Strange Skies (13 page)

The paper moved inside my waistband. “Why did you bring the formulas with you to that meeting?” I asked.

Dad sighed. “To protect you. I knew that meeting was probably a setup. If they ever found our bunker and the weapons, they would have turned the place upside down. They would have found my notebooks and discovered the equations, anyway. It was a risk taking the formulas. The Consulate soldiers could have found them on me before I was able to hide them, but I had to take that chance to protect you.”

I thought of the notebooks I’d destroyed. The information would have gone up in flames if he’d left them with me. Problem solved. “Why not get rid of the formulas rather than hide them?”

He shrugged. “I should have. I know that now. But I thought there might be a time when they’d be needed. The technology was the biggest weapons breakthrough of the century, so maybe it was part ego that I couldn’t bring myself to destroy my work”

The bird tweeted again, a lilting, melodic sound. I was running out of time.

“I have to go, Dad, but I’ll be back soon. When you’re feeling up to it, you can come stay with us.” I hugged
him tightly, as if it were the last time I’d get the chance. I thought of Callie and how I’d give anything for one more hug from her.

“You be careful too,” he said. “And hurry back when you can.”

I kissed his cheek and ran back into the woods. Remembering my gun, I pulled it out and fired another test shot. The laser exploded through the nearest tree and left a gaping hole. Nice. The gun had finally dried out. I tucked it away again and patted it against my side. A functional gun provided a strange sense of comfort.

There were still a solid few hours of light left, and I let up on my pace when I neared the bar with no sign of Kale. I didn’t know what to do with the lethal formulas Dad had given me. It’s not like I’d ever be reprogramming the weapons; I’d just be destroying them. The meeting must still be going strong. I darted across the clearing in front of the bar.

“Psst, Tora, over here!”

I whipped around. Reed stood outside the bar, by the corner, gun in hand.

“Hey, Reed, what are you doing?” I asked. “Why aren’t you at the meeting?”

“Ugh, I can’t stand political talk,” she said as she motioned me over. “Besides, I’m helping as a lookout while Trent and Ian are inside. It’s more important that they know what’s going on. Not that I love having to hold this.” She lifted the gun in disgust.

I smiled. She was totally perfect for Alec—if we all lived long enough.

A small insect with bright green wings dipped and dove between us. For a second, it hovered over Reed’s shoulder and I thought it might land on her, but then it zipped away again.

I peered beyond Reed toward the command center. James’ warning echoed in my head. “I can’t stay.”

“I know, it’s just that I overheard Sonya talking about the guns on the way to the meeting,” Reed said. “I was going to tell James as soon as I saw him. I mean, she’ll probably tell him anyway since she’s on our side.”

Goose bumps broke out on my arms. “What exactly did she say?”

Reed pushed a lock of her hair back with the barrel of the gun. “She said something like ‘the Consulate doesn’t stand a chance after the ammo I just saw.’ I guess Kale showed it to her.”

My heart leapt into my throat. It’s not likely that Kale had whisked Sonya off to another planet and back without anyone noticing, which meant that the guns had to be somewhere nearby.

“Did she say anything else?” I asked.

Reed shook her head. “She was talking to Kale’s pilot. I didn’t want to be too obvious. They were walking past me.”

The fact that I was so close to finding out the location of the guns made me giddy. My ankle wasn’t even bothering me anymore.

Loud voices pierced the serenity of the forest and branches snapped as a stampede of footsteps came from the direction of the bar. The meeting must have let out and the obvious place to discuss things was over a drink.
Crap
.

Without a word, I darted into the trees and hoped no one had seen me, especially Kale. I rushed along the creek back toward camp. The scent of wildflowers drifted through the trees but I didn’t dare stop to pick any. By the time I reached camp, my run had morphed into a haphazard jog. My breathing was ragged as I dove into Markus’ hut.

Lucy ran in and jumped all over me. I eased her down. “Shhh, we have to be quiet,” I said as though she could understand me. She understood something though, because she circled around in place and lay down at my side.

