Blue solace complete ser.., p.36
Blue Solace: Complete Series Boxset, page 36
“Have some faith, Doc,” Rune said.
“How can I after everything that’s happened?” Wyatt tilted his face up toward the sun. Living in a cave had a lot of downsides.
The large man shook his head. “That’s when you need faith the most.”
“Okay. I’ll work on that,” Wyatt said sarcastically, making Rune laugh. “What will you do when you get home, Rune?”
Most of his team lived temporarily on Rueal since it was the closest to Tammol. It made leaving on their off weeks a lot easier. Wyatt, Kiki, Joe, and Rune always got together to watch movies and eat at the local cafés and restaurants. It wouldn’t be the same without Joe.
“First thing I’ll do is take a shower,” Rune said with a smile. “Then eat a ton of food.” He turned Wyatt around and pushed him back toward the cave. “Get in there where’s it’s safe, Doc. I’ve got this.”
“Fine,” Wyatt said, pouting.
Before he entered the cave, a rat carcass just outside the entrance caught his eye. He bent to look at it, noting the emaciated body. It was a dried husk, empty of all fluids. It hadn’t been there two days ago when he’d snuck out to talk to Kiki.
He shook his head, body shaking at the knowledge of how close they’d come to dying yesterday. Those troops really had been the ones that had attacked the village. The creature had been with them.
Wyatt had seen people shot, stabbed, blown up, drowned, and set on fire. He’d thought he’d seen it all. When the attack happened, there were plenty of shots fired and grenades thrown, but that wasn’t what haunted him. He looked back at Rune, catching his attention, and nudged the rat. The large man paled.
“Fuck,” he said. “It was them yesterday.”
“I had hoped Pela was wrong.”
“What is that thing, Doc?” It wasn’t the first time they had asked that question. “It sure as shit looked human, except for those weird eyes. It was dressed just like the others too. They’re part of some kind of military unit.”
“I don’t know, Rune,” Wyatt answered quietly. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Based on appearance, it was a human male, but no human could have survived being shot and stabbed.”
The villagers had fought back with a vengeance to protect their homes and families. He’d seen Kiki shoot the creature in the fucking head, and it just shrugged it off.
“I’ve never seen any species or hybrid do what it did,” Wyatt said.
Rune shivered. “It reminds me of creepy vampire stories from Old-Earth. It drew all the blood and fluids from people right into it. Didn’t have to touch them either. Just called it to him, like a stray dog. Fuck. That shit is messed up.”
“Agreed,” Wyatt said.
“Get back in the cave, Doc,” Rune said. “It’s safer there.”
Wyatt didn’t argue this time. That rat was reason enough to hide for the rest of his life. Estella waited on him at the entrance, and Jane and Pela walked around the cavern, checking on patients.
“Ready to get to work?” he asked the girl. She nodded and they got to it.
Infection had set into the wound of an older man. Wyatt used a bit more of their precious micro-healer. He hoped Kiki found something. Rasha’s pain was worse today, and Wyatt was out of the stronger meds. He gave her the mild ones and held her hand through the worst of it. Eventually, she settled into sleep.
Dashel looked defeated. “She’s not going to make it, is she?”
“I won’t lie,” Wyatt said, nodding to Estella. She pulled Rasha’s two kids away, settling them in a corner. “If we don’t get more supplies, she won’t make it. That being said, Kiki is out looking for something now, so don’t give up hope. Your wife is a fighter. She’ll hang on as long as she can, and you need to encourage her.”
“I will,” he said. “I can’t do this without her. I won’t let her go without a fight.”
“Me neither,” Wyatt said, squeezing the man’s hand.
Later that night, Kiki came back with a small bag of medical supplies and a sack of torgon fruit. The thick-skinned fruit wasn’t the tastiest thing growing on Tammol, but it was a welcome treat.
The medical bag had some potent anti-bacterial healer that he instantly applied to the worst of Rasha’s wounds. She slept on, but she didn’t look quite so pale.
Most importantly, he noticed the hope in her husband’s eyes and the smiles on the faces of the Tammolians. Rasha was a good woman and their friend.
