Omega Force 7: Redemption Read Online Free Page A

positive to come from it all," Doc said, nodding to Jason one more time before stepping aside to speak with Lucky. Not really having anything else to do, nor a desire to talk to anyone, Jason descended the steps from the deck to the beach and began walking along in a generally southward direction, trying to blank his mind. When the walk didn't do it, he found a small cantina near the docks where the fishing vessels operated out of that had a lively crowd and a loud band playing. Two hundred and fifty credits later and he had successfully purged his mind of all uncomfortable thoughts and memories.

Chapter 4
     
    Jason stood on the back deck, still in his clothes from the previous evening, and watched the surf as he sipped on a mug of tea. Chroot was prohibitively expensive on S'tora, as were most imported goods, and he had not bothered to purchase a food synthesizer. Instead, he decided to subsist entirely on the local fare. It wasn't much of a loss as he'd never been all that fond of chroot; it was just the next best thing to actual coffee. Since neither was an option on his new home he adapted to the local custom and drank a few mugs of high-potency tea each morning.
    "Good morning," a voice said from behind him. He turned and stared in slack-jawed horror as Kalette walked out of the house ... wearing one of his shirts.
    "What ... how ... why are ... did we?"
    "Excuse me?" she said, clearly confused and looking at Jason in the concerned manner one might adopt when trying to speak to a victim as they were having a stroke. "I apologize if I've startled you. Lucky told me I could stay last night. I do not fully trust Crisstof Dalton or know how he is gaining his information about my situation. He also gave me one of your shirts since I have no clothing of my own with me."
    "I see," Jason said, both relieved and irritated simultaneously. Maybe I should have just let him keep calling me Captain. It might have cut down on his making decisions that annoy me. "You did startle me, but I'm fine now. Please, have a seat."
    "Thank you, Jason Burke," she said, curling up gracefully on one of the overstuffed deck chairs.
    "So ... there were a lot of holes in that story you told us last night," Jason remarked, sitting on the deck railing.
    "Yes," she said without hesitation. "As I said, I do not trust that Crisstof Dalton has conveniently come to this planet at the exact instant I needed him to. So I provided just enough truth to be able to stop the story at a place of my choosing."
    "So why trust me with even that much information now?"
    "I had a long conversation with Lucky last night after you left to inebriate yourself," Kalette said in an offhand manner that embarrassed Jason somewhat. Was he really that predictable now? "I asked him of this ‘Omega Force’ Jorvren Ma'Fredich had mentioned last night and if they might be able to help me. He told me they didn't exist anymore."
    "That doesn't answer my question," Jason said.
    "I will eventually have to trust someone," Kalette said with a sigh. "If you and he were really once as he described then maybe you could help me get in touch with my people. I fear all others I have encountered have ulterior motives."
    "You're probably not wrong there," Jason said with a nod, finishing off his tea with a slight grimace. The stuff was quite disgusting as it came closer to room temperature. "Although I would be careful about whom you get in touch with within the Empire."
    "Why?" she asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. It was a very human-like expression that Jason found adorable on her face. He shook his head to clear away unhelpful thoughts before continuing.
    "From the little information you provided last night I would bet heavily that this is an inside job," he said. "The likelihood of someone from within ConFed space sneaking all the way into your territory, and then following along behind you to all the different Avarian-held worlds ... it just doesn't scan. But, someone within your