Page 55 of Human Reclaimed
I fought to keep my horror from showing. “And the colony on Planet Alpha?”
“A convenient test site. Their little truce buys us time to observe their hybrid development while we perfect our own methods.” She sneered. “They think they’re really free.”
My mind raced to Rune, to the fierce protectiveness in his eyes when he spoke of defending the colony, and to the pregnant women I’d met who dreamed of raising their children in peace. I thought of the moonlight swim in Rune’s hidden oasis when his fingers traced my skin with a reverence that belied his warrior exterior.
A week ago, I’d cursed him for stealing me from Earth. Now, I realized with startling clarity that being “kidnapped” by Rune might have been the universe’s way of putting me exactly where I needed to be.
“What’s that look for?” Delia asked, suddenly suspicious.
I schooled my features. “Just… processing. It’s a lot to take in.”
“You’ll have plenty of time to adjust to your new reality,” she said, checking something on her wrist display. “We depart for headquarters in thirty minutes.”
Thirty minutes. My heart pounded. Where was Rune? I needed him to find me before they took me off-planet. The thought of never seeing him again—never feeling his strong arms around me, never hearing his voice grow soft when we were alone together—created a physical ache in my chest.
Delia misread my expression. “Don’t worry. If you continue being cooperative, you might even get special privileges.”
I forced a nod, but inside I was praying. Hurry, Rune. Please hurry. The universe needs you. I need you.
TWENTY-FOUR
RUNE
I pushed deeper into Planet Alpha’s dense vegetation, my plasma blaster raised and ready. Sweat trickled down my back beneath my tactical armor as I scanned for any sign of Talia—a footprint, a broken branch, anything. The jungle’s oppressive heat made it hard to think straight, or maybe it was the panic flooding my system.
My comm unit crackled. “Commander Rune!” Sage’s voice cut through, her excitement evident. “Two trackers just activated simultaneously. They’re moving.”
My heart raced. The trackers—the two small devices I’d pressed into Talia’s palm this morning before we headed to our defensive positions.
“She’s alive,” I breathed, relief making my knees momentarily weak. “Location?”
“Confirmed visual on the pirate captain’s capital ship, northwestern sector. Approximately ten miles from your position,” Sage relayed quickly.
Near my hidden oasis. Rage flooded through me, hot and primal. Of course they would desecrate the one place of true peace I’d found on this planet. The place where Talia had first trusted me enough to swim with me, her laughter echoing across the blue waters.
“Orders, sir?” Tegan’s voice joined the channel.
I made my decision instantly. “Launch an airstrike against the two remaining capital ships in low orbit. Take them down.”
“And the landed vessel?” Sage asked.
“I’ll handle it myself.”
“Commander, with all due respect—” Sage began.
“That’s not advisable,” Tegan finished.
“We’ve lost too many brigade members to those virus tags,” I snapped, already breaking into a run. My feet were finding purchase on the uneven jungle floor with practiced ease. “Aeon and Olivia are treating the infected in the medical bay now. You need everyone else for the airstrike.”
“At least wait for backup?—”
“I can’t wait!” The raw emotion in my voice surprised even me. “Every minute she’s with them…” I couldn’t finish the thought. “Execute the airstrike. That’s an order.”
I cut the comm before they could argue further and increased my pace, pushing my body to its limits. Ten miles in twenty minutes was possible if I maintained top speed. The jungle blurred around me as I ran, leaping over fallen logs and ducking under low-hanging vines.
My mind raced even faster than my feet. Talia was clever—brilliantly so. If anyone could stall for time, it was her. I pictured her quick wit, her sharp blue eyes that missed nothing, and the way her tactical mind constantly worked several steps ahead.
“Hold on, Talia,” I whispered to the humid air. “I’m coming.”
