The Complete Beacon Saga by Jonathan C. Gillespie

The Complete Beacon Saga by Jonathan C. Gillespie

Author:Jonathan C. Gillespie [Gillespie, Jonathan C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heavy Caliber Publishing LLC
Published: 2014-12-02T23:00:00+00:00


• • •

It seemed so long ago, that day when Tersias had been summoned to the door so early in the morning, when the fleet’s attention had been focused on a miracle conception.

And now time had looped back upon itself, producing a morning much like the one that had changed their lives forever. In a daze of exhaustion fading to adrenaline, with his pistol at his side, he answered the door, no longer a naive young man. The same hiplord that had woken him once with good news looked in now like he carried all the calamities of the galaxy on his tongue, ready to spill them at any moment.

But he wasn’t a shiplord anymore. Nastron was in a gray shirt and blue denim; civilian clothes that didn’t look right on him. At his side, an energy pistol was holstered in his belt.

Tersias lowered his own pistol; the same one Nastron had gifted him.

“A good policy, these days,” said Nastron.

Tersias glanced out into the hall, looked right and left.

“I’m alone,” added the former shiplord.

“Are we ever anymore?” said Tersias. He stood aside, gesturing Nastron in.

The door closed behind them.

“Sir...Jacob,” said Tersias, “It’s early. Too early. I’m not trying to be rude, but is this truly urgent?”

“Wake up Mally, please,” he replied. In his eyes were all the answers. He knew something.

“Okay,” said Tersias. What could it be now? “Just...give me a second.”

“Thank you.”

Tersias went and woke Mally, having to tap her several times and answer three or four questions before she shook herself out of the covers, leaving them piled on the floor at her feet. She crossed in front of Faith’s crib with him, and came stumbling out of the bedroom.

“Thank you for waking,” said Nastron. “I’m sorry, but it’s time.”

“Time for what?” she asked, trying to straighten the tangles out of her hair with her fingers.

“How do you think I knew you four were in the Orion?” he asked. “What did Sarki tell you?”

“That you believed her when she told you,” said Mally.

“That when you woke,” said Tersias, “you demanded someone get you to the Orion.”

Nastron shook his head. “Then you don’t have the whole story.”

“Fill us in,” said Tersias.

“First, understand that by now the Carin have either won or lost their first battle with the Nomads. Rara will press for supporting action from other first-layer species, sooner or later. That’s open war.” He paused, tracing a finger along the top edge of Tersia’s empty fish tank. “This once carried life. Past tense. What we’re facing now could make Beacon and Estuary both just as empty. Do you wish you could do something about that?”

“Yes,” said Tersias, with hesitation.

“No,” said Mally, with none. “Not after Rara. Not after almost losing my life, and my husand’s life, more than a few times.”

“Please,” said Nastron, stepping up to her. “I know I’ve asked too much of you already...”

“That’s right, you have asked too much,” said Mally. “The answer is no.”

“Even if I’m convinced there’s a way you could help?”

“The last time you swore I could help was when you wheeled in here after that assassin’s attack.



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