Strange Skies (20 page)

I shifted and the stench of blood filled my nostrils. My stomach churned and bile rose in my throat. Maybe there was only so much blood that someone could take in a day. I turned my head to avoid gagging in Max’s face. After several deep breaths, I regained control of myself.

“Markus and Tora, stay here,” James ordered. “Web, take Trent, and go see what kind of shape that guy who shot Alec is in.”

Web checked his gun. “And if he’s not in bad shape, should I make him that way?”

“No. We need info on who’s behind this. Make him talk first.”

“And after?” Web asked. His hulking frame made me glad I wasn’t the one he was going after.

James didn’t hesitate. “They betrayed us and tried to kill our men. End him.”

James probably thought I’d considered that cruel, but it was hard to disagree, when I was sitting with a guy missing half his throat.

“Then find the others from Max’s ship. There was more than one person firing lasers out there.” James sat back on his heels and studied his com device, while Web and Trent took off.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Waiting. Timing the med in his system. I need to give it a few minutes.”

Max mumbled again. “Thirsty.”

I knew how thirsty he must be but doubted the water would even make it past the hole in his neck. “Should I try to find him some?” I asked.

“Not yet. Max, I’m gonna get you water as soon as I can. We just need to get this fixed up first.”

Several lasers flashed near where I’d almost been hit earlier. Brief shouts, followed by silence. I stared at the com, hoping to hear a familiar voice.

James pressed a small cylindrical device into Max’s neck and pushed a button. It looked like a med vial, but bigger.

“Ow,” Max said, though his voice sounded a little clearer.

James pulled it back and examined the numbers that flashed across it. “I just got a sample of blood. Red cell count is low, but rising. Another minute and we’ll try to close this up.”

No word from the men and even James looked anxious as he watched his silent com device. The sound of lasers
would be better than the quiet—it would mean at least some of our guys were still alive.

Trent and Web returned, breathless. “I think we got ’em all,” Web said as he gasped for air.

“Yeah,” said Trent. “That first guy, the one you shot, James, he was already a goner when we got there. One of Kale’s cronies.”

“The main traitor was Connor.” Web holstered his gun.
Connor
. The one who’d tried to switch to my group. “He said it’s a crime to destroy weapons that powerful. It took a little persuasion, but he let it spill that Kale ordered them to take out all of us except James and Tora.”

Why would Kale want me spared? He knew James could fire the guns and was more than fine with killing me before
.

James just shook his head as he picked up the electronic stitching device. “Okay, Max, we’re gonna give this a shot.” He moved the device along Max’s wound while Max gritted his teeth and grunted in pain.

I didn’t want to ask. I did anyway. “Is Connor dead?”

Web shrugged. “He is now. It was just the two of them. Sounds like the plan was for Kale to return with his pilot and the rest of his men at the light break to retrieve you two ‘prisoners’.”

The last thing I ever wanted to be was Kale’s prisoner again. I’d rather face another meat monster.

James finished the stitching and set the device down. “Where are the others from Max’s ship?”

Trent looked down. “I didn’t see them.”

Max squeezed my hand and took a deep breath. “Edgar is dead. He’s inside.” He took another breath. “They went for him first, probably because he was the strongest fighter.” He looked down at the ground. “There’s blood everywhere.”

I hadn’t known Edgar long, but I’d miss him, so I couldn’t imagine how the others must be feeling.

“I’m so sorry, Max. Hey, you’re talking!” Hearing him able to speak gave me hope. “How do you feel?”

Max swallowed. “Lucky.”

James took another scan of Max’s blood. “Counts are still rising. The bleeding must have mostly stopped. Take it easy for the next few hours though—you don’t want this to tear open again.”

“Got it. Thanks, James. I’m fine if you want to check on Alec now.” Max looked up at Web. “No word about Becca, Tyler, Ian, or Bez?”

Web shook his head. “No sign of them. It’s too dark to see much but we’ll check later when the light hits.”

I helped Max to his feet. He was a little unsteady and leaned on me so hard that I stumbled. Markus ran over and slung Max’s other arm around his neck.

“Tora, can I talk to you a sec?” James asked.

Web stepped in and took Max’s arm while I met James by the side of the ship. “What’s up?”

