Read Online Timeless (The Cartographer Book 3) by Craig Gaydas - Free Book Online
Authors: Craig Gaydas
Ads: Link
inch.
“I knew it!” Kedge growled.
“What is this treachery?” Vigil cried. “We came to you with no ill intent. We came to you in PEACE !”
Braxii appeared almost apologetic. “I know. It pains me that it had to come to this, but Calypso assured us that bringing you here would help end the conflict.”
“Why are you helping him?” I asked, struggling uselessly against my bonds.
Braxii smirked, but there was little humor behind it. “Well to be honest, the Consortium has the financing and manpower to aid us against the rebellion. They have been a nuisance for some time now and counter-productive to what we are trying to accomplish on Gliese.”
“And what are you trying to accomplish?” Kedge sneered.
Braxii's smirk bloomed into a toothy smile. “All we want is a utopian society, of course.” His smile faded and he looked off screen. Someone was talking to him, but I couldn't make out the words. He nodded his acknowledgement and returned his attention to the screen. “We are in the process of securing your ship so I would suggest that you agree to our offer.”
“What offer would that be?” I asked through clenched teeth. The thought of Lianne being left back at the terminal with only a skeleton crew left a sour taste in my mouth.
“Join us,” he replied simply. “No further harm will come to you or your allies. Calypso personally assured me that, if you surrender peacefully, you will be reinstated within the Consortium with all prior ranks and privileges.”
“What about those of us who held no rank or privileges?” Kedge snorted.
Braxii paused for several seconds before replying. “I suppose that is something which still remains to be discussed.” The screen went dark.
“Wait a minute—” I protested.
Sounds of a violent struggle erupted from the top level of the bus. Two loud bangs, followed by several muffled thuds could be heard before silence descended over us. Mazu shot out of his chair like his legs were on fire. He hurried to the bottom of the staircase and looked up.
“What's going on up there?” he shouted.
Footsteps shuffled along the floor upstairs. Slowly, they made their way to the staircase. Concerned, Mazu slowly backed away from them.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
It was the sound of something metallic scraping against the iron stairs. At first, all I could see was a pair of scuffed work boots descending down the stairs. Eventually a man wearing faded denim pants appeared, taking one step at a time in a slow, methodical manner. The tapping sound I heard actually came from the blade he was carrying. He held it hilt first and was rapping the edge of the blade against each stair as he descended. The mirror like finish of the blade was marred with the scarlet stains of blood. Small puddles collected on each stair each time the blade hit the stair. Mazu retreated so quickly he tripped over one of the bars, sending glasses crashing to the floor.
The man descended the last stair and stood perfectly still, surveying the scene before him. A hat was pulled down low, covering half of his face and enshrouding his features in shadow. With the exception of the hat and sword, he looked like a farmer. With faded denim overalls and work boots, he could have been someone who just stepped from the fields.
“W-w-who are you and where are the guards?” Mazu stuttered.
The stranger lifted the hat and stared at us through darkened eyes. He looked like a smaller version of Jori with thick eyebrows that looked as if two caterpillars were using his forehead as a parking lot.
“Oh them?” He looked at the ceiling with a shrug. “They are… indisposed .” His eyes fell upon us and he looked at our restraints with a hint of contempt. “So the rumors are true. The Insurgents were stupid enough to come here, seeking help.”
“You're a rebel!” Mazu spat with contempt. “You are one of those godless heathens who would rather destroy our peaceful society instead of being a part of it. If I was
“I knew it!” Kedge growled.
“What is this treachery?” Vigil cried. “We came to you with no ill intent. We came to you in PEACE !”
Braxii appeared almost apologetic. “I know. It pains me that it had to come to this, but Calypso assured us that bringing you here would help end the conflict.”
“Why are you helping him?” I asked, struggling uselessly against my bonds.
Braxii smirked, but there was little humor behind it. “Well to be honest, the Consortium has the financing and manpower to aid us against the rebellion. They have been a nuisance for some time now and counter-productive to what we are trying to accomplish on Gliese.”
“And what are you trying to accomplish?” Kedge sneered.
Braxii's smirk bloomed into a toothy smile. “All we want is a utopian society, of course.” His smile faded and he looked off screen. Someone was talking to him, but I couldn't make out the words. He nodded his acknowledgement and returned his attention to the screen. “We are in the process of securing your ship so I would suggest that you agree to our offer.”
“What offer would that be?” I asked through clenched teeth. The thought of Lianne being left back at the terminal with only a skeleton crew left a sour taste in my mouth.
“Join us,” he replied simply. “No further harm will come to you or your allies. Calypso personally assured me that, if you surrender peacefully, you will be reinstated within the Consortium with all prior ranks and privileges.”
“What about those of us who held no rank or privileges?” Kedge snorted.
Braxii paused for several seconds before replying. “I suppose that is something which still remains to be discussed.” The screen went dark.
“Wait a minute—” I protested.
Sounds of a violent struggle erupted from the top level of the bus. Two loud bangs, followed by several muffled thuds could be heard before silence descended over us. Mazu shot out of his chair like his legs were on fire. He hurried to the bottom of the staircase and looked up.
“What's going on up there?” he shouted.
Footsteps shuffled along the floor upstairs. Slowly, they made their way to the staircase. Concerned, Mazu slowly backed away from them.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
It was the sound of something metallic scraping against the iron stairs. At first, all I could see was a pair of scuffed work boots descending down the stairs. Eventually a man wearing faded denim pants appeared, taking one step at a time in a slow, methodical manner. The tapping sound I heard actually came from the blade he was carrying. He held it hilt first and was rapping the edge of the blade against each stair as he descended. The mirror like finish of the blade was marred with the scarlet stains of blood. Small puddles collected on each stair each time the blade hit the stair. Mazu retreated so quickly he tripped over one of the bars, sending glasses crashing to the floor.
The man descended the last stair and stood perfectly still, surveying the scene before him. A hat was pulled down low, covering half of his face and enshrouding his features in shadow. With the exception of the hat and sword, he looked like a farmer. With faded denim overalls and work boots, he could have been someone who just stepped from the fields.
“W-w-who are you and where are the guards?” Mazu stuttered.
The stranger lifted the hat and stared at us through darkened eyes. He looked like a smaller version of Jori with thick eyebrows that looked as if two caterpillars were using his forehead as a parking lot.
“Oh them?” He looked at the ceiling with a shrug. “They are… indisposed .” His eyes fell upon us and he looked at our restraints with a hint of contempt. “So the rumors are true. The Insurgents were stupid enough to come here, seeking help.”
“You're a rebel!” Mazu spat with contempt. “You are one of those godless heathens who would rather destroy our peaceful society instead of being a part of it. If I was
Similar Books
