Chapter Two #3
A grey-haired woman draped in flowing purple robes floated down the tunnel toward us, an entourage of navy-blue-clad Linxos security guards trailing behind her like an inky shadow.
I recognised the woman from government newsfeeds the general public had access to.
Her intelligent eyes—held within an older, wiser face—probed us with shrewdness, prompting me to straighten my posture to match Torz’s.
“Welcome to the Argentum’s Delta Ring.” Torz inclined his head with respect, and Governor Zuli returned the gesture, stopping in front of us.
“Commander Benoit,” she chimed. “I haven’t seen you since you were a small child.”
I caught Torz’s confusion, and he offered a meek smile in response.
“I knew your father.” Governor Zuli smiled at his bemusement. “He was a great man.”
Inwardly, I cringed. Torz held no love for his father, even when the man was alive. He’d been stern and heartless, with an irremissible attitude aimed at his son. From the other side of Delta Ring, I had felt Torz’s relief when the man died four years ago.
“Indeed,” Torz simply said, ending the topic and motioning for them to walk.
As they went, I assessed the rest of the visitors following behind them.
With Zuli’s six guards, I felt a little outnumbered.
But what put me on edge was the young, red-haired woman bringing up the rear.
As she passed me, she levelled a scrutinising, disconcerting glare that bored into my flesh, leaving a cold trail of ice in its wake.
Now consumed with daunting intrigue, I followed the group, watching the young woman as her indigo robes fluttered gracefully behind her, as if the flowing fabric were taunting me.
I clocked Saul and Arlo standing at intersections along the main corridor, both dipping their heads in acknowledgment as I passed. Then Finn and Petra came into view as they flanked a bulkhead door, both armed with heavy-duty rifles.
As the procession turned a corner, angling away from the docks, the corridor appeared empty. I detected no threats, no suspicious activity. Everything was satisfactory—except for the dark figure in my periphery.
My pulse surged, my fingers instinctively reaching for the gun at my hip. I whipped my head around, discovering nothing more than a digital sign displaying the silhouette of a man wearing anti-ray sunglasses.
Relaxing my fingers, I exhaled, suddenly aware of the dance of adrenaline and fatigue seizing my body and mind.
Get a grip, Remi, I chastised myself. I needed a good night’s sleep. I could’ve sworn I was starting to imagine things.
As I followed the entourage through the next bulkhead, past another pair of familiar security guards, the red-haired woman glanced back at me. Her quick, assessing gaze sent pointed claws of paranoia down my spine—
A loud boom thundered through the corridor as a burst of hot air slammed into my chest, knocking me sideways.
With a forceful jolt, I landed on my shoulder, panicking as an intense heat seared my skin.
Sirens wailed, and the bulkhead door ahead sealed shut, cutting off the fireball hurtling towards us.
Eyes wide, my breaths came thick and fast as I frantically glanced about.
Smoke billowed towards the ceiling vents, slowly dispersing, revealing the bodies of our party sprawled on the metallic floor.
The Linxos guard in front of me blinked back his confusion.
The red-haired woman beside him rubbed her eyes and temples, coughing violently. And through the haze…
My heart froze at the sight of Torz and Governor Zuli’s motionless bodies up ahead.
I scrambled to my feet. Dizziness tugged me back to the ground, and I fell against the metal wall.
Pushing myself up, I stumbled towards Torz, navigating the dazed people littering the floor around me.
Potent fumes burned my throat, and the lingering smoke stung my eyes, but I fought the afflictions.
I needed to get to him. I needed to make sure…
I gasped, clutching my stomach as fear gripped me. Torz’s face was lifeless and pale, lolled to one side.
No, no, please.
I dropped to my knees, pressing my fingers into his neck, desperate to find a pulse.
The steady beat sang to me, sending a wave of relieved anguish through my chest, and I frantically searched his face and body for signs of injury.
Soot peppered his pale skin, and I had no way of knowing if he’d hit his head.
Gently, I tapped his cheek, calling his name. “Come on, you big oaf, wake up.”
My heart grew heavy as tentative seconds ticked by. Movement around me confirmed Zuli’s security detail were back on their feet, but Torz…he remained unconscious.
“Please, Torz, wake up,” I muttered under my breath, a heightened panic threatening to crack my hard shell. If anything happened to him…
I brushed my thumb across his lips, my eyes still scanning his face for signs—any sign—that he was okay. Those lips suddenly twitched, then quivered. His eyes fluttered open, meeting mine with a depth full of recognition and warmth, before confusion took precedence.
Frowning, he blinked several times. “What…what happened?” he rasped.
With a tsunami of relief flooding my veins, I flicked my eyes to Governor Zuli, who was being roused by Saul and one of the Linxos guards. “I’m assuming this was another assassination attempt towards our guest.”
And with that revelation, I already wanted her to leave.