I stroked her soft fur and tried to catch my breath again. I didn’t even want to think about what would happen if Kale returned with the guys. Since he knew I was still alive, he’d have to figure I was with Markus and Alec. Kale was a jerk, but not a dumb one. I sat on the cot with my arms huddled around my legs, then remembered the paper in my waistband and shoved it under the cot just in case.

A plan formed in my mind. After we located the bioweapons, I’d have James and the others help me take care of Kale and his men, then we’d unload the guns in space and get on with our lives. Preferably a little closer to the
beach. I’d like a water view.
Great plan, but what about the Consulate?
Everything always led back to the Consulate.

Voices broke my reverie and I strained to hear who was coming. My shoulders relaxed when I recognized the voices as friendly ones. I peered out of the hut. “I’m in here. Just keeping Lucy company.”

Lucy bounded out and licked Alec’s hand. Markus and James were with him.

James grabbed my arm. “You scared me back there when I saw you with Reed. I thought Kale would see you. C’mon, I want to tell you about the meeting.”

James pulled me into the hut and secured the flap behind us. I stepped away from him and crossed my arms over my chest. Running from Kale was not something I wanted to keep doing. I’d have to deal with him sooner rather than later, but before I could say anything to James, his mouth was on mine. My words dissolved. James ran his hands slowly down my still-crossed arms, gently pulling them to my sides, then wove our fingers together as his lips moved against mine. After a minute, he broke away.

He cupped my face with his hands. “Look, I know you want the guns. We just have to be careful how we go about things. You have your dad to worry about now, and according to Kale, there will probably be a Consulate attack within the week.”

I sighed. “But why do I have to keep out of sight? Kale knows I’m here anyway.”

James took his hand from my face and ran it through
his hair. “Yeah, but the game changed since he found out your dad was alive. I’m trying to figure things out. I don’t know what that means for you … could be good, could be bad.”

I wanted to tell James my plan, but part of me was afraid he’d think it was stupid. Maybe he’d play along. I took a deep breath. “Speaking of figuring things out, I have an idea now that Markus is sober and all …”

“Is this the part where I tell you that I can hear everything going on in there?” Markus called out. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s been an entertaining few minutes, but shouldn’t I get to know what your plans for ‘sober Markus’ are?”

Leaving the tent meant no more kissing, but Markus was right. And I didn’t want any future kissing to include Markus’ presence in the vicinity. I strode past James and spoke in a low voice. “Don’t think that this means that you’re forgiven. You have more work to do on that front.”

A rare smile flickered across James’ face. “Don’t worry. I’ve got a lot of work planned for later.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

He waved me through the flap. “Patience isn’t one of your strong suits. You know that, right?”

I marched outside and dull pain shot through my ankle. “I think I’ve been more patient than you deserve. Lucky for you, I’ve become more forgiving since I first met you.”

“Too forgiving, if you ask me,” Alec remarked as Lucy tried to push a stick into his hand.

Markus stared at Alec. “Are you kidding me? I’m all for anyone that gets this girl to chill out.”

I plopped down by the fire pit and unwound the wrap from my ankle. No swelling and the pain was little more than a pain-in-the-ass ache. James pulled out a new wrap but I waved it away. “One more dose of the anti-inflammatory med and I should be good.”

Markus grinned at me while James pressed the tip of the vial to my ankle. “So, what’s your grand plan, sweetcakes?”

The med worked instantly. I wiggled my foot. “Basically, we get my dad away from Kale, find the guns, kill Kale … and his men if needed. Then we dump the guns and go from there.”

No one said anything for a minute.

Markus spoke first. “Um, so, is that like the bare bones version of the plan, or is there a more elaborate version?”

James spoke carefully. “That’s a start, but you have to understand that the goal of the Resistance has always been to take out the Consulate.” I could see the wheels turning in his head. “And if the Consulate is planning an attack, we don’t stand a chance at the moment.”

I knew what he meant. We didn’t stand a chance without Dad’s guns.

Alec tossed the stick to Lucy. “Why stay if it means certain war? Whether it’s Kale or the Consulate, we’re not safe here. Why not just leave and start over? We can do it if we stick together.” He looked at me carefully. “And that way,
you wouldn’t have to kill people. I thought that was the whole reason you wanted to get rid of the guns anyway.”

