I’m not happy about sitting around a fire when we should be getting the hell out of here, but at least Willow is sitting with us and not running away. I guess when I really think about it, Kayne has a way of making others feel comfortable, and that’s our goal if we want to successfully get Willow out of here.

I’m surprised at how pleasing I find her to be now that I can actually see her face in the light of the fire. The only other human that I have ever seen is Marilyn, Koba’s mate. She was the first human to ever make her way this far out into our galaxy. It is because of her that we are on this quest to find the other human women and save them from a life of servitude. And it is also because of the unexpected discovery we made when we first found Marilyn. There was a small capsule that had been implanted in her ankle by the Atronox. After much analysis, our scientists were able to identify the material contained inside. It is a unique and very powerful substance that can create an incredibly destructive weapon when paired with the right ingredients. We fear that Marilyn was not the only human implanted with such a capsule. We need to find the other women to know whether or not they were all given the implant.

Willow shifts where she’s sitting, quickly glances my way and then looks into the fire again. I realize that I’ve been staring at her while processing all of these thoughts. She reaches up and touches the side of her face, smoothing her hair forward, successfully covering the scars that I noticed when we reached the fire.

“Kayne, we should leave. Yhm could wake at any time and discover his prize slave is missing.”

“Ahh, after a day like he had, he probably won’t wake from his drunken stupor until well into the afternoon.” Kayne dismisses me with a wave of his hand, again. I’d like to remind him who the Admiral put in charge of this mission now that Koba is taking leave to visit Gaia with Marilyn. But I don’t want to pull rank and come off looking like a pompous ass in front of our guests.

“Fair enough,” I say, swallowing my desire to launch myself over the fire and pummel Kayne. “Willow, could you tell us if there was a capsule implanted in your leg before you were sold to Yhm?”

Her hand immediately goes to the side of her ankle and begins rubbing the area. “Yes, there was. How did you know?” she asks.

“It is our theory that all of the human women were implanted with these capsules. Did you happen to notice if the other women you were with also had them implanted?”

“Yes, we all did,” she says without hesitation. “But as soon as we landed here and were handed over to the master, the capsules were removed. I don’t know what he did with them after that.”

It isn’t likely that she would have been around the master when he did his business dealings but it’s the only lead we have. “Did you notice if anyone strange or different … someone you had never seen around before, was there anyone like that doing business with Yhm?”

“I don’t know,” she says, shaking her head.

And then out of nowhere, Bantoo speaks. She has been so quiet this entire time I almost forgot she was here. “I remember someone,” she says. “He arrived the same day as the human slaves. The master called him Jot’ohz.”

That name doesn’t sound familiar to me and when I look over at Kayne, it’s obvious that he’s drawing a blank as well.

“Did you get a look at him?” Kayne asks. “Could you describe what he looked like?”

She nods her head and glances at Willow. “I saw them disembark from their ship, looking as if they were dressed for battle. They had huge horns that curled up out of the sides of their heads with thick black hair tied back so it hung down their backs. When I dared to glance their way, one of them was staring at me. His eyes were a yellowish color and I got the impression that he would like to have me for his dinner.”

“I’m glad I missed that,” Willow says.

Bantoo just nods in agreement with Willow and looks back at Kayne and I. “After that they went inside and I didn’t see them again.”

“Hmmm,” Kayne says. “It sounds like the Dydrak from Yoria.”

“You’re right, it does,” I say. “But we’ve never had any problems with them in the past. They’ve always been very compliant.”

“That’s true, but things can change. Maybe they’re stockpiling weapons and plotting to take over the galaxy while we speak,” Kayne says.

I don’t say anything; just give him my look that lets him know I’m not amused. And I wish he could refrain from his games while we’re in the company of these two females. Who knows what they’re going to think of us.

“So, you have the information you came for. I’d like to get going and get as far away from this place as possible before daybreak,” Willow says. “You said you’d help me. Can you take me to the spaceport?” She looks directly at me, expectation hopeful in her eyes.

“Yes, we can get you there,” Kayne says. “We’re heading that way anyway. We need to meet up with the rest of our shipmates at the port.”

Willow stands up and brushes off her skirt. I wish there was something I could do about her bare feet, but there’s nothing until we get back to the ship. In an attempt to erase all signs that we were here, I kick dirt onto the fire in order to smother it. The smoke could easily give us away, but if luck is on our side, no one is looking for us … yet.

With the fire out the cold envelops us. Bantoo and Willow huddle together, wrapping their arms around themselves for warmth. With Kayne and I leading the way, we begin our trek through the forest, heading in the direction of the spaceport. I pay careful attention to the path that I take, purposefully choosing trails that are free of branches and debris. Bear trots along behind us, staying close to Willow.

We came to this place in search of a human and information on the weapons material. We’re leaving with both and saving an extra slave in the process. If the rest of the mission runs smoothly, we’ll rendezvous with more ships from the Force and pay the Dydrak a visit.

“What’s your plan, brother?” Kayne asks from beside me. “You’re going to have to tell her about her plans to get home.”

“Shhhh,” I say, scolding him. I glance behind us to see if Willow or Bantoo are listening but they seem to be having a quiet conversation of their own. “I’ll find a way.”

“Well you better. And you might want to think of a way to break it to her gently. You don’t always have the best bedside manner.”

“What are you talking about? My bedside manner is just fine.”

“Oh, I don’t think so. I guess you need me to remind you about training camp?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, my voice rising above a whisper.

“The final day … the poor newbie, Vax. You were given the task of breaking it to him that he didn’t pass the final round of competition.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“He stands there before you with hope and excitement plastered all over his face and all you can say is, ‘Better luck next time.’”

“Stop,” I say, literally stopping in my tracks.

“What? It’s the truth. The poor oaf still hates your guts to this day.”

“Shhhh, I mean.” This time Kayne stops and looks around us. Willow and Bantoo have huddled together again, holding hands.

“Everything is fine,” Kayne says.

“No … Bear,” I say, pointing. The hair on her back is standing up, a low growl coming from her throat. She senses something in the woods, something that we haven’t caught the scent of yet. “Time to pick up the pace.”