Part IV
To say Julia was surprised when the dunerail rolled back into camp--minus Danziger and plus True and Uly--would be an understatement. The dunerail couldn't help but attract attention as it rumbled past a few tents and tarps to come to a stop exactly where it had been before Danziger left.
She immediately excused herself from Alonzo's bedside to investigate.
"What's going on?" she heard Denner ask as she and several others joined the children. Uly and True hopped out of the vehicle, and Uly immediately wrapped his arms around Julia's waist in a hug.
"My mom's gonna be back soon!" he exclaimed gleefully.
"What? How do you know?" Julia asked him. And then a more pressing question entered her mind. "True, where's your father?"
* * * * * *
The days passed. The group awaited word from the Terrians once again, with growing anxiety. Uly could hardly sleep at night, twitching with anticipation at his mother's impending return. It had been four weeks now since Devon had collapsed; a full month back on the Stations.
Each night he'd find himself lying awake, his mind wandering through possibilities. What would he say to his mother once she returned? Perhaps nothing. Perhaps he'd just race up to her and hug her tighter than he ever had before. Later, though, they'd have plenty to talk about.
Odds were that her healing by the Terrians would cause her to develop similar traits to those he found himself exhibiting. They could learn together Maybe now she would let him get one of those neato Terrian staffs, like the one Mary had . . .
The thought always caused him to smile. His one experience with a Terrian staff--which Mary called "lightening"--had been exhilarating. The sheer power he'd felt flowing through him, the energy, so easily released with but the nod of his head, or a single thought! He cherished that. If only his mother understood! Perhaps she would, now.
True, on the other hand, seemed a bit troubled. Despite all their spats, all their bickering, it still bothered him to see her so withdrawn. He didn't dare approach her about it, though. She tended to clam up just as well as her father.
But he could still wonder, and on the third day, when he saw True staring distantly off at Bennett and Elizabeth's ship, he decided he'd *attempt* to broach the subject. She seemed surprisingly willing to speak.
"Of course I'm worried about my dad!" she declared without so much as a hesitation. The two were seated on what had become their favorite spot--the very back of the gigantic Transrover, dangling their legs over the side. "I mean, who knows what they want him for? For all we know, we've traded him for her!
This caused Uly to gulp. He hadn't even really thought of that. What if True was right? No, no that wasn't possible. The Terrians were looking for a favor, like when the group had saved them from Gaal, not a captive. "Oh, okay, just thought I'd ask," he said sheepishly, not really knowing what else to say. He just shrugged, and was about to jump off the rover when . . .
"Are you worried about your mom?" True asked him meekly.
Uly knew the answer to that one immediately. "No, of course not!" he boasted proudly. "I know the Terrians would take good care of her, just like they did me."
"Yeah," True remarked, "And change her into part-Terrian and everything, too, I suppose."
Her companion nodded. "Yep, and we're gonna both get lightening staffs, so we can zap the bad guys and everything if they come after us." He was grinning now, his young mind once again off in his fantasy land.
"Right, whatever," True dismissed his silliness. "I think that's why my dad was against it."
He frowned at her quizzically. "Huh? He voted for it . . ."
True pursed her lips. "'Cause it's the only way. But I don't think my dad trusts the Terrians as far as I can spit," and she was kind enough to give him a visual demonstration of this.
"Well, he should," Uly frowned, "They're gonna save my mom."
The girl gave a slight shrug. "That's just the way my dad is. He's just not the trusting type." With that, she hopped down from the transrover and walked off.
"They *are* gonna save my mom," he said under his breath, and then just sat there for a bit, studying his feet as he dangled them from the back of the 'rover. He was about to go and see what Yale was up to, when he heard a shout from across camp. It as Alonzo.
"Hey, everybody, I've got word!!"
* * * * * *
"The Terrians say that Danziger's coming back when Devon does," Alonzo explained to the anxious group that had gathered about him the moment he announced that the Terrians had contacted them.
"Well, when will *that* be?" Morgan asked impatiently.
"They don't say," he answered. The whole group sighed. It seemed whenever they were given a glimmer of hope, it was instantly dulled by another delay. It had now been four days since Danziger had been whisked away by the lone Terrian. At the time, the EA had been under the impression he was just going to "fetch" Devon, but now it appeared to be something more.
Julia frowned, leaning forward in her chair, lost in thought. "Why do you think they wanted Danziger anyway?" Bess asked.
