The Lost Earth (Lost Starship Series Book 7) by Heppner Vaughn

Author:Heppner, Vaughn [Heppner, Vaughn]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Published: 2017-07-25T04:00:00+00:00

-43-

Maddox stood on the bridge of Starship Victory. With the movement of his chin, he began the “happy-pill” process. Hypos hissed inside the photon suit and a cool feeling swept over his mind.

Around him on the bridge, the others slumped over. The lights dimmed, but they did not go out completely. Unlike last time, the main screen still worked. The captain stared at a vast expanse of darkness.

He laughed as the drug took hold of his emotions. Despite the Spacer interference at the last moment, the ancient Adok starship had slipped into the null region.

Maddox heard laughter over his helmet speakers. It took him time to understand. Finally, he turned slowly in the bulky photon suit. Keith Maker used his photon-suited gloved hands to lean against the piloting board. The second pilot lay on the floor, unconscious, while Keith laughed like a moron.

Maddox cleared his throat. He was going to admonish the ace for…for…Maddox smiled hugely. He felt good, better than he had for a long time. If he just stayed here…

A thought intruded. He needed to do something.

A dim holoimage stood before him, waving its ropy arms.

With his chin, Maddox opened the helmet’s audio receiver.

“Captain Maddox?” Galyan asked.

“Yes…?” Maddox asked in a slow voice.

“You are drugged, sir. You are not thinking clearly.”

That came as somewhat of a shock to Maddox. He was the world’s clearest thinker. To imply… “Oh,” the captain said, vaguely understanding what Galyan was saying. They had tested—

Maddox’s will began to assert itself. It strove against the pleasant feelings of his contentedness. Keith was still laughing uncontrollably.

“We are farther from the brightness than last time,” Galyan said.

Maddox forced himself to focus on the main screen. Yes, he could see a pin-dot of light in the darkness.

“I am detecting a mass, Captain,” Galyan said. “I do believe I have found one of the Destroyers. Would you like me to pilot the ship there?”

“Yes,” Maddox managed to say.

“It has begun,” Galyan said. “May I say, sir, that I feel more energized than last time. The photon batteries are working, but we are draining them at a prodigious rate.”

Maddox stared at the talking hologram. It really could babble on and on.

“Would you like me to power down unnecessary systems?” the AI asked.

“Yes,” Maddox said.

“They are powering down, sir,” Galyan said. “That should give us two to three times as much time as otherwise.”

Maddox blinked, trying to process that.

“I believe this is working, sir,” Galyan said.

Maddox still blinked, listening to Keith’s moronic laughter, wondering if maybe he should join in. The crazy laughter sounded like fun.

***

The Elder Ska sluggishly began to realize that he was not alone. He had divided, and that had given him youthful zest and energy for a time. What he’d forgotten, though, was a split Ska needed time later to rest and recuperate. The Elder was finding it difficult to keep his awareness up.

He struggled to understand. This was interesting. The warm life forms came in a strangely energized vessel. How were they doing that? It was a miraculous technology.

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