He was right. I’d never wanted to kill anyone … but since the Consulate imprisoned Dad, then tortured and killed someone they claimed was me, I was starting to reconsider my position.

“I love the idea of our group sticking together. Maybe we should all hold hands and sing a little song.”

“Be serious, Markus,” I said. “Besides, how hard was it to find a planet like this, with water everywhere … and oxygen? We shouldn’t have to give it up to run away from Consulate burners just because they want to kill us.” I pointed at James. “You named this place after my sister. Hell if I’m leaving.”

Alec gave Lucy a pat on the head. “I’m clearly the only one here who is being serious. This isn’t a game. It’s not funny.”

I put my hand on my hip. “I’m sorry, Alec. Is my plan funny to you?”

“That’s not what I meant. I just think we need to be rational here and not make decisions based purely on emotion.” He stared pointedly from me to James.

Now I was pissed. “Seriously? Like how I rescued you from Sector Two … because no rational person would have done that.”

Alec grabbed the stick from Lucy and tossed it farther away.

Markus chuckled. “She’s got a point. I thought she
was a little crazy myself when she suggested it, but then I thought, what the hell. And you wouldn’t be here at all if it weren’t for her. So who’s the one being emotional,
amigo
?”

Alec looked like he wanted to punch someone, but clamped his mouth shut. He knew Markus was right. He’d told me repeatedly how he owed me his life.

The sky would start to dim soon, and I wanted to figure this out before dark. Lucy brought back the stick to Markus instead of Alec. She’d apparently sensed his anger.

James spoke in measured tones. “Okay, what about a plan that accomplishes what everybody wants?”

My head snapped up to look at him. If he ever wanted to kiss me again, he’d go along with what I wanted. “Excuse me?”

James held his hands out palms up. “I know it’s not exactly what you planned—but Alec has a point.” James rushed on before I could say anything. “I love the idea of getting your dad and the guns. I’m all in for that. My concern is attempting to protect him while fighting Kale and his men at the same time. We don’t even know for sure how many of the Resistance are loyal to him. And, honestly, I don’t see how we can beat the Consulate without using your dad’s weapons.”

I crossed my arms. “So, after we get the guns and Dad, we just leave? We give up?”

“No,” James said as he touched my leg. “It would just be temporary. We’d go to a colony on a nearby planet with the guns to regroup and give your dad time to get stronger.
In the meantime, we’d let false info slip to the Consulate that the guns are right here in Callie City.”

Markus laughed loudly. “That’s freakin’ brilliant. The Consulate would do the job for us. They’d destroy Kale and everyone who’s associated with him.”

Alec looked thoughtful, then nodded. “And after all that, the Consulate still wouldn’t have the guns. I love it. It’s a quiet revolution, a smart one that won’t involve mass deaths.” I wondered if he was thinking about Reed.

I considered what James had said for a minute. “And then we come back?”

James shrugged “The Consulate would think there’s nothing left here. I doubt they’d return if they believed the Resistance was wiped out.”

“What about the others who don’t support Kale? I don’t want them to die.”

“They won’t,” said James. “We’ll take them with us.”

It almost sounded like this could work. “But what about the Resistance? You said their mission was to take down the Consulate.”

Alec shrugged. “It is. But I bet between James and me, we could convince them why this is the best way … for now.” I could see in his eyes that he hadn’t totally abandoned getting revenge at some point.

I eyed Markus. “You said you left your ship here when you rode to Earth on Kale’s to steal my guns. Does that old bird still fly?”

Markus had the decency to look ashamed. “Yeah, she’s
fine now … I fixed her up when we got here. I keep her covered with brush and leaves so she won’t be spotted by the Consulate.”

“And James, you know where the guns are, right?” I asked.

James looked confused. “No, why would I?”

Without the location of the guns, this plan was dead in the water. I needed those weapons. “Reed said Kale showed them to Sonya, so I assumed you knew where they were too.”

James let out a low whistle. “Sonya said she had something to tell me after the meeting, but Kale was still with us, and then I saw you. Either way, the fact that Kale didn’t tell me about the guns means he definitely doesn’t trust me anymore.”