The Outer World Chronicles: Books 1, 2, 3

by Arwen Chandler

  “Oh, I know where he is. That’s an easy one. He’s changed to the stump at the other end of the yard.” Jericho pointed to the opposite end of the prison.

  Gwyn followed his hand. At the end of the yard, slumped on the ground was Adrik.

  “What’d they do to him?” She started to leave, and Jericho grabbed her by the upper arm.

  “Don’t like Militarian here. Wait for supper, and I’ll help you get him.”

  “Will he be safe until then?”

  “Should be. They’ve already beat him twice.”

  Gwyn shivered. You’re going to pay for this Spearman.

  The supper bell chimed and inmates gathered at the feeding station located in the center of the yard. Gwyn kept a look-out while Jericho slid over to the post Adrik was tied to. Gwyn watched the remaining stragglers line up for food. Once the yard was clear, she followed Jericho to Adrik’s side. Jericho slid a shank from his sleeve and cut the ropes. Adrik stirred and started kicking.

  “Get off me.”

  “Shhhh. We’re trying to help you.”

  Adrik pulled the remaining ropes from his wrists and tried to stand. He wobbled but caught himself. “Who are you?”

  Gwyn slipped up behind him. “He’s Jericho, a friend of mine.”

  Adrik pulled Gwyn against him. He kissed her hard, and her head spun. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

  “You know me. Keep turning up like a bad engine coil.”

  “How’d you get here?”

  “Picked a fight with our jailer.” Her dark eyes sparkled.

  Adrik shook his head. “Gwyn, you shouldn’t have done it. It’s too dangerous for you here.”

  “Never mind that. We won’t be here long. Jericho’s going to help us escape.”

  The end of dinner bell chimed, and Jericho motioned them to the side of the yard. “Look we have to get out of sight. I know a place just around the corner. Follow me.”

  Adrik leaned on Gwyn as they followed Jericho. “So, what’s the plan?”

  “We’re going to get my ship back, and fly out of here.”

  “How’re you going to escape the atmosphere.”

  Gwyn laughed. “He knows a guy.”

  “Yep. We just need something to trade or get him involved with a game of Tarvish. You make it on the planet with anything Lieutenant Commander?”

  He shook his head. “No. Nothing.”

  Alright, Tarvish it is. “I’ll schedule a game for tonight. Meet me where you found me earlier, Gwyn.”

  “We’ll be there.”

  Jericho crossed the yard, stopping to talk to several people on his way back.

  “Looks like he’s setting it up.”

  Concern colored Adrik’s face. “You trust this guy, Gwyn?”

  “Sure. About as much as I trust you. He wants off this rock, and I’m his means to escape. He won’t double cross us.”

  “I hope not.” Adrik sat down on the ground.

  “Here, let me look at your face.” It was purple and bloody. There was a small crack in his bottom lip. “I’m going to go get some water. Be back in a minute.”

  Gwyn attached herself to a group of young women headed toward the water well. They wore flowing garments and were unusually clean for prisoners. She heard one woman explain to the others about the benefits of companionship, and how it would help them get by for the long years ahead. Gwyn’s stomach turned, and she wished she could help them. There’s no way. The woman stopped at the well and drew water. Gwyn waited, and then drew her own. She took a quick drink from the drinking spoon, before ripping a piece of cloth off the end of her shirt and soaking it in the water.

  “Do you need a bucket?” A dark-skinned woman held one out to her.

  “How much?”

  “One week’s meal rations.” She held the bucket just within reach.

  “That’s too much.”

  “Really, you see a better offer here?” She turned to leave.

  “Wait.” I’ll take it.” She handed her a ration card with one hand and grabbed the bucket with the other hand.

  The woman cackled and shoved the ration card between her breasts, and rejoined her friends.

  Gwyn filled the bucket and carried it back to Adrik. “If you only knew what I had to pay for this stupid bucket. Drink this.”

  Adrik took a long drink. “Thanks.”

  She carefully wiped the crusted blood from his face. “We’re getting out of here, and getting those crystals home. And, after that, I’m killing Admiral Spearman.”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. “Gwyn. Don’t make this about getting even. If it comes to that, I won’t stop you, but don’t set out for revenge. It doesn’t become you.”

  Anger flashed in her face. “How can you say that? After all, he’s done to you? To us?”

