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Book: The Unreachable Stars: Book #11 of The Human Chronicles Saga by T.R. Harris
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Authors: T.R. Harris
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with blacked-out windows driven by a robot. This cost another two thousands credits, but they were able to bypass the public subway system and proceed eight levels down through traffic-filled streets to the rendezvous point with the two aliens.
For a brief time, Adam had maintained an apartment in the city, not so much a living space as a repository for his weapon cache. Most of his time back then was spent aboard the Cassie I , where he could control the gravity. Even though the lighter gravity of Castor was a delight to move in, over time it weakened the muscles, and Human bodies adapted rapidly. This was not welcome in his profession, either then or now. His Human strength, agility, and speed were his most valuable assets. Too much time in a weak-gravity environment would erode those advantages.
The atmosphere of Castor was thinner than Earth’s, with a lower pressure that required him to wear a breathing mask most of the time. He could go without it for periods up to a half an hour at a time before having to replace the mask. Panur seemed to have no problem with the air pressure, just as Adam had noticed he had no issues with Earth’s heavier gravity and air pressure either, and seemed able to adapt to different environments like he could change his shape as needed.
The pair made their way into the seedier part of the city, near where Adam had once had his apartment. There was a hotel nearby, not the best place in town, but one that didn’t ask questions of its guests. Kaylor and Jym should already be there, having been closer to Castor at the time Adam made contact. As Adam approached the front desk, the clerk didn’t have to be asked, he pointed to an indicator on the back wall behind the counter, where a series of room numbers were displayed. The aliens were in room number seventeen.
After Adam knocked on the door, it still took nearly a full minute for it to open. By then, Adam was livid.
“What the hell, Kaylor? Why did you leave us out in the hallway that long? We were sitting ducks.”
“Seated water fowl? I do not understand.”
“We had no cover out there from attack. Why did it take so long?”
“Blame Jym. He insisted on employing a heat-signature reader to make sure there were only two of you.” The tall, light blue-skinned alien then eyed the much shorter Panur. “Even then, your friend here does not have much of a heat signature. Jym suspected that he was not even alive.”
“I’ve often wondered that myself,” Adam said as he pressed his way past Kaylor and into the single room.
Jym was crouched down on the other side of the bed, the barrel of an MK-17 bolt launcher sticking up over the edge. “Welcome, Adam Cain,” he said. “Is that the alien everyone is talking about?”
“I’m not any more an alien than you are,” Panur answered for himself. “Are these your friends or your enemies, Adam? They do not appear to be very trusting.”
“When the entire galaxy is looking for you, it is wise not to be too trusting, especially if the reports are true,” Jym said, bobbing his head up and down as he spoke.
“What reports?” Adam asked.
Jym stood up, yet with his weapon still fixed on Panur. “That he is a walking weapon, capable of shape-shifting and impervious to bolt weapons.”
“If he’s impervious to bolt weapons, why do you have one aimed at him?”
“Because it makes me feel better.”
Adam shrugged. “I can’t argue with that. But seriously, put down the weapon. We’re all on the same side here.”
“And which side is that, Adam Cain?” Kaylor asked as he embraced the Human in a brief welcoming hug. “It has been a long time, and now you come to us when in great need, and offering a substantial reward for our help. You are a friend, yet until we have more information, please do not count fully on our assistance in your mission.”
“That’s understandable. But first let’s all relax. Panur is not the walking weapon he’s made out to be, and the
For a brief time, Adam had maintained an apartment in the city, not so much a living space as a repository for his weapon cache. Most of his time back then was spent aboard the Cassie I , where he could control the gravity. Even though the lighter gravity of Castor was a delight to move in, over time it weakened the muscles, and Human bodies adapted rapidly. This was not welcome in his profession, either then or now. His Human strength, agility, and speed were his most valuable assets. Too much time in a weak-gravity environment would erode those advantages.
The atmosphere of Castor was thinner than Earth’s, with a lower pressure that required him to wear a breathing mask most of the time. He could go without it for periods up to a half an hour at a time before having to replace the mask. Panur seemed to have no problem with the air pressure, just as Adam had noticed he had no issues with Earth’s heavier gravity and air pressure either, and seemed able to adapt to different environments like he could change his shape as needed.
The pair made their way into the seedier part of the city, near where Adam had once had his apartment. There was a hotel nearby, not the best place in town, but one that didn’t ask questions of its guests. Kaylor and Jym should already be there, having been closer to Castor at the time Adam made contact. As Adam approached the front desk, the clerk didn’t have to be asked, he pointed to an indicator on the back wall behind the counter, where a series of room numbers were displayed. The aliens were in room number seventeen.
After Adam knocked on the door, it still took nearly a full minute for it to open. By then, Adam was livid.
“What the hell, Kaylor? Why did you leave us out in the hallway that long? We were sitting ducks.”
“Seated water fowl? I do not understand.”
“We had no cover out there from attack. Why did it take so long?”
“Blame Jym. He insisted on employing a heat-signature reader to make sure there were only two of you.” The tall, light blue-skinned alien then eyed the much shorter Panur. “Even then, your friend here does not have much of a heat signature. Jym suspected that he was not even alive.”
“I’ve often wondered that myself,” Adam said as he pressed his way past Kaylor and into the single room.
Jym was crouched down on the other side of the bed, the barrel of an MK-17 bolt launcher sticking up over the edge. “Welcome, Adam Cain,” he said. “Is that the alien everyone is talking about?”
“I’m not any more an alien than you are,” Panur answered for himself. “Are these your friends or your enemies, Adam? They do not appear to be very trusting.”
“When the entire galaxy is looking for you, it is wise not to be too trusting, especially if the reports are true,” Jym said, bobbing his head up and down as he spoke.
“What reports?” Adam asked.
Jym stood up, yet with his weapon still fixed on Panur. “That he is a walking weapon, capable of shape-shifting and impervious to bolt weapons.”
“If he’s impervious to bolt weapons, why do you have one aimed at him?”
“Because it makes me feel better.”
Adam shrugged. “I can’t argue with that. But seriously, put down the weapon. We’re all on the same side here.”
“And which side is that, Adam Cain?” Kaylor asked as he embraced the Human in a brief welcoming hug. “It has been a long time, and now you come to us when in great need, and offering a substantial reward for our help. You are a friend, yet until we have more information, please do not count fully on our assistance in your mission.”
“That’s understandable. But first let’s all relax. Panur is not the walking weapon he’s made out to be, and the
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