Galena Chronicles Complete Series by Best Samuel

Author:Best, Samuel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: action, adventure, box set, boxed set, colonization, exploration, first contact, near earth, near future, sci fi, sci-fi, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, science fiction, scifi, series, solar system, space, trilogy
Publisher: Sky City
Published: 2023-06-01T00:00:00+00:00

LEERA

She tumbled through darkness in a powerful current, her helmet lamp sweeping over silvery bubbles and the rough rock walls of a long tunnel. Someone’s bright orange legs flashed in her view and were lost in a fresh wall of bubbles.

After several moments of frozen panic, Leera called out for the others, but there was no response over comms.

The current grew stronger, pulling her along as if she were in free-fall. Leera curled up in a ball and her back slammed against the rock wall. She bounced off and knocked helmets with someone else. Then she slammed against a grate blocking the tunnel and was stuck there like a fly on a windshield as three other bodies smashed into her, knocking the breath from her lungs.

Small strands of green seaweed clung to the metal grate that scraped against her face shield. Leera tried to push away from it, at the very least to try and roll the bodies off her back, but she didn’t have the strength. Beyond the grate, all was dark. Deep green water turned to black out of reach of her quavering helmet lamp.

The current lessened. Leera finally drew a breath as the pressure against her back lightened. She jerked back in fright as a thin line descended over her face shield — before realizing the water level in the tunnel was dropping. She floated free of the grate and sank along with the water until her boots hit the smooth rock floor.

Niku stood next to her, doubled over and breathing hard. Miles and Weston slowly got to their feet, gloved hands slipping on the slick metal grate for support.

Leera saw Miles speak behind his face shield, but nothing came over comms. She checked her wristpad and reset the comm circuit.

“Try it now,” she said.

“Everyone alright?” Miles asked, out of breath.

“Just winded,” said Weston.

Leera put her hand on Niku’s back. He nodded with his eyes closed and swallowed hard.

“There’s a room ahead,” said Miles, turning his attention toward the darkness.

His helmet lamp swept past the grate to reveal a wide, circular room with a low, flat ceiling. A single rock pillar in the middle, like the axle of a wheel, was the only object within.

Leera moved from Niku to the wall, her balance unsteady, leaning against the slippery grate.

“What do you see?” Miles asked.

“Another indentation, like the one in the outer door,” she replied.

After a light touch, a square of rock silently slid inward. Leera reached inside the hollow and pressed a switch.

“Remember what happened last time…” Niku warned.

The metal grate slid down from the ceiling and disappeared into the floor. Miles and Weston took a few hesitant steps into the circular room, followed closely by Leera and Niku.

Their helmet lamps swept the floor and ceiling, sliding over wet rock walls and nothing else.

“Dead end?” Niku mused.

“A lot of effort and nothing to show for it, if that were the case,” Leera mumbled as she studied the curving walls.

Weston’s helmet lamp played over the crack in the floor where the grate had disappeared.

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