A lone star on the Lady Liberty: Episode 5
Where Echo is chased by a skeleton, loses a lizard and finds a friend
This is part 5 of my card challenge story — read part 1 if you’re just joining us.
Echo jumped up to a crouch and spun around to find Laramy with a gun pointed at her.
“Laramy!” Echo raised her hands above her head. “What are you doing?”
“Move.” They shifted the barrel a centimetre or two so it aimed over Echo’s shoulder, reminding her of her pursuer.
She shifted to give Laramy a clear shot, then turned to the doorway again. She sighed in relief to see the lizard run through the opening. It was surprisingly quick, like it knew danger pursued them. Behind the animal, one of the Horde clutched their shoulder. The hand that clutched her heart eased — apparently, they bled red like everyone else. The pirate continued stumbling towards them, and more of their ilk filed into the corridor.
Echo leapt forward. She slammed her palm on the panel to close the door and swiped the card to set its security. She didn’t expect it would stop the Horde for long but hopefully long enough.
Then she turned back to Laramy, who still pointed the blaster at the door. She took a shaky step towards her friend and finally absorbed the rest of the scene around them. Six people dressed all in black were arrayed on the far side of the hub, behind Laramy. Otherwise, the area was empty, except for a member of ship security, who lay sprawled on the floor, empty eyes staring at nothing. And only one of the hubs four life pods remained.
“Laramy, behind you.” Echo hissed. “Turn around.”
Laramy shifted. The gun swivelled to point at her.
Echo froze.
“What are you doing?” She dropped her voice, even there was no one else in the small space. She waved her hand down low. “Come here.”
Laramy shook their head. “No, I won’t be doing that. I’m getting out of here.”
Echo opened her mouth to warn her, then snapped it shut when she realized the thieves were waiting for Laramy — the Blackbirds were seven again. “Really? Our friendship is so worthless?”
“Not worthless, no.” Laramy shrugged. “But friendship doesn’t pay the bills. And I won’t survive the Horde. I need to get off this ship.” Their lips pressed tight together. “But not until I get the Star,” they said, resolve hardening their voice. “I didn’t come all this way to have it taken by a bunch of fanatic pirates.”
Their words were punctuated by a percussive sound from behind the closed door. Echo reflexively crouched, her hands coming over her head. Laramy squatted beside the lizard, which hissed in return.
“I can take the Star from your corpse, beast.” Laramy pointed the blaster at the creature.
Echo’s jaw clenched. The lizard quieted, but its mouth stayed open.
A few seconds later, she found the weapon trained on her again.
“Where is it?” Laramy’s voice was low and quiet, their lips grey, as they stood.
Echo’s forehead scrunched. “What do you mean?”
“The Star, Echo.” Laramy’s arm dropped as they waved the gun around. “What else? It’s not on the lizard.”
“What?” She stepped towards the creature, stopping when Laramy lifted the blaster again. She glanced at the animal, and sure enough, the Star was gone. “Bleeding Gar.” She looked at her friend again. “I don’t have it.”
Laramy gestured with the gun at a Blackbird, who looked less than impressed. “Search her.”
“Be careful, Laramy Singe.” The thief’s voice was gruff and flat, but they did as asked.
Echo growled and shifted herself into a lowered stance, ready to pounce.
The Blackbird met her eyes. “You too, Echo Eris.”
Echo faltered.
“Yes, I know who you are and how few people will miss you if end up out an airlock.”
She raised her hands above her head as she eyed the Blackbird. The thief patted her down, quickly and professionally. When done, they stepped back to peer at her, eyebrows pulled together.
“She doesn’t have it.”
“Zeus’ Bollocks.” Laramy stomped. “Ellis Gar.”
Echo winced as a whine rose behind her — someone was trying to force the door open. “Yeah, like I said. Now maybe we can all get out of here.”
The Blackbirds shifted, and Laramy lowered the gun as they backed towards the opening of the remaining life pod.
“Yes.” The thief who’d searched her followed the others, flicking their hand as they moved towards the pod door. “Time to make an exit.”
Echo exhaled in relief. A second later, she found herself flat on the floor, blinking stars from her eyes. Her ears rang, and smoke filled the nexus.
She crawled forward under the smoke. The Blackbirds were gone. Laramy was gone. Most importantly, the life pod was gone.
Echo collapsed on the floor.
Join us for the nail-biting finale next week. To read more in this universe, pick up books in The Lyra Cycle on armchairalien.com or your favourite online bookstore.