Free Sky Hunter by Chris Reher Page B

this
information to herself. She squared her shoulders. “These people
are suffering. Two more died last night. Look at this! We don’t
have enough supplies to help them all. Some of them are your
people.” She gestured at the thinly-furred rebel beside him. “None
of the medics know how to treat Caspians. We’re running out of
clean bandages and disinfectant. There isn’t enough food. The water
is probably tainted. We need scanners and decon wands. We can only
type Bellac and Centauri blood and there isn’t enough of that,
either. By the end of the day we won’t even have enough pain meds
to let them die in peace. This has to stop.”
    Arter’s forehead lowered into deep grooves as
he contemplated the angry woman before him. He turned to his
companion. “I think that’s her. Has to be Air Command, with a lip
like that on her.”
    The Caspian nodded. His yellow eyes narrowed;
perhaps he was worried about the information he had just slipped to
his leader. “What’s your name, Human?”
    “ Speak so I can understand you,” she
said. “Centauri or mainvoice will do.”
    Before she could react, he grasped her wrist
to turn her forearm outward. She winced when he stabbed her with a
small tool and then released her again.
    “ What was that for?” she said, rubbing
her arm.
    “ Not a lot of Humans in these parts,”
Arter said. “Your people are looking for an MIA soldier. Little
pilot girl. Sound familiar?”
    “ Don’t know what you’re talking about,”
she said. She watched the Caspian enter the sample he had taken
from her into his scanner. An expensive scanner of the sort that
could save lives. She glared at Arter. “That’s the kind of
equipment I’m talking about.”
    They ignored her until the Caspian tapped the
display. “Yes, that’s her.” He reached out and tugged the scarf
from her head to reveal her tousled red hair before activating a
small device on his chest to take some video of her. His leader
stepped outside the scope of the recorder. “Done,” the Caspian said
after working with his equipment. “Sent.”
    “ You’re lucky Air Command wants you
back, girl,” Arter said. “Seems they don’t want to talk to the
likes of us until they know you’re alive. Where’s the other
one?”
    “ Dead by this evening if you don’t
listen to me and find us more to work with,” Nova said. “At least
get us a scrubber so we can have clean water. Let us take the
children out. Air Command will take care of them.”
    The two rebels turned away.
    “ Dammit, I’m talking to you, Centauri!”
she snapped.
    The hulking rebel leader turned back, moving
very slowly. His huge fist reached out to wrap around her neck. He
tightened it. “We are a little busy, Human. And I’m not in the mood
to be shouted at by a Union soldier. Do you get that or do I have
to snap your scrawny neck?”
    She did not take her eyes from his, nor did
she struggle to get out of his iron grip. After a thoughtful
silence, he let her go with a small shove.
    When he turned away again he waved at some of
his men. “Get them a scrubber and get whoever is left in this dump
to find some food.” Impatiently, he snatched the scanner from the
Caspian’s hands and thrust it at Nova before stomping to the exit.
“None of the civilians are to leave. Get this place cleaned
up!”
    Nova slumped against the wall, coughing and
clutching her prize to her chest. Her knees suddenly seemed awfully
wobbly.
    Djari came to wrap an arm around her waist to
hold her up. “That is either the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen or
the bravest. Or maybe a bit of both.” He pulled the computer from
her hands and gave it to one of the medics who immediately hurried
away with it.
    “ Stupidest.”
    They looked up when Coria, his Bellac
colleague, approached. “The last time someone annoyed them they
took five of us outside. They’re still out there, unburied.” She
scowled at Nova. “I told you not to play Air Command soldier around
here.