Read Online Jordan by Susan Kearney - Free Book Online

whiskers—“are
     feeding a dog?”
    Jordan looked up from the inventory and frowned. Years of business had taught Vivianne to play with the big boys. She could
     handle the likes of Lyle.
    She picked up George and tucked him under her arm. “Did
you
eat a whole burger?”
    “Everyone did.”
    “Well, the dog had some of mine. So back off.” She didn’t mention the bites Jordan had fed George, or the one Knox had fed
     him, either. Breezing past Lyle, she slid behind the captain’s console, set George to one side of the monitor, and began a
     systemwide diagnostic check.
    Gray came over and scratched George behind the ears. “The engines seem to be all right, but let me know if the readings fluctuate
     more than one percent.”
    “Will do.”
    “Are communications back online?” Vivianne asked Tennison, since he stood behind the com station.
    Jordan put a hand on Lyle’s shoulder. “Your organizational skills are excellent. So why don’t you work out a food schedule?
     And then perhaps you can help with assigning quarters to everyone.”
    Vivianne shot Jordan a thankful nod, went back to work, and tried not to think about how he kept surprising her. Whether in
     his arms or in his presence, there were levels to the man she’d never imagined.
    Lyle slid behind the weapons console and booted up a screen. At least he couldn’t do any harm. No weapons had been loaded
     onboard.
    Tennison scratched his bald head. “As far as I can tell, the navigation system is up and running, but…”
    “But?” she prodded.
    Tennison’s voice was tight. “I can’t find Earth.” His head wrinkled from his forehead back to the crown. “I’m not even sure
     we’re still in the Milky Way Galaxy.”
    Oh… God. That wasn’t possible, was it? Her mind couldn’t even calculate how many light-years away from home they might be.
     Her hands shook, and she clenched her fingers on the console so no one would notice. They might never see Earth again.
    Gray must have overheard the conversation. “Tennison, see if the computer can backtrack our path.”
    “I already tried that. The attempt crashed the system. Sean’s trying to reboot it.”
    Jordan’s tone was calm. “There are too many possibilities for the computer to handle.”
    “Why can’t we just turn around and go back?” Lyle asked, his tone high-pitched and nervous.
    “Because when the ship opens a wormhole,” Vivianne answered, “we have no way to tell where that wormhole will take us. And
     once we’re through the wormhole, it closes behind us.”
    Lyle’s face turned ashen. “Are you saying we’re lost?”

A disaster is an opportunity to sail with a dangerous wind at one’s back.
    —C HINESE PROVERB
6

    F ind us a planet.” Jordan strode to the viewscreen and paced.
    “A planet?” Lyle asked. “Like, just any planet will do?”
    “We need food. It doesn’t grow in space. Ergo, we need to find a planet to restock our supplies.” Jordan pressed the intercom.
     “Everyone please come to the bridge.”
    A few minutes later the crew had arrived, and Jordan addressed them. “You’ve all heard that Earth may be attacked by the Tribes.”
    “Aren’t those just rumors?” Knox asked.
    “Intel from Pendragon and Honor say otherwise.” Jordan’s gaze went to Vivianne. “You’ve seen reports that the Tribes have
     the Holy Grail?”
    “Yes.”
    “The
Draco
was built to recover the Grail. If we don’t succeed, Earth will fall.” Jordan’s gaze went from one person to the next. “I
     know you people didn’t volunteer. But now that you’re here, I hope you’ll agree that despite the danger, we must all do what
     we can to save Earth.”
    “We aren’t trained,” Lyle protested.
    “No one’s trained for this,” Tennison argued. “Count me in.”
    Gray didn’t even look up from his monitor. “Whatever it takes to save Earth.”
    One by one, everyone agreed. Even Lyle.
    “Thank you for your support,” Jordan said, ending the