Galactic Vortex: Set in The Human Chronicles Universe (The Adam Cain Saga Book 4) by T.R. Harris

Author:T.R. Harris [Harris, T.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Harris Creations, LLC
Published: 2020-03-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

With the dark-energy ship in gravity drive and of equal speed, their pursuers gave up and turned back to the planet Arret. Adam relaxed and looked down at the body of the Aris on the deck next to his station. Arieel did the same.

“We need to make sure he’s dead,” Adam said. “And if he’s only unconscious, then we need to push him out of an airlock before he comes to.”

“I agree. Priorities matter.”

Adam slipped out of his seat and knelt down next to the body. He felt around the neck, searching for a pulse, knowing this was inconclusive with an alien. Then he felt his chest for a heartbeat. Nothing, but that could also be a false reading.

“Let’s get him to the common area. We’ll have more room to work on him there.”

Adam took the alien under the arms and attempted to drag him from the bridge. He hesitated. “Damn, he’s a lot heavier than I thought.” It didn’t stop Adam from getting the body out of the room, but it did raise concerns.

The common area was one of the most-open areas in the cramped starship, with seating lining a central area and the galley just down the corridor. A low table was bolted to the floor in the middle of the room. Adam hoisted the heavier than normal body to the table and began his examination.

He pulled open the eyes. There was no reaction and the dark pigment of the pupils had gone grey. Next, the mouth. He detected no breath coming from the body.

“He appears to be dead,” Arieel commented.

“He does,” Adam agreed. “But there doesn’t seem to be as much blood as I would expect.”

The blood wasn’t from the flash bolt he’d taken to the head, but from the battering his body received as the cannon bolts slammed into the Da’sor research building. There were major cuts all over the body, with large slabs of flesh dangling precariously from a dozen wounds. Each had a fair amount of blood associated with them; however, Kanan had lived on after the injuries, which should have continued to pump blood into the wounds. Adam peeled back a wide flap of skin and probed inside with his bare fingers.

“That is disgusting!” Arieel exclaimed. “I believe I will be sick.”

“Then how about finding me some towels? This is going to get messy.”

Adam studied the flesh. It was normal tissue but with a strange spongy underlayment. He’d never done an autopsy on an Aris before and he was curious what they had inside. This species had survived longer than any other in this same general form. He wanted to know what made them tick and what special organs they might have that allowed them to live off pure energy.

“Oh, and I’ll need a knife,” he called after Arieel as she headed aft, toward the galley.

Adam continued to probe the deep wound with his fingers. The gash was incredibly deep, making him wonder why it hadn’t killed the Aris. He could feel bone now, but an odd kind of bone.

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