“How many people died to grow this and to keep the tree it came from hidden? There has to be child somewhere needing it. My friends would have done
anything
to have had a piece of fresh fruit before they were butchered.”
Her poignant, softly spoken words cut right into his heart. Every syllable rang with heartfelt honesty. “Take the fruit, Lyra. Remember what we’ve come here to do. Remember that the sons-of-bitches who’ve inflicted us with every kind of horror will pay for what they’ve wrought.
Our
races may not live to see that day, but it
will
come. And with every bite you take, remind yourself of those you’ve lost and what they suffered,” he insisted. “Stay strong and healthy so we can keep our wits and do the job. We do this for those we left behind.”
Shakily, Lyra pulled off her right glove and gently reached out for the fruit.
Tears began to fall down her cheeks unchecked. In that single moment, he wanted to be somewhere else with this strong, loyal woman. Perhaps in some garden on his own world where flowers still grew, birds still sang, and no irradiated clouds filled the skies. It was an overwhelming daydream to have in the middle of a grubby, colorless world. His life and hers weren’t their own. Neither of them would see their homes again. But that piece of fruit now represented everything most of the galaxy had lost. He handed her a small knife from the bottom of the trunk. It wasn’t big enough to use as a weapon, nor was it very sharp.
“Cut it with this,” he gently instructed.
She took the blade, cut the orange, and handed him half. “Please, take some. I-I’m not sure I could stomach all of it after living so long on protein packs.”
He took the small knife from her and dropped it back into the trunk as she handed him his share. As they bit into their portions, their eyes met. The woman still didn’t realize she was crying. When something salty hit his lips, he realized that
he
was weeping as well.
It was only a piece of fruit. But it meant everything. And in that moment, some connection was forged that would never break. He realized he’d never forget this desert-planet Master Sergeant, assuming they lived long enough to go back to their respective forces. Fate had brought her into that canyon. He was as sure of that as he was about fighting for a lost cause.
He put one hand on her shoulder and pushed her backward until the backs of her legs came up against a table-like outcropping of rock. “Sit down. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Tonight we rest. You look exhausted.”
She finally broke her gaze from his, looked down at her fruit, and continued to eat it in silence.
“Remember,” he told her while fighting unexpected emotions, “keep the mission in mind. We don’t know what we’ll be asked to do. This is for our comrades and countless others who will never know us. Everything we do is for them.”
She nodded and ate the rest of the food he offered.
Soldar watched her carefully for the rest of the night. Neither of them slept as they should have. His comrade was a bit too calm. A bit too brooding. And when a slightly brighter dawn broke over the horizon, he reached into the trunk for clothing folded in the bottom, hoping some of it would fit a man his size. They were sure to be far too large for her slender frame.
The garments were meant for the men that should have accompanied him. Aigean had promised that so long as those other comrades were present, she’d try to get more food to whoever was left at the oasis. But those plans were blown apart now. No one would be staying behind. It seemed Lyra
was
ready to die. She just didn’t want to do it alone. He could respect that.
“If you’ll excuse me, I have to find someplace to do my business,” she uttered.
“Wait.” He moved toward her while raising the electronic keypad on his left forearm. “I assume your standard-issue ID microchip is located just behind your left ear?”
“Yes, sir. Why?” she asked as she put her hand to her head.
“I’ve got the technology to disable it, the same way I neutralized mine and my team’s before we landed,” Soldar explained. “If the enemy has close-range scanning equipment, our covers will be blown. That identifier has to go.”
He saw her take a deep breath as he pointed the lights on his electronic wristband toward her microchip. Then he pressed several flashing buttons until they went green, indicating her ID was shorted out. She winced as he completed the task, but that was the least of what she’d suffer if the Condorians discovered who she was. Now the chip containing her name, serial number, rank, and other pertinent information was destroyed. Should she be killed on this mission, no one would know who she really was, even if the remnants of the chip were located.
