Storm of Arranon Fire and Ice (36 page)

“Excuse me.” Cace waited for the tech sitting
across from him to glance up. “When you came on shift, did Grame
say anything about the tablets he scanned for me last night?”

The tech frowned. “Tablets?” She shook her
head. “No. In fact Grame wasn’t here this morning. He wasn’t
feeling well and went to the Medical Unit sometime during the
night. He didn’t come back to finish his shift. He’s scheduled
again tonight, though. You can probably catch him when he comes
back this evening.”

Cace nodded and attempted a smile. He stared
at the page on the monitor, not seeing the lines of symbols
streaming across the screen.

The Medical Unit. Byan Nev. Is there a
connection between Grame’s visit to Byan Nev and the file copies
being…wrong
?

Cace’s first thoughts regarding the computer
incorrectly copying the files slipped from his mind. The chill in
the air added to the cold dread building inside him. His sudden
enlightened understanding of what had happened to the scanned
tablets dropped like a weight in his stomach.

Someone had tampered with the symbols on the
replicated files and had probably hidden or destroyed the original
plates.

A shiver ran up his spine. The beat of his
heart skipped and jumped to a hammer blow in his chest. He sensed
eyes watching him.

Could any of these techs be a part of the
cover up? Yes. It is possible. No—it’s probable. Trust no one but
Cale. Or Aven
.

He had to contact Cale without raising
suspicion. Cace laid his hand over the small e-pad. He couldn’t
trust the main processor, either. If he was being monitored…He
sighed.

Act normal. Don’t give them reason to
believe you’re onto them
.

Cace believed—no he
knew
—the computers
in the Science Unit were compromised. There would be no way to get
a message to Cale through them. He had his e-pad, but transmitting
a warning to Cale would be unsafe. That path, too, risked the
chance of being monitored and his communication intercepted. But he
could leave a message on the device.

Just in case I don’t make it to Cale in
person. If I do go missing, Cale will surely begin his search for
me here, where I was last seen
.

Cace swallowed hard. He tried to keep his
stomach from reacting to the fear, and to the strong insight that
he wasn’t going to be allowed to contact Cale directly. Cace
understood there was a possibility that when he left the Science
Unit, he wouldn’t be seen by anyone again. At least, not anyone he
wanted to see. He shifted in his chair and palmed the e-pad,
pulling it onto his lap still hidden by the desk. While staring at
the monitor, he tapped out commands on the keyscreen to the main
processor with one hand. While going through the symbols, he
appeared to be studying the results. With his other fingers flying,
Cace texted a message for Cale on the e-pad.

When finished, he let the small device slip
to the floor. He covered the clatter by rolling back in his chair,
stretching his arms over his head, and yawning. With the toe of his
boot, he pushed the e-pad as far as it would go toward the back and
into a bundle of wiring. He tipped his head to the left, then the
right. “I’m going to the dining hall for a break,” Cace said to no
one in particular. With his hands in his pockets, he shoved the
chair under the desk with his hip, concealing the e-pad.

No one seemed to notice or care.

The quiet corridors offered Cace no comfort.
He would have preferred the activity of shift change, with all the
personnel moving about the tunnels. He needed to rise to level four
to reach Cale’s office. The Science Lab was on level seven, placed
low in the base for safety. The level numbers increased as they
went down, opposite of how levels would be numbered if they rose up
from the surface.

Cace’s rapid breathing echoed softly against
the close rock walls. He hurried through the deserted warrens and
up the first set of stairs to level six. The lighting appeared more
subdued than usual. “It’s just my imagination,” he whispered.

The sharp click of boot steps reverberated
from the gloom ahead.

Cace stopped and peered around for an opening
or crevice in which to hide. “I’m being ridiculous.” His breath
shuddered in and out. “I hope.” He took a shaky step forward.

A long thin shadow bobbed in the dim light
before him. The dark silhouette attached to that shadow emerged
around a bend in the tunnel.

Beneath a wan light globe centered above him,
Byan Nev stopped. “Cace. I was hoping to run into you.” He smiled,
revealing elongated incisors. “We need to talk about these
translations you’ve been working on.”

