Bloodlines (The Terra Nova Chronicles Book 2) by Richard Fox & Josh Hayes

Author:Richard Fox & Josh Hayes [Fox, Richard & Hayes, Josh]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Triplane Press
Published: 2018-03-22T04:00:00+00:00

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Carson considered the mouse-eared alien for a several moments. “And you are a…?”

The alien bowed. “Abendu, fair traveler. Humble Pindiki trader from the non-aligned worlds, at your service.”

Carson frowned. “And why would you want to help us? You don’t even know who we are.”

Abendu stepped forward, spreading his arms. “No, no, no, fair traveler, I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation with the envoy, vile thing Adjudicators are.” He shuddered. “Simply vile. And they’ve put a restraining droid on your ship…” He made several clicking noises with his tongue. “DIN Central should really ought to rein Adjudication in. I mean, the Node thinks it can just walk over anyone it wants to.” Abendu stopped and straightened. “Oh, where are my manners? I have neglected to ask for your name. Please, forgive.” He bowed at the waist, head down.

“No apologies necessary. My name is Warrant Officer Kit Carson, 1st Terra Nova Pathfinders.”

“Yes, yes, yes, of course… wait.” The alien tilted its head to the side. “But… but, you are not Zeis?”

Carson exchanged confused looks with West, who stepped up beside her. Turning back to Abendu, she said, “We’ve been getting that a lot lately.”

“Oh my, oh my,” Abendu said, clapping his hands together. “My apologies, I meant no offense.” He stepped closer, inspecting Carson’s face. “Your similarities to the Zeis are impressive, but I see it now, you are definitely not. But what…”

“We’re called human,” Carson said.

“Yoo-maan,” Abendu repeated, exaggerating the pronunciation. He nodded. “And where do you hail from, Yoo-maan Carson?”

“It’s just Carson. Our home world is a place called Earth.”

Abendu frowned, canting his head slightly to the side. “You name your world for dirt?”

“Well…” Carson grinned. “Yeah, I guess we do.”

“Yes, yes, yes, such a momentous occasion. I’ve never met anyone from dirt before.”

“You probably wouldn’t have,” West said. “We’re not from this galaxy.”

Abendu’s ears perked up slightly. “Not from Kabeetha, you say?” He clicked with his tongue again. “Very interesting indeed. Yes, yes, yes. Even more impressive that you made it all the way to Diasore in that thing.” He nodded to their ship.

“The Valiant?” Carson asked. “Why do you say that?”

“Is not looking like it could make such a journey.”

“Well, no, not from Earth, but—”

West cleared his throat, giving Carson a knowing look as if to say, careful what you say.

“Look, we’re obviously new here,” Carson said. “Any assistance you can provide would be much appreciated. Right now, we need to meet with the DIN, a representative of the Rightly Guided…then get our ship out of impound.”

Abendu clapped his hands together again. “Ah, you see, that I can most definitely assist with. You need to just need to talk to a Regulos—no one calls them the Rightly Guided but as a joke—Node. Yes, yes, yes, I can show you where to go, but forgive me…” He bowed his head in supplication. “I regret that the Pindiki way forbids me from giving of my time without some form of compensation.”

West crossed his arms, frowning. “So, tell me this, Mister Abendu…”

“Apologies, fair traveler, I know not this, ‘mister.

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