Children of Junk (Rogue Star Book 3)
Page 13
Marcus pulled the lever and they shot into the swirling vortex of hyperspace.
* * *
“Here it is.” Marcus handed the generator to Dra’kor. They stood in the first councilor’s personal lab, surrounded by enough technology to make Solomon drool and Marcus’s headache. They’d made it back to the council asteroid without trouble, thank the universe. He’d had enough trouble for a few days at least. “I thought it would be bigger.”
Dra’kor hefted the box then held it up to examine the connections on the underside. “It connects to a ship’s hyperdrive and modifies its function. The ship provides the power and most of the hardware.”
“So it’s like adding a sound suppressor to your blaster.”
Dra’kor nodded. “Something like that. You’ve done a great thing retrieving this. Once we determine how it works we’ll be able to mass produce a countermeasure and deprive the Void of a potent weapon.”
“Do you think you’ll make your hyperwave engines work with this?” Solomon asked. “It’d be cool to see what’s in the next galaxy over.”
“It may help, but the technology works on two different principles.” He shook his head. “This isn’t my area of expertise.”
Solomon nodded, a little frown curling his lips.
“What about this?” Marcus dug the data chip out of his pocket. “Should we warn them or let the Void clean them up?”
Dra’kor took the chip. “You promised the Scrapper leader you’d warn the others.”
“Yeah, but at the time I’d have promised him just about anything if it got me out of there in one piece. This might be one of those occasions where letting the Void do what they want may work out for us. Of course, I don’t know if all the Scrappers are violent. Some may live peaceful lives out in the middle of nowhere.”
Dra’kor nodded. “We will warn them. I wouldn’t wish the Void’s revenge on anyone. What will you do now?”
“Iaka needs a lift to Alpha. We’ll hang out there for a few days. I haven’t visited the little guys in a while so I’ll probably play deity for an afternoon. After that…” Marcus shrugged.
They shook hands. “Take your time and as always excellent work.”
Marcus led the way out of the lab. The door closed behind him and Iaka came running around the corner. He grinned. Man, she was a sight for sore eyes. She hugged him and he sighed. Iaka still cared, he could feel it in the way she trembled in his arms.
“I was so worried,” she whispered in his ear.
“I’ll meet you two on the ship.” Solomon fled back to the hanger.
Marcus kissed her. “It’ll take more than a few Scrappers, Void assassins, and a cruiser to keep me from coming back to you.”
She slapped his chest. “Don’t joke. You could have gotten killed.”
He took a step back and held her at arm’s length. “That’s the job, and I’m good at. I think everything I’ve done has led to this job, working for Dra’kor, dealing with some of the big problems out there. I can’t tell you how satisfying it is.”
“That won’t keep me from worrying.”
Marcus slipped an arm around her waist and they started down the hall toward the hanger. “I know, and I love you.”
She stopped and spun to face him her eyes wide and shining.
He nodded. “I love you.”
She hugged him again. “I love you too.”
* * *
Solomon rush away from Marcus and Iaka. It wasn’t that he wasn’t happy they were happy, but he didn’t need to watch. He took the back passages to the hanger, meeting no one. The door slid open and he found the techs still refueling the ship. Solomon waved to them and went up the ramp.
He probably had a little while, maybe a long while if Marcus found an empty closet on his way back. Solomon went to his room and fired up his slate. When it had connected to the net he tapped his messages and a new note popped up. His breath caught in his throat when he saw the signature. The Queen of Hacks. Emily made it off the ship in one piece. Solomon sighed, not sure why he cared, but glad she’d made all the same. He started to tap the message then stopped. He didn’t want to know what she had to say, not yet. It was enough that she was still alive. Perhaps he wouldn’t send that virus after all.
About the Author
James E. Wisher is a writer of science fiction and fantasy novels. He’s been writing since high school and reading everything he could get his hands on for as long as he can remember. This is his sixth novel.
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www.jamesewisher.com
James@jamesewisher.com
Also by James E. Wisher
Children of the Darkness
Children of the Void
The Squire
Death and Honor Book 1 of 2
Death and Honor Book 2 of 2