Page 60 of Alien Soldier

“We’re ready to get going,” Frankie says. “Let’s get this handled for all our species.”

“Straight to business,” Driga cuts in. “I admire that.”

She gestures us after her and we follow her toward the water, where a fewcaltanhave made their way over to the dock. The opening to the sea cave is a mere pinprick in the distance, indigo skies on the dawn horizon, the firefern still brighter than the early morning sun.

I get a better look at thecaltannow than I did yesterday. They’re calm and docile here, gathering around the dock for Driga to pass out helpings of kelp and fruit. They look oddly similar to thezephtan—a different shape, but with the same wooden hide and numerous translucent eyes. I wonder if they host a forest inside as well, subaquatic rather than temperate like thezephtan.

“These are Karazel, Trie, and Gruna,” Driga says, gesturing at three of the most docile creatures. “They are trained to return to the villa should anything happen to the three of you—or if you are not to return to them in two cycles.”

“They’re intelligent?” I ask.

“Intelligent as azephtan—which means we know very little of their level of sentience,” Driga says. “They form bonds with a keeper, andIam their keeper, so they will come home to me if your mission fails.”

The thought of it sends a shiver down my spine, reminding me just how dangerous this endeavor might be.

“And if our journey takes us away for more than two days?” I ask.

“I’ve shared our encrypted transponder code with Taraven,” Jokahn says. “We can send azephtanto extract you, should the need arise.”

I exchange a look with Frankie and Taraven. “What about our pilot? And ourzephtan?”

Taraven shifts awkwardly on his feet. “That won’t be possible. Ravik left in the middle of the night.”

Frankie’s jaw drops, her face twisting into a glare. “Are you fucking serious?”

“It’s not what you think,” Taraven says. “I told him to go.”

“Youwhat?” I demand. “Why?”

“I’ll explain on the journey,” Taraven says.

“That’s not good enough—” I begin, but Frankie cuts me off.

“Let’s keep our businessours,” she hisses. “Driga—can you give us a rundown on how to pilot these things, or do they have a set location?”

Driga purses her lips, looking between the three of us while Jokahn chuckles to himself. Did Taraven do this because he was angry at us for spending the night together…?

No. I can’t think that way.

The mission comes first.

“I’ve already interfaced with thecaltanand given them your destination via neural link,” Driga says. “They will take you across the Three Lakes, into the ancestral ruins. Once there, you should investigate and return.”

“So if all goes according to plan, we will find evidence of the weapon in these ruins, and we will see you in roughly…eight cycles?” I ask, glancing down at the coordinates Taraven has just sent me.

Driga tilts her chin in affirmation, then her eyes narrow. “And I beg you—bring mycaltanhome safe, and help us stop Dalphox.”

Jokahn’s expression sobers and he reaches out for Driga, pulling her to his side. “Good luck,” he says.

And as we board thecaltanand head out to sea, I start to believe we will need it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

??

FRANKIE

Grappling with an alien love triangle while riding into enemy territory on giant manta rays is the last thing I expected to be doing when I joined ICO…but life has a way of throwing curveballs at you, doesn’t it?

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