Ancient Hunter

The room was brighter when I woke. The sun was peeping over the horizon. It had been a less than restful sleep. Wiping the remains of my sleep out of my eyes I glanced around hearing the sound of engines in the distance. That put me on alert sounding like the familiar rumble of shuttle engines. I stood and pulled on my jacket. The fabric would give me some protection from a knife. It had been a gift from Gudbjorga I had a coat like it when I was on the Valorous Star. It wouldn’t stop bullets but it slow them enough to make a lethal hit into a survivable one. I slid my Seven Double ‘M’ into a concealed holster in my jacket and walked out into the main room. I centred myself and sent out a thought to the Keepers.

“Moon Shadow!” I called out with my mind unsure if it would work.

“Mother,” Moon Shadow answered instantly.

“Where are you mother?” a second voice interrupted. “We’re all worried.”

I recognised the second voice as that of Running Deer.

“Demeros,” I replied. “The First One brought me here.”

“Is it punishment for you calling me into the First One’s presence?” Moon Shadow asked anxiously.

“No,” I hesitated thinking of Jennifer. “She brought me here to investigate.”

“We will still make it known that we are unhappy about you being there,” Running Deer stated.

“Please don’t she might strand me here.” I was sure she wouldn’t but I was unsure as to what she wanted me to investigate.

“You will call us?” Moon Shadow sounded upset.

The sound of the engines was louder now and were definitely a shuttle’s engines. It was flying very slowly as if looking for something.

“I’ve got to go,” I told the Keepers. “I will be in touch soon.”

“Stay safe mother,” Moon Shadow said.

“For all our sakes,” Running Deer added.

I cut communication and walked across to my makeshift barrier. It hadn’t been touched since I’d rebuilt it last night. I made an opening in the barrier and stepped out ready to dive in at the first sign of trouble. I scanned my immediate vicinity alert for danger. The locale seemed quiet only buzz of insects and the sound of an approaching shuttle marred it. The rumble of the shuttle grew louder it appeared over what I assumed was the western part of the town. It had Demeros Security emblazoned on it hull. It appeared that the T’Arni had called Security. All he had done was make things easier for me. It flew slowly over the town hovering for a moment when the crew had spotted me. I gave it a friendly wave as it powered up and circled. It landed to the north or what I assumed was the north I wasn’t sure of this planet’s orientation. I waited and waited it seemed they were taking their time to reach me. After a while two Security Officers emerged from behind a ruined building their black and silver uniforms a stark contrast to the greens and browns of the grass. They were both male and were a Human and a T’Arni. They walked slowly towards me their hands on their holsters. I noticed they were stepping carefully even going so far as to step around sections of grass. They came to a halt a few metres away. I examined the Human and his shorter companion. The T’Arni was a typical T’Arni with long blonde hair while the Human was darker with a curly black beard. Although they were in uniform neither man had an ID badge. That made me suspicious but I didn’t let it show on my face.

“We’ve been informed of a trespass,” the Human announced.

“You mean the T’Arni with the projectile weapon that was threatening me?” I replied.

“I mean you Terran!” The Human said clearly picking up on my accent.

“How could I be trespassing on Valkyrie land. I’m here because the Landottir own s this land. I take it they still do. I have a right to be here it is my Clan.”

I saw the Human’s eye flick to his companion.

“You’re no Enari,” the T’Arni snorted.

I carefully revealed my bracelet. “I’m with the Silver Guard.”

This time the T’Arni glanced at his companion. “You can confirm that?” he asked.

“Check with the Elder Council on Alfheimir, I’m Gwen Hunter.”

“You do realise we will have to confirm this?” the T’Arni said.

“Go ahead and while you are at it ask if they can send me a ship?” I can’t get my comms to work here. It was good to have back up I was gambling on the fact that the Elders would want me back.

