Free The Lost Prince by Saxon Andrew Page B

to impossible. E knew that Ian knew it as well.
    • • •
    Six days later the box was bolted to the floor just outside the reactor room. Ian touched it and felt the vibration. “It appears to be powered, E.”
    “Take the cable you severed and push the end into the outlet.”
    Ian grabbed the cable and was glad he had cut it with enough length to reach the wall. “Are you certain this is a good idea?”
    Violet rolled her eyes and Ian shoved the cable into the outlet. They waited and a minute later they heard, “Alrighty then. Are you ready to trial this?”
    Ian looked at Violet and then looked up at the ceiling, “I guess.”
    “Good; if you and Violet will exit the ship I’ll start.”
    “What do you mean exit the ship!?!”
    “Look, I think this will work but if it doesn’t, there is no reason to place the two of you in danger. You both know you can survive here and I see that you are perfectly happy to spend your lives here. Don’t be dumb again and go all noble on me. Just get out.”
    Ian stared at the ceiling and looked at Violet, “You heard the machine, let’s move.”
    “Are you seriously leaving?”
    “Violet, he’s right. I’m frightened at the prospect of losing my best friend, but if I were in his place I’d do the same thing.”
    “Actually, you are in the same place.”
    Ian snickered, “Oh yeah, I forgot.” Ian took Violet’s arm and pulled her out of the landing bay’s door.
    Two days later they sat by the pond and Violet said, “I hope he didn’t get hurt.”
    Ian shrugged.
    “You’re being rather callous about this.”
    “I know E. If the darn thing works, he won’t come back until he can operate it perfectly. He is persnickety.”
    “If I am, you are as well.”
    Ian smiled, “Yeah but you do it faster.”
    Violet smiled and watched the ship moving toward them out of the night sky. “Welcome back, I was worried about you.”
    “Well thank you.”
    “Have you got it ironed out?”
    “I have. I had to calibrate the fields to the Union’s maps. Determining how far each jump made using different field strengths wasn’t easy but I’ve got it dialed in.”
    “I need you to do something.”
    “What is that?”
    “I need you to deliver a message to Euclid. Can you do that and get back here quickly?”
    “Faster than you know. What message do you need delivered?”
    Ian went on board and started talking. Violet wondered what he was doing. Finally he finished and E said, “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
    “No, it’s probably not, but it’s what I want done.”
    “You’re the boss.”
    Ian and Violet exited the ship again and it rose into the night sky. They watched it until it disappeared and Violet said, “Why would you want that?”
    Ian continued to stare at the sky and said, “Freedom.”

Chapter Seven
    “S ir, I have a small ship a hundred thousand miles out sending an encrypted message to the planet.”
    “Destroy it!”
    “Sir, it’s gone.”
    “Follow its track.”
    “It didn’t leave one.”
    The Nebula Fleet Admiral stared at his scanner officer, “How is that possible?”
    “It’s not, Sir. But there is no track.”
    The Fleet Admiral took a deep breath and sent a message to the Dark Officer.
    • • •
    The Lead Scientist listened to the message and started shaking his head. The Prince ended the message by saying, “I’ve sent my ship because I’m close to being found. You must do what I ask for the safety of the Union.” The Prince paused and said, “I’m truly sorry about Ariene. The two of you should have been together.” The message went dark and the scientist knew that the message was actually from the Prince. He fought his sorrow and then pressed a button.
    “Yes Sire.”
    “I want this message sent to the eighty Major Allies.”
    The man on the display nodded and the screen went dark. He sat and wondered how the Prince had discovered his relationship with Ariene. He blew out a breath and shook his head. The Prince