Legend Beyond The Stars by S.E. Gilchrist Read Free Book Online

Soon they will land here. The Elite Forces will not be far behind them. We must hide!”
    “I can’t see anything. You sure have great eyesight,” Jessamine muttered as she squinted into the sky.
    “Let’s go then.” Alana picked up the pace, urging the weary band of women quickly towards the buildings. “Norman, we’re relying on you to find us shelter. Once we have everyone safe behind doors, we’ll do a little reconnaissance.”
    Shadows deepened, spread with the speed of storm clouds as night descended on the alien planet. Wafts of cold mist swirled near the ground further diminishing Alana’s vision. Droplets of ice were forming on the underside of eaves and awnings. The huge moon now hung low in the dark sky. An eerie orange glow illuminated the landscape and caused the buildings to cast grotesque elongated shapes across the rough ground.
    With a thick hooded cloak thrown over her flight suit to ward off the insidious cold, Alana kept to one side as she hastened along the empty street. The rock surface crunched beneath her boots. The sound echoed down the winding road and bounced off the sides of the buildings. She grimaced.
    So much for stealth .
    In the dim light, she checked a rough hand-drawn map against her surroundings. She had to keep moving, in temperatures this low it was vital to keep the blood circulating through her body.
    Up ahead, and next to a towering, crooked building lay her objective. She patted one of her pockets and the faint clink of metal reassured her. When Norman had handed her the small tokens, she had been a bit dubious but he had insisted the small metal coins were of considerable value. Sufficient to purchase weapons. Inside the small dark building, resided a Jurian who would sell her what she needed.
    Hopefully .
    On the back of the paper, Norman had also drawn crude pictures of the weapons which would be of best use to them.
    She eyed the building. With its plain facade and primitive construction it resembled the insignificant bolt hole where she had left her friends and which she hoped would prove to be a safe haven for them. All of them were grieving and depressed. Even after consuming the dehydrated space rations salvaged from the shuttles they remained hungry, and they needed to rest after their gruelling day. She had instigated a rotation of watchers, had to trust it would be sufficient to ensure their safety. Before leaving on this mission, Alana had also organised a short memorial service for those they had lost.
    The memory of the survivors’ vulnerable faces lingered in her mind. They were fighting a desperate war to survive and they knew it. It seemed each moment brought something new and frightening which had to be assessed and examined for danger. There was so much for them to learn.
    And time was running out.
    Frustration almost overwhelmed her and she stumbled as fatigue slammed into her. Remember the mission . Alana clenched her jaw, focussed and ticked off the points in her head.
    First, purchase weapons, next locate a sky pirate ( whatever that was! ) who would be willing to risk his life and ship to get them to some place called ‘ Aurian ’. Norman insisted there they would find members of what he called the old Ruling Council, who would help protect them.
    Then, of course there was just a little matter of finding the men and getting everyone home again. She flexed her shoulders and prepared to step out of the shadows.
    Paused.
    From behind her came the sound of tramping feet. The cadence was military. Damn! Elite Forces or those overgrown brutes! Either one was not good.
    Alana cast a swift look about the street, reviewing her options. In the hushed quiet of the night she heard the faint clash of metal. Soon they would round the corner and be upon her. She had to move.
    Alana left the safety of the shadows, darted through the mist to the dark doorway of her objective. She risked a quick glance behind and spotted the dim outlines of soldiers. The height of