Cale sat behind his desk, staring at the
blank screen of his computer. He waited for the communication relay
to connect him with Erynn, and for Cace to show. A tech from the
Science Unit advised Cale that Cace had left over three huairs ago,
claiming he was going to the dining hall to take a break.

Aven stood with his back pressed against the
open door frame, watching the corridor. “This doesn’t feel right. I
should go look for Cace.”

“Wait. He’ll be here.” Cale frowned. He
agreed. It didn’t feel right, but there was nothing more to do.
Aven had Anbas searching the warrens, the dining hall, and Cace’s
quarters. On Cale’s orders, Byan Nev was also under surveillance.
He remained in the Medical Unit, continuing his duties.

“I may not be special like you and Erynn, but
even I know something…” Aven let his thoughts on Cace’s
disappearance fade. He turned toward Cale and stepped into the
office. “Cace’s mom is here.”

Cale nodded and stood up, moving around the
desk to meet Aynn.

Aynn, Cace’s mom, entered the small space.
Her shoulders were squared, her spine stiff. Her dark eyes were red
rimmed with tears threatening to spill. In a soft but steady tone,
she said, “Cace is missing. And it has to do with the plates found
in Deanaim.” Her words were delivered more as a statement than a
question.

“Yes,” Cale affirmed. “I believe Cace’s
knowledge of Comhra symbols came to the attention of someone not
wanting him to translate those plates.” Cale took a tentative step
toward Aynn. “I’m so sorry. I never thought or sensed for one
moment that Cace was in danger. This is my responsibility. I should
have anticipated a risk and taken precautions.”

Aynn held up her hand. “No, General. You have
given Cace purpose—meaning in his life. He’s been so happy these
last few days.” Her chin quivered. She pressed her lips together,
gaining control. “I’m thankful for everything you and Erynn have
done for him.” Aynn took a deep breath, straightened, and glanced
briefly at Aven. “Cace is strong. He is intelligent. And with the
Anbas searching for him, I know he’ll be found. I have only one
request—bring Erynn back as soon as possible. Please.”

The COM on Cale’s desk buzzed. “General, your
link to the lodge is established.”

Aynn, Aven, and Cale hurried around to face
the computer screen.

Tiar’s face cleared into view. He glanced at
the three of them, obviously appraising their expressions. “Cale.
What’s happened?”

Aynn answered, her tone rising with each
question. “Where’s Erynn? Is she there? Can you bring her back to
the base?”

Tiar stepped back and motioned to someone not
visible on the monitor.

When Erynn appeared, Cale said, “Erynn, Cace
is missing. I need you back at the base ASAP.” He sat down and
entered commands on the keyscreen, splitting the image to show
Erynn, Jaer, and Tiar on one half of the monitor. A weather
overview filled the other. “Tiar, get Erynn back here. You have a
small window if you leave now. Jaer, Sean—I’ll send a transport
late this afternoon. The storm will be winding down. You’ll arrive
on base shortly after dark.”

“I can take a speeder—”

“No, Jaer. You won’t make it here any faster,
and the route is too dangerous for a speeder in these conditions.
Just wait for the transport. Listen to me, all of you. I’ll get you
home my way.”

Erynn climbed into the heavy storm gear Jaer
had brought her. It wasn’t a flight suit, but it would have to
do.

Jaer took Erynn’s shoulders and turned her to
face him. “I do not want you running off by yourself once you are
back on the base. It will not help Cace if you go missing, too.
Aven is there. I will contact him. We will find Cace together.”

“Dhoran has him. Dhoran in Nev’s body,” Erynn
grumbled. She secured the thick coat and pulled on gloves.

“You do not know that. Promise me, Kipa. Do
not do anything without Aven or me.” Jaer tipped her chin up and
kissed her.

“I got Cace into this, Jaer. He would be safe
now if it weren’t for me—”

“We all have our duty. Cace’s was to
translate the plates. He volunteered for this willingly, knowing
there was a risk.”

Erynn nodded and ran her fingers over Jaer’s
face. “Be careful. I’ll see you later.”

“I feel that a higher force keeps separating
us, Kipa.” Jaer smiled and kissed her again.

“Just our luck, huh? Can’t catch a break.”
Erynn grinned and turned away from Jaer. “Wilo, thanks for
everything. Someday I’ll come back, and you can give me that tour
you promised.”

