Free Inherit the Stars by Tony Peak Page A

a worried edge.
    She tried to ignore Cheseia’s scornful glance. “Of course not. It can’t be that strong.”
    â€œBut it is, sweetness.” Did he have to call her that?
    Kivita hurried into the bridge. It still smelled like him: faint sweat, freshly washed hair. Newer computer consoles and some sort of projector had been added since their time together. Of course he’d upgraded. He was Sar Redryll, the greatest salvager in the Cetturo Arm, right? Asshole.
    Sar’s console showed beacon readings beyond human norms. Such a signal would transmit on an interstellar scale, across the surrounding systems. Kivita’sthroat constricted. She had her prize and just wanted to leave. Waiting outside the bridge viewport,
Terredyn Narbas
’s lonely shape begged her to return.
    â€œPicking up other ships,” Sar said in a low voice. “Someone else has followed you.” He stared at her, then turned the manuals.
Frevyx
neared her ship at docking speed.
    Kivita’s stomach quivered. “Shit, Sar. Hurry up! Get me aboard, and we’ll cut from this system.”
    Cheseia grabbed a spike baton from the weapons locker. “Where will you go? Your beacon will be positively traceable.”
    â€œJust get me on
Terredyn Narbas
. No way someone else would come this far from Inheritor Space.” Kivita shook sweat from her lank hair. Her mission grew more complicated and mysterious by the minute, matching a deeper fear.
    Others wanted the gem. Maybe enough to kill for it.
    Sar snorted. “We’d better leave now, with all of us on
Frevyx
.”
    â€œLike hell we will! I’m not leaving my ship.” Kivita locked stares with Cheseia. The pause from the bridge made her tremble with anxious energy.
    â€œStand ready for the airlock, Kiv,” Sar finally called from the bridge. “Better trust us. You know I’ll track your trajectory, so there’s no point in pulling some trick. Wait . . . Got several signals, closing. Cheseia, close the doors as soon as she leaves.”
    Frevyx
hummed louder. Gravity relaxed for a second as both airlocks magnetized with each other. Kivita rose onto her tiptoes, ready to jump into her gyro harness and clear Vstrunn as soon as possible.
    Cheseia approached the airlock’s left side. “Truly, you must follow us. That gem is certainly important—”
    â€œYeah, yeah. Shut up for now, okay? We’ll share jiir wine and trade stories about Sar later.” Kivita studied her airlock across the short space between ships.
    Invisible magnetic bands kept air and items inside during passage between ships. A still, lifeless void waited in that small space. On her own airlock doors, a fine line had been burned all around the inner opening. Slag pellets floated near the hull.
    Kivita jerked back. “Sar! Someone’s already boarded—”
    Terredyn Narbas
’s airlock whooshed open.
    â€œDisarm them!” a female voice shouted from Kivita’s ship.
    A thin green beam shot out and sliced through Cheseia’s spike baton; then three figures in black polyarmor barged into
Frevyx
. A gauntleted fist slammed into Kivita’s right shoulder, and she smacked into the bulkhead wall.
    â€œAldaakian Shock Troopers!” Cheseia brought the baton’s lower half onto one’s helmet. Shards of polyarmor and faceplate flew into the air. The Ascali ducked a shortsword swipe, then kicked the Aldaakian’s chest. The Aldaakian tumbled back into
Terredyn Narbas
’s airlock.
    â€œSurrender, Inheritor scum!” the same voice called.
    Frevyx
lurched. The magnetized airlocks disconnected by four feet. Two Aldaakians made for the bridge, swords drawn.
Frevyx
shook again, and gravity faded to zero-G within seconds. Everyone floated into the air, save for Kivita and another Aldaakian, whose polyboots magnetized to the floor with a clang.
    Cheseia steadied herself on the airlock handhold and kicked