Read Scrapyard Ship 4 Realms of Time for Free Online Page B

ago.”
    “ Who instigated these modifications?”
    “ That information is not available.”
    Ricket moved to Jason’s side. “Can you provide the user’s designation?”
    “ Only that it is designation BRSTL.”
    Jason shrugged and repeated the letters phonetically. “Bristol?”
    Billy said, “Isn’t that the name of that scrawny kid—the traitor on board The Lilly? Could it be the same person?”
    “ Where is he now, AI? Is he currently onboard this vessel?”
    “ Access to that information is provisional.”
    “ What the hell is that supposed to mean? Provisional in what way?”
    “ Captain,” Ricket said, “I believe your question, asking the AI why it is helping us, triggered this AI subroutine.”
    Ricket asked, “AI, what are the provisions?”
    “ Non-retribution.”
    Non-retribution? Jason’s anger flared. It was Bristol’s brother, Captain Stalls, who’d shot Nan, causing the wound that eventually led to her death.
    Both Jason and Billy removed their helmets. Billy brought out a cigar but when he saw Jason’s expression, he put it back away.
    “ AI, tell me where Bristol is.”
    “ Access to that information is provisional.”
    “ Perhaps we should hear him out, see what he has to say. Without his help, I doubt we would have survived on this vessel more than a few seconds,” Ricket said.
    Thinking, Jason paced up and down between two rows of Zip accelerators. With Stalls dead, revenge hadn’t been an option. He’d buried his anger, his rage, until now.
    “ AI, the provision is accepted.”
    Chapter 8
    “ So where is Bristol?” Jason asked the AI. No answer came—the compartment was quiet with the exception of a low-frequency hum from the multiple Zip accelerators.
    Bristol entered the compartment and stood at the far end of Jason’s row. He wore an ill-fitting environmental suit and was holding an energy weapon. “Move and I’ll shoot you. As you can see I’m armed and I can easily shoot all of you,” Bristol said, his high-pitched voice revealing his nervousness.
    Jason and Billy slowly turned toward Bristol at the same time.
    “ How’d you get here?” Jason asked.
    “ Shut up! I’m asking the questions now. Do you understand?”
    “ Sure, whatever you want. You’re the one in charge, Bristol.”
    Ricket, the only one still with his helmet on, would have access to his HUD and phase-shifting capability. Jason had just begun to wonder if Ricket would take the initiative when the compartment flashed white. Ricket had phase-shifted to a new position behind Bristol. Realizing too late what had happened, and feeling Ricket’s sidearm poking into his back, Bristol raised his hands.
    “ Crap!”
    “ Drop your weapon, Bristol. You know I don’t need much of an excuse to shoot you,” Jason said.
    His energy pistol hit the floor with a metallic clunk. Ricket reached down and retrieved it.
    Bristol swung around. “Push me like that again you little troll, and I’ll—” Seeing Ricket’s face through his helmet’s visor, Bristol cut his rampage short. “Looks like someone’s had a little corrective surgery.”
    “ Shut up, Bristol,” Jason said, striding down the row and stopping in front of him. “Again, how did you get here?”
    “ I have no fucking idea.”
    Jason raised his gun and placed the barrel to Bristol’s forehead. “Then there’s no reason for me to let you live.”
    “ My brother’s fleet was in Earth space and immediately we came up against some outpost ships. Even with close to one hundred ships of our own, we were no match for Craing technology. Anyway, I thought it was a stupid idea, but we faked surrender; we then used one of my phase-shift devices to allow the raiders and me to subversively board one of their cruisers. But we totally botched it. They were ready for us. The other raiders were killed, all except me. I got away and ran. But when I realized I had nowhere to hide, I jumped into the phase-shift void. I thought I was going to