Read Online Hunter by S.J. Bryant - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: S.J. Bryant
Tags: vampire, Space Opera, female protagonist, female hero, vampire action adventure, science fiction action adventure
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from around his neck and opened the lock. This door
swung open as silently as the first. The lecheons filed inside. The
luxuriant carpet was soft under Corvus's feet and the signature
scent of the room filled his senses. He breathed deeply, it was a
scent he'd requested; flowers with a hint of blood.
As soon as
they were inside the room Corvus went into the clothing generator.
There were thousands of options but he settled on the simple repair
function. After a few seconds his long black coat and the rest of
his clothing was as good as new. He stepped out looking just as he
had before the incident with the police, except for a tiny red line
on his left cheek where a stray toothpick had scratched him as it
sailed passed.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Nova shuffled between the make-shift beds
clustered within the police station. She held out her hand and
helped an injured officer to his feet. He nodded gratefully at her
and staggered to the nearest bed. Doctors and nurses from the
nearby hospital bustled around the wounded officers.
"Thanks for
coming, Cal," Nova said as the robot hovered into the
station.
"I'll do my
best," he said.
On the other
side of the room was a row of white sheets with lifeless lumps
hidden beneath. Red pools of congealed blood dotted the floor of
the police station, creating splashes of colour in the otherwise
white and metal building.
The bodies of
the lecheons were stacked in a storeroom, out of sight. Some
officers kept glancing at the door as if the creatures would come
back to life and leap out at them at any second.
"We lost
seven," Briggles said at Nova's side. "Seven good officers for
seven of theirs."
"We're lucky
we only lost that," Nova said, her face grim.
"How the hell
are we supposed to take them down? If we don't stop them soon
they'll start terrorising the citizens. We'll have a full-blown
riot on our hands."
"There's not
much we can do right now," Nova said. "We have to find out where
they're hiding and take them by surprise. It might be the only
advantage we can get."
"I wish the
bloody army would step in and do their job."
"Why don't
they?"
"Because it
would create an inter-species nightmare. As far as they're
concerned they can't be seen to do anything; meanwhile they want us
to make the problem go away."
"Sounds just
like the Confederacy."
"Too right,
but I think we've got things covered here. You look like you could
use a break."
"Isn't that
the truth," Nova sighed.
She nodded at
Briggles and left the station. The bright sunlight stung her tired
eyes as she stumbled towards Crusader.
***
"Do you
really think now is a good time to go for a ride?" Cal
asked.
Nova pulled
down a set of racing goggles and settled into the small seat. Cal
hovered just outside the ship in Crusader's main holding bay. He
stared at Nova, motors whirring.
She ignored
him and continued to check all of the dials spread out in front of
her. Fuel was fine, thrusters were fine, and steering was good.
Things looked nearly ready for the big race; not long to go
now.
"Nova," Cal
said again. This time one of his panels opened and a thin metal arm
extended out. It hovered in the air just above the ship, where the
new paint had only just dried, the threat clear.
"Okay!" Nova
said, exasperated. She pushed the robot away from the ship. "Yes, I
think it's an excellent time. The race won't stop just because of a
few lecheons on Boullion Five. Plus, I can't sleep."
"But the
lecheons aren't going to stop just because of a space-race either,"
Cal pointed out.
"I know that.
But I'm not doing anyone any good by lying in my bed, not
sleeping," Nova replied.
"Really? The
attack only happened last night. What if they come again? Is it not
your problem if Inspector Briggles dies?" Cal said.
Nova sighed.
She'd spent the whole night awake asking herself the same question.
The last thing she needed was Cal causing her doubts as well. She
tightened the straps around her
swung open as silently as the first. The lecheons filed inside. The
luxuriant carpet was soft under Corvus's feet and the signature
scent of the room filled his senses. He breathed deeply, it was a
scent he'd requested; flowers with a hint of blood.
As soon as
they were inside the room Corvus went into the clothing generator.
There were thousands of options but he settled on the simple repair
function. After a few seconds his long black coat and the rest of
his clothing was as good as new. He stepped out looking just as he
had before the incident with the police, except for a tiny red line
on his left cheek where a stray toothpick had scratched him as it
sailed passed.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Nova shuffled between the make-shift beds
clustered within the police station. She held out her hand and
helped an injured officer to his feet. He nodded gratefully at her
and staggered to the nearest bed. Doctors and nurses from the
nearby hospital bustled around the wounded officers.
"Thanks for
coming, Cal," Nova said as the robot hovered into the
station.
"I'll do my
best," he said.
On the other
side of the room was a row of white sheets with lifeless lumps
hidden beneath. Red pools of congealed blood dotted the floor of
the police station, creating splashes of colour in the otherwise
white and metal building.
The bodies of
the lecheons were stacked in a storeroom, out of sight. Some
officers kept glancing at the door as if the creatures would come
back to life and leap out at them at any second.
"We lost
seven," Briggles said at Nova's side. "Seven good officers for
seven of theirs."
"We're lucky
we only lost that," Nova said, her face grim.
"How the hell
are we supposed to take them down? If we don't stop them soon
they'll start terrorising the citizens. We'll have a full-blown
riot on our hands."
"There's not
much we can do right now," Nova said. "We have to find out where
they're hiding and take them by surprise. It might be the only
advantage we can get."
"I wish the
bloody army would step in and do their job."
"Why don't
they?"
"Because it
would create an inter-species nightmare. As far as they're
concerned they can't be seen to do anything; meanwhile they want us
to make the problem go away."
"Sounds just
like the Confederacy."
"Too right,
but I think we've got things covered here. You look like you could
use a break."
"Isn't that
the truth," Nova sighed.
She nodded at
Briggles and left the station. The bright sunlight stung her tired
eyes as she stumbled towards Crusader.
***
"Do you
really think now is a good time to go for a ride?" Cal
asked.
Nova pulled
down a set of racing goggles and settled into the small seat. Cal
hovered just outside the ship in Crusader's main holding bay. He
stared at Nova, motors whirring.
She ignored
him and continued to check all of the dials spread out in front of
her. Fuel was fine, thrusters were fine, and steering was good.
Things looked nearly ready for the big race; not long to go
now.
"Nova," Cal
said again. This time one of his panels opened and a thin metal arm
extended out. It hovered in the air just above the ship, where the
new paint had only just dried, the threat clear.
"Okay!" Nova
said, exasperated. She pushed the robot away from the ship. "Yes, I
think it's an excellent time. The race won't stop just because of a
few lecheons on Boullion Five. Plus, I can't sleep."
"But the
lecheons aren't going to stop just because of a space-race either,"
Cal pointed out.
"I know that.
But I'm not doing anyone any good by lying in my bed, not
sleeping," Nova replied.
"Really? The
attack only happened last night. What if they come again? Is it not
your problem if Inspector Briggles dies?" Cal said.
Nova sighed.
She'd spent the whole night awake asking herself the same question.
The last thing she needed was Cal causing her doubts as well. She
tightened the straps around her
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