They each wore similar suits, but they had been modified in some way to their own requirements — extra ammo packs, pouches or sheathed blades, clusters of grenades — it was obvious that the team were veteran fighters. One figure at the back of the group appeared to be a medic with a foldable stretcher strapped to his backpack.
Ryann was surprised to see that the lead man’s armour shifted subtly in colour, reacting to his surroundings, matching the tones of the environment.
Stepping forwards, the man slung his heavy gauss rifle under his arm, then reached up to a panel upon the side of his helmet. Instantly, the matt black visor faded to transparent.
Ryann found himself face-to-face with his father.
“What the hell happened Ryann?” asked Grayell, the relief heavy in his voice. He reached out his arms, pulling his son to him in a rough embrace. “How in hell did you get over here? Were you taken by the Lumina? We tracked your suit leaving the Defiance then lost your signal. It was only when we got aboard here that we managed to pick you up again.”
Grayell stepped back, staring at his son with a wide grin upon his face.
“Never mind, you can tell me all about it when we get you back to the Defiance. Anders is holding for us a little way off the derelict in the Marianne. As soon as we get back to the edge of the structure we’ll call him in — there’s no comms signal this deep inside.” He grinned again, slapping Ryann upon the shoulder. “You’re making a habit of this disappearing act son. But I’m just glad to see you.”
He stopped abruptly, stepping back and raising his rifle in alarm. The rest of the team did likewise, aiming their weapons past Ryann towards the shadows.
“Don’t shoot! Dad! Put your guns down! She’s a friendly!”
At Ryann’s insistence, the team slowly lowered their weapons.
“I’m coming out,” came Eve’s nervous voice from the darkness. “I’m unarmed.”
As Eve stepped into the light, Grayell’s expression turned to one of shock and he raised his rifle, taking aim once more.
“Hey, Dad! It’s okay!” exclaimed Ryann, stepping in front of Eve.
“What the hell is this?” spat Grayell. “Ryann, step aside!”
“It’s okay Dad, she’s friendly! She was a prisoner — taken by the Lumina. She escaped when the ship broke up. Dad, please!”
There was a tense moment’s stand-off, before Grayell eventually relaxed a little, lowering his weapon. He motioned to the rest of his team and they followed.
“Ryann, what’s going on?” asked Grayell, his eyes never leaving Eve.
“Like I said Dad, she was a prisoner,” he repeated. “She signalled to me for help. She saved me from — well, from some pretty crazy stuff. There’s a whole army of drones out hunting for us.”
“Can’t she speak for herself?” asked Grayell in a gruff voice, his eyes never leaving her as she stepped nervously up to Ryann’s side.
“My name’s Eve. I was first-officer on a ship captured by the Lumina. Your son helped me. He said that you could get me off to safety.”
Grayell shifted his rifle in his hands, muttering, “That flight suit you’re wearing — the design must be thirty years old. What ship were you first-officer on? Why have you taken off your ID patches?”
Eve glanced down in confusion at the faded marks on her suit.
“The Lumina took them off when they captured me,” she replied hesitantly. “What’s that got to do with anything? Look, there are about a hundred drones out looking for us — any chance we can we do this interrogation back on your ship?”
Grayell seemed to be struggling to come to a decision. He glanced back to his men before letting out a muttered oath and gave a curt nod.
“Okay then, get ready to move out. We’ll retrace our steps back to the extraction point.”
“His suit’s leaking — he needs help.”
Eve’s nervous voice made Grayell turn around and he looked to his son in concern.
“It got melted,” sighed Ryann, holding out his arm.
“Dane, see if you can patch him up,” muttered Grayell, and the medic came forward. As he went to work on changing out the air tanks on Ryann’s suit Grayell continued to stare mistrustfully at Eve. Ryann went to speak, but he was too weary.
“We done?” asked Grayell as the medic stepped back.
“I’ve flushed the coolant out of his suit and recharged the tanks,” replied the medic. “It’ll keep him good for a few hours.”
“Well I’m aiming to be off this wreck well before that,” muttered Grayell, looking out over the hangar in disgust. “We’ve wasted too much time already. Okay, everybody move out.”
Ryann sighed with relief as the rest of the search team took up their positions: two scouting on ahead, two in front, and two waiting for Grayell.
“You — up ahead of me,” he barked, motioning with his head to Eve. She stepped forwards, glancing fearfully up to Ryann as she passed. Ryann went to follow, but Grayell intervened.
“What’s going on Ryann?” he asked coldly when Eve was out of earshot. Ryann felt a familiar surge of anger welling up inside.
“I’ll walk with Eve,” he replied firmly and pushed past his father, hurrying to catch her up. He glanced back and saw the last two members of the search team fall in behind, their rifles held up in readiness.
But his father remained motionless, staring intently after them. And then, he reached up to his helmet and the visor faded to black and his face was hidden once again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
AWAKENING
The search team made its cautious progress through the darkened corridors, following a trail of electronic markers they had dropped on their way into the derelict. They walked in silence, Ryann and Eve together, the rest of the team spread out in front and behind.
As they emerged into another wrecked hall, the lead scout came to a sudden halt, dropping to one knee, his arm raised in warning.
Ryann quickly took cover behind
