Chapter 23: Shaking Ground — Part 2

Shadow sealed the blast hatch on the port window and stepped into the mist. She could sense more than see the people around her, and wished Xeti had her sensitivities, though she knew the same power that gave him his seeming invisibility also cost him the kind of sensitivity that Shadow possessed. With his ability to travel invisibly, he might have been able to move out into the fog and get close enough to tell her if the enemy had any range weaponry. As it was now, she would have to trust her instincts: The enemy had not shot her yet, and so did not intend to kill her, at least not at a distance.

Being at an obvious disadvantage Shadow spoke out loudly. “I know where you are, I know there are three of you near enough to use pistol, or blaster. I am sworn to defend my crew to the death, I will not show mercy if I feel they are threatened. You’ll have to move back out of range, if you know what’s good for you.” Shadow whispered the last words, not knowing that those approaching her would hear her anyway. “You’re not listening . . . pity.” Shadow crouched low, protecting herself as best as she could from human sight and range weapons.

It was Charles who answered her when he felt close enough to have the advantage, starting with his name and title. “I’m Charles, Head of Security for the Human Tribe of Kimwe. Please surrender peacefully, or we will take you by force.”

Charles moved slowly through the fog. Shadow kept her focus on the sounds he made, and on the energy she sensed from him. She didn’t like what she was feeling around her, these people were trained to move and fight in fog. They seemed able to see her, and moved with a confidence that put Shadow on edge. Shadow’s ship was incredibly vulnerable, and in desperate need of repair, and her only comfort was that they seemed only to be moving in from one side of the ship — her side. Her crew was too young to face the power she felt around her, and she knew, deep down that there would be thousands or millions more just like the three, should they try to move out of the ship and into hiding. She could protect the exterior, even if heavily outnumbered, but she could not hope to stop an army, should one come. If she were traveling alone, she would risk it, journey deep into the lands, hide and learn of her enemy. But her crew she could not risk, the land around her was too wild for such as them. She could only hope that the natives were willing to keep the loss of life to a minimum. She dropped back against the ship’s side, concealing as much of herself as she could.

“I’m still pissed at you bastards for blowing my computers and forcing control of my ship. Don’t make me take it out on you, Charles.” Shadow said quietly, trying to let them know that she knew how close they were.

Charles moved closer, and paid for it. Charles had never imagined a normal human could move so fast. He learned the hard way not to underestimate Shadow’s abilities. The sword glistened violently across his line of sight, moving too fast for him to react. His face was split from nose to ear by the passage of her blade. Shadow had not intended to kill him, but to cripple him. To add insult and further his injuries, Shadow splayed Charles’ left buttock on the back swing, leaving him floundering in pain on the soft mushy ground. Seva jumped on Shadow’s back, finding it harder to get a grip on the smuggler than she expected. Shadow fell with Seva’s energy, cupping down and flipping the girl to the ground. Even as Seva tried to get air back into her lungs, Shadow burried her dagger in Seva’s bare shoulder, separating the arm joint cleanly and disabling the limb at its base.

Laura acted quickly, moving in to stop Shadow before she could do more damage. Healing even as Laura struck, Charles drug Seva out of harm’s way. Shadow had chosen the dagger’s strike point precisely, so that her enemy could survive, just as she had chosen not to kill Charles. Shadow squared off with Laura, who used telekinesis to try to hold the woman. Shadow’s nose and ears were bleeding before Laura was done, but she managed to break through Laura’s grip, slicing several of Laura’s fingers from her hand, the pain of it breaking the woman’s concentration. Laura held her hand, crying out in pain. Cursing at Shadow more like one would curse at an errant dog than at another human being, Laura moved in to settle the score. Now it was Shadow’s turn to fall back. Seva had gotten a square hit in behind her ear, Laura’s telekinetic slap had taken its toll on her hearing, and she was a little dizzy from both attacks. She kept her sword and dagger ready, blood dripping from their blades.