Spacer Clans Adventure 1: Naero's Run

by Mason Elliott

  Naero hung her head. She just had to get through the next three years. Serve out her time.

  Despite Zalvano’s warning, the bridge was dark when they walked in. It sounded like a gang of thugs fought and cursed further in out of sight, smashing and trashing everything with clubs.

  Zalvano actually drew his blaster and fired into the celling to interrupt the chaotic madness.

  “All right, you scum. Fall to attention. Get some lights on, damn it. Captain Maeris is here to inspect this hole.”

  Aunt Sleak strode forward. Naero trudged in behind, hesitant to even look up.

  Pale yellow work lights flickered on.

  Naero lifted her eyes.

  Her friends stood there to either side.

  All of them saluting her.

  Chaela and Saemar, Tyber and Zhen, even Tarim.

  All five of them shouted, “Welcome aboard, Captain.”

  Naero’s mouth fell open. She turned to her aunt and Zalvano.

  They just grinned.

  Aunt Sleak knelt and activated the glowing, golden vertical rank bands that shot back up both her arms. “You’ve got your work cut out for you, but I think you can handle it, Captain Maeris.”

  “But you said the captain was a–”

  Aunt Sleak smirked again and rested a hand on her shoulder. “You come from a long proud line of them. Serve your crew, your fleet, and your Clan well. Good fortune to you, Captain. Safe journey. Launch when you’re ready. Sign the contracts and pay me a cred when you get the chance.”

  “But I thought I was being punished?”

  “Who says you’re not? I still get fifty-percent off the top for the next three years. Can you live with that?”

  Naero grimaced; that was a lot of creds. “I guess I’ll have to.”

  “Good. Now get your asses to work.”

  Her friends clapped and cheered. Naero hugged Aunt Sleak, then Zalvano.

  Tarim spoke up, once the brass had left.

  “Orders, Captain?”

  Naero thought her face might pop, she grinned so hard.

  “Hop to it, crew. Get this crate in the air.”

  Chaela became first mate and pilot; Saemar co-pilot and navigator; Tyber her tek and engineer; Zhen her medical officer; and Tarim, her gunner and security.

  The Bolabba barely ran two hundred and fifty tons, with one main cargo bay and loading hatches fore and aft. Ship’s boats consisted of one transport and one sloop. For defense it had one top pulse turret, and one bottom missile turret.

  In her absence, her friends doctored the ship to make it look worse than it was, all for dramatic effect.

  Now they put her back to rights.

  First, they re-attached the missing front nose section of the ship. The missing head of the toad, housing all of their com, nav, and sensor arrays packed into its streamlined length. After that, their ship looked much improved.

  Once they and their fixers put things in order, Tyber proudly boasted, “Now she’ll manage Jump-7.”

  Naero gaped again. “Jump-7 on an old junker like this? How is that possible, even with the fixers?”

  Baeven stepped out of the engineering room, wiping his hands. “I’ve taken the liberty of installing a few modifications of my own here and there, with the help of your crew, of course.” He winked at Tyber.

  Naero ran to Baeven and hugged him.

  “Consider it your birthday present, Naero. You’ve more than earned it. Tomorrow you come of age. Your mother would have been so extremely proud. Your father too.” Naero kissed him on both cheeks.

  “Thank you, Uncle Kean.” His face grew very grave.

  “I have not earned the right to that name again yet.”

  Naero took both his hands and looked him in the eyes.

  “To me you have.”

  He looked down for a moment and smiled sadly, shaking his head. “Perhaps one day. Let’s stick to ‘Baeven’ for now, shall we?”

  “Sure.”

  “Your ship should be ready to launch by morning. You’ll be needing this.” Baeven placed a large crystal bottle of expensive champagne in her hands.

  “Goody. The crew and I will have fun sucking this down.”

  Baeven chuckled. “No, it’s not for imbibing, Naero. As captain, you must name your ship, and christen it with this by smashing the bottle against the nose of your vessel as your declare her new name.”

  “Seems like a waste.”

  “Just do it. It’s an old custom.” His tone grew serious. “What of your new abilities? The voice in your head from the Kexxian Matrix you told me about? Have any of them returned?”

  Naero shook her head. “Not yet. Nothing. I’m beginning to wonder if I burned them all out completely somehow.”

  “It is possible, but I doubt it. Such abilities are unpredictable and dangerous to everyone around you. If any of those powers do return, you’ll need to be tested by the Spacer Mystics. Perhaps they can help determine exactly what they are.”

  “I thought the Mystics wanted you dead?”

  Baeven smiled. “It’s a growing club. They’ll need to wait their turn. Yet, perhaps they can help you with your problem. Are you still having the strange dreams?”

  Naero nodded. “Every night.”

  “Contact the Spacer Mystics through Klyne; I’m guessing they’ll be more than intrigued by your case. Well, I do happen to be a wanted man still, so I’d better be on my way. This is your time, Captain Maeris. Use it well.”

  “Of course. Will we see you again, uncle?”

  “Most certainly. If you’re anything like the rest of the blasted family, you’re bound to get yourself into some dire peril and require my assistance at some point in the future.”

