Ki Book One

  Chapter Eleven

  He’d tried to rouse her. She would not wake.

  “Come on, Ki,” he begged one final time.

  She lay there, body limp, head lolled to the side. She didn’t even stir.

  Mouth and throat suddenly dry, he took a step back, stumbling into the pick by his side. Tripping, he barely righted himself.

  Yanking his gaze off her, he turned to face the chests by his feet. He virtually fell towards them, grabbing the pick and using it to pry back the locks. Frantic, he sought through the contents.

  What did he expect to find? Antibiotics? Pain medication? Even if he did find them, they would no doubt be out-of-date.

  Drugs would not be the solution. They needed to get out of here.

  Stumbling to his feet, a wave of desperation hit him.

  It would likely be too late for her. Even if he could snap his fingers and get her to a hospital, it would still be a battle to save her life.

  There would be little the doctors could do for her but fight the infection and hope for the best....

  He grabbed at his pocket, pulling the dead scanner from his belt where he’d fastened it. Turning it over in his grip, he jabbed at the buttons.

  It did not turn on. At least it gave him an idea though.

  A wild and frantic one.

  If Ki had been right and she’d used one of those scanners to bring him back from the edge of death, then couldn’t he do the same for her? If he found another one of those devices, couldn’t he use it to heal her?

  She was not at death’s door yet, or at least he prayed she wasn’t. He likely had a margin of several hours before her body gave up completely.

  That gave him some time.

  He could use the shafts, his gun, and the miner’s map to get back out to the ranges. Then he could head back to the cabin. It was a long shot, but if no one had come searching for those soldiers, they would still be there. Hell, as far as Jackson knew, they may still be trapped in that floating field. As long as no one had found them – either from the village or from their own race – Jackson might be able to locate one of their scanners.

  It was a huge risk, but what else could he do?

  Making his decision, he continued to search through the chests until he found some old cloths and rags. Propping up her head and covering her arms, he tried to make her as warm and comfortable as he could. Ripping the map off the wall, he walked backwards out of the door, turning from her only when he had to.

  Then he ran. He didn’t care his right leg throbbed with pain. He just ran.

  Every time he tripped or slowed down, he cursed his own fragility. It didn’t make him go any faster, but he couldn’t help it.

  He blamed himself. There was every reason to. He’d handled this situation beyond badly; he’d acted like an emotional fool. Whether she was trustworthy or not, he should never have subjected Ki to such cruelty. If only he’d been smarter and better prepared, he would have got her shoes, forced her to take his own, even insisted on carrying her.

  He hadn’t done any of those things, now she’d likely die because of it.

  Hating himself, he pushed forward, thankful the floors of the mineshafts were much flatter than the cave system below. Periodically he would pause to check his map, even swing his gun up and check through the sight.

  It was when he stopped momentarily to catch his breath that he swore he heard something. Narrowing his eyes, he lifted his face, noting with dull panic as tufts of rock dust drifted down from above.

  Toting his gun immediately, he stepped back as he stared up through the sight.

  He tried to make sense of the readings, tried to figure out if the outlines on the screen meant that something was moving up there.

  More and more dust filtered down from above.

  If the ceiling was about to fall, there was only one thing he could do. He would have no chance of out-running the cave in. He would have a chance of out-gunning it though.

  Ensuring the gun was set to its maximum energy setting, he brought it up and pointed it at the jagged rocks.

  Shooting at an unstable rock ceiling was not usually recommended, but with this gun he could turn the stones and boulders to dust. Dust would not kill him.

  Checking through the scope one last time, his body took over. Finger twitching over the trigger, he shot the ceiling.

  An impossibly powerful, continuous blast erupted from the gun, pulsing into the rocks above and all but melting the stone.

  Tracking backwards, Jackson jerked the gun down, waiting for the worst.

  He did not get what he expected.

  Instead of a hail of rock slamming into him, something large and white fell from above. He’d obviously blasted a hole through the ceiling into another shaft, and whatever had been up there had just fallen down.

  He had less than a second to recognize the shape.

  It was a soldier. One of the scouts that had been hounding his steps for the past day.

  Though the man fell down from a considerable height, and though the floor had been shot right out from underneath his feet, he still jumped up, rushing towards Jackson with break-neck speed.

  Jackson didn’t have time to react. The soldier slammed into him, knocking him hard against the rock wall of the shaft behind.

  Breath punched from his lungs, Jackson spluttered, trying to clutch at the soldier’s face and push him back.

  The man was stronger. He elbowed Jackson hard in the middle, then brought his arm up.

  As he did, Jackson managed to squeeze his gun up, angling it between them. It was locked flat against his chest though, and he didn’t have the room to turn it around to face the soldier.

  Jackson was out of time.

  Ready for the inevitable, he stiffened.

  The soldier clutched his hand into a fist, one of those glinting white blades slashing out of his armor. He stabbed it towards Jackson’s stomach.

  All Jackson could do was move the gun up.

