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Nyra Hutchings, a young woman born into a life of servitude on a repressive factory planet, is desperate for a different life. When she's accepted into the Space Service Academy, run by the organization that enslaves her planet, she discovers the truth behind generations of rebellion. Now, she must decide what to believe, where her first duty lies, and fight for more than her life against impossible odds.
Excerpt:
Chapter 19 - Terminal Encounter
NYRA WRAPPED HER long service cloak around her. The Space Service uniform wasn’t out of place, but her two blasters might make somebody suspicious. She took the monorail to the space port shuttle area.
As she got off, she looked around for any familiar faces, but saw none. She wished she knew who else was supposed to be going on the raid. On the other hand, the fewer people she knew about, the better if the authorities captured her. After all, she assumed Smith had reported as planned, and she was now officially a deserter. Even if the higher-ups agreed to her infiltration plan, her cover would still be that she had gone over to the rebellion.
She was trying to look unobtrusive, when she spotted a face she knew. It was Smith dressed in civilian clothing. How did he know where to find her?
He didn’t seem to be looking for anybody, but seemed to have just got off a shuttle and was striding purposefully toward the monorail station. Nyra wondered where he was going and why. Maybe he could be looking for her, but the fact he guessed or was told she was on Earth was a surprise to her.
She moved quickly to intercept and stepped in front of him. He stopped abruptly.
“Nyra! I was looking for you.”
“How did you know I was on Earth?” Nyra looked around for any sign of IncPlan authorities.
“Well, hello to you, too.”
“It’s a big galaxy and seeing you is more than just surprising.”
“Not so surprising when you hear what happened. So, don’t act all worried. I reported to headquarters They agreed your plan seemed like a good way to get inside. They weren’t too happy about you taking it on yourself, but I talked fast and long to convince them.”
“Okay. Still, why are you here and why are you dressed in civilian clothes?”
“Look, I’d thought about what you were saying. I got authorization from Admiral Barton to watch out for you. IncPlan broadcast that I was a deserter, and the rebels had to believe it. They’d have no reason to think otherwise.”
“Okay, you came to help me infiltrate. I can’t believe they’d just accept that so easily.“
”Well, the rebels are a trusting lot, too trusting. There’s a traitor–a double agent–inside IncPlan who vouched for me.”
“I’ll have to report–” Nyra stopped herself. Why would Tiberius permit Smith to help her spy on the rebels? Something didn’t make sense about this. Still, she had to follow her original plan. Sympathy with the devil didn’t necessarily mean you joined his cause.
“Okay,” she continued, “I’m happy you’ve come to help me. How did you know I was on Earth?”
“Jens, you remember him, right? He told me I could catch up with you on Earth. Of course, I didn’t expect to find you right here in the terminal.”
“Did he tell you why I’m here?”
“No, no. He wouldn’t go that far. I suppose the insurgents wanted Caspar to decide what to do with me.”
“I suspect Caspar isn’t on Earth any longer. At least, that’s the last thing I heard from him.” Nyra didn’t want to tell Smith too much until she could sound him out. From what he was saying, it appeared he was only here to watch her for IncPlan. She was not sure she liked that; she hated continuing to lie to him. Still, she’d have ditch him while she went on her mission.
“I tell you what, Smith. Take my key chip and go to the hotel. It’s the Hilton on Seventy-fifth Street. If Caspar is still there, you can talk to him. Right now, I’ve got some people to meet.”
“What’s going on?” Smith asked.
“That’s why I’m meeting the people: to find out. I can’t tell you more than that. But, look, I’ll see you back at the hotel later tonight, tomorrow at the latest.”
“Can’t I stick with you?”
“No. The people are expecting me to be alone.”
“Why are you wearing your uniform, by the way?”
“Protective coloring. Just go to the hotel. I’ll see you later. I promise.”
“Okay, later then,” Smith said and turned back to the monorail station. He stopped after a few steps. “Be careful,” he added, then went through the door.
Within seconds, Garrett appeared at her side. She jumped slightly; she hadn’t seen him coming. Not surprising, she thought, considering his skills.
“Who was that?”
