Every Star a Song by Jay Posey

Author:Jay Posey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: 2021-10-19T00:00:00+00:00

They arrived at their designated point of exploration about two hours after sunrise, leaving plenty of time for them to set up the little they needed and get to work. The area they’d selected served as a transition from hill country to a mountain range several miles distant; the air took on a hint of chill that it had lacked before, and though it wasn’t uncomfortable, Elyth could easily imagine it becoming so as they gained elevation. The landing zone was a wide natural clearing, elevated above the surrounding terrain, with an ample buffer of open ground between the shuttle and the surrounding trees.

Shortly after landing, the supply crate on top of the shuttle dismounted, autonomously piloting itself to the ground nearby, and unfolded to reveal the neatly organized supply racks within. Ames and Korush had clearly been up early; from the looks of it, Elyth figured they could probably spend a week in the field, or maybe up to ten days if they decided to run lean. In light of her awakening the night before, though, she wasn’t sure how many more days she could stand to be in such company. Longer, if she could find evidence to reassure her; if not, well… already a portion of her mind was searching out the possibilities, unlikely as any escape seemed to be.

The group took about an hour to unload and prep for the day ahead, laying out the plan and gearing up to the best of their ability for whatever they might encounter. While they did so, Elyth watched everyone’s actions and communications through new eyes, judging intent, searching for signs of deception or conversations staged for her benefit. The team was unusually quiet, though, each member focused on whatever task they had at hand, alert to their surroundings, moving with purpose and efficiency. Varen alone seemed unconcerned with the change of scenery, though he was more distant than usual, more pensive, less engaging.

Elyth was kneeling on the ground, in the middle of packing her gear, when Captain Ames approached her.

“Hey, Elyth,” he said. “You doing okay today?”

She nodded without looking up. “Just trying to focus on what needs to be done.”

“Yeah, I get that,” he replied. He said nothing further, but he continued to stand there, hovering over her. After what should have been plenty of time for him to realize she didn’t want to talk, she finally paused and glanced up at him.

“You need something?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I do actually.”

“And it is…?”

He dropped into a casual crouch, a few feet away but eye to eye with her.

“I need to know you’re on board with this, all the way, one hundred percent.”

“Have I given you reason to think I’m not?”

“Not until this morning,” he said. “I’ve been in a few hairy situations before, hairy enough to see some real hard hitters get spooked.”

“If you’re worried about my courage or resolve—”

“I’m not. I was going to say, I’ve seen spooked, and that’s clearly not what you are.”

“Then what do you think I am?”

“I’m not sure.

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