Read Online Lost Planet 01 - The Lost Planet by Rachel Searles - Free Book Online Page A

it’s not that easy. We just got chased by a bunch of Fleet soldiers, and they were firing at us and, well, Mina’s actually out of commission right now.”
    â€œWhat?” The horrified look on Dr. Silvestri’s face sent tendrils of dread through Chase’s stomach. “They must have been following Mina already. Look, whatever you do, don’t go home . Don’t go to any authorities—and do not go to the Fleet, not under any circumstances. Oh, Parker, I was afraid this would happen to us someday. Listen to me, you have to find Asa. Look for him at—”
    An extremely loud roar drowned out the rest of his sentence, and a woman’s screams filled the background. “Anna!” shouted Dr. Silvestri, turning. He rose from his seat, and the screen went blank.
    The boys sat in shocked silence. The cabin gradually darkened as they cruised away from sunlight into the dark side of the moon. Lights from the console illuminated their faces.
    â€œWhat on Taras is going on?” Parker turned and looked at Chase. “Who are you?”
    The scream still echoed in Chase’s mind. “Are they going to be okay?”
    â€œThe doc and his wife?” Parker shook his head. “I have no idea.”
    Chase stared at the console. “It’s all because of me. Maybe I should turn myself in to the authorities.”
    â€œAre you stupid? Dr. Silvestri just told you not to.”
    â€œBut they were looking for me, weren’t they? Why is the Fleet looking for me?”
    â€œYou don’t know for sure if they were looking for you. The doc sounded like he’s been expecting something like this to happen for a long time. He might have been doing illegal stuff in his lab.”
    Chase gave him a skeptical look. “You think that’s why they were shooting at us?”
    Parker opened his mouth to speak, but no answer came out, and instead he shrugged.
    â€œSo how are you supposed to get in touch with Asa?”
    â€œYeah, so, there’s a problem with that. I don’t have the first clue how to find him. Mina’s the only one who’s ever been able to contact him.”
    â€œWhy?” For being Parker’s guardian, it sure seemed like the guy made a huge effort to ensure Parker had as little to do with him as possible.
    â€œTo keep me safe? To keep himself safe? I don’t know if you’d noticed, Chase, but the guy’s kind of obsessed with safety. That much I know about him.” Parker looked down at the console and made a few adjustments to their path as they soared over the dark terrain. “This is so stupid.”
    â€œWhat are we going to do?” asked Chase.
    â€œWe can’t go home. I guess we find a place to hide out on Trucon for a while, and I’ll take Mina into Rother City and try to get her fixed.”
    Chase looked out at the moon and watched it roll away underneath them as they cruised onward. Why would the Fleet be after him—who was he? He might never know, now that the chip had been destroyed. He rested his head on his hand, wishing he could rewind back to the morning, when the only thing he had to worry about was how soon Mina could contact Asa Kaplan.
    They were nearing the sunlit side of the small moon again, and the cabin slowly began to lighten. Chase leaned forward and gazed at the stars all around them when a soft beep sounded from the console. He looked down. “What was that?”
    Parker frowned and slid a few frames across the screen. “A distress signal?” He took the yoke and steered by watching their beacon move across a map on the console.
    Chase watched out the window. “Look!”
    A mass of something hovered far in the distance above the moon’s surface, and as they neared, the shape became clearer: a wrecked spacecraft, its sleek black frame twisted. Lights flickered on its underbelly.
    Parker cursed. “It’s a Khatra! What happened?” He steered down