Free Star Alliance by Ken Lozito Page B

thoughts about Zack’s question.
    “I get it,” Zack said. “We’re never not in danger as long as we’re held captive here. But where did everything go?”
    Etanu continued walking and Zack followed. “They’re gathering on the far side of the pit. To the place where they feed us,” Etanu said.
    Hearing there was food got Zack’s attention; however, Etanu’s ominous tone didn’t fill Zack with a lot of hope. Zack had strapped his PDA to his wrist, even though it wasn’t working. He didn’t have time to look at it, and it didn’t appear that Etanu was willing to give the time.
    “Is there any way you can contact other Nershals nearby?” Zack asked.
    “There aren’t any nearby. At least not that I can tell,” Etanu said.
    Zack had to believe the others were looking for them. They needed to send some sort of signal that would let them know they were alive. How long will they keep looking before they believe we’re dead? Zack wondered.  
    “What can you tell me about this place?” Zack asked.
    “There are walls that surround the entire perimeter. Go far enough in any direction and you’re bound to find the wall. We can’t fly out of here. At least I can’t fly out of here. I’ve seen different kinds of mutants that have banded together. You’ve already met the blind mutants. They’re pretty good at tracking but won’t throw themselves at you if you fight back,” Etanu said.
    Zack frowned. “What do you mean?”
    “What I mean is that if you kill a few of them, they’ll leave you alone,” Etanu said.
    Zack took a deep breath. Last night when he’d been chased by the blind mutants he had thought they wanted to kill him, but the more he thought about it the more he was convinced he could have been wrong about them. “What else?” Zack asked, preferring not to press the issue.
    “There are the silent hunters. They will kill anything that wanders into their territory, with the only exception being the giant mutant, although I’ve seen them trade blows with it,” Etanu said.
    This place just gets better and better , Zack thought. “What do the silent hunters look like? And this may seem obvious to you, but why do you call them silent hunters?” Zack asked.
    Etanu came to a stop and surveyed the area in front of them. They were leaving the hilly area. Zack glanced above the trees, trying to catch a glimpse of the tower he’d seen last night.
    “They are all Nershals,” Etanu said. “All the mutants I’ve seen so far have the traits of my species, with the exception of the giant. The silent hunters never speak. They don’t make a sound, not even when they’re wounded. I’m not sure if they’re able to make a sound. Sometimes they communicate with each other with gestures, but I think they might be connected with neural implants. The ones I’ve been able to see up close have extensive scarring,” Etanu said, and brought his hand to the side of his head.
    “So they might have been enhanced somehow,” Zack said.
    Etanu considered this for a moment and nodded. “Enhanced? Yes, this is correct,” the Nershal said, and his gaze hardened.
    “What is it?” Zack asked.
    “What the Xiiginns have done is unnatural. They are exploiting my species,” Etanu said.
    “I’m sorry,” Zack said.
    Etanu glanced at him. “Why would you say this? You’re not the one doing this to us.”
    Zack shrugged, feeling uncomfortable. “It’s just what we do. If someone we’re with is in pain and we’re not able to do anything immediate to help, then saying ‘I’m sorry’ shows the other person that you sympathize with their pain—their loss.”
    Etanu glanced at him, and Zack had the feeling that the Nershal didn’t understand.
    “It’s called compassion,” Zack said.
    Etanu straightened himself to his full height. “I understand the meaning. You may feel it is well placed, but it encourages weakness.”
    Zack blew out a breath. He certainly knew about being weak. “Fine, it won’t