I can’t see if he’s still with us, so I circle back much higher in the sky.
He paces the hole where the ship was, sniffing. For what, I don’t know.
I steady Radar between my boots, strap myself in, and fly us away from the town and the crash sites. I’ve had enough action for today.
I land us in the soft light of dusk near a small creek in the distant mountains. I will have to fix the pod before our trip into town for food and fuel. But it will serve us well tonight.
After a meal of canned beans cooked over a campfire, and some toasted bread, I let Radar have the last of the jerky.
“You know, I love you. Right, buddy?”
He leans against my back and watches the perimeter of our camp. Radar makes a mouthy noise like he’s trying to talk.
Thinking of the monster makes me realize it might be time to do the one thing I hoped I’d never have to do. I think General Viriden needs to know what I saw, in case we don’t live much longer with that thing hunting us.
I dig through my pack and find my Isonian com, my mother’s last gift to me. I charge it every chance I get. But when I turn it on, I only have fifteen percent left. Still, I call. If nothing else, I can leave a message.
General Viriden’s glowing face shows up on my screen, but it’s difficult to focus on him with how bright his skin is. “Who is this? How did you get this com link?”
“General, I am Tessi, daughter of Sergeant Shior. She met you on a mission in deep space, beyond Alpha Prime. My father was…”
“A Master Sergeant, first name Leos.”
I nod, relieved he recognizes them. “She gave me this com in case there was ever serious trouble with the Nebs on Earth. It was the only duty she gave me before she died.”
He glances around him and then moves into a different room. “I apologize for how I answered. It has been a long time. What’s happened?”
“I just encountered Neb debris on Earth. I have no one left. Just you.” I pull the panel out of my armor and show it to him. “And I just had a Myndrous chase my dog. He wanted my palladium.”
“I am sorry for your loss. Are you and your dog okay?”
“Fine. But I don’t have a lot of battery left on this thing. I didn’t want to bother you, but you’re literally the only person I trust not to hunt me down and take what little we have left. But I also feel like someone needs to know.”
“You’re certain it was a Myndrous?”
“Tall, built like a wicked blend of a Mindoran and a Nebulous with some augmentations.”
“Eyes?”
“Yes.”
He hums a low note. “The pairing seems compatible but most of the Nebulous who take Mindorans do not produce strong offspring. They need augments to function as their emperor expects. That is concerning that they have found their way to Earth.”
“There were at least four.”
“Okay. Do you have somewhere safe to stay tonight?”
“An escape pod.”
“That should hold. But you need to find something more permanent.”
Should?I don’t like the sound of that.
“Yeah, I’m getting tired of almost dying every day. I just don’t have any other contacts. No other way to survive.”
General Viriden moves into a dark corner. “You need to find someone to protect you. Once those Myndrous catch your scent,they will hunt you until you are either dead or, for females, carrying their pups.”
“Ew.”
