Last of the Immortals (The Jessica Keller Chronicles Book 3) by Blaze Ward

Author:Blaze Ward [Ward, Blaze]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: artificial intelligence, galactic empire, space opera, space station, space exploration, hard SF
Publisher: Knotted Road Press
Published: 2015-11-16T19:00:00+00:00

Chapter XXXII

Date of the Republic June 15, 394 Alexandria Station, Ballard

Moirrey listened intently as the DropShip clanked and clunked and wiggled into position, backing slowly and carefully, the docking airlock tube extended like a thumb from the side of the vessel. Gaucho was handling this like mom’s fine crystal today, rather than his normal hit–and–run kind of flying.

She unlocked her harness and stood up, nodding at Yeoman Arlo seated across from her. It was weird to outrank him. And to be in charge. And to be acting like a grown–up. Totally silly. But the dragoon had insisted. If the saboteur were still gonna be running ‘bouts, she had to have someone with her. Jackson Tawfeek might have been more fun to hang out with, but Vo Arlo were a much fiercer lookin’ dude, especially today.

Over his battlesuit, he had strapped a pistol, a knife, another knife, a couple of stun grenades, and a carbine pulse rifle. She was pretty sure he had more guns in the backpack at his feet. Plus Creator–only–knows what else.

“We invadin’ Guatemala, Arlo?” she asked with a smile.

He grinned back at her as he stood up.

From across the aisle, her eyes were about level with the middle of the chest when he did that.

“No, sir,” he sassed her back. “Wouldn’t need this much gear for a planetary drop.”

Sir. Her? Really? Weird. More weird. What silly person put her in charge? Oh. Right. Lady Keller. The Sentience. The Red Admiral.

Moirrey felt her smile slide off her face like a cake left out in the rain.

Not fun.

“You ready?” she asked, surprised at how serious and grown–up her voice sounded. Obviously, if this kept up, she were gon’ need to break out the glitter paint and commit some graffiti down in engineering soon.

It was the only cure fer serious.

“I have a firearm for you as well, sir,” Arlo said.

His face got serious too. Maybe they were gonna hafta go get matching tattoos, when it was all done. Kitties or something.

“Don’t want it, Vo,” Moirrey replied. “If you can’t handle the bad guy, what makes you think I can?”

“You’re Moirrey, sir.”

“Very funny, Arlo.”

“Passengers please prepare to debark,” Gaucho called from his flight deck, politely interrupting the conversation.

Politely? Gaucho? Did she step through a mirror or something? Where was the white rabbit?

Moirrey squared her shoulders as the inner airlock door chirped and the lights turned green. With a soft puff of equalizing pressure, the door opened outward into the station’s airlock.

Moirrey started to take a step, but Arlo was suddenly there in her way, stepping forward.

“Hey,” she squeaked, but the big man just turned and looked down at her, looming with his suddenly–massive presence.

“No, sir,” he said calmly, professionally. “I lead.”

She nearly growled at him.

She weren’t no fine–china lady, fragile and stuff, needin’ to be escorted everywhere and protected. Except she was. Navin the Black had said so.

Crap.

Moirrey settled for a good, old–fashioned harrumph at him. At both of them. At everyone.

She couldn’t see anything around Arlo, either. He were wider as well as taller.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.