Read Online Voyage of the Sanguine Shadow 1: Shadow Galactic by Erik P. Harlow - Free Book Online Page B

get creative with an inhabited
colony world, and thousands of lives were lost.  They tried to shut it down,
but it was too smart, too adaptable, and as soon as it got back out into space,
it was gone.”
    The image winked out.
    “It’s a black file, and no one’s been able to find
it.  Except that Lodoxol claims he did.  It could be our Holy Grail, the answer
to all our shiny hopes and dreams.  I figure it’s worth a shot if we can take
steps to insure our success.”  She grinned.  “Picture it: we could fill all six
of the Shadow ’s bins on just the first segment of that monster, not to
mention all the ore it must still have contained within its depths.  Ore
harvested from a dozen unspoiled worlds.”
    She let the excited whispers build for a moment
before raising her hand again, quieting her crew.  “Lodoxol won’t touch it,
since it’s not of ellogon origin.  Behemothylax is beneath him, hardly worthy
of his notice, but he’s no fool, and he’s aware that there’s plenty of Union
interest in recovering it.  Being the sort of opportunist that he is, he’ll
repeatedly sell the information to as many smaller crews as it takes for the
word to get out that he’s a cheat and a pirate.”  Zerki tilted her head
slightly, and she gazed as she considered.  “I don’t know how many others he
made contact with before us, but we’re probably one of the first.”
    “We’re unarmed!” Krane protested.  “Holy Grail or
not, how are we supposed to go up against a cruiser?”
    Zerki smiled roguishly.  “Security team, please
remain behind to discuss exactly that.  Everyone else is dismissed.”  She
glanced to Gavin as he lingered, and she brightened.  “You too, Gavin.  Go
check out your quarters.  I think you’ll find them to be quite satisfactory.”
    He nodded and bid his friends farewell.  They
settled in for the briefing, and he shuffled out into the hall.  A lean young
man ahead of him called out quietly, “Hold on a sec,” and a handful of others
stopped as the rest of the crowd dispersed.  He was tall, had dark brown skin,
black hair with blonde highlights, and he dressed casually.  He had narrow
shoulders and a square, closely trimmed beard.  Facing Gavin directly, he
offered a sloped smile and a critical once-over.
    “You’re the new Navigator?”
    Gavin nodded and jammed his hands in his pockets,
rocked slightly on his heels.  “I am.”
    “You know what you’re doing?” he asked, and he
crossed his arms.  “Hell, you look fresh out of high school.”
    “It’s a condition,” Gavin replied, and he nodded
with forced confidence.  As the young man was about to press, Gavin inhaled,
exhaled steadily and interjected, “Called being eighteen.”
    Some of the lean man’s companions chuckled, and
after a moment, he too allowed a smile.  “Name’s Cajun.”  He offered his grip,
and Gavin took it.  “I’m the ship’s medic, and the five of us here, we’re the
salvager team.”
    “I’m Gavin.”  He laughed nervously.  “You already
know what I do.”
    Bruce Cajun pulled free his hand and nodded
thoughtfully.  “Well, I never heard of a Navigator so young, but if the
captain’s got your back, so do I.  Welcome aboard.”  The others introduced
themselves and exchanged handshakes with Gavin before heading to the rec room.
    Alone again, Gavin soon found his way to the halls
of the officers’ quarters.  In time, he came to a doorjamb with his first
initial and last name on it and a flashing strip of LED paper that cautioned,
“WET PAINT. DO NOT TOUCH.”  He set his hand upon the palm scanner, and the door
before him slid aside.
    He found many of the same things in his quarters
as had been in Taryn and Takeo’s cabin, but his quarters were more spacious,
had the addition of a desk and data terminal, and the trim was black and pale
blue.  He had two bay portholes, separated by a sloped structural support, and
someone had set an empty vase upon his