Free Star Runners 2: Revelation Protocol by L E Thomas Page B

marched out of the freighter. Their eyes focused on the ground, some sobbing as they walked. A child gripped his mother's hand, only to be ripped away by a guard. Both the mother and the child screamed. The mother reached for her son and collapsed in her captive’s arms in despair. Josh looked away, unable to watch any longer.
    Some prisoners helped sort the freighter's passengers into their appropriate lines. Josh and Delmar were too far back in the line and were ordered to wait. Their task would be stripping the freighter for salvage.
    The passengers screamed for their families as the guards separated them. For the first time, Josh’s eyes fell on Rodon. He marched through the passengers like a salesman inspecting his inventory. Rodon’s dark hair fell onto his shoulders clad in fine black silk. The passengers he deemed worthy disappeared into a tunnel on the far side of the hangar, probably bound for cells like Josh had just left. Rodon smacked his hands together and rubbed them as if he had just finished counting his money. He spun around and marched to a door across from Josh’s position.
    “Time to eat!” he yelled, gesturing for two minions to follow him. 
    As Rodon passed through the door, Josh glimpsed a room full of workstations and an operational hologram. A control room.
    “We need to get in that room,” Josh whispered, rubbing his nose to cover his mouth.
    “Quiet,” Delmar snapped, clearing his throat. “You have a death wish.”
    The guards ordered the unfortunate passengers into the airlock. When the final passenger passed through, the door began sliding shut on the room full of people. In the flashing warning lights, a woman sitting on the floor cradled her baby and stared at Josh. He held her gaze, not wanting to look away as if he could stop the door from closing. Their eyes locked until the sliding metal door separated their connection in a chorus of hissing gasses.
    Once the airlock closed, a guard yanked down on a red lever. Josh held his breath, glancing around the hangar in search of a resolution. He sighed. A brief cry followed by a whooshing sound and they were gone.

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    The radio continued broadcasting news of the car bombing in San Francisco, loud voices argued over the lack of preparation of law enforcement and whether or not the U.S. government had adequately protected the city.
    The skyscrapers of downtown Atlanta glowed on both sides of the interstate, stretching into the night sky. Traffic was mercifully light. After passing through the city, Austin took the exit for home. The Atlanta suburban landscape continued to change. New gas stations and businesses sprouted during his absence, continuing the erasure of green space. He smiled as they passed the old coffee shop he used to frequent with Kadyn and Josh, happy it remained. Josh and Kadyn would be glad to know they would be able to meet for coffee again when they all happened to be in town.
    His stomach dropped when he realized his best friend would not be coming home. His thoughts drifted to the moment before the pirates had taken Josh's ship.
    "Watch it, Stone."
    He adjusted his path slightly, pulling the car back from the edge of the road.
    *****
    The floodlight over the garage sent a white beam through the late-night fog. The haze magnified the light, filling the air in front of the house with a cloud-like vapor. Underneath the house’s gutter, the garbage can stood at the side of the house. Unlike the months after Dad passed away, trash didn’t flow out of the can.
    Mom had been keeping the house in good shape since he had been gone. Austin pulled the car past the house as Sharkey had insisted, going down the deserted streets in the middle of the night. The sun would not rise for several hours, and no other lights burned in the darkened house.
    Sharkey rested his hand on the holster beneath his blue jacket. He glanced at the road, his eyes darting from house to house.
    Austin's mouth went dry. He wondered