  “Strength of character. It’s the Militarian way.”

  She stood. “I’m not Militarian.”

  “But, I am, Gwyn. There were times on Raygus Prime I wanted to kill him. Especially, in the last few weeks. I hate what he’s done to you. At times, all I could think about were my hands wrapped around his throat squeezing the life out of him, but I can’t. Don’t you see? If we do that, we will deserve this place.”

  Her shoulders slumped. “I guess, but he can’t go unpunished.”

  Adrik put his hand on her shoulder. “He won’t, but for now, let it rest, Gwyn. Let’s just get out of here, and get those crystals home. That’s the mission.”

  For a moment, she couldn’t look him in the eyes. She sighed. “Okay. I’m going to concentrate on the mission.”

  The sky darkened, and the prison lights came on. “Should be about time, huh?”

  “Looks that way. Let’s get out of here.” Adrik laced his hand in hers and they stepped out into the yard.

  The raucous cacophony of men placing bets filled the small alcove. “You got this Jericho.” A slender young man patted his back. “Give it to him!”

  A large man, with a half-shaved head, and covered in tribal tattoos held the glass of dice in his hand.

  “Come on Horseman! Beat him!”

  His voice boomed. “Let me get this straight Jericho. Double or nothing?”

  “I’m game.” Jericho smiled, his filed teeth gleamed in the darkness.

  Horseman rolled, and the men cheered.

  Jericho held his dice in his cup. “Let’s make it interesting. I want an atmosphere convertor.”

  The man stroked his chin. “That’s a steep price, Jericho.”

  “Well, that’s my price.”

  Horseman grunted. “What do I get in return?”

  “My eternal gratitude?” Jericho laughed.

  “Going to take more than that.” Horseman spat tobacco onto the ground.

  Jericho shook his cup of dice. “Well, what do you want?”

  Horseman scratched his head. “A year’s worth of food rations.”

  A stunned silence filled the room.

  The slender young man yelled. “That’s a death sentence. Don’t do it.”

  Horseman chortled. “That’s the price. Take it or leave it.”

  Jericho looked at his dice. “Okay. A year’s worth of food rations, but I want to see the atmosphere convertor.”

  Horseman nodded at another man with shaved hair and tattoos, and he stepped out of the corner. He laid the convertor at their feet. Jericho picked it up and examined it. “Looks like it works.”

  “As far as I know.”

  “Deal.” Jericho dropped his ration card into the pile.

  Horseman rolled his dice. “Five threes.”

  Jericho rolled and looked at his dice. “Six fives.”

  The crowd murmured.

  Horseman yelled, “Tarvish.”

  Jericho smiled and lifted his cup. Six dice with five spots sat underneath.

  Horseman stiffened. “You’re a cheat!”

  Jericho grabbed the atmosphere convertor and his ration card. “Don’t call me a cheat. I won.” Jeric
ho pulled his shank from his sleeve. “Can any man here prove that I cheated?” He turned in a circle, swinging the knife. The silver blade gleamed in the light. “What you say?”

  The crowd was silent.

  “That’s what I thought.” Jericho ushered Gwyn and Adrik to his quarters. He sat the convertor on a crate.

  Gwyn stared out into the yard. “Wow. That was intense. Do you think they’ll retaliate?”

  “Probably.” Jericho grabbed a few things off his makeshift bookshelf, and through them into a bag.

  Adrik watched him through narrowed eyes, “You risked a lot, Jericho. What if you hadn’t won?”

  He turned. “Wasn’t a chance of that.”

  Gwyn scrunched her face. “What’d you mean?”

  “I cheated.”

  Adrik shook with laughter. “You’re crazy man.” He clapped Jericho on the back.

  “No. Just a smuggler.”

  Gwyn hooked her arm through Adrik’s. “He’s the best. Taught me everything I know.”

  “Where’d you two meet?”

  “On Tortuga. He’s my uncle.”

  ***

  Jericho handed Gwyn and Adrik a breather mask. “Put these on, because once we’re outside, the air is toxic.

  Gwyn fastened it to her face, making sure the seal was tight. “Where’d you get these?”

  “Oh, the guards leave them laying around. They don’t care if we pick them up. I mean where’d we go anyway? Hasn’t been a ship on here in ages, and never one with an atmosphere convertor. What’s the point in locking them up? Where are we going to go?”

