Wrath of the Void Strider by Erik Harlow Read Free Book Online Page B

asking.”
    Gavin coughed.  “A new truck?”
    Zerki nodded.
    “Free and clear?”
    Again, Zerki nodded.
    Gavin rested his hand on Takeo’s shoulder.  “Let’s hear her out.”
    Taryn snickered.  “I’m okay with that.”
    Takeo rolled his eyes.  “Fine.  But I need to be back home by tomorrow night.”
    Zerki smiled.  “That won’t be a problem.”
    Using her data tablet, she summoned a pair of automated taxis.  Zerki joined Gavin, Taryn, Takeo and Valerie in one cab, and the rest of her crew boarded the other.  Chris watched them go.
    In the distance, the wail of sirens pierced the air as police sky cruisers drew close.
    The group made their way quickly along the streets to a municipal starport, where they promptly disembarked.  Parked near the arrival center, Zerki’s sizable shuttle awaited them.  Its engines quietly hummed, and its landing lights shone brightly.
    In the form of a haze, unseen by the captain or her crew, Fogg glided swiftly past them.  He slipped through the door at the end of the boarding ramp and scanned the vessel.  A moment later, he settled in amongst the tools.  He condensed, taking the form of an atom wrench.
    After everyone was aboard, Zerki struck a large, red, dome-shaped button mounted to the wall just inside the cargo area.  Warning lights spun, and a loud beeping sound filled the air as the ramp pulled up and locked into place.  Smoothly, the shuttle lifted off.
    “D’Arro, please show Taryn and Takeo to their quarters,” said Zerki, and the ospyrean giant led his charges away.  They vanished through a side bulkhead at the far end.  Zerki, Krane, Valerie and two of D’Arro’s teammates remained with Gavin.
    Pointing across the cargo hold, Zerki urged, “Right this way.”   Gavin followed as she crossed the bay to the opposite bulkhead.
    She gestured for Gavin to enter and guided him along the corridor.  A door slid aside at her approach.  She nodded, and he stepped through.  “Make yourself comfortable.  I have to check in with my crew real quick, and I’ll be back after that.”
    “How far away is your ship?”
    “Not far.”  She smiled, trying to contain her growing sense of urgency.  “The toilet’s stuck open, but it works.  Take a nap if you want to.”
    “Thanks, I’ll try.  Nice to meet you.”
    Zerki shook his hand.  “You too.  Thanks for coming.”  The door slid closed. 
    Gavin took stock of his surroundings.  “This isn’t so bad,” he muttered.  Across from him, a double bunk bed had been bolted to the wall.  A hideaway latrine was jammed open, and a florescent tube hung at a defeated angle over a boxy wash basin positioned a few paces away.  “Actually, that’s kind of depressing.”
    Exhaling audibly, he plopped down on the lower bunk and let his thoughts wander.
    ·· • ··
    Valerie followed her captain to the shuttle’s cockpit.  The door slid away as they drew close, and they were greeted with a vista of stars.  Krane hunched forward over the pilot’s console and silently raised his hand in acknowledgment of their arrival.
    Reaching past him to the communications interface, Zerki leaned over and held down the comm button.  “Hey, Collins.”
    “Captain,” he replied from the bridge of the Sanguine Shadow .
    “You can cancel with Johanna.  We’ve got our guy.”  She looked appreciatively toward her first mate.  “Val called it, right down to the flying truck.”
    After a moment, Collins reported, “Meeting’s cancelled.  You guys okay?  Things got a bit more exciting than I prefer, being so far away from it.”
    “We’re fine.  Nice save with the truck, by the way.  How did you stop it?”
    “Wasn’t me,” he said.  “We were watching from up here, but…  Can’t figure how that happened.  Already pinged Cajun to see if he’s got any ideas.”
    Zerki furrowed her brow.  “Yeah, keep me posted.”  She released the comm button and sank against the cold steel wall at her