“Take the clothing I’ve picked out for you, some bottled water, and some soap. Clean up as best you can,” he instructed. “We’ll be expected to look reasonably presentable. The idea was that whoever went to the Venus would look as though they’d just arrived on one of Aigean’s light speed shuttles. That’s going to be difficult since we’re exposed to the elements and don’t know exactly when Aigean will arrive. But we must not get caught in uniform now.”
“For the sake of getting our stories straight, how would our civilian transport have gotten past all the Condorian battle cruisers in this sector? The ones who don’t know about the little setup on the Venus? Why wouldn’t they have fired on us?” Lyra asked.
“I’m assuming such a transport would be allowed through. The enemy officers aboard Aigean’s ship wouldn’t want to miss their deliveries of looted food, drugs, or alcohol. Aigean’s unwanted
guests
would have gotten it through Condorian lines without so much as being searched or even tracked.” He switched topics. Time was passing and they needed to be ready. “Bury your uniform where it can’t be found. Take nothing with you that can give your identity away. If I recall your surname correctly, you’re now Lyra Markham …
seductress
.”
She nodded in acknowledgement of his memory. “Just so you know … I intend to do whatever it takes to see some enemy blood on my hands. My dead friends would have given anything for one decent meal before they died. Those raiding thugs are going to pay … I swear to God!”
He said nothing as she stalked around a stone outcrop to change and relieve herself. It occurred to him that her prudishness in not completing these small tasks in front of him was ridiculous in light of the roles they were engaging. But the last of normalcy would soon be gone from their lives. Let her do what she must and have a bit of privacy, while she had the chance.
Lyra Markham was a warrior and wouldn’t appreciate his telling her not to go too far from the oasis, but his protective instincts still emerged. She was so small next to him. How could she have been effective in battle? Still, to achieve her rank she must have done something right. He shook his head and pulled out clothing for himself.
As he relieved himself then washed with copious amounts of bottled water and a bar of his own, old-fashioned soap, he tried to imagine how their so-called intimacy could work. They barely knew each other. What if they couldn’t pull this off?
He prayed to the Creator that some good would come from this effort. Either they’d make a huge difference, or they’d die on this gritty world without anyone having known what they’d been up to. The only damned reason the Condorians had chosen this place to attack was because of the ores that could be turned into fuel. From Reisen Four, a number of planets could all be reached within the span of a few days using wormhole technology. And there was the added benefit of being able to land their pleasure vessel in the wasteland far away from their ground fighters.
Few would suspect that members of Condoria’s High Command had the Venus hidden on this rock. Enemy ground troops, intentionally deprived of such delicacies as sumptuous food and women, would certainly turn on their leaders. It had happened before. Their officers had been slaughtered in very inventive ways, by their own subordinates. He’d seen the remains.
If it hadn’t been for the idea that a man might get aboard and relay a great deal of information back to Allied Command — with the help of Aigean Florn — it would have been more expedient to call in a strike on the Venus and kill everyone. As Lyra suggested, even the innocent aboard her craft would normally be deemed expendable by the powers-that-be.
The very worst scenario for his new partner was obvious.
The Venus could be overrun by Condorian ground troops while she was aboard. And while Aigean’s staff would be killed, how much worse would it be for Lyra if one of the employees gave her away as an allied soldier? That could obviously happen even if the enemy officers weren’t discovered by their own men.
This was an outcome Lyra must still be considering.
As for him, he’d been prepared for that possibility. Though Aigean had sworn allegiance to the allied cause, and she had been correct with all her information, how much could anyone really trust her? She’d survived a very long time among the enemy. How?
Something in his brain kept warning him, like an alarm. What was it about the proprietor of the Venus that wasn’t right, even as he’d been prompted by his superiors to trust her?
Back at the cave he’d promised Lyra a quick, painless end. Whatever happened, he’d see it done before letting those savages get their hands on her. That was the least he could do for having taken away her last round, her only means of a quick, humane end.