The T’Arni gave the other Security Officer a look and walked off. He walked far enough away so he couldn’t be heard. It appeared he was having an animated conversation with someone on his comms. The Human hadn’t altered his stance he was watching me carefully his hand on his holster. What he didn’t know I had faster reflexes down to my training at the hands of the Valkyrie and to my altered DNA.

“What are doing here?” the Human questioned me.

“Investigating. That’s my job. I investigate.” It was the partial truth. That’s what Jennifer had told me to do. Only I hadn’t had the chance and she hadn’t told me what I was supposed to be looking for. “I’m also a part time consultant for the Alliance.” I added as an after thought.

“Alliance?” The Human asked suspiciously.

“The TCA I was hired by Captain Xenai of the Valorous Star. To do work on Saros.”

“What were you doing on Saros?”

“Hunting a fugitive called Vanessa Tomney. She was on Saros.” And is still there I nearly added bitterly. Solstrid would never rest there would be no justice for her death.

“We’ll check?”

I didn’t like his implications I had dealings with corrupt cops on Earth and on Davenport. I don’t know what I was expecting but I was expecting some integrity.

“Like I told the other officer go ahead. You’ll need to contact Commander Ljufu Weredale she’s in charge of Planetary Security on Saros. She knows’ who I am.” She also knew who had brought me here. I did worry about her, stress wouldn’t be good for the baby. Still she had Kelli with her. I was doing a lot of name-dropping and was prepared to go further if I needed to.

The T’Arni returned a worried expression on his face I was certain he had news, news he didn’t like. “We’re out of here!” he said to his companion.

“What?” the Human gaped.

The T’Arni made a gesture. “Let’s go we’ve wasted enough time here.” He turned to me “Sorry for inconvenience ma’am.”

At least he was more respectful this time.

“What the Ancients is this all about?” the Human demanded.

“Best not ask,” the T’Arni replied. He turned back to me. “A ship is on its way to you.”

I was surprised that he had passed my request on to the Elders and that they had done it.

“But?” the Human stuttered.

“I told you to drop it,” the T’Arni hissed.

“Why?” the Human moaned.

“You don’t mess with the Enari unless you want to lose something precious?” The T’Arni looked suggestively at the Human’s crotch.

The Human realised what the T’Arni was hinting at. He instinctively touched between his legs. “Shit I thought that was just a rumour!”

“It isn’t I was there,” I told them.

Two sets of eyes swivelled around to stare at me.

“Where?” the Human demanded.

“Davenport. The Human…” I deliberately used the word ‘Human’ here to emphasise my point. “Was a corrupt Security Officer plus you don’t try to spit at a Valkyrie and get away with it. He was stupid enough to do both and he suffered for it.”

“Did you do that?” the Human asked in a shaky voice.

“Not me. I wasn’t able to stop it happening.” I grimaced. “Corrupt Officers are my bane. He was a lesson to others to walk right and follow the law and not politics.”

“You’re lying,” the Human accused me.

The T’Arni put a hand on his arm. “Don’t worry about it let’s get out of here. If the Enari find you’ve been interfering in their business I can’t help you?”

The Human gave me one last look his expression clouded. “Ok I’ll go.”

They turned and made their way in the direction the shuttle was in. I watched them leave before I drew a deep breath of relief. That could have gone either way. I saw the shuttle launch and hover for a moment before heading east or what I assumed was east. With the shuttle gone my stomach took it as the time to start rumbling. I headed back in side to have a ration pack washing it down with water.

“Interesting exchange wasn’t that?” A voice behind me said.

I twirled around to confront the speaker. Jennifer stood there watching me carefully.

“What?” I asked her feeling unsettled that she could just appear like that.

“Just stopped to tell that you’re doing fine. Commander Weredale would be proud of you. Carry on.” With that Jennifer promptly vanished.

I stared at the spot she had occupied my unsettled feeling turning to frustration. She hadn’t stopped long enough for me to ask what I was supposed to be doing.