After his rounds, he grabbed dinner and went outside the cave to talk to Kiki. The tall woman perched amidst large ferns, eyes constantly surveying the surrounding area. Luna lay at her side, completely hidden by the large, purple leaves of the plant. Wyatt knelt next to them.
“Thank you, Kiki,” he said. “Rasha stands a better chance now, and the others have a bit more hope.”
“They shouldn’t,” she said, voice rough and frightened.
Wyatt’s mouth dropped open in shock. “What?”
“That creature and its soldiers are killing off every Tammolian they come across,” she said. “I found two villages today. Every person was dead and the villages were ransacked. None of the comms work. There’s no communication.”
“What does it want? Do you think the Resistance or the Commonwealth hired the creature and the soldiers?”
“No,” she said with certainty. “These men kill without discrimination. Every living person dies, then they take food, medical supplies, and the livestock.” Her eyes filled with sadness. “They’re all just empty husks or rotting corpses. All those lives gone now, and what can we do about it? Nothing. Nothing will kill that bastard.”
Wyatt was quiet a moment, debating. “I’ve been working on something,” he said, reluctantly. “Did I ever tell you my dad works with viruses? He researches them and creates cures and vaccinations.”
“No,” she said, watching him curiously. “You never talk about him, just your mom. Working with viruses is kind of awesome.”
“Yeah. He’s great,” Wyatt said flatly. He knew his dad did good work, but his heart still had trouble understanding why Wyatt wasn’t important enough for a fucking call or visit. “The point is, when I was in school, my dumb ass took a lot of classes on virology.”
“To feel closer to him?”
“Probably,” he said. “I definitely didn’t major in psychology. Anyway, I have an idea. There’s an old virus that we studied. It was used as chemical warfare, but it’s long gone now. We studied the structure of it, and it primarily affected humans. It was nasty. It would basically cause the infected person’s blood to boil. All it took was ninety seconds, and the person would die horrifically.”
“What’s your idea?”
“I can create a poison,” Wyatt said. “With the right ingredients.”
“What are you saying?”
“The creature seemed to consume all the blood of its victims. It just soaked into the thing’s body. I think I can kill it by affecting its blood. The virus happens so fast and at the cellular level. I don’t think it could regenerate.”
“Assuming it works, how would we keep the virus from spreading?”
“It wouldn’t be the virus, just inspired from it.”
“What do you need?”
“I’ve made you a list,” he said. “A lot of the ingredients can be found in any common med bay, but there are a few that will be harder to find. I don’t know if the villages in the area will have it all, but they’ll have some. I’ve been studying the local fauna while I’ve been here, so I can find some substitutes for the rarer ingredients.”
“If we need to, I can travel to one of the cities. It’ll take a couple of days and it’s riskier, but it might be our only hope.”
“I’m surprised the Commonwealth haven’t tried to deal with this creature themselves. They should have their own soldiers pouring through the area.”
“That’s why I want to see the closest city. We spend most of our time in the cave. A million things could be happening and we wouldn’t know it. I have a feeling those off-world soldiers are just doing clean-up now. Tammol is a small planet with mostly rural villages. If they were going to take it over, they would start with the cities, right?”
“I don’t know, Kiki,” he said, horror filling him. “I don’t think I want to know.”
Chapter 5
Sugarworm System, Planet Rueal
Morgan walked through the streets of Pagent’s Distillery. The city was posh for sure. Fancy boutiques and restaurants dominated the shopping district, but there were still a few unsavory venues.
Morgan, Quinn, and Alois, dressed in their best, were outside one, watching the customers come and go. The Barley Button was a small, exclusive brothel disguised as a bar.
Currently, the bouncer was throwing a young Wello man out the door. “I know that fucker is in there,” the man yelled. “Let me see him. My wife’s missing, and that bastard knows something.”
“Mr. Jevio doesn’t want to talk to you,” the bouncer said, a growl in his voice. “I suggest you leave before we call the police.”
Morgan and Alois exchanged a glance, and Morgan hurried forward. He grabbed the man’s raised arm, stopping the punch aimed for the bouncer.