  The soldier’s blade slashed right into it. Not into Jackson’s stomach, but the glowing blue barrel of the gun.

  Surprise rippled through the soldier’s stance, his shoulder jerking back, the gun stuck against his blade.

  Jackson instinctively dropped to his knees, rolling to the side, scrabbling forward as fast as he could.

  He heard a high-pitched whir from behind him.

  Dashing forward, he jumped behind a boulder, crumpling his arms over his head.

  The gun exploded with an ear-shaking blast.

  Crumpling further, Jackson curled up into a ball.

  The shaft shook, dust hailed down from above, but that was it.

  Peering up, he leaned past the boulder to see the soldier lying limp on the floor, at least five meters from where he’d forced Jackson against the wall.

  Heart pounding in his ears, it took Jackson far too long to realize what had just happened.

  He’d been handed a miracle.

  He moved over to the soldier, poking him with his foot.

  The man did not move.

  Snapping down, Jackson grabbed at the soldier’s wrist, trying to pull the scanner from his armor.

  With much effort, he eventually found a hidden button, and the thing sprung forward. Snatching it up, he instantly turned it towards the ceiling above. Though these things had a limited range around all this rock, it still penetrated the roof above far enough to confirm there was nothing else moving up there. Obviously this soldier had been scouting out that tunnel on his own.

  Jackson doubted the other soldiers would be far off though.

  Grabbing at the gun that had been knocked from the soldier’s grip, he secured the strap over his shoulder, standing up, head swiveling towards the ceiling and back down to the soldier.

  Jackson had to get back to Ki, but he needed to ensure no one would follow. He had to get this soldier out of scanning and visual range. If his buddies came along, they would know something was up if they saw the smashed up gun and the co
matose form of their comrade.

  Latching a hand onto the soldier’s arm, Jackson heaved him back, out of sight of the hole above.

  He wasn’t as heavy as he looked. With armor that thick and sophisticated, Jackson had thought the guy would weigh a ton.

  Clenching his jaw, he dragged the soldier for several meters until he had to stop for breath. As he did, the soldier’s head lolled to the side. His neck banged lightly into Jackson’s boot. There was a sudden hiss, and that faceless helmet released.

  Doubling back, releasing the soldier’s arm in shock, Jackson quickly leaned down, grabbed the helmet, and pulled it off.

  He was shocked to see a normal man underneath. Or maybe he wasn’t. He’d had no idea what to expect.

  Probably the same age as Jackson, he was clean shaven with a dark, short crop of hair.

  Marveling at the helmet, Jackson turned it around and looked inside. There was a sophisticated screen that showed a perfect view of the tunnel around him with strange readings and symbols displayed alongside and over the top.

  It was incredible.

  It was so incredible that he did not notice the soldier stir by his feet until it was too late. The man snapped up again, launching himself at Jackson. But his moves were slower than before.

  Jackson dodged to the side, swinging the gun around and shooting the soldier instantly.

  Though a beam lanced out, it was lighter in color and did not sear the air. It struck the soldier’s chest and knocked him to his knees, but it did not fell him.

  “It’s not set to kill, idiot,” the soldier leapt up.

  Jackson doubled back, digging his fingers into the power button Ki had showed him. Instantly the gun whirred hotter and brighter, its light reaching out far into the shaft around them.

  Staring down the barrel he blasted a shot just in front of the soldier, eating out a chunk of ground and making the man trip into it. “It is now,” Jackson shifted back, bringing the gun down and aiming it at the man’s head.

  The soldier did not jump to his feet. He paused, only his eyes shifting as he stared up at Jackson warily.

  “Get up,” Jackson kicked at the ground, sending a cloud of dust towards the soldier.

  Turning his head and closing his mouth, the man didn’t shift his gaze.

  “I said get to your feet,” Jackson shot the ground again.

  Finally the soldier moved. He brought his hands up, that white armor stark against his now dirty skin.

  He immediately glanced at the helmet.

  Jackson had dropped it in surprise. Now the soldier couldn’t keep his eyes off it.

  He looked like he was about to make a move for it.

  Jackson got their first, he turned his gun and shot it.

  The thing exploded.

  The soldier swore loudly, but withdrew into silence when Jackson shot near his feet again.

  “I may not understand your technology, but somehow I feel you need that to stay in contact with the rest of your team,” Jackson guessed.

  His guess was confirmed when the soldier paled and swallowed stiffly.

  “Move,” Jackson swept the rifle towards his side.

  “Why? You think you can take me prisoner?” the soldier had a deep, croaky baritone.

  “No. I think you can help me operate this scanner though.” Jackson walked over to the scanner and plucked it up protectively, jamming it into his belt.

  “Our technology is beyond you.” The soldier’s lips stiffened into a cold smile.

  “I don’t care. Now move.” Jackson indicated the tunnel with a swipe of his gun.

  “We’ll find her.” The soldier, still with his hands up, rested them behind his head.

  “Shut up. Just move.”

