I coughed up dirt and swatted at arachnids and rodents as Ann guided me and this latest group of Xalanite refugees through the tunnels. We, H’rran, and X’nit had thus far evacuated no less than fifty Xalanites in this manner, but many still remained at the intake center.
We had started our evacuation in time to save some lives, though not swiftly enough. AXL, alerted to our presence by a well-meaning Xalanite guard, opened fire on the residents as soon as we were spotted. Metal projectiles and incendiary devices flew through the air all around us. Many Xalanites were killed in the initial attack, and many more became so disoriented by the battle that they lost us in the resulting confusion.
Ann’s escape route thankfully survived the initial onslaught, and it did not seem that we had been spotted entering the ancient tunnels. A few more trips, and we might get the rest of the survivors to safety.
I lost track of H’rran in the chaos. One moment we were side by side, and the next she had disappeared. I feared the worst, but I could not waste time searching for her yet. Once I’d secured Leigh’s safety, I focused my priorities on saving the Earthbound Xalanites. Any other goal, besides staying alive to see Leigh again, became secondary.
Staying alive, it seemed, would be a challenge. I had already torn open my wound from the fight to rescue N’kal and X’nit and had acquired several new injuries. A deep laceration in my thigh was the most critical, but X’nit had sacrificed one of his bandages to provide me with a temporary tourniquet. I would not die from that wound so long as I sought timely care after we finished here.
Ann fared much better than I, though I suspected it was in part because she was human. The others of her species seemed less inclined to shoot a human than they did Xalanites.
X’nit, I feared, would not make it.
Ann’s mate had already sustained considerable damage before we began our rescue ventures. His added injuries after our arrival at the intake center might well prove deadly. Ann asked about his health regularly, but I was aware of at least three broken bones and four deep cuts that he hid from her beneath his long, black garment-for-trenches, as well as a few smaller, deeper projectile wounds.
We were joined by a retired Xalanite field medic, a man named Breen. I briefly allowed myself to feel relief, but X’nit still brushed off his injuries. He did not notify Breen of his most dire wounds, instead shaking his head and declaring himself fit for further combat. I watched him limp along behind Ann, barely able to hold his weapon for all his shaking, and a dread pit formed in my abdomen.
We were nearly done clearing the intake center, but evacuation was not our only goal. Once we had cleared theintake center of the resident visiting Xalanites, we planned on hunting down the AXL members responsible for the carnage and eliminating them. The human term “extreme prejudice” came up during our planning. Director Ann did not intend to allow any guilty AXL villains to survive.
I understood her need for vengeance on a personal level, but I also understood from a leadership aspect. If Ann ever regained her position of power in the AARO, it would not behoove her to allow her opposition to flourish. Swift, decisive retribution was necessary.
After the last Xalanites were evacuated, we returned for a final sweep of the compound for any stragglers before we pursued AXL.
I was overjoyed to see H’rran again when we emerged from the tunnels, but when I viewed Leigh with her, armed in Xalanite battle gear from head to toe, my knees buckled. I fell to the ground, terrified that the next bomb or projectile would target her.
“Leigh …”
Her name caught in my throat, but she turned towards my voice all the same. The way her face lit up at the sight of me, the way her legs pumped furiously as she ran to me, the way she tackled me with a cry of joy—My mind tried to reconcile the relief at seeing her alive with the horror of seeing her here, in this place, with gunfire and active explosions. What was she doing here?
As I fought to regain the ability to speak, Ann took over.
“What in the hell are you doing here, Leigh?” She put her hands on her hips and scowled. “We left you with your father, where you were safe.”
“Yeah, you left me,” Leigh retorted. “Left me behind. While I was sleeping, I might add! That was some sketchy stuff, AuntAnn, and you’re just lucky H’rran came to get me. I might not have forgiven you guys.”
Ann rolled her eyes. “You look ridiculous in that getup. Isn’t that Xalanite vest a bit too roomy for you?”
Leigh met her aunt’s glare as she pulled a Xalanite grenade from one of the molded cups of the garment. “I found a way to fill it.”
“Leigh!” I finally found my voice. “Those are dangerous.”
“Yeah, for the people I’m throwing them at.”
I cupped her cheek in one hand. “My love, you could be hurt here. I had sought to protect you, to keep you safe from harm. Why did you come?”
She smiled and kissed my palm. “You couldn’t keep me away, silly. You and me, we’ll get this done together. Everything from now on we do together. Got it?”
Returning her smile, I pulled her into a gentle embrace. “Understood.”
Breen interrupted us by clearing his throat. “Ahem. You have opened yourtyr’il’s wound, lady Leigh.” He pointed at my leg, which indeed oozed fresh black blood. “If I may, I should tend to that.”
“Do we have time?” Ann asked as a projectile whizzed past her. “There’s still live fire here.”
Leigh climbed off me and tossed her grenade at the nearest group of attackers with a strange sweep of her arm. They scattered, but they were too late. Pieces of their bodies littered the ground in a wide arc.
“There. Less live fire. Now fix him.”
X’nit let out a low whistle. “Your aim is excellent, Leigh.”