“My friend’s drunk, sir,” he said. “I’ll make sure he gets home and calms down. I’m so sorry for the inconvenience.”
“Who the hell are you?” The man struggled in his grasp.
Morgan bent forward. “A friend. Now shut up. We’ll never get to Jevio with you causing a scene.”
The man went slack instantly. “I’m so sorry,” he said to the bouncer. “I’ve had so much to drink tonight.”
The bouncer sneered and turned his back on them. Morgan pulled the man to where Alois and Quinn waited in the alley. “Who are you?” Morgan asked.
“My name is Garen.”
“Who’s your wife?” Alois asked.
“Her name is Jane. She works for the GACP.”
“Does she work with Wyatt Morrick?” Quinn asked.
“Yeah. He’s the lead doctor in her medical team.”
“You’re trying to figure out where they are?” Morgan said, nodding.
“Yes. Ralen Jevio knows something. He dismisses me every time I call or message him, but he has to know something. There’s no way my Jane wouldn’t talk to me for two months. We talk every night.”
“Listen,” Alois said. “We’re searching for Morrick, so we’re on it. Go home, and we’ll let you know when we find them, alright?”
Garen stared at him in amazement. “Are you really that stupid? I’m not going home until I know she’s safe.”
Morgan chuckled, and Alois glared at him before turning back to Garen. “This isn’t going to be pretty. You sure you want in?”
“Yes,” he said, rolling his eyes. “What’s your plan? I assume you’re going to talk to Jevio, right?”
“We are,” Morgan said. “We were about to go in and lure him out.”
Garen looked the three of them up and down. “Send her,” he said, nodding to Quinn. “Jevio likes men and women, but I heard a waitress say he was all over the girls tonight. She’s beautiful. He’ll make a move on her in a heartbeat. The brothel girls are pretty, but not that pretty.”
Quinn did look good tonight. The Fallon-Silet hybrid’s golden hair cascaded around her bare shoulders. Gold hoops decorated her pointed ears, and her golden skin sparkled like it was covered in glitter. Her black dress was skimpy, covering just what it had to. The woman looked vapid and easily persuaded.
“Don’t hurt him until he’s out here, Quinn,” Morgan said, grinning at the woman’s disgusted look. “Flutter your lashes and channel your sexiness.” Morgan made a little moue and fluttered his eyes.
Alois clapped. “Aww. Who’s a cute boy? Who’s a cute boy?”
Quinn laughed. “You two are idiots, but don’t worry, Garen. I've got this.” She shook her head and walked toward Barley Buttons, hips swaying.
Fifteen minutes later, she walked back out on the arm of Ralen Jevio. She giggled, clutching his arm.
“You are so smart,” she said in a breathy voice. As they passed the alley, she stumbled. “Oh no.” She pouted. “My shoe.”
When he looked down to see what was wrong, she shoved him into the alley.
“What the fuck?” Jevio said.
Morgan covered his mouth and dragged him farther into the alley. At the very back, he released the man and pushed him hard against the brick wall.
“Hi there, Mr. Jevio,” he said jovially. “I hope you’re having a good evening.”
“What’s the meaning of this?” His eyes found Garen, and he glared at the man. “I’ve already told you. Your wife just doesn’t want to talk to you. I can’t help it if your marriage sucks.”
Quinn kneed him in the groin.
Morgan winced in reluctant sympathy as the man doubled over, moaning. “Ouch,” Morgan said. “Did that hurt?”
“Where is Morrick and his team?” Alois wore his serious lieutenant face.
“What are you talking about?” Jevio asked, voice wheezing with pain. “Talk to the GACP.” Morgan punched him in the side. The man yelped, falling back against the wall.
“We did,” Alois said. “They hired us to find the missing team. The team you lost.”
“Why would they do that? I’ve told them everything I know,” he said quickly, watching Quinn and Morgan. Garen kicked him in the knee, and Jevio fell into the mud, yelling.
“Charybdis soldiers aren’t afraid to get our hands dirty,” Alois said, smile menacing.
