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Sunset was close, which meant Falkyn’s new contact was close too, but not immanent. The Arck had arrived early for their rendezvous and not just to soak in the scenery alone. The trail was the perfect place to make a private call off world. He stopped on the canyon’s edge and stared down but not at the curving depths below. His mind relayed scan results instead and he relaxed. The only bio-signs nearby were three lizards and a bird. No people and no arachnids.
It was time to risk contact. Falkyn settled against the cliff and pretended to stare out at the view. His com pinged Admiral Jileea Tal-Darsey and was answered at once.
“Kinda busy,” Jileea breathed at Falkyn, making it impossible for him to look relaxed.
He sat forward and gripped his wrist just below its com. “Sorry to disturb. Just wondering how your trip was going. Did you catch up with those old friends of mine?”
“Sadly, yes. I can confirm they’re here and partying hard.”
That was bad news. The entire Nexus system must be infected with the Devourer’s spies. “I’m sorry to hear that. Any sign of the head of the family?”
“Don’t know. What does he look like?”
“Use your imagination. Like his relatives, I guess, but bigger.”
“How much bigger?” Jileea demanded and Falkyn could hear her scowl in her voice. “Look, this is ridiculous. I don’t have time to be coy. There’s something dreadful going on here and if the Big Bad is bigger than what I’ve seen, it’s obscene. Why didn’t you warn me?”
A chill trickled down Falkyn’s spine, chasing away the baking heat still rising from the canyon. “Because the only ones I’ve seen are tiny. What do you mean by big?”
“Cross a hovel with a skyscraper and think everything in between. It’s drakking terrifying and they’re more than just giant spiders. They’re moving with purpose, like a curse on legs. Way too many legs.” Jileea paused and a sound like scraping bone came from her com.
“Wait,” she whispered. “What was that?”
“What?”
“I thought I heard-”
“What?” Falkyn whispered back but there was no answer. He sat quietly, listening to the open com line, waiting for whatever Jileea had heard to pass. There was another dull screech like an edge of bone being dragged across rock. He hunched further forward over his com.
WHUMP. Thud thud Thud Thud THUD THUD THUD.
Falkyn jerked upright in startled reaction, banging his back against the cliff behind. A muffled curse from his com was followed by the patter of sprinting feet. The strange thudding faded away until all he could hear was running and panting.
“Are you okay?” Falkyn whispered.
Jileea was on high alert because she heard his question despite its quietness. “Ye. That was close. I’ll call back. When I find my way out of ... these drakking burrows.” She cut the link and that was that.
It would have been a relief to call again and ask her to stay on the line, but she didn’t need the distraction. Helping Jileea avoid giant arachnids while escaping some underground maze took precedence over Falkyn’s peace of mind. Unfortunately, it left his imagination free to roam. Why were the Devourer’s beasts on Blizzard? What the hail had Jileea stumbled into?
He hoped she was thoughtful enough to contact him as soon as she could but knowing Jileea that was unlikely.
Falkyn was so lost in thought he ignored the steady tread of someone descending the trail he was sitting on. He scarcely noticed the shadow that fell over him but was distantly grateful when the stranger settled silently beside him. It wasn’t as good as being left alone but Falkyn’s com confirmed this was his new contact, so he couldn’t send him on his way. Unfortunately, he wasn’t ready to deal with him yet either.
Falkyn ignored the stranger to watch as the glow along the horizon faded into star-filled night. He finally sighed and looked across at the person sitting beside him.
A glance confirmed the image supplied by Jileea. His companion seemed to be Sector Leader Spenser Chen, the man recommended as a safe contact.
The human smiled but kept gazing straight ahead. “It’s an overwhelming place, isn’t it? If you want to tourist for a little longer, I’ll wait.”
“Thank you, but I wasn’t comatose against a rock face because of the view. Some bad news gave me an excuse to indulge my melodramatic side.”
Spenser nodded. “Bad news will do that. Are you okay?”
Falkyn began to smile, to force out a chuckle, to throw back his shoulders, but everything went wrong. His mouth wobbled and his chuckle sounded shaky. He tried to find some light-hearted words, but nothing came.
“Take your time,” Spenser said. “That’s an order, lieutenant.”
A gasp that was almost a laugh escaped Falkyn. He’d forgotten how ordinary he looked, but it was a relief because it was so true. He was an ignorant clown, juggling the lives of everyone in the galaxy without truly understanding gravity. He nodded and glanced up to study Spenser. The human looked surprisingly young for a sector leader. He was either extremely competent, or knew the right people, or—most probably—both.
Spenser settled against the rock face too and leaned his head back, closing his eyes as if to bask in the day’s residual heat. “Sometimes it feels like the weight of the worlds is on us but it’s never that bad. We only need to lift our own slice of life. Don’t try to carry too much.”
If only, Falkyn thought
The human twitched and his eyes flicked open. He turned to study Falkyn. “You disagree, Lieutenant?”
That was a shock. Spenser was right about the silent denial but how did the man know? Simple—a lucky guess, wrapped up with experience and some basic psychiatry. The Arck forced himself back into his role. It was too early to trust this stranger. “No, sar. That is, I’m sorry, sar. You’re right, I’m sure.”
“But ...” Spenser prompted.
“The Arck is facing an unprecedented threat. Everybody is, and I’m responsible for recruiting you to help him save all sentient life.”
