Tales of the Citadel # 32 - Core Charge by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Viola Grace
safe, she could withstand almost anything.
Chapter Eight
Gwiette was never going to be a fan of the mechanism called jump, but once they had made it to their target, she felt her queasy stomach shift to excited butterflies.
Stop made the call, and to her surprise, he announced her as Shock.
“Shock?”
“It is traditional to not let the casual observer know your species or original name. It is a safety factor for the families that are left behind. In some situations, they could be used as leverage for behaviour or use of talent.”
“I understand that, but Shock?” She chuckled. “It is a little bald.”
“It will make an impression and it radiates competence. Now, shall we?”
The Raiders had not made the large hole in the ship. They had tried to harvest an asteroid and had gotten too close to the small riders in the gravitational wake. The ship had been crushed and the power systems crippled. They needed her to provide enough energy to limp them to a repair station.
She brushed at her suit and smoothed imaginary folds.
Stop reached out and clasped one hand. “Calm down and move slowly. I will be there to keep things under watch. You will be safe, just power the ship up and get it moving.”
She grinned. “If it was that simple, you could have done it.”
“Apologies. When we are locked in place, we will begin to drain their systems. They are waiting to take you to one of the internal relay stations. I will accompany you, and if anyone tries anything, they will be locked in place then wedged under a descending door.”
“Charming.”
Their ship snuggled up to the larger mining hulk and the hiss of the connection rang through their ship. In an instant, Stop had unbuckled his harness and hers, and hauled her to her feet. They went to the hatch, and the link between the ships flickered until it settled and strengthened.
As the light indicated a solid link, Stop opened the door and urged her through to the other side.
She opened the door when he closed the hatch to their ship.
The air inside was stale and very thin. She looked back at Stop, and he nodded for her to continue.
A grimy miner met her and smiled. “Are you Shock?”
“I am.”
“Thank the great ship. The relay is this way. If you can power us, we can limp home in a day.”
“I should be able to power you. I might need a break though.”
“That is fine. If you can get us moving, we can get into the right position. Momentum is an amazing thing.” He smiled. “I am Tovoricaniak.”
“Pleased to meet you. Lead on.” She didn’t attempt to pronounce his name.
Stop was behind her, and his clothing was swirling in that peculiar way again. She could see waves of it scooting up next to her before it drifted back. It was both creepy and comforting.
The relay was a gutted panel with large silver plates to press her hands on. Shock flexed her hands and smiled at her escort. “You might want to step back. Will you let them know when I have the power on?”
He nodded nervously while Stop took up a post where he was in her field of vision while watching the room.
She sucked in a deep breath and pressed her palms to the plate, sending a steady stream of power into the ship. It was the beginning of a very long assignment.
Thirty hours later, she was shaking with fatigue under Stop’s arm as he escorted her back to their little ship. Lights were on all over the mining craft and a gathering of inhabitants came to cheer her off.
She waved tiredly and headed into the shuttle as quickly as she could. With power a valuable commodity, none of the inhabitants had bathed in several days and Shock’s nose was about to cave in.
She staggered into the shuttle and strapped in. Nyral paused next to her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Well done, Gwiette.”
“Thanks. Can you aim us for Morganti again? I think I need to nap a little.”
She leaned back in the chair and everything went dark.
The
Chapter Eight
Gwiette was never going to be a fan of the mechanism called jump, but once they had made it to their target, she felt her queasy stomach shift to excited butterflies.
Stop made the call, and to her surprise, he announced her as Shock.
“Shock?”
“It is traditional to not let the casual observer know your species or original name. It is a safety factor for the families that are left behind. In some situations, they could be used as leverage for behaviour or use of talent.”
“I understand that, but Shock?” She chuckled. “It is a little bald.”
“It will make an impression and it radiates competence. Now, shall we?”
The Raiders had not made the large hole in the ship. They had tried to harvest an asteroid and had gotten too close to the small riders in the gravitational wake. The ship had been crushed and the power systems crippled. They needed her to provide enough energy to limp them to a repair station.
She brushed at her suit and smoothed imaginary folds.
Stop reached out and clasped one hand. “Calm down and move slowly. I will be there to keep things under watch. You will be safe, just power the ship up and get it moving.”
She grinned. “If it was that simple, you could have done it.”
“Apologies. When we are locked in place, we will begin to drain their systems. They are waiting to take you to one of the internal relay stations. I will accompany you, and if anyone tries anything, they will be locked in place then wedged under a descending door.”
“Charming.”
Their ship snuggled up to the larger mining hulk and the hiss of the connection rang through their ship. In an instant, Stop had unbuckled his harness and hers, and hauled her to her feet. They went to the hatch, and the link between the ships flickered until it settled and strengthened.
As the light indicated a solid link, Stop opened the door and urged her through to the other side.
She opened the door when he closed the hatch to their ship.
The air inside was stale and very thin. She looked back at Stop, and he nodded for her to continue.
A grimy miner met her and smiled. “Are you Shock?”
“I am.”
“Thank the great ship. The relay is this way. If you can power us, we can limp home in a day.”
“I should be able to power you. I might need a break though.”
“That is fine. If you can get us moving, we can get into the right position. Momentum is an amazing thing.” He smiled. “I am Tovoricaniak.”
“Pleased to meet you. Lead on.” She didn’t attempt to pronounce his name.
Stop was behind her, and his clothing was swirling in that peculiar way again. She could see waves of it scooting up next to her before it drifted back. It was both creepy and comforting.
The relay was a gutted panel with large silver plates to press her hands on. Shock flexed her hands and smiled at her escort. “You might want to step back. Will you let them know when I have the power on?”
He nodded nervously while Stop took up a post where he was in her field of vision while watching the room.
She sucked in a deep breath and pressed her palms to the plate, sending a steady stream of power into the ship. It was the beginning of a very long assignment.
Thirty hours later, she was shaking with fatigue under Stop’s arm as he escorted her back to their little ship. Lights were on all over the mining craft and a gathering of inhabitants came to cheer her off.
She waved tiredly and headed into the shuttle as quickly as she could. With power a valuable commodity, none of the inhabitants had bathed in several days and Shock’s nose was about to cave in.
She staggered into the shuttle and strapped in. Nyral paused next to her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Well done, Gwiette.”
“Thanks. Can you aim us for Morganti again? I think I need to nap a little.”
She leaned back in the chair and everything went dark.
The
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