Galaxy Undone by M.R. Forbes

Author:M.R. Forbes [Forbes, M.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 28

The ride felt as though it lasted for hours. By the time the ship settled in one of the Specter's hangar bays, it was all Caleb and Penn could do to keep from gasping loudly for air.

They remained in their hiding place for nearly ten minutes after Baron Kagata descended the ramp, passing almost directly beneath them on his way to the exit. Caleb recognized the pilot and the four others following him from the retreat. Nobles, all of them. They were so desperate for standing and power; they had sold their souls to Iagorth with the promise of becoming like Crux. In the end, they would become nothing more than slaves.

"Time to go," Caleb said when he heard no more movement outside the shuttle.

They untangled themselves, both groaning as blood began flowing through limbs that had been pinned too tightly into the small well. Penn's face was beet red when she finally stood up straight. As Caleb surveyed the hangar bay, he rubbed at the ache in the middle of his chest where the retracted landing pad had pressed painfully into him.

Kagata's shuttle was the only spacecraft in the bay that wasn't a Nightmare. There were nearly a dozen of them, all neatly arranged facing the bay doors for easy departure. Thankfully, they were alone in the compartment.

"Baron Kagata has the device," Penn said. "Should we go after it?"

"No," Caleb replied, shaking his head."

"But almost our entire planning meeting is on it."

"Not the part where we confronted the Baroness. As far as Iagorth is concerned, she gets angry and storms out. If we're right about where this Specter is headed, then it's a more than even trade. But only if we don't get caught."

"Okay. So what now?"

"Now, we find somewhere safe to hide for a few days. With Ish and Vraxis in hibernation, and as long as nobody sees us, we're good. On a ship this size, it shouldn't be too hard to hide out."

"Except we need to eat."

"It's only for a few days."

"You don’t know how long it might be, and with Vraxis sleeping, I’m already feeling dead on my feet. You don't feel it?"

"I do. Maybe not to the same extent you do. We'll cross the food bridge when we get to it."

They made their way to the smaller of two exits out of the bay, assuming it would lead to a more lightly traveled passageway. They were rewarded with a clear corridor leading deeper into the Specter. Picking their way along the passages, they remained alert for any sounds that might suggest approaching Legionnaires. Penn continued monitoring the tracker, only now they did their best to move away from the device, rather than toward it.

"You don't think they'll figure out there's a transmitter on the comb, do you?" Penn asked softly as they padded along a passageway.

"Johan said it would take a pretty senior engineer to sus it out," Caleb answered. "I doubt there's anyone like that in the Legion. Most engineers don't make suitable hosts for khoron.

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