by M. D. Cooper
It surprised Jessica that even after they’d bearded the dragon in its lair, everyone still expected the AST to eventually take the entire system.
Of course, she hadn’t told them about the ISF destroyers that would arrive before long. There was no need to risk that information making its way back to the Heegs before the relief ships arrived.
Once they did, things would change in Virginis.
Hopefully for the better.
Other than a few dozen AIs who had friends on Cerka, the one person who hadn’t left with the Brooke, or the refugees, was Jinx.
Jessica had listened to the AI’s almost pleading request to remain with the crew with bemused interest before granting it.
There was no doubt about it, Jinx was an interesting person. In some respects, she was old and jaded, having spent decades within an AST destroyer’s nav systems. But that hadn’t dampened her enthusiasm for life once she’d fully embraced the fact that it was hers to live.
Jessica had warned Jinx that things were often not safe aboard Sabrina, and there were few guarantees, but the AI had said she’d face those head on. For the time being at least.
Jessica’s ruminations were interrupted as she walked into the galley, spotting Trevor at the stove, cracking eggs into a pan.
“Happy to have a bit more breathing room on the ship?” she asked as she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his chest.
“Not as happy as Misha is,” Trevor said as he reached around and pulled Jessica tight against himself. “He says he’s exhausted and hated every minute, but I think he really liked cooking for four hundred—mind you, these are the last eggs on the ship. We need serious resupply.”
“Last eggs?” Jessica asked in mock fear. “Whatever shall we do?”
“I think we should get chickens.”
Jessica barked a laugh. “OK…that’s about the last thing I expected to hear.”
“I like to keep you guessing,” Trevor said as he turned and lifted Jessica onto her tiptoes to kiss her full on the lips.
“You can keep me doing whatever you want if I get kisses like that,” Jessica whispered once he set her back down.
“That’s sorta my M.O.” Trevor looked Jessica up and down, his pupils dilating in appreciation. “I like the white. It’s a good look on you.”
Jessica tilted her hips suggestively. “It was sparkly and hard to resist. Plus, the shop’s owner gave me a huge discount.”
“I bet you would have bought it anyway. You love to shimmer.”
“No argument here. Oh hey, flip my eggs. I like them a bit runny.”
“Your eggs?”
“Well, we can share, I guess.”
“Hey! Whoa!” Misha said as he strode into the galley. “What are you doing with my eggs?!”
Trevor looked down at the skillet. “Uhh…cooking them?”
“Dude. I was going to make a cake to celebrate. Now what am I going to do?”
“See?” Trevor nodded sagely. “If we had chickens, this wouldn’t be a problem.”
Jessica was about to reply when Sabrina interrupted her.
“Sabrina….” Jessica placed a hand on her forehead knowing that dissuading the AI would be unlikely.
Trevor chuckled, and wrapped an arm around Jessica. “Oh we know, Sabs. We know.”
THE END
* * * * *
The crew of Sabrina’s adventures in the Virginis System have nearly come to an end, but their stay might be extended if the AST decides to press their advantage in A Victory and a Crushing Defeat.
But before those events, a new friend arrives, looking for Tanis, but finds something else entirely. Check out the Star Magi crossover book: Anomaly at Cerka, written with Andrew Dobell.
* * * * *
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If you liked this book, and are enjoying the adventures of Jessica and Sabrina, please leave a review, it means a lot to me.
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Thank you for taking the time to read A Surreptitious Rescue of Friends and Foes, and I look forward to seeing you again in the next book!
THE BOOKS OF AEON 14
Keep up to date with what is releasing in Aeon 14 with the free Aeon 14 Reading Guide.
Origins of Destiny (The Age of Terra)
- Prequel: Storming the Norse Wind
- Book 1: Tanis Richards: Shore Leave
- Book 2: Tanis Richards: Masquerade
- Book 3: Tanis Richards: Blackest Night
- Book 4: Tanis Richards: Kill Shot (November 2018)
The Intrepid Saga (The Age of Terra)
- Book 1: Outsystem
- Book 2: A Path in the Darkness
- Book 3: Building Victoria
- The Intrepid Saga Omnibus – Also contains Destiny Lost, book 1 of the Orion War series
- Destiny Rising – Special Author’s Extended Edition comprised of both Outsystem and A Path in the Darkness with over 100 pages of new content.
