Hotbloods 4: Venturers Read online

  Reaching the reinforced glass gun-pods, which stuck out beneath the belly of the ship like transparent eggs, we sat next to one another, staring out at the debris that floated across the landscape in every direction. The weapons panels lit up, showing the targets that surrounded the vessel. Each one beeped and flashed bright red if it got too close to the ship, much like on the panel Pandora was using.

  “Where the heck did all of this come from?” I asked, staring down at the controls. Five buttons dotted the side of the screen, each holding the key to a different weapon. “And which of these buttons will get rid of it?”

  Navan came over and showed me which button held the symbol for force guns. “It’s hard to say where all this debris came from. It could’ve come from any direction. This stuff could’ve been floating across space for years, but nobody bothers with a cleanup unless it’s in their jurisdiction. Even then, most don’t bother,” he replied grimly, taking up the pod next door and tapping his own force-gun button.

  “Do we just fire?” I wondered, feeling nervous. I had excelled in my fighter-pilot training, but this was a whole different field of weaponry. The ship was bigger, the guns were huge, and there was a lot at stake. Unlike on the training field, where everything was a simulation, there was no restart button here.

  “Yes,” Navan said. His hands moved across the panel, targeting blocks of debris, the pulse of his force gun sending them hurtling away from the vessel. It looked simple enough…

  Looking down at my panel and pretending I was back in the fighter ships, I took a deep breath and told myself to focus. This was no different from how we had practiced back on Vysanthe. Steeling myself, I let my hands do the work, moving deftly across the panel. It was only when I targeted a large chunk of ominous-looking metal that I realized Navan’s button was in a different position from mine. By then, it was too late.

  Without warning, an enormous blast made the Vanquish tremble as a trail of blinding white light shot outward, slicing the chunk of metal clean in two. Everything beyond the ship played out in silence, but I could tell the impact on the metal was huge. A moment later, the two halves veered off, with one jagged shard heading straight for us. Navan scrambled to rectify the situation, his hands darting against the screen, but the metal was too close, and too quick. It was going to hit us, and there was nothing we could do to stop it.

  It collided with the Vanquish head-on, the force of the collision sending me flying forward, straight out of my seat. Had Navan not stuck out his arm to catch me, I would’ve smacked into the solid glass of the pod wall, no doubt breaking my neck in the process.

  “Are you okay?” Navan asked, putting his arm around me.

  I nodded, the air knocked clean out of me. I didn’t get the chance to say anything else, as the sound of thundering boots ricocheted down the hallway behind us. Pandora charged through the underbelly of the ship, her eyes glittering with fury.

  “What are you playing at down here? You almost got us killed!” she snarled, glancing at the control panel. I noticed she didn’t look at Navan while flinging her accusations. It was clear it was my fault this had happened. “You selected the cannons, you idiot! I told you to use force guns!” she shouted, pushing me roughly to one side and sitting down in my seat. Immediately, she set to work, skillfully sending the debris away from the ship, her hands moving expertly.

  “I’ve never used this panel before!” I tried to defend myself, but it fell on deaf ears. She wasn’t interested in what I had to say.

  “Damage report?” Pandora asked, pressing the comms button on the control panel, while the force guns continued to push the debris out of our path.

  Bashrik’s voice crackled through. “Minimal damage. The hull took a beating, but there are no breaches. Guns are operational, engines are operational, shields are operational. It’s just a cosmetic issue. The old girl won’t look as pretty again,” he remarked, offering a tight laugh.

  “Very good. Keep running diagnostics. If anything has been damaged, I want to know about it immediately,” Pandora insisted.

  “Will keep you updated,” Bashrik replied. A click signaled his return to running checks on the ship, the conversation over.

  “Navan, go and help navigate while your brother runs diagnostics,” Pandora instructed, still not looking up from her work.

  “Of course,” he said, flashing me an apologetic glance. I could sense the rage rippling off Pandora in waves, but surely there was something I could do to help? I had made a simple mistake—anyone could have done it. The only problem was, it wasn’t anyone who had done it. It was me. I waited for her to give me something to do, but the words never came.

