Back on the bridge, Driok is again hunched over a console as I wait, chewing on my thumbnail, watching him carefully for any sign of triumph or despair.
“Anything?” I break the silence.
“There are a lot of lifeforms on the surface,” Driok says. “I have to be sure I have located my crew.”
“I thought they would be easy to spot.” I look Driok up and down.
Seven feet of scales, muscle, claws, and fangs which can turn into a dragon would seem to me to be a pretty easy thing to find, especially if there is more than one. I’m still not convinced ourdisguisesare going to be any good. Particularly Driok’s.
Suddenly I have a pair of blazing eyes staring at me. The pupils are mere slivers of black onyx. Driok unfolds himself from the console, and I am instantly wrapped in Sarkarnii.
“They are on the surface,” he says with glee. “My crew is down there…so is the ship. It wasn’t destroyed.”
“It wasn’t?”
“Apparently not,” Driok says.
“Seems odd, given we both saw it blow up.”
“Yes.” Driok buries his face into my hair like he always does. “It is strange.”
“Which underlines our mission.”
“Stealth?”
“Stealth.”
“Then we will be stealthy, my mate,” Driok rumbles. “In order to get my crew and my ship back.”
“Nice to see you’re round to my way of thinking at last.”
“You are always right, spitfire,” Driok rasps. “And you are most definitely mine.”
MAGGIE
Driok wasn’t kidding when he said this place was busy. The small spaceport we landed at was bursting at the seams. No one paid either of us the slightest bit of attention as we disembarked. To the point we probably could have left the disguises behind.
However, I am pleased for the use of the respirator, given Driok was absolutely correct about the dust. It’s everywhere, swirling around us, making seeing not so easy, save for the visor I have, which makes everything clear. The technology contained within it finds anything which might be hidden in the miasma and ensures I’m not tripping over anything. Or losing sight of Driok.
I want to be a badass, but I’m very well aware I need the back up of my big, bad Sarkarnii. Otherwise I’m just a pissed off pregnant lady with a ray gun.
Driok dodges behind a large boulder, which turns out to be the rear of a market stall, one which is covered in a thick layer of dust. He checks his comm.
“How far?” I ask quietly.
“If this signal is true, about two kiliks from here.” His head swings towards me. I can’t see his eyes, but I feel them roving over me. “Do you think you can make it?”
“I’m pregnant, Driok. I haven’t broken my leg. I can get there. And anyway, this is about checking the place out, not a rescue, so there’s no need for a route march,” I grumble at him.
Driok huffs. His face mask stops the smoke from escaping immediately, but then it curls out from under his headgear. It fortunately coincides with another blast of dust from the atmosphere around us and is quickly dissipated.
I put my hand under his cape and onto his bare arm, enjoying the warmth from his smooth, silky scales.
“I know it’s hard, but once we understand what we’re dealing with, we can make a plan which will be foolproof,” I say to him. “I want your crew back in once piece, as do you.”
“Sarkarnii are robust,” Driok says.
“I know. I saw how you healed from the pulsar bolt. But we don’t know anything about how they’re being held or what will happen to them if you go in all flames blazing.” I give him a squeeze. “We don’t wantthemto do anything we might later regret.”
