On the Run by James David Victor

Author:James David Victor [Victor, James David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fairfield Publishing
Published: 2024-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

7

The gravity of that hit them hard, because they could see that this building didn’t look like anyone lived in it anymore, which would naturally have them wondering what happened to his friends and family.

“What… What happened—” Arke began. He cut her off, knowing what she was asking. Arke, as well as Tomi and Nummer, knew some of it. Niath, Vasya, Aaron, and Ixion knew all of it. Lyra knew none of it.

His shoulders sagged. “Besides the war? Mom was always sick. I helped pay for her medicine, but she had a degenerative form of bone cancer. The local hospital could pay for treatments and medicine to keep her alive, but the stuff to make her better cost too much for them to front the bill for. I did all I could to afford it where I could, but it was never enough. She finally passed during the first year of the war, right when the threat of the Confeds coming here became a real fear, and the supply lines dried up because of the fighting.” He released a sigh that sound almost relieved. “As awful as it sounds, I’m almost glad she went when she did. I got to be with her for so long despite it all, and I don’t think she would have made it through the war. Not even considering the lack of medicine and care, I think seeing the home she loved so much turned into what it has become would have killed her on its own.”

Despite the problems, Eurydice had been beautiful once, in its own odd way. The swamps held a special something that he missed. The glowing bugs, moon lilies, and bioluminescent flora that lit the forest with blue-green tint that was stunning to behold.

“I’m sorry,” they both said.

He shook his head. “Don’t be. I’ve come to peace with it a long time ago.”

“But not with everything,” Arke said. Her Pathfinder perception was quick and sharp as always. He almost smiled.

“Yeah, not with everything.”

Melias walked toward the building. The metal main doors used to slide into the walls, but now one was dented and forever forced to stay in place. The other was gone completely, replaced by a mesh tarp that looked to be in surprisingly good condition. It made him think it was changed recently and there may still be some tenants in the building.

As soon as he brushed the tarp aside and entered the building, he pulled his pistol. His plasma-saber was heavy on his hip, but he kept it there for now.

“Weapons out,” he said. “Building might still be occupied, and desperate people often do dumb and desperate things.

“Roger,” Arke said.

In reality, he was sure that anyone would take a look at the three of them and not even think to mess with them. Besides the obvious, that most needy people of the galaxy tended to look very favorably on the Sentinels, Lyra was not someone you wanted to mess with. Her vibes alone made most people turn away. On top of that, of course, they were all well-armed.

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