It was Uly who offered a hypothesis on this. "I bet because Mr. Danziger came and got me, they wanted him to get my mom, too." No on in the group had voiced the suspicion that Danziger may have been wanted for more than just picking up Devon to either child. Of course, they had their own ideas.
Alonzo shook his head. "I don't know, Uly, he's been gone an awful long time. More likely it had something to do with that promise we made.
"I *knew* that was a bad idea!" Morgan exclaimed. "If I've learned anything in my life, it's that you *never* made blind promises."
"Yeah, *if*," Baines muttered under his breath. Bess, however, overheard this comment and shot the man a glare.
Julia rolled her eyes. "You can all say whatever you like now, but just don't forget that at the time we *all* voted in favor of it. Including Danziger, despite his doubts. We all knew we had to be prepared to give anything. So don't you *even* start with this 'I told you so' attitude."
The group sat there in silence as this all sunk in, as the events of the past week sunk in. Julia had made a good point. They had all been aware of the possible sacrifices, and now they might have to pay.
"Well, I for one have full confidence that the Terrians will return them both unharmed," Alonzo declared, eyeing the group, "Now it's only a matter of time."
* * * * * *
Where was Devon? That was a question even she, herself, could not answer.
Consciousness was not as grand a thing as Devon Adair had remembered.
Every part of her ached, from head to toe. Especially head. She instinctively moved a hand to her head, to be sure there wasn't a lump. She was eventually satisfied by her diagnosis that it was, indeed, her *entire* head that ached, and not a single bruise.
However, the question still remained, where was she?
The answer to this, she thought, would come quickly, once she opened her eyes. This, however, turned out to be not such a good idea, as her eyes were immediately bombarded with blinding, stabbing rays of brilliant light. Unused to sunlight after nearly a month of darkness, she lay still for several minutes, until she was finally able to open her eyes.
Blue. A vast expanse of blue that stretched onward for as far as she could see, punctuated on the far edge by the brilliance of G889's sun. The sky. The sky? The sky!
Immediately, she sat up, ignoring her muscles' protest as the wave of sudden dizziness that washed over her. The sky! She could breathe! That could only mean one thing . . . she was alive!
The robe that was draped over her clothing when placed in cold sleep clung to her with morning dew. That would explain why the whole of her body felt so damp. With an uninhibited cry of joy she sprang to her feet, her gaze darting about her, taking in not only the vast, open field she found herself in, but also the air, the sky, the green grass beneath her feet, the endless blue that curved gently at the horizon, spreading across this great planet.
G889. The planet she had held so much faith in, the planet that had healed her son, had now healed her. A wide grin soared across her face as she tumbled to the ground, dizzy with exhilaration, her mind singing praises to G889. And she fell asleep.
* * * * * *
"Adair? Adair, that you? Aw, hell, I know it's you. C'mon. I don't know how we got to this place, but we've gotta find our way back. And don't even try to tell me you're feelin' worse than I am."
Devon opened one eye, and saw a pair of feet. She rolled over onto her back, and looked up. She saw a face. It took a moment to register, but as soon as she recognized him . . . *Danziger?* she thought with amusement, *Is Danziger an angel, then?* It then took her but a moment more for her to realize what was going on, for her to remember that she was *alive*! And *then*, she jumped to her feet, throwing her arms around him.
"Danziger!" Never before has she been so glad to see him. She could've kissed him--but she wasn't *that* glad to see him.
"Whoah, whoah Adair," he chuckled, grinning, prying her off of him. "Careful there, I saw you earlier, you don't want to faint again, do you?"
But Devon could do nothing but smile, and she gripped his arm, just staring right at him, studying every aspect of his features, until he had no choice but to step away as she was unnerving him. "Danziger . . . " she began, unable to wipe the smile off her face. What a great day this was turning out to be. "Danziger . . . " she paused for a moment, and glanced around her once again. "Danziger, where the hell are we?"
This caused him to sigh, and take another step back, regarding their situation. "I sure wish I knew."
"John, what's happened to me?" she asked of him suddenly. This question surprised him--though it shouldn't have. While he hadn't expected her not to be curious about her condition, he'd been more concerned at the moment with getting back to camp--wherever that was, now.
"Ahhh . . . " How to explain it all? How to explain the past month, the agony the group had experience while waiting for answers from Julia? The arguments, the fights, the votes, everything . . . "Let's just say you owe the Terrians a lot."
