Page 56 of Warrior
"Ewok and I will retrieve the explosives once the tunnels are empty." Daicon's voice was matter of fact, not laced with anything but determination and confidence. I forced the corners of my lips upward, trying to quell the nerves rolling in my stomach.
"We need to figure out who's the fastest through the supper tunnel,” he continued.
“Why?”
Daicon’s eyes flickered to mine, and I saw regret for what came next. “Those are the younglings who will act as bait for the guards.”
For a moment, I seriously considered vomiting. My hands lay in my lap, clasped tightly together. Daicon moved his armfrom the back of my chair to curl his fingers around mine. His touch felt warm and strong, and a soft sigh escaped my lips—although the worry remained.
"Can't I be bait?" I suggested, watching Daicon's eyes narrow. He recognized my question didn't come from bravery, but something beyond that. It didn't matter that each of us came from a separate point in the galaxy. These were my kids! I would do anything to protect them.
"You are brave, sweetling." Daicon's finger trailed down my cheek. "But for the ruse to work, the guards must believe the younglings have disturbed the plan to destroy the mine. We only need a few to act as bait. Most younglings will be in the tunnel, ready to board the shuttle as soon as I can clear the dock."
“We can do races after dinner to see who’s the fastest.” Ewok suggested with a grin.
“Good idea.” I ruffled the hair on the top of his head.
“Fast and small enough to maneuver the tunnel easily,” Daicon agreed.
Since mending and sewing tended to be part of my daily tasks, I’d fabricated a measuring tape out of a piece of rope marked with lines. It wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough to measure the circumference of the smallest part of the tunnel and the girth of the children chosen to navigate through it.
"George, while Ewok and I go after the explosives, you'll need to make sure they can get to the upper level and down the tunnel to the breach in a couple of minutes," Daicon told him.
George’s pale blue head dropped in a nod, but I saw his eyes narrow, plotting the distance between here and freedom. Walking from the common area to the docking tunnel took around fifteen minutes. Of course, most times, the going was slow and careful, keeping to the shadows conscious of the possibility of running into a guard. Hopefully, the guards wouldbe preoccupied tomorrow, and the children would be running on adrenaline.
We all would.
"I want to be part of the bait team," George announced, his head snapping upward in a proud tilt.
I bit my lip to keep from protesting, but nudged Daicon with my elbow. George was as tall as me, but he was slender, probably not much bigger around than the smallest child.
“I think that’s a good idea.” Daicon laid a hand on his frail blue shoulder. “Every team needs a leader.
“What team can I lead?” Ewok didn’t hide the envy in his voice.
Daicon shifted his grip from a blue shoulder to a furry one. “You’ll need to lead the group waiting in the tunnels while I clear the dock.”
"Clear the dock," Ewok repeated, gazing into Daicon's eyes. A slow nod was his only answer. Daicon didn't need to say it. No one did. The warrior at my side would ensure no one remained alive in the dock area to harm me or the children.
It was a testament to how much I'd changed. Not just in the forty-some-odd years my body regressed, but my mind was different... my soul. Sure, there were places on Earth where the life and death struggle in this mine was commonplace. I’d done enough mission trips to know that. My life on Earth used service and the idea of peace to fight against atrocities. Now I knew that sometimes one had to fight and kill to protect the innocent.
Knowing Daicon would do that for me, and the younglings not only made me feel safe. It made me feel proud. Proud enough to want to be a part of the fight to protect the children.
“What’s my job?”
Three sets of wide eyes turned to me.
“Kida?” The pride in Ewok’s eyes made me preen a little.
The corners of Daicon’s full lips turned upward as he watched me. I saw the moment an idea sparked to life in their golden depths.
“You get to set off the explosives.” The grin Daicon wore turned into a wicked smile.
Oh crap!
Chapter 14
Daicon
