"Your argument is futile. She should not be on our ship," Isoline hissed.
"How much clearer can I make this? It's not your call!"
"Perhaps we'd all be safer if it was."
"Is that some kind of joke? I don't know how or why you took control of the second
squad on Purple 24, but I'd say you're 0 for 1."
"You fared even worse, even with your years of experience," Isoline said, spitting the
sarcasm out.
"They're both fine, by the way," Lavell piped up.
Elizabeth glanced over, surprised that she was even there.
"Thanks, Lavell," Elizabeth took a deep breath to soothe her tone, "Will Ana make a
full recovery?"
"Flesh wound," Lavell said, nodding.
Isoline pulled Elizabeth back into the line of fire.
"We failed on Purple 24 because we didn't have a plan. You go here, we'll go there?
You need a military mind for tactics. What we are undertaking here is very different
to sticking your hand into a dark hole and hoping you pull something shiny out,"
Isoline said.
"Enough of this!" Forr shouted, "You're clearly working up to a mutiny so I'll say
right now that my vote is behind Elizabeth."
"Mine too. She's our leader," Lavell said.
"And mine," Roka said.
Elizabeth turned to him, surprised by the instant show of support. He gave her a
knowing nod and she offered one back.
Isoline faced Brack, who was already squirming uncomfortably.
"You don't think we should have let this unknown Human on our ship, do you?"
Brack looked at Isoline. He glanced over her shoulder at Elizabeth and Nyomee.
Elizabeth hated what he had been reduced to. Once a charming warrior. Brave and
witty and one of them. But Isoline had torn him up and pasted him back together in
her own image. She had taught him how to dance and now she wanted everyone to
watch.
"It's difficult to judge. We don't really know her yet."
That was not a Brack answer. He used to be decisive. Isoline slammed her hands
down on the table either side of him and stared into his eyes.
"On the other hand, the two we met did try and kill us. Possibly not the wisest
decision to invite the third one into the fold," he said.
"I knew you'd see sense," Isoline said.
Elizabeth grabbed Isoline by the shoulder and hauled her away from Brack. Her fist
burned as it tightened, desperate to connect with Isoline's jaw. Isoline smirked,
daring her. Donovan's voice came over the com speakers, interrupting their fight
YOU ARE READING
Black Hole Heartbeat
Science FictionBlack Hole Heartbeat is Star Wars if the stormtroopers didn't miss all the time. Like Cowboy Bebop meets Butch and Sundance, or Guardians of the Galaxy in the style of Pulp Fiction. Self confessed thief of ill repute, Elizabeth Ranger, runs head fi...