  Naero laughed, hugged him again. Baeven departed.

  Early the next morning, Naero signed the contracts and changed the codes of her ship’s registry. Just before they departed, she went out with her crew.

  “I name you, The Flying Dagger!” She smashed the big bottle against the nose cone, in a splash of delicious-smelling liquor and sparkling shards.

  “First ship in the merchant fleet of Naero Amashin Maeris and friends. May you always speed true!”

  They climbed aboard, sealed up, took their flight positions and prepared to launch. Naero lounged in her green captain’s gel chair, behind her two pilots.

  “Plot a course, Captain?” Chaela asked. “Our hold’s full of trade goods your aunt sent over. Where to?”

  Naero smiled. “Wherever the deals take us, my friends. Take her up Chae. Just get us up there.”

  The Flying Dagger launched into a clear blue sky from the Yalana-6 starport, as the sun rose over that continent.

  Naero drew her energy cutlass and saluted the heavens.

  “To my parents and Gallan, in their memory and to their honor,” Naero shouted.

  As one, her crew raised their fists and echoed her tribute. They belonged to the stars, and the stars belonged to everyone.

  That’s what Spacers know.

  THE END

  Call for Book Reviews

  If you enjoyed the book you just finished reading, please help me. In the competitive world of publishing I get lost in a sea of millions of authors. Besides buying my books (thank you!), the next best thing that you can do to help me is post a cogent review. Just a few sentences describing what you liked about my book, on one or more of the sites below, will help my career more than you an imagine.

  Amazon Review Link

  http://www.amazon.com/Naeros-Run-Spacer-Adventure-Volume/product-reviews/1930451040/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

  Barnes & Noble Review Link

  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/reviews/Naeros-Run%2FMason-Elliott/1113853937?ean=2940015957310

  Good Reads Review Link

  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17132259-naero-s-run

  Other Review Sites

  Share on Google+

  Pinterest

  Reddit

  Deliciou
s

  Stumble Upon It!

  Please post one or more reviews for me. Thank you once again. –Cheers, Mason.

  Please Join my New Releases Mailing List

  http://eepurl.com/BltPD

  Be first to learn about my new releases. I promise that I will not share your info or spam you. I will use the list only to inform you when I have something new published.

  About the Author

  Mason Elliott grew up loving Science Fiction and Fantasy in all of their myriad forms. That love has transferred into his dedicated writing. Like most writers he lives a spartan lifestyle and yearns to quit his day job, devote his life even more to his writing, and someday retire on the Pacific coast. So be a fan, buy his stuff and enjoy!

  Like and follow Mason on Facebook at:

  https://www.facebook.com/masonelliott731

  And on Twitter at:

  masonelliott7

  Visit Mason Elliott’s website and blog at:

  masonelliott@authorcontacts.com

  And for even more information on Mason Elliott and his works, visit High Mark Publishing online at:

  www.HighMarkPublishing.com

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  First I would like to dedicate this book to my own Spacer clan: my family.

  Next, I would like to thank the kind folks at High Mark Publishing for supporting and believing in this series. Special gratitude to managing editor Jennifer Cummings, the publishing board, and publicist Josh Marten. Without their kind and attentive help, this project might not have become a reality. And finally, I would like to thank my online writing group, my fellow toilers in the salt mines, who always have my back.

  Please enjoy the following teaser…and excerpt, from the next Spacer Clans Adventure:

  NAERO’S

  GAMBIT

  by Mason Elliott

  Klyne set the huge Mystic testing room to muted gray. Smartwalls, floor, and ceiling. No equipment visible, no padding.

  The lights were set down low.

  From experience, Naero knew that in a training room, just about anything could pop up out of anywhere.

  She wore nothing but her black Nytex flight togs.

  To her surprise, Klyne and his two adepts wore dark gray Nytex togs also, with hoods pulled up over their heads. Only their keen eyes showed. All three looked to be in top physical condition.

  One of the adepts was female with huge green eyes and light freckles across her nose. The other was male, with the black slanted eyes of the Li-Kim Clans.

  If black was the color of Spacers, the Mystics traditionally wore gray.

  They all sat with their legs crossed in lotus fashion, focusing their abilities through meditation, and mental discipline. They formed a triangle, each about three meters apart.

  “Follow our instructions,” Klyne said. “Take your place among us. Sit in the center; sit as we do, face the instructor.”

  A circle of white light appeared at the center of the triangle. Naero walked over and sat down in it, facing Klyne. Her skin barely began to tingle.

  A ring of similar light appeared, including the instructor and his two adepts.

  Every hair on Naero’s body went stiff with electric force.

  “You have chosen to come before the circle of Spacer Mystics to be tested for Mystic training. Speak your name.”

  “Naero Amashin Maeris.”

  “You agree to be tested?”

  “I do.”

  “I am Klyne, the instructor. My assistants are Adept Iselle, and Adept Makita. We shall refer to you as Adept Candidate Naero. Follow our instructions. Respond only if asked to respond. If you require any medical attention, it will be administered at the end of the testing. Until then, you are expected to endure and continue to do your best. If you understand, say yes.”

