Read Online Star Road by Matthew Costello, Rick Hautala - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Matthew Costello, Rick Hautala
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to what seemed a vanishing point in infinity, the SRV nearly drove itself.
She focused on her breathing.
The feel of the cockpit space. The tremendous beauty outside. The steady humming sound of the SRV’s engines.
The wonder of it all, she thought.
And then, without warning, a light on the screen to her left began to flash. The view ahead changed. Magnified. And a dark mass appeared far off in the distance.
A warning buzzer sounded in the cockpit.
“Shit!”
Annie’s hands flew across the controls, calling up information.
“There’s something on the Road ahead?” Jordan said simply.
Biting her lower lip, Annie nodded.
“Maybe just debris. Happens.”
Jordan grunted and nodded.
“In which case, it’s got maybe—what? Five minutes? Ten, tops, until the Road Bugs show up.”
“We’re closing fast,” Annie said.
Fast enough?
She looked at the controls wondering if she should slow it down. The video display of whatever was up ahead was blurry ... pixilated.
What the hell was it?
“Might be a Road Ship. A one-man Speeder. The mass is big enough.”
Annie studied the screen a moment longer. Then hit the comm button.
“If I could have your attention, please.”
She paused, imagining the various reactions in the passengers’ cabin. Did they know they might have just hit trouble?
“We’ve detected ... something on the Road ahead—” She didn’t use the word “anomaly.”
“Please make sure your harnesses are secure.”
Now Jordan worked his console, trying to get a clearer image of whatever it was ahead of them. There were too many possibilities, but the first thought—as it was for any Road traveler—was: Runners? Maybe an ambush? Mobius Control had said everything was quiet ahead.
But they’d been known to make mistakes.
“Just to be safe... might want to train your main gun on the Road ahead.”
“What do you think I’m doing?”
Annie took a breath to calm down as she glanced at Jordan’s fingers, so quickly adjusting the weapon’s sights. He centered the object in his crosshairs.
“Road Bugs would have gotten to it and cleaned it up by now, don’t you think?” Annie asked.
“Depends. Might have just happened.”
He turned and looked at her.
“Could be anything, Annie.”
Then he flipped a switch and said, “Got the front turret gun on it, too. Whatever it is.”
Before Annie could say a word, he unstrapped his harness and got out. He unlocked the cockpit door and hurried down the aisle.
He wanted to be hands-on, no matter what it was.
~ * ~
“What’s up?” the dark, twitchy guy, Rodriguez, asked as Jordan walked by.
Jordan ignored him. And ignored the Chippie, who looked up at him.
Anxious?
Definitely, but maybe just anxious to record what was about to happen?
But he didn’t—he couldn’t ignore Ruth when he passed by her seat. Their eyes met.
He could see her fear, her concern.
Still—best he kept his mouth shut.
After all... it could be nothing.
He moved out of the passenger compartment and opened the hatch door to climb into the main gun turret.
He settled into the seat and strapped in. Now he had direct control of the gun. The turret filled with the high-pitched whining sound of the charged pulse cannon, ready to fire.
He put on his headset.
Then—finally—Jordan smiled.
I may get to shoot something after all.
Through the patched-in comm system, he heard Annie saying something in the cockpit. Then a voice—a man’s voice—broken by washes of static and shrill feedback. The Road always did weird things to communications.
“May-Day ... -Day ... This ... damage ...”
Over the headset, Jordan heard Annie’s voice.
“This is Captain Annie Scott of the SRV-66. Identify yourself.”
“... chell... flying solo ... systems
She focused on her breathing.
The feel of the cockpit space. The tremendous beauty outside. The steady humming sound of the SRV’s engines.
The wonder of it all, she thought.
And then, without warning, a light on the screen to her left began to flash. The view ahead changed. Magnified. And a dark mass appeared far off in the distance.
A warning buzzer sounded in the cockpit.
“Shit!”
Annie’s hands flew across the controls, calling up information.
“There’s something on the Road ahead?” Jordan said simply.
Biting her lower lip, Annie nodded.
“Maybe just debris. Happens.”
Jordan grunted and nodded.
“In which case, it’s got maybe—what? Five minutes? Ten, tops, until the Road Bugs show up.”
“We’re closing fast,” Annie said.
Fast enough?
She looked at the controls wondering if she should slow it down. The video display of whatever was up ahead was blurry ... pixilated.
What the hell was it?
“Might be a Road Ship. A one-man Speeder. The mass is big enough.”
Annie studied the screen a moment longer. Then hit the comm button.
“If I could have your attention, please.”
She paused, imagining the various reactions in the passengers’ cabin. Did they know they might have just hit trouble?
“We’ve detected ... something on the Road ahead—” She didn’t use the word “anomaly.”
“Please make sure your harnesses are secure.”
Now Jordan worked his console, trying to get a clearer image of whatever it was ahead of them. There were too many possibilities, but the first thought—as it was for any Road traveler—was: Runners? Maybe an ambush? Mobius Control had said everything was quiet ahead.
But they’d been known to make mistakes.
“Just to be safe... might want to train your main gun on the Road ahead.”
“What do you think I’m doing?”
Annie took a breath to calm down as she glanced at Jordan’s fingers, so quickly adjusting the weapon’s sights. He centered the object in his crosshairs.
“Road Bugs would have gotten to it and cleaned it up by now, don’t you think?” Annie asked.
“Depends. Might have just happened.”
He turned and looked at her.
“Could be anything, Annie.”
Then he flipped a switch and said, “Got the front turret gun on it, too. Whatever it is.”
Before Annie could say a word, he unstrapped his harness and got out. He unlocked the cockpit door and hurried down the aisle.
He wanted to be hands-on, no matter what it was.
~ * ~
“What’s up?” the dark, twitchy guy, Rodriguez, asked as Jordan walked by.
Jordan ignored him. And ignored the Chippie, who looked up at him.
Anxious?
Definitely, but maybe just anxious to record what was about to happen?
But he didn’t—he couldn’t ignore Ruth when he passed by her seat. Their eyes met.
He could see her fear, her concern.
Still—best he kept his mouth shut.
After all... it could be nothing.
He moved out of the passenger compartment and opened the hatch door to climb into the main gun turret.
He settled into the seat and strapped in. Now he had direct control of the gun. The turret filled with the high-pitched whining sound of the charged pulse cannon, ready to fire.
He put on his headset.
Then—finally—Jordan smiled.
I may get to shoot something after all.
Through the patched-in comm system, he heard Annie saying something in the cockpit. Then a voice—a man’s voice—broken by washes of static and shrill feedback. The Road always did weird things to communications.
“May-Day ... -Day ... This ... damage ...”
Over the headset, Jordan heard Annie’s voice.
“This is Captain Annie Scott of the SRV-66. Identify yourself.”
“... chell... flying solo ... systems
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