Read Space Station Crisis: Star Challengers Book 2 for Free Online Page B

Wizard of Oz.
    JJ and Tony opened the hatch, and they all floated through into a large, brightly lit module. This one was occupied.
    A man and a woman in orange jumpsuits had been studying a videoscreen on the wall, and now they turned from it in surprise when they heard the hatch open. The woman pushed herself forward like a bullet, streaking past them to the hatch, which she slammed shut behind them. Her partner sailed into their path and anchored a foot to a metal bar on the floor. The man crossed his arms and studied them with suspicion.
    JJ swallowed audibly. “So, I bet you wonder what we’re doing here.” She read the name patches on the workers’ suits. The woman was named Napali, and the man was Kloor.
    Kloor did not smile. “The thought crossed my mind.”
    From behind them, Napali said, “Boarding this space station without proper clearance is an indication of hostile intent.”
    Kloor gave a stern nod and spoke in a sour voice. “If it were up to me, you’d be out the airlock—but your arrival isn’t entirely unexpected. The Stationmaster was actually hoping you would show up.”
    ***

Six
    “What do you mean, hoping we’d get here?” JJ asked. “How would your Stationmaster know about us?”
    Napali ignored the question. “I’m the security chief aboard this station, and I have my own questions. But that’ll have to wait. The Stationmaster will want to see you immediately.”
    “Come with us,” Kloor said
    Following the crewman’s lead, JJ pushed off the side of the module with her toes and used grab-handles to pull herself along. The feeling was like flying—it took almost no effort. She didn’t think she’d ever get tired of this complete freedom of movement.
    Dyl was enjoying himself almost as much as she was. He had a big goofy grin on his face as he moved along. He and King stayed close to Song-Ye, who looked ready to lose her breakfast. That was something JJ did not want to see in freefall! Tony, of course, still didn’t understand what was really going on. He sent her astonished glances, trying to keep up. Even in the few short minutes they’d been here, their adventure had gone far beyond anything he could excuse as a simulation.
    Napali herded them along from behind. “Why would anyone show up on a space station without clearing it through security? Official protocol requires me to ‘disable’ anyone who boards the ISSC without permission and treat them as a threat to Earth—especially in the current climate.” She gave them a disapproving look.
    “Believe me, we’re not a threat,” Tony said, not quite covering his grin. Lowering his voice, he asked JJ, “When does gravity kick in again? This is great!”
    “Not for a long time, I think,” JJ said honestly. “You’d better get used to it.”
    “But no simulation could last this long!” Tony argued. They passed through an airlock into a small chamber and exited through another airlock in a completely different direction.
    “Here we are, the Central Command Module,” Kloor said. “We just call it Central.”
    JJ pushed off and sailed through the doorway ahead of the others. She stared in delighted recognition at a woman who looked up from a console near the center of the module. Her eyes were golden brown, and her wavy chestnut hair was shorter than JJ remembered.
    “Chief Ansari!” JJ tried to backpedal in the air, but momentum kept her moving forward.
    As soon as Noor Ansari saw the Star Challengers enter the module, she released a strap that held her in place by the console and pushed herself over to greet them. She soared through the air like a circus acrobat, caught JJ, and steadied her. “Cadets, it’s so good to see all of you.” She nodded at Dyl, King, and Song-Ye, then hesitated a moment when she didn’t recognize Tony, although she accepted his presence.
    “Good to see you, too,” Dyl said.
    “You escaped from the moonbase then?” Song-Ye asked.
    “What happened?” King asked.
    Ansari