Free Resurrection (The Inherited War) by Eric McMeins Page B

Administrator still lay unmoving on the floor staring up at Sky.  She watched as Jeth pried open the shipping container, which held the central computer core that hopefully still held Hal’s consciousness.
    “This is it,” his voice rumbled deeply.  In one smooth motion, he bent and picked up the massive computer core.  His arms, back and legs bulged with muscles under tremendous strain.  Without so much as a hitch, he turned and walked the core across the bay and up the ramp, and without a sound deposited it on the floor of the shuttle.  Jeth came back down the ramp and picked up his gun and placed his ammo pack back on his shoulders.  “Covered,” he said.
    Sky gave an almost imperceptible nod to Thalo.  He reacted instantly. 
    “Gentlemen, nice seeing you.”  He kept his pistols trained on them as he backed off and moved slowly towards the shuttle.  Without looking, he backed all the way to Jeth’s side before stopping.  He took up position next to his bondmate and waited for Sky.
    “Now, as your people may have noticed, my,” she put a heavy emphasis on the word, “ships have moved into a blocking position and can easily support each other.  We leave this vessel unmolested or they will come to our aid.  Nod if you understand.”
    Fury scowled but in the end, he nodded slowly that he understood.
    “I will be seeing all of you again, next time it might not be so pleasant.”  With that, she turned her back on them and strode with purpose and confidence back to her shuttle.  Thalo and Jeth waited until she had walked past them before turning and boarding as well. 
    Sky stopped and rested a hand on Hal’s core.  She hung her head and took some deep breaths.  She heard the Worlders board, and close the ramp.
    “Sky…”  Thalo started to say.
    “I know,” she interrupted.
    “No really, I…”
    “Damn it I know, just get us off this cursed ship and back to the Justice, we will talk about this later.” 
    Thalo looked at her for a moment before heading deeper into the ship.  Jeth remained silent as ever while Thalo revved up the engines and lifted the shuttle off the deck and out of the mag field surrounding the exit to the bay.
    Silence reigned for the next few minutes.  The tension in the air was thick.  Sky’s mind was racing with all the possible repercussions that her attack on a duly elected representative of her people’s government.  None were good and she couldn’t listen to the lecture she knew was coming.  She heard Thalo’s footsteps as he made his way back into the cargo hold.
    “Damn it, now you will listen to me.”  He was almost shouting.
    “No,” she responded.  “You listen to me.  I don’t care if you think I overreacted.  I have been pushed beyond my breaking point by my own people.  I reacted the way I needed to and damn the consequences.”
    “Are you finished?  Or do you want to keep yelling at me before I say what I have to say?”  Thalo crossed his arms and leaned his shoulder on the doorframe.
    “Fine, go ahead.”  She looked up from Hal and fixed Thalo with a stare.
    He cleared his throat at her intense focus directed at him.  “Umm, well like I was about to say before you kept interrupting me,” he started, “good job. That took a lot of courage and I am proud of you.  I didn’t think you had it in you.”  He smiled at her.
    Sky couldn’t have been more shocked if the roof had blown off the shuttle and she had been sucked out into space.  She was speechless.
    “Yes, I am also impressed.  We will follow you to the grave if need be.”  Jeth laid a massive hand on her petite shoulder.  It always surprised Sky how gentle Jeth could be when he tried.
    Sky’s shoulders sagged with relief.  “But what's going to happen now?  Surely he is going to try and have me arrested.  Or open some kind of formal inquest.  He won’t let me get away with this.  What if he goes after my father for it?”  Worry was creeping into her