The Orion War
- Books 1-3 Omnibus (includes Ignite the Stars anthology)
- Book 1: Destiny Lost
- Book 2: New Canaan
- Book 3: Orion Rising
- Book 4: The Scipio Alliance
- Book 5: Attack on Thebes
- Book 6: War on a Thousand Fronts
- Book 7: Precipice of Darkness
- Book 8: Airtha Ascendancy (Nov 2018)
- Book 9: The Orion Front (2019)
- Book 10: Starfire (2019)
- Book 11: Race Across Time (2019)
- Book 12: Return to Sol (2019)
Tales of the Orion War
- Book 1: Set the Galaxy on Fire
- Book 2: Ignite the Stars
- Book 3: Burn the Galaxy to Ash (2019)
Perilous Alliance (Age of the Orion War – w/Chris J. Pike)
- Book 1: Close Proximity
- Book 2: Strike Vector
- Book 3: Collision Course
- Book 4: Impact Imminent
- Book 5: Critical Inertia
- Book 6: Impulse Shock (Dec 2018)
Rika’s Marauders (Age of the Orion War)
- Book 1-3 Omnibus: Rika Activated
- Prequel: Rika Mechanized
- Book 1: Rika Outcast
- Book 2: Rika Redeemed
- Book 3: Rika Triumphant
- Book 4: Rika Commander
- Book 5: Rika Infiltrator
- Book 6: Rika Unleashed
- Book 7: Rika Conqueror (Dec 2018)
Perseus Gate (Age of the Orion War)
Season 1: Orion Space
- Episode 1: The Gate at the Grey Wolf Star
- Episode 2: The World at the Edge of Space
- Episode 3: The Dance on the Moons of Serenity
- Episode 4: The Last Bastion of Star City
- Episode 5: The Toll Road Between the Stars
- Episode 6: The Final Stroll on Perseus’s Arm
- Eps 1-3 Omnibus: The Trail Through the Stars
- Eps 4-6 Omnibus: The Path Amongst the Clouds
Season 2: Inner Stars
- Episode 1: A Meeting of Bodies and Minds
- Episode 2: A Deception and a Promise Kept
- Episode 3: A Surreptitious Rescue of Friends and Foes
- Episode 4: A Victory and a Crushing Defeat (2019)
- Episode 5: A Trial and the Tribulations (2019)
- Episode 6: A Deal and a True Story Told (2019)
- Episode 7: A New Empire and An Old Ally (2019)
Season 3: AI Empire
- Episode 1: Restitution and Recompense (2019)
- Five more episodes following…
The Warlord (Before the Age of the Orion War)
- Books 1-3 Omnibus: The Warlord of Midditerra
- Book 1: The Woman Without a World
- Book 2: The Woman Who Seized an Empire
- Book 3: The Woman Who Lost Everything
The Sentience Wars: Origins (Age of the Sentience Wars – w/James S. Aaron)
- Books 1-3 Omnibus: Lyssa’s Rise
- Book 1: Lyssa’s Dream
- Book 2: Lyssa’s Run
- Book 3: Lyssa’s Flight
- Book 4: Lyssa’s Call
- Book 5: Lyssa’s Flame
Legends of the Sentience Wars (Age of the Sentience Wars – w/James S. Aaron)
- Volume 1: The Proteus Bridge
- Volume 2: Vesta Burning (Fall 2018)
Enfield Genesis (Age of the Sentience Wars – w/Lisa Richman)
- Book 1: Alpha Centauri
- Book 2: Proxima Centauri
- Book 3: Tau Ceti (November 2018)
- Book 4: Epsilon Eridani (2019)
Hand’s Assassin (Age of the Orion War – w/T.G. Ayer)
- Book 1: Death Dealer
- Book 2: Death Mark (2019)
Machete System Bounty Hunter (Age of the Orion War – w/Zen DiPietro)
- Book 1: Hired Gun
- Book 2: Gunning for Trouble
- Book 3: With Guns Blazing
Vexa Legacy (Age of the FTL Wars – w/Andrew Gates)
- Book 1: Seas of the Red Star
Building New Canaan (Age of the Orion War – w/J.J. Green)
- Book 1: Carthage
- Book 2: Tyre
- Book 3: Troy (2019)
- Book 4: Athens (2019)
Fennington Station Murder Mysteries (Age of the Orion War)
- Book 1: Whole Latte Death (w/Chris J. Pike)
- Book 2: Cocoa Crush (w/Chris J. Pike)
The Empire (Age of the Orion War)
- Book 1: The Empress and the Ambassador (2018)
- Book 2: Consort of the Scorpion Empress (2019)
- Book 3: By the Empress’s Command (2019)
The Sol Dissolution (The Age of Terra)
- Book 1: Venusian Uprising (2018)
- Book 2: Scattered Disk (2018)
- Book 3: Jovian Offensive (2019)
- Book 4: Fall of Terra (2019)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Cooper likes to think of himself as a jack-of-all-trades (and hopes to become master of a few). When not writing, he can be found writing software, working in his shop at his latest carpentry project, or likely reading a book.
He shares his home with a precocious young girl, his wonderful wife (who also writes), two cats, a never-ending list of things he would like to build, and ideas…
Find out what’s coming next at www.aeon14.com