  Standing a full two meters behind the man, Jackson forced the soldier forward at gunpoint.

  His heart beat so fast and hard in his chest it felt as if he’d shatter his ribs. He held on though, shepherding the soldier all the way back into the main shaft and towards Ki.

  The soldier didn’t say a word, and hopefully he wasn’t using some silent form of communication to radio the rest of his team. It was a gamble taking him back to Ki, but Jackson had no choice. He had no idea how to make the scanner heal her, and he doubted he could rouse her long enough to make her show him.

  The soldier would do it. Somehow Jackson doubted the guy would mind either. Ki was what they were after, so they weren’t going to let her die.

  When they entered the mine hut, his suspicions were confirmed. The soldier let out a harsh swearword, his head snapping towards the comatose, still form of Ki. Her legs were bright red while her exposed arms and face were white.

  “What the hell have you done to her?” the soldier turned, hands dropping from behind his head, face plastered with sharp anger.

  “Stay back,” Jackson pointed the gun at the man’s chest.

  “You have no idea what you’re meddling in,” the soldier spat louder. “If she dies—”

  “She’s not going to die. You’re going to save her. She said you can use these scanners to create some kind of healing field,” Jackson plucked the device from his belt, sure never to drop his gun.

  The soldier looked down at it, gaze flickering.

  “I’m no idiot. I know if I give this to you, you’ll find some way to use it against me,” Jackson propped the gun into his shoulder, damping down on the pain that surged through his back as he aggravated his injuries.

  “Give me the scanner,” the soldier held out his hand.

  “I’m not going to let you—”

  “You haven’t thought this through, have you?”

  “Shut up,” Jackson snapped, sweat starting to track down his brow and back.

  “She’s going to die unless you give me that scanner. Now hand it over,” the soldier spat, gaze darting between Ki and Jackson. While there was a nervous edge to his look, his jaw was still locked with hardened rage.

  Though he hated to admit it, Jackson clearly had not thought this through. He’d been too distracted by the soldier and his scanner falling from the sky to come up with a sound plan.

  “She’ll die,” the soldier repeated, shifting forward. “If she’s not already dead. Do something.”

  Jolting back, Jackson blanched.

  He had to do something. He’d risked it all to get one of those scanners, and providence had seen one land in his lap.

  It would cost him to use it though.

  Probably his life.

  The second he gave the scanner to the soldier was the second he’d be condemning himself. If that scanner could produce a field that could heal someone, no doubt it could do the opposite, too.

  “Every second you waste, you’re killing her,” the soldier held out his hand further.

  Yes. Jackson knew that.

  “Hand me the scanner,” the soldier shouted viciously.

  Jackson had no choice. If he wanted her to live, he had to hand it over.

  He lowered his gun slightly.

  The soldier smiled.

  Just as Jackson got ready to hand him the scanner, Ki moved.

  He almost dropped his gun. If its strap hadn’t been hooked over his shoulder he would have.

  Restless, she shifted her head, bringing her hand up and pushing into her face.

  “Ki,” he shouted at her, backing off, keeping enough range between his gun and the soldier so the man couldn’t jump him. “Ki, Ki, for the love of god, wake up.”

  She stirred further, then drew quiet.

  “Ki,” he shouted as loud as he could.

  She opened her eyes. “What... what...?”

  “You need to use this scanner to heal yourself. Ki, listen to my voice.” He shifted towards her, gesturing at the soldier to move right back. Never turning from the man, Jackson reached behind and grabbed at her arm, shaking it.

  “What are you doing...? Jackson?” she mumbled, voice slurred and hardly audible.

  “You need to use the scanner to heal yours
elf,” he repeated, handing her the scanner without ever turning from the soldier. “Ki, you can do this. You’ve done it before.”

  He heard her drop the scanner against the table. Instantly he grabbed it and shoved it towards her again.

  She took it from him.

  Pressure building in his chest, he never shifted his gaze from the soldier. The look of immanent victory was gone from the man’s face. Eyes narrowed, he looked desperate.

  “Ki, please.” Jackson clutched behind him, finding her hand, trying to guide it to the controls of the scanner.

  “She gets that wrong, she could kill us all,” the soldier nodded down at Ki, his move sharp, his neck muscles tight and bulging. He shifted his arm up as he did.

  Jackson flicked the power level on the gun to half-way and shot just at his feet.

  The explosion startled Ki, and she dropped the scanner again. Jackson grabbed it and forced it against her immediately, keeping his gun and gaze locked on the soldier.

  “Put your hands up. Not behind your head. Where I can see them,” Jackson snapped at the man.

  A dark look drawing down his eyes, the soldier complied with a frustrated, bitter chuckle. “How long do you think you can keep her from us? We’ve got dozens of scout ships out after her. We won’t give her up without a fight. You’ve got one stolen gun and a scanner you don’t know how to use. How long do you think you’ll last?”

  “Shut up.”

  “Why are you helping her anyway, didn’t you tie her to a chair?