“The room’s yours whenever you want it,
Erynn.” Wilo hugged her. “Be careful.”

Tiar opened the heavy outside doors, bracing
against the storm. The wind drove in. Snowflakes strafed the air,
sticking to every surface.

Erynn leaned forward, pushing into the gale.
She glanced back at Jaer as he disappeared behind a wall of
white.

The path cleared to the Interceptors was
already filling with snow.

Erynn opened the cockpit and climbed the rope
ladder hanging from the side. She jumped into the seat and closed
the canopy. Wind slammed the fighter, and it rocked with each
blast. She pushed back her hood and pulled on the helmet.

Tiar’s voice sounded through the speakers.
“Power up and heat the canopy, fuselage, and wings. We need to melt
the snow covering the fighters before we can take off. Keep the
heat on so the wings don’t ice up in flight.”

“Copy.” With gloved fingers, Erynn flipped
switches across the instrument panel. A bank of lights flashed on
inside the tiny cockpit. Warm air blew over her. The snow sticking
to the canopy slid off in thick chunks.

Did Nev/Dhoran have Cace
?
Where
?
Would he keep him alive
?
Yes. He wants to
make a trade—me for Cace
.

The roar of engines drowned the wail of the
wind. Tiar’s fighter rose before her. The glow of twin exhausts cut
through swirling snow and cast an orange tint to the gray and white
landscape.

Erynn feathered the controls, and her
Interceptor lifted from the ground. She rotated ninety degrees
left, toward the lodge, and gazed out the clear panel of the
canopy.

Jaer stood below, alone. He stared up at the
ascending fighters buffeted by blowing snow.

Erynn pressed her palm against the panel.

Jaer held his hand up as if reaching for
her.

She let her palm slip down the panel and back
to the fighter’s controls. She spun ninety degrees to the right and
followed Tiar through the storm.

Her attention back on the forward panel and
controls, Erynn whispered, “I don’t want to hurt you again, Jaer.
Trust me like you did when I was aboard the alien ship. I’ll see
you later. I promise.”

I hope
.

“I’ve been to Dhoran’s underworld and have
returned with an understanding of that realm no one else can
claim.”

I perceive
.

“And that’s why I believe it’s me—I’m the one
to look for Cace.”

I won’t endanger others
.

“I’m pretty sure I know where and how Dhoran
moved Cace to his realm.” Erynn smiled. “And Dhoran won’t be there.
Not for a while, anyway.”

I understand some of Dhoran’s
secrets
.

ERYNN HAD FLOWN IN BAD weather before, but
nothing like this. The roar of engines competed with the snarling
gale slashing at her fighter. Beneath a leaden cover of roiling
clouds, the dark storm raged and battered her in every direction.
Her body ached from the constant struggle to keep the Interceptor
level and on course. Erynn’s eyes burned and her head pounded from
trying to focus her vision through the dizzying swirl of racing
flakes. Time ground to an unbearable crawl. She stuck tightly to
Tiar, following the twin orange beacons of his exhaust ports.

She stole a glance at the instrument panel
and checked the elapsed time. “This is the longest thirty-seven
point twelve timnents of my life.”

Lights from the scramble pad winked below in
the distance, through a curtain of heavy falling snow. Moments
later, the screaming wind loosened its grip. Like a toy tossed by
an angry child, she was slammed down with a bone-jarring thud. She
skidded onto the cleared shelf of rock, her fighter settling closer
behind Tiar’s than she would have liked.

Ground crews rushed forward. They would want
the Interceptors back in the safety of the hangar, ASAP.

The canopy slid open, and an icy blast of
wind hit Erynn with enough force to press her against the seatback.
She removed her helmet, pulled the jacket hood over her head, and
climbed from the now chilled cockpit. Slick ice had already formed
on the metal treads of the stairs pushed next to the fighter. Erynn
took care with each step down, making sure her feet were firmly set
on the frozen scramble pad before she released her grip on the
handholds. A gust whipped around her, stealing the breath from her
lungs. Tiar appeared from the nose of her Interceptor, and they
rushed to the shelter of the hangar, hunched against the wind’s
howling might.