Read Online Eternity Row by S. L. Viehl - Free Book Online

here.”
    Dhreen’s eyes fluttered open and widened as I bent over to grab the berth restraints. “What happened?”
    “The ship is under attack.” I stripped away his top linens and removed three Lok-Teel from various parts of his body-the housekeeping mold evidently had taken a real liking to the Oenrallian-and adjusted the tilt of the berth. “I’m going to put you in sleep suspension, to protect your wounds.”
    He tugged halfheartedly at the straps. “You’ll rouse me when it’s through?”
    “I might even bring you breakfast in bed.” I positioned the suspension shroud over his face. “Don’t worry, this feels just like taking another nap.”
    “All I do is sleep.”
    “We can swap jobs anytime you want.” I calibrated a syrinpress. “Now close your eyes and relax.”
    Once Dhreen was hibernating, I went out to help Squilyp with securing the rest of our patients and getting the staff prepared to triage incoming casualties. I paused long enough to signal Alunthri and check on Marel myself.
    “Duncan is on his way, and I’ll be down as soon as I can,” I told the Chakacat, and reassured my daughter as best I could. “Listen to Alunthri, sweetie, and I’ll see you soon.”
    “I nod ’fraid, Mama.” Marel showed me a wrist unit. “CanUncaw Xonea give me dis.”
    ClanUncle was going to get his large blue jaw broken by me, as soon as this was over. “That’s great, baby.” When she wandered far enough away from the screen, I added, “Alunthri, get that thing off her, if you would.”
    As more blasts hit the ship, we began setting up as many empty berths as the wards could hold. I started one of the nurses on the blood synthesizer, and another four prepping ortho and wound instrument trays.
    “Cherijo.” Squilyp waved me over to the main display, where he had punched up an exterior view of the Sunlace . “It doesn’t look like a League ship. Are they mercenaries?”
    “No.” I watched as the fast, heavily armed alien star vessel came about and flew toward the starboard side of the ship. “It’s a Hsktskt raider, gstek class.”
    I grabbed the console as it fired another displacer salvo at the Sunlace , sending more shock waves through the hull.
    The Omorr rocked on his foot. “Obviously not a scout vessel.”
    I pushed a handful of hair out of my face. “What is Xonea doing? We’ve got to transition out of here.”
    Before I could signal Ship’s Operational and demand to know why we were sitting around letting the lizards blast holes in our hull, a brief, high-pitched screech blared through the air.
    I clapped my hands over my ears. “ Ah !”
    Squilyp, whose auditory membranes were ten times as acute as mine, made a horrible sound as he doubled over in agony. A couple of nurses rushed over to help me support him.
    If that wasn’t bizarre enough, my daughter appeared out of nowhere, ducked between my legs, and grabbed the edge of the Omorr’s tunic. Her small hand shook as she touched the pink and white streaked blood draining from Squilyp’s ears. “Uncwip!”
    “I am well, child,” he said, taking her hand in one of his membranes.
    “Let go, Squilyp.” When he did, I grabbed Marel and held her for a moment. Alunthri was nowhere to be seen. “Baby, how did you get in here?”
    “I wanded you.”
    “Healer, look.” One of them pointed to the display screen.
    A silent, light-bending ripple appeared in front of the Sunlace , spreading out in all directions. As the Hsktskt raider came about for a third pass, it ran into the ripple. I squinted as a huge flash of white light obscured the screen. When it cleared, the Hsktskt ship had been reduced to a pulverized cloud of debris.
    It was so unexpected and lethal that, for a moment, all any of us could do was stare, openmouthed.
    “Mama, wad dad?” my daughter whispered.
    I swallowed. “A bad thing, baby. A very bad thing.”
    “The Captain’s celebrated sonic cannons, I presume.” Squilyp’s face had gone pale pink, but he