He looked serious. “I want you, Markus, and Web to
take Max back to Markus’ ship. I’ll take Trent to check out Alec. Stay on guard and don’t let your gun out of your sight.”

“Okay.” I touched his arm. “What you did with Max there was impressive.”

James shook his head. “Honestly, I didn’t think it would work. I thought he was done. I’m serious about not letting him move around too much. He’s not in the clear yet.”

James gripped my hand. “I’ll meet you back at the ship once I have Alec fixed up. Be careful.”

I nodded. “You too. Don’t take too long.” I went back over to Markus. “Let’s get Max back to your ship. He needs to rest.”

The sky was tinged with gray light as we made our way back. Even with the traitors eliminated, there was an uneasiness in the air. It was completely silent aside from our breathing. The lasers must have frightened away any animals in the area. I walked in front of Markus and Web, who supported Max, helping him to walk. My gun was powered up and pointed into the murky space ahead.

Clouds still covered most of the sky, but it grew lighter as the sun pushed up toward the horizon. I could just make out the shape of the ship in the distance beneath its giant leaf cover. As we reached our destination, I froze. I signaled Markus to stop.

The outline of a figure stood just outside the hatch door. My gun hummed reassuringly in my hand. I crept
around the side of the ship. “Don’t move or I’ll shoot,” I said in my best no-nonsense voice.

“Go ahead. I’m so tired of this. I don’t even know who’s on what side anymore,” a girl answered.

“Are you Becca?” I asked and stepped closer. I noticed the blood dripping down her arm.

She nodded. “That’s about all I do know. Well that, and that Connor is a freakin’ burner.”

I lowered my gun. “He’s dead if that helps you feel any better.”

She sniffed. “It does, thanks. Can I hide out in here with you?”

I turned behind me and called out to Markus and the others. “It’s okay. Becca is alive.”

They approached the ship, and Web gave Becca a big hug while Markus opened the hatch door. “Where’s Tyler?” Web asked.

Becca shook her head and stifled a sob. “Ty’s dead. He jumped in front of Connor’s laser when he was aiming for me.” She turned her bloodied arm toward Web. “Thanks to Ty the laser just skimmed my arm. I fired back and got Connor in the leg, but Ty was already gone. Edgar’s gone too. Don’t know what happened to Ian and Bez.”

“Tyler was a good guy,” Web said. He put his arm around Becca. “If it helps, your hitting Connor made it easier for us to get him. He couldn’t run very far, and we closed in.”

Markus settled Max into one of the passenger chairs
inside the ship. I’d considered putting him on the sleep pad but thought it might be better for his neck if he stayed upright. I found him a bottle of Caelia Pure.

He started to chug it, and I had to pull it away. “Easy now,” I warned. “You don’t want to put any additional strain on your throat. There’s plenty of water.”

Max sighed. “I’m just so thirsty.”

“I know. I’ve been there.” I eased the bottle to his mouth. “Just little sips for now, though, okay?”

He swallowed a few more times. “That’s better,” he said. He looked up at me. “You know I should be dead now, right? James saved my life and I could tell that even he seemed surprised by that.”

I nodded. It’s good he hadn’t been able to see the extent of the damage to his throat. Max reached up tentatively to touch his wound and I slapped his hand away. “Don’t do that. You heard James—leave it alone for a few hours to make sure it heals right.”

Web sat on the floor near us and pressed a clean cloth against Becca’s arm. “It’s not too bad,” he told her. “Little more than a nasty scratch, really.”

Markus smiled at me and patted the floor next to him. “Take a load off, sweetcakes. Nothing to do but wait for now.”

I scooted next to Markus and let my head fall against his shoulder. The only feeling I knew lately was tired. Web comforted Becca who broke into tears from time to time, while Max fell into a much-needed sleep. At one point,
his head lolled to the side and I worried it would tear his neck open, but Markus followed my stare and patted my hand in reassurance. Just as my eyelids threatened to close, I glanced out the window. The sky had a pinkish-orange cast to it, tendrils of light threading their way through the gray.

I jumped to my feet. “Where are they? Why aren’t they back yet?” Kale and his men would be back at any moment if they weren’t already. “C’mon, Markus, we have to get James and the rest of them.”

Max stirred, but didn’t wake. I looked down at Becca. “Stay here with Max, okay?”

“Where do you want me?” Web asked.

