“I did not scent any blood in the tunnels, so he must be still alive.” Unless he was swallowed whole, but Ranek didn’t add that part. “We will go after him.”
She brightened. “You’re not going to tell me to stay behind?”
“Would you have agreed if I did?” he asked smugly, already knowing the answer.
“Pssht. Hell, no.”
“Then we are going together. But there’s another reason aside from the fact that you wish to come along. There are pirates on this planet, and some of them may be looking for you. Your escape pod did not fall far from this station. They will look here first, and I do not want you alone if they show up. Unlike the flying creatures, locks and doors wouldn’t hold them long if they really want to get in.”
“Gotcha. And yeah, I don’t want to be here alone for that either.”
He glanced over at the metal portal. “But there is something else you need to know.”
“What?”
She looked so small and vulnerable, it had Ranek’s breath hitching, and he absentmindedly put a hand on his chest to rub at the tightness forming there.
“I know there are at least two predators that would give me trouble and even view me as prey. My friend Ckzarr spoke of a massive reptile-like creature with three eyes that glows red in the tunnels. It has a huge mouth, taking up most of its body, and razor-sharp teeth. Ckzarr’s mate, Roxy, said it reminded her of something on your planet called a pack-man-frog.”
She screwed up her face. “I think some people keep those as pets. But they’re only the size of my palm at most.”
“This one’s big enough to swallow me whole when fully grown. With luck, we will not meet one. But you need to know that there are risks going into the tunnel. I know you care for the draguspup, but are you willing to take the risk? I will protect you with my life, but it may not be enough.”
She chewed her lower lip. After a long silence, she said, “I’m willing to go. But what about you? You didn’t ask for this. And now you’re getting all tangled up in my mess.”
Ranek chuckled. “I was going to explore the tunnels the next time I was here anyway. This just moved it up on my plans. Who knows what I might find in there? Perhaps something to kick-start my new life.”
That must have been the right thing to say because she seemed to relax. “Alright then. I guess we’re going in.”
Chapter 10
Ranek
Ranek secretly enjoyed the way Maya clung to him as they traversed the dank tunnels. Of course, it would have been better if she’d been clinging to him on a soft sleeping mat instead. But this was good too. They had taken a few minutes to prepare for the trip and managed to find several more lanterns and even a set of bright work lamps still with a bit of charge in them.
It was extra equipment to carry, but Ckzarr had mentioned that one of the predators inside the caves was sensitive to bright lights. And Ranek planned on using that to keep them safe, though he couldn’t remember exactly which predator had the light sensitivity.
Before starting into the tunnels, Ranek had sent a message to Ckzarr asking if he still had the map he’d found of the extensive mines, and had been fortunate enough that his friend had messaged right back with the map. And a warning that when they got to the lower level of the tunnels, his comm unit may stop working altogether. He’d expected that. They had come a long way with technology, but nothing was foolproof.
They hadn’t gone far when a foul smell stung his nostrils. Maya’s hand tightened on his arm.
“Commander Chaos has been here. Dragus poop. I’d recognize it anywhere. It’s gotta be one of the first things we need to warn potential clients about: their poop stinks. But then again, they’re predators, so that’s expected.”
Raising her lantern, Maya peered around until they saw the still fresh scat.
“Well, at least we know we’re going the right way. I bet he doesn’t even know how much trouble he’s putting us through. I can see him now,” she said, “wandering down these tunnels without a care in the galaxy.”
Despite only having met the little dragus pup recently, Ranek could see it too. He wondered if there would be any old mining boots in his path to chew on to slow him down and let them catch up with him.
They continued deeper into the tunnel, each step steady now that they knew they were heading in the right direction. Spurred by that knowledge, Maya walked a little straighter and with a little more confidence, moving forward with renewed purpose. Her stride grew more assured, her hesitation fading with every echo of her boots against the ground.
Ranek let her walk slightly ahead of him, his gaze lingering on her curvy form in the lantern light. He couldn’t deny her bravery. Not many would venture into these tunnels, not even for a friend. And yet, she was doing it for her love of a tiny creature she may not even keep as her own.
“Look over there.” She pointed to an opening in the wall. “A door. Let’s go check it out. Commander Chaos might’ve gone in.He loves doors. He thinks it’s a game to run through them before we can close them on him.”
But the moment they tried to approach the door, a loud noise that sounded like an electric snap and sizzle and a flash of light had Maya stifling a shriek and clutching his arm. He moved quickly, putting himself between Maya and the potential threat. The light of the lantern showed a long, sinuous animal with three sets of legs and shiny scales.
Rearing up on its hind legs, it waved its front limbs menacingly. Stretched out like this, it reached Maya’s waist height. It made the electric snap and sizzle again. This time, with his eyes on the creature, he saw it light up momentarily. The thing was tiny and couldn't possibly hurt them, unless it was venomous.
