Chapter Four

The cold air rushing through the catacombs at this hour stole the breath from Jimmy’s lungs. Hima stepped in front of Jimmy, blocking the icy blast and giving him enough time to pull the suit’s sock-like hood over his head. The blood-freezing temperature in the catacombs existed to deter any nocturnal activities. For most, it worked well. But for some, like Hima and Julz, cold was a way of life, a rite of passage.

Even with the hood over his head, protecting him from the freezing wind, Jimmy collapsed to his knees, his lungs and throat burning. Hima caught him as he fell forward.

“Julz.” Julz turned immediately, saw Jimmy on his knees, and raced to his side. “Forgot to cover up that pretty little Earthling head of his.”

“Jimmy?” He didn’t respond. “I can’t see his eyes in this hood, Hima. We need to get him to a sickbay.”

“Negatory, beautiful. Give the suit a sec to warm our little Earthling back up and he’ll be ripe as a Nevarian winter peach. Little frostbite in the lungs never hurt anybody I knew.”

“He’s not from Nevar, Hima.”

“Could’a fooled me. He’s like the little brother I never had, only with over-sensitive skin.” Jimmy coughed, then gasped for air as he grabbed hold of Hima’s massive arms. “There, there crazy Earthling. What were you thinking going out in the cold without your hat on? What would your mother say?”

“Very funny.” Jimmy’s hoarse reply was reassuring for both Hima and Julz.

Julz placed her head to his and Jimmy felt a fiery blast of warmth surge through him like an electrical current. Then he heard her voice, “Don’t do that to me again, James. I cannot lose you.” Then the warmth and voice were gone. He stared at Julz. She gave him a quick smile and went back to business. Hima helped him back to his feet.

“What was that all about?”

“Tell ya later.” No one had ever called him James. But when Julz said it, he kind of liked the way it sounded.

“Right. Then let’s get moving tough guy.” Hima wouldn’t let this moment go without some further explaining, but to his credit, he knew this wasn’t the time or place for prying questions. Jimmy had no secrets from Hima. Hima knew that and respected him all the more for it.

The trio of curfew breakers found Mul-Rok waiting for them in the lower catacombs near the hangar bay. His eyes flickered in the incandescent light coming up from the floor lamps. Jimmy hadn’t been this deep in the catacombs. Passage into the lower catacombs by any of the Select was forbidden, although Jimmy found there weren’t many security measures preventing them from moving freely through the catacombs. Perhaps the Terralings believed a little too much in their cold air security system.

Mul-Rok walked forward and embraced his daughter. Although most of his body was covered with a taught, black flightsuit, Jimmy watched the blue veins in his neck pulse with light as the two embraced.

The back of Jimmy’s hand burned white hot suddenly and he clinched his fingers into a fist to fight off the pain.

Mul-Rok’s eyes flashed to Jimmy as he released his daughter, and although Jimmy’s breath caught in his throat, he was glad his eyes and face were hidden from his Master. Hima’s unique suit proved its worth yet again.

“It’s time for us to go.” Mul-Rok turned and started down the catacomb toward a nearby launchbay door.

“Where exactly are we going?” Hima, never afraid to ask a question of anyone, stopped short when Mul-Rok turned and glared at him. Then Mul-Rok’s hard look fell on Jimmy, and lastly turned on his daughter.

“Earth.”