Pandora's Menagerie: Warp Riders 4 by Scott Baron

Author:Scott Baron [Baron, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-07-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Nine

While Sadira and Artie had taken an unintentionally longer route back, Hellatz and Moose had backtracked their original path and were nearly through the sandy expanse while their captain was fleeing for her life. Much as they bitched and moaned about the unsure footing across the desolate landscape, had either known what she was facing not so far away they’d have counted themselves lucky.

Once they had made their way back to the pathway on the far side the going was much faster, and the pair was back at the ship in no time. Everything appeared just as they had left it.

“Goon, we have any company while we were away?” Moose asked as they rushed into the ship’s command center.

“You are back.”

“That we are.”

“There was nothing here. No attempted incursions, no unwanted visitors. Nothing.”

“Well, not quite nothing,” Holly added.

Moose arched his brow. “Oh? What’s up, Hol?”

“I can’t say for sure. It wasn’t much of a signal, and I have had to keep my external scans dialed down so far they may as well be off.”

“But?”

“But there was something out there,” the AI replied. “I don’t know what, but there were traces of a life reading.”

Hellatz shook his head. “Just great. All of this scanning tech and we can’t use it,” he lamented. “The sooner we get off this station the better.”

“No doubt,” Moose agreed. “Listen, we found the pirates’ location and are taking them down. Holly, you need to keep ready in case things go sideways, but otherwise, it’ll be the four of us taking Ace and Hel’s ship over there to drop these clowns.”

“Four? Don’t you mean six?” Goonara asked.

“Nope. Hump’s already there lying low and keeping an eye on things until we get back. The captain and Artie are on their way back, and as soon as they get here we’ll be heading out.”

“But what about me?”

“Goon, there’s going to be fighting, and we need someone here to help Holly if things get weird,” Moose said with a sympathetic look. “We’d love to have you fly with us, but keeping Holly safe and sound is our number one priority.”

Holly knew she could protect herself just fine on her own, but she saw through Mustafa’s little ruse. He was worried Goonara would become a liability in hand-to-hand combat. Really, it wasn’t too far of a stretch to see where he was probably right. He just didn’t want to be rude and come right out and say it.

“Well…” the scientist began.

“Great. We’re going to gear up and load the ships. We fly as soon as the captain is back.”

With that the two men rushed off to gather up firearms and gear for their ships. They didn’t think they’d need to use the guns, but having them along just in case was the only option when outnumbered as they were. If they were downed, they’d sure as hell need them.

In the armory, Moose scooped up a bandolier of grenades and tossed them across his back while he slung a pair of pulse rifles and two pistol belts over his shoulders.

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