Lost Planet 01 - The Lost Planet by Rachel Searles Read Free Book Online

“What’s that?”
    â€œMircona, the moon. Trucon’s moon.”
    â€œThe moon? What are we going to do there?”
    â€œI don’t know, have some fun. It’s a cool place.”
    â€œ Have some fun? So this wasn’t about helping me at all.”
    Parker rolled his eyes in annoyance. “What’s wrong with having a little fun? We can still ask questions, look for things you might recognize.”
    â€œDid you forget about the blaster wound on the back of my head? I need to figure out who did that to me, not go on a vacation!” Chase pointed at the console. “This was a terrible idea. Take me back.”
    A frown creased Parker’s forehead. “Look, I promise nothing bad is going to happen. We’ll go to Mircona for thirty minutes, and if that doesn’t bring back any memories, then we’ll go back to Trucon and try something else.”
    Chase drummed his fingers against the console and looked away. It wasn’t like he could make Parker do anything—he’d given up that option as soon as he’d stepped into a space cruiser that he knew neither how nor where to pilot. There was basically no choice but to go with Parker and hope that something on the moon would spark a memory.
    And anyway, Parker was probably right—nothing would happen. They’d be back at the compound before anyone knew they were gone.
    â€œFine,” he muttered. “Thirty minutes.”
    â€œIt’ll be fun. Look, there it is.” Looming ahead was the curve of a colossal tan sphere. As they zoomed closer to the sandy surface, a sprawling cluster of buildings came into view in the distance, their drab and featureless exteriors bleached out in the harsh sunlight.
    â€œIt doesn’t look like much fun,” said Chase.
    â€œThe atmosphere on Mircona’s too thin to go outside. Everything’s indoors, but it’s supposed to be this really cool past-era resort.” Parker leaned over the console again, scrolling through screens.
    â€œYou’ve never been?”
    â€œNot yet,” said Parker with a small smile. “I’m going to put us in an autodocking facility. We can take a transway into the city, check it out, and swing back. Sound good?”
    â€œWhatever.” A patchwork of enormous, windowless structures in various sizes stretched out below them, all connected by ridged metal tunnels. Different logos were painted on the roofs of the buildings. Chase squinted to read the print on one: Mirconan Leisure Endeavors. As the city scrolled by, Chase grew curious to see what was inside the buildings, but he didn’t say anything. If Parker knew he was having fun, they’d probably never leave.
    They dropped toward the surface, flying just above the vast cityscape. Traffic was sparse, and only a few other vehicles whizzed by in the distance. The Starjumper plunged lower and slowed as they neared the closest building. Chase caught a glimpse of a doorway expanding in the wall, but as they pulled up to it, the vehicle swung around automatically. The bleak landscape of Mircona filled their window, and looming in the distance, the gigantic orb of Trucon, sandy-brown with patches of dark vegetation. The Starjumper backed gently into the structure.
    â€œDisengaging CFC,” said the neutral voice. “Equalizing pressure, please do not exit.” The outer wall slid shut before them, cutting off their view and enclosing them in the snug metal box of the docking compartment. Chase waited in his seat while Parker shut down the console.
    â€œReady?” Parker tucked the drivekey into his pocket and stood, a nervous grin on his face.
    They exited through a door at the back of their docking compartment, where Parker entered a code on a small screen to lock the Starjumper inside. He led Chase down a long tunnel until it intersected a hallway with a high, arched ceiling.
    â€œAfter you,” said Parker.
    Chase took one step