Chapter 7 #3
"Secondary cave system below the canyon," she explained, activating her red light again. "There's a concealed exit about half a kilometer from here that comes out near an unmarked trail. From there, we can reach the back roads and eventually a route, which connects to the main highway."
"They might have established surveillance on major transportation routes," Lunar noted.
"Probably," Poppy agreed. "But I know people at the wildlife sanctuary who can help us get transport without question."
"We should contact Eclipse and Solar," Lunar said. "Let them know where to find us."
"We will once I can get a phone signal," Poppy agreed. "There's a ridge near the exit where I can usually get cell reception."
They navigated the new cave system, with Poppy in the lead. The passages showed no signs of human visitation. There were no footpaths, just the raw, ancient stone shaped by water over millions of years.
After navigating several tight passages and climbing a natural stone chimney, they reached a narrow fissure that admitted a thin strip of late afternoon light.
"It looks like it's not yet evening," she noted. "Not ideal for you to be above ground, but we can find shadow cover in the canyon."
Lunar assessed the risk factors. Daylight would restrict his shadow-walking capabilities and increase his visibility to tracking technology. However, the benefits of contacting Eclipse and Solar outweighed these disadvantages, particularly given Milano's demonstrated search capabilities.
"I will manage," he assured her.
Poppy squeezed through the fissure first, checking for any sign of human presence before signaling Lunar to follow. The exit emerged behind a large boulder. Beyond, there was a steep-sided canyon whose walls cast considerable shadow.
"The ridge is this way," Poppy indicated, leading him along a nearly invisible game trail that climbed the canyon wall. "Stay close to the cliff face. The shadows are deeper there."
Lunar followed her guidance, keeping within the darkness cast by the towering red rocks. Poppy matched his careful progress.
When they reached the ridge, Poppy crouched behind a large juniper and checked her communication device. "Two bars. Not great, but it should work. Who do we call first?
"Eclipse," Lunar decided. "He will coordinate with Solar."
Poppy nodded and initiated the call. After several seconds, she shook her head. "Dammit. It's not going through."
From their elevated position, Lunar could see the expanse of the canyon below. In the distance, a familiar energy caught his attention.
"There," he pointed. "Energy discharges consistent with Solar's signature. He's there."
Poppy pulled out binoculars and adjusted her position to see better. "That's the retreat."
"Perhaps I should go to him," Lunar stated. "You should find somewhere safe to hide until this is over."
"Until what is over? Your Earth visit?" Poppy frowned and shook her head. "I'm not leaving you. We should move to lower ground before sunset. There's a hidden ravine about half a mile from here where we can wait for full darkness. The reception might be better there."
Lunar nodded.
He followed her for several minutes in silence. His mind calculated approach routes and tactical options. If Milano had deployed specialized countermeasures for Zorveyan energy signatures, direct confrontation would be ineffective. They needed an alternative strategy.
If anything happened to her, he would not survive it.
Suddenly, she stopped and leaned over. "We're going to need to find water before—"
A ringing noise interrupted her, and she straightened in surprise. Poppy grabbed her communication device and looked at it.
"It's Dani."
"Solar's fire tamer?"
Instead of answering him, she answered the call. "Dani? Is that you? Can you hear me?"
She paused speaking and frowned.
"We've got trouble. Some guys in Milano Enterprise SUVs found my place this morning. They've been hunting us. We're hiding in the canyon caves." Another pause. "Yes, he's with me. We're both fine."
She listened for a moment longer.
"We're about a mile past the big ridge," she said before relaying a condensed version of what happened to them.
She looked around before coming closer to him.
"Hold on. I'll put you on speaker." Poppy pushed a button. "Lunar is with me."
Lunar eyed the primitive communication tool.
"Eclipse and Solar?" Lunar asked.
"Safe. Here," Dani said. "Galaxy Brides has made contact with Solar. They're going to send coordinates where you can meet them."
"Extraction?" Lunar asked.
"Yes. In forty-eight hours," Dani confirmed.
"So soon?" Poppy stared at him, but he didn't know what she was trying to tell him with the look.
"Inform Eclipse that this Milano group has advanced tracking technology," Lunar said. "Their search protocols suggest military training and specialized equipment for detecting non-Earth energy signatures."
"That's what we were thinking," Dani agreed. "James Petersen, a Milano representative, approached Rowan and Eclipse last night. He referenced satellite data and electromagnetic anomalies from your arrival. Can you return to the retreat safely?"
Lunar glanced at Poppy, who was scanning the canyon.
"After nightfall," Poppy said.
"I'll tell them to expect you after dark," Dani said. "Be careful out there."
"You too." Poppy ended the call.
"I do not like this," Lunar stated. "I question Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides' reliability given previous performance. We should act as if we will be on our own. Let's find a better location. We should assume Milano will continue their pursuit."