  Adrik shrugged as he checked the seal on his mask. “Makes sense to me.”

  They followed Jericho from the building, and into the desert landscape. The wind whipped at their clothes and pushed against them. They struggled to stay upright, which made their journey arduous, but even in those conditions they were determined to reach Gwyn’s ship.

  The Pleiades was stored under a tarp, and the sides flapped wildly in the wind. Gwyn rushed to her side. “My baby! How can they store her this way? The manifolds are going to be filled with dust.” She inspected her ship. “It’ll fly, but I’m going to have to do some adjustments. Jericho, how long do you think before they notice we’re gone?”

  “They won’t. No one’s there to keep track of us. We live and die by our own hands. We make our own rules, but they may notice we’re fiddling with this ship, so whatever you got to do, make it fast. And keep her covered.”

  Gwyn ran a hand inside the manifolds. There was dust, but it wasn’t extremely thick. A few more days and the Pleiades wouldn’t have been flyable without a major overhaul. “Well, I can blow out the exhausts from the control panel, but we have to get the convertor installed before we do. Just to stay on the safe side. Adrik, would you grab my tool box?”

  “Sure thing.” He kept his hand on the ship and maneuvered his way to the cargo door.

  Jericho called after him, “Hey, Adrik. Keep your mask on in there, just in case.”

  Adrik stumbled in the darkness of the ship but found Gwyn’s toolbox in the galley. He retraced his steps until he found the door, and started outside. From inside the ship, the loud thud of a door closing filled caught his attention. He set the toolbox on the ground and grabbed the largest coil wrench Gwyn owned. He stepped back inside. He silently slipped through the cargo bay and crossed into the hall. A light shone in the darkness from out of his quarters. Quietly, he opened the door. A tattooed man with a shaved head was rummaging through his drawer. “Can I help you?”

  The man crouched into a fighter’s stance, then pounced toward him. Adrik stepped to the side and swung the wrench. It made full contact with the back of the intruder’s head, and he dropped to the ground. Adrik quickly tied his hands behind his back and drug him outside, before he retrieved the toolbox.

  “Gwyn, someone was in your ship.”

  “What? Where’d he come from?”

  Adrik shrugged. “No idea.”

  Jericho looked concerned, “Was he a guard?”

  “No, I don’t think so. He looked like a prisoner. He had a shaved head and was all tattooed up.”

  “Sounds like one of Horseman’s gang.” Jericho handed Gwyn the convertor. “Okay, kid. You get this installed, and we’ll check out the visitor.”

  She nodded.

  Jericho followed Adrik to the side of the ship.

  Adrik grabbed a handful of hair and pulled the unconscious man’s head backward. “Do you recognize him?”

  The man’s jaw was slack beneath his face mask.

  “He’s not from here. He’s a bounty hunter.”

  Adrik dropped the man’s head. “Well, he’s not getting this bounty.” He drug the man away from the ship, as Gwyn rounded the corner.

  “So, who is he?”

  “Jericho thinks he’s a bounty hunter.”

  “If there’s one, there’s more. We need to get out of here.”

  The trio climbed back through the door and Gwyn closed it behind them. “Alright. Pray this works.”

  Gwyn sat in the pilot seat. Adrik in the co-pilot, and Jericho in the passenger seat behind Gwyn. “Strap in guys. This is going to be bumpy.” She fired up the ignition and blew out the manifolds. “So far so good, no fire, and as far as I can tell, no one’s noticed.” She pressed the throttle forward and the Pleiades lurched. It slid out from under the tarp and into the atmosphere. “Are they going to come after us, Jericho?”

  “No. They won’t risk setting a fire in the sky. You make it out of here, the only thing you’ll have to worry about are the ships in orbit. Any luck we can slip right through.”

  Gwyn flipped a switch. “Got the neutralizer fixed while I was out there. Soon as we hit orbit, hit the button over there, Adrik.”

  He nodded. “Will do.”

  The Pleiades cracked through the sky and into the darkness of space. “Now, Adrik!”

  He pressed the button, and the Pleiades disappeared. “Course set for the Regalian asteroid. Auto pilot engaged.”

  A collective sigh filled the cabin.

