20. Chapter 20
Chapter twenty
-Bryce-
W hile Kitari was taking a leak, I made the most of my newly regained mobility. I started with some squats and lunges, testing the bend of the leg, then did some more high kicks and cartwheels. It felt good to be properly moving again. I climbed a nearby tree and did some pull-ups from one of the lower branches. Without the armor suit and with my leg in full working order, I felt light and energized.
A sharp fizz in my ear made me jump, and I dropped back to the ground. The comm. It had come back to life. I’d completely forgotten to test it now that we were out in the open. The comm’s receiver was on a band around my neck—separate from the armor suit which was now presumably on the bottom of the riverbed—with a small earpiece embedded in my ear. And now it was live, and someone was attempting to contact me.
I leaned my back against the tree trunk, catching my breath as I adjusted the signal and pressed my finger to my ear. A voice emerged through the static and solidified into something recognizable.
“The section is clear.”
It was O’Neill, his voice muffled but there. Gods, it felt so good to hear him. The last I had seen of him he was scrambling to get away from that huge creature.
“O’Neill! Can you hear me? It’s Gunner.”
There was nothing but static for a moment and then, “Bryce?” His voice rose two octaves. “Bryce! Holy shit, you’re alive. Where are you? Are you ok?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, I’m in the jungle somewhere.”
“We all thought you were dead. I’ve been checking the comm channels just in case. Rand told me I was being an idiot, but I thought…oh, man, it’s so good to hear your voice.”
I laughed. “You too, buddy. How is everything on your end? Is everyone ok?”
“Yeah, yeah, everyone’s fine. Clyde’s been a miserable bastard since you stopped responding though. Oh man, I have to tell him.”
I grimaced. “How long has it been?”
“Three days.” Was that it? It felt like much longer. “Where have you been? You won’t believe what’s been happening. You’re gonna be so mad you missed out on all the action. We found the aliens. Clyde spotted a bunch of them not far from camp, they were watching us. I didn’t get a good look, but Rand said they’re huge and purple. Rand nearly got one, too, but they disappeared back into the jungle. They’re slippery bastards. Those guys are hard to pin down for something so huge.” His excitement dipped. “You need to watch out, they’re probably all over the place, and they’re strong and quick as hell.”
I glanced in the direction Kitari had disappeared. “I know.”
“What? Shit, did you see one? Did you manage to get away?”
“No, no, it’s fine. O’Neill, they’re not like we think they are. Well, this one isn’t, anyway. He–”
The line fuzzed and a new voice came on, cutting me off.
“Gunner?” It was the stern voice of Chief.
I straightened. “Yes, sir, I’m here and reading you.”
“I’m glad you’re still with us, son.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Where have you been, soldier?”
I hesitated. How could I explain everything without sounding entirely incompetent? ‘ I got ambushed, chased by a monster, saved by the enemy, fell in a hole, and had to be fed and helped around by a big beefy alien who cuddled me to sleep ’ didn’t sound particularly commendable.
“I was caught unawares, sir, and was assisted by one of the Aldar.”
“Assisted? By the hostiles?”
“Yes, sir, I believe the intel we received may not be entirely—“
“Who else is on the line?” Chief barked.
O’Neill had gone silent when the captain connected, and he sounded startled to be addressed directly. “Me, sir, O’Neill.”
“You are dismissed. This conversation is classified, do not inform the men that you made contact with Gunner, or anything you heard here.” His tone brooked no argument.
“But why—“
“That is an order.”
“Yes, sorry, sir.”
After a moment of hesitation, the line crackled as he disconnected. Now it was just me and Chief. I waited in tense silence for him to speak.
“How exactly did this alien operative assist you?”
I phrased my reply carefully, filling him in on everything that had happened since Kitari saved me from the ahk-bele-whatever , including the plan for me to go and speak to Clay. I gave him only the basic details, downplaying Kitari’s role so that it was more of a temporary alliance between us to get out of a difficult situation, rather than what it really was; Kitari saving my useless ass over and over again. The last thing I wanted to do was appear weak and incompetent.
Once I’d finished, Chief was quiet for some time. I waited for him to speak.
“I see,” he said. Was that disappointment in his tone? Disappointment in me? My stomach sank. I didn’t know how everything had gone so wrong, so quickly. Maybe he was going to rethink letting me back on a mission so soon after my accident. “So, you want to go into their camp on your own? Into hostile territory with no backup and no exit strategy.”
I hesitated. “Sir, Kitar—the, er, Aldar— said they’re more likely to be ok with it if it’s just me. I think this might be the best option to contact Clay with no hostility.”
Another long silence as my stomach sank all the way to my boots.
And then, “Ok.”
I hesitated. “Ok?”
“Yes,” he continued thoughtfully. “I think you’re right.”
I hadn’t expected him to agree so easily, I’d expected some pushback, some reprimand for my failings so far. But instead, he seemed pleased with me.
“Going in solo will be the easiest way to infiltrate. It’s the perfect opportunity for some covert observation. I want constant contact with you, and updates about everything you find. I want to know where they live, what they eat, where they shit. Everything. And you are to report directly back to me. Understand?”
“Yes, sir,” I said.
“The company will look very favorably on your hard work, putting yourself in harm’s way for the good of the mission. Do this well and I can see bright things in your future.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“Good man. And, son, keep your eyes open. I want to know everything. We need to get Clay out of there ASAP.”
The voice cut off and I was left with a buoying feeling of pride. Chief was relying on me for a special covert mission. And it meant I could spend more time with Kitari. The thought of him tinged my pride with guilt. It felt like a betrayal, somehow.
But that was stupid. Kitari hadn’t said anything about not being in contact with my team, of course I was going to keep them informed. Did he know that I could contact my team at all? Or did he think the band and earpiece were decorative, like his golden jewellery?
Kitari emerged from the undergrowth, as if summoned by my guilty thoughts. I placed a hand quickly over my ear as if to hide it from him, even though he had already seen it and hadn’t commented on it.
He had taken a long time to take a piss, but he was an alien, who knew how they did it.
And, really, I had no reason to hide it from him. I had only known him for three days, and already he had thrown my loyalty into turmoil. How? Maybe it was all this omega stuff he was talking about, and the sickness.
“Kitari,” I said.
“Bryce Bryce Gunner.”
“You’re back.”
It felt incredibly stilted, and I hoped he wouldn’t notice. He frowned at me.
“Yes. Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Are you ok?”
“Yes.”
When did I become such an awful liar? He seemed distracted though, and his frown didn’t seem entirely focused on me. He scanned the brush where he had just come from, then turned and started walking.
“Come, the city is still some distance away.”
I followed him deeper into the alien jungle, guilt churning in my guts.