“Near the door,” said Markus. “That way, if we’re in trouble you can keep the hatch open for us.”

Markus and I powered up our guns and ran out into the dawn. For someone who despised running, I’d done more of it in the last year than in my entire life combined. Once this was all over, running was going into my file of “Things I Never Want to Do Again.”

We only made it about a hundred yards before we saw Alec hobbling toward us with James and Reed. Ian and another guy—Bez, I guessed—were with them. Relief shot through me.

They got closer. “Hey,” said James. “Found Ian and Bez heading our way. Told them what happened with Max.”

“Glad you guys are okay,” Markus said.

“It’s good to be okay, but I wish Edgar was too. Hey,
I’m Bez … you must be Tora. Sorry I couldn’t be at the meeting.” He extended his hand.

I shook it and looked at Alec. “How is he?” I whispered, not sure if Kale might have already landed near the woods.

“It was worse than he thought,” said James. “But I think he’ll be fine.”

“No burnin’ laser is going to keep me down,” said Alec with a grin. Reed had her arm linked through his. Despite being injured, he sure looked happy.

“Becca’s alive,” I said. “She has a slight injury.”

“And Tyler?” Ian asked.

I shook my head. “Tyler died saving her.”

“That sounds like him,” said James. “Those two were tight. She okay?”

Markus answered. “I’m gonna say no. She keeps bursting into tears right as I’m trying to get some shut-eye. You got meds for that?”

“Just pain meds, but all they’ll do is make her tired.”

I thought about Kale’s drunken reaction to the meds back in the bunker on Earth after his leg was injured. “Why didn’t the meds affect Max the way they did Kale?”

James smiled. “I might have given Kale way more than he needed.”

Markus grimaced at me. “I can’t believe I ever got it on with her. All that crying and whining … geez. I like my girls a little tougher than that.”

A bomb could be dropping overhead and Markus would still be assessing hookups.

Web waved to us from the hatch. “Ian, Bez, right on! Glad you guys made it back.”

A ship roared overhead. Since Alec couldn’t move quickly, I ran to protect the group from behind. Markus sprinted for the door. Kale would see us if he was flying low enough. I dared a peek upward. The ship passed overhead followed seconds later by another ship, and another. I stared in horror as they went by. It wasn’t Kale.

It was the Consulate.

Chapter
EIGHTEEN

“C
ONSULATE
!” I
SCREAMED
. “G
ET INSIDE
.”

James encouraged Alec to lean on him, while Ian and Bez helped to get him to the door. Reed reluctantly let go of Alec’s arm so the others could help him to safety. As soon as we got inside the hatch, Markus closed the door. I ran to the window. The sky was clear—no sign of the Consulate ships that had passed over. Lucy whined as she circled anxiously around all of us, stopping to lick the dried blood on Alec’s leg.

“It’s okay, girl,” Alec said. He sat down and let Lucy curl up in his lap. Ian and Bez exchanged back-slaps with Trent.

Just when I thought maybe the ships hadn’t seen us, one of them circled back. Though Markus’ ship would be hard to spot from the air thanks to the camouflage, Max’s probably looked like a nice, shiny target, right along with
the bar and command center. I looked down in frustration at the standard-issue gun in my hand. A crap load of help it would be against the Consulate.

“What the hell do we do?” I asked.

There was a moment of silence followed by the whine of the first bomb. The explosion was deafening and the ground shook under the ship. It had to be nearby, and I wondered which target was gone.

Markus groaned. “This is a load of déjà vu crap. I could’ve lived my whole life without going through this hell all over. And it’s not like we even have a bunker door to hide behind.”

“What’s going on?” Max rubbed his eyes and stood up on wobbly legs.

“We’re under attack,” James said. Trent, Ian, Bez and Web stood at attention as though waiting for orders.

Becca burst into tears again, and Alec and Reed tried to comfort her. Markus leaned in toward me. “Seriously, what the hell was I thinking? Emotional and fragile is really not my type.”

I smacked him. “We’ve got bigger problems here, you know?”

“I know,” he said. “Shame you don’t have those überguns, huh?”

James met my eyes. “If Kale thought an attack was imminent, he wouldn’t have hidden the guns far away. It wouldn’t make sense. Not if he planned for you and me to help him fight the Consulate.”