Page 17 of Galactic Sentinels, Vol. 1 (Chronicles of Pherebos #1)

Pherebos.

It’s crunch time. I’m about to smuggle Ileana out—right under the noses of the base controllers.

“We’ve got an incoming video call,” SILMAR announces.

“I’ll take it.”

I turn to the right, where Hilda’s face appears on the partition, Isaac standing just behind her. Her hands are clasped behind her back, chin lifted, and there’s a seriousness in her expression that puts me on edge.

“Pherebos,” she says, “leaving already? We’re a bit surprised by your sudden departure. Are you here alone?”

Strange question—unless they suspect something.

“Yeah, we’re heading out earlier than planned,” I say calmly. “Unfortunately, Wingo’s pretty sick. He’s in his bunk right now. I think he ate a poisonous berry or something—he’s got a fever and he’s shaking.”

“Oh, so it’s the animal… That explains the strong heat signature,” Isaac notes. “It’s higher than when you arrived.”

“Yeah, that’s him. I hope it passes soon. I’m not sure if I can treat him the usual way—this is the first time he’s reacted like this. Do you know of any poisonous berries in the area?”

Hilda’s posture softens. Her shoulders drop slightly, and she shrugs, clearly losing interest.

“No idea. Maybe you should save those meds for yourself. They’re rare, and he’s just a creature. I get it—he’s your travel companion. Your call. I’ll cut this short.”

She clearly doesn’t care about Wingo’s fate and seems eager to end the conversation—which suits me just fine.

“I’ll be back next time, I promise. Thanks for your concern.”

I end the call and let out a long breath. The ruse worked like a charm.

“ Everything went according to plan,” I tell Wingo. “ We’ll wait a little while before getting you out—just to be safe.”

“ Take all the time you need! ”Wingo says smugly.“ I’m the one pressed up against this woman’s soft body, her hands gently running over me while she lets out little sighs of contentment. ”

“Wow, you really have a dirty mind!” I can’t help but protest, half-indignant.

“If I’m the one with the dirty mind, then why don’t you explain why that ‘innocent’ description sounds so wrong? Because yes, she’s got her hands on you and—”

“ That’s enough! ” I cut him off sharply. “That’s my Dedicated Soul you’re talking about!”

“ Ah, there it is! ” he says triumphantly.“ You finally admit it! You know you’re connected to this young woman. What took you so long? Meanwhile, I think your Soulmate’s fallen asleep. She was exhausted. ”

“Or maybe it’s your boring company,” I tease.

“ This is how you thank me? With questionable jokes? If it weren’t for me, you’d never have found her! ”

He’s right, unfortunately. When Wingo told me to land the SIL in a clearing and said Ileana wasn’t far, I didn’t hesitate.

I trusted him completely. He took off, following the link between us—whatever that is, exactly.

I still don’t understand how it works, but I’m grateful.

Without it, Ileana might’ve died out there, alone in the cold, her wounds untreated.

“You’re right,” I say quietly. “I owe you. Big time. Thank you, Wingo.”

“ You’re welcome. You saved my life. I saved hers. ”

Two hours later, I change course and head for MyFaS—my secret base.

That’s where I plan to place Ileana in the regeneration chamber and repair her dislocated shoulder.

Until then, I stabilize her arm with a self-hardening bandage and keep a close eye on the wounds she picked up during her desperate escape.

Her split lip and the dark bruises on her right cheek suggest a violent blow to the face.

I’m willing to bet it was Henri. That smug, vomit-worthy face of his…

I would’ve gladly returned the favor—maybe more.

But right now, my priority is keeping Ileana safe from that kind of harm.

And I don’t doubt for a second that she’s innocent.

I took the time to leave a message for Akifumi, updating him on the situation.

I trust him. Wingo once told me he “liked” Akifumi, and that means something.

Still, I didn’t exactly follow protocol.

I didn’t stay on Jaga-18 to investigate like I said I would.

I turned around in secret, with a woman wanted for murder on board.

So yeah—I had to let him know. He won’t get the message until our next encrypted rendezvous.

Right now, we’re en route to MyFaS. It’ll take about a week.

Six days later, we’re finally approaching the planet.

And not a moment too soon. The atmosphere on board the SIL has been…

tense. Ileana’s been distant, withdrawn.

She barely speaks. I can’t get her to open up, and it’s driving me crazy.

There’s so much I want to ask her—so much I need to understand.

Physically, she’s recovering well. But Wingo says she’s still struggling emotionally. She lost her sister in horrific circumstances—and never got the chance to say goodbye.

She gave me a brief account of that night, the one that left her so deeply scarred. But when I try to ask about the governor’s behavior leading up to it, she dodges the question. Wingo told me that whenever the Governor is mentioned, her aura flares with a mix of fear, rage, and disgust.

So we don’t push her. Wingo and I just let her move at her own pace, making sure she feels safe, supported, and in control.

Wingo even gave up his sleeping drawer and decided to sprawl out across the cabin instead .

I’m grateful. Well… when it comes to sleeping arrangements, anyway. The rest of the time, he never stops teasing me about my obvious interest in our guest.

“You know how to conserve water, right?” he asks.

“ Yes, why?”

“Because you’re drooling.” He bursts out laughing.

See what I mean?

I’d like to deny it, but… my Dedicated Soul is walking around my ship wearing one of my shirts.

Since her tunic was beyond saving, she had no choice but to borrow my clothes.

And even though I’m taller than she is, the way those shirts fall on her—showing off her long, graceful legs—it’s… distracting.

“I don’t know which of you is worse,” Wingo mutters, sounding exasperated.

“What do you mean?”

