Page 47 of Stealing the Star Stone
“We’ll tackle this one step at a time.”She lifted her chin in a show of determination or courage.
He tried to smile but couldn’t.Then he lurched, the force snapping his head forward.
“Shit,” she yelled.“Someone’s shooting at us.”
“What?”he gasped, scrambling to his feet to grip a ceiling strap.
Her fingers flew across the console, making it flicker in a kaleidoscope of colors.“We’ve gotta push the engines.”
“We’re still an hour away.”
“I know,” she said.“I’ll head for the Kegawa Belt, maybe lose them amid the asteroids.”
He gaped as the forescreens filled with endless bands of rocks that had to be the size of moons.“Nova, can you navigate through that?”
“I have to,” she said, squeezing and releasing the lever.
“Auto-pilot deactivated,” the computer intoned.“Manual override in place.”
She rolled her shoulders back and veered toward the belt.“Fifteen minutes before we’ll need to start dodging.We can make it.”
His gaze was transfixed while his senses waited for the next hit.When it struck, jerking the shuttle forward, he shuddered.“Any damage?”
“Just photon blasts.”
Like he knew what that meant.
“Keep a look out for anywhere we can hide.”
He blinked at her.Is she serious?“We’re in outer space.There’s nowhere!”
“I can try hiding on an asteroid.”
Fuck.She’s serious.“You’re mad.”
“We need more speed.Maybe if we slingshot around Nyxara.”
His mind reeled.Is she even listening to herself?
“The shield might not hold.”She giggled.“Or we could crumple this shuttle like a tin can.”
Great!He gaped, horror widening his eyes.“You’re enjoying yourself.”
“Beats dying in a lab onLaurus.”
“In an explosion?Our bodies obliterated in an instant?”The insanity of their situation, that somehow he’d become the voice of reason, had him laughing.“Sure.Let’s show them, Nova-honey.”
Chapter Fourteen
Viator IV Shuttle
I knew it was too good to be true.
Day Three.
Withherfocusonthe largest asteroid, Nova asked, “Computer, who’s chasing us?”
“Assessing scanners,” the voice droned.