  “I said shut up,” Jackson redoubled his grip on the gun. It was torture trying to divide his attention between Ki and the soldier. He kept one hand on the gun, the other on the table close to her, ready in case she dropped the scanner yet again.

  “I’m telling you, she could kill us all with that thing. She’s half dead, she has no idea what she’s doing. Do you want her to die? Think.”

  Jackson didn’t reply this time, he just locked a deep breath into his lungs and tried to keep control.

  If Ki blacked out again, he would have to do something.

  That something would be to hand the soldier the scanner. There would be no other way.

  “Ki, how are you going? Are you still awake?” He leant back into the table.

  She didn’t answer.

  “Ki?”

  He heard the scanner drop against the table. His heart dropped with it.

  Before he could snatch it up, he felt something warm push against his skin.

  It wasn’t Ki. Some kind of energy field erupted out from the scanner, encasing the room.

  As it washed over him, he instantly felt warm. Every sensation of pain or disquiet lifted and floated away.

  It was intoxicating. He’d never felt so comfortable in his life.

  As he relaxed into it, relishing it, he remembered something.

  Ki had told him she’d removed herself from the effects of the field. The field sounded as though it would heal anyone within it. By remaining here he’d be sapping energy from it, energy that could be used to heal her.

  He nodded at the soldier, gesturing towards the door. “Get outside. Move slowly.”

  Half turning, ensuring both the scanner and Ki were still safely on the table, he followed the man outside.

  Then he waited.

  Safely away from the radius of the field, he told the soldier to sit. Never dropping his guard and never lowering his gun, he hunkered down.

  “How long will it take?” he tried to ask the soldier.

  The man would not answer.

  “Fine. We’ll just wait.”

  So they did.

  Fortunately the field hummed, and he could monitor it just by listening. As time wound on, its distinctive buzz became quieter and quieter.

  It took almost an hour, but finally the field cut out completely.

  Pushing up, his knees crunching, he moved back. “Stay there,” he warned the soldier. Backing off, he reached the door of the hut. “Ki,” he called out, not turning to face her. “Ki.”

  She didn’t answer.

  Gritting his teeth, he took another step back. “Ki? Are you alright?”

  He couldn’t help it, he turned to see if she was there.

  The soldier moved, like damn lightning, quicker than Jackson could react to.

  Before he could get off a shot, the soldier rammed into his side, knocking him against the door.

  Jackson fell to the ground, the wind knocked out of him. He watched the soldier jump down, saw his arm yank back, his fist slam closed, and that blade plunge out.

  Jackson had seconds.

  As the soldier stabbed his hand forward, something moved in from the side.

  Ki. She collapsed over Jackson.

  The soldier’s blade stopped just before her back.

  Jackson acted before he really understood what had just happened. He kicked out at the blade knocking it up. As he did, he brought his gun around and shot the soldier.

  The blast slammed into his chest plating, sending him scooting back across the floor.

  He doubted the shot was enough to kill the guy, but he was certainly down.

  “Ki,” he grabbed her up.

  Still scrunched up over him, her face was close enough for him to see every detail of her expression.

  The light was back in her cheeks, that twinge of fire once again burning in her eyes.

  “You’re alive. God, the scanner worked.” He brought a hand up to rest against her cheek and barely stopped himself in time. Swallowing at how instinctual the move had been, he shifted back, staring down at her legs.

  As they popped out of the bottom of her robe, he saw they were no longer swollen and turgid.

  They looked almost normal. A little pink maybe, the infection seemed all but gone.

  She was very much alive.

  He wanted to hug her, clutch her close, even though several hours ago he’d thought she’d tried to kill him and had sabotaged the scanner.

  She had just saved him. By throwing herself in front of that soldier’s blade, she’d gambled her own life but saved his.

  “I can’t believe it,” his hand still hovered close by her face. He had to continually fight the urge to touch her cheeks and cradle her close. “The scanner healed you. You were so sick....”

  “Do you believe me now?” she leaned up, sitting on her haunches, still close enough that he could hear her every breath.

  “Yeah, yeah I do,” he spoke through a heavy sigh, a genuine smile spreading his lips.

  She held his gaze for a moment. Her expression was warm at first, but quickly grew awkward as her cheeks flushed. Turning sharply, she stared over at the soldier. “Is he—”

  “I doubt it. They seem to be able to live through anything. Plus, the gun was at half power.” Jackson got to his feet, reluctantly moving away from her.

  She followed him, standing easily.

  She didn’t waver. She didn’t stumble to the side. She stood effortlessly.

  It was as if she’d never been injured.

  It had cost them another scanner, but it was more than worth it.

  Walking over to the soldier, Jackson toted the gun and stared down the scope.

  “What are you doing?” she latched a hand on the barrel, forcing it down. “You can’t kill him—”

  “Relax. I’m just using the scope’s scanners to check on him. If these are right... and if I know what I’m doing,” Jackson shifted past her, “I think he’s fine. Out, but alive. We’re all alive, apparently,” he added through an emotional laugh.

