Neutral Space(5)

“What about you? Do you have anyone?” Kheda picked at a string on the shirt she wore.

“Nope; never have time.”

“You,” too late I’d forgotten she’d said there was no one. She didn’t yell though merely shook her head.

“Why’d you join then?” Her brows were scrunched together as she stared at me.

“Hoping to save my friends and family.”

I wasn’t trying to be noble it was the truth. The Sirus system was under constant threat. When they came asking for special recruits to help end that threat I was first in line. It wasn’t how I pictured it though I’ve only been in the Sirus system three times in five years. I still felt I was making a difference and so I stayed in the army. “So, what do you do then besides fixing old ships?”

“Nothing important.” She replied, accepting the fish I offered.

We talked until it was time to sleep. I went into my tent leaving Kheda my sleeping bag and the fire. I settled for my cot, pillow, and gun. I fell into an uneasy sleep as if I knew something was wrong.

“Wake up, Jeep. Wake up.” Kheda was screaming.





Chapter 3





I



sat up in bed; my cell door banged open. It was morning, and I was in Kras. I’d dreamt the whole night of her. God, I thought I was over this. She was on the monitors again now in front of a row of judges all of them asking her questions. Her opaque, blue eyes were full of rage at their accusations. Her short, blonde hair was slicked back neatly. She looked like a caged animal. Every muscle was tense under her one-piece skin-tight black outfit. Her hands were cuffed behind her with a guard to either side. To her credit, she was utterly still despite the pressure.

“What were your orders major?” The official leaned into her face.

“To destroy the human vessel on its way to the Navea system.” Kheda’s jaw twitched “Did you do this?” He leaned in closer.

“No sir, I did not.” She ground her teeth.

“But those were your orders.” He told the room.

“There were civilians on board.” Kheda let out a breath as if she were defeated.

“There are never civilians on board military transport vessels.” He spat back.

“Perhaps not Kelsairan transports, but on human transports there are.” She sounded smug for once. I looked at the monitor shocked. I told her that. “With all due respect sir, I know there were civilians on board.” There was a blur in the image, and the court was in turmoil.

“Take the prisoner out. Half hour recess.” It was as if something were missing something she said the Kelsairans didn’t want anyone to see. What’s changed Kheda?, I wondered. I heard the guards talking about her, and none of it was pleasant. I briefly considered knocking their teeth in for suggesting such things about any woman much less her, but I had to lay low. It did give me the idea to pick a fight and lay up in the hospital wing all day to watch the trial.

I found Dan. “Do me a favor; hit me.”

“Jack, have you lost it?”

“Do you want to know what’s going on with Trekes?”

Dan grinned. “Tomorrow. These Kelsairan trials take the time they’ll get to the juicy stuff tomorrow.” I nodded, figuring he was probably right, particularly if she kept making the judges mad. So, it was breakfast and digging like normal.

“Jeep,” She’d hobbled to my tent and waited outside wary of the gun I’d warned her about. I unzipped the flap and stared at her. “osimpas wandered through camp we have to get out of here.”

“What are osimpas?”

“They feed on plasma packs. They usually stay on the north side of the island. My ship probably drew them. We must leave now.”

“They aren’t after us. You said so yourself; osimpas feed on plasma packs.”

“It’s not them that worry me. Cairns hunt them they will hunt us too. We must leave now.”

“And go where? I’m sure we can handle a few beasts.”

“Cairns are huge beasts and very smart they hunt in packs.”

“I’ve been here before why haven’t I seen them?”

“I told you they hunt the osimpas and the osimpas stay north.”

“So where do we go?” I was starting to worry because she was worried.

“They can’t cross the water.” A two-legged creature the size of a medium dog ran past and knocked her off her feet.

“What was that?”

“An osimpa. We must hurry.”

“What about my tent? We’ll need shelter in case of a storm.”

“There is an abandoned base across the lake. We can shelter there.” She stood up, and her wound oozed. The creature had caused it to open again when it knocked her down. I picked her up and carried her back to the fire. She collected our med packs should we need them and I ran for my ship. I put her in the other seat and climbed in.

She showed me exactly how to get to the compound and where was the best place to land. I ran her trajectory through in my head and realized this had been her original heading. The signs on the base were Kelsairan. I scrambled out and left her there bleeding and helpless. “You knew this was here. You’re military too.”

“I am.” Her face was expressionless.