I took a glance forward to make sure my footing was clear, and I wasn’t running into anything unexpected, and then I took another look at the incoming vespis. They were carrying humans in their jaws. I remembered being carried like that. They must be in a hurry. As my gaze swept the shuttle field from front to back, I saw three of the vespis flyers top the rise, and turn to approach the runway. That was interesting.
I figured neither group was a problem to me, and ran to where the field skirted the base of the ridge. The first flyer touched down as I made the corner, but no-one called out to me, or asked what I was doing, so I kept running. The action was easing the skittering twitch playing through my body. What would help more would have been a knock-down drag-out fight, but I couldn’t see any volunteers, and I didn’t think I had the time.
The second flyer touched down, and turned at the end of the field. I reached the turn point as the third flyer rolled in, running almost the full length of the field before it turned and taxied over to where a group of vespis and humans stood waiting. As it came to stop before them, I hit the next corner and turned back along the edge closest to the settlement.
The humans and vespis moved towards the flyers, but one lifted up from the group, hovered for a second, and then turned towards me. I watched it approach, but didn’t let it disturb the pace I had set. If it wanted me, it would tell me—and, no sooner had I thought that, than I heard T’Kit’s voice in my head.
“Cutter. It is time to go.” She flew around me, and then came back to fly beside me. “Follow me on board.”
“Give my apologies to your Queen,” I said. “I did not mean to leave so abruptly.”
“The queen is not offended. Delight explained what they did in order to repair you in time to serve our needs. I will brief you on your part in the coming mission.”
Some of the anxiety faded from inside my chest, and the energy in my limbs subsided some more.
“Can you do this?” T’Kit asked.
“Yes,” I said, and hoped it was true.
At least I knew the terrible restlessness had a cause. Like Mack had said, I was running on a nan-powered stim pack. Coming off it was going to be a bitch.
30—Cutter Unleashed
Our first stop was the weaver settlement we had cleared, however many days ago it had been. The buildings were still intact, and there was no sign of any life having returned. The queen sent out a quick search party of vespis, and they reported emptiness.
“And the shuttle that came down?”
“Not in this village,” the guards reported, and the queen directed the flyers to where the next weaver settlement was located.
And now I was not alone. Tension ran through the shuttle, every vespis and human checked through their weapons and gear, or stared out at the forest and cliffs rushing past. This time the flyers did not settle any distance from the settlement. They came right in, setting down as close to the buildings as they could get.
“This way,” T’Kit said. “We are to escort Askavor, and check this section.”
“Why did the queen ask after a shuttle?”
“Because there were reports of multiple flights in this area, and we are sure that not all of them were of K’Kavor origin. We believe many came directly from orbit.”
“How did you not know?”
“The pilot that ambushed you was not the only infiltrator in our ranks. Once he had been unmasked, we were able to uncover the ones that had made it into the team that monitors air traffic and approaching space ships. Your role was instrumental.”
I was both happy and put out to hear it.
“You were not meant to be as badly injured as you were.” T’Kit sounded almost apologetic, as she referred to the ambush on the field. “Mack seemed to think you would be armed.”
“I was armed,” I replied, and she gave the series of jerky buzzes that signified vespis laughter.
“He thought you would have more than the chair. We had anticipated the Blazer, at least.”
I felt my face heat, and then realized she might be teasing me… or actually trying to apologize for what had turned out to be one of Mack’s most monumental fuck-ups.
“It is not his fault… or yours,” I said, “Mack is right; I should have armed myself before I left the shuttle.”
“To give you your due, you were expecting to enter friendly territory, guarded by others suitably armed, and had not been forewarned the settlement was compromised.”
This, too, was true, but the flyer touched down, and there was no more time to discuss it.
“We have been assigned this quadrant,” T’Kit said, and the location floated into my head. “You, Askavor, Mack, and I are to see if the scans missed any survivors, and to seek clues as to what happened to make it as it is.”
I headed out of the flyer, T’Kit, Askavor and Mack forming around me. Even though the scans had shown no life forms in the area, we were still wary. This should have been a thriving fishing center, and home to at least a dozen weaver families. T’Kit confirmed that the webbing in the trees overhead had the structure of permanent dwellings, while the buildings on the ground reminded me of boat and product storage centers. The whole place should have been bustling, but it felt like it had been empty for centuries.
The first of the buildings we’d been assigned was reminiscent of the building I’d investigated in the first settlement. That one had contained an arach king, and rooms full of cocoons. I wondered if this one would be the same. The thought made me hesitate, and I slowed my
