Joanna was already up and alert. "I am going to warm Ter up," she said, stepping into the shaft of moonlight. Without waiting for a response, she ran to her 'Mech.
"Wait," Nomad called after her, but she did not look back. "I cannot move," he added weakly. Somehow he had turned in his sleep and become pinned between the tree roots.
Joanna was in the cockpit now. Ter was in shadow, but he could make out the Hellbringer'shulking shape, a huge form darker than the surrounding night. Nomad saw some slight movement in Ter's arms, heard the quiet sounds of equipment being activated, sensed the reverberations from the massive fusion engine at the 'Mech's core. It was possible to get a BattleMech like this one moving rather quickly, but could Joanna do it in time?
As if to trouble him further, he felt the tremor of other 'Mech footsteps approaching. They seemed to be coming directly toward him. A moment later, he realized they were.
Whatever side these 'Mech pilots were on, and whatever their decision about what to do with an injured Jade Falcon tech, Nomad knew he was in deep trouble. He was so wedged between the tree roots that it did not matter what side the pilots were on. They would not see him anyway.
He twisted his neck to get a look in the direction of the reverberating sounds. At the same time, he heard the unmistakable crunch of Joanna's 'Mech crushing some undergrowth as it took a step. He was certain that she was turning Ter to face the oncoming intruders.
The lumbering sounds grew louder and finally a Summoneremerged from the surrounding forest, bending a pair of trees almost to the ground as it did. Its pilot did not seem to see Nomad or Joanna in her 'Mech. The 'Mech merely continued forward, looking somewhat like a big machine out for a stroll. It seemed about to pass by Nomad's tree, but stopped a few meters away instead, appearing to scan the terrain. There was a sudden change in the 'Mech's movement; the pilot had probably discovered Ter's presence.
Surging forward, the Summonerdrew nearer to Nomad's tree. With a fascination that was almost scientific, Nomad watched the 'Mech's feet, measured their apparent tread. It was clear that in a few seconds one of those giant feet would be on a direct path toward him, its step heading right down onto the pair of roots between which he was wedged. The roots would be crushed, along with any foolish being unfortunate enough to be trapped there.
Before Nomad could calculate any further, the 'Mech's enormous foot was directly over his head and bearing straight down.
10
Seeing Nomad about to be crushed underneath the gigantic foot of the Summonerthat had abruptly emerged from the mist, Joanna knew she did not have time to properly identify the intruder. Clan Wolf or Clan Jade Falcon, it did not matter when the life of someone under her command was in danger. Even though she despised Nomad whenever she bothered to think about him—and under some circumstances could have crushed him herself without compunction—to stand by and watch him die would have been wasteful. Reacting instinctively, she fired her laser cannon at the descending foot. Her aim was true and the laser pulses seared leg armor at ankle level, enough to throw the 'Mech off balance and divert the direction of the foot. The giant metal foot bounced off the trunk of the tree, then landed next to one of the roots enclosing Nomad, missing him by centimeters. This particular shot had always been a specialty of Joanna's, and it forced enemy pilots to divert their attention to regaining their 'Mech's balance. In that crucial moment, Joanna could often land a killing blow in a real battle.
Some smoke arose from the hits. Joanna had connected with something. When the 'Mech came to a dead stop, its thick, towering legs were directly over Nomad, who was staring up at them in terror.
"Good shot, warrior," came a voice over the commline from the new 'Mech. "Do you ordinarily make a practice of going for the lower limbs of BattleMechs from your own side? What right have you to-"
"I recognize your voice, warrior. It is Aidan, is it not?"
"No, it is not. The name is Star Commander Jorge, of the Glory Station Garrison Cluster."
If she had not been wearing studded gloves, Joanna might have clapped her head against her forehead for making such a stupid mistake. Of course she could not call him Aidan. That was no longer his identity.
"Sorry, warrior. You sound like someone I knew once. Foolish. Aidan is long dead."
"You have not answered my question. I do not appreciate being shot at when I am on a friendly mission."
"You were about to make a meat patty out of my chief tech, Star Commander Jorge. I had no other way of preventing that."
Instead of replying, Aidan checked out the situation. When he saw the man crouching between the two roots, he muttered inadvertently, "Nomad."
The mutter was picked up on the commline circuit. It surprised Joanna. She had forgotten that Aidan and Nomad had worked together during Aidan's short period as an astech.
"Horse, you and the others stand by while I confer with the Star Captain," Aidan said. "I will be out of my 'Mech for a while."
He released the restraining belts that held him into the command couch and descended from the 'Mech to where Nomad lay, still staring upward at the gigantic Summoner.
"I never expected to see you again, Nomad."
"Same here. You look well. You have put on weight, muscle. Finally you look like a warrior."
"Did I not look like one before?"
"Not to me. And since you had failed your trial, there was no—"
"Quiet!" Why did everyone want to refer to his past identity today, he wondered. "Someone might hear."
"Who is there to hear? You, me, Joanna? We all know."
"Still-"
"Still nothing. I did not think a warrior could be so fearful. Anyway, what do you fear? If someone finds out, then—"
"Then I am dead. I can be nothing less than a warrior, and I can only be a warrior if I am Jorge."
"No, I can see in your eyes you will always be a warrior, whatever anyone does to you."
"I am told that nothing can be read in my eyes."
"Perhaps I read between the lines."
"You are deliberately mysterious. Can you move?"
"No. My arms, you see, they—"
"Let me lift you."
Aidan gently maneuvered Nomad out from between the tree roots and picked him up. He started to carry him away from the tree.
"A touching rescue," said Joanna, who suddenly stood in their path.
"Not as impressive as yours." He nodded toward his 'Mech's foot. "I will have to work on it to restore it to maximum mobility. There are already too many limping 'Mechs in this area."
Joanna's eyebrows rose, and Aidan explained about the Mad Doghe had encountered in the middle of Blood Swamp.
"Blood Swamp, eh?" she said. "Glory Station seems more attractive by the moment. Did you make contact with any of my other warriors?"
"Nothing so far."
"Does that mean that most of the Trinary did not survive the drop?"
"Not really. Some of them may not have regained consciousness. Others may be sending out distress calls. A peculiarity of this jungle is that it blocks out long-range communications. Even short-range is diminished. It is important for a BattleMech unit to stay close together here. One 'Mech strays away, loses touch, then becomes completely disoriented in the confusing maze of trees and eternal night. Radar and magnetic anomaly detectors are useless. Navigating by visual light is like groping in a green darkness. Thermal sensors are better, but shadows and objects can become so indistinguishable that you can end up crashing into an obstacle you swear is at least two meters away. Operating together, however, a unit can manage to get through the place without too much accidental damage."