The Soul Eaters (The Thin Hex Line Book 1) by Gwyndolyn Russell (100 best novels of all time .txt) 📗

they’re a bunch of stupid kids.” I cut in. “There’s no better way to learn.”

“To learn what?”

“How not to fuck up.”

Irzazee oohed again.

“Lieutenant Marshall, report to launch pad 4. Bring Mjolnir.”

I ended the running. Waved. As I walked by wetsuit, a reflection caught my eye. Irzazee had added a new bauble to his shell. A snow globe of an ardrizi in a blizzard. I mentioned how good it suited him, and he shimmied in place. No one ever noticed when he added a new one. His species loved wearing jewels.

Mjolnir joined me, followed by Sparrow who insisted on coming with us.

When we got down to the cargo bay, a shuttle was sitting on the launch pad, running and ready to go. We boarded from the side and took our seats. Two guys from the logistics team were giving one last check to the three crates strapped into the back.

"Planning to start a fight?" Reaper must have seen the look on my face. I had never taken all my gear off.

"No, sir."

"Lieutenant Willis shot the ship down."

"I guessed."

Reaper grinned. "You'll get your chance. We always run into trouble."

"If you aren't expecting trouble, which you never do, why do you need us?"

"Someone has to get these crates out of the shuttle."

"What?" Mjolnir's ears stood up. "This is slave labor!"

"There's no one I trust more!"

I almost laughed.

"Are there no machines to do it?" Mjolnir looked at everyone.

"Yeah," Reaper waved, "but those aren't as fun."

The shuttle rocked as it broke through the atmosphere. Sparrow had a sick look about her.

"You know," I said to her from across the way, "this is easy mode. A lot smoother than the drop pods during the war!"

"I doubt that."

"Think about being in a paper box, strapped in place by the shoulders and free falling into a war zone. It falls apart from the heat."

I watched the tension leave her body.

"Really?"

"Most of the time they blew up." I shrugged. "If not, you were shot getting out."

"Heard they got better since then." Reaper chimed in from the pilot's seat. "More heat resistance."

"I can't believe they sent y'all in like that."

The drop pods were probably worse than how I remembered. We had no training for them. We got strapped in and slung out of a ship. It was luck we hit the ground in one piece. They were designed to fall apart on impact, let all the soldiers run out the moment they hit. The problem was, most of them exploded on impact.

When we landed, a small crowd of people gathered. From the landing platform, we got a good view of the colony. Their growth was on a sudden standstill, a dozen buildings unfinished, or scrapped for materials. Most of the people were dirty, hungry, thirsty. President of the colony, Aulus Bassus, hurried through the crowd to greet Captain Reaper.

“Thank God someone finally came! You saved us, Captain Phillips. You saved all of us.” He held Reaper’s hand with both of his own.

Reaper smiled, a hand on the other’s shoulder. “We’re only doing what we must. I wish I could have brought you more supplies, but this should help you get back on your feet, sir.”

Mjolnir was at the back of the shuttle, already pulling down the crates nearly as big as he was.

“Whatever you have been willing to spare is appreciated. There is no amount too small.” Aulus waved his hand. “Come, please, let me show you our little town.”

Reaper looked at me as if he wanted me to come.

“Rasheen was meant to be a new start for all of us. This planet has given us all it has. Plants and minerals. We’re able to grow most earth based foods.” Aulus sighed then. “Unfortunately, since those pirates showed up, we’ve only been hurting. We’ve rationed everything. All we’ve grown for a year is wheat. Which is luckily versatile.”

“A year? That’s a long time to be terrorized.” Reaper said.

“Yes, but you know what they say, Captain.” He smiled. “Perseverance is the only path to salvation. We are all sinners here with a dream to better ourselves. We’ve paid the price and God has sent you to us. I would have thought those alpha hunters had taken care of the pirates, but it was you instead. It’s a glorious day! We will cele-”

“Did you say alpha hunters?” Reaper cut him off.

Oh, no, I thought. Here we go again. I wasn’t sure which was worse. The religious fanaticism, or Reaper’s never ending chase after his ex. He was going to die an empty, lonely man if he kept this up.

“Yes!” Aulus was confused that Reaper hung on that thought. “Quite bizarre. There were three of them. One of them was a woman, I’m pretty sure she was in charge. I’m not sure how they got around the pirates.”

“What were they here for?”

“They wanted to trade. Everything they had for fertilizer, lithium, ammonia, chlorine. We exchanged, and they disappeared. It was as if they were never here to begin with.”

Reaper looked at me, scratching his cheek.

“Oh! Another thing, about a day, or so, after they left, we picked up an SOS signal out towards Deruta.”

“Thank you, President Aulus. May God watch over you and all your people.” He was quick to walk away.

I was left standing alone in the middle of the street with the president. Reaper had already made up his mind and there was no stopping him. I knew where it would lead. It would not be pretty. I said goodbye to Aulus and hurried to catch up. The shuttle’s engine was already whirring up.

Mjolnir held onto the side of the shuttle, waving his arm. I made it to the landing platform. The shuttle raised.

“Fuckin’ hell, Reaper!” I shouted. Not like he could hear me. I had to jump for it. Fingers clasped to the edge of the shuttle. We were already up in the air, and that was a fall I did not want to make. Mjolnir reached down to help me up inside. The door shut and sealed.

Up to my