Ember in Space The Collection by Rebecca Rode

Author:Rebecca Rode
Language: eng
Format: epub

Ember felt the cluster of human souls long before the Empire ship was visible. Over six hundred, a quarter of them the flickers, who were gathered in a single room. The others were workers and soldiers going about their business. It was exactly what she’d expected.

But she’d also expected to sense dozens of officials and a few commanders. To her surprise, there wasn’t a single one on board.

She tried to stay calm, refusing to worry about it. In fact, maybe it was a good thing. It meant lower security.

Or a trap.

Reina, for all her nonchalance, was the first to spot the Empire ship as it came into view. Her voice was low and calm as she said, “It’s up ahead. We’re almost there.”

The cabin filled with the sound of clicks as everyone yanked their harnesses off and ran to the window. Ember and Ruben, seated across the aisle, were the only ones who remained seated.

“What a piece of junk,” Brennan said.

That caught her attention. Now she leaned over, trying to catch a glimpse out her own window. The ship was far larger than she’d expected for so few lives aboard. The usual Empire banner was painted across the hull, of course. But the white parts had aged to a dull yellow, the blue faded. The hull was plastered with shoddy patches. Too many jaunts through asteroid fields, it seemed.

“Looks like somebody stole a cargo ship and painted it themselves,” Reina said, glancing at Ember. “Please tell me that isn’t our destination.”

Ruben chuckled, turning to Ember with one leg propped over his knee as if ready for a good show.

“It does make sense,” Brennan said, making his way back to his duffel bag. Mateo and Tam rushed to take his place, whispering to each other as Brennan continued. “They wouldn’t gather all their flickers under heavy security on some huge vessel. That’s the first place we’d look.”

“With no superior officers, though?” Reina asked. Ember raised an eyebrow. So Reina had noticed too. “If I were setting a trap, I’d use the dumpiest ship I had in case my enemies tried to steal it.”

“They aren’t unguarded,” Brennan pointed out as he unzipped his bag. It was packed full of weapons. He retrieved an old pistol and shoved it into his belt holster. “There are tons of soldiers. Maybe they figured we flickers would spot any threat long before we arrived.”

Reina stubbornly folded her arms. “But there aren’t any other ships nearby, either. Doesn’t it feel odd to you that there’s this one rickety ship out in the middle of nowhere when the Empire keeps tight fleets? And this just happens to be the ship they use to have this ‘flicker training meeting?’ I say only an idiot would step foot onto that ship.”

“We came all this way,” Syd said as she found her seat again. She left her harness undone, hand unconsciously hovering over her stunner. “Besides, we have Ember. She’ll level every soldier on that ship before we even reach it.”

“It’s like she doesn’t even need us.

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