Gods of Garran

The Gods of Garran: Chapter 31

A novel by Meredith Skye

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Their airship touched down at the security port in Urrlan. Having the pouch with the god-stone this long had calmed Asta.

Colors remained: lavender, aqua, gold.

She woke from a dream, certain that she'd been talking to someone ... an important conversation that she couldn't quite remember. She closed her eyes to continue it, but the dream faded from memory.

Miserable, the Garrans sat in the back guarded by several soldiers. A twinge of guilt passed through Asta for having betrayed the Garrans. She'd led the Chanden straight to them.

Once the doors opened, Asta followed the soldiers onto the landing bay, where she waited while Ruben held a conversation with his superiors.

Soldiers unloaded the Garrans and brought them over to wait, not far from Asta. Other soldiers arrived to take the prisoners. No one said what would happen to them.

As the soldiers herded them past, Morrhan stopped. "Help us, Asta. You owe us that!" They pulled him away. It was out of her hands. Their fate wasn't up to her.

Anyway, they had the thing they wanted. The god-stone was awake again.

Mauve, gray, black.

The pain in her head eased somewhat, but guilt still ate at her. Would the gods forgive her or did she need to forgive herself?

Chitchat. Conversation that Asta couldn't really follow, which she answered in monosyllables.

A jump in time and they stood at the intersection of a corridor—Asta, Ruben and two security guards.

"You should get some rest," said Ruben. "I can't believe you pulled this off—on your first solo mission. I was very impressed." He looked proud, but none of it mattered. He tried to talk to her more, but she gave him little encouragement.

"All right," Ruben said at last. "You're tired. After the medical exam, you can sleep."

The guard came and took the stone from Asta. She could have resisted but she didn't. She let him have it, wincing slightly at the increase in pain. "Where will you take it?"

"Just into a holding cell for tonight, to keep it safe," said Ruben. "Tomorrow, we'll have it shipped off-world, for safe keeping and study. Best not to leave it here."

No. They would not keep it.

Ruben and the two security guards left Asta standing in the hallway, empty-handed. She watched them go, determined.

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She found herself in bed and woke with a start, head pounding. Not her own bed nor a Garran bed, but a bed on the base. Vaguely she remembered a medical check-up they'd given her, telling her she was fine. No injuries.

It was the middle of the night. Asta got up, dressed and walked into the hall, trying to ignore the pain in her mind. The scene was slow, dreamlike. She held a gun in her coat.

Crimson, flame, flesh-tone.

Up the stairs and past the security station that all but ignored her. "Just getting some air," she said. They nodded. Down the hall, up the stairs. Down another hallway over to where a man stood guarding a door.

"Any trouble?" asked Asta.

"No," the man said. "Seems—"

Asta shot him. He fell. She had remembered to put it on stun, hadn't she?