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He studied her stiff posture. Could Olin have missed more when they hadn’t known of her? “The Yithian I interrogated mentioned these women and no others.”

“Well, it’s too late now. At least they died swiftly.” She weaved around him to kneel beside Hiossu. “Why is he still out?”

“The length of unconsciousness depends on the strength of the blaster’s stun.” He passed her to peer through the crevice to the beach beyond.

A massive section of the cliff and the building built into it were missing; detritus littered the grounds around it. Flames meters high licked the sky, serving as a beacon for the incoming Yithian ship. More would arrive soon.

They had to move.

“We cannot stay here,” he said, facing her. He jerked back when she held out her hand. “What do you need, milady?”

“Your medical device.”

Thinking she meant to run it over Hiossu, Cylo placed it on her palm. “Press and hold the button.”

She brought it within inches of her face to study it, then she did as he instructed. “Where are you injured?”

Heat rippled over his skin at her concern. “My left arm and knee. I can do it.”

She hesitated then shook her head. “Show me. It’s best I learn how. Just in case.”

She crouched to run the med-gun over his knee. The relief was instant, eradicating the constant throbbing that had shot shards of agony up his thigh. Until it had healed, he hadn’t realized how much pain he endured.

The med-gun pulsed.

“Why did it do that?” she asked, once more holding it an inch from her face.

He swallowed a smile. “It has completed its task.”

“Oh, well, that’s good.” She beamed and moved onto his shoulder.

Close to him, he watched her expressions and the marvel of her shifting eye color: gray to green to blue—as alarming as her purple-colored skin and rainbow hair.

The salt tang of seawater teased his nose, along with a subtle sweetness that was her natural scent.

He drew it in though hid that he was doing so by keeping his breathing shallow.

Life returned to his fingers, along with a violent sweep of tingles. Those faded, too. With a mumbled thank you, he rolled his shoulder to test its mobility.

She ran the med-gun over Hiossu then nudged the male. He groaned, and a moment later, jerked to the side while throwing out his hand.

“Come. We need to hide somewhere else. Any ideas?” she asked, standing to her full height which reached Cylo mid-chest.

Hiossu frowned at the cavern. “Yes, they will look here first.” He scrambled to his feet.

She offered the med-gun to Cylo.

Just in case? He liked her caution. “Keep it,” he said.

She shoved it between the waistband of her pants and her bare skin. “So where to?”

“No help from your males?” Hiossu gazed at the beach. “Mm, the Yithians will come.”

“Exactly. We must find somewhere else with a clear signal for…” She peeked at Cylo. “Porting, right?”

“Yes.” He tapped his O.D.I. “Fyca.”

“Dampening shield activat… Separate mission to destro—” The sound cut off.

Into the silence, Hiossu said, “The emergency power hub is to the east of the island.”

She touched his forearm. “Could we make it there unseen?”

A flush of fury gritted Cylo’s teeth. He stepped between them, breaking the contact. “It is our best option. If we reach the hub in time, we could board the kuta . ”

“I assume that’s a ship?” she asked.

“A shuttle.” Cylo hurried into the cave to gather the blasters.

He knelt to strap one to his thigh before shoving the other at Hiossu.

Without another word, Cylo slipped through the crevice and winced when the sunlight, the hot sand, and the heat hit him.

More evidence that his suit had to be malfunctioning.

Despite the logic, he spared a few moments to adjust its temperature controls.

He skirted the rocks along the beach until he could break away and head inland.

He didn’t use the zedali trees for cover.

What mattered most was reaching the eastern beaches.

Random glances confirmed they followed—the female between him and Hiossu.

“You’re not thinking of running, are you?” she asked the Maloidian.

“You are an odd Earthian,” the male said.

She walked backward while she spoke. “Will your people welcome you home? Or are you a traitor now?”

Hiossu stumbled, his cheeks darkening. “No, not many know of this…agreement between Yithia and Maloid.”

“But Criass was your uncle.” Her pale face flushed a bright purple when she caught Cylo’s gaze. She didn’t look away, though.

“Was.” Hiossu nudged her from behind. “If you are up to it, let us increase the pace.”

She nodded and caught up to Cylo. Her unsteady steps made him frown. Her breathing was harsher, more ragged. The med-gun should have helped her. That it hadn’t meant her condition was worse than anticipated.

In the distance, an odd-shaped rock seemed out of place. With a kuta in front of it, that had to be the ‘hidden’ power hub. A small flash of white silenced a low hum that had been growing stronger with every step he’d taken.

“Cylo, acknowledge.” Fyca’s voice snapped Cylo’s attention to his wrist.

He hesitated. Taking the shuttle would leave them open to further mishaps. “Can we port? We are sitting ducks.” He smirked, enjoying the humor warming the female’s face.

“Ducks?” Fyca asked.

Cylo caught her hand. “Come.” He gestured to Hiossu to draw nearer, then gripped his shoulder. “Three to port to medical.”