Read Online Asteroid Crisis: Star Challengers Book 3 by Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, June Scobee Rodgers - Free Book Online Page A
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“We’ve gone back twice before. We already changed what happens by helping save the moonbase crew and the space station. In our original timeline, the Kylarn destroyed Moonbase Magellan and its crew, and then took over the ISSC. All of you would be dead if we hadn’t changed anything.”
“We risk our own lives every time we come here,” Dyl said.
Song-Ye added, “We can do a lot of good—I promise.”
“In your future, what happened with the asteroids?” Kloor asked.
“This is a problem,” Dyl said. “They did some real damage.”
“But we want to help you change that,” JJ assured them.
Kloor frowned. “What does that mean. The billions of lives?”
“We can’t give you specifics. It could jeopardize what we’re trying to do here,” JJ said, trying to defuse the tension in the room.
“Your very presence is changing things!” Fox said quietly, his words cutting through the air with some frustration.
“We weren’t trying to lie to you—we just needed to keep a low profile,” JJ explained. She desperately wanted the adults to trust her and her friends. She knew, though, that dishonesty wasn’t a good way to start building relationships.
“You have to admit,” Dyl said, “that if we told you we were time travelers from the past trying to head off an alien invasion, you would have thought we were either lying or crazy.”
Tony nodded. “Believe me, conversations like that never go well.”
“Pfft,” Song-Ye said. “We didn’t understand it at first. How could we expect you to?”
“We’re trying not to tip off the Kylarn about the changes we’re making,” King said. “So, can we keep this a secret among friends?”
Stationmaster Ansari, who had always been on their side, nodded slowly. “It will be our secret.”
Fox seemed surprised, and although Kloor wore a satisfied smile, Napali remained skeptical.
“My gut tells me we can trust these cadets,” Ansari said. “And considering how powerful the aliens are, we’re going to need every ally we can get.”
***
Nine
Even though Song-Ye was more prone to space sickness, it was Dyl’s stomach that rebelled when they visited Dr. Romero in Medical.
Although there were more crewmembers aboard the ISSC now, no one had suffered any injuries or accidents, and after the food-poisoning incident during their previous visit, all food was very carefully tested for Salmonella and other contaminants. In Medical, Dr. Romero used the facilities to perform an alien autopsy. Strapped to a surgical table, she had spread out the flabby tentacled form of one of the two dead Kylarn. After failing to take over the station, the two creatures had thrown themselves out the airlock to freeze in space rather than be captured alive.
The doctor glanced up at them. “You’re just in time to help me with the dissection. We still know far too little about these creatures.”
Song-Ye scrunched her face in confusion. “It’s been two years since the alien was captured. Why are you just now beginning dissection?”
Dr. Romero sighed heavily. It was obvious she’d answered this question a thousand times already, but Song-Ye and Dyl still wanted to know. “To make a long story short, Earthbound bureaucrats set the rules, and I had to abide by them.”
Song-Ye and Dyl were more confused than ever. Romero continued, “The other Kylarn specimen was sent to Earth for analysis just after you left last time. In all that time, I’ve only gotten two reports, neither of which said anything useful about Kylarn biology. I’ve been patient enough. Now it’s my turn to examine the other specimen. We kept it up here because we wanted to make sure that subjecting the creature to reentry and Earth’s gravity didn’t skew any of the results.”
“Ick, alien autopsy,” Dyl said.”
“As in, Insanely Cruel Knowledge?” Song-Ye teased.
Romero said, “If you’re squeamish, Cadet Wren, you don’t have to watch, but I could use your assistance, both of
“We risk our own lives every time we come here,” Dyl said.
Song-Ye added, “We can do a lot of good—I promise.”
“In your future, what happened with the asteroids?” Kloor asked.
“This is a problem,” Dyl said. “They did some real damage.”
“But we want to help you change that,” JJ assured them.
Kloor frowned. “What does that mean. The billions of lives?”
“We can’t give you specifics. It could jeopardize what we’re trying to do here,” JJ said, trying to defuse the tension in the room.
“Your very presence is changing things!” Fox said quietly, his words cutting through the air with some frustration.
“We weren’t trying to lie to you—we just needed to keep a low profile,” JJ explained. She desperately wanted the adults to trust her and her friends. She knew, though, that dishonesty wasn’t a good way to start building relationships.
“You have to admit,” Dyl said, “that if we told you we were time travelers from the past trying to head off an alien invasion, you would have thought we were either lying or crazy.”
Tony nodded. “Believe me, conversations like that never go well.”
“Pfft,” Song-Ye said. “We didn’t understand it at first. How could we expect you to?”
“We’re trying not to tip off the Kylarn about the changes we’re making,” King said. “So, can we keep this a secret among friends?”
Stationmaster Ansari, who had always been on their side, nodded slowly. “It will be our secret.”
Fox seemed surprised, and although Kloor wore a satisfied smile, Napali remained skeptical.
“My gut tells me we can trust these cadets,” Ansari said. “And considering how powerful the aliens are, we’re going to need every ally we can get.”
***
Nine
Even though Song-Ye was more prone to space sickness, it was Dyl’s stomach that rebelled when they visited Dr. Romero in Medical.
Although there were more crewmembers aboard the ISSC now, no one had suffered any injuries or accidents, and after the food-poisoning incident during their previous visit, all food was very carefully tested for Salmonella and other contaminants. In Medical, Dr. Romero used the facilities to perform an alien autopsy. Strapped to a surgical table, she had spread out the flabby tentacled form of one of the two dead Kylarn. After failing to take over the station, the two creatures had thrown themselves out the airlock to freeze in space rather than be captured alive.
The doctor glanced up at them. “You’re just in time to help me with the dissection. We still know far too little about these creatures.”
Song-Ye scrunched her face in confusion. “It’s been two years since the alien was captured. Why are you just now beginning dissection?”
Dr. Romero sighed heavily. It was obvious she’d answered this question a thousand times already, but Song-Ye and Dyl still wanted to know. “To make a long story short, Earthbound bureaucrats set the rules, and I had to abide by them.”
Song-Ye and Dyl were more confused than ever. Romero continued, “The other Kylarn specimen was sent to Earth for analysis just after you left last time. In all that time, I’ve only gotten two reports, neither of which said anything useful about Kylarn biology. I’ve been patient enough. Now it’s my turn to examine the other specimen. We kept it up here because we wanted to make sure that subjecting the creature to reentry and Earth’s gravity didn’t skew any of the results.”
“Ick, alien autopsy,” Dyl said.”
“As in, Insanely Cruel Knowledge?” Song-Ye teased.
Romero said, “If you’re squeamish, Cadet Wren, you don’t have to watch, but I could use your assistance, both of
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