Stolen by the Zandian - Renee Rose Page 0,21

may take both of us searching to find them. You should ready yourself and eat something first.”

“Oh.” My stomach lurches, and I glance back at the bench—my case is still there. “Good.” I hurry back to touch it. I’ve never had a young, but I imagine this is how a mother feels when she can’t let it out of her sight.

“It’s cold and might rain; you’ll need this jacket.” He hands me a sleek garment with a hood. “It’s weather resistant. Remember that the air is thinner than your old planet, so you may feel a little out of breath at first.”

I put the jacket beside the case while I use the ship’s washroom and eat a packet of food. “My lungs are more powerful than a regular human’s.”

He nods. “I know.”

Excitement starts to grow. Dangerous or not, this is an adventure—my first, ever. “I get to walk around without the Kraa masters.” My voice must hold extreme excitement.

“What?” He turns from the console where he’s reading some holo docs.

“I could never walk freely on the planet.” I shake my head. “I spent most of my time in a lab or sometimes in a small outdoor barred yard with the other humans for a little exercise.”

He looks pained, so I add, “But that’s behind me now.”

“Yes.” He looks away. “We need to be careful. Seke sent, —ah, I looked up all the information I could find on Dentron.” He clears his throat. “Like you mentioned, the locals are not advanced—they’re feral and kill strangers on sight. They use poisoned arrows that can travel over half a mile. But I’ve found a field far from their listed habitations. Hopefully it has the flowers.”

“Okay.” I’m about to ask who or what a Seke is, when pale streaks of light begin to wind across the alien sky, fingers of cerulean and pink against the inky black. Without warning, several suns radiate light, as if turned on by an invisible giant.

“Oh!” I gasp. “It’s beautiful—I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“You’re going to love Zandia.” His face breaks out into a smile, and it seems like he’s focusing on something very distant. “We have gorgeous sunsets. And there’s a waterfall with a crystal grotto. When the lights shine, it’s just…” he shakes his head, seemingly at a loss for words. “The crystals are powerful and healing—at least to my species. But I think certain humans also find them so.”

“I’d like to see a waterfall.”

“You will.”

“Beings can just go there, to see it? Do you need permission?” I’m trying to understand.

“It’s open to all Zandians.”

“Could I go with you? Will you take me there when we arrive? I would love to see it.”

His smile dips. “I will take you there as soon as I can. Right now let’s focus on the mission.” He gets up and retrieves something from a cabinet. Rips open a packet.

My senses are on high alert as I scent the tang of medicinal alcohol, the refined blend that is used to ensure human inoculation kits are germ-free. Before I recognize my actions, I’ve snarled out a low growl and stand in attack mode, heart pounding.

“What are you doing?” My voice is fierce even as adrenaline makes me sick with anxiety. “What’s in your hand?”

The thing, long and slim, glints in the light. I back up.

“Stars, Kailani.” He looks at me with concern. I note that he, too, now stands at attention, ready to parry or attack. “It’s an inoculation for you. To protect against bacterial infections you could get on the planet. There’s a kind of insect here that carried a bacterium which—” He breaks off when I start to hyperventilate.

“No.” I shake my head vigorously. I may be enhanced, but my capability for fear seems to only be heightened. The last needle that slid under my skin was to prepare me for a procedure that comes back to me in nightmares. I breathe faster.

“Veck.” He puts the needle down.

The clink it makes on the surface of his console makes me shudder in fresh horror as the memories of the Kraa flash up in full color. A strange, staccato sound fills the space ship. I realize it’s me—hiccuping for air. I sit and wrap my arms around myself, my chest heaving.

Khrys appears in front of me. “Kailani!” He lifts me and pulls me into his arms. “Easy, little warrior.” He touches my pulse, my neck, my face. “You’re okay. Everything is all right.”

I can’t stop the violent shaking in my limbs. “No,”