Gate Quest by Lindsay Buroker

Author:Lindsay Buroker [Buroker, Lindsay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Speculative
ISBN: 1951367014
Amazon: B07W76YVDP
Goodreads: 47718382
Published: 2019-09-13T16:00:00+00:00

13

The single remaining enemy turned out to be dead, thanks to stepping on one of the explosives, so Qin and Bonita left the body for the Kingdom people to deal with when they arrived. Bonita found the controls for the cargo hold and activated the auxiliary lighting and was also able to get oxygen pumping back in. That was good since the exit into the corridor had locked itself during the breach. Qin knew she could force it open but didn’t want to damage the Machu Picchu further if it wasn’t necessary.

“I guess we should find the droid professors and report to them,” Bonita said. “And then twiddle our thumbs until the Kingdom ship arrives and we have to explain this mess. I’d feel better about all this if it hadn’t sounded like Kelsey-Sato was here in secret rather than as an authorized representative.”

“They picked Professor Beaumont,” Qin offered. “At least according to him.”

“According to a quirky loaded droid we’ve only just met. I knew I’d regret coming over here.”

“We weren’t injured. Much.” Qin rubbed her shoulder, a twinge of pain coming from something she’d twisted while falling off the crates. “And we thwarted the bad guys.”

“In an ideal universe, we’d get a reward for that.”

Bonita didn’t mention that she’d never found the universe ideal. Qin knew her well enough that she didn’t have to.

A clang-clang-clang came from the airlock hatch, and they both jumped.

Bonita swore and slung her rifle off her shoulder. “One of them must have used jet boots to get back over here.”

“Does he know this is the ship where all the guns are?” Qin couldn’t believe those men would try to come back here after they’d been routed. She dropped her Brockinger into her hands and strode to the hatch. “We’re answering it, right?”

Bonita grunted. “I suppose. Answer it and then blow a hole in whoever’s presuming to knock.”

The panel on the wall showed that the outer hatch was operational and securely shut, and that the airlock was pressurized and not leaking air. All the damage had been to that tube.

After Qin unlocked the hatch, she jumped back, ready to shoot.

Johnny stood inside, a pistol pointed to the head of a sneering graying man that Qin didn’t recognize. Captain Amazing? He wore armor, but his helmet was missing, so the pistol pressed against his thin hair. A small shuttle was docked behind them, so Qin could no longer see the Maze Runner. Was the other ship still out there?

“Mind if we come in?” Johnny asked brightly.

“Where did you go?” Bonita strode up and peered into the airlock, then jerked with surprise at the sight of them.

“To retrieve a gift for you, of course.”

“A gift?” Bonita sneered to match the stranger’s sneer. “That’s not a gift. That’s the wad of furry, linty crap that you throw out after Viggo’s vacuums cough it up into the filter.”

“I don’t think she likes you,” Johnny told his prisoner.

“Screw you,” the man said. “And screw you too, Lopez.”

“It’s Captain Lopez, and I’d take Dagger-face there to bed before you.

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