Read The Army Of Light (Kestrel Saga) for Free Online

Both
of them were completely barren, save for one small cardboard box that was more
than likely empty as well. “Gee, skipper. Sorry. Looks like were all out.”
        
The sarcasm was not lost on Shawn, who only stared blankly at Trent as he
waited for a more appropriate answer.
        
Trent harrumphed and straightened his ball cap as he turned back to the
fragmented engine. “I did make a vid-call to Antara Axa , though, and I think we can get some. But, it’ll cost
us.”
        
Of course it will , Shawn thought. It was also no small surprise to him that
Jacques De Lorme would have exactly what he needed. Shawn narrowed his eyes at
the mechanic. “How much?”
        
Trent shrugged his shoulders. “Probably more then we have,” his gaze never
left the jumble of broken pieces littering the table. “And, by the way, I still
think you hit something. You know… just in case I forgot to mention it.”
        
Shawn backhanded the mechanics shoulder hard enough, he hoped, to leave a
sizable bruise. “I said drop it.” He then turned and stormed off towards his
office.
        
As Shawn neared the door, Trent offered up one last remark. “You know, we’re
friends. You can tell me if you hit something. I won’t be mad, skipper.
Honest.”
        
The slamming of the office door gave Trent all the answer he needed.
        
 
    *          
*           *
        
 
        
The minor jostling of the sleek shuttle as it descended through the atmosphere
caused Melissa to stir from her otherwise peaceful slumber. The warm, immensely
comfortable padding of her seat crumpled slightly as she moved into an upright
position. She’d been dreaming of her father and of the last time they’d been
together on their home planet of Thress . As her
grogginess quickly wore off, she began to feel the familiar sensation in her
stomach that signaled natural gravity was taking control as the shuttle slid
toward the surface of the planet. She watched out of the generously wide view
port to her right as the blackness of space effortlessly transitioned into a
brilliant blue sky.
        
“We’ll be through the upper cloud layer in just a moment, ma’am,” the pilot’s
voice said over the intercom. She looked around at the other passengers, then quickly remembered that she was the only person in the
sleek interplanetary transport. It hadn’t been difficult for her to acquire the
shuttle for the trip, considering what she’d done for the owner a few years
back. The vehicle, one of the fastest models in Beta Sector, had whisked her
from Thress to her destination in only a few days’
time. Of course, a slower vessel would’ve been less conspicuous, but time was
no longer on her side.
        
As the shuttle swooped below the cloud layers, a small chain of islands began
to appear on the distant horizon. In the center of them stood an enormous
volcano, projecting into the sky and into the thin clouds like a monolithic
headstone. Seconds later the shuttle slipped past the imposing feature,
entering a circular landing pattern as it waited for an authorization to touch
down.
        
“We’ll be on the ground in less than five minutes, ma’am,” the pilot voiced
again. “Make sure you’re buckled in. These islands can have some fairly stout
crosswinds.”
        
“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Melissa verified her seatbelt was secured and looked
through the view port once more. She could see the waves braking against yellow
sandy beaches, and large blue and purple palm trees gently swaying under the
tropical breeze. Breaking his temporary orbit of the tropical island, the pilot
slipped past the coast at an altitude of five hundred feet, gliding through a
lush valley created by two flanking summits.
        
“As I’m sure you’re aware, I won’t be able to keep the shuttle here for very
long. I hope you’ve arranged for transportation off of the planet once your
stay is