Starfinder

MISSING

SKYHIGH CORALIN STALKED across the misty airfield, sneaking past the silent hangars with an unlit lantern and his pockets stuffed with food and matches. Dawn was less than an hour away, and Skyhigh hurried to reach the barn before the sun came up. After a long and sleepless night spent patrolling Calio in his dragonfly he had managed to scrounge up a few more supplies for Moth and Fiona, but the day ahead promised to be another busy one, and Skyhigh knew he wouldn’t have much time to spend with the kids. By now Governor Rendor was looking for Fiona, he was sure. He glanced about as he made his way to the old hangar, afraid he might be followed. Taking supplies to Moth and Fiona was a risk. If he was discovered…

“Don’t think about it,” he whispered, crossing into the shadow of the barn. He would check on them quickly, he decided, give them the things he had brought, and then be off. If he was lucky he’d be back to work by the time the cooks started slopping out breakfast.

As he rounded the west side of the building, Skyhigh put the lantern handle between his teeth, letting it swing from his jaw to free up his hands so he could open the doors. But the doors, he discovered, had already been opened. He bit down miserably on the handle of the lantern.

“Oh, no…”

At once he peered inside, listening carefully, The vast interior of the place stood silent. He stepped into the dark hangar.

“Moth?” he chanced. “Fiona?”

No answer. Skyhigh pushed on deeper, his mind racing with awful possibilities. His eyes scanned the blackness as he made his way toward the loft, but when he came to a disheveled pile of clothing and boots, he paused. The coats had been picked through, thrown aside in a hurry. The barrel of boots was the same.

“No!” he shouted. Angrily he tossed the lantern to the ground. The glass enclosure shattered to bits. “Moth!” he growled. “Don’t you ever listen?”

He thought of going after them, but doubted he’d find them. Calio was a small city but full of good hiding places. All they had to do was wait long enough to hop on the train.

“I don’t have time for this,” groaned Skyhigh.

He went back toward the doors, slipping outside again into the cool air. He’d have to look for them later, he decided. Right now there were escorts to fly.

As he headed for the barracks, Skyhigh’s gaze fell upon the distant Reach. He paused, staring at the endless sea of fog, sickened by a sudden sense of alarm.

“No,” he whispered. “They couldn’t have…”

Yet in his heart he knew the truth. Moth. Fiona. Bull-headed teenagers, both of them.

“Oh, you stupid, harebrained kids!”

Skyhigh made it back to his barracks just as the sun peeked over the city. His fellow Skyknights were already out of their bunks and making their way to the dining house for breakfast. Skyhigh, who had already dressed for duty, hoped to melt quietly into the group. Young squires dashed through the throngs, carrying messages or machine parts for the dragonflies. Two airships remained moored at the docking platforms, while the big, black Avatar stood apart from the rest, tied down with metal cables and surrounded by guards. Skyhigh avoided everyone as he slipped into the crowd.

Until he saw Major Hark.

A trio of men in dark suits were with him, listening as he spoke with wild, angry gestures. Skyhigh cursed his bad luck and turned away, heading toward the barracks instead.

Please don’t see me…

“Coralin!”

Skyhigh froze, afraid to look back. Rotten, bloody….

When he turned around again Major Hark was coming toward him. The dark suited men fanned out around him. Skyhigh ran through his story in his head, just the way he’d practiced. He hadn’t seen Moth in days, he told himself. And Fiona? No idea.

“Something wrong, Major?” Skyhigh asked. An awkward smile swam on his face.

Major Hark looked him over. “Where you been?”

“Just going to get something to eat…”

“Skyhigh, these men work for the Governor,” said Hark. “They’ve been looking for you.”

“Yeah?” Skyhigh considered the men. Each had the air of Capital City about them, a kind of well-bred, well-dressed corruption. They were the men who’d searched Leroux’s apartment, he was sure.

“Captain Coralin, you need to come with us,” said one of them, stepping forward. He was a tall, serious fellow, brawny beneath his tailored suit. His eyes locked on Skyhigh like manacles.

“Skyhigh, it’s about the Governor’s granddaughter,” said Hark. “She’s gone missing. These men seem to think you know something about that.”

Skyhigh made his decision in an instant. “Well that’s just fine,” he drawled. “I’ve got a few things to say to the Governor myself.” Without a word to Hark, Skyhigh spun toward the center of the city, gesturing for the men to follow. “Hurry up. Let’s not keep the old man waiting.”