The Lost Star: The Complete Series, page 22
Hunter spun on the spot to check with Chen, and Chen nodded. Then the doctor took a pointed step back. “I’ll leave you two alone.”
Hunter took a second to survey the med bay as if he was checking for witnesses. Then he took several determined strides towards her. He pushed a hand down onto the edge of her bed.
She was still seated with her back to the wall, her legs crossed.
Though he wasn’t that close, her stomach still clenched with nervous anticipation.
“Ava, I know you want to know everything. But first, I really need you to answer some questions.”
Though she was determined to find out everything she could, she couldn’t ignore Hunter’s desperation.
She nodded. “What is it?”
“… Ava, how much danger are you in?”
“Shera clearly wishes to kill me. I am a priestess, and it is clear she wishes to seek revenge on my people.”
Hunter drove his eyes closed for a single second before he opened them with a snap. “Okay, I’m about to tell you the truth,” his voice dropped low, “but, Ava, I really need you to keep calm.”
She looked at him evenly and nodded, even though a burst of nerves jumped through her stomach.
“… Avixa is gripped in a civil war. A group known as the resistance is trying to overcome the government.”
“What of the priestesses? Why haven’t they intervened?”
He looked at her directly, his gaze searching. It was clear he was trying to figure out whether to tell her something.
She pressed forward and brought her face close to his.
His eyes opened wide, but he didn’t lean back.
“Hunter, please tell me,” she whispered.
“… The resistance moved against them in secret. Before the priestesses knew what was happening, they’d either been killed or put into stasis. It sounds as if the resistance has been planning this for decades. And it sounds as if they had lots of help from powerful sections of the Avixan government.”
Ava didn’t react.
The news couldn’t sink in.
Her mind shut down.
“Ava,” he said in a soft, careful voice, “you need to stay with me. I know this is a terrible shock, but we’re running out of time.”
“The priestesses are….” Her gaze jerked down to her right armlet.
“I don’t know how many were killed. But we can hold on to the hope that there weren’t many. If they’ve been put in stasis, they can be awoken, right? Right, Ava?”
She gave a shaking nod. “Yes.”
“Then hold on to that fact,” he ordered.
“But I don’t… I don’t understand how this could happen.”
“Neither do we. But we’re determined to find out. Harvey’s working on this now. But I need you to tell me something. Have you ever heard of an interplanetary lock?” His searching gaze darted over her face.
“Interplanetary lock?”
He swore softly. “Crap, she said you probably wouldn’t know about it.”
“Who said?”
“Ambassador Halor.” Hunter flinched as he said her name.
“The ambassador? You've been talking to her?”
He winced again, a shadow crossing over his face.
“Hunter,” she pushed forward, bringing her face even closer to his, “what’s happening?”
“The ambassador’s dead. She was killed by the other Avixans. Before she died, she sent a secret message to the Mandalay. She begged Harvey to keep you safe. She said you’re the only person who can save your people now. She also spoke of an,” Hunter darted his gaze to the left and right as he clearly checked for witnesses again, “an interplanetary lock. She said, as the last priestess, you’re the only one left who can use the lock.”
Ava shook.
Hunter put a hand up and stared into her eyes. “Please, it’s okay. I will help you. We are determined to stick by your side on this.”
“Interplanetary lock…” she repeated in a hollow tone.
His eyes opened wide. “You’ve heard of it?”
She searched her memory. Something was niggling at her, pushing through the cold dread of what he’d just said. She narrowed her eyes and instinctively locked her right hand over her left armlet.
He watched her but didn’t move, his back and arms so stiff, she could hear his muscles creaking.
“… I… there’s something about the darkness,” she mumbled.
His brow crumpled. “What does that mean?”
“Under the dark temples, there’s a… staircase,” her voice became lost, vacant as she dredged up the memory. “I… when I completed my year’s survival training, I came across that room. The chief priestess told me that few other initiates had ever reached that far. She said something about it being the final gift from the outsiders – the ones who threatened us to change.”
She watched Hunter’s brow dart high into his hairline. “It could be the lock. The ambassador said that the others left it behind. And she gave us a map. I don’t know if it leads to these dark temples, as you call them, but it says the interplanetary lock is under an area called the—”
“Havrbor Expanse,” she said.
“Yeah. That’s it. So you… think this interplanetary lock could exist? B’cal’s been looking into your right armlet, and he said it possesses technology he’s never seen before. It’s not Avixan. It’s extremely powerful. Do you think… do you think this lock could exist?”
Before she knew what she was doing, she nodded low, her gaze locked on the far wall as she focused on that memory.
She could remember that dark staircase, remember exactly how it had made her feel.
Nerves escaped down her back just thinking about it.
“At least that’s something. Now, Ava,” Hunter winced, “do you think you’re ready to move?”
“Does the captain want to see me?”
Hunter clenched his teeth together and shook his head. He checked for witnesses once more before leaning close, bringing his face alongside hers.
Her body virtually trembled with expectation as his breath puffed against her loose hair. “We have to get off this ship,” he suddenly said.