Devon's brow furrowed at this comment. "You mean they . . . I . . . " She shut her eyes for a moment, saying nothing more, just listening. Listening not to her only companion in the middle of this lonely field, nor the sound of the wind which blew gently across it, but to herself. She didn't feel much different. But there was something . . . "Danziger, do I seem . . . different . . . to you?" she asked tentatively.
He squinted at her quizzically. "You got a head injury there, Adair?" he asked, a bit befuddled by her question, looking her up and down.
"Well, actually, I do have a bit of a headache . . . " When she caught herself, she glared at him just slightly. Changing the subject, is he? "I'm serious John."
He rolled his eyes. "And so am I! No, you seem exactly the same, *exactly* the same. Hey, Adair, listen, it's good to have you back."
"Well good," Devon gave a small, rare smile, "But it seems you've got a bit of explaining to do."
Sighing, and casting a glance to their unfamiliar surroundings, Danziger nodded. "Yeah, and it seems we've got plenty of time."
* * * * * *
"Danziger's been gone for four days," Magus pointed out grimly as she opened yet another carton of those dreaded spirulina bars. Bess Martin was her only company with this task; the two of them had volunteered to dole out supper that evening, which they were trying to get done before darkness fell. "I'm beginning to wonder if he's coming back at all."
Bess nodded in agreement as she began pulling out the thirteen spirulina bars necessary to keep the bedraggled ban alive from day to day. Devon never *would* admit just what spirulina was made, and Yale wouldn't tell them either, so they just . .. well, they just ate it. Not like they had much other choice. "And I," she said, "Am beginning to wonder if they just don't *want* to come back," she gave Magus a sly smile, at which the woman rolled her eyes.
"Really Bess, this is not the time for another one of your flights of fancy," the other woman sighed at this.
Bess stared down at the spirulina in her bars. "Oh I know . . . " she sighed, "I just don't want to believe it's as serious as it could be. It's kind of disturbing to think . .. " she fumbled for the words, "To think that the Terrians might be holding him and Devon captive. I mean, we don't know if they truly are completely benign. It could always be a faced . . . "
Magus nodded in agreement.
"I'd much rather believe that Devon and Danziger have just decided to take their time in returning," there was that smile again, "I mean, Devon almost died, and that must shed some light on a few things, wouldn't you think?"
The blond woman looked at her skeptically and gathered up the spirulina, intending to begin rationing it out to the others. "What I think, is that we'd better hope Danziger returns real soon."
* * * * * *
"What time would you say it is?" Devon asked her companion, gazing up at the sky that was beginning to turn to dusk. "The sun is setting. How are we supposed to find our way back in the dark?"
Danziger grimaced at this. The two had been traveling all day, searching for a familiar landmark, perhaps something they had passed on their way to finding the crashed ship, all the while knowing they could be going in the completely wrong direction.
Devon has assumed he would react that way. She took a seat grimly on a nearby fallen log. it had been hours since she'd awoke, and the initial excitement had worn off. Now she was just tired. She wanted to get back to camp, she wanted to see her son, but she didn't want to be lost in the wilderness with John Danziger.
"It don't suppose you would've thought to bring some Gear along," she mumbled so softly he was unable to make out her words. Though perhaps that wouldn't have helped, either. Who knows how far from camp the Terrians had dropped them off? For all they knew they might even be on an entirely different continent!
If Danziger did hear her comment, he ignored it. Surprisingly, he took a seat next to her. The two shared an uncomfortable silence there on the log, surveying their situation. "Well . . . " Danziger broke the panic after a bit. "We best keep moving anyway. We've really got no other choice." Devon remained silent , staring ahead blankly, so he continued, "Let's go a bit further and set up some sort of camp at sundown."
Though the idea was rather unsettling, Devon knew he was right. If they stayed where they were they were certainly not getting any closer to camp. "Okay," she agreed, "We'll go a little further, see where we get." And though she felt it was hopeless, the two resumed their trek.
* * * * * *
Morgan Martin sighed, poking at the beginnings of a campfire halfheartedly. Their daily routine was becoming a bit too . . . well, routine. Every day they woke up, ate breakfast, milled about, ate lunch, milled about a bit more, and then prepared dinner, and went to sleep. Sure, their other routine while trekking had not been incredibly exciting itself, but the overwhelming sense of anxiety, of distress that shrouded the Eden Advance camp was almost impossible to bear.
