DarkStar Running (Living on the Run Book 2) by Ben Patterson Read Free Book Online Page B

floor as well. Ignoring the nastiness that
permeated every fiber of his being, Stan managed to gather Lilia carefully into
his arms, but climbing to his feet proved an exercise in discipline. At last he
rose with her in his arms.
    The woman awakened, raised her head to see him, then fell
limp. Though she was small and ever so light, he walked stiffly and staggering
a bit as though carrying a cow. He took her through the open door, down the
hall, and into her bedroom.
    After laying her on her bed, Stan paused a moment trying to
unscramble the mess in his mind. Puzzled, he looked around. Her room? When did
this become her room?
    “ DarkStar ?”
    “Yes, sir?” the ship responded promptly in a soft feminine
tone familiar to Stan.
    “This is the first time I’ve ever been aboard you, right?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “That being the case, how is it, then, that I know you
better than I know myself? I even know your name.”
    “You were prepped, Stan,” came a voice from the doorway.
    He turned to find a slender man in a white smock. “Who the
hell are you?”
    The man smiled and offered his hand. “I’m Peter Coalfire,
the creator of DarkStar .”
    Stan ignored the proffered hand. “Prepped?”
    Coalfire jerked his hand forward to make clear his offered
friendship.
    Stan glanced at it, then crossed his arms over his brad
chest.
    Coalfire looked at his own outstretched hand. “Yes. Quite,”
he said, lowering his spurned hand. “Prepared. Yes. About that. DarkStar inserted data into your genome. This altered your memories on a genetic level to
give you the knowledge needed to control her.” His brows leveled and pinched
together. “I know it was painful. Few things come without cost.”
    “Painful? Oh, it was far more than painful. Damn well better
get that fixed before you use it on someone else.”
    “Sorry. That simply can’t be helped.”
    Stan exhaled, taken aback by what he had just heard. He
hesitated, afraid of what the truth might be. “What did you do, Coalfire? Did
you have Lilia ‘Prepped’ too?”
    “I did,” Coalfire said. “And like you, DarkStar altered her memories in like manner. Nothing for it though. I didn’t have time
to educate you otherwise. I expect your head to unscramble soon, and when it
clears, you’ll understand what DarkStar is all about, as well as know
her functions.”
    “I wish you’d asked. Who says if given the choice I would
have wanted this?”
    “Time is of the essence. Things are about to go pear-shaped
and you need to be ready. DarkStar needs a pilot. You’re it.”
    “Who do you work for, Coalfire, and why here on Chagwa?”
    “Chagwa?” Coalfire chuckled in astonishment, then cocked his
head as he puzzled. “This is Providence Minor, my dear boy. You are deep inside
Union territory. Chagwa is well within Confed space light-years away.”
    “But . . .”
    “Sir,” Coalfire said, “this ship now belongs to you. And you
and Lilia, now sharing each other’s memories, are bound to each other. What is
done is done.”
    “What are you saying, Coalfire?” Stand said astonished.
    “And yes, sir,” Coalfire continued, “this was done to Lilia
as well. It was necessary. And again, I’m sorry the process was painful.”
    Stan shook himself. Pain didn’t describe half of what he
felt, and every distressing answer given by Coalfire only raised more
questions. He wasn’t up to spending time he didn’t have playing “ask and answer.”
His situation needed to be assessed and dealt with, and he had to do it through
the worst hangover of his life.
    “My Lieutenants, where are they?”
    “They are in the cavern mounting their ships” DarkStar said. “They will reposition shortly, and fire upon us.”
    “Isn’t this what you wanted?” Coalfire asked with a coy
smirk.
    Stan clenched his teeth but kept his head. Though Coalfire
delivered the question softly, it was a clear rebuke.
    “How long before they’re ready?”
    “Five minutes, sir,” DarkStar