Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
Taron
Taron slowed the vehicle and began to circle the huge black ship.
As he suspected, it was Hurian. They were an advanced species that sold their expensive, custom ships all over the galaxy, but resided primarily in the first quadrant and kept to themselves.
No one bothered them. They had fortified their entire planetary system of seven planets and dozens of moons so well, it wasn’t worth anyone’s time to try attacking them.
It surprised Taron that this enormous base ship—which must have cost a fortune to purchase—had been abandoned.
Then he remembered what Nitto had told him about the nearest star disguising their transmissions, thus keeping their base location a secret. Perhaps that was why this giant still lay here—it simply couldn’t be found by sensors from space.
He finally located a section of detached hull above them and stopped the vehicle.
He hit the thrusters, making them rise. There was a risk here.
The more the thrusters worked, the more agitation there was to the water.
That was bound to draw predators. This would be quick, and hopefully any hungry mouths they attracted would be disappointed.
The water churned in great foaming ripples. Up they moved, closer to the opening. He hoped the vehicle would fit inside. It would be tight, and he did not know what lay on the other side of that slab of metal.
A glance down to the churning waters revealed the wide, open mouth of a giant sea beast. Its mouth gaped open and thousands of sharp teeth, arranged in row after row, rose to engulf them.
Amelia’s scream pierced the air. Her grip on his waist turned strangling.
On a deep breath, he angled the vehicle and steered it straight for the hole.
They tumbled inside, just as those great jaws snapped shut on air.
Once inside, he wasn’t ready to relax. It was pitch-black, and the vehicle swayed out of control.
The ground was unsteady, if there even was ground.
Carefully, he lowered the vehicle down vertically.
The sensors found a floor surface, and the vehicle settled.
He didn’t know how to get the lights on. Finally, he touched something on the screen that made lights illuminate around the vehicle in a bright ring. They could see their surroundings, and it was not what he expected.
“Oh, wow,” said an awed Amelia.
Sprawled before them was a vast, empty deck of polished stone as black as the hull they squeezed through.
Whatever type of stone it was, cycles of salt water and humid air hadn’t affected it.
The crack they’d slipped through was well above them, against a wall.
Everything was tilted a bit, but it was easy to see that a good portion of this ship had remained intact.
He moved them forward, investigating the interior space slowly.
“It looks empty,” he said in dismay. “If this was the main hangar, all the smaller transports cleared out before the crash.”
“I’m glad everyone got off safely,” she said on a sigh. “They could have left one teensy little ship, though.”
“I think there are a few more decks,” he said. “We’ll see what we find.” If nothing else, maybe they could hide out here for a while until they thought up another plan. Although, in reality, they were fresh out of plans.
They rode up the slanted floor to a lift that was no longer operational, but as was the practice of all good spacecraft builders, a ladder had been discreetly attached to the wall.
They got off the vehicle and climbed it to the next deck, using the display from the transmission sensor device as a light.
There, it was Taron’s turn to exclaim in awe.
This deck was a fully outfitted command center.
It had been groundbreaking many cycles ago, and now decks like this were common, but it was still a masterwork of design.
“Look at this,” he said, running an appreciative hand over the smooth lines of the central console.
“One large wrap screen that holds many operations at once. Intuitive placement of the other consoles. A ship like this would require multiple operators.” He slid into the command chair.
“And this is smart. The chairs would move to different stations, and there are auxiliary stations over there.” He pointed to a bank of seats that sat before a wall of screens.
Amelia laughed. “You sound like a kid in a toy shop.”
“I feel like one.” He grinned. “I’ve never been on a Hurian-made ship. They’re exquisite. Every part of their design has a purpose. This ship is elegance and function.” He gazed around at the dark interior. “It’s just tragic to see it like this. This thing should still be flying.”
“I thought Virilians didn’t get attached to ships.” She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “It sounds like you’re already in love with this one.”
He gazed at the curved walls and gently arched ceiling with an ache in his throat. “I think I am.”
“Well,” she said. “I wish I could leave you alone in here for a little private time, but we need to head up to the next deck to see if there are any shuttles left on this thing.”
He grabbed her around the waist. “I could fuck you right here on this beautifully designed command deck.” He lowered his head and closed his teeth on her collarbone. “It would be so good.”
She laughed and put her hands firmly to his chest. “Later. Let’s finish what we came here to do.”
“Are you sure?” He leaned back, grinning. “It’ll only take a minute.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, you sweet talker.”
“Let me know if you change your mind,” he whispered huskily into her ear, and was rewarded with the feel of her body shivering in response.
“Hmm,” she purred. “I said, later, not never.”
But he wondered if that was true. If his instincts were accurate, any small shuttles remaining would be on the deck above them.
They might get off this planet after all, and hopefully, to freedom.
First order of business would be to get Amelia to a safe place.
He wasn’t sure Earth was that place. It was a ridiculous planet.
The dominant species—humans—still fought among themselves, for star’s sake.
It was the mark of an underdeveloped civilization and a sign that they would not have resources—or basic skills—to protect her from an enemy like the Tulashi operatives who sent assassins to eliminate her.
They climbed up the next ladder, and he let out a noise of pure satisfaction. “That’s right. I knew it.”
“It’s a ship!” Amelia exclaimed, before turning on him. “What do you mean, you ‘knew it?’”
He shrugged, striding toward the single ship sitting in the tiny hangar.
It was a small, sleek fighter, designed for quick maneuvering and short-range attacks.
“Fighters like these would be housed in the smaller, officers’ hangar, often placed above the command deck.
This one is probably the captain’s.” He gave her a smug look, which he knew would get a reaction. “Didn’t you know that?”
She completely ignored his jibe. “So can you get it flying?”
“I don’t know.” He rubbed his chin and thought. “I’ll have to find out what makes it go, and determine if it’s similar to what makes our ground skimmer go. Then I’d have to retrofit—”
She held up her hands. “Okay. What do you need me to do?”
He smiled wide, eyebrows raised. He did like this game. “You really want to know?”
“Not that,” she said with an amused twinkle. “For the ship.”
He grabbed the front of her suit and kissed her until he was sure she was breathless.
Stars, he could not get enough of her. “You can pry open that sliding door over there,” he said, nodding across the room, “and see if there’s any other supplies like food, water, clothes—anything useful.
Lights,” he added. “Definitely see if you can find some emergency lights. This device is going to run out of power soon.”
She leaned up and kissed him, just as hard. “Okay.” And off she went, swinging that fantastic behind, fully aware that he was all but panting after her.
He turned his attention to the craft before him. It was in pristine condition. It had possibly never flown. Maybe this could work, he thought.