“That’s a big task,” Spenser said gravely.
“Yeah. How’s it going?”
“You’re not there yet, Lieutenant. Not by a very long shot. I have some major doubts.”
That was a shock. Jileea had been certain Spenser Chen would help. “Doubts about Jileea or the Empire?”
“No doubts about the lady,” Spenser said. “She’s devoted to Darsey and the Alliance. And, yes, I know the new Arck is also Alliance friendly. That’s why I agreed to meet you. However, I need answers.”
Falkyn didn’t try to hide his frown. “That’s pretty gutting to hear.” He shifted his face into a contrasting wry smile. “Am I looking at a demotion after this mission? That would be pretty gutting too.”
“Do you deserve to be demoted, Lieutenant? Are you betraying your people to help an alien ruler? Perhaps a Court Martial would be more appropriate.”
Falkyn winced. He admired the man’s loyalty, but it meant another potential alliance was wavering on the edge of failure. Trying to win Chen over was going to take more than words. Falkyn needed to be totally honest. “You think this is a setup,” he stated calmly. “That I’m here to enlist you as a spy for the Empire rather than share intelligence on a new threat. You’re a suspicious man, Spenser.”
“No, I’m not. Simply careful. The Arck’s known to be an expert manipulator.”
“What the hail do you mean by ‘manipulator’? I’m diplomatic, not deceptive. Admittedly, the two sometimes flirt with each other, but not in your case. Let me prove that that I’m here in good faith.” Falkyn mind-tapped his com and the hologram that had altered his features disappeared.
Spenser hardly twitched while his mind was silent, but his eyes widened slightly. “Arck Falkyn. Apologies, Sire. I should have recognized you.”
“If you had, the hours I spent programming a subtle disguise would have been wasted.”
Spenser’s lips curved. “Along with the cost of a lieutenant’s uniform.”
“Indeed.” Falkyn smiled back but only briefly. “We’re facing terrible danger, Leader, and I mean all of us. Everyone in the galaxy. Spies are a threat so I can’t tell you everything, but perhaps I can tell you enough to convince you to help.”
Spenser sniffed. “Doubtful. You want me to keep this meeting secret even from my immediate superior. This joint venture gets stinks. Your only hope is telepathy.”
“Then we have a problem. I’m prepared to link but most humans can’t even pick up emotions much less thoughts.”
“I, Sire, am not most humans.” Spenser turned his head and flicked back his short hair. Something was curled against his head, tucked into the curve behind his ear. Falkyn leaned closer to see a dark brown strand with soft bristles.
“Fronds,” Falkyn breathed. “But genetic manipulation’s illegal.” He grimaced at the naivete of that statement and scrubbed any judgement from his thoughts.
Spenser offered a reassuring smile. “Sperm donors aren’t. My father’s infertile, so my parents took a chance with the genes of a kres colleague. And here I am. I can’t talk though. Telepathically. My fronds are stunted. However, they pick up plenty, including stray thoughts. So ...”
“‘So’ indeed. May I?” Falkyn lifted his right frond but paused until Spenser offered a sharp nod. They dipped their heads, so Falkyn could steal a long gray frond behind the human hybrid’s ear. Spenser hissed but held still. Their contact was instant. Falkyn opened his mind and explained. Spense understood and accepted. Their team grew—only by one, but Falkyn felt inexplicably lighter. Perhaps there was still hope in the world.
Falkyn pulled his gaze away from the other man. “I need all the help I can get.” Something welled up in his chest and words came with it. “I’m just a chick from the Rim caught up in a nightmare where people keep telling me I’m their leader. I thought I was competent, but that was delusional. I can’t get my own family to follow me, even when the stakes are life or annihilation.”
Spenser kept his eyes on the canyon at their feet. “Family can be like that. It’s not much help, but I’ll co-operate. I find you very convincing. As a leader too.”
A small sound escaped Falkyn. It was a merged gasp, chuckle, and sigh. It was also incredibly embarrassing. However, all he sensed from the man beside him was acceptance. “Thank you, Leader. Don’t jump into the nest too fast though. This hasn’t come together as I hoped, and we might lose. We’ll probably lose.”
Spenser laughed. “Sorry,” the human choked, “but your sales pitch needs work.” Spenser sobered and turned with a wry smile. “Thanks for your honesty. I know this is bad but don’t despair. You haven’t seen me work yet and I’m very good.”
Laughter rang out again and it took Falkyn a second to recognize it as his. He managed to reign it in before looking like a total fool and offered a curt nod to Spenser. “I’m sure you are, Leader. You have my gratitude for your support. Thanks also for helping me find a genuine smile.”
Spenser bowed in response but was grinning when he straightened. “Is that what that was? I’ve never heard a ‘smile’ so loud before.”
“If by loud you mean hysterical, I assure you I never lose the plot like that. Not normally.”
Spenser began to back away. “That’s a pity. Perhaps you should spend more time with friends. Or a qualified counsellor.”
A snort escaped Falkyn, but he managed to contain any further guffaws. It wouldn’t do to scare off a new ally. Still, the man didn’t seem to scare easily. Spenser sprang back up the path making pebbles skid down the slope, but he was surefooted and surged on. Falkyn watched him go and his face didn’t tighten into its usual frown. Perhaps there was hope after all. They just had to keep Darsey well away from the Devourer.