Morgan took a glance around camp. Most people had given up on even feigning work. There was simply nothing to do. Bess and Magus at least had the food to pass out, something to keep their minds off the tedium. Morgan began to long for the days of travel. To say he was worried about Devon was a stretch--he was more worried about what the consequences of their little "promise" might be--but he definitely would like her to get back ASAP so they could get a move on.
He'd volunteered to tend the fire also . . . but that did little for him. Once it was started you just sat there . . . and watched it. He poked it every now and then. He still didn't like fire much; he wasn't *terrified* of it, exactly, but it unsettled him that something could exist that would just . . . *swallow* up thing and turn them to an ash. Things like *him* . . .
Shaking that thought from his mind, he reached over to the woodpile Yale had contributed greatly to and added another log to the fire. He then just sat there, staring into the golden flames, flinching now and then when they licked outwards. So intent was he on his observation of this mysterious phenomenon, that it took him quite a while to realize that Ulysses Adair was sitting right beside him around the fire.
"Ahh!" he exclaimed when he realized he was there, startled at his seemingly sudden appearance. Uly just looked at him like he was crazy. "Good lord don't you ever do that to me . . . " he gasped.
Uly frowned. "Sorry Mr. Martin." There was a pause. The boy tilted his head to regard the man. "What're you doing anyway?"
Morgan eyed the boy. He was wearing his usual red sweatshirt and brown pants, a frown upon his rather scrawny face. The slightly golden curls of his hair betrayed the half of his parentage that wasn't Adair. "I'm doing chores," he growled, "And one would think you'd be doing the same."
"Oh, no, I finished my chores hours ago." Morgan didn't think the little boy meant that as a jab, but the look in his eyes . . . and the way he said it . . . Morgan very nearly glared at him. "But anyway." A long silence ensued, Morgan just glowering at the flames as the danced in the fire circle, and Uly staring off at the sky, a distant look on his face.
The sun was slowly beginning to set beneath the horizon, and everyone in camp was getting ready for nightfall. Bess and Magus had passed out most of the spirulina, and Bess was heading over in Morgan and Uly's direction to give them theirs. It was then that Uly suddenly pointed off towards the horizon. "What's that?"
To say Julia was surprised when the dunerail rolled back into camp--minus Danziger and plus True and Uly--would be an understatement. The dunerail couldn't help but attract attention as it rumbled past a few tents and tarps to come to a stop exactly where it had been before Danziger left.
She immediately excused herself from Alonzo's bedside to investigate.
"What's going on?" she heard Denner ask as she and several others joined the children. Uly and True hopped out of the vehicle, and Uly immediately wrapped his arms around Julia's waist in a hug.
"My mom's gonna be back soon!" he exclaimed gleefully.
"What? How do you know?" Julia asked him. And then a more pressing question entered her mind. "True, where's your father?"
* * * * * *
The days passed. The group awaited word from the Terrians once again, with growing anxiety. Uly could hardly sleep at night, twitching with anticipation at his mother's impending return. It had been four weeks now since Devon had collapsed; a full month back on the Stations.
Each night he'd find himself lying awake, his mind wandering through possibilities. What would he say to his mother once she returned? Perhaps nothing. Perhaps he'd just race up to her and hug her tighter than he ever had before. Later, though, they'd have plenty to talk about.
Odds were that her healing by the Terrians would cause her to develop similar traits to those he found himself exhibiting. They could learn together Maybe now she would let him get one of those neato Terrian staffs, like the one Mary had . . .
The thought always caused him to smile. His one experience with a Terrian staff--which Mary called "lightening"--had been exhilarating. The sheer power he'd felt flowing through him, the energy, so easily released with but the nod of his head, or a single thought! He cherished that. If only his mother understood! Perhaps she would, now.
True, on the other hand, seemed a bit troubled. Despite all their spats, all their bickering, it still bothered him to see her so withdrawn. He didn't dare approach her about it, though. She tended to clam up just as well as her father.
But he could still wonder, and on the third day, when he saw True staring distantly off at Bennett and Elizabeth's ship, he decided he'd *attempt* to broach the subject. She seemed surprisingly willing to speak.
"Of course I'm worried about my dad!" she declared without so much as a hesitation. The two were seated on what had become their favorite spot--the very back of the gigantic Transrover, dangling their legs over the side. "I mean, who knows what they want him for? For all we know, we've traded him for her!
