Space Team_The Guns of Nana Joan by Barry J. Hutchison

Author:Barry J. Hutchison [Hutchison, Barry J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zertex Books
Published: 2017-05-14T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Loren awoke suddenly. This was partly because the drug she’d been injected with had worn off, but mostly because a high-pressure hose had been turned on, and was currently blasting her in the face with icy-cold water.

She gasped and gagged, choking on the torrent, unable to turn her head away. Her arms were spread horizontally, fastened to the wall behind her by the wrists. Her legs were similarly shackled, her ankles far apart so her limbs and head formed a sort of star shape on the wall.

The spray continued, finding its way into her mouth and down her throat. Panic flooded her even faster than the water, so she wasn’t sure which one would drown her first.

And then, as quickly as it had started, the flow stopped. Loren wheezed and coughed up half a lung’s worth of the ice-cold liquid. The water blurred her eyes, and she had to blink for several seconds before it cleared enough to let her see her surroundings.

She was in a Zertex cell. From the position of the cell’s single air vent, she knew it was a Zertex Command station, rather than a ship. The stations’ holding cells were all identical, so she couldn’t tell which one she was on. Logically, Zertex Command Six had been closest to where she’d been taken from, so if she’d been a betting woman, that’s where she’d have put her money.

A figure moved at the corner of her vision. She tried to turn her head to look, but it was gripped too firmly and she only succeeded in straining her neck.

“Dash?”

“Ah, I’m afraid not,” smarmed an all-too-familiar voice.

President Sinclair stepped into view, smiling warmly. “We felt your brother wasn’t perhaps best suited for this particular part of proceedings,” Sinclair told her, stepping closer. “You know, family loyalty, or whatever. Although, to be fair to him, he hasn’t exactly demonstrated much in the way of loyalty to you so far, has he?”

Loren said nothing. She tensed as the president ran a finger across her face, wiping away some of the water. He studied it on his fingertip for a moment, then rubbed the glistening dampness away with his thumb.

“Oh, Gunso Loren,” he said, smiling sadly. “I had such high hopes for you, you know? You were the best pilot in your graduating class.” He gave a little chuckle. “Once I had your scores altered, at least. Prior to that?” He winced. “Well, let’s just say your career might not have got off the ground. In fact, it would probably have crashed into it!”

He laughed at his own joke, then stepped back. “And yet, I saw potential in you. I saw a spark of something promising.” His smile fell away. “And how did you repay me? By turning against me.”

“You set us up,” Loren began. Sinclair took several quick paces back, and a spray of water hit Loren in the face again, catching her by surprise.

Sinclair watched her gag and splutter for almost a full minute, before waving a hand. “Enough.

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