Excision Verdict by TW Iain

Author:TW Iain
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TW Iain
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Keelin

Ennis flew for another half hour, took the Proteus to the bank of a large lake. The rain had cleared enough that Keelin, standing in the hatch, could look across to the rise of the hills on the far side, see the swirls of the clouds reflected in the water.

Dia stepped next to her. “Thanks,” her sister said.

“Glad I could help.”

Dia looked over her shoulder. <Reckon Ennis is a bit cut up, though.>

<Didn’t mean to be rude.>

<She should’ve responded to the danger. She’s not normally so passive. She’s upset she put you in that position.>

<Nothing to be ashamed of. Playing along’s a decent way of putting the enemy off their guard.>

<But only if you’re going to pull something.> Dia paused, then said, “Have to say, it was a mad move. I know you had everything planned, but you took one hell of a risk.”

Keelin winced inside. “Did what I had to. Wasn’t going to let them take me whatever happened.”

“Do or die trying?”

“Something like that.”

A breeze brushed Keelin’s forehead. A few paces away, Ennis and Brianne sat on a rock at the edge of the water. Ennis tossed pebbles into the depths. Their lips moved.

“Tallia’s got a lot in common with us, you know,” Keelin said.

Dia shuffled. “Surprised you trust her. She’s with the Ancients, right?”

“And we don’t know if they’re friends or enemies.” She paused. “And if they’re enemies, that means Kaiahive were right all along.”

“Had the same thoughts. Had more after a couple of drinks. What if we’re part of their plan against the Ancients? Maybe Peta and Occia did the right thing?”

Keelin winced. “Ten of us against the Ancients? Don’t like those odds.”

“Assuming the Ancients are powerful.”

“They lifted huge pyramids from the ground.”

“Yeah.” Dia shuffled. “And if they’re that powerful, we don’t stand a chance.”

“So we do whatever we can.”

Dia didn’t respond. Somewhere a bird cried out. Wind rustled the trees behind the Proteus. Ennis threw another stone and it plopped into the water. Ripples grew. They reached the bank and doubled-back, cross-hatching the water.

“So what’s next?” Dia asked.

“Next?”

“Plans. Your wounds are healing. Wondered what was next. You going back to the Collective?”

Keelin bit on her lower lip. “Not sure.”

“Changing sides?”

“Not about sides. Not even sure where the lines are now.”

“True. Complicated.”

Keelin nodded. “Came out here with a job to do,” she said. “Dig into the death of Cullen Goga. Suppose I should carry on.”

“That going well?” Dia tilted her head. “I mean, what have you found out?”

“Body left to taunt us. They waited to see who’d turn up, wanted to kill us too. Reckon the company know more about the Collective than the Collective realises.”

“And if you go back with that intel, what then?”

Keelin shrugged, looked over the lake again. A gust of wind sent tiny waves frothing, a dark patch that shifted from left to right. A disturbance, and then it was gone.

“Could always stay with us,” Dia said. “For a while, see how things go.”

Keelin turned, looked around the craft’s hatch, through to the cabin.

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