AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Setting course out of IF space," Brinley confirmed.
I could tell by the set of their backs, they were both anticipating something more than just leaving Gamma behind us. Were they waiting for a chance to disengage the tracker? We might be safer without it, but we'd also be that much more alone out here.
In spite of stealth being the idea, I would have loved to have an army behind me. Or in front of me. Around me would work too; I wasn't fussy. Without some sort of help, we might disappear into the dark, never to be seen again. That would suck.
"So, tell us about these Iri," Rayax said. "From what I gather, they can only assimilate Freytauri. What would they want with my brother?"
His companions obviously knew the details, because none looked surprised.
I told them what I knew, from the first meeting with the Iri on Calig, to the last on Halcyon.
"They're trying to alter their programming so they can use all the species as hosts, not just Freytauri," I said finally. "Which is one reason we're trying to deal with them quickly. If we're lucky, we can get to them before they crack the puzzle. If not, we're boned."
Hamit blinked at me a couple of times. "Boned?"
"Yeah. Fucked. Screwed." Danec was right, we did have a lot of words for sex. "In big, big trouble."
"Oh." Hamit got that at last. "How interesting your language is. We would indeed be… boned."
"Let's make sure that doesn't happen," Rayax said firmly.
"Sounds good to me." In the corner of my eye, I watched E'rel move toward the cockpit. I think he believed he was being subtle, but he moved like he had a big sign over his head saying 'I'm up to something.'
Five pairs of eyes followed him. He sat in the seat beside J'avet and pressed a bunch of buttons.
Apparently unable to contain his suspicion, Rayax undid his harness and stood. "I don't think you should touch—"
"Commander J'avet." Marshall's voice came over the comms. "Are you aware the tracker is no longer transmitting?"
"It seems to have failed," J'avet said unapologetically. "I'll have my engineer look into it. I'm sure he'll have it fixed in no time."
E'rel pulled a device off the side of the controls and held it in his palm. "I'll do my best," he said, his expression deadpan.
Brinley's face was pink with the effort not to laugh.
I had no such problem. The tracker might get us killed. That was a good reason to crack open a window and throw it out. Figuratively, of course, because doing that literally would kill us all.
"You said it yourself, we needed more time to get the tracker working correctly," J'avet said. "We'll have to take that time now."
Marshall didn't sound convinced when she replied with, "All right. Keep me informed."
"Yes, Captain." J'avet killed the comms connection. "Toss that thing in a box and leave it there. We have more important things to work on."
E'rel nodded and returned to his corner, muttering something about wastes of good materials, under his breath.
"Care to explain?" Rayax asked J'avet.
"Not really," J'avet replied. "Apart from the tracker being a danger to us. Are you really here to help?"
Rayax bristled. "Zarex is my brother, he—"
J'avet rolled his eyes. "That explains it."
"J'avet and Zarex have a clash of personalities," I explained.
"Zarex can be…" Rayax searched for the words.
"Yes, he can," J'avet said. "If you're here to help us, then can you explain why anyone would install a device on this pod which might lead the Iritauri directly to us?"
