by David Adams
“I’m not detecting a heartbeat,” said Anne.
Chainsaw extended the bioprobes, linking them to his chest. “Anne, inject adrenaline. Clear!”
“You don’t have say ‘clear’,” said Anne. “Adrenaline does not work that way.”
Pavlov’s body jerked.
“Again,” said Chainsaw. “Give him more.”
“Too much and he’ll die,” said Anne. “Based on the amount of ice growth, he must have been outside for six minutes or more. I have no idea how he’s survived this long. He’s going to win the Military Academy Medal for Medicine if he survives.”
“Just save him,” said Chainsaw. “Give him another shot.”
Pavlov jerked again, and then—with a pained gasp—opened his eyes.
“Comrade,” said Chainsaw, popping off her helmet with a hiss, “I think you owe me a drink now.”
“Don’t,” wheezed Pavlov, “call me comrade.” He smiled just a little.
She smiled back. “You look like hell.”
“Yeah, well,” said Pavlov, groaning softly, “I’ve had a hell of a day.”
Chainsaw laugh-snorted. “That’s what happens when you drink rubbing alcohol.”
“We learn something new every day.” Pavlov pushed himself up onto his elbows. “It is not good for you.”
She could have told him that. Chainsaw touched the side of his neck, just checking his pulse. It was weak, but he wasn’t going to die just yet. “Okay,” she said, “so, next question, ground pounder…what the fuck are you doing out here?”
“It’s a long story,” said Pavlov. “I’ll tell you on the way.”
“On the way?” Chainsaw blinked. “To where?”
“Vitaly Three,” said Pavlov, the urgency on his face palpable. “The planet of those crazies. We have to q-jump to the Khorsky sector. We have to, Borislava. You have to trust me.”
It was nuts. It was against rules and regulations. Her flight plan was already locked in—Kiev Prime. They would know the moment she overrode the autopilot.
Maybe they’d let her go. Maybe they’d shoot her down. It was unlikely to succeed—it was a stupid risk. Crazy even.
But she’d seen a lot of crazy lately.
“Sure,” she said. “Let’s go to Vitaly Three. What can go wrong?”
The story continues in “Khorsky”, book two of the Khorsky Incident Trilogy! Coming soon!
Meanwhile, check out some of my other military sci-fi novels: Symphony of War and Lacuna!
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