Alien Hunters (Alien Hunters Book 1) by Daniel Arenson

Author:Daniel Arenson [Arenson, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: azw
Publisher: Moonclipse
Published: 2015-01-18T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN:

HYPERSPACE

The HMS Dragon Huntress stood back in Pyrite City, its mission completed, its payment collected.

Riff stood in the hangar, staring up at his starship. A deep, satisfied sigh ran through him.

"She's looking good, Captain." Nova came to stand beside him, her golden armor silent as she moved. She gave him a crooked smile. "Proud of your new home?"

He nodded and slipped his hand into hers. They stood together, watching as robots bustled across the ship, scrubbing off the rust and applying a fresh coat of paint. At the engines, Piston and Twig stood on ladders, installing new hyperfuel cubes.

"She's beautiful," Riff said softly.

With the tardigrade gone, Myron had paid them the promised one thousand credits, even adding a three hundred credit tip. Since then, Riff had been spending.

"A thousand credits for hyperfuel," he said, watching as Twig dropped a wrench, incurring a stream of curses from Piston. "A fifty credit bonus to Twig. Two hundred credits for a wash and paint job." He hefted the little bobblehead bulldog in his hand. "And ten credits for this, a little gift to our dear Giga."

And yet along with his pride, a sense of deep disappointment filled him. Nova saw and leaned against him.

"I'm sorry we heard no word of your dad here." She stroked his hair, and her green eyes were soft. "Wherever the pirilian girl hides, I have a feeling we'll find him."

Riff nodded, a lump in his throat. For long hours, he and Steel had walked through the bars and clubs of Pyrite City, asking about a traveling magician with a long white beard and wooden staff. None had seen Aminor Starfire here in years.

Riff stared at the ship, watching the robots paint the hull. The ship, once a bucket of rusty bolts, suddenly looked almost presentable.

I wish you were here with me, Dad, Riff thought.

"Come on, Nov." He squeezed her hand. "Looks like Piston's done installing the hyperfuel. It's time to fly on. To Cirona. To find Midnight . . . and maybe answers."

The robot painters applied the last few strokes, then bustled off to another ship in the hangar. Piston and Twig climbed off their ladder and brushed their hands against their pants.

"Just hope Romy doesn't drink this fuel," Piston said. "Expensive stuff, hyperfuel. Made with pyrite, you know."

Twig nodded. "I like how it smells." The halfling's nostrils flared. "Hyperfuel. Best smell in the world."

They climbed back into the ship together. Piston and Twig both climbed down into to the engine room. Romy was pacing up in the attic; Steel had managed to draw the demon up there using some chocolate milk as bait, and the knight now stood in the main deck, sword in hand, guarding the loft's hatch.

"If the beast tries to escape again," Steel said, "I shall slay her."

Riff patted his brother's shoulder. "No slaying necessary. Just keep her locked up and away from the fuel."

Steel nodded grimly. "By my honor, I swear it shall be done."

Riff continued walking through the ship. He climbed the stairs inside the dragon's neck, Nova walking behind him, and they stepped back onto the bridge.

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