other, both stretching as far as the eye could see. Low stone walls crisscrossed here and there, and people worked unhurriedly in the fields as though this was just another day. The bitter thought,
It isn’t fair
, flashed through his mind and was gone. He didn’t have the time for self-pity. Owen tore his gaze away from his people and accessed the flight computers through his comm implant. All systems were responding normally, and the energy levels looks sufficient to get him to where he’d hidden the
Sunstrider
. If nothing went wrong. The flyer had no weapons systems and no energy shields. A disrupter blast would rip through the cabin like a knife through paper. Owen felt suddenly vulnerable, alone in a flimsy craft, and he shuddered for a long moment before he could bring himself back under control again.
The flyer’s sensors suddenly murmured in his ear, informing him that there were two other flyers on his tail. They were only a few minutes behind him, and slowly but steadily they were closing the gap. Owen swore feelingly. He should never have authorized the extra flyers for his security people. He tried for more speed, but the low energy levels made the craft sluggish. It only took a quick calculation to show Owen the other flyers would catch him up long before he could reach
Sunstrider
and safety.
“Oz, you still with me?”
“There’s no need to shout, Owen. I’m not deaf.”
“Then take over the flyer’s controls. Your reflexes are a lot faster than mine.”
“Yes, Owen.” The flyer lurched suddenly to one side and then back again, rising and falling at unexpected intervals. “Evasive maneuvers,” the AI explained.
“Next time,” said Owen, trying hard to hang onto his seat and his stomach’s contents, “a little warning would be appreciated.”
“Of course, Owen. I feel I should also warn you that accordingto this flyer’s long-range sensors, there are at least three energy weapons on the flyers behind us. It will only take one hit in the wrong place to force us down.”
“I had worked that much out for myself, thank you. Any other good news you want to share with me?”
“Again according to the long range sensors, there are three more craft heading in pursuit. Too far off yet to identify the craft, but their speed implies they are much more powerful than the flyers, and they’re closing fast.”
Some days
, Owen thought,
things wouldn’t go right if you paid them
.
The flyer lurched suddenly as a disrupter beam tore through the left wing. The whole craft shuddered painfully, and its speed began to drop. It threw itself about the sky as the AI ran through every emergency maneuver the flyer was still capable of, but the damage had been done. Speed was down, altitude was falling, and the pursuing ships were drawing steadily nearer.
“You’ll have to take control, Owen,” said the AI suddenly. “I’m under increasing attack, and I can’t spare any more of myself to help you. You can contract me again if you reach
Sunstrider
. If not, I have enjoyed our relationship. Goodbye.”
“Oz! Ozymandius! Talk to me, damn you!” Owen waited, but there was no response. “Shit!
Boost!
”
He didn’t like to think what boosting again was going to do to him so soon after the last time, but it couldn’t be helped. He needed the extra speed and reflexes it would give him. Blood hammered in his head, and new strength Hooded through him. The flyer shuddered again as a second energy beam hit it from behind. The motor lost its high confident tone and began to stutter. The nose dipped, and the flyer headed for the ground. To Owen it all seemed to be happening in remorseless slow motion, but even though his hands were incredibly fast and sure on the controls, all he could do was guide the descent, not stop it. He was still a long way short of his destination, and for the first time Owen realized he probably wasn’t going to escape after all.
The ground rose slowly up before him, and he
It isn’t fair
, flashed through his mind and was gone. He didn’t have the time for self-pity. Owen tore his gaze away from his people and accessed the flight computers through his comm implant. All systems were responding normally, and the energy levels looks sufficient to get him to where he’d hidden the
Sunstrider
. If nothing went wrong. The flyer had no weapons systems and no energy shields. A disrupter blast would rip through the cabin like a knife through paper. Owen felt suddenly vulnerable, alone in a flimsy craft, and he shuddered for a long moment before he could bring himself back under control again.
The flyer’s sensors suddenly murmured in his ear, informing him that there were two other flyers on his tail. They were only a few minutes behind him, and slowly but steadily they were closing the gap. Owen swore feelingly. He should never have authorized the extra flyers for his security people. He tried for more speed, but the low energy levels made the craft sluggish. It only took a quick calculation to show Owen the other flyers would catch him up long before he could reach
Sunstrider
and safety.
“Oz, you still with me?”
“There’s no need to shout, Owen. I’m not deaf.”
“Then take over the flyer’s controls. Your reflexes are a lot faster than mine.”
“Yes, Owen.” The flyer lurched suddenly to one side and then back again, rising and falling at unexpected intervals. “Evasive maneuvers,” the AI explained.
“Next time,” said Owen, trying hard to hang onto his seat and his stomach’s contents, “a little warning would be appreciated.”
“Of course, Owen. I feel I should also warn you that accordingto this flyer’s long-range sensors, there are at least three energy weapons on the flyers behind us. It will only take one hit in the wrong place to force us down.”
“I had worked that much out for myself, thank you. Any other good news you want to share with me?”
“Again according to the long range sensors, there are three more craft heading in pursuit. Too far off yet to identify the craft, but their speed implies they are much more powerful than the flyers, and they’re closing fast.”
Some days
, Owen thought,
things wouldn’t go right if you paid them
.
The flyer lurched suddenly as a disrupter beam tore through the left wing. The whole craft shuddered painfully, and its speed began to drop. It threw itself about the sky as the AI ran through every emergency maneuver the flyer was still capable of, but the damage had been done. Speed was down, altitude was falling, and the pursuing ships were drawing steadily nearer.
“You’ll have to take control, Owen,” said the AI suddenly. “I’m under increasing attack, and I can’t spare any more of myself to help you. You can contract me again if you reach
Sunstrider
. If not, I have enjoyed our relationship. Goodbye.”
“Oz! Ozymandius! Talk to me, damn you!” Owen waited, but there was no response. “Shit!
Boost!
”
He didn’t like to think what boosting again was going to do to him so soon after the last time, but it couldn’t be helped. He needed the extra speed and reflexes it would give him. Blood hammered in his head, and new strength Hooded through him. The flyer shuddered again as a second energy beam hit it from behind. The motor lost its high confident tone and began to stutter. The nose dipped, and the flyer headed for the ground. To Owen it all seemed to be happening in remorseless slow motion, but even though his hands were incredibly fast and sure on the controls, all he could do was guide the descent, not stop it. He was still a long way short of his destination, and for the first time Owen realized he probably wasn’t going to escape after all.
The ground rose slowly up before him, and he
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