Laila
The dawn light was filtering across the barren terrain when the comm unit crackled to life again, jerking Laila out of a restless sleep. Her dreams had been filled with Zac, as if reliving the moments they had shared to make them last forever.
What they shared had been so good—it was a pity that this would be one of the last times they would see each other. She was being ordered back to Earth, and he would be off… somewhere. The galaxy was a big place, and the chances of them ever seeing each other again were beyond slim. Non-existent. Zip. Zero. Zilch. What was stopping him from taking off to any part of the galaxy where he was needed?
Nothing. Nothing was stopping him.
The logical part of Laila accepted this, but her heart? Her heart ached for what could never be. She eased her eyes open, dust-caked eyelashes stiff against her cheeks.
The storm had cleared during the night, leaving a layer of red dirt and dust over everything in sight, and the morning sunlight was tinted orange. The lack of wind felt eerie to after so many hours of hearing it roar in her ears.
One hand was tucked against her cheek. She shifted, and a much larger hand settled on her waist. Turning her head, she looked up at Zac, who started gently when he realized she was awake. She pulled away from him slightly, running her tongue over her teeth. Her mouth felt as if she had been on a week-long bender.
There was no point in being upset over an impossible dream. Getting everyone safely off this planet was the next thing to focus on, not a broken heart. She’d known what she was getting herself into, so why did it hurt so much?
“Here.” Zac unscrewed the lid from a water bottle and handed it to her.
“Thank you.”
Laila took a long drink, swishing the water around in her mouth to rid it of some of the dust. She had never felt so filthy in all her life. She probably smelled awful as well.
“Oren’s on watch. I’ll have to relieve him shortly,” Zac said as he eased out from where they had been half sitting, half lying, propped up together.
She shifted, trying to push herself up and away from him, but pain shot through her leg, making her gasp.
“Are you ok?”
“My leg...” Laila gasped.
Zac reached into his pack and pulled out the medi-scanner, the now familiar blue light washing over her leg and taking some of the pain away.
“Is that better?” he asked.
Laila nodded.
He switched the medi-scanner off and put it away in his pack. “I don’t want to overdo it or you’ll pass out again.”
Laila realized he had to be exhausted; it had been a long night and, although she had gotten some sleep, she doubted he had even let himself close his eyes.
He shifted her gently, setting her on to stand on her one good leg, supporting her weight. Zac let her get used to the position before lifting her again to carry her out the door of the building, nodding in greeting to Oren as he settled her on a fallen tree, making sure she was comfortable before retrieving the canteen and passing it to her.
“Has there been contact with the team?” Laila asked. She took a drink, the cool water feeling glorious on her parched throat. Closing her eyes, she sighed and licked her lips to wet them.
“Not yet, the signal isn't strong enough.”
“But the storm has cleared and by now—” she checked her comm unit to read the time, “—surely the Xakul have moved on.”
“We need a clearer signal. But you’re not in any state to walk.” Pulling out a dull, camouflaged tub from his pack, he opened it and pulled out a small silver package. “Hungry?”
Laila's stomach growled. “I suppose that's your answer.”
Zac snapped the top of the package with a practiced flick of his wrist.
“It's field rations, similar to your chilli, I think. You tell me.”
He held the package carefully, watching a colored marker turn from red to green before opening the top and handing it to Laila with a spoon. He watched her as she tentatively took a spoonful of food from the steaming packet.
“Mmm...” she turned surprised eyes to Zac. “It's good!”