This caused Uly to gulp. He hadn't even really thought of that. What if True was right? No, no that wasn't possible. The Terrians were looking for a favor, like when the group had saved them from Gaal, not a captive. "Oh, okay, just thought I'd ask," he said sheepishly, not really knowing what else to say. He just shrugged, and was about to jump off the rover when . . .
"Are you worried about your mom?" True asked him meekly.
Uly knew the answer to that one immediately. "No, of course not!" he boasted proudly. "I know the Terrians would take good care of her, just like they did me."
"Yeah," True remarked, "And change her into part-Terrian and everything, too, I suppose."
Her companion nodded. "Yep, and we're gonna both get lightening staffs, so we can zap the bad guys and everything if they come after us." He was grinning now, his young mind once again off in his fantasy land.
"Right, whatever," True dismissed his silliness. "I think that's why my dad was against it."
He frowned at her quizzically. "Huh? He voted for it . . ."
True pursed her lips. "'Cause it's the only way. But I don't think my dad trusts the Terrians as far as I can spit," and she was kind enough to give him a visual demonstration of this.
"Well, he should," Uly frowned, "They're gonna save my mom."
The girl gave a slight shrug. "That's just the way my dad is. He's just not the trusting type." With that, she hopped down from the transrover and walked off.
"They *are* gonna save my mom," he said under his breath, and then just sat there for a bit, studying his feet as he dangled them from the back of the 'rover. He was about to go and see what Yale was up to, when he heard a shout from across camp. It as Alonzo.
"Hey, everybody, I've got word!!"
* * * * * *
"The Terrians say that Danziger's coming back when Devon does," Alonzo explained to the anxious group that had gathered about him the moment he announced that the Terrians had contacted them.
"Well, when will *that* be?" Morgan asked impatiently.
"They don't say," he answered. The whole group sighed. It seemed whenever they were given a glimmer of hope, it was instantly dulled by another delay. It had now been four days since Danziger had been whisked away by the lone Terrian. At the time, the EA had been under the impression he was just going to "fetch" Devon, but now it appeared to be something more.
Julia frowned, leaning forward in her chair, lost in thought. "Why do you think they wanted Danziger anyway?" Bess asked.
It was Uly who offered a hypothesis on this. "I bet because Mr. Danziger came and got me, they wanted him to get my mom, too." No on in the group had voiced the suspicion that Danziger may have been wanted for more than just picking up Devon to either child. Of course, they had their own ideas.
Alonzo shook his head. "I don't know, Uly, he's been gone an awful long time. More likely it had something to do with that promise we made.
"I *knew* that was a bad idea!" Morgan exclaimed. "If I've learned anything in my life, it's that you *never* made blind promises."
"Yeah, *if*," Baines muttered under his breath. Bess, however, overheard this comment and shot the man a glare.
Julia rolled her eyes. "You can all say whatever you like now, but just don't forget that at the time we *all* voted in favor of it. Including Danziger, despite his doubts. We all knew we had to be prepared to give anything. So don't you *even* start with this 'I told you so' attitude."
The group sat there in silence as this all sunk in, as the events of the past week sunk in. Julia had made a good point. They had all been aware of the possible sacrifices, and now they might have to pay.
"Well, I for one have full confidence that the Terrians will return them both unharmed," Alonzo declared, eyeing the group, "Now it's only a matter of time."
* * * * * *
Where was Devon? That was a question even she, herself, could not answer.
Consciousness was not as grand a thing as Devon Adair had remembered.
Every part of her ached, from head to toe. Especially head. She instinctively moved a hand to her head, to be sure there wasn't a lump. She was eventually satisfied by her diagnosis that it was, indeed, her *entire* head that ached, and not a single bruise.
However, the question still remained, where was she?
The answer to this, she thought, would come quickly, once she opened her eyes. This, however, turned out to be not such a good idea, as her eyes were immediately bombarded with blinding, stabbing rays of brilliant light. Unused to sunlight after nearly a month of darkness, she lay still for several minutes, until she was finally able to open her eyes.
Blue. A vast expanse of blue that stretched onward for as far as she could see, punctuated on the far edge by the brilliance of G889's sun. The sky. The sky? The sky!
Immediately, she sat up, ignoring her muscles' protest as the wave of sudden dizziness that washed over her. The sky! She could breathe! That could only mean one thing . . . she was alive!
