51. Chapter 51
Chapter fifty-one
-Bryce-
E ven with the miracle stuff the Aldar healers used on us, the aches and pains hadn’t completely disappeared. When we finally managed to hobble out of the pod, using each other for support, the atmosphere in the camp was…weird.
The Aldar scouts that had gone back to Amalya when Chief had tried to take Kitari had brought back warriors as well as healers, expecting to have a battle on their hands, only to find that it had never actually happened. The First’s son was injured but no longer in danger, and apparently was now bound to a human soldier. I could imagine the mental whiplash.
But Arcay had explained everything to them. Both sides were suspicious of the other, while also trying to appear fearless as well as non-confrontational.
Humans and Aldar turned to face us when we appeared, and after that, the mood seemed to mellow a bit.
The Aldar loosened their grips on their spears and the humans let their weapons hang from their straps. Some of the Aldar still stood guard around the outskirts of the camp, but now some of them moved among us, inspecting our gear. It seemed like Kitari wasn’t the only curious one after all. The Aldar that could speak Panlin did so haltingly. A couple of translators that looked like weird guns were passed around, churning out words in both directions in a weird robot voice, but most of them attempted to communicate with elaborate arm movements.
It was strange seeing the big purple figures mingled with my team. Kitari seemed to have got some of his energy back as well and had a stream of questions for the guys. Rand let him inspect his weapon and Kitari hefted it in one hand, making it look small.
“And what does this button do?” Kitari asked.
“That one shoots a burst of projectiles that explode on impact,” I said.
Arcay was talking to Clay closely and stopped when he saw Kitari.
“Arcay!” Kitari called. “We should consider using long-distance weapons like these.”
“I do not think that would be wise,” Arcay said.
“You are too stuck in tradition—“
The blaster went off in Kitari’s hands, skimming over Clay’s head. It hit the ground next to a group of humans and Aldar on the other side of the camp, who leaped into the air and dove for cover as dirt erupted around them. Arcay snatched the weapon out of his hands and glared at him.
“Oops,” Kitari said.
***
They had to decide what was going to happen next. So as the light dipped, humans and Aldar gathered together to try to come to an agreement.
Jursin didn’t make an appearance himself, but Arcay spoke on his behalf. Clyde seemed to have stepped up to take Chief’s place for the time being. He was the most senior officer and definitely not ‘brainwashed,’ and all of the guys seemed to be happy with that.
My team still had to leave as soon as possible, and the Aldar would keep watch until they did. It was agreed that I would stay behind with Kitari, as we were mated now, and we both grinned at each other in delight. I didn’t think they would have tried to separate us, but hearing it said out loud in front of everyone made it feel official.
Clyde wasn’t happy about leaving me alone, though. So, after much back and forth, it was agreed that someone else from the team would temporarily remain behind too. They would stay in communication with the others, until things were smoothed over with Jursin. Clyde had a way of explaining things to Command that would keep them off our backs for a while, or until some sort of peace treaty could be brokered. Clyde was certain they’d go along with it to cover up Chief’s actions.
Against all odds, it was Rand who volunteered.
“What? These guys don’t scare me,” he had said in the face of everyone’s astonishment.
“You know none of them have three boobs, right?” I said.
“Pffft, not everything is about sex, Gunner. Get your head out of the gutter.”
This was going to be interesting.
***
The time had come; my team was leaving this place, and I wasn’t going with them. I had known it was coming, heck, I’d tried to convince them myself enough times. But now it was actually happening.
I stood on the outskirts of base camp, trying to get my head around it while they packed up and filed onto the shuttle. I’d never known another family, and one of my greatest fears had always been finding myself without them. But now here I was, watching from the sidelines.
Kitari sensed my trepidation and snaked an arm around my shoulders, pulling me against him and pressing his mouth against my head.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
He didn’t have to, he already knew, but I said it out loud anyway.
“One hundred percent.”
He let go of me as Clyde came over and slapped me on the shoulder hard enough to make me wobble.
“So, it looks like the powers that be are denying any such orders were given to Chief. According to them, the mission has always been just to rescue Clay.” He shrugged, clearly unhappy. “So Chief was either losing it, which is very possible, or they’re lying to us.”
The unspoken ‘which is also very possible ’ hung in the air. It was clear we were all thinking it, but it made sense that they would deny it. There was a chance it could get out, and attempting to abduct and slice up your own people wasn’t a great look for the people in charge. This had shaken everyone’s faith and it didn’t seem like the guys would be going back to blindly following orders again.
“Either way, we’ll make it clear what the truth is. You and Clay are staying here because you want to. No one needs rescuing. This mission is over. And we won’t be saying anything about any bonds either, that shit only seems to cause trouble.”
Kitari bristled inwardly at that, and I put my hand on his arm.
“Thanks, Clyde.”
“And I’ll be sure to pass Clay’s message on to his buddies.” He patted his pocket where the chip sat wrapped in its protective casing. Clay had recorded it in private for his old crew and asked for Clyde to get it to them.
The shuttle, now patched up, was warming up its engines, kicking dust into the air.
“Well, it’s time I head off.” Clyde gave me a fond look and sighed. He hooked his thumb at Kitari. “This, er…fella doesn’t treat you right, you call me straight away, you hear me?”
“Yes, sir!” I said and threw a lazy salute, trying to ignore the tightness in my throat.
He smiled, nodded, and took a step away. Then he stopped and turned back again, flinging his arms out.
“Oh fuck it, come ‘ere, kid.”
He brought me into a rough bear hug, hard enough to crush the air from my lungs. I threw my arms around him and hugged him back as hard as I could.
“You’re a good kid, Gunner, you always have been. Don’t ever change.”
I sniffed into his shoulder. “I’m gonna miss you.”
“Hey, we’ll always be family. I’ll always be here if you need me, ok?”
We staggered from the impact of Rand throwing himself into the hug as well.
“What, no sentimental goodbye for me?” he said.
“And you behave yourself, you idiot,” Clyde said to him.
We separated, sniffing and flicking pieces of grit from our eyes before Clyde turned and marched onto the shuttle.
“Lots of damn dust in the air,” Rand said wetly, wiping his eyes and turning away.
As the shuttle took off, Kitari’s hand nudged against mine and I entwined our fingers. I watched the shuttle get smaller until it disappeared in the blue of the sky.
“They care for you greatly,” Kitari said.
“Yeah.” I sniffed and turned to him. “So, what now? Your dad still hates me.”
“Hate is a strong word,” he said. I grimaced at his attempt at diplomacy. “He will come around eventually. He will not be able to dislike you once he gets to know you, you are far too lovable.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
I glanced at where Clay was standing next to Arcay with some of the other Aldar on the outskirts of the clearing. Kitari followed my gaze and understood what I was thinking without having to ask.
“Clay is one of us now in every way that matters. The same will be true for you.”
I hoped so.
“And besides, we do not have to stay in Amalya, we can do whatever we want. We could travel together and explore the planet.”
“Really?”
“My people have a habit of staying in one place and ignoring everything around them. We have not explored outside of our own lands for a long time. Perhaps it’s time someone did.”
“You’d leave your home for me?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Impossible. You are my home.”