The Vanished Specialist (The Lost Planet 2)

It takes several tries, but I manage to get the door on my side open, though it’s damaged and will only open halfway. I squeeze out in my suit and do a quick study of our surroundings.

At first, I think it’s the dark cast from the clouds that’s making everything seem so dark. Before, they’d been so thick and so opaque they’d blotted out any light from the sun other than the eerie red glow. Then I realize it isn’t clouds blocking out all the light, it’s rock. Thick, towering rock.

Calix had driven us straight into a cave.

I want to laugh. In fact, it bubbles up in my chest, but I clear my throat and force myself to focus. Just because we’re in this cave, doesn’t mean we’re safe yet. We need shelter, food. Calix needs that cut doctored before it gets any worse.

I give myself short, easy-to-follow instructions. Get out the vacuroom, Emery. Find a suitable location to set it up, Emery. Then I take fifteen long, agonizing minutes to figure out how to get the damn thing to open and waves of relief course over me when all it takes is the simple push of a button. Just like Jareth explained. It springs open and unfolds itself. Moments later, the structure is complete.

You have to get him inside where it’s safe, Emery.

I go back to the dust-mobile and rally my strength and focus on getting Calix to the shelter. He’s got a good hundred pounds on me, and all the exertion and excitement already has me feeling weak and light-headed.

Another bolt of that charged, murderous red lightning flashes, spurring me into action. Rushing back to the vacuuroom, I grab what I need before going back to Calix. Using one of the blankets from our bedding, I arrange it at the foot of the driver’s side and carefully open his door without letting him fall out. His dead weight crashes into me, knocking out what little breath I have, but I don’t have time to focus on me. He is my priority.

I had nothing before I met Calix and meeting him has given me everything. Losing him would be worse than being alone. Having that slice of happiness and having it be ripped away is unthinkable. I’ve finally met someone I connect with.

I could get used to it being just the two of us.

No matter what planet we’re on.

I never thought it’d be with an alien, but when I look at him, I don’t see the forked tongue and pale skin. I see the man who looks at me like I’m the key to his happiness.

And I’ll be damned if I lose that now.

It takes longer than I like and Calix groans in pained protest as I maneuver his body out of the dust-mobile and onto the thick blanket. His head wound is bleeding profusely, but he’s still breathing based on the rhythmic and reassuring sound echoing in our comms.

“Almost done, baby. We just have to get you inside and we’ll be okay,” I tell him.

White spots dance along my vision, but I grit my teeth and get back to my feet. Gripping the blanket tight in both hands, I begin to heave it backward toward the vacuuroom. I have to pause several times on the edge of losing consciousness, but I fight to keep myself upright and drag him in fits and starts into the shelter and away from the storm. The decontamination process is an easy press of a button that sprays off the harmful toxins on our suits before giving us a healthy burst of air to dry us. It takes some wrangling, but I manage to remove both of our zu-gear, masks, and boots. Now that I can’t hear his breathing in the mask, I am worried. I feel a fluttery pulse under my fingers when I press my hand to his throat. He’s still alive.

“We made it. We’re safe.”

I know he can’t hear me, but I keep talking as I work him the rest of the way in the vacuuroom and lock up the doors behind us. I’m not sure how bad it’s going to get or if we’re even safe, but if the force of my will could sway the elements, we will be.

Food now, Emery.

I leave him propped against a wall inside our shelter just inside the decontamination area before readying the space for us. I take two of the meals he’d shown me before and manage, I hope, to properly heat them up. Once it and our beds are ready, I go back to Calix.

Bracing myself along the wall of the room, I shuffle to a bank of shelving where I find more clothes, supplies, and yes bandages. Everything is marked in their language, but I take a tube of cream and hope it’s an antibacterial salve.