Anandra made a sound of amazement as half a dozen feeds featuring the surrounding area popped into view.
Gus scanned them quickly, stilling at the sight of the rather large group of humans systematically clearing the bank of containers next to her own.From the way they moved, it was easy to see they’d had military training.
At the sight of them going in and out of each container on the ground floor, Gus relaxed slightly.Her signal jammers had done their job, only giving them a general location.
“They’re coming from aft,” Gus murmured.
That way lay the night garden.They’d have to go through it to reach the rest of the complex unless they went around.
Good.
Her dearies would thin the herd before the rest breached her living quarters, giving her a chance to maybe survive.
Gus’s fingers danced over the virtual keyboard, triggering a lock down everywhere but the Tuann gardens and the section she currently stood in.
“That should buy us some time,” she said.
“What did you do?”Anandra asked, turning to keep her in view as she headed for the small cupboard containing her go bag.
“I made it so they’ll have to burn through my security doors to proceed.”
Hopefully, they hadn’t brought explosives.
Gus grabbed the small backpack and a couple of cloaks.The first of which she wrapped around Anandra.She fastened the second around her neck, but didn’t raise the hood yet.
“What is this?”Anandra asked, feeling the fabric curiously.
“Something that will protect you.”
Gus didn’t want to tell him that it was made ofethieri.A rare Tuann material carrying anti-ballistic properties.
“You ask too many questions,” Gus added.
She wondered if it was a product of his upbringing, since she’d never had this many when she was young.Or now, for that matter.
Gus shouldered the bag and headed toward the Tuann garden entrance.
“Don’t fall behind,” she ordered.
She wasn’t Kira.There would be no sacrificing on her part if he failed to heed her warning.
The trees were abuzz with worry as Gus darted beneath their canopy, making her way back to Caius’s side.He lay as still and unmoving as he’d been earlier.Kneeling beside him, she scanned his body with a critical eye.Not much healing had been done in the hour or two she’d been away.
Moving him was out of the question.As was leaving him behind.
That put her in something of a bind.Unable to fight.Unable to run.
She could call one of the cargo trawlers and have it meet her outside.Admittedly, not a great option since trawlers were as slow as Titan’s admin staff.
In a foot chase, she’d be caught immediately.
Gus was still agonizing over her nonexistent choices when the branch of the choko tree Caius lay under brushed her cheek.She looked up to find it offering her a tiny, glistening dew drop that was nestled on the very tip of the branch.Inside the white flower it had forced into bloom.
“No.”Gus recoiled in horror.“I would never ask that of you.”
She knew what that drop represented.What it was.The tree’s essence.Its soul’s breath given form and substance.Offered freely with no expectation of return.
Because of Gus.Because of her needs.
