Page 82 of Sol Survivor

“Patched through, Vic.”

“Grant, Carne’s dead.We were unable to save him.His wounds bled too fast, too much.What a shame.”She beamed at a pale Carne.

Silence fell for a minute before Grant asked, “And the facility?”

“Captured.Send in the I.L.E to sweep it clean and gather what intel you can.”Carne spluttered, so she waved her blaster at him.Tilting her head, she studied the man she had hated for a decade of her life.Without hesitation, she shot him between the eyes.

A pause followed before Grant asked, “Was that a blaster shot?”

“Space rats.Best hurry.Burro Lento, end patch.”

She withdrew her dagger and slit Carne’s throat for good measure.There was no surviving that.“For Ande,” she whispered.

Staring at Carne’s slumped body, she felt no remorse.He’d taught her not to regret, not to fear death.Scanning his office, she smiled, allowing the weight of hatred, the memories of pain, loneliness, sadness, and grief to leak from her.Peace settled, and she laughed, letting her tears slip free.

There was freedom in vengeance.

As she climbed the stairs, she paused at each level and peeked through the door, finding strewn bodies, and nothing else.When she reached the first level, Drafe guarded the elevator, Caah was at the other end of the corridor at the entryway, and Nenn meandered through the prisoners, healing with his black box.

Dez had the employees in hand.He nodded at his people and approached Vic.“Is he—?”

“Yup, right between the eyes.”She tapped her forehead.“Vesaliusis yours.Chosen a name yet?”

“Libertas.”He beamed.

“A good choice.”She slapped him on the shoulder.

“Once we have inventoried everything, we’ll destroy those pods, Drafe, and give those poor souls proper burials.”Dez pressed his hand to his chest.“I promise.”

“My thanks, honorable Dez.”Drafe gripped the older man’s forearm.

Dez’s cheeks flushed at the compliment.“Now what?”

“The I.L.E.should be visiting you soon.”She gestured to the facility’s employees.“Sorry you have to clean this up.”

Dez shrugged.“It’s our home now, and housekeeping is an eagerly awaited chore.”

“Fair enough.We’ll take theBurro Lentoto theMula Pesada.”When Nenn glanced up, she gestured that they were leaving.“Dez, need anyone to come with?”

“No.”Dez scanned the floor, contentment in his lingering smile.“Those who wanted to remain on board did so.Sonja will pilot the shuttle for you.”

Made sense.Vic nodded.“Thanks, Dez.”

“No, thank you, Vic, Drafe, Nenn, and Caah.”He waved at Caah.“You have given us back our lives.”

Vic strolled along the corridor, activated her shield, and walked through the gaping doors.They closed behind Nenn, the last one to leave.

She smiled at Sonja as she stepped into the shuttle’s compartment.“To theMula Pesada.I wish to bid Themba goodbye.”

“He will be asleep for many days, Vic.”Drafe unflipped a wall-mounted chair and lowered himself onto it.He captured her hips and tugged her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist as he buried his nose in her hair.

“True.”She smiled through her tears.Since leaving Earth, she had cried more than the last twenty-seven years combined.She snorted.It had better be a passing phase.

“I wish to remain on theMula Pesada,” Caah said when Sonja launched off the moon.“Without having to ask the Q.C.C.for permission.You know how long they take to debate.”

She could imagine with seven commanders or udaps on the Q.C.C., no doubt with volatile and dominant personalities.Focusing on the whispers inside her, she zoned in.How had she known about the udaps, what that word even meant?Or that there were seven of them, one for each tribe: mountains, sky, jungle, canyons, volcano, water, and Drafe’s desert, hence the colors of their hair and eyes.How simple yet so radiantly beautiful.

Drafe tilted her to stare into her eyes, his warmed to amber.“I shall inform them it was my decision.”He didn’t glance at Caah.“Your skills are needed here, and you will serve as a bridge between humans and Qaldreth.If the Q.C.C.wish to send an ambassador, they may do so at their leisure.”

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