the air. I breathe in deep. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this close to trees. Probably a little too close for comfort as we skim above the canopy.
Lights pierce the darkness and we aim toward a clearing in the forest that’s getting…bigger? Ah, it appears to be a retractable forest roof. Jarren has all the upgrades. Must be nice to have rich and well connected patrons. I send a report, describing everything I see and my location. Might as well do it while I can.
Landing is a bit stressful. I make sure to keep clear of anything that pivots and flexes so my fingers and other appendages aren’t caught, which is hard to do when your entire body has turned into a giant popsicle. Once the shuttle settles and the engines turn off, I assume a wilted position—super easy to do—and rest my forehead against the shuttle’s leg. Time for my very own Operation Worm on a Hook.
The door opens and footsteps clatter. A beam from a flashlight shines on me.
“Little Worm? Are you alive?” Jarren asks.
I lift my head as if it weighs a thousand kilos. Blinking blearily into the light, I say, “Are we…here?” I gaze around as if confused.
“Yes, you made it.”
Sighing, I try to release my hold, but can’t quite get my limbs to move correctly. Jarren comes closer. He’s pointing a weapon at me. Hard to tell which one in the semi-darkness.
“Help her,” he orders the pilot.
She huffs, but grabs me under the arms and pulls. I hook my left foot and become a dead weight just to make it more difficult. And after a bit of grunting and bumbling, she sets me on my feet. I sway and hold on to the leg.
“Gotta admit I’m impressed you stayed on,” she says.
“I was…motivated.”
She laughs until I clutch my stomach and bend over slightly. “I…don’t feel…very good.”
The pilot jumps back. “She’s all yours, Boss.” Then she strides away.
“Come on, let’s get you inside.” Jarren holsters his weapon.
I sink to both knees and cradle my head in my hands. “I don’t…I’m…”
He reaches me and holds out a hand. I wrap my arms around his legs instead.
“What? Let go!”
“Please take the explosive off me!” I cry, letting all the fear and desperation of the last six hours pour out. “Please,” I sob with real tears running down my face. “I’ll cooperate, tell you anything. Just. Please. Take. It. Off!” What’s funny in a sad way is that he has no trouble with the idea of killing me, but my tears and groveling are making him very uncomfortable.
“Last time you—”
“I didn’t have a bomb on my back!” By this point I’m hysterical.
“Promise?”
“Yes, please!”
“All right, turn around.”
I do and I try to calm my hiccup breaths and runaway sobs. There’s a bit of pressure and then it pulls away. Cold air kisses the sweat and pain burns where the hooks were, but I’ll take it. My relief is genuine and I scramble away on all fours from Jarren and the device. He leaves it on the ground and follows me. When I’m far enough away, I collapse onto the ground.
Jarren kneels next to me. “Just breathe, you’ll be fine.”
“I’m sorry,” I mumble and shudder—it’s not an act. “It’s—that was just so horrible!”
“It’s over now, Lyra. Come on, let’s get inside. It’s warm and there’s plenty of food. You must be starving.” He helps me to my feet.
Huh. So he’s not entirely evil. Who knew? And he called me Lyra. “My legs—”
“That’s all right.” Jarren hooks my arm around his shoulder. “I’ll help you.”
“Okay, thanks.” I sniff.
I limp next to him agonizingly slow, but once I’m inside the base, it’ll be harder to execute my plan. The hum of another shuttle cuts through the quiet. Jarren stops and turns us around as it gets louder.
A bright beam spotlights us for a second and it’s just the distraction I’ve been hoping for. I straighten, yank my pulse gun from his belt, and shoot him in the head. He jerks, stares at me with wide eyes, and thuds to the ground.
“I don’t have to keep my word to a murdering looter.” I grab his kill zapper then bolt for the forest, diving behind a tree. No way I’ll be able to navigate it in the dark. And who knows what creatures lurk inside. My best bet is to stay close to Jarren’s base until I figure out a way to return home.
The shuttle lands, but doesn’t turn off its engine.