The Shattered Way (Champions of the Crystal Book 7)

Chapter 21.3

"Praxatillus Control, this is Scotty Devon," Scotty said as he accelerated the ship away from Kuath to a safe enough distance to engage the faster-than-light drive.

There was a long pause, during which he was afraid the communication wouldn't go through, even though the transmitter had been working mere hours ago. Then a voice said, "Praxatillus Control here, Captain. Go ahead."

Scotty gave an abbreviated version of his report, ending with his ETA. "Tell the Guardian we're on our way."

There was a longer than necessary pause. "She isn't with you?"

Scotty felt a pit open up in his stomach. "She said she was going straight back to Praxatillus with a prisoner and an unconscious patient. She didn't arrive?"

"One moment; I'll check."

Scotty tried to relax; Mara, busy with Malvarak and Ricar, might well have forgotten to notify Control of her return. There was no reason to posit dire scenarios, he told himself firmly.

When the next transmission arrived, he knew right away it wasn't good news. Mukryilla wouldn't have interrupted whatever she was doing just to tell him Mara was okay. "Captain, we've had no word from the Guardian. Neither has Wayship Khediva. She and Tirqwin have lost contact."

"Shit." Scotty glanced at Amoret, who looked as horrified as he felt. "You got anything in this vicinity, Commander?"

"We have three ships on course for Kuath to implement a quarantine."

"Great. I'm going to offload the wounded and civilians into a shuttle—you can pick them up. We're going back." He nodded at Amoret, who sprang out of her seat and headed back to begin sorting the two groups.

Mukryilla's voice was dry. "It saves a great deal of time when you make up your own orders."

An argument broke out in the passenger compartment, and Scotty scowled. "Yes, ma'am. Any further orders?"

"I will leave those to your own initiative," Mukryilla said. "Miah be with you, Captain."

"Thanks. Devon out." He made sure the autopilot was on and got up, but he wasn't able to move past the cockpit door. "What's going on in here?" he demanded.

Several voices started to answer, but he held up a hand. "Amoret," he clarified.

"I think we have more people who want to leave than we have room in the shuttle."

"What about the life pods?" Scotty asked. "Another ship will be here shortly to pick them up, so we could load those up pretty full too."

Amoret did some quick math. "That might work."

Scotty raised his voice to address everyone. "Look, we have inbound Praxatillian ships. You won't have a long wait. But even if there's not room for you on the shuttle, you'll be safe on this ship while my team takes the remaining shuttle to the surface."

Lyrabeth spoke up. "Are you accepting volunteers to join you on the surface?"

Scotty grimaced. "Depends on what it looks like when we make orbit again. If you would like to volunteer, then remain on this ship. I'll consider your participation when we get a grasp of the situation."

Lyrabeth nodded, glancing at Sastarn. He nodded back, then moved toward the cockpit.

Amoret pushed her way further into the crowd. "Okay, wounded in the shuttle. Able-bodied into the pods, as many as can strap in. Move!"

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Sabrina wrestled the cracked crystal matrix out of its cradle, gritting her teeth against the fiery sting its dissonance produced in her hands. In the back of her mind, she was aware of Ford docking with the Adventure and debating with himself whether he ought to take Zepharan's place in the initial boarding party, armed with laser scalpels from the infirmary.