodded, folding her hands in her lap. “Litus told me everything. How you bravely went back into the Lawless lands to save him and how you taught him to question what’s truly right for us as a colony.”

Eri wiped water from her chin. The last time she’d had anything to drink was in the cave, several hours ago. “He loves you.”

Aquaria nodded. “When he left, I was glad he was gone. I ignored his messages when you’d landed. But as the days went by, I missed him. After you rescued him and he finally wrote again, I was so relieved. We’ve been talking through our locators every night.”

Eri grabbed her hand, time pressing in. “You have to help me if you want him to be safe.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

“The people who rescued us are fighting alongside Litus and his team, helping them beat the Lawless. But the commander plans to turn on them once the Lawless are defeated. She doesn’t want our two societies mixing. Litus will be stuck in the middle. He won’t stand for the mass annihilation, and there’s a chance he’ll be labeled for treason and killed with them.” Eri felt the weight of the world on her chest. So much of it was her fault. She’d convinced Litus to take her side.