Jaguar IV by KS Augustin

Author:KS Augustin [Augustin, KS]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Space Opera, Science Fiction Adventure, Republic, Galactic Empire, SF Saga
Publisher: Challis Tower
Published: 2016-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The air was stifling hot, even for a late afternoon. Quinten stood near the edge of the escarpment and scowled at the vegetation stretching out below him. Even though the air was still, there was movement in the thick growth, a rippling across the landscape like a green wave. Occasionally, an animal scream punctuated the background of muted scuffles and slithers. Sweat trickled down the inside of his suit, overloading the inner textile sheath and making his skin itch. Already, incredibly, he was missing the icy methane storms of Sapporo VII.

“Uh, sir?”

Quinten spun on his heel. To his right, Henor was doing the same. The diffident voice was Dove’s. He shifted uneasily at the shuttle’s hatch. Quinten wondered why such a skinny and obviously nervous soldier had been brought along. Henor barked out an impatient, “What is it?”

“Uh, we, er, appear to have, uh, a problem, sir.”

“He means me.”

Vigo stepped out onto the ledge, put her hands on her hips and looked around. “Delightful place,” she said.

Henor looked thunderstruck. “Vigo! What the hell are you doing here?”

Behind Henor, Demos grinned and looked away.

“Well, Blain,” Vigo said, her voice pleasant, “getting me to come along with you must’ve slipped your mind, so I packed some stuff and here I am.”

“Cargo hold,” Quinten said.

“It’s a bit cosy there,” she admitted, “but bearable for a little while.”

Henor jabbed a finger at her. “You can go right back in that shuttle and I’ll get Hype to take you—”

“You can’t afford not to have me along,” she said. “Ten, why don’t you tell them, since common sense appears to have deserted the commander’s head.”

Quinten felt sorry for Henor at that moment. It was dangerous enough being a friend of Vigo Halan’s, without having to be in love with her. “She’s right. We might need someone with Vigo’s reflexes along. In fact, I’m sorry I didn’t think of it myself.”

Vigo sauntered up to Henor, whose face was suffused with red. She smiled up at him. “Now you see? That’s how you apologise to a lady.”

From the looks of things, Henor was having difficulty swallowing. “I don’t think you being here is a good idea.” The words were terse, pushed out through gritted teeth.

“Actually,” Quinten said, “Vigo might be just what we need.” The other men turned to stare at him. Demos, still hidden by Henor’s figure, smirked.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said. “Hype, how far do we have to go to get to the crash site?”

The pilot pointed directly ahead of him. “About twenty kilometres that way, give or take.”

“We could do with an extra pair of eyes.” Quinten met Henor’s gaze. “I suggest we take a team and go find the survivors. When we’ve found them, we call the shuttle over to come and pick us up. Two men stay here.”

From what he could read of the others’ expressions, his plan made sense, but Henor still looked deeply unhappy. “I don’t like splitting up the team. Especially not on a planet like this.”

Nobody answered him.

“Who would you leave behind?” he finally asked.

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