Vanished (6 page)

Her
breath caught in her throat as she saw the council past Vendas. The men, still dressed in their flowing white garb, blocked the doorway.

The whisper of weapons leaving holsters in unison around her sent her heart slamming. These guys were
a unit. They wouldn’t hesitate to dispatch the council, she was sure. The
click, click
of pistols being cocked and loaded broke the silence. 

Radek
pulled a pistol, his right hand snagging her left wrist. He pressed the gun into her palm, and she couldn’t help a bit of thrill that the weapon was left-handed. He’d obviously packed it just for her.

Her group drew to a halt before
the council. She reached out and touched Vendas’ shoulder. He glanced back at her, shock in his features. With a sweep of his arm, he stepped out of her way, the barrel of his gun aimed at the floor.

The large males parted, allowing
her to pass. Her chin lifted as she studied the men before her, anger surging in her blood.

One spoke up. “We will not allow this.”

The air shifted. Tension behind her grew. She sensed their weapons, level with the monsters before her, refusing to waver. Her own pistol hung at her side, threatening only the ground. The cool metal was somehow reassuring against her palm.

Involuntary images flashed through her mind, her barrel lifting, blood flowering over white garb. At first, the thoughts were satisfactory, but her head ached with all the red staining her thoughts.

Today had already been too horrible. These men had only told someone else to do what it took, someone she’d already faced and didn’t murder. Vengeance wasn’t pretty, nor would it give back what had been stolen from her. Opting for logic seemed like the smartest choice. She didn’t need their blood on her hands while hers wasn’t quite dry on theirs.

“You are missing out on a huge opportunity here.”  She took another step forward, lowering her voice. “Think about it, if I leave now, you won’t have to deal with me again. You’ll be long dead once we come back, if we even do.
”

She lifted her chin, glaring into each face in turn, daring them to challenge her.
“If I stay, I will fight, I will lead a rebellion. Our people are long overdue, wouldn’t you agree? Only death would silence me.”

One of the men
before her shifted. A pop from her right deafened her. The force of a cannon slammed through her stomach. Her right arm shot out, seeking purchase as she faltered. The wall melted into the ceiling as she fell back through space. Radek’s arms caught her, lowering her to the ground with a gentle touch.

Ve
ndas cut around her, stepping to the front of the pack. The
pop, pop, pop
of pistols firing around her rang through her head as agony steeped into her blood, radiating out from her core.

The shearing pain blurred her vision, but she rolled her head to watch the white-clad council crumple, one by one, crimson decorating their clothes and the walls behind them.

“Stay with me.” Radek’s husky words soared through her senses. On his knees, he set her head on the ground.

The rest of the men turned their backs
to her, their guns leveled at anyone who might dare encroach. The threat reminded her of the earth creature, the porcupine, quills bared and ready if anything was dumb enough to get too close.

Zoltan, though, broke the line to turn and drop to a knee beside her. She shook her head, pushing him back. He fell back, his hands catching him, a shocked look on his face. When he tried to move closer, Radek pulled his gun, leveling it with the man’s chest without taking his eyes off her wound.

Zoltan hesitated, refusing to move for a second. A
click
warned Radek had cocked the pistol. Body tense with fury, Zoltan backed up, a sneer curling his lips. Only when he found his place in line did Radek lower his weapon to its holster.

Rays of dim light streamed between the soldier’s boots, lighting the darkness fast pressing in on her. Rolling her head the other direction, she noticed the growing crowd. Terror-filled faces met her gaze; random people with hands pressed to their mouths, wide eyes, dread tainted the air a metallic scent.

Radek’s rasped words drew her attention back to him once more. “Forgive me, ma’am.” His deep blue eyes jumped from her belly to her face and back to her wound. Short, ebony hair shone with the motion of his head. Scarred hands gripped her suit, tugging it way from her skin. The material peeled apart under his force, the sound of it ripping unnaturally loud.

Panic crashed over her in a wave of heat and her mind flashed dark. Her fist smashed into his jaw with a sickening crack. He snapped back, before pressing in closer, a large hand on her hip, holding her
lower body immobile.

Her fist smashed into him again, but he didn’t react. Instead, he thrust something cold against her exposed skin and the pain abruptly cut short.

“Good as new.” He relaxed back on his haunches and got to his feet. His hand thrust out in an offer to help her rise. She hesitated, realizing her fear had taken over. Shame filled her, and his expression twisted into a mixture of anger and concern. His fingers closed around her wrist and he hauled her to her feet. His face came close to hers, expression dark. Those serious blue eyes flashed back and forth over hers.

“No, you never feel shame for that fear.
Ever
, you hear me?”

She nodded and h
e thrust her gun back into her hand and released her. Her glance met Vendas’. He dipped his head at her, leading the group around the fallen council members.

A sense of sorrow filled her. She stepped over the pooling blood, over the bodies, wishing things could have played out differently.

People pressed in, reaching out to touch the men’s suits as they pushed past. Safely contained in the center of the protective group, Papria kept her face forward, her chin up. A screen to her right in the hallway danced through the conversation she’d just had with the council.

Her word
s echoed in the space. One of the councilmen shifted and the gleam of a pocket pistol flashed before she fell back. The man fell against the wall, red painting the walls and the sides of his peers.

Radek
caught her, lowering her gently. Vendas whirled before the group, his fury clear. He and his men fired, again, again, again, and the council crumpled before the eyes of the world.

Guilt flooded her. If she’d handled things differently, could bloodshed have been avoided? Had the councilman not shot to kill on purpose? Or was he really trying to execute her then and there?

