The Girl with the Spear by K. Anderson

Author:K. Anderson [K. Anderson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: K. Anderson
Published: 2022-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

Across the Universe

Chapter Seventeen

Letter day finally came. The counsel waited for an explanation from Emmar, as well as an update on the death of Tessan. Should nothing come, they were prepared to send a relief crew to Settara to find out what exactly had happened, and to bring the prisoners home.

The message did not go through. No message came from Settara, and none went into Settara. For whatever reason, the cloud did not ascend as it usually would, and they were left hanging onto radio silence. This was enough evidence—combined with Rivus' presentation—to request a PSA relief team to be sent to the planet.

It was a victory, and yet, Rivus felt nervous still. It would take a day to arrange everything, and then eight to reach the planet. Based on the dream he had the night before, Rivus worried they might not have so long. In a moment of blatant emotionalism, he spoke out against the council.

“Had you not delayed in sending aid to Settara, Tessan A’TerVos would not be dead,” he said firmly. “Should it be found that she was not the only casualty, those names, too, will be on your souls.”

The council formulated no reply, and so Rivus and Mirr left. Outside, the rest of the group was waiting for them, eager for the verdict. Vamos, Vant, Vassara, Avice, Sura, and Temna awaited them in the heat, the lot looking fairly miserable.

“What’s the word?” Vant was the first to speak.

“A relief team will be sent to Settara tomorrow evening,” Mirr said. “They are to locate and bring back the criminals.”

“Somehow, hearing Mav referred to as a criminal really doesn’t make me feel much better about this situation,” Avice sighed.

“I agree,” Vamos said. “Sure, he stole a ship, but he didn’t get very far. He’s not like everyone else there.”

“He is like everyone else there,” Sura said. “He did something wrong.”

“Are you saying Mav deserves whatever happens?” Vant snapped.

“No,” Sura said. “I am saying none of them deserve it anymore than Maverick does.”

Rivus nodded. “I agree. This mission is to save everyone on Settara, and to hopefully make sure the rest of the planet hasn’t been affected like the camp has. This isn’t just for Maverick.” For him, it had started that way, but it was more than that, now. They would need to construct plans to recover Tessan’s body. It was likely she would not be the only one to die.

“I hate to say this,” Temna spoke up, “But I’ve been in touch with Larius A’EvaTem’s family. His bonds have been broken for some time now, too, I am afraid. I’ll send you all their information, but they did not wish to speak of him. He was to be razed.”

“Why did no one else try to get a relief crew to Settara?” Vassara asked.

“Tessan’s family did try,” Temna said. “They just didn’t have enough. If their child had died, like they said, despite the letters that were coming in, there was nothing to be done for them, anyway. No one wants to retrieve the body of a criminal when it’s that far away.

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