CassaFire (20 page)

Her gaze returned to the Tgren. His chest wound had soaked several layers of bandages. Athee didn’t know him, but her heart went out to the man. She adjusted her hold on his shoulder, determined to stop at least one source of his blood loss. Beside her, Byron coaxed Mevine to lie down again.

“
Just relax,” he ordered.

Byron placed the young man’s good hand over the gauze on his arm. He poured a little water over Mevine’s head wound and applied pressure again.

“
There was a high-pitched sound,” the young man gasped, “and then the central control panel exploded.”

“
Shh,” said Byron, resting a hand on Mevine’s good shoulder. “You’ll have plenty of time to explain what happened later.”

“
Before that there was a beam of light…”

“
Mevine, stop talking!”

Byron’s authoritative tone silenced the young man. He stared wide-eyed at the pilot, his mouth open in surprise. Byron offered a patient smile that seemed to put Mevine at ease.

A voice at Athee’s elbow startled her. Shifting her attention, she noticed a medic examining the Tgren, pulling back his eyelids. He glanced up and peered around her.

“
Officer Byron, we’ve four men who need immediate transport to the Rennather, or they’re not going to make it,” he stated. “including this Tgren.”

“
Let’s get them loaded.”

The man nodded and rose to his feet. Athee grabbed Byron’s arm before he could move.

“
Let me go with this man,” she pleaded.

Byron shook his head. “No, the commander would kill us both if you arrived on the ship right now.”

“
Someone needs to go with him. He’ll be terrified when he awakens and discovers he’s on a spaceship.”

“
Athee!” Byron grasped her shoulder. His intensity forced her to look him in the eye.
Please, I need you to stay with Mevine. Promise me you will.

His desperate tone caused Athee to catch her breath. She nodded, too stunned by the emotional charge in his words to argue. She felt movement behind her and realized men were lifting the injured Tgren onto a makeshift gurney. Byron grabbed her hand and pressed the damp gauze against her palm before placing it on Mevine’s head. He gazed at his friend and touched the young man’s hand.

“
Athee will stay with you. I’ll return soon.”

Mevine nodded and Byron rose to his feet. Athee gasped, afraid to let him go.

Thank you. Stay with him.

He trotted to his shuttle, the men carrying the injured Tgren in tow. A rumble overhead caused Athee to jump, but a flash that signified lightning followed the sound. The storm couldn’t happen at a worse time with injured men outside and exposed to the elements.

Swallowing hard, she shifted her attention to Mevine. The young man stared at her in confusion, his breath still ragged. She offered a smile that Athee hoped conveyed assurance and moved to his injured side.

I remember you from the festival,
she thought, using her mental voice to encourage Mevine to respond in kind. He didn’t need to speak right now.

You danced with Byron,
Mevine thought, blinking his eyes.

Athee nodded.
Yes, I did.

You like him.

His comment was a statement rather than a question. Athee grinned at his bold observation.
I do.

Mevine’s lips curved into a faint smile and he closed his eyes.
Good.

Byron’s shuttle lifted into the air a few minutes later. From the shouts of those around her, Athee gathered that no one remained in the cave. Her shoulders drooped, releasing some of her tension, just as another rumble echoed overhead. On the heels of the thunder, the second shuttle appeared in the sky. A moment later, a large transport plane also arrived and those outside the cave began to move.

The medic sent three more men to the Rennather. The remaining injured were to travel by plane to the Ktren medical facility. Athee assisted Mevine to the Tgren transport, guiding his unsteady gait across the uneven surface. A large raindrop landed on her cheek, striking with considerable force. She helped Mevine inside just as the downpour began.

Athee’s heart raced as the plane left the ground and soared toward the dark clouds. The plane’s pilot boasted many years of experience, but that didn’t ease her mind as they were buffeted during the flight by wind and rain. Athee’s worried thoughts remained shielded until they were on the ground once again.

Ktren’s medical facility was small. Eight injured men stretched the staff to the limit. Athee stayed with Mevine as promised and even helped with his bandages. He was placed in a tiny corner room on the second floor. The medic gave him a glass of water, adjusting the sling around his arm. Athee seized the opportunity to slip out of the room.

She located a washbasin down the hall. Turning on the spigot, Athee waited while the water’s temperature rose. She couldn’t do anything about the blood on her flight suit, but she wanted to wash the grime and blood off her hands. The smell continued to cling to her clothes and hair. It would require several washings to remove the stench. No amount of water would wipe away the memory of today’s tragedy, though.

Mevine was alone and still sitting up when she returned. His eyes revealed anxiety as she approached his bedside.

“
Feel better now?” Athee asked, noting his empty glass. “Would you like more water?”

“
I’m all right,” he murmured. “My head hurts, though.”

She patted his arm. “I’m sure your people have better pain relievers than we do. Hopefully they’ll send some down from your ship.”

A loud clap of thunder jolted her senses, causing her to jump. Athee’s gaze traveled to the room’s lone window. Rain beat hard against its surface, streaming down the pane in turrets. The building creaked from the wind and she shuddered. She hoped no shuttles would attempt to fly in such weather.

She glanced around the room and noticed a small metal stool in the corner. Moving it closer to the bed, Athee sat down. Feeling drained, she allowed her body to sag. Now that the initial fervor had receded and adrenaline no longer pounded through her system, Athee was exhausted.

Mevine opened his mouth to speak and began to cough. Athee waited until he settled before suggesting he use telepathy instead.

You need to concentrate on breathing, not talking,
she chastised.

I’m sorry.

Athee suppressed her amusement. The medic had cleaned his face, but Mevine’s sooty hair curled in every direction. Coupled with his thin face and large eyes, the young man’s forlorn expression bordered on comical. She decided not to injure the man’s pride as well and chose to focus on the Cassan pilot’s feelings toward his friend.

