Free DarkStar Running (Living on the Run Book 2) by Ben Patterson Page B

seems to have
his heart set on returning to the Confederacy.”
    “And Carlton?”
    Stan took a seat at the breakfast
counter. “Nah, he seems pretty docile. When I told him he’d be working a farm,
the kid almost lit up. I believe he’s glad to be shed of the Confederacy and
life as an Enforcer. Kid seems to have his heart set on a fresh start.”
    “You think downing the cruise
liner took the fight out of him?” Lilia slid a hot breakfast plate to Stan.
    “Carlton is a good kid, but
there’s still a chance he’s just playing us, waiting for a good time to strike. DarkStar , any opinion on Carl?”
    “I’ve been monitoring his vital
signs, Captain, and I believe he’s genuine.”
    “We can trust him, huh?” Lilia
said. “Enough to give him access to you, DarkStar ?”
    “Capt. Slone, you and Capt. Archer
can decide that for yourselves, but I would give it much consideration before
going that far.”
    Stan and Lilia finished their
breakfast in silence, each debating the prospect within themselves. Stan stood,
gathered the plates, and took them to the sink.
    Lilia’s bemused expression cradled
disbelief. “Going to do them by hand?”
    As Stan ran water over them, he
gave her a quick look. “Helps me think. I’m not sure what to do with Carl just
yet. We should take him on to Providence, but whether we fake his escape or
just let him go, I haven’t decided.”
    “We could add him to our crew.”
    Stan didn’t like the idea of
adding Carl to their troubles, but held his tongue. Carl would only complicate
the tenuous state of affairs already on board. A plan was formulating in Stan’s
mind that involved neither Carl nor Lilia, a plan that would impact everyone
but would have consequences deadly only to himself.
    He turned off the water, dripped
in DarkStar’s homemade dish-soap, and slowly ran the scrub brush over a
plate.
    “Stan?” Lilia said. “We could add
Carl to our crew.”
    “I heard you . . .”
He looked up but hesitated. “. . . but I don’t know what to tell
you, Lilia. Things are happening so fast I haven’t had time to screw my head on
straight. Can I think about it?”

Chapter Twelve
    After getting “ the animals ” fed, and breakfast dealt
with, Stan spent a few hours tackling navigation and other issues before
heading to the cargo bay. The soreness, though not totally gone, had been
reduced to tolerable levels. Before a jog around the bay, he took time to flex
and stretch raw nerves and tender muscles, stooping to start with those his
legs, then moved on to those in his back, neck, and arms.
    Lilia entered the bay wearing a tank top, runner’s shorts,
track shoes, and a satisfied expression. Suspiciously, her disposition had
changed since breakfast.
    She carried something—a bundle of . . .
    “Before we change DarkStar’s outward appearance, Stan,”
she said. “I’d like to change yours. That flight suit has got to go.” She
handed him the bundle, track shoes wrapped in a man’s jogging shirt and shorts.
    “Thank you, Lilia. This is great. I’ll be right back.”
    “No, no. You can change right here.”
    “What?”
    “ DarkStar? ” A bench appeared behind her. As if to
watch Stan change, Lilia took a seat. “Well, don’t be shy, go ahead.”
    Dumbfounded, he looked at the outfit, and then back at her.
“I really don’t think—”
    “No, really. Go ahead.”
    He looked at her in dismay, then said, “Fine. Enjoy.”
Tossing the shoes and shirt to the bench beside Lilia, he stripped from his
suit and pulled the shorts over his briefs.
    Wearing a coy smile, Lilia didn’t turn away.
    When he grabbed the shirt from the bench, he realized something
was up. Lilia didn’t seem to see him. He glanced back only to see a holographic
him standing there wearing a stupid grin.
    “Oh, cute,” he said as he tugged the shirt over his head.
“Real peachy, girlfriend.”
    As he took a seat next to Lilia to pull on his socks and
shoes, the holographic him