Trapped On Talonque: (A Sectors SF romance) (45 page)
Read Trapped On Talonque: (A Sectors SF romance) Online
Authors: Veronica Scott
“Better than nothing.” Nate was charitable. “Those Mark Ones saved us a few times over.”
A musical note signified the end of the data transfer between gilintrae and ship, ending their debate about armament.
“Indications are the ship’s memory accepted all the information.” Bithia leaned closely over the main viewscreen and scrutinized the symbol stream. “Are you ready? Shall we take to deep space and go find your blue giant star?”
“Take us home.” Nate savored the sound of the command, knowing she could carry it out and they’d be in the Sectors, no longer condemned to life on the savage planet Talonque.
She maneuvered the spaceship away from the second red moon’s surface, swinging easily past the third moon as it orbited into range. Increasing speed, Bithia directed their new ship out of the Talonque solar system. The large, hot star grew smaller and more insignificant in the aft viewer with each passing moment.
Bithia issued a cautionary statement, keeping her eyes on the viewscreen and the controls. “Hang on. I don’t know how our hyperspace will affect you, but it makes me dizzy for the space of three breaths, then there’s a flash of hot light, followed by a breath of bone cold, and then we’ll be there. We’ll know if the directions took or not.”
No one spoke as the ship powered up, increasing its speed through space and gathering resources to make the programmed jump through the set of hyperspace nexi. There was a sudden overpowering pressure, the flash of light and heat, as Bithia had promised, followed by an instant of bone-chilling cold. Then silence and an end to motion.
The ship floated in space, the viewscreens indicating they’d tucked neatly into orbit at a safe distance from a big blue star. The star where the journey had begun so many months ago for Nate and Thom and their less-fortunate companions.
“No other ships of any kind in the vicinity,” Bithia said, concentrating on her duties as pilot.
Elated, Nate swung Bithia out of the command chair and into a giant hug, kissing her soundly, Thom hugging both of them in his excitement.
“Welcome to the Sectors! Welcome to your new home.” Nate felt drunk with relief and happiness.
“I’d be at home wherever you are,” she said simply. “Do you want me to instruct the ship to make the next jump in the journey your own ship would have taken?”
“No, let me see the star maps you got from the
Murphy.
I don’t want to go to Starbase Twelve. Not with you, not with this ship. There’s a certain old friend I have to hunt down by the name of D’Aloun.” Nate grinned at Thom over Bithia’s shoulder. “I think you’ll like him. He’ll be somewhere in the Seventh Sector, I imagine. He holds the key to our future, and your expertise is something he’ll want access to very much. I’ll explain as we go.”
And, shortly, they went.
***
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Best Selling Science Fiction & Paranormal Romance author and “SciFi Encounters” columnist for the USA Today Happily Ever After blog, Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.
Veronica’s life has taken many twists and turns, but she always makes time to keep reading and writing. Everything is good source material for the next novel or the one after that, right? She’s been through earthquakes, tornadoes and near death experiences…Always more stories to tell, new adventures to experience—Veronica’s personal motto is, “Never boring.”
Veronica is a three time winner of the SFR Galaxy Award and a National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.
Played Star Trek Enterprise Crew Member in the audiobook of Harlan Ellison’s “City On the Edge of Forever” (2016)
She’s the proud recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal but must hasten to add the honor was not for her romantic fiction!
Blog:
http://veronicascott.wordpress.com/
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