Star Road by Matthew Costello, Rick Hautala Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Matthew Costello, Rick Hautala
her.
Seekers.
Then: That, I don’t get. As if we need — what?—a new religion?
Shaking her head, Annie focused on the job at hand.
“Good morning.”
She waited. Now, everyone—even the Chippie—looked up.
“My name’s Captain Annie Scott. I’m your pilot for our trip on the Road today. Normally”—she gestured up to the cockpit area—”pilots do the announcements from the cockpit. We’re going to be together for a while, so I like to make things a little more personal.”
Just then, Jordan emerged from the back gun turret and started up the aisle.
“I’d like to introduce our gunner—Jordan. Maybe the best gunner there is.”
He looked up at Annie and—was that a smile?
“No maybe about it.”
“He’s modest, too.”
The Chippie laughed, looking at Jordan like he was something she wanted to eat.
“We’re cleared to leave Mobius Central, but before we do, there are a few things I want to go over. More for myself than for the Star Road Authority.” All eyes were on her.
Good, she thought. I want their eyes and ears wide open.
“We can never predict what might happen on the Road. Who was the anti-Road politician who said it’s the Wild West out here? He called the Road ‘too dangerous.’ Said that anything can happen. And you know what? He had a point.”
Rodriguez, the scientist, owlish in his glasses, dark eyes, sitting behind the Chippie. He looked like he didn’t like the word “dangerous.”
“What about what happened at the boarding gate today?” Nahara said. “And,” Rodriguez said, “the news. I heard there was an attack on some mining colony.”
The scientist’s face was tight with tension.
Had he been carefully checked out?
“Runners?” Annie said “Yeah. Sure. They’re a problem. That’s why it’s damn good we have Jordan along for the ride. Runners are his specialty. But there are other things, Dr. Rodriguez—”
Sinjira looked up. All attention.
“You’re a doctor?” She leaned close to Rodriguez. “Think you can drop a few scripts on me? I’ll swap you for some ... interesting chips. Real personal stuff”
“I’m not that kind of doctor.”
This trip is already turning interesting, Annie thought.
She glanced at the miner up front. Not a newbie. Relaxed but still listening.
Good reason to do that, Annie knew.
For even an experienced Road traveler.
Check out your pilot. Your gunner. The people you’re traveling with.
All that could be vital information.
“Once we start moving, this SRV is under my command. On this vehicle, my word is law. Any of you get roadsick, you signed the waiver, and I’m permitted to collar you to keep you calm. We all good with that?”
She paused a few seconds as everyone nodded. Even the cloaked figure at the back.
Bill Nahara, who worked for the authority, held her with his steady gaze. What’s he doing, taking mental notes? she wondered. Will I get a report card? “Final things, then. The Road manual you all got tells you what to expect as we leave. Your CL devices will all work internally, but once we’re on the Road, they’re useless for any standard commlink purposes. The only way we’ll stay in touch with Earth is through the pod stations at our stops along the way.”
She took a breath.
“Any questions?”
Nothing.
“Good. Well, then, welcome to SRV-66. Once you strap yourselves in, we’re set to go.”
She turned and started up the stairs, back to the cockpit.
“Oh—one last thing. Only Jordan and I can open the cockpit doors. If you need to tell us something—if there’s an emergency or something—use your CLs and fire us a message. We will—as they say—get back to you.
Despite having done more trips than she could remember, she couldn’t help but feel excited as she entered the cockpit for final prep.
Because no
Seekers.
Then: That, I don’t get. As if we need — what?—a new religion?
Shaking her head, Annie focused on the job at hand.
“Good morning.”
She waited. Now, everyone—even the Chippie—looked up.
“My name’s Captain Annie Scott. I’m your pilot for our trip on the Road today. Normally”—she gestured up to the cockpit area—”pilots do the announcements from the cockpit. We’re going to be together for a while, so I like to make things a little more personal.”
Just then, Jordan emerged from the back gun turret and started up the aisle.
“I’d like to introduce our gunner—Jordan. Maybe the best gunner there is.”
He looked up at Annie and—was that a smile?
“No maybe about it.”
“He’s modest, too.”
The Chippie laughed, looking at Jordan like he was something she wanted to eat.
“We’re cleared to leave Mobius Central, but before we do, there are a few things I want to go over. More for myself than for the Star Road Authority.” All eyes were on her.
Good, she thought. I want their eyes and ears wide open.
“We can never predict what might happen on the Road. Who was the anti-Road politician who said it’s the Wild West out here? He called the Road ‘too dangerous.’ Said that anything can happen. And you know what? He had a point.”
Rodriguez, the scientist, owlish in his glasses, dark eyes, sitting behind the Chippie. He looked like he didn’t like the word “dangerous.”
“What about what happened at the boarding gate today?” Nahara said. “And,” Rodriguez said, “the news. I heard there was an attack on some mining colony.”
The scientist’s face was tight with tension.
Had he been carefully checked out?
“Runners?” Annie said “Yeah. Sure. They’re a problem. That’s why it’s damn good we have Jordan along for the ride. Runners are his specialty. But there are other things, Dr. Rodriguez—”
Sinjira looked up. All attention.
“You’re a doctor?” She leaned close to Rodriguez. “Think you can drop a few scripts on me? I’ll swap you for some ... interesting chips. Real personal stuff”
“I’m not that kind of doctor.”
This trip is already turning interesting, Annie thought.
She glanced at the miner up front. Not a newbie. Relaxed but still listening.
Good reason to do that, Annie knew.
For even an experienced Road traveler.
Check out your pilot. Your gunner. The people you’re traveling with.
All that could be vital information.
“Once we start moving, this SRV is under my command. On this vehicle, my word is law. Any of you get roadsick, you signed the waiver, and I’m permitted to collar you to keep you calm. We all good with that?”
She paused a few seconds as everyone nodded. Even the cloaked figure at the back.
Bill Nahara, who worked for the authority, held her with his steady gaze. What’s he doing, taking mental notes? she wondered. Will I get a report card? “Final things, then. The Road manual you all got tells you what to expect as we leave. Your CL devices will all work internally, but once we’re on the Road, they’re useless for any standard commlink purposes. The only way we’ll stay in touch with Earth is through the pod stations at our stops along the way.”
She took a breath.
“Any questions?”
Nothing.
“Good. Well, then, welcome to SRV-66. Once you strap yourselves in, we’re set to go.”
She turned and started up the stairs, back to the cockpit.
“Oh—one last thing. Only Jordan and I can open the cockpit doors. If you need to tell us something—if there’s an emergency or something—use your CLs and fire us a message. We will—as they say—get back to you.
Despite having done more trips than she could remember, she couldn’t help but feel excited as she entered the cockpit for final prep.
Because no
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