Read The Ninth: Invasion for Free Online

nervous.
    “We will be jumping shortly,” she announced to the troopers.  “Please make sure you are ready.”
    As she disappeared back through the doorway, the troopers quickly forgot all about their pleasant banter.
    “I hate this part,” Owen said, closing his eyes tightly.  “Tell me when it’s over.”
    “You all right, Angela?” Erin asked.  “You look like you are about to pass out.”
    “Like you need to ask,” she said while furrowing her brow tightly.  “An entire ship filled with terrified passengers, even the crew is worried.  This is worse than the party was.  I hate Navy transports.”
    As Angela moved to cover her ears, another set of hands beat her to the punch.  As they held her ears, a mental fog enveloped the two.
    “Thank you, Dante,” she said with a sigh of relief.
    A mild chuckle filled the room.
    “What’s so funny?” she asked.
    “I’m over here, Angela,” Dante said, waving his hands to get her attention from the other side of the room.
    “Then who . . .”
    “I’m a quick study,” Cain said with a grin.
    As Angela was about to protest, Hiroko let out a loud gasp.  The ship was already jumping.  Brent couldn’t believe his eyes.  The forward section of the room was gone .  Where a wall and doorway had been moments earlier was nothing but the blackness of space.  He spotted a thin ribbon where the ship ended and space began.  The ribbon was getting closer.  Despite the fact he could see open space, he felt no discomfort.  He could still breathe easily, and the temperature didn’t fall.  Brent knew the void of space was an airless bitter cold thing that could kill in short order without some form of protection.  Even though he could clearly see it, the void must not have been able to get farther than the ribbon.
    The troopers squirmed as the ribbon slowly moved closer.  Row by row, it devoured the chairs and their occupants.  Despite their discomfort, the troopers didn’t seem overly concerned about their fellow squad mates.  Their frightened gazes were locked on the approaching nothingness.  They stared at it as if the ribbon was some vicious animal hunting them alone.  Before the ribbon neared him, Brent reached out.  As his fingers passed over the ribbon, they disappeared.  The ribbon was just the edge of some invisible wall, one that was ingesting the entire ship.  He couldn’t pull his hand out from the nothingness, but he could still feel it.  There was no discomfort or pain, just a slight tingle where the nothingness sliced his hand.  It was similar to the pins and needles sensation he had endured whenever his foot would fall asleep during the more boring lectures.
    Brent let out a chuckle as the sensation crept down his arm; it was like a thousand microscopic fingers were gently poking a thin section of his skin.  As the transparent surface passed over his face, he could see the other side of the room again.  It was exactly as he remembered it.  The other troopers were shuddering.  Apparently, they did not share in his enjoyment of the odd sensation.  He tried to move his head but found he couldn’t.  Until the invisible surface had completely passed through him, he was frozen in place.  As soon as it passed, Brent spun around.  The section of the ship behind him didn’t exist; there was just open space.  He watched as the back of his chair slowly reappeared.  The pane of nothingness was moving aft, revealing the ship as the ribbon passed further and further back.  He felt a little disappointed when the rear wall of the room materialized and he could no longer see the odd sight.
    “I hate that!” Humphrey mumbled as he cringed.
    “At least it’s over.”  Hiroko shook Owen gently.  “You can open your eyes now.”
    “How many more jumps do we have until we get there?” Marie asked hesitantly.
    “None,” Ronald answered calmly.  “Deriso was very close.  We should already be there.  All that’s left is to