Harbinger: An Intergalactic Space Opera Saga (The Essence Wars) by Paul Heingarten

Author:Paul Heingarten [Heingarten, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Decatur Media
Published: 2023-06-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 3

F INALLY, CHARISTA’S SHIFTS WITH Kindra and Adarsha lined up, and they met in the Trussel’s Galley. The large room hosted seating for a hundred, roughly one-fourth of the crew onboard the freighter. A serving area at one end offered the best barely digestible rations the Omegan military was forced to provide. After getting their servings of glorified animal feed, Charista and her friends grabbed a table at the far end of the hallway from the entrance. Charista worked on eating while Adarsha and Kindra filled her in on their work on Agmon. They talked over the general crowd noise as others on the same shift grabbed their food and chatted with their table mates.

"Charista, you would've hated Agmon. I mean, the temperate climate, the fresh air," Adarsha rolled her eyes.

Charista threw a balled-up napkin at her friend's face. She relished the times they had like this, sporadic as they were.

"Serious, what was it like down there? I saw lush trees on the video screens." Charista eyed her friends like a lawyer waiting for a witness' response.

Kindra glanced at Adarsha, who had a mouthful of food, then back to Charista. "It's something. I'm amazed by what Malone did there. The preliminary scan data we had on that place showed it near extinction. Even with the modest supply of Essence the planet had, it wouldn't be long for it."

"Then, how did Malone adding more of the same Essence make it suddenly so better?"

Adarsha swallowed her bite of food. She glanced at Kindra before she replied, "I dunno about that, but I know this one won't admit she's in love with Malone and already believes he can do anything. Me, I can't figure it out either."

"Shut up," Kindra elbowed Adarsha in her midsection. Adarsha recoiled back with a series of giggles.

"At least Malone is better than those filthy Railen," Adarsha added.

Kindra's face bunched up in disgust. "Please, we're trying to eat here. Don't ever bring up those scum around me. The best day for Ling is when all Railen are dead."

Charista met Kindra's eyes and saw the search for approval in her friend's glance. Charista swallowed the lump that formed at the thought of Joanna and gave a quick nod in reply. There's no way they can know about Joanna and me. But what about what I did with the Praximus comm? Would they have thought it was a good idea?

A warm surge shot through Charista's frame, and she glanced downward in silence regarding her food. Soon, she felt a touch on her arm and looked into Adarsha's eyes.

"What's wrong?"

Oh, I'd love to tell you. I wish I could. But that would only involve you, and I can't do that to you, my friend.

"Oh, Pit was giving me trouble before the pre-Agmon briefing."

"That old slug?" Kindra shook her head. "I've had enough of him too. He's still riding that rep from years ago when he was a chief of a Nara unit. Times have changed. He's not so tough jockeying the 'Trashel' now.

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