Chapter 24 - Neela #2
Against all odds, Prax’s grim declaration makes me burst into a nervous laugh.
“You find this situation amusing?” he asks, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“I know, I shouldn’t laugh. But when I think about all the schemes Vassili and his crew pulled just to squeeze a few perks—and now they’re going to get the same treatment they planned for others... It’s what we used to call karma.”
“I don’t know what this ‘karma’ is you’re talking about—my translator doesn’t recognize the term.
But trust me, your former leaders aren’t our biggest concern.
If even a few members of the Coalition have decided to use Mars as a backup base, your people don’t stand a chance on their own. Things just got a lot more serious.”
Crap, he’s right. This isn’t funny anymore. I look up at him, full of hope.
“There’s nothing left to do but hope my contact got my call and sent someone to help,” Prax says. “Only the Confederation will be able to stop what’s happening.”
“But you said the Confed wouldn’t get involved!” I remind him.
“No, I said it was up to you to handle your own internal issues—there are always a few undesirables. But this is no longer an internal problem. We’re back to square one: the Coalition—or at least part of that charming smuggler club—is still involved in dark business.
And that, the Confederation will shut down the moment they find out. ”
“Let’s just hope they find out fast, before it affects our colonists. You know them—how long do you think that’ll take?”
“If you mean the Confed, I honestly have no idea. I don’t know where the others were when I crashed here.
If you’re talking about the traffickers, I’d guess they’ll first get rid of anyone who might stand in their way.
In other words, your former leaders. Don’t take it the wrong way, Neela, but your people give off a pretty peaceful, docile image.
You could coexist with Coalition members for a while without posing any real threat to them. ”
“So you mean like sheep waiting to be sheared? How charming,” I reply dryly.
He answers with an apologetic look and a shrug.
Oh, I see. That is how he sees us. Should I be offended?
Is it really so foolish to want to live in peace and simplicity?
My fellow colonists and I weren’t asking anything from anyone—just grateful to have this backup planet that saved our species.
The idea of diving back into political schemes disgusts me. But I have no choice.
“We have to warn Kiran!” I suddenly exclaim.
“Impossible. I have no idea where we are. The only thing I do know is that we’re heading in the right direction based on the flight path of those three crafts that flew over us.”
“But we have to tell him what’s going on!”
“I promise I’ll keep it in mind. But for now, all I can do is keep following the trail. I’ll try to reach one of the ships and send a signal. Or maybe I can steal one. Unless you have a better plan…”
“Steal one? If you could take one, would you leave?” I ask.
Just saying it makes my heart ache. I always knew he came here by accident, that he was only passing through—and that the moment an opportunity presented itself, he’d go back to his people.
But now that possibility feels too real.
Selfishly, I don’t want him to leave. I don’t want to lose him.
And I don’t want to give up on Meg, Kiran, or little Sanjay either.
“Getting our hands on a two-seater would be a huge win,” he replies. “We’d move faster across Mars, and I’d have access to the full regional map. It’d be a major advantage in fighting the traffickers. At least until the Confederation shows up and takes over.”
A wave of relief washes over me at his words. He’s not going to leave us in the middle of this storm. Not yet, at least…
“Let’s hurry,” he concludes. “The faster we find their landing site, the sooner we can figure out what to do.”
“And rescue the prisoners!” I add, thinking of the others locked inside that transport.
“I can’t promise anything. One step at a time, my sweet Neela. I know how frustrating this is, but rushing in won’t help. Let’s find their base first, then figure out a plan.”
Unfortunately, the hours drag on, and it still feels like we’re wandering aimlessly, though my handsome Sadjim insists he’s following the trail.
During our long march, we spot two more aerial crafts overhead.
I can’t say if they’re the same ones from earlier, and neither can Prax.
Which means we have no clue how many traffickers are already on Mars.
Just when I’m about to lose hope—and my feet are screaming from exhaustion—Prax stops again and listens intently.
“We’re here,” he whispers. “They’re less than half a mile away, if I’m estimating right. It’s getting dark—it’s too late to do anything now. We’ll move away a bit for the night. I’ll go scout once they’re all asleep. We’ll decide in the morning.”
“How do you know they’re there? Half a mile is a lot. No one’s hearing is that good.”
“Wrong. I can hear loud sounds from over two and a half miles away. That’s why we’re whispering. If I can hear them, maybe one of them can hear us too.”
“Does Bully have hearing like yours?” I ask.
“No, Bully’s a Penubian—a partly reptilian species. He’s sensitive to smells and ground and air vibrations. So no, he and his kind can’t detect us like I can. But there’s no guarantee they haven’t hired a Sadjim. I’d rather play it safe than put us at risk.”
“Okay. So how can I help?”
“By staying hidden with Pallas. That way I won’t have to worry about your safety.”
I see how it is. Sometimes, he gently scolds colonists like me for being too naive or idealistic. Other times, he pushes me aside and tells me not to get involved—because he wants to face our enemies alone.
I give him a sharp look.
“So basically, you think I’m too weak to be useful?”
“I never said that! You’re not weak—you’re strong, smart, beautiful, and loyal! You’re amazing, Neela. Don’t doubt that. But you don’t know these enemies like I do. You wouldn’t stand a chance against them.”
“Then explain it to me,” I insist.
My gorgeous Sadjim looks deeply annoyed. He leads us into a thick grove and, after checking the surroundings, sets up our tent for the night. Finally, though clearly reluctant, he shares the information I asked for.
“Penubians, like I told you before, are primarily reptilian. They lack empathy. They don’t feel family love, they—”
“Didn’t you say Bully was working with his cousins?” I cut in.
“I did. That doesn’t mean he won’t shoot them in the back if it suits him. Anyway—Penubians are calm and cold. They can be cruel if needed, but not for pleasure, just out of necessity. Except when it comes to revenge. Bully wants me dead, and he won’t stop until one of us is.”
I remember clearly what caused their falling out. Bully had tried to sell a Human woman, and Prax—clearly taken by her, Ileana—had offered their ship in exchange for her freedom. It wasn’t enough to win the auction, but it was enough to end their partnership.
Still, Bully’s thirst for revenge seems a bit over the top. Maybe there’s more to their story than Prax has admitted…
“If you’re ever unlucky enough to face a Penubian, remember this: their vision and hearing are poor, like I said.
Their strengths are their sense of smell and their ability to feel vibrations in the ground and air.
Whatever you do, avoid their fangs—they may inject a paralytic venom when they bite.
But all of that is irrelevant, because you are going to stay in this well-hidden tent and wait for me to come back. Aren’t you, Purrsong?”
As my only answer, I crawl into the sleeping cocoon and start undressing.
Men are so easily distracted.