Phoenix One, this is Eagle Two. We're approaching the site now." Eagle Two hovered as Commander Theo Paxton examined the wreckage and reported. "We've located Eagle One. The top's blown off. Over."

"Roger, Eagle Two. Any sign of the crew? Over."

"Uh, negative, Phoenix One. Over."

Phoenix One taunted him with silence. Quit wasting time, they seemed to be saying. If the fall didn't get 'em the storm did. But Debi would've found a way. And he wouldn't abandon her now.

"Confirm the obvious, Eagle Two. Then juice the thrusters. We've been tagged by a scout. Over."

Damn. That meant two hours, tops, before Phoenix jumped--with or without them. "Understood. Eagle Two out."

Charred branches littered the ground around the wreck, and an animal scampered into the trees as they touched down. No sign of hostile troops, but no crew.

Once they examined the wreckage, it became clear that Eagle One had opened the cargo bay door during flight. But why?

Their mining craft was missing. Maybe they tried to ride it down, relying on its stabilizers to cushion their fall. It could work, in theory. Trainees often played with the digger's stabilizers, turning it into an awkward hovercraft. Debi might try it, in a pinch.

But then what? The digger couldn't protect them from ionic bursts. They needed cover. Deep cover.

"Search the hillside."

An hour later, they found the digger abandoned in front of a solid rock face, its lasers still targeted on a partially dug tunnel.

Why'd you stop?

Theo checked the hole. It bottomed out on a hard polished surface--some kind of metal alloy, a tough one. This wasn't a hill. It was an alien shelter.

"Sir! Over here."

They found three bodies lying in the woods, each scorched with ionic burns and each wearing a marine uniform. That left two crewmen unaccounted for, Debi and her pilot.

A scream pierced the air, and Theo pointed at a marine. "You're with me."

They followed a narrow path through the woods until they came to a meadow. There, they saw a nude woman using a pick-ax to pull dirt into a hole.

"Debi?"

She turned toward them, a vacant look on her face.

"What's going on? Where's Bill?"

She opened her arms and smiled, her body shimmering in the sunlight. Theo diverted his eyes and shoved the marine's shoulder. "Get a blanket."

"Yes sir."

"Debi, where's Bill? We've got to go."

She frowned. "Bill left."

"Left?"

"You won't leave me, will you Theo?" A wicked smile crossed her face, and a chill ran up Theo's spine. That's when he noticed the buzzing flies, and looked at her dirt-covered pick. Was that blood? "What's in the hole, Debi?"

She gripped the pick and stared, expressionless, as footsteps pounded the ground behind him.

"Sir. Another storm's brewing. Comm's out."

Theo didn't budge.

"Sir, the storm."

"How long 'til it's on us?"

"Fifteen minutes."

"Recall the team. Take off in seven."

"Yes sir."

Great. What good are sub-linear communications if they don't work? Theo waited until the marine left. Then he removed a syringe from his med-pack, and stepped toward Debi. She raised the pick. The air grew stale. He coughed. Then he saw Bill's naked body lying twisted in a shallow grave, a spade in his chest.

"What happened?"

"He snubbed their food. That's rude, don't you think?"

"Whose food?"

"The storm makers."

CRACK! Lightening struck, and a tree flamed and crashed.

Debi laughed, and Theo tackled her. They fell into the grave, and she screamed while he fought to insert the needle. He stuck her once in the arm and once in the leg before injecting the sedative into her shoulder.

She grew limp. Then her expression changed. "Theo?"

"Deb. It's me."

"Run."

The sky darkened, and cold wind blew. Theo squinted, and threw Debi over his shoulder.

"Leave me," she said.

He ignored her, and rushed to the landing site where a marine helped them inside. Then the hatch closed, the thrusters fired, and the ship rose.

"No!" Debi screamed, her eyes wild. "They'll kill us all."

"Stow her," Theo ordered.

A marine pushed Debi into a seat and tossed a blanket at her. Then the ship shook and the lights dimmed. The thrusters whined, straining through turbulence.

"Ditch me!"

Theo glared at her. "Full thrusters."

The whine turned into a screech, and the ship lunged sideways. Theo fell, and hit his head. Blood rolled over his lip. He wiped it with his sleeve, tasting the salty sweetness.

"We're losing it!" the pilot yelled.

The craft tilted, spun slowly, and then dropped several yards, smashing onto a tide of turbulence. They wouldn't make it.

Theo looked at Debi. She mouthed, "Dump me."

He surveyed his men, struggling--unaware that Debi was their Jonah.

Then he gave the order. "Ditch her."

"Sir?"

"Do it!"

The marine straightened his back. "No sir."

Theo pulled his sidearm, and aimed it at the marine's head. "That's an order."

The marine looked at Debi, and she nodded. He pulled her to her feet.

"Brace yourselves!"

The marine popped the hatch, and wind roared through the cabin, tossing debris. Theo closed his eyes. When he opened them, Debi was gone.

Then the marine pulled a lever, and the hatch lowered. As it did, the roar of the wind was replaced by the whirl of the thrusters. The ship stabilized, then ascended.

Theo looked out. Below them, clouds swirled and arcs of ionic fire ripped through the air like flaming swords.

A moment later, the radio squawked. "Eagle Two, this is Phoenix One. Report."

They watched the storm.

"Eagle Two, you okay down there?"

"Phoenix One, this is Eagle Two. Eagle's returning to the nest. Over."

"Roger that Eagle Two. Glad you're okay. Any sign of the missing crew? Over?"

They looked at each other. "Affirmative, Phoenix One. We confirmed the obvious."

Theo let his gaze return to the storm.

"Eagle Two out."