  “Yes.”

  “The training will begin. Defend yourself.”

  Without warning, Makita’s attack smashed into her.

  She blocked one or two out every four or five blows.

  A snap-wheel kick sent her flying twenty meters, nearly winding her.

  The only things that saved her at all, once again, were the experience and knowledge she gained from her training sessions with Baeven.

  Makita proved stronger and faster than her, but he still paled in comparison to the outcast’s terrifying prowess.

  Makita charged her.

  Naero met him part way.

  She took several punishing strikes, but flipped him hard to the ground.

  He swept her legs.

  They tangled on the ground, wrestling, slipping out of holds, twisting like snakes. They pummeled each other all the while.

  They broke, crouched low, and launched themselves at each other again, like Telurian fighting blue cranes.

  Naero landed one kick on the side of Makita’s head.

  He clipped her under the chin, grabbed her leg and ankle and swung her hard into the floor, stunning her.

  She struggled to get up.

  For a few dizzy moments, she couldn’t.

  She rose up and staggered back into her fighting stance.

  She half-smiled.

  “Come on.”

  Makita bowed his head, just slightly, and drew back.

  “Defend yourself, “Klyne said again.

  Naero whirled to face Iselle.

  Too late.

  An invisible force slammed into her arms and torso, flinging her back.

  She rolled with the strike and came back up into her stance.

  Iselle fought her from a distance, punching and striking with her hands in rapid combinations.

  Naero struggled to advance, to close the distance between them, while heavy, unseen blows rained down on her from every direction, knocking her one way, and then the other.

  “Telekinetic combat,” Klyne called out. “Try to sense and block the blows. You cannot see them. Reach out with your battle senses. With your mind. Feel them coming. Counter and deflect them. True masters can fight thus without even moving, simply by concentrating.”

  At least Iselle still had to physically move in order to project her attacks. That was some help.

  Closer. Get closer.

  Iselle thrust both hands forward violently.

  A wall of force drove Naero slowly back. She pushed against it, slowing it even more.

  “Resist. Focus on the energy before you,” Klyne told her, “before it smashes you into the far wall. Fight back. Defeat it.”

  She rolled to one side and then the other. The barrier felt solid.

  Naero leaped up four meters, felt the top, and flipped herself over it.

  Iselle withdrew a step, cupping both hands loosely on the sides of her face.

  Spinning orbs of pure telekinetic force shot out, rapid-fire.

  Naero barely perceived them where they warped through the air; they made an explosive popping sound.

  She tried to dodge them. One whirred past her head like an invisible ball at high speed.

  The next clipped her left shoulder, spinning her aside.

  Another knocked one leg out from under her.

  She kept her feet and ducked, weaving to either side in turns.

  Iselle directed her attack at Naero’s feet.

  She lost her footing, slipping and sliding on what felt like a bunch of invisible ball bearings cast beneath her.

  She tried to roll back to her feet, but panes of force battered her from all sides, keeping her off balance.

  It felt like being a rubber ball, bouncing around in a box that someone shook.

  The sides of the box rapidly closed in.

  They tightened all around her, threatening to crush her.

  She couldn’t breathe.

  Iselle released her without warning.

  Naero sprawled, gasping, face down on the floor.

  “I’m somewhat surprised,” Klyne noted. “Preliminary tests demonstrate no psyonic aptitude or innate talent to my trained senses whatsoever. That in itself is very rare. After
your battle with the former Danner entity, we simply assumed that you would exhibit some kind of psyonic ability.”

  “I burned myself out dealing with Danner. I burned both of us out. I’m a nud once more.” She admitted it openly. “None of my former abilities have returned.”

  So she wasn’t psyonic anymore. Not even a teknomancer. Disappointing, but not the end of the universe.

  “Yet I sense something incredibly strange within you,” Klyne said. “What could it be?”

  Was it Om? He was still inside her somewhere. He had not emerged again either.

  “Take your place at the center of us once more.”

  Naero did so, resisting an urge to massage several bruises.

  Klyne suddenly appeared directly in front of her, sitting lotus fashion just like her and the others.

  “I’m going to attempt to merge directly with your mind telepathically, one of my gifts. I’m also an Auralcognitor. Once I link to your mind, I can sense any type of psyonic energy field you might have, active, passive, or latent. I might even be able to trigger or bring them out to the surface. There might be some discomfort. Shall we proceed?”

  “Sure.”

  “Do as I do. I will show you how to place your hands to effect the mind merge.”

  Klyne cupped his left hand firmly behind the base of her skull.

  Naero followed his lead.

  He placed the fingers of his right hand on precise spots on her face.

  Thumb on her forehead, directly between her eyes.

  Index finger on her left temple.

  The next two fingers curled slightly in front of her left ear. His smallest finger hooked at the point of her ear and jaw.

  As soon as Naero placed her right hand the same way, she gasped slightly.

  Thin hairs of what felt like burning hot energy threaded their way slowly through the layers of her awareness.

  She could feel Klyne connecting with her thoughts, joining their two minds.