By now they could hear the Cantellan cruisers engines were screaming throughout the ship in protest of backed up proton sludge. The engines sounded like metal ripping and grinding to powder. That's because they were. The toxic proton mixture was eating away at the acceleration rings. Soon the massive Cantellan cruiser would cease moving through space.
And start falling through space.
Fast.
Ardammt swung to Tegan. “We have to get out now!”
“Right. Aft thrusters!” Tegan tapped the screen before her and the freighter surged forward. Then stopped.
"Damn!" Tegan smacked keypads, scanning the readouts with anxious eyes.
A massive sound like the belch of an overfed mammoth rolled through the battle cruiser, rattling the ships in the docking bay like so many glasses on a serving tray. Ardammt shot quick eyes around the ship. "Now, Tegan!"
"I know! I know!" Tegan was checking and rechecking readouts, minutely rolling fingers over keypads fine tuned to react at the slightest finger pressure.
Nothing.
A screeching lurch tipped the small craft as the giant Cantellan battle cruiser abandoned its orbit. Ardammt could see other ships. some moored, some not, sliding across the deck towards them. "Quickly!"
Tegan scowled at the unresponsive readouts. With a Vaneallan curse, Tegan slammed a fist down on the touch pad. Suddenly the ship surged to life as its engines whirred up. "Got it!" Ardammt crowed.
Nodding, Tegan eagerly punched keys. The ship jumped and lifted from the deck plates. Another command in the keypad and the ship surged forward and slipped from the mouth of the landing bay just as the Cantellan ship started the drop like a lead boulder.
As the little cruiser sailed away from the Cantellan ship like dog a after a juicy rabbit Ardammt threw back his head and crowed, "Slipped them again!"
Tegan was grinning, happy to escape, but she glanced at Ardammt and they both sobered a bit, remembering the comrade they'd left behind - again. Ardammt squeezed Tegan's shoulder briefly before turning hurriedly away to study the nav board.
Tegan was silent, fiddling with the engine board, familiarizing herself with the controls of her new ship.
Page exchanged looks with Jake. Jake shrugged. "What's your ship's name?"
Tegan glanced around at Jake. "What?"
Jake grinned at her. Time to lighten the mood. "I said what you calling this bucket of rusty bolts?"
Tegan frowned at him, but there was no malice in the look. She thought for a moment then smiled widely. "The Lightfire Seeker."
Page's eyebrows rode his forehead. "Supreme. Where'd you get that name, Tegan?"
Tegan's smile took on a wistful slant. "My...our guardian used to tell us a story - a legend, really - about a magical beast that traveled the known universe leaving peace and serenity where ever it went. I always loved that story and swore when I had my own ship that's what I would name her."
Jake bowed mockingly to Tegan. "And a fine name it is, too."
Tegan laughed. "Glad you like it. Now, we'll get you home.”
Page slanted a surprised look as Tegan turned toward the engine boards. “Home?”
At the disappointment evident in Page’s voice, Tegan looked up curiously. “Yes. Where else would we take you and that journalist?”
The journalist scowled at Tegan but it was Page who spoke, his voice laced with hesitant expectation like a child hoping for a special treat on a rain Saturday. “Well…I thought we could go with you and Ardammt."
Ardammt’s brow creased. His expression clearly displayed that he’d sooner eat his own boot than take on the two Earthmen. “Go with us?” he asked with such a total lack of enthusiasm that he was almost enthused.
Page nodded eagerly. “Yeah. Think about it, will you? We could travel around with you two. We could collect information. I could write a book about extra-terrestrial flora and fauna and Jake could write a novel on our travels.”
Jake gawked at Page, his mouth dropping open. “I could?”
“You could,” Page assured his pal, really warming up to the idea now that he’d gotten at least one of his hidden desires out into the open.
Ardammt stood by the nav board, blond brows sucked down in a fierce scowl. From the wicked smile drawing across Tegan’s soft face, he could see where this would end up. “Where do you want to go?” Tegan asked.
Page thought for a moment. “How about your home? Vanealla, isn’t it?”
Instantly, the smile died and a shutter came down over Tegan’s face, shadowing her dark eyes with something akin to pain. Across the room Ardammt scowled harder before abruptly turning away. “No.” The single word was uttered calmly but the tone shooting through Tegan’s voice refused any argument.
And Page didn’t argue. He shrugged. “Okay. You decide.”
Ardammt turned back, shooting Tegan a ‘don’t you dare’ look but, predictably, Tegan ignored it. Instead she raised an inquisitive eyebrow at Ardammt who frowned darkly at Jake and Page – especially Jake – before he shrugged, turning back to the boards.
Tegan smiled. She turned back to Jake and Page, her expression wiped of the smile, but twitching suspiciously. "I guess we could give it a try.” Cocking a sardonic eyebrow at Jake she asked, “What about you, journalist? Are you ready for the rest of the galaxy?”
Jake returned Tegan’s sardonic look with an unrepentant grin. “The question is, sweetheart. Is the rest of the galaxy ready for me?”
Coming soon…the next story in this exiting new series…
Voyages Of The Seeker
#2 The Eternal Man
He is immortal. An Eternal man in an ephemeral universe. And he's been alone for an eon. But that will change now he has found Tegan. She will be his bride. Even if he has to make her an Eternal like him!
Prisoners of Death Page 9
