Fractured Mind Episode One (A Galactic Coalition Academy Series) Read Online Free Page A

pitched forward, heart pounding
in his chest as he shunted into a sprint.
    He flew down the grassy incline.
    “Kiros!”
    No reply.
    It was a good 30 minute trek to the
settlement below.
    Karax lost all track of time as he flew down
the peak, sprinting so fast over the grass, the tread of his
hand-me-down boots dug it up, clumps of dirt scattering around
him.
    He kept calling Kiros' name, kept bellowing
at his brother to reply.
    Karax never made it to the settlement.
    Half way there, he came across a Barbarian
warrior pushing through the undergrowth.
    The guy was huge – easily three times
Karax's size.
    He was also wearing armor. It covered his
broad chest, his legs, even his arms and fists. Only his head was
unadorned. It meant Karax could see the warrior's yellowed,
pin-prick eyes as they focused on him.
    The Barbarian pulled back its red lips to
reveal its slobbery tusks.
    It didn't say a word. It reached for the
massive carved knife held in the holster by its side.
    Karax's mind stopped, frozen still with
fear.
    The Barbarian laughed, twisted the knife
around in its grip, and threw it at Karax.
    At that exact moment Kiros shot through the
undergrowth, wrapped an arm around Karax, and pushed him out of the
way.
    The blade sank into Kiros' back. It was so
long and thrown with such force, that the tip of the blade sliced
right through Kiros' chest and snagged Karax's tunic.
    Karax screamed. One long, desperate,
terrified bellow that tore from his throat as his brother died in
his arms.
    The Barbarian didn't waste any time. It
pushed towards Karax, a smile curling around its fat, veiny
lips.
    Karax waited to be killed, his mind crawling
to a stop as his brother's body twitched.
    The Barbarian reached him, and loomed above
him like a sudden plume of smoke that had blocked out the sun.
    Without a word, it leant down and plucked
the blade from Kiros' back.
    The sound of it ripping through Kiros'
muscle and bones was the most sickening thing Karax had ever
heard.
    The Barbarian considered Karax for one more
second, then lurched towards his throat—
    ...
    Lieutenant Karax
    Karax awoke with a snap, sweaty fingers
scrabbling over the edge of his medical bed.
    “Whoa,” someone locked a firm hand on his
back, “Relax there, lieutenant. It seems you had a bad reaction to
that anesthetic. It's okay now. It's all okay.”
    Karax concentrated on Wallace's voice,
letting it pull him back to reality.
    With one final chest-punching sigh, he
settled his mind.
    And his heart.
    “... You okay there, lieutenant?”
    “Yeah.” Karax pushed up. He glanced down to
see most of his front was covered in sweat.
    Wallace's gaze flashed with concern. “Sorry
about that – seems you're one of the 1 in 1,000,000 who can't
tolerate that kind of anesthetic. I've given you something to flush
it from your system. You'll be alright soon.”
    Karax responded by jumping up and
standing.
    Wallace put out a hand.
    Karax didn't need it.
    With another grounding breath, Karax tugged
down his tunic, neatening it as best as he could, and nodded. “I
feel fine now, doctor.” He experimentally shifted his shoulders out
and arched his back. “Have you fixed my spine?”
    “Kind of. It'll need more work. I want you
back in here tomorrow, you got that?”
    Karax didn't say anything as he tried to
surreptitiously wipe the sweat from his brow.
    “You want to do your job, lieutenant, then
you have to look after yourself. It's not a luxury – it's a
requirement. It's also an order,” Wallace said curtly, gaze
flashing.
    “Fine. But I probably won't be able to make
it tomorrow. That's when the summit's booked.”
    Wallace's once direct stare flared with
curiosity. “Summit?”
    Karax laughed at himself as he shook his
head. “Ha, I guess you're right, doc – your patients do tell you
too much. I shouldn't have mentioned that. I trust you'll be
discrete about it.”
    “It depends what it's about. This isn't to
do with the Ornax, is it?”
    Karax chose not