She sucked in a sharp breath.
“The Avixans are after you. They know about this lock. They’re going to stop at nothing to kill you. We have to get you out of here.”
“Can’t the Mandalay keep me safe?” Fear punched through her gut, but it couldn’t push far, not with Hunter’s face still pressed so close to hers. Her eyes were wide as they locked onto his chin and neck.
“No. We can’t trust anyone. Someone already tried to kill you. The Coalition has also sent a ship to pick you up. Before you ask, we can’t trust them either. The only way is to get you out of here. Harvey’s organized a ship. I’ll get off the Mandalay and keep you safe until we find out the truth about the interplanetary lock.”
Finally Hunter drew back, took a sharp breath, and settled his gaze on her.
Her stomach churned. Not just with fear at what he’d said, but the sheer feeling of having him so close.
As he took another step back, her mind caught up.
She paled as her eyes grew wide. “But—”
“It’s okay. Do you trust me?”
She didn’t have to pause. “Yes.”
For a second, he smiled, then nodded his head determinedly. “Then we have to get out of here,” he mouthed. “Will you come?”
Again, she didn’t pause. “Yes.”
Hunter locked a hand over his mouth. She could see the fingers transferring a fine slick of sweat over his lips and chin.
“Stay here until I give the order.” He half-turned. He stopped. He looked back at her.
He didn’t say a word.
Her stomach virtually exploded with tingles.
It was in his gaze, in his body language, in his soft movements as he took a small step back, swiveled, and walked towards the door.
It was in the fact he was Lieutenant Hunter McClane and he’d just promised to keep her safe.
In all honesty, she was a priestess of the Avixans. She could look after herself.
But nobody could do everything on their own.
Hunter McClane was coming with her. He’d promised to help her solve this.
… Ava had never been a perfect priestess. Powerful, yes. Motivated, no.
She felt broken. She’d never felt as if she understood the true purpose of her people.
Now none of that mattered. If Hunter was right – and she couldn’t imagine he’d lie about this – then Ava was the only one who could stop this.
If the Avixans were left unchecked, they would swarm across this galaxy, taking what they wanted and destroying the rest.
They were devils at heart.
She suddenly clutched her right hand into a fist, feeling the power surging within.
She didn’t let it carry her away. She focused on her left lock.
She stared at it, closed her eyes, and calmed her mind.
She was a devil. But she was also a guard. A sacred priestess bound to keep her people in check.
And she would.
For the galaxy, for Hunter, for her people.
She pushed up from the bed and followed Hunter out of the room.
4
Lieutenant Hunter McClane
It should be harder than this, he reasoned as he ducked his head into the light cruiser.
Harvey had done everything he’d promised – he’d cleared Hunter a ship and stocked it with everything a small army would need to wage war.
It even had state-of-the-art medical equipment. Everything he’d possibly need to keep Ava safe until the call came.
As Hunter pushed through the ship, one hand locked on the smooth wall paneling beside him, he tried to settle his thoughts.
He’d freak out if he stopped to appreciate how impossible this task would be.
Not only would the Coalition be after them, but presumably every other force in the Milky Way. If he was right, and the Avixans had cut a deal with the Barbarians, there’d be nowhere Hunter could run.
Worse, when Harvey gave the call, Hunter would somehow have to get Ava back to Avixa.
He tried to push those thoughts from his mind as he made his way to the bridge.
He hadn’t seen this particular class of light cruiser before. As soon as the door swished open onto the bridge, he pursed his lips and whistled, the shrill sound echoing through the expansive room.
The bridge on a standard light cruiser was little more than a cockpit with room for a pilot and navigation and not much else.
This was more like the bridge on a reconnaissance vessel.
As he walked forward, he trailed a hand over the panel to his side, gaze swiveling around the room.
There was a set of command panels right in the middle of the room that, at one glance, looked like they controlled everything from tactical systems to engine output.
While there was a pilot console and one for navigation, he could easily control the whole ship right in the center.
There were also several matter recalibration devices off to the side. As he made his way over to them, he realized they were powerful and well-equipped enough to basically provide him with a walking armory. On top of the substantial cache of weapons Harvey had stacked in the cargo bay, with the right schematics, Hunter would be able to print any weapon in the Coalition arsenal.
He pressed his lips together and whistled through his teeth once more.
This was serious, wasn’t it?
“What are you whistling at?” someone asked from behind him.
He hadn’t heard her approach. He turned over his shoulder to see Ava standing there. Whilst her right hand was locked against the doorway for support, she was still standing.
… That was amazing.
He jerked towards her before he knew what he was doing, but she put a hand up. “I’m okay, Hunter. For now. I’ll just have to try really hard not to get shot or stabbed again.”
She grinned, and maybe it was meant to be a joke, but he couldn’t laugh. Not at a time like this.
He pushed his back up and stood as straight as he could. “If I have anything to do with this, Ava, that won’t happen. I will keep you safe.”
She didn’t react at first. Then she gave a soft laugh.
