Elite: And Here The Wheel (Elite: Dangerous) by Harper John

Author:Harper, John [Harper, John]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: elite:dangerous, fantastic books publishing, elite, sci-fi, space
Publisher: Fantastic Books Publishing
Published: 2014-06-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Robert stumbled forward as a sharp pain ripped across his back and stretched across his shoulders. Cord dug into his wrists as he fought for balance.

They were on the huge ship, the corridors painted in a depressing colour theme - he wasn’t sure where the paint stopped and the shadows began.

Gunn walked directly in front of him, arms also tied behind her. Even from his angle he could see her neck and facial muscles were tight, her jaw working away. Beyond, a dozen soldiers marched in file. Judging by the footsteps there were another dozen behind. He turned to glance—

—Steel crunched into his spine and he gasped, but the steel - a rifle butt – had felt misplaced and spongy, as if the rifle had moved in his attacker’s hands.

They weren’t professional troopers, he was sure of it, more like a bunch of pilot jockeys, just like the Circle.

But if they were Ceepers, Gunn would have staged it so he was her prisoner. She hadn't bothered.

They hit a T intersection and their leader turned right. He was a big, cobra-shaped man; four commander’s stripes on his shoulder. A grey uniform he looked like he’d been born into. Robert couldn't wait to test some sarcasm out on him.

First though he needed a plan. He didn't know who they were and he had a limited understanding of their capabilities, but he learned with every step, playing scenarios through his head.

His biggest problem was the balance of weaponry, but given enough steps and a long enough corridor he’d come up with an answer.

He fake tripped into Gunn. She half turned. Robert nodded to the guard in front of her. Gunn turned away, completely disinterested. What had her spooked?

Perhaps Gunn actually wanted to see where this walk ended – did this group have something of value to her?

‘You there, up the front,’ Robert called, changing tactics. ‘What's the story? Don't I get some prisoner rights?’

No response. ‘I like your haircut,’ Robert continued. ‘I could probably set my chrono to it; military precision. How bland and boring. Just like you I bet. You’ve probably never had an original or exciting thought in your entire life.’

Still no response; sometimes you just had to keep plugging away.

‘Were you actually told to take us prisoner? Or did you just chicken out from cold blooded murder? Does your military programming allow that? Are you human in there? Maybe I should gut you to see if there is any blood in that flabby frame of yours. Does your father know you're so robotic? I imagine he is quite disappointed. I don't have any kids but I can imagine a failed child would be the ultimate disappointment.’

That got a reaction. The leader spun, marched back toward Robert, grabbed him by the throat and slammed him against the bulkhead.

Stars exploded across Robert's vision. He couldn't hear the leader over the ringing in his ears but the snarl in the man's lips and the fire in his eyes gave Robert the gist of it.

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