Eclipse by Rae D. Magdon & Michelle Magly

Author:Rae D. Magdon & Michelle Magly [Magdon, Rae D. & Magly, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: Desert Palm Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

DESPITE PROMISING TO SPEAK with Elurin, Rachel spent most of the next day avoiding her. Not intentionally. First, she took some well-earned rest in one of the comm station’s bunks. Once she’d slept, she volunteered for guard duty. Akton had been only too happy to assign her a post in one of the guard towers. She looked out over the dusty red desert, comm at the ready in case she needed to sound an alert.

At least, that was what she told herself.

Unfortunately, spending several hours alone, with only the occasional radio chatter to confirm all was well, gave her time to think. Her thoughts weren’t comfortable ones. Why does Jethra piss me off so much? And why have things gotten so weird between Elurin and me?

Rachel had never imagined she’d become such fast friends with an ikthian, but that was the way things had gone, and she wasn’t sorry about it. About plenty of other things, yes—considering all ikthians enemies, listening to that idiot Bouchard, failing to rescue Taylor sooner—but not meeting Elurin. That, she’d gotten right.

So, why does everything feel wrong?

She slumped in the rotating chair in the middle of the guard tower used for controlling the defense cannons. It felt more like a human-sized fishbowl than anything. By the time she noticed someone approaching from within the compound, she’d scanned the circular viewing area several times.

Akton strode away from the lone building, headed in her direction. She activated the comm on her wrist. “Coming for a visit, Valerius?”

Akton’s reply came through with a low chuckle. “Right, Harris. A nice visit with a picnic lunch.”

Rachel watched him disappear into the base of the tower. The hatch in the floor opened, and Akton stuck his shaggy head through, clambering into the viewing station alongside her.

“Where’s that picnic?”

“I’ve got half a nutrobar if you want it.” He reached into his pocket and tossed it to her. Even though it wasn’t particularly appetizing, Rachel unwrapped it and took a bite. She knew better than to let herself stay hungry in the field.

“Fank oo,” she said around a mouthful of the tart, chewy grains.

He nodded. “Anything to report?”

“Nope.” She looked out at the wide expanse of red desert. It was mostly barren, aside from a few shadowy rock formations and a couple of towering plants that reminded her vaguely of cacti. “It’s a wasteland.”

Akton joined her. “Not quite. There’s all kinds of life in the desert, if you know where to look.”

“Underground, I suppose,” Rachel mused.

“Exactly. That’s where most sensible creatures go in a climate like this. I could survive in this terrain for weeks without supplies, and so could most other naledai soldiers.”

It was meant to be a joke, but something about Akton’s comment rubbed Rachel the wrong way. Perhaps it was his unwavering confidence, when she felt so unmoored herself.

“Well, goodie for you,” she grumbled. “Brag some more, why don’t you?”

Akton fixed his yellow-eyed gaze on her. “What’s got up your ass, Harris?”

Rachel sighed. “Sorry. Just have a lot on my mind.

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