  Gwyn turned to the men. “You guys hungry? I haven’t had tacos in ages.”

  Jericho’s eyes lit up. “Mama’s tacos?”

  Gwyn’s chuckled, “You know it.”

  Adrik licked his lips. “I’m starving. Last one to the galley, does the dishes.” He pushed past Jericho and Gwyn and raced down the hall.

  Chapter Nine

  The Pleiades touched down on the inside of the cavern. “Let’s get these crystals unloaded, I’m ready to get off this rock and back on Tortuga.”

  “Agreed.” Adrik pulled the panels off the hidden compartments and pulled the cargo containers into the bay. He pushed the net forward and out the door. The crystals glowed blue and began to hum as they entered the chamber.

  Gwyn followed. “I’m not sure about this. What’s happening?” The room started to shake, and rocks fell to the ground. Gwyn fell, and Adrik pulled her to her feet.

  “I’m not sure, but we need to get this done as quick as possible.” He dumped the crystals, and their hum increased. Adrik covered his ears. “Let’s get back to the ship.” Rocks slid off the walls and bounced off the hull of the ship as they scrambled past.

  “We’ve got to get out of here before my ship’s damaged beyond repair.”

  They rushed through the cargo bay, and Gwyn ran into the cockpit. She hit the flight sequence, and the ship lifted from the ground. A large energy signal appeared in her navscreeen. “Caracho! There’s a ship out there.”

  A whine reverberated through the cabin. “Ship or no, we got to get out of here!”

  Jericho laid a hand on Gwyn’s shoulder. “Can you make it?”

  “I think so, but I can’t tell by the signature what kind of ship that is. We may be headed back to the prison.”

  Jericho leaned back in his seat. “Would be my luck. Let’s see if I can have some of yours for a change. Come on Gwyn, get us out of here.”

 
; The Pleiades darted through the cave and into open space. A large vessel hovered fifty miles from their position, but plainly visible in the viewscreen. “They’re not Cardikes.”

  Jericho whistled. “Bounty hunters. What kind of fire power you got on this ship, Gwyn?”

  “State of the art thanks to Rodrigo.”

  Adrik frowned. “Who’s Rodrigo?”

  “He’s that rich friend on Tortuga that I told you about.”

  Adrik nodded. “Oh, the one with all the toys?”

  “Yep. He’s the one. I swear he’s got all the latest gadgets and runs a state of the art smuggling operation.”

  “So, are we out gunned?” Jericho’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the arm of his chair.

  “I doubt it, but I’d rather not find out.” She turned the neutralizer on, and the ship went dark on the navigation screen. “Let’s try to get past them.” She pressed the Pleiades past the ship, and it turned to follow.

  She stared at the screen. “Did it just follow us, or was it coincidence?”

  “Not sure. Speed up. See if they follow.” Adrik watched the screen. The ship followed. “How’s that possible?”

  “I don’t know.”

  A laser pulse hit the side of the ship and it rocked back and forth. “Gwyn we got to get out of here.”

  “I know. I know.” She scanned the screen for a nearby planet. She hung a left and circled it. The ship followed. “Adrik, load the weapons.”

  He pushed a button, and the lasers whirled to life. “They’re ready.”

  “I’m going to turn this ship around.”

  Adrik gaped. “What?”

  “I’m rerouting shield power to the front of the ship. It’ll protect us. As soon as we get close, fire.”

  Adrik nodded. “Okay, but what about shock waves?”

  “In theory, the shields will protect us from the blast, and push us away from the ship.” Her dark eyes sparkled.

  “I think this is a bad idea, Gwyn.”

  “Got a better idea, Adrik?”

  “Nope. I’m not a pilot. I just want to make my objections known, but I’ll do it.”

  She laughed. “Then get ready to push the button.”

  Gwyn pushed the throttle down and headed for the front of the ship, in a game of intergalactic chicken. She increased speed, and the vessel fired. The Pleiades shook, but all functions remained intact. She closed the distance. The ship fired, and she curved slightly to the right. The second blast missed. The enemy ship fired again. This time making contact with the Pleiades. The ship’s cockpit rocketed back and forth. She increased her speed and aimed straight for the ship. “Here goes. Adrik on my command.” The ship grew ever larger in the view screen. They were within a hundred yards of each other. “Now!”