Countdown by John Walker (most life changing books TXT) 📕

every step. When she arrived at the ramp, she seriously questioned her sanity. I could’ve let that Gold Empire ship be destroyed. How the hell did I take on this responsibility? Zem and I could’ve taken off out of there, dealt with Loch chasing us later… if he would’ve survived fighting the MerCon ships.

The thought appealed to the side of her that still refused to accept what was happening, the side that planned to fight until the bitter end. Maybe that’s how this is going to go. But then, perhaps Loch didn’t like getting rid of potential assets. He might have a use for her beyond simple murder.

As the ramp dropped in the cargo bay, Rita steeled herself to find out for sure what might come next.

Two guards stood on the deck below, each holding their rifles across their body. The fact they didn’t point them at her gave her a sense of hope. She stepped down toward them, looking around the room. It was empty but for the three of them. That optimism began to falter. She chewed her lower lip.

“There you are!” Loch’s voice boomed over the speakers. “Give us a moment then we’ll talk. Gotta get into hyperspace really fast. You understand, I’m sure.”

Thank God. Rita clenched her fist. I’ve got a little more time. She turned to the guards. “We just going to stand around here?” She huffed. “I hope this ship’s a lot more stable about a jump to hyperspace than Confed vessels are or we’re going to be scraping ourselves off the deck.”

Her company consisted of a rough older man with graying brown hair and a bald thirty-something wearing a goatee. Both of them wore some pretty serious scars. They’d been through some work, that much was true. The question Rita pondered came down to where they got the decorations.

Barroom fights helped in a brawl but unless they picked up their injuries on the front lines, they might not be soldiers. Their posture suggested they had endurance but not necessarily training. Many of Loch’s people came from the ranks of common thugs given better equipment.

Dangerous, yes but not as bad as they could be.

“Shut up,” the younger of the two spoke up. Rita designated him Cue for Cue ball. “Ship’s just fine.”

“That’s cool.” Rita nodded, turning in place. There were two doors leading out of the hangar, one on each side of the command tower. No one appeared to be up there. They must’ve guided her in from the bridge. Both doors were closed as well. She tapped her foot, contemplating what to do next. “You guys like working here?”

“Didn’t he say shut up?” Scruffy belted out. “You know you’re in a shitload of trouble, right?”

Rita smirked as she turned to him. The bravado took some effort, though once she conjured it, she clung to it tightly. “Yeah? Well, maybe when Loch hears what the hell I’ve been through, he’ll understand. And if he doesn’t buy into the concept of extenuating circumstances, that’s just his damn problem.”

“Ex… what?” Cue asked. “What’s that?”

“Dude…” Scruffy shook his head. “You serious? She’s trying to say there were things beyond her control that prevented her from talking to the boss.”

“Oh.” Cue’s face lit up with instant understanding. It looked comical on the hardened features. “I get it. You think that’s true?”

“It is,” Rita pointed out, “for the record.”

“Just stop!” Scruffy shouted. “What’re you even trying to do?”

“Chat,” Rita said. “I don’t like going into hyperspace. Gives me the jitters.” In truth, she found herself more concerned about what Loch might have to say, but it was a good excuse that kept her from showing fear of her captor. “Don’t you guys think it’s a little creepy? We go from standing still to over a hundred ninety thousand miles per second. That’s insane.”

“A second?” Cue swallowed hard. “I had no idea! How’d you figure that?”

Rita frowned. “Uh… speed of light plus a little? You know… to account for the fact we’re going faster than light when we go into hyperspace?” She gestured to Scruffy. “You know what I’m talking about, right?”

“Yeah, of course,” Scruffy scoffed. The ship vibrated, barely a tiny shake before settling down again.

Holy shit. If that was them going into hyperspace, they’ve got some amazing equipment here. I know some people who would love the opportunity to check it out in fact. Rita looked between the two. Neither of them seemed to notice… or maybe they didn’t care. Either way, they just continued to watch her.

Though Cue looked like he had something to say. He kept it to himself, though that meant bouncing from foot to foot like a child who needed to use the bathroom.

Rita figured these idiots didn’t pose too much of a threat. If she attacked them on the spot, they likely couldn’t have stopped her. She figured a punch to Scruffy’s throat followed by a solid jab to Cue’s face would do the trick. Grabbing a rifle afterward might buy her some time to become her own hostage in the hangar.

There’s a reason Loch left only two people. Rita felt like he might be testing her. If that was the case, then she had reason to be concerned. There didn’t appear to be any turrets or anything nearby. So what’s he got that might put me down? The thought made her clench her fists, but she didn’t move.

I don’t dare to give him the opportunity. This is a situation where he wants me to prove he’s in control. I’m not doing his work for him.

The doors opened. Tobin Loch entered, his arms out to either side. He wore a stupid-looking grin; the kind that was forced beyond belief. He waved at his men to step back. They did so, each looking terribly uncomfortable. Rita watched him, forcing herself to stand firm, to remain perfectly still.