Page 47 of Lorran
“Such lavish praise makes me blush,” Lorran teased, despite being secretly pleased.
“Again, not a compliment.”
Lorran initiated a scan to secure the area. “The escape pod is half a day’s journey on foot. Energy fluctuations are detected inside the base.”
The proximity detector alerted them to multiple incoming life forms. Without visuals, the scans could give no specific detail. Lorran and Mylomon secured their armor and weapons, expecting hostile targets.
Wyn watched, wearing her own armor. Her eyes lingered on the blaster strapped to Lorran’s hip, the dagger on his thigh, and the rifle slung over his shoulder.
“Remain inside,” he said, before lowering the ramp.
Cool air flowed in, scented with salt from the ocean.
He gave his mate a wink before securing his helmet.
Gray buildings lined the landing strip in a neat row. Grass grew thick on top. Shadowy arch doorways provided enough cover for a person to hide, despite the midday sun directly overhead.
Lorran and Mylomon proceeded with caution. The suit filtered out the odors of the atmosphere, but not the sounds. Animals rustled through the grass. A small mammal trilled in song, most likely a bird.
“We are from theJudgment,” Mylomon said. “We answered a distress signal and followed you here.”
No response.
Lorran relaxed. If the unknown persons had been Suhlik, they would already be in a firefight. This must be the surviving crew ofSRV-P11.
“I don’t care where the pair of you fools are from. Blundering through the atmosphere, dragging all sorts of attention with you, no doubt!” an angry voice shouted from a distance.
Mylomon turned to follow the sound. “I am looking for the one called Caldar,” he said.
The male stepped from the shadow, blaster at the ready. He had a plum-colored complexion and horns, so Sangrin-Mahdfel. Gray salted his hair and threaded through his horns.
“You can tell Paax that I am insulted by his idea of a rescue,” he said.
Lorran tensed. Mylomon growled. Tension rolled through the air.
A small face peeked out from behind the man’s legs.
Wyn
Wyn wasn’t sure what was happening as she watched via the shuttle’s camera. The guys went outside to meet another Mahdfel. At least she assumed he was another Mahdfel. On camera, he looked like a rather average older man. Mahdfel had a certain presence. They were bigger, more dangerous, more predatory…just more.
This guy appeared to be an old man, but he had to be something more. Lorran and Mylomon were growling, snarling, and posturing. Then they relaxed, like once they established who had dominance and gave the secret Mahdfel handshake, it was all cool.
Aliens made no sense.
Oh, and there was a kid. Well, she expected that. The ghost ship had a kid on board, ergo the kid was on the escape pod.
After a few minutes of conversation, Lorran returned to the shuttle. “We are going to the base,” he said, and grabbed her bag.
“We’re staying? I thought we’d be leaving immediately?” Not that she was going to complain, because hello? Alien planet. Day three in space and she was on another world.
“The shuttle requires repairs, among other things,” Lorran said.
“That sounds bad.”
“The damage is less than optimal, but the shuttle will function, regardless.”
“Not bad?”