He stiffened.
She obviously saw as she put up a hand in a stopping motion. “It’s okay. I’m laughing because… I couldn’t have imagined Lieutenant Hunter McClane saying that only a couple of days ago. You’ve… changed.” She ducked her head down. Then she tipped it up slowly as she locked her eyes on him.
His stomach lurched, not in a particularly unpleasant way. “Yeah, I understand.” He secured a hand on the back of his neck and let out a tense breath. “Like I said, I’m sorry about the way I treated you. I let myself be swayed by someone else’s story without stopping to find out the truth. I’m sorry—”
She put up a hand again. “It’s okay, Hunter. I’m not fishing for an apology. I just,” she suddenly looked at her shoes, “it’s nice. That’s all. It’s kind of rare for me to have someone on my side.”
His back prickled, and he took a quick step forward. “Well, you’ve got me now. I’ll do whatever I can. But right now, we’ve got to fly this bird out of here. Harvey’s gonna create a distraction. Apparently he’s going to make it look as if we both die in an accident and take this ship with us.”
“Is that going to work? The Coalition seems pretty determined to get their hands on me. And as for the Avixans…” she trailed off.
His stomach kicked as a nervous look flashed through her eyes.
He couldn’t keep saying this would be alright, even though that simple phrase kept echoing around his mind, banging from ear to ear like a pinball in an ancient Earth game.
To be honest, it was more of a prayer than a promise. In all likelihood, there’d be no way this would work out.
But….
She smiled at him again. “Anyhow, it’ll buy us some time, right?”
He nodded low. “Yeah. It’ll take the Coalition a while to realize we’re still alive.”
“Won’t they figure out pretty quickly that Harvey helped us? Isn’t he risking his command for this?” She withdrew as she spoke.
Hunter shook his head vigorously. “Harv’s smart. Way smarter than me. He knows what he’s talking about. Plus, the Mandalay’s in such a state of disarray that it ain’t going to be hard to hide his tracks. The Coalition won’t know Harvey helped.”
“And what about you, Hunter?” She looked directly at him, gaze entreating.
He swallowed hard as a dance of nerves plunged deep into his gut. “I’ll be fine.”
“They’ll call you a traitor. If the Coalition ever gets their hands on you….”
“This is my decision, Ava. And it’s what’s right. I’ve always hated the Coalition anyway. I’m the kind of guy who likes to make his own decisions. And this is my choice. I’m not going to let Coalition bureaucracy threaten the Milky Way.”
She looked right at him, and he wouldn’t have dropped her direct gaze even if the panel behind him exploded in a hail of sparks.
She suddenly let out a tensed breath. “Okay, but you really don’t need to do this for me. I can escape on my own.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, you are pretty amazing.”
She looked up sharply, cheeks splattering with a blue blush.
He cleared his throat and wrapped his hand harder around his shoulder. “Anyway, you can’t change my mind. Even you are going to need help. Especially with that injury of yours.” He nodded down at it. “So head to the med bay and hook yourself up to the bio scanner, and I’ll get us out of here.”
She didn’t move from the doorway, one hand still locked on the frame as one of her eyebrows twitched behind her hair. “You can’t get rid of me that easily, Lieutenant. I’m here to help. This is my escape too.”
Before he could stop her, she shifted past him, somehow stable on her feet as she headed for the piloting station.
She sat down, settled her fingers on the console, and ducked her head back to look at the primary viewscreen.
The bridge was circular, and the primary screen wrapped all the way around half the room. It was partitioned, made up of seamlessly interconnected holo pads that could, at a single request, disengage from the main unit and zoom around the room.
“Do you know how to pilot this thing, Ensign? Because right now I’ve got no idea,” he admitted as he walked up to the main island console and locked his hand on the unit. Narrowing his eyes, he searched over the controls. They were sleek holo buttons raised a few centimeters from the main body of the white-silver console.
Everything in this ship was interchangeable. It was also designed to last. Even if some rogue came barreling onto the bridge and shot out the main console, you could still control the ship with the holo buttons. The console itself was made out of reinforced bartolium. You would need a sustained laser blast to even dent it, let alone destroy it.
Again he found himself pursing his lips and letting out a low whistle.
He hadn’t even known that the Mandalay had a ship like this.
… A cold shiver darted down his spine as he realized what it meant.
The Coalition was steadily becoming more and more militarized as the threats to her existence grew.
The Coalition simply couldn’t afford to be a peaceful exploration force any longer. There were too many worlds, too many cultures, too many people under her wing.
“I think I can figure this out,” Ava said as she settled back in her seat and darted further along the piloting panel.
Her seat was locked by a magnetic path. If necessary, the floor could clamp the wheels in place to ensure Ava didn’t scoot halfway across the room and slam into the wall if there was a little turbulence.
“I’m figuring this out too.”
“This is one hell of a ship, Hunter. I’ve never even seen this kind of design. Why’s Harvey giving this to us?”
“Because this is important, Ava,” Hunter answered under his breath. “So are you,” he added to himself.
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