Free Star Cruise: Marooned by Veronica Scott

pack outside and then attempted to crawl out the window. Branches from the fallen tree blocked her path. Desperate, she shimmied through a space between the branches and fell hard. Dazed for a moment, coughing, she realized she was lying in a nest of wet foliage, between several more branches. She was sure she had cuts, but there was no time to do anything but keep moving. Grabbing the straps of the backpack, she slung it on her shoulders. Trying to control her trembling limbs, she crawled through a seemingly endless maze of broken wood and slimy leaves, heading away from the building.
    At least the dampness of the fallen tree might keep it from catching fire.
    Behind her, she heard an explosion as the ranger station fell in on itself, she assumed. Ahead, she could see the edge of the branches and she froze. Where she was, in the midst of tree debris, she hoped she was impossible to see with the naked eye. Would whoever had attacked them think to search with more sensitive technology? Would the enemy even know she was alive?
    She backtracked a few feet, nestling under a particularly dense area of the branches, and curled up, trying not to cry. For a few moments, Meg had to work hard to quell the terror. Controlling her breathing and forcing herself to recall the recipe for the most complicated mixed feelgood drink she’d learned at school helped. Anything to get her whirling thoughts under control. She kept seeing Red’s face as he’d called out to her across the barrier of flames. Had he escaped?  
    Better not to think about him right now.
    Blood was mixed with the rain on her hand, providing a trail the enemy could easily follow. Carefully, she worked the backpack off and opened the flap, digging for the small medkit. As best she could, she bandaged the worst scrapes and cuts, and then made herself swallow a small container of energy drink. Her stomach rebelled, but Meg breathed deep and concentrated until the nausea had passed. The thick liquid coated her throat, soothing her cough as well.
    She decided the first priority was to get away from the ranger station and take refuge in the forest itself. Then she could figure out her next steps. Cautiously, moving a few inches at a time, keeping the huge trunk between herself and the ranger station, she worked her way to the edge of the fallen tree’s canopy. She’d have to cross ten feet of clear space stretching between her and the beginning of the forest. Turning her head in all directions, she blinked and froze at the terrifying reality of three alien craft sitting on the landing pad. She’d no idea what species of sentients owned the ships, but she’d never seen anything like them at any Sector’s port.
    Something cold rasped across her leg and Med stifled a scream as one of the large tree serpents undulated its endless coils over her, on its way somewhere else and apparently not hungry, thankfully. She’d have to be more careful. The aliens weren’t the only menace out here. But watching the snake slither toward the trees and then coil itself around the nearest trunk, ascending impossibly fast in a blur of color, gave her an idea.  
    “You’re going to run to the next tree and you’re going to climb like hell, and you’re going to make it, Meg Antille,” she said to herself. “If Red, or anyone else is still alive, you’re their only hope right now.”
    She crouched under the leafy branches, trying to be as sure as possible no one was close by. Taking deep breaths, she remembered her father’s advice to her brothers and her, on more than one hunting expedition, that rapid movement attracts attention. He wouldn’t approve of her current plan. But there was absolutely no cover between her and the forest, and she didn’t think she had the nerve to creep to safety inches at a time right now. With a whispered, “Sorry, Dad,” she counted to three under her breath, and burst out of hiding, sprinting into the shelter of the forest. As soon as she passed the