Star Shepherd by R. R. Virdi

Author:R. R. Virdi [Virdi, R. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781912996063
Publisher: Bolide Publishing Limited
Published: 2019-03-18T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

A Way Out

Star sucked in a sharp breath, causing the ridges along the device to whistle and shriek in response. Someone from the Liberation Movement, here? He looked out into the rain and ran through a thought for nearly every drop striking the landing pad.

It didn’t sit well with him. Lisba was too far out of the way from the fringe worlds the resistance preferred to keep to. And it was too close to well-traveled hubs to lend them any safety from the military.

But then, that’s why he was there. To hide out of sight in the crowd. He slid back to reality as the sound of Zita descending the ramp filled his ears. Star followed, ignoring the two figures standing at the exit hatch. He passed through it and onto the final ramp, letting the droning of the rain take hold of his mind.

The two figures fell into step behind him, hanging just at the edge of his peripheral vision.

They weren’t willing to take chances between him and Ahiko. Star couldn’t blame them. He grimaced as he stepped out from under The Leaf’s cover, and the rain plastered his hair to his skull. Each drop looked more welcoming than it felt—peppering him like globules of liquid glass. He winced as each one struck exposed bits of skin. It was like being showered in needles.

Star weathered it in silence, taking slow, long drags through the breathing apparatus. Each breath came through smoother and moister than they had in the ship. Least it works. He reached up and pulled the collar of his coat high to protect his neck from the stinging downpour. His eyes found little respite until he bothered to raise a hand to shield them. The skin of his fingers ached with cold, and he wagered it wouldn’t be long till the throbbing made its way to his bones.

Zita led the way at a brisk pace. She’d drawn her hood up to shelter herself from the torrent.

Star hadn’t paid her clothing much attention at first. Water ran off it in sheets to join the drops streaming through the channels in the landing pad.

A series of disgruntled grunts managed to cut through the storm.

He looked over his shoulder to find Ahiko stomping through the occasional pool of water that hadn’t successfully drained into the channels.

The breathing tool twitched between the pilot’s lips as he grumbled and kicked another puddle. His clothes clung to him like a second layer of skin.

Star nursed a hope that Zita found them shelter fast. Otherwise, the pilot was likely to lose what little cool he had left. He recalled their first meeting and how the inebriated Ahiko had assaulted soldiers. Star didn’t want a similar occurrence when they were outgunned and held hostage.

Zita led them through a series of close-standing trees forming something of a hall of wood at their sides. Intertwining branches and mats of foliage spread high above them, creating a natural blanket from much of the rainfall.

Star looked around and

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