The Expanse - J.M. Dillard [67]
Just as he reached the landing, Kessick stepped from the shadows to join them.
Archer spoke, face, voice, and eyes like flint. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
The Xindi had the gall to sound indignant. “You promised to take me away from here!”
“That was before your little performance back there!” Trip’s eyes were narrowed, his expression taut with a disgust that verged on hatred.
Kessick held out both hands to Archer. “Please!” The exclamation hovered somewhere between a demand and a prayer. “You have to help me!”
“You had your chance,” Archer said coldly. In fact, he was still desperate to get the coordinates of the Xindi’s planet, but there was no need for Kessick to know that. The alien had already shown he could not be trusted; he would only share the truth if he were frightened into it.
Kessick’s tone revealed only pure desperation now. “The coordinates of my homeworld ... if you want them, you’ll have to take me with you!”
“You’re lying.” Archer began to turn away.
“No ...” Kessick’s face contorted; he was near weeping. “I promise you ...”
Archer hesitated. A part of him wanted to leave the Xindi behind; Kessick would only continue to lie, and if he found out the truth of Enterprise’s mission, there was a good chance he would attempt to contact his people and endanger the ship. Besides, his behavior had certainly not earned him freedom.
At the same time, the coordinates of the Xindi homeworld were vital to the mission. Archer made a decision: He would get the information from Kessick immediately upon return to the Enterprise, then unceremoniously dump the alien in the brig.
He directed a reluctant nod at the Xindi, who didn’t even have the good graces to thank him.
Chapter 15
Minutes later, the group was trudging their way, heads down, into the stinging wind and corrosive toxic fog on the planet surface. Archer had already pushed his body far past its limits, but the burden of the wounded MACO was one he was glad to bear, and the realization that they had made their escape gave him renewed strength. Just behind him, Major Hayes was helping another wounded soldier across the forbidding terrain. The Captain was more grateful than ever for the presence of the MACOs on his ship; as far as he was concerned, they’d already earned their keep.
For the first time since they’d entered the Expanse, Archer felt an overwhelming surge of optimism. Whatever it took, he’d get the information from Kessick, and learn all that he could about the Xindi as a people. The mission was actually going to succeed, and it would not be all that long before Enterprise returned home, triumphant.
The wind roared past the Captain’s ears, combining with the rumble of the mining machinery; even so, Archer could hear Reed, just ahead of him, screaming into his communicator.
“Reed to Mayweather!”
“Go ahead.”
“We’ve got them!” Reed shouted. “Lock onto my location and set down!”
“Understood.”
Reed snapped his communicator shut just as Trip made it to Shuttlepod One and opened the hatch. Archer and Hayes began to help the two wounded MACOs inside; the others squinted vainly up through the opaque clouds for Shuttlepod Two.
Abruptly, a blazing pulse hit the powdery cobalt sand by Archer’s foot; he crouched slightly, shifting the wounded MACO in his grasp toward the shuttlepod hatch, then shielding him with his body. Another energy pulse struck the smooth, shiny surface of the pod, reflecting dazzlingly; soon, a barrage fell from above like deadly rain.
Archer looked above, but it was impossible to see who was firing at them—like trying to look out from the inside of a tornado. Even so, he had no doubt as to who was responsible: the greedy little weasel, still eager to get his hands on a hundred fresh workers.
The MACOs immediately took up positions around ’Pod One, and readied their rifles.
Another series of pulses zinged around them; Archer heard a sudden shrill cry, and glanced up to see Kessick lying against the ground, limbs writhing, his body encased by crackling