The Lights of Solari by Dante Saar

Author:Dante Saar [Saar, Dante]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Anthropomorphic action-adventure fiction.
ISBN: 9798640014402
Publisher: Keystone Publishing
Published: 2020-05-24T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

TURBULENCE

Nova Terios’ self-professed greatest bounty hunter of all-time strolled through Bandit Two’s bridge and entered her cockpit. Space was tight, so there was only room for one Novian to manoeuvre. His newly won cube loosely around his neck, Ezekiel sat down on his battered leather-black pilot’s chair. As the frigate’s autopilot was active, no one had been keeping watch over her systems, though Ezekiel had learned to trust her AI to handle any problems that emerged.

Ezekiel pitched his boots onto the consoles in front of him. “AI, giv’ me a status update on our whereabouts.”

“Current flightpath coordinates are . . . N-16. Location is . . . over the Viridescent Forest.”

“AI, run diagnostics check.”

“Confirmed,” answered the AI, smooth and soft in a metallic voice, before pausing. “Engine: stable . . . Energy drives: stable . . . Recovery drives: stable . . . Wings: stable . . . VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) hover systems: stable . . . Boost thrusters: stable . . . Automated weapons systems: stable . . . Shields: stable . . . Life preservation systems: stable . . . Detection radar: stable . . . Monitoring systems: stable . . . Communication systems: stable . . . Motherboard: stable . . . Diagnostics check completed . . . Overall systems: 100% stable.”

“Good,” muttered Ezekiel. “Looks like no trouble. For once.”

Ezekiel rested his gloved handpaws on the back of his head and laid back in his seat. He took his trusty coin from its pocket in his belt and slipped it between and around his fingers, enjoying its jagged, hard, cold touch.

Before Ezekiel knew it, his eyes had fallen shut.

Ezekiel didn’t dream, for he’d stopped dreaming countless years ago. Instead, discoloured fields of charred grass, enveloped in darkness, welcomed him. Screams split the air and smoke streamed down his throat, a toxic river. He always came close to suffocating—his vision fading to black, about to pass from this world to whatever came after, but he never did. He always survived. Nearby but always beyond his reach was a solitary straw hut burning with everlasting flames that ensured he never forgot, that he never felt or cared about much since that buried day.

A sudden, shrill alarm disrupted his sleep. He jolted awake and nearly fell from his impromptu bed. With a tired blink he cursed, then snapped, “What’s goin’ on?!” his voice hoarse.

“A patrol of drones—Interceptors—are advancing towards our position,” reported the AI. “All basic defensive systems are being primed.”

“Dang it! We shoulda been flyin’ too low for them. How’d they detect us?”

“By selection of quickest route, our flightpath crossed the Viridescent Forest. As a result, the flightpath was raised to allow travel over the forest’s canopy with reduced risk of collision occurring. The—”

“Fine! Whatever!” Ezekiel conceded. With battle looming he realised he couldn’t risk any damage to Bandit Two that would allow another opportunity for his prize to escape—or for his enemies to learn of his cargo. That is, if they didn’t know already. On

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