  “Thank you,” she said after a long pause.

  He looked at her, but he couldn’t hold her gaze. Staring at her feet, he nodded. “I guess that makes us even.”

  There was another long pause.

  “How did you find this soldier?”

  “I prayed for a miracle, and I got him. He fell out of the sky and into my lap.”

  “What?” her face screwed up with confusion.

  “Long
story, basically he was in the shaft above me.”

  She tensed, her once-loose shoulders locking up. “You mean there’s more?”

  “Probably. I think I managed to stop him from getting off any kind of distress call. I shot his helmet. I’m pretty sure his communications were embedded in it. Plus, the composition of these tunnels has not changed. They’re still way too dense for their scanners to penetrate far. Perhaps it affects their coms too. I don’t know. I’m prepared for anything, but so far we’ve had no company.”

  “We should get out of here,” she jerked her head along the tunnel, the move nervous and quick.

  “Yes we should.” He didn’t move.

  “Jackson,” she jerked her head harder in the direction of the tunnel.

  “We can’t just leave him here. We’re going to take him with us.”

  “What?” Ki dropped her hand from the muzzle of his gun and lurched back. “That’s suicide. They’ll track us down.”

  “Not if we take his armor off. Listen, I’m not stupid. I’m sure they have some way of tracking him. As soon as we get him out of these tunnels and into the open air, the Zeneethians will catch us in their air ships. I’m sure his armor is probably riddled with tracking devices. We’ll have to take it off, leave it behind. But we need to take him with us. The information he’ll be able to tell us will be invaluable. Without it, we’ll have no idea who we’re up against...” he trailed off.

  Ki’s expression had completely changed. With a flickering look of vulnerability misting her eyes, she brought a hand up to her lips and locked it over her shaking smile.

  “What?”

  She shook her head, her hair twisting and playing over her shoulders.

  “What? Ki, this is a serious matter.”

  “I know it is, Jackson. But it’s the first time you’ve used their name. It’s nice that you finally believe me.”

  “Used whose name? What are you—” he stopped. Playing back his words, he realized what he’d said.

  The Zeneethians.

  “I still don’t believe,” he began. Then he stopped again, eyes instinctively drifting down to the comatose soldier by his side.

  She waited for him, not saying a word, gaze keen and expectant.

  Straightening his shoulders, locking a hand on his jaw and pushing the crooked fingers into his chin, he finally nodded. “Maybe I do believe it’s the Zeneethians. Maybe I don’t have any other explanation for a group of soldiers with guns that can shoot through mountains, ships that can hover in the sky, rocks that can make you levitate, and hand-held devices that can bring you back from the dead.”

  She was smiling, but it was unlike any expression she’d shown before. It was a complex, uncertain move.

  It cut away at his indecision like an axe at a tree. “Alright. I believe you,” his voice was firmer this time, because his belief was. I’m not sure I can stomach the fact the Zeneethians have whole flying cities they are keeping from us, but I’m willing to be proved wrong.”

  She almost looked proud of him. With the color back to her cheeks, she glowed, her smooth skin pushing up against her dark eyes.

  “Right,” he cleared his throat suddenly. “Let’s get going. I want you to lean down and try to take that guy’s armor off. He’s going to think twice about harming you. Me, he’ll just stab in the heart the first chance he gets.”

  Her glowing cheeks slumped and she raised her eyebrow in disgust. “Stab me through the heart?”

  “No, stab me through the heart. Now I imagine there’s some kind of latch behind his neck, turn him over and see.”

  “Are you sure this is a good idea? Shouldn’t we just leave him here? Won’t they be more likely to come after us if we have one of their own captive?” She got down on her knees and hesitantly placed her hand on the soldier’s shoulder. When he didn’t move, she flicked Jackson a nervous look then finally shifted the soldier over, searching his back with a quick and delicate hand.

  Watching her move, Jackson instinctively pressed his fingers into his shoulder. She’d been holding it when he’d woken from the cave in. Whatever she’d been doing had felt like heaven.

  The thought making him uncomfortable, he cleared his throat again, trying to concentrate on her words instead. “They are going to come after us regardless of whether we bring him along or not. They’ll do anything to get their hands on you, that isn’t going to change. But if we have him, we can try to find out what’s going on here. If we hand him over to the Ashkan High Command—”

  Ki stiffened, jerking her hands back. “You’re going to torture him?”

  “I didn’t say that. But you need to understand that the information this man has could mean the difference between us winning a war or losing—”

  “We aren’t at war, Jackson. The Zeneethians have no interest in us.”

  “They had enough of an interest in you to track you down and kidnap you. How do you know there aren’t more like you? Were there others in the facility? Even if there weren’t, that doesn’t confirm anything. We don’t know anything about their intentions, and until we can find that information out, we need to be prepared for everything. And yes, that means we have to expect a war.”

  She didn’t look happy; her eyes narrowed, and she sucked her lips into a thin and tight frown.

