Bounty Hunter

Chapter 18

The only familiar word I catch is Anson. "What is she saying?" I ask quizzically. In answer, Kahari raises a hand to silence me. He polishes off the rest of his food and then rises.

"That was a report on Anson. According to the Dali news the Aurean government they have reason to believe Anson will be coming to Aurea soon."

"Why would he come to Aurea?"

"There are talks of him and the queen meeting for peace negotiations," Kahari explains.

"Is that really a good idea? To negotiate with someone like Anson? "

"Negotiating with a terrorist like him is never a good idea. But the Alliance is gaining control over the entire Vallian galaxy. Negotiating seems to be the only option available." Any further conversation is interrupted by a sudden jolt.

I grab onto the wall to steady myself. "What was that?!" I ask. Another slight tremor shakes through the ship disrupting my balance. The sound of an electronic voice emits from a nearby speaker. "All passengers proceed to the front of the ship and fasten your restraints. An oncoming asteroid storm is approaching." Terror grips me as the ship continues to shake. I run ahead without waiting for Kahari.

"Hurry up!" I yell. I pull myself up through the trap door. Then I swing myself back into the seat and the seatbelt straps over me. Kahari follows closely behind and jumps into the copilot seat. I quickly glance out the window to see an onslaught of rocks coated in ice. The asteroids fly past our ship threateningly. The belt of rocks rotate in an assault against the ship. It's as if pieces of the moon had been ripped off. Their orbit around the Earth has been exchanged for one around our ship. Kai reaches over to the dashboard and taps a series of buttons. "You're just in time," Kai notes. The vessel is turned upside down as it weaves through the storm. The sudden motion causes my stomach to drop. My hands immediately fly to grab the belts strapped across me. A violent scream rips from throat. "Hang on!" Kai hollers.

"Force fields activating," Lena announces. The ship rights itself again and darts in and out to avoid collision. My breath comes out in pants.

"If you get me killed I swear I will haunt you in the afterlife!" I shriek at Kai. I look over to Kahari who to my surprise appears to be laughing. "This isn't funny! We're going to die!" I sob.

"Calm down we're not going to die. I've been through plenty of these little storms," Kai says. "The key to evading the storm is navigation," he explains. Then he jerks the wheel causing the ship to flip sideways. His speedy evasion manages to save us from a giant asteroid plummeting towards us. Kahari glances back at me.

"Relax. Kai has dealt with his fair share of asteroid storms," Kahari says with a chuckle. I shake my head in fear.

"Are those force fields on!?" I ask. Gizmo lets out a sharp bark in answer to my question.

"That's a yes," Kahari translates. A small groan rumbles from my mouth.

"What happened to the molecule technology? You said it prevents us from feeling the speed of the ship!" I cry.

"That only applies to the speed. I never said anything about sudden motions," Kai says. With that explanation he steers the craft in another looping maneuver. The raging spiral of rocks flying outside of the window spurs a jump in my heartbeat. Their jagged edges are sharp enough to pierce the glass. The entire time I struggle to breathe as I pray for this ordeal to end. Finally, the sharp movements cease and I have the courage to check the window. The chain of rocks and debris seems to have disappeared. The view has returned to the calm blue smattered with gas particles. The tight muscles in my hands release and my chest relaxes. Kai looks back at me. "I told you we weren't going to die," he says with a smirk.