Gravity Flux: Kestrel Class Saga Book 3 by Toby Neighbors

Author:Toby Neighbors [Neighbors, Toby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Space Opera, Science Fiction
Publisher: Mythic Adventure Publishing
Published: 2019-08-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

Battle was nothing like he imagined. The smell of charred human flesh made him gag. People were screaming blood-curdling wails that stopped Ben cold in his tracks. He wanted to hide, to burrow down deep into the trash and debris until the mind-numbing terror passed, but Magnum wouldn’t let go of him.

“Keep moving!” Magnum shouted. “We’re almost there. Keep your head down, damn it!”

Despite his terror, Ben couldn’t keep from looking back. He saw Royal Imperium commandos firing from behind an old hauler. The usable parts from the vehicle’s repulsers had been stripped long ago, and the thick metal cargo bed was covered with rust. Ben saw six soldiers: three were wounded, one was clearly dead.

Magnum dragged Ben and Kim behind a small fuel cylinder that appeared to be in good shape. Been hoped none of the contents it had once transported still remained inside the large container.

“Looks like the Scalpers are all down,” Magnum said.

“But they’re still fighting,” Kim gasped.

“Yeah, and holding their own,” Magnum said. “It’s hard to tell who’s dead and who’s still alive.”

“Where did the soldiers come from?” Ben asked.

“They’ve been here,” Magnum said. “They’ve been watching the ship.”

“That means more are coming,” Kim said.

Ben looked over his shoulder. They were still twenty yards from the air lock on the side of the ship. He tapped his com-link.

“Nance?”

“Thank God you’re alive,” Nance said.

“We’re almost to the ship. You’ve got to get us in the air and out of here.”

“Just say the word,” Nance replied.

“Alright, stand by,” Ben said, muting the com-link. “How bad are you hurt, Kim?”

“I can get to the ship,” she said, but it was obvious from a glance that she was extremely weak.

“I’ll carry her,” Magnum said.

“Give me your rifle,” Ben said. “I’ll cover you. Mine is in the air lock. Get her inside, then you can cover my retreat.”

Magnum nodded.

“Wait,” Kim said grabbing hold of Ben’s shirt. Her hand was trembling, and he could tell that her grip was weak. Ben looked at her. “Why?”

“You know why,” Ben said. “I love you. I’ve always loved you.”

“Really?”

“I swear it,” Ben said. “I’d die for you, Kim. So don’t die on me.”

“Never,” she said, but her voice was weak.

Magnum handed Ben his Lancet AR. The rifle was fully charged. Ben checked the safety, then nodded.

“On three,” Magnum said.

He was squatting down, but he lifted Kim as if she were weightless.

“One,” Ben said.

Kim leaned against Magnum’s chest and closed her eyes.

“Two,” Magnum said.

Ben pulled the stock of the rifle against his shoulder, took a deep breath, then shouted, “Three!” He popped up over the top of the gas cylinder and fired as fast as his finger could pull the trigger. Blazing red bolts flashed across the salvage yard and blew the fat man Hoya had called Slim to smoking chunks of meat. Trash and debris flew up as well, but Ben could already see that the outlaw leader was no longer cowering behind his fat companion.

Ben swiveled the gun and fired at three other targets.

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