“Just a guy I knew in the service. I decided I’d better say hello in case he spotted me. Are we ready to go? Where’s the rest of the team?” Nyra asked to deflect any further questions.
“We’re it, so let’s get on with it.”
Chapter 19 - Terminal Encounter
NYRA WRAPPED HER long service cloak around her. The Space Service uniform wasn’t out of place, but her two blasters might make somebody suspicious. She took the monorail to the space port shuttle area.
As she got off, she looked around for any familiar faces, but saw none. She wished she knew who else was supposed to be going on the raid. On the other hand, the fewer people she knew about, the better if the authorities captured her. After all, she assumed Smith had reported as planned, and she was now officially a deserter. Even if the higher-ups agreed to her infiltration plan, her cover would still be that she had gone over to the rebellion.
She was trying to look unobtrusive, when she spotted a face she knew. It was Smith dressed in civilian clothing. How did he know where to find her?
He didn’t seem to be looking for anybody, but seemed to have just got off a shuttle and was striding purposefully toward the monorail station. Nyra wondered where he was going and why. Maybe he could be looking for her, but the fact he guessed or was told she was on Earth was a surprise to her.
She moved quickly to intercept and stepped in front of him. He stopped abruptly.
“Nyra! I was looking for you.”
“How did you know I was on Earth?” Nyra looked around for any sign of IncPlan authorities.
“Well, hello to you, too.”
“It’s a big galaxy and seeing you is more than just surprising.”
“Not so surprising when you hear what happened. So, don’t act all worried. I reported to headquarters They agreed your plan seemed like a good way to get inside. They weren’t too happy about you taking it on yourself, but I talked fast and long to convince them.”
“Okay. Still, why are you here and why are you dressed in civilian clothes?”
“Look, I’d thought about what you were saying. I got authorization from Admiral Barton to watch out for you. IncPlan broadcast that I was a deserter, and the rebels had to believe it. They’d have no reason to think otherwise.”
“Okay, you came to help me infiltrate. I can’t believe they’d just accept that so easily.“
”Well, the rebels are a trusting lot, too trusting. There’s a traitor–a double agent–inside IncPlan who vouched for me.”
“I’ll have to report–” Nyra stopped herself. Why would Tiberius permit Smith to help her spy on the rebels? Something didn’t make sense about this. Still, she had to follow her original plan. Sympathy with the devil didn’t necessarily mean you joined his cause.
“Okay,” she continued, “I’m happy you’ve come to help me. How did you know I was on Earth?”
“Jens, you remember him, right? He told me I could catch up with you on Earth. Of course, I didn’t expect to find you right here in the terminal.”
“Did he tell you why I’m here?”
“No, no. He wouldn’t go that far. I suppose the insurgents wanted Caspar to decide what to do with me.”
“I suspect Caspar isn’t on Earth any longer. At least, that’s the last thing I heard from him.” Nyra didn’t want to tell Smith too much until she could sound him out. From what he was saying, it appeared he was only here to watch her for IncPlan. She was not sure she liked that; she hated continuing to lie to him. Still, she’d have ditch him while she went on her mission.
“I tell you what, Smith. Take my key chip and go to the hotel. It’s the Hilton on Seventy-fifth Street. If Caspar is still there, you can talk to him. Right now, I’ve got some people to meet.”
“What’s going on?” Smith asked.
“That’s why I’m meeting the people: to find out. I can’t tell you more than that. But, look, I’ll see you back at the hotel later tonight, tomorrow at the latest.”
“Can’t I stick with you?”
“No. The people are expecting me to be alone.”
“Why are you wearing your uniform, by the way?”
“Protective coloring. Just go to the hotel. I’ll see you later. I promise.”
“Okay, later then,” Smith said and turned back to the monorail station. He stopped after a few steps. “Be careful,” he added, then went through the door.
Within seconds, Garrett appeared at her side. She jumped slightly; she hadn’t seen him coming. Not surprising, she thought, considering his skills.
“Who was that?”
“Just a guy I knew in the service. I decided I’d better say hello in case he spotted me. Are we ready to go? Where’s the rest of the team?” Nyra asked to deflect any further questions.
“We’re it, so let’s get on with it.”
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