It Ends With a Beginning by L A Warren

Author:L A Warren [Warren, L A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JEM Publishing
Published: 2019-02-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Gambit, Day 281

Elise followed Gregor’s jump-jet into the Gambit. Her attention focused on his ship as a crane lowered it to the floor. Utter chaos reigned on the hangar deck as nearly a thousand people gathered to congratulate the winner of Gambit's jump-jet competition.

Where did all these people come from?

Pilot’s red, mechanic’s blue, and the dull gray of the loadmasters swarmed in the mass of people. It made her dizzy looking down upon the swirling tapestry of celebrants.

Her stomach lurched. With a gulp, she tore her eyes away and focused on the ceiling above with its mass of black cleaning bio-pods.

Your rope has run out. His words echoed in her head.

When she had imagined being caught, she had assumed a sort of freeform panic would overcome her. A racing heart, ragged breathing, trembling limbs, and other unpleasant sensations had invaded her dreams for months.

Now that it had actually happened? That rising tide of panic and heart-stopping dread were nowhere to be found. Instead, relief filled her with an odd sense of overwhelming calm.

Her breathing remained measured and smooth. She pressed a finger to her wrist and found a steady beat. No tremors shook her fingers. No quaky feeling in the pit of her stomach made her want to retch. She felt relieved. All the sneaking, training, excitement, and fear had finally come to an end. Perhaps her words to Gregor held more truth than she thought.

I am numb.

After depositing Gregor's craft down below, the crane returned and gripped her craft. A light sway jostled her as it maneuvered her jump-jet down. Another glance down showed Dove and Jeena waiting inside the red caution lines surrounding her jump-jet cradle. The rest of the cheering crowd stood behind the boundary.

Between one breath and the next, her calm turned to horror.

Her friends!

A lump formed in her throat, and a pounding beat within her chest. Gregor said he would make her friends pay. She thought he'd meant her Earth friends, but understood exactly what he'd meant now.

Her heart skipped when the crane released her ship. Her Vendel friends would be punished. They would suffer. And none of them, except Carek, had any idea what was coming.

When she popped the canopy, a deafening roar filled her ears. Dove grinned and held his arms to help her down. He gathered her into an enormous hug.

“You did it! My little Chickadee, you won!” He pecked her on the forehead and both cheeks.

It was too much. She collapsed into his embrace, her heart thudding for her friends.

Jeena elbowed Dove out of the way. “You beat him! Next step is the Imperial jump-jet circuit.” Her arms wrapped around Elise.

Elise whispered in Jeena's ear. There wasn’t much time. He would be here soon.

“Malikai is Emperor Gregor Ulysses vlor’Malita.”

Jeena stiffened. “What? How do you . . .”

Elise continued in a rush. She had to raise her voice to be heard over the crowd. “I have no sponsor. No half-brother. I’m from Earth. Gregor is my vlor’ master.”

Jeena pulled away and held Elise at arms' length.

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