Star Rider and Bonds of Love: A Sci-Fi Space Opera with a Touch of Fantasy Heidi Skarie (fox in socks read aloud .TXT) 📖

“None of us are eager to leaveour home planet. I might stay and join the Resistance.”

Toemeka glanced at Breezy.“That’s a dangerous life, especially with Commander Rochambeautrying to destroy the Resistance.” She got a lump in her throat asshe thought of Cadmus and his relentless pursuit of them.

“I know, but I’ll be withJake.”

Toemeka nodded in understanding.Breezy had liked him since she was a child and he’d lived nextdoor.

Breezy stopped walking. “Do youmind that we’re together?”

“No, I’m happy for you, butyou know he’s not good at commitment.”

“We’re in the middle of awar. His commitment is to the Resistance, as it should be.”

Several hours later, Jake yelled,“Take cover! Incoming spacecraft!”

Toemeka and Breezy ran under sometall trees as the roar of engines blasted overhead. Toemeka’s heartsped up as she glanced around. Wherewas Michio?

“It’s a Talon aircraft,”Breezy said. “They’re hunting for us.”

Once the aircraft passed by,Breezy walked over to the animal trail they were following.

“Stay hidden; they might makeanother pass!” Jake shouted. Breezy scrambled back to where Toemekacrouched, right as another aircraft passed overhead.

Then all was quiet. They waitedin strained silence until Jake finally said it was safe to continuethe journey.

Michio hurried over to Toemekaand she moved into his arms, feeling shaken. “I’m sorry forleaving you for so long,” he said. “I was scouting. Are you allright?”

“Just a little jumpy.”

He kissed her lightly on themouth. “We’re going to make it home.” They began walking andBreezy left to find Jake.

The sun was directly overheadwhen they stopped to eat. Everyone took packets out of the backpacksand ate military rations. Najetta sat on a large flat boulder next toRichwood. “I’m not used to all this hiking,” she said. “Willwe have to walk all day?”

“We’re being followed byTalon soldiers,” Richwood said. “We’ve got no choice but tokeep moving.”

Toemeka frowned, concerned forthe Fenians. They were thin from being in a concentration camp. Nowthey were forced on a long journey through the wilderness. Theyweren’t warriors, used to hardship as Resistance members were.

At dusk, Jake led them to a cavehidden in the side of a mountain. Toemeka stumbled inside and sat onthe floor, ready to keel over. She ate another unappetizing rationpacket, too tired to even talk, then spread out her sleeping bag andcrawled inside. She was asleep in moments.

They traveled swiftly over thenext few days, eating and sleeping little and hiking long hours.Talon airships continued to search overhead while CommanderRochambeau and his men continued to follow them on foot.

One day a scout named White Owlshot a small boar and they set up camp early. A couple of the mensliced the meat into chunks and Toemeka, Onolyn and Breezy cookedthem on sticks over a campfire. After she’d cooked several thickpieces, Onolyn rose. “I’m going to bring some meat to Zac andErling. They’re on guard duty.”

“They’ll appreciate it,”Toemeka said. Her stomach rumbled as she inhaled the aroma of roastedmeat. Michio came over to the campfire with a load of sticks andbranches he gathered. Toemeka handed him a piece of meat on a stick.“Have a taste. It’s much better than military rations.”

“It smells delicious.” He satbeside her on a log, facing the fire, and took a bite.

Jake sat on the other side ofher. Toemeka handed him another stick with roasted meat on it. “Here,join the feast.”

“Thanks, real food for achange.”

Breezy walked up behind them andput her hands on Jake’s shoulders. “How come you’re allowing usto stop early and have a fire?”

He turned his head to look up ather. “We’ve lost Rochambeau and his men for the moment.”

“Breezy, do you know whereNajetta and Sharma are?” Toemeka asked.

“Mother’s not feeling well;she’s lying down. Sharma is keeping her company. The travel hasbeen hard on her. Her health was already broken down from theconcentration camp.”

“I should check on her,”Toemeka said, starting to get up.

Michio put a restraining hand onher arm. “Eat first. Jake, have Commander Rochambeau and his menever followed you this far into the wilderness before?”

“No, this is unusual. I don’tknow why Rochambeau’s been so persistent.”

“Samrat Condor ordered him toput down the Resistance,” Toemeka said. She put a new piece of meaton a stick and held it over the fire to cook. Others drew up logs andsat around the fire, roasting and eating the boar. Toemeka bit into apiece of warm meat and its succulent taste filled her mouth.

“Samrat Condor sent Rochambeauhere to put down the Resistance months ago, but we’ve always beenable to lose him before,” Jake said. “I don’t know how he’stracking us. Normally, he sends his men after us. He’s never comeinto the wilderness before. He prefers the comfort and safety of hismilitary compound.”

Toemeka finished chewing, thensaid, “Samrat Condor came in person this time.”

Jake sneered. “Yeah, Rochambeauis Samrat Condor’s puppet.”

Michio put another piece of meatto roast over the fire. “How many men does he have with him?”

“Our scout estimate aboutforty-five men and we have about half as many.”

“How are we going to get offthis planet?” Toemeka asked.

“We’re heading to the home ofsome people who support the Resistance. They live on a farm near theedge of the country of Kossel.” Jake used the GPS on hiscommunicator to show them where they were headed.

“Their farm is easy to spotbecause there’s a natural rock formation in the shape of a largearch just to the west of it. They’ll get us a spacecraft.” Hepointed to the mountains. “The fastest, most direct route isstraight into the Bvundo Mountains, but it’s too difficult forNajetta to climb, so we’re taking a longer route around it. I justhope we lost Commander Rochambeau for good.”

“I doubt it,” Toemeka said.“I think he’s tracking us through me.”

Jake cocked an eyebrow. “Whatdo you mean?”

She realized all the soldierssitting around the fire were awaiting her reply. “I feel Rochambeautrying to enter my mind plus I’ve had nightmares and constantheadaches. Psychic attacks can cause those reactions. I’ve tried toblock him, but I don’t know if I’ve been completely successful.”

Michio frowned with concern. “Whydidn’t you tell me he was attacking you?”

Before she could answer, Jakeinterjected, “You’ve always had nightmares. That doesn’t meananything. And it’s a big jump from having a headache to imaginingRochambeau’s psychically attacking you. Besides,