  “I won’t let them torture him though. We’re not monsters, Ki.” Jackson swallowed, wiping a hand over his sweaty top lip.

  He’d just lied. Whether this man would be tortured or not was not up to him.

  Watching him warily for a moment, she finally continued to inspect the soldier. After several seconds, she placed her hand onto the middle of his back. With a sharp hiss, something released, the armor suddenly coming loose in large sections.

  “Be careful,” he nodded down slowly, checking the scope’s scanners again just to ensure the man was still unconscious.

  “I think he’ll be unconscious for some time yet,” she placed a hand on the man’s shoulder as she pulled away a section of the armor. He was wearing a thin grey shirt, and as Ki removed the white panels from his leg, she revealed black pants.

  It was a relief. If the man had been wearing some futuristic silver skin-tight suit, it would have been hard to get him to the capital city unnoticed.

  “Throw the armor over there,” he nodded to a patch of rock several meters away. It was sufficiently out of reach that if the soldier suddenly woke he wouldn’t be able to run to it before Jackson got off a shot.

  When Ki finished, she knelt down, turned the comatose body of the man around, and straightened up his limbs, clearly trying to make him comfortable.

  Jackson stopped himself from pointing out that soldier had been hunting her relentlessly and did not deserve her compassion.

  She would fight him on that fact.

  Standing, she took a slow breath and turned. “What do we do now? Wait until he wakes? Won’t that leave us exposed?”

  “What we do,” Jackson’s jaw twitched to the side, “is you pick up the pick from the hut behind us.”

  “... What am I going to do with it?”

  “Relax, like I said, we’re going to keep him alive. But we need to check something first. While I’m pretty darn sure that armor of his is rigged with tracking devices, I wouldn’t put it past those Zeneethians to have imbedded one of those small chip devices in this man either. Just like they did to you.”

  She bristled, cheeks turning so pale they looked like new snow. “I’m not going to mutilate this man looking for one of those.”

  “Just check the arm. That’s it. I don’t want you to cut this guy up either, but we need to check. I don’t see why they would implant those things in different places. If it was just under the skin of your left forearm, maybe it’s the same for him. Just check.”

  Frowning deeply, she got down to her knees and pulled up the soldier’s arm tenderly. Pushing her fingers into his forearm, she checked it thoroughly.

  “I doubt that’s going to work. That thing
was small—” Jackson began.

  She put up a hand quickly in a commanding move. “I’ve found something. It’s in the same place, same size.”

  “Right. Well....”

  Without another word she got up, retrieved the pick and nestled down next to the soldier.

  Taking a calm breath, she found the chip again, then brought the pick up.

  “Careful, the shock might wake him,” Jackson spoke through a locked jaw, voice muffled.

  Working quickly she made a small cut, prying back the flesh and removing the device with her fingers. Her hands didn’t tremble, and her gaze was steady and calm.

  She placed the pick next to her, carefully dropping the chip next to it. Wiping her bloodied hands on her robe, she proceeded to use the pick to help her rip off yet another section. If she kept on squaring off chunks of it like that, she’d soon have nothing left.

  Leaning down, she propped up the soldier’s arm and began to wind the bandage around the fresh, oozing wound.

  She didn’t get to finish.

  The man woke with a start, jolting up into a seated position.

  Ki gasped, but did not scream. Neither did she scuttle back and try to get away from the man. Instead she snapped her arms up, locking her fingers deep into the man’s shoulders.

  “Ki, get back from him,” Jackson tracked to the side, trying to get a clear aim. When Ki had moved forward she’d gotten in the way.

  The soldier, wide eyed, did not snap forward and grab Ki. Instead, a vein in his head began to throb, his neck and face stiffened.

  It was as if he couldn’t move.

  “Ki, get back,” Jackson snapped again, desperate.

  “It’s okay.” She tensed her fingers further, her knuckles white.

  The soldier was still frozen, that vein in his head raised and throbbing.

  She moved off carefully, hands hovering around his shoulders as her gaze searched him.

  “Just get back,” Jackson leaned down and pulled her away, even though he was risking it by coming in so close to the soldier. The man could have lashed out, kicked, or tackled Jackson to the ground.

  Yet he didn’t. The soldier sat there, back ramrod straight, arms locked beside him.

  “What... what did you do to him?” Jackson’s mouth dropped open as he realized the soldier was not acting. The man couldn’t move.

  Ki wiped her hands on her robe and neatened her hair over one shoulder, holding onto it with a tight grip. She looked uncomfortable at what she’d just done, but after a deep breath, she loosened up. “I activated certain pressure points. They are usually used for relieving pain. But if you over stimulate, you can lock the muscles up.”

  Jackson’s brow twitched down as he stared at her uncomfortably. “What—”

  “I told you, the priestess clan safeguards powerful and ancient techniques.” Her head straightened, her neck elongating.

  “I thought you just meant massage and a bit of meditation. Not... whatever you just did to him.” Jackson scratched at his neck and gave a harsh breath.