  Taking me by the hand, Navan led me out of the gun-pod and up to the main deck, where Bashrik was darting between several panels, a frantic look on his face. Ahead, the debris still floated across the vast windshield of the Vanquish, but Pandora’s skillfully placed force blasts were sending each one out of our way, keeping us on a steady course to safety. I hated that I had let the team down. More than that, I hated that she had seen me do it. Undoubtedly, she would have a few savage words with me later, once she had finished saving our skins.

  With the prospect of a verbal lashing glaring like a beacon in my mind, I wondered if getting split apart by a giant shard of metal might be more pleasant after all. At least, that way, I would never have to see the anger and derision in Pandora’s eyes again.

  Standing back, I watched as Navan helped Bashrik on the controls, feeling stupid and useless. Angie and Lauren had finished fixing all the loose items into place, and now they were busy watching the path of the Vanquish as it weaved through the remainder of the debris field. And so, I stood there, doing the same, waiting for the moment when we were out of harm’s way.

  Eventually, the last few pieces of debris disappeared, the rest of it drifting along behind us. As soon as that last chunk vanished into the darkness of space, I heard the ominous sound of heavy boots on the metal walkway once more. It was like hearing the executioner coming toward me.

  Pandora stormed into the cockpit, her furious eyes seeking me out. We might have navigated out of a treacherous path, but I was in deep trouble now.

  Chapter Two

  Did you do that on purpose?” Pandora snarled, the two of us nose-to-nose.

  I grimaced. “Of course not. It was an accident!”

  “If that’s true, then you really are an idiot. You could have gotten us all killed!” she snapped. “I’ve got half a mind to throw you in the isolation chamber for a few hours, see if that jogs your memory on how to function as a soldier!” She muttered the word “useless” over and over again, and my cheeks burned hotter with each repetition.

  The isolation chamber was her favored form of punishment at the moment, knowing it was enough to send a chill up our spines. It was through a narrow door in the farthest part of the ship, similar to a brig. Only, this particular chamber was meant to subdue even the most violent of criminals, by deafening whoever stepped inside with silence. It was eerie, the quiet almost maddening. I’d heard about a room like that on Earth, where the silence was so intense that people could only endure a few minutes inside, but I’d never experienced anything like it, until the first time Pandora forced me into the isolation chamber. One encounter was enough. I didn’t need to go through that again.

  “I really didn’t mean to do it, Pandora. It was a complete accident—a stupid accident, but I know it put us all in danger. As punishment, I’m willing to scrub every part of this ship until it shines,” I said, desperate not to be put in isolation. If I was going to get Pandora to back down, I needed to play the role of obedient soldier and grovel at her booted feet. It irritated me to do that, but I knew I had to.

  Looking around the room, I saw the anger on Angie’s face as she heard the way Pandora was speaking to me. Lauren looked pretty peeved, too, aggressively crossing her arms across her chest. All of us had had enough of Pandora, but there was nothing we could do. Her word was law.
r />   Besides, Pandora was right—I had put the rest of the crew in danger. If that shard of metal had swung a little closer, the jagged part facing the hull, the ship could’ve been torn open, sucking us out into the vacuum of space. Part of me felt like she was being completely unreasonable, considering I had warned her that I was inexperienced with these kinds of guns, but that wasn’t much of an excuse. I should’ve asked, should’ve done more to prevent it from happening. Now, I just had to hope she forgave my stupidity. I would take some menial and painstaking task over suffering through unbearable silence any day.

  I looked to Pandora, hoping I’d shown her I was sufficiently sorry for what I’d done. Unfortunately, she didn’t seem too impressed. Her eyebrow arched, a cold smile creeping onto her lips.

  “No, putting you in there won’t do any good,” she mused. “Perhaps I’ll lock Navan in there, instead. Maybe then you’ll learn from your mistakes.” It was a threat she knew would get to me.

