SNAFU: Hunters

“Huh.” Vida slid her hands on the tech etchings, matching her techtatts to the corresponding designs. In response, the rifle powered down and fell silent. “Hard to miss that close.” She turned from the dead ’ponera and back to the limp form of the child. “Medic?”

“Here.” Rakehall appeared and knelt near the unmoving kid. He dropped a satchel on the ground beside him and turned the child over, revealing the slack features of an unconscious boy no more than nine years old. “Heart’s beating, and he’s still breathing,” he said softly as he checked the kid out.

“All clear.” The voice on the comm was Bronze, calling out from the rear.

“We’d better check the rift.”

Vida nodded, leaving the kid to Rakehall’s capable hands. She and Tighe continued to the site of the rift, where the ’ponera had been headed with its prize.

“You got it?” Tighe asked.

Vida knew what lay behind the question; closing a rift was big juju, and they’d been on the move for two days with no rest and little food.

“Absoliman,” she said, answering in her mother’s language. Absolutely. She let her rifle hang on a strap over her shoulder and faced the thin spot in the fabric of reality. They had tech to find it, define it; but she could feel it, with the senses she’d inherited from both mother and father. Still and silent, she measured her breath and slowed her heart. When she was ready, she played origami with her fingers, meshing and rearranging her digits to line up the corresponding lines and geometric designs of the techtatts that covered her browned skin from fingernails to shoulders. When the proper channels were matched, the tech implanted within the designs glowed unearthly blue.

Before her the rift became visible, a ragged rip in the world appearing like a tear in thin silk. Vida moved, her hands dancing in slow-motion gestures, her tattoos sliding against then matching up with each other in odd ways that reminded her of a puzzle box she’d once seen. With no sound or fanfare, the rift shrank and sealed itself. When the last unearthly blue faded away, the sky had begun to lighten.

Vida turned back to Tighe. “Fini,” she said, and tiredly rubbed her palms against her dirty trousers. Finished.

“Let’s get back, and get some sleep. We’ve all earned it.” Tighe touched her shoulder lightly, and Vida saw him flinch, expecting but not feeling a shock of electricity.

“The boy?”

“Rakehall’s got him.”

She nodded, so exhausted she could have dropped right there and fallen asleep. Instead, she began the two-mile hike back to where they’d parked the trucks. She could rest when she reached them.

* * *

Warm sunlight like golden syrup poured through the open door, pooling on the plain wooden floor. Soft humming and the sound of waves filled the otherwise silent room. The rich tone of the voice made Vida smile, and her mother said, “Reveye pitit anvi dòmi.” Wake up sleepy child. “Your papa will be home soon.”

Vida opened her eyes, not to the small familiar house near the sea, but to the warehouse where the Bani were currently headquartered. The cot she lay on was hard and uncomfortable, but she knew she’d slept for several hours. She sat up, rubbing her face tiredly. Not far from her, Tighe and Bronze were consulting maps on a large display. The area around their current location was clear, but there were blinking lights in at least three other places Vida could see from where she sat.

“You’re awake.” Aio appeared with a cup of coffee, which she held out. Her bright red shirt and the multicolored flowered band in her long hair was a contrast to all the drab greys and greens everyone else in sight was wearing. “I was starting to worry.”

“How long?” Vida asked, taking a cautious sip of coffee. It had obviously just been poured, and was scalding hot.

“Twenty-six hours, give or take.” Aio sat on the cot beside her, and slid her fingertips along the intricate tattoos on Vida’s arm. “You’re pushing too hard.”

“Had to,” Vida replied, enjoying the gentle touch. “Did we save the kid?”

“Yes.” Aio moved her hand from Vida’s arm to her cheek, and gazed at her seriously. “You’re pushing too hard. I thought you’d sleep for a week.”

“We do what we do.” Vida’s mantra and her only explanation to those who questioned her actions or her motives. We do what we have to do, what we need to do, what we want to do… Any and all of the above.

“We’re heading out tonight,” Aio said, pulling away. “Tighe said we’re getting reinforcements.”

Vida nodded. After losing Chen on the last job, and Jensen and Sant a month before that, they were seriously short-handed. “When?”

“Any time now.”

“I need a shower.” Vida handed the coffee back to Aio and stood, ignoring stiff muscles and assorted bruises. She leaned over and pressed a light kiss to Aio’s temple then headed for the bathroom.

* * *