Survivor by Saffron Bryant

Author:Saffron Bryant
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: space opera, action adventure, science fiction action, fiction action adventure, strong female protagonist, scifi western, science fiction female hero

***

Nova's head pounded. Lights danced behind her eyelids. There were voices, but her ears were ringing and she couldn't make out the words. There was a smell too, like musty dirt. It was as if she'd stumbled into a cupboard which hadn't been opened for centuries.

Fragments came back to her; she'd confronted the Ancients and they'd shot her. Was she dead? Her heart kicked up faster at the thought. No, she couldn't be.

There were voices.

She forced her eyelids to open. The brief flash of light was all she needed. She was back in the tunnels, in a small room. She'd caught a glimpse of two Ancients near the door. Her eyes were closed again, but in her mind she went over every detail she'd seen in that brief glimpse.

The voices emerged over the buzz filling her ears.

"You have to get the information out of her. Remember what happened last time?"

"We were nearly wiped out."

"We can't afford to let that happen again. If they're the dominant species then they're the biggest threat. We have to know everything we can about them."

"What if she refuses to talk?"

"Do whatever it takes. Do you understand? I don't care if you have to tear this planet apart – we need to know what they can do, so we're ready. I refuse to be forced to hide underground a second time."

"I'll make sure she talks."

"Good. And do it now. They might already be on their way. We need any advantage we can get."

"I'll get it done."

Footsteps faded away. Something grated, like stone on stone. Nova flicked her eyes open again to see an Ancient slide a thick stone door across the entrance. Purple lights glowed from the walls, casting an ominous glow over the creature's black armour.

"Time to talk," the creature said, as it turned and locked eyes with Nova.

Even the helmet couldn't hide the intensity of the creature's gaze. She felt intelligence, cunning, annoyance, and curiosity, pouring from the alien.

She forgot her aching head and bruised body. There was just her and the Ancient.

It didn't waste any time and went straight to the far wall, pulling down a small pistol. Wires and lights sprouted out of it. Nova could only guess at its purpose.

She struggled to her feet. If the creature was going to kill her, she'd die standing. She pushed her back against the furthest corner, the rough stone scraping down her skin. She scanned every inch of the room for a way out. The only exit was through the passage, which was blocked by a solid stone door. Her breaths came hard and fast and her legs twitched to get going, to move, but to where?

"What's your name?" Nova said. It was the first thing she thought of to buy time.

"You'd never be able to pronounce my real name. For our short time together you may call me Tobius. It means torturer in your most primitive language."

"How can I understand you now? I couldn't before."

"We updated your mind-chip. Primitive technology."

"How about—"

"Enough!"

Tobius lunged across the room and slammed his armoured hand into Nova's cheek.

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.