Shadows of Mars (Broken Stars Book 1) I.O. Adler (read people like a book TXT) 📖

and pleasant as ever. “Designate Primary Executive reminded me of my duty and that my delays in service weren’t to be tolerated.”

“So he hit you? And what’s fixed to your suit?”

“A bomb.”

As matter of fact as if she had just told Carmen that lunch was ready.

Four Arms clicked at her. He was practically dragging her along now. The slug led the way and appeared to know where it was going. It stopped at the med bay door. It wasn’t opening. Perhaps Jenna still had control. But her heart sank as the door hissed open, no hacking required.

Had the Cordice resumed control of their home ship or had it only returned to its standard automated functions?

Jenna lay in the medical bed where they had left her. The Primary Executive slid over and opened it. The worm puffed twin gusts of stinking steam as it looked Jenna over before cutting loose with a sharp belch.

She Who Waits glided towards them. “Designate Primary Executive demands control of the harvester.”

Jenna blinked sleepily. Her eyes went wide when she saw the monster crouching above her.

The demand was repeated and She Who Waits translated, adding, “This is not a request. There will be consequences if you fail to cooperate.”

When Jenna hesitated to answer, the worm made the smallest gesture. Four Arms pressed down on Carmen’s neck, forcing her to kneel. She felt the barrel of the weapon press cold against the back of her neck.

Jenna gripped the sides of the bed and began to sit up. “Don’t hurt her!”

The worm blurped. She Who Waits translated. “Relinquish the encryption to me. My link is waiting on the harvester’s communication node. I demand access.”

“I will, I will. Just give me a minute. Carmen?”

The worm grumbled a command. Four Arms fired, the weapon uttering a sharp cough. Something impacted on the floor before her with a sharp smak! A round dent appeared in the metal tile, dusted with traces of a white powder.

Carmen trembled but waved a hand at Jenna. “I’m okay.”

“Release access now. The next shot won’t miss.”

Jenna let out a flustered cry as she settled in the bed. “I’m doing it. Don’t hurt her.”

She Who Waits made wet sounds as she relayed the message to the worm. The Primary Executive continued to loom over Jenna as the weapon’s barrel tapped Carmen’s head.

Carmen didn’t want to move a muscle. Tried to control her panicked breathing. “She Who Waits…can I speak to my sister without you translating?”

The telltale second red light appeared next to She Who Waits. The Primary Executive chuffed and glanced their way. With two red lights there was no hiding the fact that Carmen was talking to the translator.

“It is my duty to render translation when requested.”

Carmen felt a rising frustration that was equal to anything she’d felt when arguing with her mother. “Then do what you have to do. Jen, listen. Don’t do what the worm told you. I want you to link back in with the harvester. And then I need you to find the Melded ship and do whatever you can to get Mom out of there.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

That was it.

The worm had heard Carmen tell her sister to attack the Melded ship, and she’d be gunned down. Jenna too. Their mom would be a prisoner in body to the Melded and in soul with the Cordice.

But maybe some good would come out of demonstrating to the Cordice that not every human was a thief. Maybe they’d show Earth a kindness in return and at least warn them about the enemy before lighting off to whatever galaxies lay beyond the Milky Way.

Assuming they could get their own ship in order.

She exhaled sharply and wanted nothing more than to hold her sister’s hands in their final moments.

She Who Waits was edging away from the Primary Executive. The worm was shouting again and badgering her. Both lights had vanished. Had the Melded leader not received the translation of what Carmen had asked Jenna?

The other Melded got out of the way as the Primary Executive clobbered the translator, smashing She Who Waits with a sharp crack that sent her careening into a stack of machines. The worm massaged its knuckles as it closed in on her, then punched her again. She Who Waits bobbed as bands of bright purple appeared in the sands beneath the clear surface of her shell. A high-pitched mewling erupted from her. The Primary Executive reared up and tapped one of its augmentations. The bomb blinked more rapidly.

A red light wavered into existence between them. The worm growled. A second light blinked to life.

She Who Waits spoke crisply. “Designate Primary Executive wishes to know what you said.”

“Did that monster hurt you?” Carmen asked.

“My injuries are minor. The Primary’s query should be answered.”

“It’s got the guns. It’s got the power. Tell it we’re giving it everything it deserves.”

“Does designate Carmen Vincent wish for me to include the sarcastic tone modifier?”

“Let’s let the worm figure that out.”

She Who Waits began to communicate with the Primary Executive. It was a short conversation. The worm exhaled more gas before busying itself with a new floating interface. Four Arms relaxed, the barrel no longer pointing at her.

After a minute the worm closed its displays. “Why haven’t we received access yet?”

“My sister’s not a pilot or astronaut. Give her time!”

“And why is the harvester moving? It’s detaching from the Cordice ship. Tell her to stop.” The worm hurried to Jenna’s bed. “Stop! Our sensors show the ship reconfiguring itself. One of the harvester spheres is separating and approaching our frigate. Do not bring it closer. Do you understand?”

A small tremor ran through the medical bay.

“This is the last time I repeat myself. Cede access now.”

The room shuddered as a second wave of vibrations rolled through