Byron really cares about you,
she offered, clasping her hands around one knee.

Mevine’s head dropped against the pillow.
I’m not sure why. Sometimes I think I annoy him.

He can be distant. I think that’s how he deals with people. I’m sure you don’t annoy him.

The young man plucked at his blanket with nervous fingers.
The first time I met him, I was in awe. I mean, after what he did in the Vindicarn War? Officer Byron was my hero when I was young. I know I annoyed him with my questions and comments. I couldn’t even remember the name of his navigator, and I know that made him mad.

Athee stared at Mevine in surprise.
Bassa?

Yes. He’s told you about Bassa?

No, I caught his name once when Byron was thinking about him,
she admitted, stretching her legs.
When I asked, he changed the subject.

He doesn’t like to talk about him,
Mevine thought, furrowing his brows.
I guess they were as close as brothers.

He died?

Yes, during the Vindicarn War.

Athee pursed her lips.
Is that why he no longer flies a combat fighter?

Seheller told me Byron had promised his navigator they would pursue exploration after the war, which is why he gave up his position as Cosbolt pilot.
Mevine paused and adjusted his arm.
He said Byron would never fly with another navigator, either. Not after losing Bassa.

Lowering her head, Athee contemplated Mevine’s revealing statement. Byron quit flying Cosbolts because of Bassa’s death? While she respected the promise to his deceased friend, why would someone with Byron’s skills choose to fly a shuttle? It was a lackluster duty at best. Athee was sure training inexperienced pilots in primitive machines didn’t rate high on the excitement scale either. Judging from the passionate zeal he exhibited when he flew his Darten, she surmised Byron still longed for the thrill.

“
He’s too good to give it all up,” she murmured.

“
I think so, too.”

Mevine’s words ignited another coughing fit. His head fell back against the pillow, and Athee retrieved his empty glass.

“
Let me get you some water.”

When she returned, Byron stood at Mevine’s bedside. Athee paused in the doorway, loath to interrupt their exchange. The pilot’s hand was wrapped around Mevine’s arm. A rare, genuine smile appeared on his face. The young man returned the gesture, his thoughts of gratitude and adoration impossible to ignore. Mevine shifted his position, his eyes falling on Athee. Reflecting curiosity, Byron turned to follow his gaze.

“
I was getting him another glass of water,” she explained as she approached the bed and handed the drink to Mevine. Athee frowned as she viewed Byron up close. “You’re soaked.”

Byron brushed aside his damp locks. “It’s raining hard out there.” His words were punctuated by another clap of thunder.

“
It’s dangerous flying in this weather,” Athee admonished.

He shrugged with indifference. “I carried a crew to the site before coming here with two medical officers from the Rennather. I wanted to check on Mevine first before returning to the ship to gather some equipment. The commander wants to secure the site and evaluate the situation before they begin clearing out the control center.”

A gasp from Mevine caught their attention. “My computer pad! With all my work…” His words were cut off by another cough.

“
As soon as the crews start clearing the room, I’ll find it, Mevine,” Byron announced, patting his shoulder. “Now get some rest.”

Byron strode toward the door. Athee followed, concerned for his safety. He might be an excellent pilot, but the storm continued to pelt the building with wind and rain.
Byron?

He paused in the doorframe, his attention flicking to the figure in the bed.
Thank you for staying with Mevine. He really needs someone to watch out for him.

Someone needs to look out for you, too.

Byron managed a faint smile. The exchange with Mevine resurfaced in her mind and Athee placed a hand on his chest. She didn’t want to reveal her knowledge of his past, but Athee could not contain her concern for the Cassan pilot. Byron stared at her, his eyes dark and unrevealing. To her surprise, he lifted his hand. He placed it alongside her cheek, his touch gentle. Brushing her skin once with his thumb, he nodded before turning toward the stairs. Athee watched his rapid descent, feeling torn and confused. Byron vanished from sight, leaving her alone in the hallway.

Remembering her duty, Athee returned to Mevine’s side.

Chapter Eleven

“
What I want to know is exactly what happened yesterday!”

Korden scowled at those present in the Rennather’s conference room. All of the senior officers were gathered, along with Ktren’s prefect. Byron had retrieved the man before the meeting and Orellen was not happy with the situation. The prefect sat at the commander’s side and across from Byron, his expression livid. Adjusting his feet, Byron tried to focus on Korden.

The commander tapped the computer pad in front of him, his finger strokes forceful. “According to the damage report, we lost half of our equipment and three lives, including two Tgrens, in the blast. Officer Seheller, your men were only supposed to be processing data. What happened?”

“
Sir, we’ve spent the past few days translating the data as ordered,” Seheller replied, leaning forward. “One of my men was working on the main control panel with the assistance of a Tgren scientist. They were scanning the unit’s systems, trying to access the mainframe. For whatever reason, a probe was activated. It scanned Officer Detrena first before falling on the Tgren, Ullen. The man’s face twisted with pain and Detrena moved to intervene. The light from the probe vanished and Ullen dropped to the ground. The device beeped three times in warning. Before I could reach Detrena, it exploded. He didn’t survive.”

Korden leaned back and rubbed his forehead. “Was Detrena’s computer pad recovered?”

“
Yes sir, but it was damaged. One of my men is trying to retrieve the information.”

Byron shifted his feet again. After escorting the commander to the site and viewing the damage firsthand, he wondered if any of the equipment in the room could be salvaged. He’d located Mevine’s computer pad and delivered it to his friend, but it had sustained damage as well. Still confined to his bed, Mevine had probably stayed up half the night trying to save his data.