Wrath of the Void Strider Read Online Free

she cast a woeful look back at Zerki.  Mustering her determination, Kendra vanished into the corridor beyond.  
    Zerki sat alone in the mess hall, listening to the echoes of her cook’s whistled tunes. 
    In time, she got to her feet and made her way along brightly lit corridors to the dimmer confines of the cargo junction.  It was a long passage that ran under several operators’ compartments, alongside six enormous cargo modules.  A handful of widely spaced portholes gazed out upon an ocean of stars, kissed by the crescent of Afskya’s blue corona.  She paused at one in particular, near the bulkhead leading into the command module, and for a moment gazed upon the scintillating firmament.
    Behind her, the bulkhead hissed open, and one of her crewmen said, “Captain.”
    She nodded in response, her back to him as she tended her thoughts.  “Cajun,” she answered at last, but he was too far along the passage to hear over the constant thrum of the star freighter’s engines.  With pursed lips, she drew a deep breath and tore herself free of the view.  The bulkhead slid open at her approach, and she returned to brightly lit corridors.
    Several strides later, she boarded the command lift.  Its doors met with a whisper, enclosing the cozy cylindrical compartment.  Brilliant point lights shone down from overhead, and bands of soft blue traced the midpoint of the stark white elevator car.  Zerki tapped the button second from the top, and it lit up green.  A moment passed, and she stepped onto the command deck.
    “Captain is on the bridge,” Jackson Collins announced, and he nodded toward Zerki.  “Ma’am.”  He was ruggedly handsome, with dark hair and dark eyes.  He wore stylish boots, beige pants and a brick red shirt under a long, leather jacket.
    “Thanks, Collins.”  Looking to her first mate, she said, “Val, we have a bit of a situation.”
    “Kendra quit.”  She puffed her cheeks.  “Yeah, I heard.”  Valerie Sawyer was shapely and tall, with ice blue eyes and steeply bobbed, carnation pink hair.  Her boots, pants and blouse were black, and she wore a small silver cross on a silver chain.  “I’ve already reached out to a few agencies.”  She smiled slightly.  “Just waiting to hear back.”
    “Thanks.  It’s appreciated.”  Exhaling heavily, she plopped down in her captain’s chair.  “This could be our biggest job yet, but the timing is critical.”  She shook her head and leaned over on her hands.  “Val, put an extra 4,000 on the table.  Maybe that’ll turn some wheels a little faster.”
    “Done.”  Valerie raised her brows.  “Captain, what’s the job?”
    “I can’t say.  Not yet.  I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up until it’s confirmed.”
    With a frustrated laugh, Valerie tapped the side of her head.  “One day, you’ll have to tell me how you’re able to block me like that.”
    Zerki was distant.  “Maybe one day.”  A quiet moment passed as she took in her starship’s bridge.  It was compact, with sturdy chairs and broad rails.  Grated stairs led down to the helm and ship’s operations.  The first mate’s, communications, tactical and jump rig stations surrounded the captain’s rise from behind.  A wide view screen spanned the forward extent of the deck, framed by a plate sapphire canopy.
    “Mind if I ask where we’re going?” asked Collins.
    “Ixion System, but we need to be there in ten hours.”
    His eyes widened.  “That’s highly unlikely to happen, Captain.  Even if someone got back to us right now, unless they’re willing to expedite, we’d—”
    “Five Star Navigators just responded to the ad,” Valerie announced.  “They’re willing to expedite.”
    Zerki glanced sidelong at Collins.  “You were saying?”
    He laughed jovially.  “You lead a blessed life, Captain.”
    Valerie looked relieved.  “Wonderful!  They’re also willing to…  Willing to… uh, hold on.”  Suddenly doubling over,