by C. S. Harte
“Think about it,” Jonas tapped his temple. “Why did those creatures coil around the ship?”
She shrugged. “I’ll admit, I don’t fully understand the motivations of comet-sized space serpents.”
“The ship was sitting inside their territory for an hour before they attacked. Nume called on them to help her. If our theory about those things being created from Guardian Essence is correct, they need an Entrent like Nume to control them. What if instead of helping Raven, she asked the creatures to help her?”
Alyana pulled at her face. “That’s a lot of 'ifs.' And you’re asking me to take a damaged ship into a nest of space monsters to check if those 'ifs’ are correct.”
“No,” Jonas smiled at Alyana. “I’m asking the best pilot in the galaxy to take a damaged ship into a space monster nest.”
She smirked. “You think you can make me do things by appealing to my vanity? Well, I have something to tell you.” Her face relaxed. “It will always work. Fine.” She sighed. “We’ll fly back to the most dangerous part of space ever known to man in a ship that’s falling apart because of your hunch and because I’m a sucker for pretty fly boys.”
“Thank you,” Jonas patted her shoulder.
Alyana set the Zephyr on a course into the debris field of Raven’s ship. “We don’t have lasers. The shock wave from the explosion knocked out all our laser banks.”
“I don’t think weapons will make a difference on those monsters.” Jonas peered intently at the holo-image on the table, looking for signs of where Nume might be.
“We’ll be there in two…” She touched her lips. “Um, Jonas?”
“I see it.” Jonas zoomed in on one of the Leviathans heading directly for the Zephyr.
“It’s on a collision course with us.” Alyana clutched her chest. “Should we alter course?”
“No.”
“We still have some missiles left? Should I…”
“No.”
“Jonas, it’s going to be on top of…”
He picked up his helmet and placed it on his head.
“Where are you going? Why are you always leaving me in the most stressful of times?” Alyana crossed her arms and tapped her feet. “Do you even realize how annoying that is?”
“I’m going to pick up Nume.”
Her eyes opened wide. “Where? How?”
“I just know I have to do something. I can’t explain it.” He took the decktram to the observation deck. Jonas magnetized his boots as he stood underneath the opening in the hull where the escort ship previously docked with the Zephyr. As he stared out into open space, he felt a calmness inside him present whenever Nume was around him. “Full stop,” Jonas said into his suit comm.
“Sure. Why not? Let’s just let the monster devour us too.”
Jonas watched as the Leviathan slithered outside the ship. It appeared smaller than the others, possibly only a child. The young serpent stuck its mouth inside the cabin of the Zephyr.
“I’m here Nume,” he said while looking the Leviathan in its enormous eye.
The space serpent opened its mouth revealing a motionless Nume inside. Her body drifted out of its mouth and into Jonas’ arms.
“Nume…” Jonas held his breath as he searched for signs of life on her cold, blue face.
Thank you for reading Echoes of Guardians, book one of the Entrent Saga! I hope you enjoyed it. Continue the series with, book two, Cries of the Wolf.
Also by C. S. Harte
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Amazon
Entrent Saga:
Endurance - Prequel Novella (Free)
Echoes of Guardians - Book One
Cries of the Wolf - Book Two
Symphonies of Valor - Book Three
Eden Faction Series:
Eden Wakes - Book One
Tides of Empire - Novella 1.5 (Free)
Eden Villains - Book Two
About the Author
C. S. Harte is a writer of speculative fiction.
In his spare time, he teaches himself acoustic guitar by watching YouTube videos. His neighbors have yet to complain. He has precious little time until they do.
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