  “You should try harder to believe me then. You’ll find yourself having fewer nasty surprises.” She wouldn’t look at him, her head still held up proudly.

  “Is he... going to be like that forever?”

  “Of course not. The effects should wear off very soon.” She took a neat step back.

  Jackson followed, damping down on his surprise and raising his gun. “Alright, you try anything,” he pointed the muzzle at the soldier and nodded sharply, “and I’ll shoot you.”

  The soldier’s eyes shifted to the left slowly, his gaze dark.

  Perhaps this would not turn out to be a good idea. While Jackson could appreciate how important this man’s information might be, it would come at a risk. The man was still a highly-trained soldier, and given the opportunity would finish Jackson off and kidnap Ki.

  As promised, after a short time, the man began to move. At first his muscles twitched, his body convulsing forward uncontrollably. It quickly stopped though, and with a measured, short breath, he stretched out his broad shoulders and cracked his neck.

  “Get up,” Jackson gestured at him with the gun. “You’re coming with us?”

  The soldier didn’t stand. Instead he turned and set his gaze on Ki.

  The man’s expression was unreadable. It made her shudder back though, pushing her hands up her arms and locking them around her middle.

  “I said get up.” Jackson kicked at the ground.

  “I heard you.” The man stood. Though his muscles twitched, he controlled himself, his expression one of cold, over-trained malevolence.

  “What’s your name?” Ki asked in a quiet voice.

  The soldier would not answer, Jackson knew that. He was going to give nothing away, not unless he was compelled to with force. Her quiet voice and soft demeanor would not be sufficient impetus.

  “Max,” the soldier answered.

  Jackson’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you telling us this?”

  “Because she asked,” Max did not look at Jackson as he spoke. He simply smiled at Ki.

  “A good soldier doesn’t give up information unless he has to,” Jackson ground his teeth.

  “What do you know about being a good soldier?” Max turned his head towards Jackson but only slowly shifted his gaze.

  It was a patently threatening move.

  Bristling, Jackson stiffened his grip, ready for anything.

  “Jackson, we should leave,” Ki kept on rubbing her arms, her eyes no higher than the soldier’s knee.

  “There’s no point. Don’t go anywhere with this man. He’ll get you killed,” Max shifted his attention back to Ki, his demeanor altering dramatically. There was a cowed, almost awed edge to his gaze, yet he never lost his professionalism.

  She didn’t reply.

  “Get up and shut up,” Jackson snapped his head forward. “Ki, go find something in the hut to tie this guy’s hands with. Rummage around for supplies too. We have a long trek ahead of us.”

  “It won’t be that long. These mine shafts are riddled with other scouts. You’ll never make it out.”

  “Riddled, ha? How come they haven’t found us yet?” Jackson growled. “Ki, hurry up,” he called out for good measure. While he really didn’t want to trust Max, Jackson could still appreciate how perilous their current situation was.

  “What’s your interest in this, Jackson Walker? You’re nothing but a small-time scientist working at the Royal Academy. You fought in the last Ashkan and Tarkan war. You despise those people. You know she’s one of them, right?” Max casually picked at the bandage around his arm, fiddling with it before tightening it easily with one hand.

  Jackson’s skin chilled, a numb sensation spilling through his chest. “How do you know all that?”

  Max ticked his head to the side, that infuriating, arrogant smile still twisting up his cheeks. “Who do you think you’re dealing with? We know everything about you. Ki,” he called out, voice deep and rumbling, “do you know Jackson Walker here once stormed a Tarkan Monastery? His unit left nine dead. Now what else? Oh yeah, you marched in the rallies against handing the Torta Province back to the Tarkan Government. Those rallies disabled the peace talks that led to the last war. Ki, do you know who you’re dealing with here?”

  Jackson barely stopped himself from snapping forward and smashing the butt of his gun into Max’s smug face.

  “Are you just going to stand there and let me drive a rift between you two?” Max laughed callously. “I thought you knew what a good soldier was? Face it, you’re losing hold of this situation already. Let me go, I’ll take Ki, and you’ll never hear from us again. You won’t like your other options.”

  “Really? I kind of like the idea of gagging you; I think that’s a great option. Ki, if you find anything in there that can be used as a gag, bring it on out,” Jackson smiled, twitching his top lip up until his teeth showed.

  “You have no idea what you’re doing—” the soldier began.
>
  “But I’m still the guy holding the gun. So unless you want me to knock you out again, I suggest you shut up. Keep all your talk for the Ashkan Government.”

  “You want to make enemies of a superior race who outstrips you technologically, physically, and intellectually, go ahead. But shouldn’t you ask the rest of your people first? You realize any war with my kind would be over in less than a day? We’d black out your communications, shut down your power stations, take out your highways, and disable your ships within an hour. You would be worse than helpless; you’d be entirely at our mercy. Think about who you are making enemies with here, Jackson Walker.” Max straightened up, bracing his shoulders and shifting his neck from side to side. His expression was one of calm, smug superiority.