“Charybdis?” Fear crawled across Jevio’s face. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
“What’s wrong, Mr. Jevio?” Morgan asked, squatting in front of the fallen man. Charybdis Station had a reputation, but this was a bit much.
“Listen, I didn’t know anything about the Concords attacking when I sent them down there, okay? My uncle was the one who told them about Tammol. All I did was refuse to send the shuttle to pick them up when they needed to leave. Then I didn’t notify Foster when the village was attacked. That’s all, okay? The rest is on the Concords. I don’t work for them. I swear.”
Ice shot through Morgan’s chest, but he kept the grin on his face. He patted Jevio’s cheek. “See, you don’t get hurt when you say something important. Now, let’s start at the beginning. What did your uncle tell the Concords about Tammol?”
“The planet was ripe for the taking. I’ve worked with them through the GACP for a while and told my uncle all about them. The planet has been at war for over twenty years. They have no large space presence and only a few large cities. My uncle is friends with Admiral Sharp. He told him about Tammol. I didn’t know anything about it.”
“What do the Concords want with the planet?” Quinn nudged Jevio with her foot.
“They need a base. My uncle says they’re spreading out and are going to start purifying the galaxy.”
“That doesn’t sound ominous at all,” Garen said.
“Okay,” Alois said, nodding. “Now tell us about the team. What exactly happened?”
“Listen,” Jevio said. “They’re probably dead by now. It doesn’t really matter.”
Quinn’s foot shot out to kick his balls again, and Morgan punched him in the jaw.
“Oopsie,” Quinn said. “I thought it was my turn.”
Morgan shrugged. “I lost count of whose turn it is. Alois?”
“It was hers, Morgan. You’ll have to skip your turn. Garen, you can hit him next, okay?”
“Thank you,” Garen said politely.
It took a few minutes for Jevio to recover enough to talk. “Let’s try that again,” Alois said. “Tell us about the team. Tell us everything, even about your relationship with Morrick.”
Jevio looked shocked. “How did you know about that?” He shook his head, scowling. “The little prick wasn’t even a good lay. He’s too damn shy to do anything right.”
Morgan growled and grabbed Jevio’s throat. “I suggest you stay on topic,” he said, voice low.
“Yes, sir,” Jevio squeaked. Morgan loosened his grip. “Wyatt got pregnant, and he wouldn’t get rid of it. My parents would disown me if they knew I mixed our pure blood with a hybrid. I couldn’t risk them finding out. The GACP pays shit. I can’t lose my trust fund.”
“Fucker,” Quinn said, cheeks red with anger.
Morgan barely heard her. Wyatt was pregnant and stuck on a planet that was under attack. Worry churned in his stomach, and he mentally cursed himself. This was why he didn’t want to fucking care about people.
“Don’t judge me,” Jevio said, cupping his crotch while cowering back from the angry woman. “I couldn’t let him have the baby. Things started to get dicey on the planet. A neighboring village was attacked, but when the team called for an evacuation, I told him no. I told him I was going to report them all as dead. I destroyed the most recent reports and cut their lines of communication. Then I just let things happen. The Concords had already started their attack on the planet. He’s long dead by now, okay? It’s done.”
“It’s not done until we find them,” Garen said. “Wyatt is a good man, and you used him. We’ll find them, and you will pay.”
“Anything else you want to share, Mr. Jevio?” Morgan asked pleasantly.
“The last village they were at is called Jarth. I lied to the GACP.”
“Let’s bring him in,” Alois said, lifting the man.
“Bring him where?” Garen looked thunderous. “His family owns this city. Nothing will happen to him.”
“We’re bringing him to the GACP,” Morgan said. “They’ll know what to do with him. They’re based on the other side of the planet, so his family will have less sway.”
He patted the man on the back and pulled him away from the others. Alois and Quinn pulled Jevio to the alley entrance.
Morgan looked at Garen. “One way or another, Jevio won’t live long. Either the GACP deals with him or we will. Now, are you coming to Tammol with us?”
“Of course,” he said. “I’m a cook, so I’m not the best fighter, but I can fire a phaser.”
