Read The Last Horizon for Free Online Page B

crime in the outlying mining and farming colonies. It goes on and on and gets heavier by the minute.
     
       I sighed as images blipped on the screen of a student rally being broken up by Riot Squads on Earth and Syterra-12, and was glad I took this gig. At least it got me away from the everyday troubles that faced home.
       The radio chirped with an incoming transmission and I shut off the Star Net to see who was calling. It was Max. I flipped on the toggle switch and Max’s voice came through the speakers.
    “Nikki, you there? Nikki, you got your ears on?”
    “Yes Max, I’m here.”
    “We’re on a sealed frequency, so no one can detect this cast. How are you doing, girl?”
    “So far, so good. We just pulled from our galaxy border into space about ten minutes ago so we’re making good time.”
    “How far out from Ceres Vesta ‘til Event Horizon?”
    “A little over a day and a half for Outer and one hour for Inner Event. Then it’s just a matter of minutes.”
    “Nervous?”
    “Yeah, I try not to think about it.”
    “I know.”
    “You know, Max, this could very well be my last run. I may retire from the game when I get back.”
     
    “I sure wish you wouldn’t do this. Just circumnavigate the pipe, Nikki.”
    “I can’t. I’ll lose the rest of the pay-off and Kurlie will probably put a contract on my head for making a late drop.”
     
    “Nikki…”
    “Look, the last thing I want is to have to keep looking over my shoulder for his goons to rub me out.”
    “I suppose you’re right about Kurlie. So you’re committed to seeing this through? There’s no way I can talk you out of it?”
    “I’ll bring you back something nice from Nexus, Max.”
    “Listen Nikki, I’ve gotta sign-off. I tagged the Zephyr as a civilian subcontractor on the flight logs so you should have no problems when you get to Ceres Vesta. I’ll keep an eye out for you on the screens.”
    “Thanks Max.”
    “Talk to you later.”
    “See ya, Max.”
    “So talk to me Nikki.” Scott unbuckled himself from his seat, stood up, and stretched his arms as he looked over the monitors. “You and your friend Max seemed genuinely spooked by this journey we’re on. What’s this pipe thing Max and Kurlie were talking about?”
    “Oh it’s nothing to concern yourself with right now.” I sighed. “I’ll explain it to you when we get there.”
    “How about you explain it to me right now?” Scott demanded. “I think I have the right to know if we’re about to do any thing out of the ordinary.”
    “We’re already out of the ordinary, Scotty. This flight’s illegal.”
    “Yes, I’m aware of that.” Scott replied impatiently. “Talk to me.”
    I let out a breath and stared at the console as I shook my head.
    “Well?”
    “You do have a right to know. How much have you been keeping up with scientific research?”
    “I haven’t.”
    “Do you know what a wormhole is?”
    “I’ve heard of them. Basic highschool astronomy. Pure theory.”
    “No, not theory, Scotty. They’re out there. Closer than you imagine.”
    “Bullshit.”
    “No, it’s true.”
    “And how do you know this?”
    “Because I’ve been there.”
    “You mean you think you’ve seen one in real life?”
    “No. I’ve been there.”
    “You’re pulling my leg, right?”
    “I’m afraid not. What Max was talking about is a conduit through space and time. We think the Pipe is a wormhole. A natural anomaly of physics--a fold in the universe. Not a lot of people believe in it for that matter. The only ones that truly believe in them are scientists; and even then, their community is split. Most theorists tend to lean more on the side of hypothesis. Makes for a nice bedtime story and spices up lectures with a wow factor.”
    “And you’re telling me this is more than just theory. This is where we’re going?”
    “I’m telling you that we’re not just going there, we’re going into it.”
    “WHAT?”
    “You heard me, we’re going into a