  “Pandora, no!” I said, my eyes widening. “It was my mistake! I’m the only one who should be punished for it. Navan steered the ship, he helped to navigate, and he fired his force guns with no issue whatsoever. Don’t punish him for my stupid error! Punish me instead.”

  She smiled at me, knowing she had pushed the right button. I hated that she knew how to manipulate me, but when it came to Navan, I couldn’t help my reactions. I looked to him apologetically, but he didn’t seem fazed by the idea of spending some time in solitary confinement. His face was calm, a cold look occasionally flicking in Pandora’s direction.

  “If you need to punish me, I’m happy to take Riley’s place,” Navan interjected, offering me a comforting look. I shook my head at him. There was no way I was going to let him go in the isolation chamber instead of me.

  “No, I think we’ll—” She never got to finish her verdict, as a siren pierced the air, signaling an incoming message. A grimace twisted her face, and she turned toward the front of the ship, where a large screen was descending from the ceiling.

  A moment later, it flickered to life, revealing the familiar features of Queen Brisha. I breathed a sigh of relief. Pandora would be occupied for at least a few minutes, her mind distracted from my punishment. Maybe she’d even forget all about it, depending on what the queen had to say. Stepping forward to where Navan stood, I watched Pandora as she glanced up at the screen, greeting her ruler in a pleasant, professional manner. It always amused me to see how easily Pandora shifted from cruel dictator to calm sidekick in a fraction of a second. It was like watching somebody put on a mask, shrouding their true self before my very eyes.

  “What in Rask’s name is going on, Pandora?” Queen Brisha asked tersely, her eyes piercing the screen. “I’ve received an alert that the Vanquish has been hit. Are you in some kind of trouble?” she pressed, though it was clear to me that she was agitated about something more than just the state of the Vanquish. There was a palpable tension in her voice, her teeth grating against the flesh of her lower lip.

  “Nothing to be alarmed about, Your Highness. A field of debris came out of nowhere, but we’ve passed through it safely. A stray piece hit the side of the ship, but there’s only a bit of cosmetic damage,” she explained, flashing me a sour look. “There was some trouble working the force guns, but I managed to get everything back under control,” she added, evidently unable to help another sly dig at my expense.

  “Good. I’m glad,” Brisha muttered distractedly, before looking up with sudden apprehension. “How far are you from Zai? Has the debris field knocked you off course?”

  Pandora shook her head. “Not at all, Your Highness. We are following the same course, and are currently two days away from Zai.”

  Brisha inhaled sharply. “Two days? Are the engines at full speed?” she asked, a glint of fear in her eyes.

  “They are, Your Highness. This ship isn’t exactly new, but she’s going as fast as she can,” Pandora replied evenly.

  “Can you go any faster?” Brisha pressed.

  Pandora frowned. “If we push them any harder, the engines will become unstable. The whole ship could crumble apart under the pressure.”

  The queen sighed heavily. “Very well, then you must make up as much time as you can when you reach Zai,” she instructed. “As soon as you’ve landed, you must hurry in your mission to obtain the Draconian blood. We need it back here as soon as possible so we can get on with creating the immortality elixir. Things have taken a turn for the worse in your absence, and we need to get a move on if we are to regain our advantage,” she said solemnly, her voice tight with nerves.

  “A turn for the worse, Your Highness?” I asked, getting a nasty look from Pandora in the process.

  Brisha nodded. “My sister has already attempted two counterattacks, which we only barely managed to thwart, thanks to a team I had stationed at the barrier. It would seem the destruction of the Observatory hasn’t exactly left her in the most peaceful of moods,” she said wryly, knowing she was to blame for that. I’d thought it had been the reaction she’d been after, but that no longer seemed to be the case. “I knew she would retaliate, of course, but I didn’t think she would come back with such a vengeance… and so soon. She’s like an ice-hound, nipping at my heels. Two attacks already, and I fear there will only be more on the way.” She sighed.

