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A pod headed in our direction. No, I corrected myself, not quite in our direction. Close enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, but not to suggest they knew where we were, or even that we were on the planet. With any luck, they assumed they killed us when they destroyed the pod, and were heading home for an afternoon snack.
Slowly, the Iri pod circled the area. At one point, it almost passed overhead. We dropped to a crouch and waited for it to move away.
Not going for a snack then.
My heart hammered like crazy. By the time it was out of sight and hearing, I was ready to get up and run the rest of the way. I all but leapt over fallen logs and ducked under branches so fast, J'avet had to put out a hand to stop me.
"Slow down before you get yourself hurt."
"Sorry, I got a surge of adrenaline." I slowed up a bit. "I just want all of this behind us."
"We all do, but we still need to be careful." J'avet gave me that look again. The one that suggested he wasn't sure I should be here at all. Well, it was too late for that.
"The sun is starting to set," Rayax pointed out.
"Right." J'avet consulted his watch. "We're approximately two kilometres to the Iri base. This would be a good time to stop for a few hours. When it's full dark, we'll use our night visors to see our path."
He lowered his bag to the ground.
"Okay. I could use a nap." I lowered my bag beside his and sat on a patch of dry ground. I opened the neck of my bag and pulled out one of the IF's famous protein bars. When I say famous, I really mean infamous. The things tasted as good as they looked, and they looked like a piece of brick. The texture is almost as hard. Apparently they're the healthiest thing anyone in the galaxy can eat. Or almost eat. Personally, I'd kill for a burger about now.
I bit into my bar and chewed while I wondered how Brinley was doing. I saw no indication from the Iri pod that they spotted them. That didn't mean they were safe though.
"I have a theory," Rayax said. He seemed to be enjoying his protein bar. I knew he must be flawed in some way.
"What's that?" Tarvun asked, when it became evident no one else was going to.
I had a mouthful, so I couldn't.
"I think the IF is heading here for a full blown attack on Tarathu."
I cocked my head at him sharply, but J'avet didn't look surprised.
"They think we'll fail?" I asked. That was…rude.
"I think they're hedging their bets," Rayax said. "If we succeed, they help mop up after us. If we don't, then they destroy everything."
"But the Iritauri are IF citizens when they aren't hosts," I protested.
"The Iri are a threat to the galaxy," J'avet said, his voice low.
I swung my face toward him. "You knew about this?" If he did, I might shove the rest of my protein bar up his—
"No," he said firmly. "But I suspected. The tracker was to help lead them here, but also to lead the Iri to us. If we were destroyed before the IF could rescue us, then it wouldn't be much loss to the IF."
"I resent that," Tarvun said. "I would be a great loss."
"Me too," I agreed. "At least to myself."
J'avet's mouth twitched up slightly on one side. "I didn't say I agree with them. They would get the chance to attack the Iri and say they were provoked. After that, they could justify any attack on this planet."
"They still can, if Gamma…" My tongue darted over my lips and I couldn't finish the sentence. I sucked in a breath. "Surely the Infinity would be enough of an excuse. And Halcyon."
"The IF is a bureaucracy," Rayax said. "It's anyone's guess why they do what they do. It means we need to work quickly, because they'll fire first and ask questions later."
"For the record, I would really object to becoming collateral damage," I said.
"We'll do all we can to ensure that doesn't happen," J'avet said.
