“Horatio,” Will sent. “What’s going on?”
“Sebastian decided to scout ahead,” Horatio replied. “I followed him. You did tell me to keep an eye on him…”
“I didn’t mean to the point of abandoning us,” Will clarified.
“I know,” Horatio transmitted. “And I meant to turn back soon after leaving comm range. But then we spotted a herd of Tasins and had to take cover. We kept a low profile until they left the area.”
“They’re gone, now,” Sebastian sent. “Tracking to the east. I suggest we head northwest, if only to avoid them.”
“I agree,” Horatio transmitted.
“All right, we head northwest,” Will said. “Wait there for us.”
Will and Rhea arrived to find Sebastian and Horatio deployed behind a large, fallen tree strewn across the path. They aimed out from opposite sides, with Sebastian scanning the forest on one flank with his energy rifle, and Horatio taking the opposite end, the double-barrels protruding threateningly from his robotic forearms.
Anything? Will sent over the mental channel. He and Rhea took cover behind the same log, close to Horatio.
Quiet as a whorehouse at dawn, Horatio replied.
Dude, the bad jokes… Will said.
Will had Gizmo circle outward in a spiraling pattern, and when the drone confirmed that there were no Tasins or other bioweapons lurking anywhere nearby, Will gave the “move out” marching order.
They headed northeast, moving away from the route the Tasins had taken. Sebastian took the lead, and the others kept their distance from that wicked tail. Gizmo scouted the skies as usual. By then the sun was firmly above the horizon, and morning was well afoot. The purple sky had already faded to its usual grayish blue.
Like most beauty, so very fleeting, gone with the blink of an eye.
They had only traveled for about half an hour when the trees began to thin. Though the scarce trees, Rhea could see a large, towering wall of rock ahead, that extended from north to south. A trending ridge of some kind.
In a few more minutes, they left behind the trees entirely, and emerged on the rocky, windswept plains that marked much of the Outlands. The breeze picked up when they emerged, becoming a strong southeasterly wind that gusted due south occasionally.
“That’s going to carry our scent to the Tasins,” Rhea said.
“Yes,” Will said, dreadlocks waving in the wind. “We have to press on. And quickly.” He glanced at Sebastian. “But this is where we part ways. You agreed to accompany us only to the edge of these woods…”
The man nodded. “And so I did. I head north, with the intention of rounding this rock face. We might as well stay together, for the time being.”
“No, we’re heading north, you head east,” Will insisted.
Sebastian shook his head. “Tasins roam the plains. I refuse to take that route. And I’m not returning south. That wind will guide the Werangs and Kargs directly to me.”
“That’s the idea,” Will said.
“You can’t make him serve as bait,” Rhea said. “That’s wrong on so many levels.”
Will sighed and glanced at her. “I didn’t mean it, obviously. It’s called sarcasm.” He returned his attention to Sebastian. “Fine. We stick together a while longer. But after we’ve rounded these cliffs, we’re going our separate ways. Got it?”
“I can agree to that,” Sebastian said.
Will allowed him to take the lead once more, and then followed with the others a short distance behind. Gizmo scouted the route along the cliff face ahead.
“I know he’s a cyborg and all,” Will said quietly. “But you have to stop taking his side.”
“He has sensitive hearing…” Horatio reminded him.
“Maybe I want him to hear this,” Will said, louder. He focused on Rhea. “Well, you have nothing to say?”
“I…” She swallowed. It was an entirely unnecessary, completely instinctual act, an artifact of her all-too-human brain, rather than anything her machine body was programmed to do. “It’s not so much that he’s a cyborg, but that… well, I guess I find it hard to abandon people, especially when doing so will put them in danger.”
“He’s in no greater danger without us,” Will insisted. “There will still be bioweapons out there. And bandits. Nothing we do will change that. Staying with us won’t make there be any less of them.”
“Yes,” Rhea said. “But you know he’s far better off fighting at our side than alone.”
“Not necessarily,” Will said. “More people, equals more mistakes.”
“It also equals more firepower,” Rhea said.
Will folded his arms. “Okay, but there’s still one problem. We know nothing about him. I don’t trust him. Besides, he claims to have roamed the Outlands by himself for two years now. He’s not hurting for company. Sure, he’ll take advantage of our companionship while he can, but when we part ways, I doubt he’ll have any problem fending for himself. Assuming his story is true.”
Rhea sighed. “I suppose you’re right. Still, I feel bad.”
Will switched to a mental channel to ensure Sebastian wasn’t listening. Me, too, but honestly, it’ll be a relief not to have to keep a constant eye on him. He’s a wildcard. We never know what he’s going to do. Those blades on his tail weren’t meant to be ornamental, if you know what I mean.
It’s possible he’ll follow us, if we cut him free, Horatio chimed in. Maybe intending to close with us when we camp, and then rob us.
Gizmo will alert us if that happens, Will said. A few warning shots on our part and he’ll never bother us again.
Unless he shoots down Gizmo, Horatio said.
If he does that, the gloves are coming off, dude, Will sent. He can kiss his monkey tail good-bye.
His desire to stay with us might also simply be his way of buying time, Horatio said. While he waits for the most opportune moment to run off with our hauls.
Will glanced at Rhea. There you go, see? Horatio understands this cyborg. The sooner we can cut him free, the better.
I guess so, Rhea transmitted.
The party reached the north-south trending ridge and strode alongside it, staying close to
