Nik spotted Solomon lounging in a chair at the back. The young man gave them a nod as they joined him.
“Pretty nice ship,” the young treasure hunter said.
“It is.” Nik sat down. “What lured you onto this hunt, Jonas? You usually prefer working solo.”
Solomon grinned. “The chance to make a name for myself.” He looked back at the busy bridge. “I’m planning to find some awesome old Earth treasures this trip. I’ll be the best treasure hunter in the galaxy.”
Nik stifled a smile. Jesus, the kid made him feel old.
“You have to knock Dathan Phoenix off that perch,” Nera said dryly. “Followed by Niklas and Zayn, not to mention myself.” She crossed her long legs. “You have a way to go yet.”
Solomon’s eyes glinted. “I’ll get there.”
“Great, you made it.” Avril hurried by. “We’re just about to get under way, so strap in.”
“How far to the bridge portal?” Nik asked.
“Not far. Twenty minutes at most.” With a nod, she moved down to talk with some of the crew.
Nik strapped in and noted Nera did the same, although she sat on the edge of her seat, like she was ready to jump up, if required. He wondered if she ever truly relaxed.
“Prepare to take us out, Commander Da’Gon,” the captain said. She was a tall woman with dark skin and curly hair she’d tamed back into a braid. Nik hadn’t met her, but he’d heard good things about her skills as a captain.
Solomon leaned forward. “So, what do you think, Phoenix? You think we’ll really find anything there? On Earth.”
Nik shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not.” But they had to try, had to see for themselves. “And call me Nik.”
Solomon nodded. “I really hope we find something big.” Barely contained excitement flared in his voice.
God, the kid reminded him of a young Dathan, bursting with the need to prove himself. Hell, Nik had been the same—he’d just been better at hiding it. Although he’d dreamed of making a name for himself at the Institute, not as one of the galaxy’s most notorious treasure hunters.
He glanced at Nera, sitting so still, so straight. What had she dreamed of when she was young? And what did she want now?
TheMagellanmoved smoothly away from the space station and soon was cutting through space.
“Bridge portal in visual range,” someone called out.
Nik leaned forward, studying the viewscreen. He spotted a glimmer of silver, just a little bigger than a star. As they flew closer, it grew, until he saw the portal. It looked like a funnel made of shimmering, energetic silver. The large, circular mouth of the portal tapered away to nothing. He knew that it was a natural formation but that markers embedded in the mouth by the Galactic Engineering Division held the portal open and steady for ships to travel through.
Then he noticed the two massive starships flanking the portal. Both bore Institute markings, and were decked out with an impressive array of weapons. He frowned. Obviously, they were protecting their new asset. He really wanted to believe they were ensuring the safety of the galaxy’s history…but he knew better.
The bridge portal loomed above the ship. “This distortion just…appeared?” he asked. “Leading straight to Earth.” It seemed too impossible.
Avril gave him a smile. “Amazing, isn’t it? Here we go.”
Nik noticed Nera gripping the edge of her seat. He leaned over, his voice pitched so only she would hear. “Never crossed a bridge?”
“No.”
“Nothing to worry about.”
“Except if any of these people I don’t know mess up and we end up bridge fodder.”
He patted her hand, pleased when she didn’t shrug him away. “Sometimes a little trust goes a long way.”
She made a noise in the back of her throat and glanced up…just as the ship slipped through the portal and smoothly onto the Sol Bridge.
There was a happy murmur from the bridge crew. The viewscreen showed a steady stream of silver outside the ship, as though they were passing through metallic rain.
