“Space debris.”
Gweneth froze, her gaze on the swirling mass of color outside the ship.“Where did it come from?”
“Maybe a crash or cargo dumped on purpose.Any number of sources.Known debris fields are marked on the star maps.”
“But not this one?”
“No.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Strap in,” he ordered as the ship began to buck.“These things are unpredictable.I’ve heard rumors of people creating them on purpose and designing them to disable ships.”
“Space pirates?”
“Yes.Put on the harness.”
Gweneth did as he asked, her eyes widening as the red dust thickened until it obscured vision.The entire ship shuddered and whined, dropping without warning.The pelt and shriek of objects striking the hull became a litany.Bang.Bang.Bang.Thump.
She dug her fingers into her thighs and bit her bottom lip to stem her anxiety.Ellard needed to concentrate.Her hysterics wouldn’t help.The ship’s warning siren continued, the strident whine louder than the cacophony of the storm outside.
“Shiloh told me the ship was serviced five cycles ago, and he took it for a test run.”
“He did.Jannike went with him.”
“The ship’s not responding.”
Gweneth scanned the instruments and saw the readings were wrong.She peered through the window port.She couldn’t see much.An object the size of a hand struck the viewport, and she instinctively ducked.The entire time, the siren blared.
“Can’t see a damn thing.You?”
“No…wait!Go to the left.The dust isn’t as thick.”
Ellard grunted, fighting the steering.“Controls are sluggish.Shiloh needs to sack their ship mechanics.”
Another chunk flung against the viewport, a scatter of smaller items.Each time an object hurled against the viewport, she wondered if it would hold.
“Keep going left,” she ordered.
Ellard grunted, forcing the directional stick left.The ship initially responded, and Gweneth’s tension eased free with her breath.Then something struck the undercarriage.Something large since the entire ship groaned.Shuddered.The engine cut, the siren ceased, leaving nothing but an eerie silence punctuated by the strike of fragments.Flashes of light blazed across her retinas.She swallowed, fear writhing to life.
“Are we far from Narenda?”
“No idea.None of the instruments look right.”
Gweneth reached for the communication panel and pushed a button.Static.
She glanced up to see another chunk heading straight for them.She stared at the shiny chunk, her pulse racing.Way too young to die.
Without warning, an explosion boomed around them.Another flash of retina-searing bright light blasted chunk.It veered away, clipping their ship and scooting them to the left.
A shriek escaped her, and she blushed at the girlie squeak.“Um, sorry.Took me by surprise.”
Ellard attempted to restart the ship’s engines.“Phrull it,” He swore at the engine’s cough—three loud barks—before dying again.
“What are we going to do?”
“Pray,” Ellard snapped.