Her gaze dropped to the floor, before sneaking up to the profiles of those surrounding her, needing to commit their details to memory. Radek didn’t meet her gaze, his impassive face trained ahead. A heavy brow, straight nose, full lips and powerful chin caught the shine of light, setting his eyes in shadow.

On her other side, a man she didn’t know, stared forward as well.
He met her glance in a flash before returning forward, leaving her with the impression of thin, recurve-bow lips, a jaw line a Norse god would have been proud of and deep, hazel eyes.

She was surrounded by poster boys.
Sentinels; powerful men who’d stop at nothing to protect her. A knowing smile snuck over her lips.
This
was validation. She’d done the right thing.

She faced forward, focusing on the short, dark green hair of Vendas.
These men had a lot to lose, yet they were risking it all to lead her out. The public display, intended to show her people that what was done was wrong, also served just the purpose the tech had intended. Her people could see just how unprepared the leaders were if a group rose up and refused to blindly follow.

Fear melted out of her shoulders, letting them lower by inches
. The bump of their arms against hers left her with a closed in, protected impression. With a glance around, she realized nothing would ever be the same. Her dream was about to be realized: she was going to Earth. And while she was gone, her people would become something new, stronger, better for everyone.

The dimly-lit hallway led to an elevator. The men turned their backs toward the center, each focusing outward. Vendas, Radek and the man on her other side held their guns ready and she realized they expected trouble.

The box arrived, empty, and a sense of relief whistled through her. They stepped into the small room, crushing in, and fear danced a sour note on her tongue. Locked in a small space with a group of soldiers didn’t sit well. Panic pricked the edges of her mind.

Radek shouldere
d those close away from her. She struggled to inhale an actual breath. Bodies pressed into walls, their attempt to give her more space a gift she couldn’t help but be grateful for. Along with their respectful expressions. They shifted as she moved toward the back of the small room, watching in wonder as they zoomed toward the surface.

Outside the clear cylinder,
the moons scattered light on the surface. Rays filtered down, bathing the dark space in delicate light. The orbs, so far above, waved as the liquid covering the world rippled. Perhaps they were spotlights, highlighting their escape. Thrill danced in her blood as they made it to the landing platform.

The doo
r opened. She moved out, leading for an instant before heat crushed around her. The group pressed in, though the confinement didn’t ache this time. Their march down the umbilical hallway, the tight proximity, the reality of what was happening, forced a shiver down her spine. The reaction left her trembling with excitement, and Radek glanced down at her, worry in his eyes, before snapping his glance forward again.

As the airlock admitted them;
her quivering increased. The confined box of the airlock threatened to steal her breath. She struggled to appear normal as Vendas glanced over his shoulder at her.

When the inner door open
ed, the men broke away from her. They dispersed into the ship, a series of shouts resounding as they readied the ship for takeoff. Zoltan’s fury echoed his sharp voice, but even he left. Only Radek still stood by her. The ship under their feet shuddered as the umbilical disengaged and dropped away from the ship.

“You alright?” Radek glanced down at her
, impassive features refusing to give any insight to his thoughts.

Her eyes darted up to meet his before a quick nod sent her short locks jolting
forward to tickle her jaw. With his head held high and eyes locked forward, Radek led her through the ship. Her eyes strayed around, soaking in the layout.

They walked past a series of steps labeled “flight deck” on the right, and she skipped to catch up to the man’s long stride. Around a set of stairs leading down to the mess hall, she stumbled, noticing a sign to the left that frightened her. Crew Quarters. She wouldn’t have to sleep near the hulking men, would she?

But he led her past that to the far side of the room down an unmarked hall. Down the length, he made a right at a four way intersection of tunnels.

He halted before a door and turned to her, his eyes full of
concern. “We made the observation deck your personal quarters.” His eyes studied her face. And she caught the words he didn’t say.
Far away from where the rest of us sleep.

“Thank you.” Touched by their kindness, tears sprang into her eyes. Fighting them back, she glanced at the door.

He opened it, striding in with a purpose. She wandered in, amazed by the windows that gaped at the stars beyond. Forgetting Radek was in the room, she walked up to the windows and pressed a palm to a reinforcement beam.

Already in the darkness of space, stars glittered with varying levels of brilliance.
The sensation that she was gazing into the soul of the universe crashed over her. Radek appeared at her elbow, startling her. She sensed there was something more in his silence and she glanced back into those shadowed blue eyes.

“I wanted to apologize.” He handed her a fresh
undersuit, refusing to meet her glance. Instead, he stared out at the stars, their glow lighting his angular face. A spasm rippled across his cheek and she realized the guilt he was wrestling with.

She considered her words
before breaking the silence. “Your quick thinking saved my life. I won’t lie and say I wasn’t scared, but I think you misunderstand. I wasn’t scared of you, I was scared of the expectation. I think the reflex will fade, but healing takes time.”

He turned
, haunted eyes examining her. A sudden flash of fear crashed into her. What had he experienced in his physical trials? Were any of them whole, still?

His hands slipped behind his back
. Noticing his weight rock up on his toes and back to his heels, she tried to determine his thoughts. They stood in a relaxed silence for a moment more before he turned to leave. She pivoted as he hesitated. His head shifted, his profile revealing his gaze on the floor. He spoke once more. “You believe that?”

Understanding the need in his voice, she replied quickly.
“That time will heal all? Yes, in the sense that the wound heals but a scar always remains. Scars, too, fade with time, but they are never truly gone.”