Return From Exile

Chapter 2

Chapter 2:

"Who's there?" Garen's voice cut through the night, sharp but edged with weariness. His hand hovered over the blaster, muscles tensed. It had been a long time since anything had threatened him other than a wild creature.

Outside, the two marines flinched at Garen's sudden voice, echoing through the cabin walls. Hands darted to their rifles before they realized it wasn't an attack. Private Kees, nerves frayed, nearly dropped his energy rifle. "Dammit," he muttered, his fingers tightening around the weapon. His face twitched with embarrassment.

Corporal Dreen shot him a hard glare, unimpressed. From the porch, Colonel Conus Taylen snapped his attention to the marines, motioning for them to stay alert. Dreen gave a sharp nod but kept his focus on Kees. He's going to make me look incompetent, Dreen thought.

Inside the cabin, Garen remained still. If they didn't respond soon, he wouldn't hesitate to fire. Whoever they were, they had the upper hand for now, but out here in the forest, Garen knew the terrain favored him—if he could just make it to the trees. His eyes flicked toward the small back window, mind racing. Are they planning an ambush? He quickly mapped out escape routes, calculating where he could take cover if things went south.

Could it be raiders? There had been reports of raids in the system, but they usually targeted trade or passenger ships. Surface raids were rare—there wasn't much value to be found on the ground. Still, it wasn't impossible.

But the raiders here weren't human—at least, not the ones Garen had heard of. And if it were raiders, they wouldn't have announced themselves. They'd have kicked in the door by now. His thoughts drifted back to Klamarez's call earlier. What if something had gone wrong? The realization hit Garen—it likely had. Whatever this was, it had to be connected.

Outside, Colonel Taylen stood rigid, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. His chest tightened with tension. This wasn't his first mission—far from it. He had faced dangerous situations before, but standing at the door of General Garen Rivers, a living legend, was different. The stories hadn't prepared him for the reality of meeting the man.

He's just a man, Conus told himself, forcing his nerves to settle. Just a man you've read about for years.

A distant howl pierced the silence of the surrounding woods, causing the marines behind Conus to exchange uneasy glances. He ignored it, his focus unshaken. What was that?

Taylen adjusted his stance on the porch, straightening his back as he faced the cabin. "I'm Colonel Conus Taylen, Rhyus Defense Fleet," he called out, his voice steady, though a hint of tension slipped through. "I was told I could find General Garen Rivers here."

Inside, Garen frowned.

Colonel Conus Taylen? The name was unfamiliar. Why send someone he didn't know? Maybe he's connected to someone I do.

"Who sent you? Who's your CO?" Garen's voice cut through the night, sharp and unforgiving.

"Admiral Amar Lavont," Conus replied, his tone firm, though hopeful. Surely, Lavont's name would ease the tension.

Inside, Garen's grip tightened on his blaster. Lavont. Too many years had passed, but the bitterness remained.

Lavont hadn't just been a superior—he'd been a mentor. A friend. Together, they had planned and led countless operations. Lavont had seen potential in him from his academy days.

But their last encounter still burned in his mind—heated words, accusations, betrayal. I thought I buried this, Garen mused. You should've come yourself, Lavont.