Lost and Sound by Viola Grace Page B

citizen quarters were neat and well arranged, but this is where signs of habitation truly began. Vehicles and children’s toys were in the street and Kliask wanted to root around, but she dragged them deeper yet.
    “But, Yllin, if they follow us, they will find all of these treasures.”
    She snorted. “You haven’t seen the treasures yet. There are huge universities below, research centres, power plants and water plants. A level for hydroponic farming. This was a completely self-sufficient community.”
    “I can spend years here. Years!”
    “You can, as long as I can get you to the spot I have chosen.”
    Nearing finally took charge by bodily hauling the good doctor after Yllin. The crew followed.
    Down the stairs, she entered the tower she had seen, and they clambered inside, up the steps and into a wide room filled with weapons.
    Nearing blinked. “You found the armoury?”
    She chuckled. “Yes. From what I can guess, they are short-range stunners. Everyone take at least one. It is unlikely that they will follow us down here, but if they do, I want to be ready.”
    They sat around and waited. Nearing checked his com and nodded. “Backup is entering the atmosphere.”
    Yllin sighed with relief. Now, she just had to wait.
    They huddled in the dim light and shared the ration bars that Nearing had stowed on his very-useful belt. The water was shared as well, and they waited.
    When Nearing got a “Where the hell are you?” note, they got up and started the trek back to the surface with the artifacts in tow.
     
    The traps made short work of those who had tried the front door. Sector Guard base Udell had sent in the troops, and no one was left standing. All of the would-be collectors were on their knees, and the men who had manned the ship were also under arrest. Arrangements for looting charges were planned, and the guilty were being delivered to the nearest facility for processing.
    Dr. Kliask had his permits for exploration from both the Imperium and the Alliance ready to display upon request. No one knew who owned Webar, so he was taking no chances with his find.
    Yllin turned her com back on and checked in with Dispatcher Nearing. She skimmed over the finer parts of the day and promised to forward a complete report.
    She collected her duffel from the shuttle and trudged back to her quarters. It was the end of a very long day.
    Nearing knocked on her door just after sunset. “May I come in?”
    She had just been settling in to doze. She was still wearing her suit though she had removed the boots and weaponry. “Come in.”
    He walked in, and she finally noticed that he looked as rough as she felt.
    “I can’t take off until the morning. I have a diplomatic mission and need to get some sleep before I leave. The crew quarters are off limits, so I have come to beg a space for the night.”
    She sighed and scooted back. “Come on. They didn’t know how big I would be, so I got the double-wide version.”
    He dropped his weapons and the belt, crawled in next to her and curled against her.
    Yllin paused for a moment, but he began to breathe heavily and his arm went limp. He was out and she had a living wall of warmth at her back.
     
    The next morning, the vid cameras were flying everywhere, and after wedging his body into the solar shower, Nearing joined her for breakfast.
    It was going to take her a few days to feel secure again, so she was wearing her blades.
    She sat across from him and stared him down. “I still have one question.”
    “What?”
    “What is your actual name?”
    He grinned. “Don’t you want to guess?”
    She flicked her spoon at him, landing a wad of hot cereal on his shoulder. “I hate guessing.”
    “But have no objection to wasting food.”
    He scooped the cereal off his shoulder and popped it into his mouth. “There, now it is not wasted.”
    “And I still have no answer.”
    “Hexor. My name is Hexor Nearing.”
    She smiled and finished her breakfast. The team wanted to get