The robe that was draped over her clothing when placed in cold sleep clung to her with morning dew. That would explain why the whole of her body felt so damp. With an uninhibited cry of joy she sprang to her feet, her gaze darting about her, taking in not only the vast, open field she found herself in, but also the air, the sky, the green grass beneath her feet, the endless blue that curved gently at the horizon, spreading across this great planet.
G889. The planet she had held so much faith in, the planet that had healed her son, had now healed her. A wide grin soared across her face as she tumbled to the ground, dizzy with exhilaration, her mind singing praises to G889. And she fell asleep.
* * * * * *
"Adair? Adair, that you? Aw, hell, I know it's you. C'mon. I don't know how we got to this place, but we've gotta find our way back. And don't even try to tell me you're feelin' worse than I am."
Devon opened one eye, and saw a pair of feet. She rolled over onto her back, and looked up. She saw a face. It took a moment to register, but as soon as she recognized him . . . *Danziger?* she thought with amusement, *Is Danziger an angel, then?* It then took her but a moment more for her to realize what was going on, for her to remember that she was *alive*! And *then*, she jumped to her feet, throwing her arms around him.
"Danziger!" Never before has she been so glad to see him. She could've kissed him--but she wasn't *that* glad to see him.
"Whoah, whoah Adair," he chuckled, grinning, prying her off of him. "Careful there, I saw you earlier, you don't want to faint again, do you?"
But Devon could do nothing but smile, and she gripped his arm, just staring right at him, studying every aspect of his features, until he had no choice but to step away as she was unnerving him. "Danziger . . . " she began, unable to wipe the smile off her face. What a great day this was turning out to be. "Danziger . . . " she paused for a moment, and glanced around her once again. "Danziger, where the hell are we?"
This caused him to sigh, and take another step back, regarding their situation. "I sure wish I knew."
"John, what's happened to me?" she asked of him suddenly. This question surprised him--though it shouldn't have. While he hadn't expected her not to be curious about her condition, he'd been more concerned at the moment with getting back to camp--wherever that was, now.
"Ahhh . . . " How to explain it all? How to explain the past month, the agony the group had experience while waiting for answers from Julia? The arguments, the fights, the votes, everything . . . "Let's just say you owe the Terrians a lot."
Devon's brow furrowed at this comment. "You mean they . . . I . . . " She shut her eyes for a moment, saying nothing more, just listening. Listening not to her only companion in the middle of this lonely field, nor the sound of the wind which blew gently across it, but to herself. She didn't feel much different. But there was something . . . "Danziger, do I seem . . . different . . . to you?" she asked tentatively.
He squinted at her quizzically. "You got a head injury there, Adair?" he asked, a bit befuddled by her question, looking her up and down.
"Well, actually, I do have a bit of a headache . . . " When she caught herself, she glared at him just slightly. Changing the subject, is he? "I'm serious John."
He rolled his eyes. "And so am I! No, you seem exactly the same, *exactly* the same. Hey, Adair, listen, it's good to have you back."
"Well good," Devon gave a small, rare smile, "But it seems you've got a bit of explaining to do."
Sighing, and casting a glance to their unfamiliar surroundings, Danziger nodded. "Yeah, and it seems we've got plenty of time."
* * * * * *
"Danziger's been gone for four days," Magus pointed out grimly as she opened yet another carton of those dreaded spirulina bars. Bess Martin was her only company with this task; the two of them had volunteered to dole out supper that evening, which they were trying to get done before darkness fell. "I'm beginning to wonder if he's coming back at all."
Bess nodded in agreement as she began pulling out the thirteen spirulina bars necessary to keep the bedraggled ban alive from day to day. Devon never *would* admit just what spirulina was made, and Yale wouldn't tell them either, so they just . .. well, they just ate it. Not like they had much other choice. "And I," she said, "Am beginning to wonder if they just don't *want* to come back," she gave Magus a sly smile, at which the woman rolled her eyes.
"Really Bess, this is not the time for another one of your flights of fancy," the other woman sighed at this.
Bess stared down at the spirulina in her bars. "Oh I know . . . " she sighed, "I just don't want to believe it's as serious as it could be. It's kind of disturbing to think . .. " she fumbled for the words, "To think that the Terrians might be holding him and Devon captive. I mean, we don't know if they truly are completely benign. It could always be a faced . . . "
Magus nodded in agreement.
