Read Online The Hunted Assassin by Paul B Kohler - Free Book Online
Authors: Paul B Kohler
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change. The force blew even more debris out into space.
11
Jaxon was thankful that none of the debris from the exploding ship flew directly at his escape pod. It was a calculated risk, but it was one that he was willing to take. One that he had to take, or risk being captured. Or worse: being killed.
All he had to do now, was wait. With any luck—luck that he might have already used up on his escape—the chasing security ships would survey the area and determine the ship destroyed: no survivors.
As those wishful thoughts ran through his mind, he suddenly realized that the escape pod might have some kind of homing device installed that would certainly foil his plan. As fast as he could, Jaxon tapped away at the control panel, searching for some form of rooted directory that mentioned anything about system automation. After several minutes of cycling through every category on the display, he concluded that if the escape pod was equipped with a homing beacon, it was not wired into the computer system. He had to rely on luck.
“Damn,” Jaxon cursed.
Patience was not one of Jaxon’s strong points. He continually fought the urge to enter his destination of Luna City into the control panel and hit execute.
To pass the time, he opened all radio frequencies and keenly listened for any chatter between the pursuing security ships. All he heard was silence.
Seconds turned to minutes, and Jaxon could only wait. He disengaged his safety harness and floated toward the single view portal in the vessel, hoping to catch a glimpse of any approaching ships, but the constant drift and rotation of the escape pod made it nearly impossible for him to determine which direction they would be coming from.
Frustrated at his helpless situation, he refastened his harness and thought of something, anything to take his mind off his current dilemma. Before long, more flashes from his past took his mind from the present.
Nine years ago — Berkley, California, Earth.
“I can’t believe this,” Lily gasped. “Why are you even telling me this?”
Jaxon stared at her for a moment longer before shifting his eyes to the seven-year-old girl playing across the room. “Isn’t it obvious? It’s because of her.” Jaxon nodded in the child’s direction.
“If you think I’m going to tell her now, just because ...” Lily began.
“No,” Jaxon insisted, returning his gaze toward his old flame. “Not at all. I just … I don’t know. I just thought that if you knew ahead of time, it wouldn’t come as such a shock. I’ll leave it up to you whether to tell her who I really am … er, was.”
Jaxon’s attention returned to the girl. She was busy pouring make-believe tea for her party guests—two inanimate dolls propped up on small plastic chairs. Jaxon had lied: he did want Celeste to know who he was so he could hold her, as her father, just once. He wanted her to know exactly how much he loved her and how important she was to him. It was because of her and Lily that Jaxon had even come up with the absurd idea in the first place.
The silence in the room was uncomfortable as they both continued to look on as Celeste continued her tea party. Finally, Lily broke the silence.
“Do you know how much of an asshole you are right now?” she asked, her cheeks turning red from the anger building up. “You are nonexistent in our lives for the past five years, with no word or mention of where you are or what you are doing, then, you just show up here, unannounced? And then you drop that news that you’re going to kill yourself like it’s just a regular event … like brushing your teeth?”
“It’s not like that, Lily. You know why I couldn’t contact you. It’s this goddamn job,” Jaxon said.
“Still, a postcard would’ve been nice,” she said. “At the very least. You know, even just saying that you’re alive and have a nice day.”
“I know you’re upset, but there are reasons why I’m doing this
11
Jaxon was thankful that none of the debris from the exploding ship flew directly at his escape pod. It was a calculated risk, but it was one that he was willing to take. One that he had to take, or risk being captured. Or worse: being killed.
All he had to do now, was wait. With any luck—luck that he might have already used up on his escape—the chasing security ships would survey the area and determine the ship destroyed: no survivors.
As those wishful thoughts ran through his mind, he suddenly realized that the escape pod might have some kind of homing device installed that would certainly foil his plan. As fast as he could, Jaxon tapped away at the control panel, searching for some form of rooted directory that mentioned anything about system automation. After several minutes of cycling through every category on the display, he concluded that if the escape pod was equipped with a homing beacon, it was not wired into the computer system. He had to rely on luck.
“Damn,” Jaxon cursed.
Patience was not one of Jaxon’s strong points. He continually fought the urge to enter his destination of Luna City into the control panel and hit execute.
To pass the time, he opened all radio frequencies and keenly listened for any chatter between the pursuing security ships. All he heard was silence.
Seconds turned to minutes, and Jaxon could only wait. He disengaged his safety harness and floated toward the single view portal in the vessel, hoping to catch a glimpse of any approaching ships, but the constant drift and rotation of the escape pod made it nearly impossible for him to determine which direction they would be coming from.
Frustrated at his helpless situation, he refastened his harness and thought of something, anything to take his mind off his current dilemma. Before long, more flashes from his past took his mind from the present.
Nine years ago — Berkley, California, Earth.
“I can’t believe this,” Lily gasped. “Why are you even telling me this?”
Jaxon stared at her for a moment longer before shifting his eyes to the seven-year-old girl playing across the room. “Isn’t it obvious? It’s because of her.” Jaxon nodded in the child’s direction.
“If you think I’m going to tell her now, just because ...” Lily began.
“No,” Jaxon insisted, returning his gaze toward his old flame. “Not at all. I just … I don’t know. I just thought that if you knew ahead of time, it wouldn’t come as such a shock. I’ll leave it up to you whether to tell her who I really am … er, was.”
Jaxon’s attention returned to the girl. She was busy pouring make-believe tea for her party guests—two inanimate dolls propped up on small plastic chairs. Jaxon had lied: he did want Celeste to know who he was so he could hold her, as her father, just once. He wanted her to know exactly how much he loved her and how important she was to him. It was because of her and Lily that Jaxon had even come up with the absurd idea in the first place.
The silence in the room was uncomfortable as they both continued to look on as Celeste continued her tea party. Finally, Lily broke the silence.
“Do you know how much of an asshole you are right now?” she asked, her cheeks turning red from the anger building up. “You are nonexistent in our lives for the past five years, with no word or mention of where you are or what you are doing, then, you just show up here, unannounced? And then you drop that news that you’re going to kill yourself like it’s just a regular event … like brushing your teeth?”
“It’s not like that, Lily. You know why I couldn’t contact you. It’s this goddamn job,” Jaxon said.
“Still, a postcard would’ve been nice,” she said. “At the very least. You know, even just saying that you’re alive and have a nice day.”
“I know you’re upset, but there are reasons why I’m doing this
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