Erebus Dawning: A Space Opera Adventure (Seven Stars Saga Book 1) by AJ Super

Author:AJ Super [Super, AJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2021-05-10T16:00:00+00:00

22

The black, aluminum walls closed on Nyx as the hatch shut behind the shadow of Tyco at the back of the shuttle. Red pushed her onto a straight-backed bench with a thud. The air rushed out of Nyx’s lungs. The metal icy beneath her legs, she shivered, hands in magnetic manacles behind her back. Her shoulders ached.

Matthews shifted his shackled hands to the side, spread his fingers, sidled past Nyx, and sat without prodding. The petite, muscular woman leered over the two seated prisoners.

Chewing on his lip, white-haired Malcam leaned over the co-pilot’s seat next to a hooded pilot and chatted quietly.

Tyco flopped on the bench across from Nyx, pistol trained on the two shackled hostages, his dull brown eyes glaring down his hawk-nose.

Nyx twisted her wrists in the stiff metal restraints, rolling her shoulders back uncomfortably. There had to be a way to get the key from Tyco, demagnetize them, grab a weapon, and take over the shuttle. Matthews and she could get away. There was a whole world they could escape on once they made planetfall.

Matthews grinned furiously. His eyes danced. He looked as if he would break into laughter at any moment.

Nyx sighed. He wouldn’t be of any help. His time dilation sickness seemed to be playing up, and he was giddily along for the ride.

Red glanced over her shoulder at Tyco.

Tyco flipped his gaze at Red and nodded. “Demon-spawn has that look.”

Red grinned and shook her head. “It’s not going to work. Didn’t work for us back in the African Continental Governance’s mining camp transport.”

Tyco scowled. “Says who? We got out.” He pulled at the collar of his black tee and scratched at the scar near his collar bone.

Nyx narrowed her eyes. His scar was lower than most others she’d seen for ACG defectors. It was situated closer to where the North American Union tagged their residents. She tilted her head. If he was NAU, he shouldn’t have been in an ACG mining camp transport.

Tyco guffawed. “I think we confused her.”

“What part can’t you figure out?” Red leaned forward. “Why it won’t work, or why we were in a transport together to begin with?”

Nyx smiled. “The last one. You were ACG, and he was NAU.”

Red and Tyco looked shocked.

It wouldn’t hurt to tell them her little trick. It may even put them at ease and make it simpler to escape… “Your scars. I grew up seeing lots of them in space. People running away from the Protectorate. You get used to identifying people by their scars. Though it’s harder when people are space-born to figure out where their people come from. Blackers only keep culture if it really meant something.”

Red put a hand over the scar on her ivory neck. “Never knew my whole story was out there for all to see.”

Tyco glowered. “Neat trick.”

Nyx shrugged. “So, why were two people from the NAU and ACG on the same mining camp transport? Isn’t it illegal for the under-governments to trade workers between nations?”

Tyco rubbed his nose. “Funny: a pirate asking if slaving is illegal.

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