• • •
He rolled up the sleeves of his tunic, leaving the front of it untied. The heated breeze was almost cloying now. At least his armor had been insulated for this environment. The dark pants and high boots were attractive, but they protected nothing.
The wind lifted strands of his hair and thrust them into his face. He quickly tied the mass out of his way with a strip of cloth torn from other clothing. The boots he’d been given fit even if the rest of the clothing was skin tight.
He turned when he heard Lyra approach. He opened his mouth to relay another command, but the utterance faded away. The creature now approaching didn’t resemble the battle-hardened warrior he’d trudged alongside. She’d neatly belted an oversized, light-colored shirt in such a way that it flowed over her curves in a very closefitting tunic style. She’d chosen to wear the dark male tights he’d thrown at her without any pants. The length of her legs overpowered the size of the shirt so that the effect was very enticing. She was hiding what was underneath, but not so much that any man with a beating heart wouldn’t take a second look. Even down to the oversized sandals she seemed perfectly attired, a woman to notice. With her body armor removed, she was trimmer than he’d imagined. The way she moved spoke of a tight, athletic, and graceful body.
Once again, he found his body inappropriately responding. This time, the urge to touch her was almost impossible to deny. In fact, he lifted his hand to run it across her drying hair, and then quickly lowered it again. Her tresses looked as though they might be reddish brown in the hazy light. Strands now curled just under her chin, where she’d tucked it behind her ears. A soft fringe of bangs fell sweetly over her forehead. Without the excess dirt, she was as lovely as a Craetorian summer day. He’d have given ten years off his life to have known her before this horrible place. The scent of her fresh skin, so recently cleansed, was heady. It had been so very long since he’d been near anything so feminine. The idea of them becoming lovers now appealed in countless ways.
They may not have long to live, but he’d have a lovely little Earth goddess near him when the Creator delivered his last breath. And oh, what a way to go! If only they’d met before the war. If only … if only …
She gazed at him but whatever her response was, it was inscrutable. He curled his fingers into fists and forced himself to act professionally, not let any of his sudden ardor show.
“Some blankets were in the trunk. I’ve picked out a protected spot to lie on. We need to get some rest,” he gruffly instructed.
“Is that wise, sir? Shouldn’t one of us remain on watch?”
“With what? Two volleys of laser fire?” He shook his head in denial. “No. We’ll hear the enemy approaching long before they get to this spot. The rock on all sides is too loose for them to sneak up … assuming they know we’re here. And all I’d need is a moment to fire on you.”
“Thank you for remembering,” she softly said.
He simply nodded. “It’s best to get some sleep. Aigean said she’d offer the Condorian guards some incentive to stay near the vessel and away from our locale. That should work since they’ll be watching for their own ground troops. All we do now is wait for her. If she can’t safely pick us up, she’ll try to get us more food and water. This was the same thing she’d have done for my men if they’d made it this far.”
There were a few moments of silence as they each straightened their clothing and tried to fluff their hair in the breeze to dry it. He stretched his arms above his head and saw her attempting to hide a grin. Her gaze moved over his body and she shook her head.
“Is something wrong, Sergeant?”
“I was just thinking that you wouldn’t like that Condorian admiral’s attention, sir. I mean … if you’d gone in by yourself and assuming he didn’t kill you on site … you’d be his boy-toy, his tool, his mattress monkey, his — ”
“I get the point!”
She lifted one hand and shrugged. “Sorry, sir.”
“If you’re really sorry, then why the continued smirk, Sergeant?”
“To paraphrase something I recently heard … I’m just sick that way, sir.”
“Talk about double standards … look … just keep your thoughts to yourself and lie down. I’ll let you pick your side of the blanket.”
“What happened to using no titles …
sir
?”
“It’s habit. And it’s one that’s hard to break when you keep addressing me by
my
rank … so stop it!”
She suppressed a grin once more. “Yes … Soldar,” she quickly responded while plopping on the soft blankets.
The sudden use of his name — yielded from such soft, sweet lips — was unnerving.