Free Eternal Horizon: The Chronicle of Vincent Saturn (Eternal Horizon: A Star Saga Book 1) by David Roman Page A

brother held him back.
    “Lighten up,” the big guy said. “I meant Duell might know.”
    Exander shoved his brother away. “And where’s Duell?”
    “Patience, Ex.”
    “Damn it! What can we do without Oryon and Duell, huh? Fight the Republic? We haven’t even finished our training yet! And who’s going to lead us? The cigar-smoking, senile, gun-blasting Captain?”
    “It’s our way, Ex,” Damocles continued solemnly. “We will find out the truth in a while. For now, you must have patience and remember grandfather’s tradition—”
    “ Grandfather’s not here! ” Exander’s voice thundered.
    Gaia and Vincent both turned their attention towards the volatile Xenian.
    “And your truth is sitting right there mocking us!” Exander violently waved in Vincent’s direction.
    Vincent got up. “Can you tell the ship’s route through that information?”
    “ No! ” Exander responded but then eased and added, “There’s nothing but numerous glitches, and if your planet does exist, it’s somewhere in the vicinity of Zazaban .”
    “So there’s hope?”
    “ Hope ? You bastard! Quit that guiltless act and tell us the truth!”
    Vincent raised his hands to the sides. “I told you already—”
    “Well, I don’t believe that nonsense! I still think you’re an Imperial spy!” Exander took several steps.
    “Exander!” Gaia got up.
    “And as far as I know,” Exander continued, “the Imperials are marching here right now!”
    Suddenly, there was a loud beat on the door. Everyone exchanged looks and then turned to Vincent. He shrugged. There was another rap—this one in a more desperate manner.
    Exander opened the door, and Spaide stormed in, barely catching his breath, beads of sweat dotting his forehead.
    “What happened?” Exander shook the Dirsalian.
    “I—”
    “What?”
    “Let him breathe!” Gaia shouted.
    Everyone gathered around.
    “I… conversed… with my source…” Spaide barely forced out, leaning against the wall, hands pressed against his thighs.
    “Well, what happened?” Exander asked.
    “They were… ambushed… by Zeth and Na’ar,” Spaide started. “Somehow, the Imperials knew...”
    “How? Who told on them?”
    “More than likely someone inside the Revolution,” Gaia said.
    “Thousands of Imperials attacked them,” Spaide continued. “Oryon managed to make it to the ship but dropped behind his sword, and Duell—”
    “ Dropped his sword?” Exander was shocked. “Just how does a Tel Kasar drop his sword?”
    “I know. I got into that too. But that’s what the guy told me! Our connection was brief, so there was no time for me to argue. From what I was told, Oryon was trapped in a narrow tunnel where he was wounded numerous times. He proceeded to escape but left his sword, apparently he used it to jam the lock on the gate controls. The chase sustained once he left the planet, and the Imperials managed to discharge several rockets from the Nomad …” Spaide swallowed. “In hindsight, the Shadow did have a dent in its hull…”
    “What of Duell?” Exander asked, still not accepting the news.
    Spaide sighed, rubbing his neck. “They’ve got him, immobilized. They shot him up full of that crap… the… the Degraders.”
    “ Where? ” Exander shook Spaide again. “ Where is he? ”
    “On the Nomad . They’re takin’ him to Xenon.”
    Once more, the morbid silence covered the room with its shroud. The Xenians traded terrified looks.
    “Na’ar’s ship,” Gaia whispered.
    “We have to go get him!” the big guy cried out.
    “Where from?” Exander asked, throwing his arms up in the air. “That ship can be in hyperspace as we speak. There’s no way we can catch up with it! And attempting to enter Xenon would mean the end to us all.” He started pacing the room again. “This can’t be happening! I knew we should’ve stayed together.”
    “Wait… there is a way,” Spaide said. “ Zazaban and Xenon are many parsecs apart. A ship as big as the