Star Road by Matthew Costello, Rick Hautala Read Free Book Online Page B

matter how many times you’ve done it... getting on the Star Road is one hell of an amazing experience.
     
    She felt good as she slid into the pilot’s seat.
     
    “All clear, Mobius Central.”
     
    “Clear at this end, SRV-66.”
     
    “You good, Jordan?”
     
    A nod. Nothing more.
     
    Annie shook her head. A small laugh.
     
    Then: “You’re something else, you know that, Jordan?”
     
    And she started the vehicle’s engine. The entrance ramp leading to the Road portal was straight ahead. Annie turned quickly enough to see the hint of a grin on the gunner’s face.
     
    He likes it, too.
    ~ * ~
     
    6
     
     
    THE FIRST PORTAL
     
     
     
     
    Sinjira looked out her porthole, a chip in place. Nothing out there yet to interest anyone, and the chip recording her feelings would show that.
     
    But you never know, she thought. Things happen.
     
    She looked at the guy across the aisle. The one she had flirted with in the bar.
     
    Why didn’t he pick up on it? she wondered. He was good-looking, although maybe a tad on the ordinary side.
     
    Intense, though. Like he’s hiding something. But then again, who of us isn’t hiding something?
     
    He might be a fun ride, she thought.
     
    “First timer?” she asked.
     
    He nodded.
     
    For some reason, she didn’t believe him.
     
    Still not talkative.
     
    She moved her legs, leaned a little closer... as far as the criss-cross straps would allow. The straps lifted and separated her breasts.
     
    Oh, yeah. Now he’s looking.
     
    “Me, too. Going to be something, hmm?”
     
    “Could be.” He took a breath. Another look at her. “Guess so.”
     
    All on the chip.
     
    Why so damned cold? she wanted to ask.
     
    Lighten up and enjoy life.
     
    Then the vehicle began moving. She looked outside. Then back to the man.
     
    He was doing a great job of showing absolutely no interest in her.
     
    But then again: Things can change.
     
    “I like things that are intense,” she said, still trying to draw him out. “People say my chips are—”
     
    The vehicle bumped, its frame shuddering, the engine noise a low hum. And then she—and everyone else—got pushed back into her seat with an acceleration that grew steadily stronger.
     
    Another quick look outside.
     
    Still nothing exciting.
     
    Then back to the man: “How about you—?”
     
    But the guy had turned away and was staring out his porthole.
     
    She thought... Plenty of time to make something happen there.
     
    She smiled over her shoulder at the hooded woman—the Seeker— sitting in the back, so still... so calm. Spooky.
     
    She turned to look out her porthole window again.
     
    Something was going to happen soon.
     
    Yeah. She could feel it.
     
    ~ * ~
     
    “Approaching escape velocity,” Annie said, toggling switches while her eyes darted back and forth across the controls.
     
    It all looked good.
     
    Jordan grunted, his eyes narrow. Focused.
     
    The wheels of the SRV, a nearly indestructible combination of traditional and off-world alloys, now rolling at a steady speed.
     
    The first time a ship approached a Road portal, it had exploded. Brilliantly. Over time—and at the cost of so many lives—pilots learned when and how fast to hit the portal.
     
    Too slow, and you boomeranged down to the ground, a white-hot fireball. Too fast, and once you passed through the portal, regaining control was impossible. They couldn’t even find the crew’s atoms at that point.
     
    But people, brave and foolish, kept trying ... experimenting, and eventually they figured it out... within certain parameters. Still plenty of margin for error because no one knew exactly how any of it worked.
     
    The simple fact was, it did work.
     
    Why? Scientists were working on the physics.
     
    As to who designed and built this system in the first place?
     
    Not a damn clue.
     
    Leave that to the Seekers and all the other crackpots, like the people who claimed the Star Road was God’s nervous system.
     
    Now