Read Online Jordan by Susan Kearney - Free Book Online Page B

planet four days out. They’re sending a message. I
     wish I had a universal translator.”
    “I have one,” Lyle said as he returned to the bridge.
    Jordan also had a translator, as did Vivianne, who used it for frequent talks with Pendragon and Honor, though she hadn’t
     mentioned it. The tiny machine under the skin in his forearm was new technology that had recently made it to Earth from Pendragon.
     The subcutaneous device translated language. All the regular crew would have had them, but unfortunately Vesta’s engineering
     team didn’t usually have much use for anything beyond math and science.
    Lyle started to don a headset, but Jordan signaled for Gray to put the sound through the speaker system.
    The alien language came through intelligible and shrill. “Turn back. Any craft attempting to enter our atmosphere will be
     shot down. Turn back. Any species—”
    “Turn it off,” Jordan ordered and thrummed his fingers on the console.
    “Do they know we’re here?” Vivianne asked.
    Gray shook his head. “I think it’s nondirectional. Like a buoy at sea. Anyone within ten light-years would hear it.”
    While Lyle translated the message for the crew, Vivianne sighed. “They really don’t sound friendly.”
    Jordan made up his mind. “Head to planet number one.”
    “The one with the black dirt and brown seas?” Tennison asked in surprise.
    Gray’s fingers moved over the console. “Course laid in.”
    Jordan double checked the readings and gave him a thumbs-up.
    “Engines engaged,” Gray said.
    Jordan knew the crew would be happier with an explanation. “We need food. Since we’re alone out here and the
Draco’
s not armed, I’d prefer not to knowingly fly into hostile territory. So we heed the warning and stay away. That leaves us
     three choices: “Tempest,” the bad-weather planet; “Frigid,” the cold one; or “Shadow,” the dark one. On Tempest those hurricanes
     could rip us apart. And Frigid’s temperatures are less likely to produce food. That leaves Shadow, the dark world. Any questions?”
    “If we can’t breathe the air on Shadow…” Lyle’s voice trailed off.
    Jordan folded his arms over his chest and kept his tone neutral but firm. “It’s borderline breathable. And we have spacesuits.”
    Tennison shot Lyle a thoughtful frown. “We’re going to have to make hard choices, and we need to stick together.”
    “Of course.” Lyle laughed, his look sly. “Jordan’s real good at sticking to her. Or should I say sticking her?”
    Vivianne went white. But she compressed her lips and lifted her chin.
    In the year he’d worked for her he hadn’t heard or read so much as a whisper of gossip about her private life. Not even in
     the scandal sheets.
    “Lyle’s losing it.” Gray gestured for Darren to open the first-aid kit. “Are there any tranqs in there?”
    “Believe what you want,” Lyle sneered. “I saw Jordan and Vivianne going at it in the engine compartment.”
    Jordan punched Lyle in the jaw, wishing he could have done it sooner to shut the man up. Lyle’s eyes rolled back in his head
     and he sagged, then collapsed to the deck. At eighty percent gravity, he didn’t fall as hard as he would have on Earth. But
     one punch and Lyle was out cold. Hell. Jordan would have enjoyed hitting him again. And again.
    He didn’t care that Lyle’s wife had cheated on him and that he believed any other couple who were enjoying themselves deserved
     his rage.
    Vivianne came around her console, her fists on her hips. “Damn it. Have you killed him?”
    “Who cares?” Jordan scowled, then forced his face to go stoic. But it pained him that she would worry over a man who’d just
     insulted her. Because he knew what the accusations had cost Vivianne.
    Another woman might have fled or burst into tears. Or ignored the situation. Chin high, eyes dark with suppressed hurt, voice
     calm, Vivianne addressed the bridge crew. “What I do in my own time is my business.” She