Page 4 of Touch the Stars
He snapped his full attention back to the Kavian.“Youhave flown it?”
“Yes, yes.”Nak’s voice was full of pride.“Alone, I have.It accommodates up to five beings, but only one needed at the controls.Flies itself during sleep cycles, it does.Come, come.”
At the top of the boarding ramp, Nak paused.“Neltai.”
A three-meter-square section of the cruiser’s hull shimmered in undulating waves, converting from solid to semi-permeable.The technology of the Ancient Ones was used only by imperial ships.
“See?”Nak beamed.“Decontamination and pressurization chambers needed not.Follow now to the command center.”He scampered through the rippling wall.
Nak’s excitement wrapped around him as he stepped through the cruiser’s hatch.A burst of crisp air surrounded him, decontaminating him from head to foot, then he was aboard and hurrying to keep up.
The ship’s spacious command center filled him with awe as he ran his palm along the decadently soft, white leather of the room’s command chair.
“There you sit.”Nak pointed to the command chair.“It is more your size than mine.Is good, good.”
Itwasgood.A grin that refused to be suppressed pushed at the corners of his mouth as he sank onto the cushioned chair.“Touch-control pad, I see.”
No wonder Nak could pilot it.
“Yes, yes.Very easy.Key in your imperial identity number and control be yours, until your return to Ghara.”Nak smoothed his whiskers with one paw, then his beady gaze darted around the room as though he was suddenly nervous.
The Kavian stepped closer to the chair and stood on his tip-toes as if to convey a secret.“Something you must know.Friend, my friend, Daarga.He is Undetan, like you.Disappeared, he did.I know not where.Last seen in the grand emperor’s private chambers.Some think he is on a mission, a secret one.Maybe so, maybe not.Like you, he is big, can take care of himself, but I worry.Always we bid each other farewell.Always.This time, nothing.”
“If Daarga is on a secret mission, there may have been no time to come see you.”Which was completely plausible.
He bounced his knee up and down with his foot as eagerness to depart filled him.It was time to prepare for launch, not discuss the whereabouts of a missing imperial attendant.That was the emperor’s concern.
Buuren disappeared without a word to anyone.
The sudden realization sliced through his impatience.Unease rolled through his belly, and he stilled his leg.Undet warriors always alerted a trusted being upon departure.Someonewould have known if Nak’s friend had left the imperial compound.Just like General Tuuli knew he had been summoned to Ghara, and now Nak knew he was leaving Ghara by the emperor’s orders.
But who knew about my brother?
“Yes, yes.Right, you are.”Nak stepped back waving one paw-like hand.“Go now, you must.Safe journey to you, Warrior Baatar.”
Nak scampered out of the room, appearing a moment later on the deck, paws raised in the “All clear” signal.
It was time.He gave the lingering anxiety a mental shake off, then keyed in his identification.The cruiser purred to life.The mission to acquire the heir of the Gharan Empire was all that mattered.The lives of everyone he loved depended upon him bringing the heir safely to Ghara.
I will not fail.
Chapter 2
Kaitlyn Bergh.
“Hey,asshole!”Sheslammedthe heel of her hand against the steering wheel horn.
The semi-truck didn’t even slow down its shift into her lane.This was a contest her little blue hatchback would lose.They’d find it crushed between the big rig and the freeway guardrail, just like her parents’ car fifteen years ago.
Shit!
She gripped the steering wheel as if her life depended upon it—because it did—and gave a hard jerk right.
Oh, hey, no guardrail!
Just a concrete curb and a bunch of “freeway beautifying” oleander trees.Her tax dollars at work.She smashed her right foot onto the brake pedal, sending the entire frame of the vehicle into convulsive tremors as the brakes locked.
Skreeeeeek!Th-thump!