  “Ki, you almost done in there?” Jackson deliberately did not react to Max’s taunts. Instead he shifted back, leaning on one foot as he peered over into the open doorway of the hut. He was sure to keep his attention split, half of it focused on Max, half of it on her.

  “I’m almost done. I’ve found a pack,” mumbling, voice muffled, she appeared at the doorway hefting an old canvas bag. It was covered in dust, and as she dragged it along the ground, it kicked up a cloud of it. Batting at it, coughing heartily, she tugged it over to him.

  It looked heavy. She’d obviously packed away everything she’d found. One of his eyebrows twitching up, he watched her uncomfortably as she tried to heft it up but failed.

  “It’s kind of heavy,” she admitted.

  “Yeah, he can carry it,” Jackson pointed at Max.

  “You really are a good soldier. Letting your enemy carry all your supplies. Tell me, how did you even make it through the last war? Your fiancée didn’t, did she?” Max’s words were slow and clear. He obviously wanted Jackson to hear every one of them. “You couldn’t protect her from a Tarkan sniper, how are you going to protect yourself from me?”

  Before he could react, Ki dropped the pack and ran in front of Max. Not close enough that the soldier could snap forward and grab her, but near enough to Jackson’s gun that he wouldn’t be able to get off a clean shot.

  She put her hands up slowly. “Jackson, he’s going to try everything he can to destabilize you. He’ll know everything about you. They knew everything about me. Just don’t... do anything stupid.”

  His cheeks were burning red, his hands slicked with sweat. All he wanted to do was dodge to her side and tackle Max to the ground.

  She held his gaze though, her hands still reached out before her. “You want this guy alive, remember?”

  “Gag him and tie his hands up now. If he tries anything, paralyze him like you did last time.” Jackson stood back, flicking his gun down to one of the lower settings. Then he watched and waited as Ki followed his orders. His shoulders were so tensed that the twinge in his back and side stabbed and throbbed.

  He ignored it, a bead of sweat dripping down between his eyes as he stared along the scope of the gun at Max.

  Ki worked quickly. She fixed the straps of the pack over Max’s shoulders, standing as far back from him as she could, a thankfully wary look on her face. When it came time to tie the guy’s hands, Jackson walked over and practically rested his gun against Max’s head. If he tried anything, he wouldn’t have long.

  Max stared up at Ki as she worked, that strange, awed expression back. From the reflected light of the gun, Jackson could not see too much because it was set to one of its lowest settings. He recognized that tight, expectant look though.

  Just why were these Zeneethians after Ki? What could she do for them that they would risk so much to get her back?

  After she’d finished tying the man’s hands with a strip of long, dusty leather, she bit into her lip and scrunched her nose up.

  She clearly did not want to gag him. As a priestess, it was unlikely that kind of thing had ever come up before.

  “It’s fine. Find a strip of fabric or something. He’ll be okay,” Jackson assured her softly.

  “Nothing’s clean enough. They’re all covered in grease or blood or decades of rock dust. Just don’t let him get to you.”

  “Ki,” Jackson forced his teeth together, the enamel grating loudly through his jaw, “I can’t put up with him talking.”

  “Thanks for letting me know. Getting rid of you is going to be easier than I thought,” Max chuckled.

  Ki took a step back. She did not look happy, but she leaned down to the backpack. Rummaging through it, she produced a strip of fabric. Cleaning it against her robe fastidiously, she tied it around Max’s mouth. Her movements were slow and timid. Through it all, Max watched her closely.

  That keen attention of his made Jackson want to throw up. He doubted the man could fake the reverence smoothing his brow and stiffening his jaw. It felt too organic to be an act.

  On edge, Jackson waited until Ki had finished before he gave the order to move out. Despite the manifestly heavy pack on Max’s shoulders, he stood easily. He didn’t wobble to the side, neither did his knees crunch as he forced them to pivot forward. He simply straightened as if the weight were nothing more than a feather lightly touching his shoulder.

  With one last look back up the shaft, Jackson turned. Without an operable scanner, he would have to chart his path using nothing but the map he’d ripped from the hut’s wall. He grabbed it out of his pocket periodically, propping up the tattered back with his other hand as he tracked a scratched fingertip over the path they’d have to take.

  As they walked, he never let his guard drop. He didn’t let the gun drop to his side either; he kept it locked into his shoulder and only lowered it when he had to use both hands to navigate through a narrower section of tunnel.

  They had to be very careful. Who knew how many other Zeneethians were dotted through these tunnels. While he hoped they had not penetrated this far, he had to be prepared for anything.

  They travelled in near silence. Their footfall and the occasional drip of water were the only sounds to filter around them.

  At their current pace, it would take them a little over 24 hours to make it to the other side. When and if they did, the next stage of their journey would begin. If packs of wolves, Zeneethian scout parties, and two near-death experiences were bad, Jackson knew what would await them next could only be worse.