Asteroid Read Online Free Page B

into the temple and up to the throne.”
    “You will bring as little damage to the population as you can?”
    “Of course. These are stunners calibrated for the Reeban specifically.” She patted the unit at her hip.
    “What is your plan?”
    “We land, take the streaker out and get to the temple as rapidly as possible. Do you know how to drive one?”
    He looked behind them to the transport unit lashed in the back of the battered shuttle. “I have never flown anything like that.”
    “Do you mind if I fly it then?”
    “I am happy to let you take charge of our transport. It will simply be a relief to be back in contact with the surface of Zeering again.”
    It was a relief that he wasn’t going to be insulted by her piloting the streaker. In her time in the Alliance, she had run across few males who insisted on driving and the results were never as good as if she had been behind the controls.
    The com chirped and she opened the line.
    “Incoming shuttle, identify yourself.”
    Sebena drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “This is the landing shuttle out of the mining ship Sheppan, Alliance registration one-oh-two-two-five.”
    There was a pause and then the voice returned. “What is your business on Zeering?”
    “Trading for supplies. The Sheppan suffered an asteroid strike and lost half its food supply. We need proteins and as much vegetation as I can locate.”
    “Acknowledged. Please hold your position.”
    She nodded and winked at Issul as he sat and watched her playacting.
    “Please land at the spaceport. You have zone fifteen for your landing and three days on the surface. I hope you find what you seek.”
    “Thank you. A good day to you.” She disconnected the com and found the beacon that they lit for her. She entered the atmosphere and she could feel Issul vibrating with energy and anticipation. With her head down and hands on the controls, she brought them down into the skies of Zeering.
    Her landing zone was on the far side of the spaceport, but it was still within reasonable distance to the temple. A flicker on the com panel made her smile. She gestured at Issul to keep quiet. They had planted an open-com virus during the first communication.
    She had expected it, many worlds kept close tabs on visitors. Merkil had once come back to the ship fleeing an angry set of Tival parents who had planted a tracker on his ship when he landed. The captain had paid the family for the seduction of their daughters and Merkil had been reprimanded, his pay had been garnished for the remainder of the year.
    Sebena landed them neatly on their assigned spot and rapidly unbuckled her harness before the shuttle had even powered down. Issul followed her lead and in seconds, she was wearing her rifle across her back and straddling the streaker.
    Issul wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, “Ready when you are.”
    She struck the cargo release and the entire back of the mining shuttle cracked in half, opening wide to let them out.
    Sebena breathed deeply to calm herself and throttled the streaker into high. It levitated on a magnetic field and as she moved the controls, they shot forward. The security team that had been heading toward her shuttle froze as she zipped past them. The streaker was a nickname for a magnetically accelerated personal transport. If it was piloted by someone who knew what he or she was doing, it appeared to be nothing more than a streak of colour as it moved.
    Issul’s hold was firm but not crushing. His energy was pulsing through the tight bodysuit that wrapped her from neck to ankle. The dark suit had been Nilia’s suggestion when she heard about the situation Sebena was entering. No sense tangling herself on a baggy mining suit. If she needed to move, she needed to be wearing something more practical. The skin suit was it.
    She watched the temple grow as they got closer. Issul’s hold tightened on her waist and ribs.
    Security forces were organizing in front of