"I'd much rather believe that Devon and Danziger have just decided to take their time in returning," there was that smile again, "I mean, Devon almost died, and that must shed some light on a few things, wouldn't you think?"
The blond woman looked at her skeptically and gathered up the spirulina, intending to begin rationing it out to the others. "What I think, is that we'd better hope Danziger returns real soon."
* * * * * *
"What time would you say it is?" Devon asked her companion, gazing up at the sky that was beginning to turn to dusk. "The sun is setting. How are we supposed to find our way back in the dark?"
Danziger grimaced at this. The two had been traveling all day, searching for a familiar landmark, perhaps something they had passed on their way to finding the crashed ship, all the while knowing they could be going in the completely wrong direction.
Devon has assumed he would react that way. She took a seat grimly on a nearby fallen log. it had been hours since she'd awoke, and the initial excitement had worn off. Now she was just tired. She wanted to get back to camp, she wanted to see her son, but she didn't want to be lost in the wilderness with John Danziger.
"It don't suppose you would've thought to bring some Gear along," she mumbled so softly he was unable to make out her words. Though perhaps that wouldn't have helped, either. Who knows how far from camp the Terrians had dropped them off? For all they knew they might even be on an entirely different continent!
If Danziger did hear her comment, he ignored it. Surprisingly, he took a seat next to her. The two shared an uncomfortable silence there on the log, surveying their situation. "Well . . . " Danziger broke the panic after a bit. "We best keep moving anyway. We've really got no other choice." Devon remained silent , staring ahead blankly, so he continued, "Let's go a bit further and set up some sort of camp at sundown."
Though the idea was rather unsettling, Devon knew he was right. If they stayed where they were they were certainly not getting any closer to camp. "Okay," she agreed, "We'll go a little further, see where we get." And though she felt it was hopeless, the two resumed their trek.
* * * * * *
Morgan Martin sighed, poking at the beginnings of a campfire halfheartedly. Their daily routine was becoming a bit too . . . well, routine. Every day they woke up, ate breakfast, milled about, ate lunch, milled about a bit more, and then prepared dinner, and went to sleep. Sure, their other routine while trekking had not been incredibly exciting itself, but the overwhelming sense of anxiety, of distress that shrouded the Eden Advance camp was almost impossible to bear.
Morgan took a glance around camp. Most people had given up on even feigning work. There was simply nothing to do. Bess and Magus at least had the food to pass out, something to keep their minds off the tedium. Morgan began to long for the days of travel. To say he was worried about Devon was a stretch--he was more worried about what the consequences of their little "promise" might be--but he definitely would like her to get back ASAP so they could get a move on.
He'd volunteered to tend the fire also . . . but that did little for him. Once it was started you just sat there . . . and watched it. He poked it every now and then. He still didn't like fire much; he wasn't *terrified* of it, exactly, but it unsettled him that something could exist that would just . . . *swallow* up thing and turn them to an ash. Things like *him* . . .
Shaking that thought from his mind, he reached over to the woodpile Yale had contributed greatly to and added another log to the fire. He then just sat there, staring into the golden flames, flinching now and then when they licked outwards. So intent was he on his observation of this mysterious phenomenon, that it took him quite a while to realize that Ulysses Adair was sitting right beside him around the fire.
"Ahh!" he exclaimed when he realized he was there, startled at his seemingly sudden appearance. Uly just looked at him like he was crazy. "Good lord don't you ever do that to me . . . " he gasped.
Uly frowned. "Sorry Mr. Martin." There was a pause. The boy tilted his head to regard the man. "What're you doing anyway?"
Morgan eyed the boy. He was wearing his usual red sweatshirt and brown pants, a frown upon his rather scrawny face. The slightly golden curls of his hair betrayed the half of his parentage that wasn't Adair. "I'm doing chores," he growled, "And one would think you'd be doing the same."
"Oh, no, I finished my chores hours ago." Morgan didn't think the little boy meant that as a jab, but the look in his eyes . . . and the way he said it . . . Morgan very nearly glared at him. "But anyway." A long silence ensued, Morgan just glowering at the flames as the danced in the fire circle, and Uly staring off at the sky, a distant look on his face.
The sun was slowly beginning to set beneath the horizon, and everyone in camp was getting ready for nightfall. Bess and Magus had passed out most of the spirulina, and Bess was heading over in Morgan and Uly's direction to give them theirs. It was then that Uly suddenly pointed off towards the horizon. "What's that?"