We waited for the blast that would destroy us.
It was the end of a long road that had started on the Lazarus, even before that, when I’d met Jess and the aliens.
I locked eyes with Amelie as the seconds passed.
“It's been an honor serving with you, Amelie. I'm proud to be your friend.”
She sniffed. Ethan white-knuckled the controls as we waited.
“There's a meteor seventy miles away. Wait there. We’re going to blow something up, so it looks like we destroyed you.”
She...she wasn’t going to kill us. Realization dawned in my bone-weary mind.
“I don’t know how to thank you. But thank you.”
“Just try to find a safe, quiet backwater planet. You guys get in way more trouble than anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Don't I know it.” I closed my eyes and let my head dip.
WE WAITED A GOOD TWELVE hours on the meteor and kept the ship’s power low as we worked to patch up her wounds.
None of us talked much. I did find out more about what was happening back at the base from Amelie and the files.
Ethan sat alone in the cargo bay for hours, his head resting on his knees, pretending he was sleeping. I knew he wasn't from the speed of his breath.
What he’d done must be destroying him. I didn't know how he'd ever deal with it. And he’d done it for me.
The way I felt about him was very complicated. He’d lied to me, but he also saved me. Only time would tell if our friendship would survive.
Amelie got cleaned up and was back in her gray uniform, as was I.
Trainee gray.
I had worked so hard to get into the Mil-station Academy, and now I was a fugitive.
When we were positive the Ax-Atlantis had passed, we lifted off.
I took the helm because Ethan was still in the back. When he felt the Icarus move, he was instantly up and alert. Amelie took the nav station, waiting for my direction.
She said she had no preference on where we went as long as it eventually saved Dax. Ethan took the seat next to me.
“So, where are we going?”
“I really would love to go home, but there’s somebody I need to talk to first,” I said.
“Who?” Amelie asked.
“My big brother. The Ax-Military was willing to kill Ethan and me to find him. What he knows must be damned important. Plot a course to Clementine.”
“Will do,” Amelie said.
I dropped the shuttle into sub-light speed, and we jettisoned into the black.
To be continued in part three, Rebel.
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More books by Pamela Stewart
The Ionia Chronicles
Frozen Hearts
Vagabond Souls
Freed Spirits
Star Defenders
Conscript
Cadet
Rebel (coming soon!)
Zee Series
Defective
Damaged
Destroyed
About the Author
Pamela Stewart is an award-winning, bestselling author of young adult science fiction and fantasy. Her journey began long ago in a galaxy not too far away, when she wrote a Star Wars fanfiction and never looked back.
Writing is her passion but she also loves slow, cross-country trips, binging Marvel movies, and getting zen with some yoga.
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Read more at Pamela Stewart’s site.
Cadet: Star Defenders Book Two: Space Opera Adventure Page 44