“Because she’s checking you out just as much as you’re checking her out.”

“I’m not ogling her!”

“That’s rich,” he snorts.

“I’m just… concerned. I’m paying attention to her well-being. After everything she’s been through—”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. But don’t try to change the subject. You’re not just looking at her with concern. Well, a little. But mostly? You’re looking at her with possessiveness. And hunger.”

“You’re wrong!” I protest. “I’m not like that!”

“If you insist…” Wingo replies, clearly unconvinced.

I’m not trying to be that guy. I’m not the type to put my own needs before someone else’s—especially not hers. She has no idea what she means to me. What I want is to be a steady presence, someone she can trust. Not some guy who, as Wingo puts it, “ogles” her.

I turn away from him and refocus on the control console, pretending to check the maneuver.

But after a while, I can’t help myself—I glance back at her.

She’s sitting on one of the removable stools, sipping an herbal infusion. Then suddenly, her eyes go wide and she chokes, the drink shooting out of her nose. She looks at Wingo with a stunned expression, her face turning bright red as she tries to catch her breath.

I turn to the little troublemaker behind this.

“ What did you say to her that made her react like that?”

“Oh, nothing at all. I was just praising you.”

“Specifically?”

“She was sneaking glances at you, so I told her you were gentle, kind, and—according to the women who keep asking about you during our stopovers—rather handsome.”

“ And that made her laugh?”

“No, I think it was when I added that you were sweet and that your little trunk was cute, even if it’s small and not very useful.”

“ My tr—? No. You didn’t.” I roar into his mind, mortified.

I swear, I’m going to throw that little menace into the nearest airlock and launch him straight into space!

“Hey, at least she laughed,” Wingo says, trying to justify himself. “That’s better than the endless gloom she’s been wrapped in since she got here.”

“ Wingo, you can’t talk about this! It’s private! And let’s not forget—she’s not a child!”

“Oh, stop whining. She’s human. You know how important humans are in Earth movies. And I said you was cute…”

“ Don’t even describe my… situation… like that!” I choke, mortified.

“You’re so sensitive! Want me to go back and tell her she’s taller sometimes? Because I’m pretty sure she—”

“Stop!” I snap, shooting him a glare.

I’d been looking forward to this fragile, growing friendship. And now he’s out here ruining my image in front of my Dedicated Soul. He tries to look innocent, but I’m not buying it.

Ileana retreats to the restroom for a few minutes, returning with a fresh shirt—one of mine. She’s still wearing my clothes, and though they hang a little loose on her, they somehow highlight her long, graceful legs. But right now, she’s avoiding my gaze.

I turn away and focus on the view through the panel.

Below us lies the dwarf planet that will one day be known as Jaga-32 or Jaga-33.

For now, it’s just MyFaS. From orbit, its surface looks rugged, tinted with a soft pink hue, dotted with faint blue pustules—the life domes of terraforming, expanding so slowly they’re almost imperceptible.

SILMAR guides us toward the main dome, the only one currently equipped for habitation. It’s where the technical team began the terraforming process. The other domes are still in early growth stages, nurturing the first signs of life .

Ileana steps up beside me, her eyes scanning our final destination with visible concern. Wanting to reassure her, I decide to give her as much information as I can.

“Our base is right there,”I say, pointing to the largest dome.“It covers roughly two square miles.”

“Two point zero square miles,”SILMAR corrects.

“And beyond that?”Ileana asks, her voice tight with worry.

“Outside the energy domes that hold the atmosphere in place, there’s no life. The AI managing this world is slowly expanding the habitable area, depending on how well the vegetation grows. But inside these life pockets, I promise—we’re completely safe.”

She doesn’t look convinced. Her eyes stay fixed on the alien landscape, her expression wary and uncertain.

We’re only going under the main dome. That’s where the living complex is—it’s not huge, but it’s got everything we need.

She doesn’t answer. Just keeps looking out at the view like she’s trying to see something I can’t. And I can tell—my words haven’t really reassured her.

She finally turns to me, her expression tense.

“Are those energy domes held in place by generators?”

“Yes, just like on Base BN-35, where you spent most of your life.”

“But on BN-35, the base was mostly indoors. Here, it’s just a force field standing between us and death. That’s how my biological parents died—when a generator failed. ”

“Inside the living quarters, you’ll be completely safe. And if it helps you feel more secure, you can always carry a breathing mask when you’re out in the natural zones. But honestly, I have zero concerns about MyFaS’s solar generators.”

She doesn’t respond right away, her eyes still scanning the horizon, doubt lingering in her posture.

SIL has just entered the main dome and is gliding down onto the central landing platform. Wingo’s already bouncing with excitement, stamping his feet in front of the exit airlock.

I lower the ramp, and he bolts out before we can even follow.

"Welcome to MyFaS," I say, smiling as I guide her toward the exit. "He’s always preferred wide open spaces to the cramped quarters of our ship."

In front of us, a ten-foot-tall structure rises from the lush, young greenery. Wingo’s probably already out there sniffing around for bugs to snack on—unless he’s just tearing across the grass like a maniac, stretching his legs.

I can’t wait to go for a jog around the inner perimeter. I’ve marked out a few landmarks over time, and I love watching the quiet, steady growth of my little bubble of life.

She turns to me, her voice soft. “Is there anywhere to hide around here?”

“No… why would you want that? ”

Her eyes flicker with unease. “What if the Confederation is still looking for me? Henri won’t stop until he has proof I’m dead—or finds my body.”

“That’s not going to happen,” I say firmly. “No one knows we’re here except Akifumi. We’re completely alone. No one’s coming for you. No one.”

But instead of relief, she goes pale.

Am I missing something here?