  “Do you think war is on the horizon, Your Highness?” Pandora asked, a strangely pleased expression on her face. If the two sisters fell into all-out war with one another, that left the path open for Orion and his rebels to strike. I could see that exact thought bristling beneath the surface of Pandora’s warped mind.

  “Once one of us declares it officially, that will be it—the North and the South will be at war with one another,” Queen Brisha murmured, her eyes glazing over in thought. “I don’t want my hand to be forced to start it, but with my sister’s new ships, and her impending attacks… I don’t see how it can be avoided. The moment is coming; I can feel it in my bones.” A defiant look passed across her face.

  “Did you manage to send scouts to the hangar, Your Highness?” Navan asked, ignoring another one of Pandora’s warning glances. A smile tugged at my lips as our eyes met. I’d been about to ask that exact question.

  Brisha shook her head. “With my sister’s attacks, there has been no opportunity to do so. Her fleet is in one piece, no doubt preparing to strike my nation and my people,” she muttered grimly. “This is why I fear it must be my voice that declares war first. I won’t leave my citizens vulnerable. I would rather take the fight to my sister’s door, instead of waiting for her to strike my people down. At least if they are prepared for a fight, we can’t be taken by surprise,” she continued, resolve in her voice.

  “You must do whatever you think is best, Your Highness,” Pandora replied. “Queen Gianne must not be allowed to win this battle.”

  “I will send further word in the coming days, updating you on proceedings. If I am to declare war, you will know about it, though it may mean you’ll need to speed your course for home upon obtaining the Draconian blood,” Brisha said. Her gaze fixed on me. “And how are you and your Kryptonian friends faring on the long journey, Riley? I know you aren’t accustomed to space travel. Is everything to your liking?” she asked, her tone softening. After I had nearly blown up her generators, she was being surprisingly kind to me, to the point where I wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or wary.

  I smiled. “It’s been fine so far, Your Highness, though I’m not too fond of that isolation chamber you’ve got on this gunship,” I replied, innocently enough. “I don’t know if it’s my fragile Kryptonian ears, but that place is enough to send a person insane.”

  A frown of bemusement settled on Brisha’s brow. “The isolation chamber? Whatever have you been doing in there?”

  “Pandora keeps putting us in it. She told us it’s standard procedure for any infractions, such as dozing off on scrubbing duty or failing to change the roll,” Angie said, playing ignorant. I struggled not to smirk, knowin
g we were doing ourselves no favors by pissing Pandora off, but it felt good to watch her squirm for once.

  “Sadly, I was guilty of not making my bed properly. I’ve never been able to get the hang of it,” Lauren added, her face deadpan.

  “For me, it was leaving a mug out without a coaster,” I chimed in solemnly.

  Brisha looked at me, aghast. “Pandora? What is the meaning of this?”

  “The Kryptonians are mistaken,” Pandora insisted. “I only sent them in there because they were complaining that they couldn’t sleep, due to the noise of the engines. I figured that was the quietest place on the ship, but I forgot to tell them not to close the door. It was a simple misunderstanding, Your Highness, nothing more. I did tell them that’s where we tend to put people if they cross the line, but I was joking when I said it was for every minor infraction. They’re just not used to my humor yet.” She plastered a grin on her face.

  Brisha didn’t look entirely convinced, but I had a feeling she had more pressing matters to attend to than dealing with the power struggle aboard the Vanquish. With a weary shrug, she glanced from me to Pandora, and back again.

  “If I hear that you have been using the isolation chamber for anything other than dangerous insubordination or mutiny, I will be forced to take action, Pandora,” she warned. “The Kryptonians and our coldblood brethren are on our side. They are not prisoners—do not treat them as such,” she added sternly. “Now, I must be off. Keep to the mission, and be swift in its execution. I will check in again soon.” With that, the screen crackled, and she was gone.

  As soon as she disappeared, I knew I would feel Pandora’s wrath again. Still, it had been worth it to hear her make up that story on the spot, her brow glistening with sweat. Just the thought of it brought a smile to my face.