Free The Outer Worlds: Book One of the Epherian Chronicles by E J Gilmour Page A

the
aliens.’
    Michael
listened intently. He had heard many stories of people cruelly
making money from the desperation of people fleeing the invasion.
‘I’m sorry to hear about your loss.’
    ‘ My parents died because no one helped us. No one even tried to
help us.’
    Sara didn’t
say a word. Michael looked out through the viewing panel into the
darkness of space. A dim star in the distance drew his attention,
and he stared at the faint glow. There was once a time, before he
was banished from the Epherian Empire, when he would have never
questioned a request for help from stranded colonists. For the
first time he realised that the battle was not just with the
aliens. There was a conflict deep inside his own mind, and there
was a question that refused to leave him in peace. For many years
he had been on the run, and he had turned his back on his past and
his real purpose. He knew the time was coming when he would not be
able to run anymore.
    ‘ We will try to save the colonists,’ he said.
    ‘ Captain, you know this is a bad idea,’ said Sara
firmly.
    ‘ I know. Each crew member will have the option to sit this one
out. Sara, you don’t have to come on this mission.’
    ‘ You know I will,’ said Sara. ‘This plan is reckless, but I
never back down when it comes to aliens.’
    Michael nodded
and smiled. ‘I know.’
     

CHAPTER
FIVE
     
    ‘ What!’ yelled Ajax. He abruptly stood up and kicked the wall
with all his might, causing a small dent in the metal lining. ‘This
is totally crazy, Cap. This mission will get us killed.’
    ‘ Take it easy, Ajax,’ said Michael sternly. ‘The ship is
already falling apart; it doesn’t need your help.’
    The entire
crew were sitting around the table in the living room and had been
gathered together to discuss the latest turn of events.
    ‘ I’m giving everyone the choice to sit this one out. If anyone
wants to wait on X5126 we will drop them off there and pick them up
after the rescue.’
    Ajax groaned
and rolled his eyes. ‘That’s a really bad deal, Cap. Firstly, you
won’t complete the rescue; secondly, anyone waiting on X5126 will
be as good as stranded on that rotten piece of space junk! We have
to be smart, Cap; come on, listen to me!’
    ‘ Sorry, Ajax; I’ve made up my mind. We will attempt the rescue.
Now, let me see a show of hands. Are you in or out?’
    ‘ I’m in, Captain,’ said Cynthia instantly.
    ‘ I will participate in this mission,’ said Ivan in
monotone.
    ‘ I’m in,’ said Sara.
    Ethan and Ajax
didn’t say a word.
    ‘ Ethan, what will it be?’ asked Michael.
    ‘ Certain death or stranded on X5126 until I die,’ he replied
dryly. ‘I would prefer to die with the crew, so I’m in.’
    Dog-Two barked
and growled. Michael glanced at the ferocious beast for a moment.
‘Sorry, Dog-Two, I didn’t know that I had to ask you. I think that
means you’re in,’ he said. Dog-Two gave a high pitched yelp.
    ‘ We will turn the ship around and drop Ajax back at X5126,’
said Michael.
    Ajax grumbled
and muttered under his breath.
    ‘ What are you trying to say?’ asked Michael.
    Ajax didn’t
reply. He turned his back on the crew and hung his head low. His
eyes were wide with a hint of madness.
    ‘ Fine then, I’m in. I might as well die fighting
aliens.’
    **
    Sara set a
course for the Herman Beta system. The Out Drifter’s engines
rumbled toward full power. It was a two day journey to Herman Beta
3, and no one wanted to sleep for that time as they all knew that
they were taking a massive risk and that those two days could
possibly be their last.
    Sara was
sitting in the control room and staring ahead into the vastness of
space. Michael was beside her and busying himself with the control
console. He was checking over some of the readings of the
non-critical systems.
    ‘ I surveyed the Herman Beta system on the charts,’ she said.
‘There are five planets in the system and an extensive asteroid
belt between the third and