Outcast by Alex Douglas Read Free Book Online Page A

beside the three monitors, at her photos that were stuck all around the wall behind her chair. "And after this, we can make a home wherever we like. We're Citizens now, not refugees with limited status. We can't be turned away, from anywhere ."
    "I dunno. I know I'm being a dick, but I spent all those years hoping to leave, and now... we can never go back. It's just a funny feeling, that's all." Kris bit his thumbnail and stared at the floor.
    Vaxel got up and stretched, his shirt pulling free of his workman's trousers to reveal a plump belly. "Why the fuck would you want to go back there ?" he said. "They're gonna die out because they didn't -- and still don't -- have the sense to fuck outside their own families. You wanna go there to watch them rot? And make no mistake, my friend, this is no grand gesture . Twenty years ago they didn't even consider us to be sentient beings. They're just getting rid of us now because they don't want us to have their miserable little planet when they're all dead."
    Prez held up his hand. "Enough," he said. "Our people are free, let's think about that for a while. Get back to your stations and get ready for the jump. Vaxel, try and sort out that blasted android. When we get to the port, then we can bitch and moan all we like, but personally I'd prefer to party. Until then, work , people!"
    "Yes, sir."
    He paused at the door. "First round's on me."
    Three big grins. "Yes sir !"
    "That's more like it," he said and went out into the corridor. The door swished shut behind him, and he permitted himself another dance of excitement before climbing the access shaft back to the bridge.
    Rich! And officially free. It didn't get much better.
    It would be wonderful to have a new ship; much as he loved the Outcast , it had long since served its purpose. The living quarters were cramped and the bridge only big enough for two pilots. Most of the space, logically enough, was for cargo. He sat down and lifted his Tablet, bringing up the list of requests that the Belaari contact -- Kai no Heh -- had sent. At least it didn't appear to be another consignment of livestock like the last job he'd taken from a Belaari, when the crew had been pushed to near-mutiny by the constant bellowing of the miserable creatures and the ship had stunk of piss for days after delivery. No wonder the cleaning android had gone on the blink.
    The destination beyond the jump gate was Melaarah XV, a Belaari space port that hung in orbit around a small moon in an uninhabited but mineral-rich system two sectors away. The port was huge and rumored to have excellent leisure facilities, largely because the Belaari had a mining operation on the third planet and the workers needed frequent breaks from the semi-toxic atmosphere there. It also served as a refueling center for the enormous intergalactic exploration ships which Belaar often sent out into the far reaches of space. One of those ships, now that would be very nice indeed. But they were far out of Prez's price range. They'd be rich after the mission, but not that rich.
    Lan's voice shook him from his thoughts. "We will arrive at the jump gate in approximately three minutes."
    "Roger that," he said and buzzed the crew to make sure they were ready. He turned to Lan, who was reading his Tablet and sucking on a Skit. Lan's expression was inscrutable. "Aren't you excited?" Prez asked, feeling his heart start to pound with anticipation and just a touch of nerves. Jump gates weren't a hundred per cent reliable; every now and then a ship would simply disappear inside them. Extremely rare, but still...
    "I have been through a jump gate before," Lan said. "It was... unremarkable."
    Prez's grin faded a little. He could just make out on the RealView the lights of two Belaari transports ahead. Trying to kill the nerves with some chat, he turned to Lan and gave him a curious look. "So tell me all about it then, was it when you left Aldor? As a matter of interest, why come so far? There are nearer