Paladin by Natalie Grey

Author:Natalie Grey [Grey, Natalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2018-07-23T16:00:00+00:00

Barnabas had awoken with a raging headache and raw eyes. His throat was dry, and his clothes seemed to fit oddly. He rolled onto his back and frowned.

Where the hell was he?

A clank caught his attention. He saw Jeltor pull one mechanical hand away from an airlock door. Several lock-pick-like devices retracted into the hand, and Jeltor looked at Barnabas.

“You’re awake. Are you all right? I don’t have any medical supplies, but if you need any particular procedures…”

“I’m fine.” Barnabas sat up with a groan. “Mostly fine,” he amended. “Where are we?”

“One of the smaller airlocks on the Shinigami—which is still under attack and captive, so get your act together.”

Everything came back in a rush, and Barnabas launched himself to his feet so fast he nearly toppled. He stumbled a bit and made for the door. “Let me out.”

“We don’t know what’s out there,” Jeltor argued.

“And without Shinigami, we aren’t going to. We’ll have to take our chances.” Barnabas checked his weapons and nodded to Jeltor. “You don’t have to stay. You’ve sacrificed enough for us. If you want to go back to your fleet—”

“You’re under attack,” Jeltor replied. “And you’re my ally. You saved my life. I’m helping.”

“Thank you.” Barnabas smiled. He eased the door open and found an empty hallway. “We’re good,” he murmured to Jeltor. “You go left. That’s aft. I’ll go right. They’re almost certainly at the AI core, but I can turn off some of their access from the bridge. That’s the first priority. You see if you can find Tafa and Gar, and keep them safe.”

“I will,” Jeltor promised.

Barnabas moved silently in the familiar corridors. He had never been in that airlock, but he had otherwise made it a point to become familiar with the ship. He had an idea of where Tafa and Gar might be hiding and hoped they would have the sense to stay put.

He smelled the first patrol before they came into view. Alien bodies, the synthetic fibers of various armor plating, and carbon on weapons.

He sank into a crouch to wait.

They rounded the corner in a group. Barnabas, concealed in the shadows, let the first one pass and judged that there were four more behind him.

The first one, eyes still fixed on the corridor ahead, had swung his gaze without ever seeing Barnabas. He called a faint all-clear, and the rest of the group followed.

Barnabas let them pass before he stood and twisted the neck of the last soldier. He lowered the body as gently as he could, drew his knife, and cut the throat of the next one.

No guns. He couldn’t afford the noise.

There was a call from another group, and the leader of this group answered. Barnabas smirked. The officer hadn’t even glanced back to verify everything was well.

The third soldier gasped as he fell, and the final two turned sharply at the noise.

He could not let them call for help. Barnabas launched toward them, teeth lengthening. His knife took the one on the right, and he grabbed the one on the left and dragged him close, teeth clamping over his throat.

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