Xeno Xoo Lost Chapter 1: Welcome to Durandia

Including the smallish Durandian freighter on level three, Geddy counted just seven ships in all of Wuntara Station. Maximum capacity was maybe thirty, thirty-five. Stepping out onto the stone floor, it was quiet enough to hear workers talking from clear across the wide, fairly shallow space. Specifically, talking about them.

“Fresh meat, you think?” asked one, so squat and hairy he made Denk look like a hurdler.

“I dunno,” remarked his coworker. “I call dibs on the ship.”

Dr. Krezek was the last one down the ramp. Geddy, Jel, and Oz took deep lungfuls of filtered air as they stretched. Geddy turned to watch the ramp retract into the belly and noticed that the normally gleaming tukrium was visibly duller, even streaked here and there with blaster marks. The ship’s eye-popping arsenal, however, could hardly be hidden.

The port chief came waddling toward them in a navy-blue jumpsuit carrying a datapad and wearing a welcoming smile that showed off his prominent incisors. A beard that would’ve put mighty Zeus himself to shame hung nearly to the floor, gathered into elaborate braids that formed a diamond pattern.

“Hi-dee-ho, spacefarers! Welcome to Durandia. I’m Chief Bartok.” The funny little man scratched at his shaggy beard, his eyes lingering an extra moment on Oz. That happened a lot. “So what brings ya to our little corner of the galaxy, if I may ask?”

“We’re looking for a ship.”

A bemused look crossed Bartok’s face as his eyes swept around the cavernous space. “Well, if ya don’t see it, safe to say it ain’t here.”

Geddy’s heart sank. “You’re saying you haven’t seen a big, ugly freighter with a hull patch on the starboard side and a Durandian kid on the stick?”

Bartok’s expression brightened immediately, and he gasped. “Captain Starheart?”

“That’s right.”

“Thank the stars! Denk said you’d come! We expected you much sooner.”

Relief flooded Geddy’s body. He exchanged a smile with Oz and Jel. “We got a little sidetracked. Denk’s safe? And my crew?”

“Yes, yes. Alive and well in Randhra. But the situation is deteriorating rapidly.”

“Is it the crypsids?” Krezek asked, his face knotted in concern.

Bartok’s shoulders hunched, his eyes darting nervously around even though the spaceport was nearly empty. He leaned in conspiratorially. “How do you know that?”

“We heard your message about tunnel workers,” Oz replied. “Dr. Krezek here thought it sounded … you know … cryptic.”

Geddy couldn’t help but laugh. Oz’s eyes sparkled as she returned his grin.

Bartok either didn’t get the pun or chose to ignore it. He flared his eyebrows and nodded. “Yes, well, Denk thought so, too. He was always such a clever boy.”

“Clever” was not a word he ever would’ve used to describe Denk, but maybe by Durandian standards, he was. He and Oz shared a look of mutual surprise.

The man’s eyes narrowed at Krezek. “Krezek … where do I know that name?”

Krezek demurred. “I advised the Ministry years ago on the Suragga situation.”

Bartok gave his stubby fingers a snap and pointed at him. “Yes, yes, I remember! You figured out how to drive the ‘sids away from the wardengate. Minister Napthar will be so heartened to know you’re here.”

“What’s the situation?” Geddy asked.

Bartok sighed and his eyes darkened. “The situation is … not great, to be honest. Crypsids mostly live in and around the myre, kind of like an underground hive. Well, the one closest to Randhra has practically emptied and the ‘sids are pushing west toward the city. We don’t know why.”

“That must be four or five kilometers at least,” Krezek remarked, his voice heavy with concern. “They never venture that far, do they?”

“No, never. Right now, the only thing between them and the city is time. They’re gonna find a way in, and when they do …”

He didn’t need to finish. They exchanged heavy looks.

“Where’s our ship?” Geddy asked. “Or did you sell it for parts?”

Bartok gestured behind him at the freighter pads, which weren’t big enough. “Yes, well, as you can see, we didn’t have room for her here. It’s parked in one of the emergency silos along the Spine.”

Jel perked up at this. “That’s your main route into the Underground, right?”

He nodded, the motion rippling down through his beard. “Yes. We can stop if you’d like, but I’d prefer to take you straight down to the city.”

Geddy checked with the others, who clearly agreed this was best. “Of course. We just need to get our things.”

“Excellent!” Bartok said. “I’ll prep the train.”