Read Online Through Uncharted Space: A Phoenix Adventures Sci-fi Romance by Anna Hackett - Free Book Online

around her cute face.
    “You look good. Your CenSec must be treating you right.”
    These two were a couple? A tiny human woman and a giant, enhanced cyborg? Dakota’s head spun at the thought.
    “How’s the convoy?” Malin asked.
    “Great. We just headed out of the galaxy on a run. But we’re considering making a slight detour for a treasure hunt.”
    Malin’s nose wrinkled. “Well, you be careful. And avoid any rogue planets.”
    Dare smiled and nodded. Dakota guessed there was a story there.
    The image flickered, distorting a little from interference. “We have to go,” Dare said. “Great to see you, and thanks again, Eos.”
    “My pleasure.” Eos’ gaze landed on Dakota. “Good luck. And if you find it, I’d love to study some of it.” The screen went blank.
    Dakota spun. “Your cousin is shacked up with a CenSec?”
    “Yes.”
    “Interesting family you have.”
    “You could say that. So, we know your treasure isn’t worthless.”
    She nodded. It felt so good to know exactly what she was looking for.
    “Okay, now we make a plan to find it,” he said.
    “That means you need to tell me about this world of spires, waterways, and bridges.”
    His face darkened. “I think we need to go over all the information in your map. See if there is anything I or my team can pick out that’s familiar.”
    “You’re not telling me something.”
    “Dakota—”
    The comp screen flashed to life again. It was Ry, standing on the bridge. “Dare, we need you on the bridge. We have a problem.”
    ***
    Dare strode out onto the bridge with Dakota by his side. There was a tense atmosphere, all his crew looking his way with worried faces.
    The Nomad wasn’t moving.
    Dare automatically checked the screens. The convoy ships were all still in line, waiting on the Nomad .
    “What’s going on?”
    Nissa stood from the captain’s chair. “A power distributor failed. We’ve lost most engine power, and there’s no way we can travel at interstellar speed.”
    Dare sucked in a breath, conscious of Dakota watching him. “What happened? When was the distributor last checked?”
    “Before we left Galaxy’s Edge,” Ry answered. “It was in perfect condition.”
    There was silence.
    Dare didn’t like the implications. “You’ve got someone down there looking at it?”
    “Geneva is down there, swearing at it.”
    The ship’s engineer. The woman loved starships more than she loved people.
    A muscle in Ry’s jaw ticked. “Right now, she’s thinking it’s been tampered with.”
    “Fuck.” Dare was mad. No one tampered with his ship. Out here, it could mean death. “You’ve checked security footage.”
    “Sayer’s in the security room. Hasn’t found anything.”
    Dare looked at Dakota. She lifted her hands. “Wasn’t me. I wouldn’t know a power distributor from a spark plug.”
    “Do we have a spare?”
    Nissa shook her head. “Geneva says one is listed in inventory, but it isn’t there.”
    “Dammit,” Dare bit out.
    “Good news is that we’re pretty close to two planets that would have the parts.”
    Dare had spent time cultivating relationships with most of the planets along the convoy routes. For situations just like this.
    “Rostrum,” Nissa said.
    Rynan crossed his arms. “No. It’s a safety risk. Its people have been locked in a civil war for decades.”
    “And Sulla,” Nissa said.
    Dare’s chest locked. Damn .
    Dakota was watching him. “What is it?”
    “Looks like you’ll get to see your city of spires and bridges up close, after all.”
    “It has the parts you need?” Her eyebrows had risen. “And this world is close by, and you hadn’t mentioned it yet.”
    He heard the hardness in her voice. “I was going to.”
    “I thought they were a low-tech world.”
    “No, but they do like to give that impression. Come on, we’ll have to get dressed for the occasion. My friend, Vero, will welcome us, but it is imperative we follow their rules.”
    Dakota wrinkled her nose. “I