Viking Unbound by Kate Pearce

Author:Kate Pearce
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: sci-fi romance, vikings
Publisher: Kate Pearce
Published: 2015-05-04T04:00:00+00:00

Einarr waited as patiently as he could for Frey to finish her preparations and get ready to disembark the ship. After packing her possessions and delivering her bags to the cargo hold, she took him back up to the bridge.

“We’re going to sit here.”

Einarr took the seat she indicated and watched as she buckled him in and then did the same to herself. In front of him, he could see the rest of the crew. Some of them were engaged in bringing the ship ever closer to a purple and black sphere straight ahead of them. Captain Travis was issuing orders, his voice calm, his gaze fixed forward.

“All crew. Landing procedures will commence in one minute.” Slavin said. “Make sure you are in your approved seating. Thank you.”

The engines under his feet changed tone and roared deeper now, making the floor tremble and the upcoming planet tip alarmingly to one side. He fought back a desire to puke by swallowing hard and grabbed the armrest of his chair. Just as he did, a coil snaked out from behind his neck and wrapped itself around his throat and then into his ear and nose. He jerked forward with a growl.

“Don’t fight it, Einarr. It won’t hurt you. It’s just a precautionary safety measure in case the ship loses life support.”

Frey had obviously anticipated his desire to rip out the coiled wire and wrestle the thing to the ground. He tried to relax as the ship maneuvered again and came back toward the planet at some speed. Closing his eyes and praying seemed like the best option available, so he did that. Slavin’s voice continued to talk softly in his ear as she guided the ship in, communicating with someone on the ground at every step.

He kept his eyes closed, even when the noise diminished and he felt the bump of solid ground beneath him, and breathed a prayer to the Gods.

“Ship is secured. Safety devices will deactivate in thirty seconds,” Slavin said. “Captain Travis requests that Tecky stay with our guest and disembark last.”

“Copy that.” Frey said.

He remained in his seat until the web of wires retreated and he surreptitiously rubbed his throat. The crew filed out glancing curiously at him and smiling at Frey who didn’t say a word. At last, only he, Frey, and Captain Travis were left on the bridge. He wished he had his weapons. He had a sense that his welcome might not be as benign as Frey expected.

Travis came over, his expression guarded.

“Science Officer Frey, fall in behind me and the Viking and proceed to the docking bay.”

“Yes, sir.”

Einarr held out his hand. “Where are my weapons?”

“They have already been taken off the ship. I’m sure the personnel at Alpha Three will return them to you when they deem you sufficiently rehabilitated.”

“I would prefer to have them now.”

Travis sighed. “There is nothing to fear here, Viking. No one wants to hurt a hair on your head. You are a scientific miracle. Trust me. They want to keep you alive.

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