Scorcher Read Online Free PDF Page A

slices. The blade had cut to the bone on several of his limbs and he was bleeding out. Trembling with effort, Sarah calmed herself and then did something that she never did in front of witnesses, she flamed her hands. She increased the level of heat until it was white hot and then laid her fingers in the wounds. Athon’s scream tore her heart apart, but she had to continue. One by one, she burned each gaping injury until his blood stopped oozing out of the wounds. She reduced the heat and clenched her hands in her lap the instant that the flames died out.
    The medics had arrived during her treatment of his wounds and were standing by until it was safe.
    She backed away. “He’s all yours. I hope you have a burn ward on the ship.”
    “He will be tanked until he is healed. It will reduce the scarring considerably.” The medic loaded him onto a gurney and moved him to the med bay shuttle. Her beloved Athon was gone in seconds.
    One of the ship’s crew came up to her with a timid look. “You are the scorcher, Sarah Anders?”
    She sighed heavily. She and the other pyros in her class hated that term. “I am Sarah Anders.”
    “Captain Lannick is looking forward to meeting you. Please come with me.” He gave her a snappy salute and managed the feat of not staring at her in the remains of the little slave girl outfit she was wearing.
    Wincing at the feel of blood and sand beneath her feet, she walked at a steady pace to the shuttle that he indicated. “This isn’t an Alliance shuttle.”
    “No, it is one of the Nyal Imperium shuttles. The government of Danyo was concerned when you did not arrive and outraged when they found out where you had been taken. They are eager for you to begin your work.”
    Her work. Of course. Until she cleansed the planet of bacteria, they would be unable to repopulate it. No wonder they had finally sent a team to this backwater planet. They needed their portable crematorium. She took her seat and buckled in, wincing at the cold press of metal against the parts of her that were still naked. The shuttle ride was short and standard, but debarking was anything but.
    An honour guard had been posted at the door and now they snapped to attention as she approached the opening. Her pitiful excuse for a skirt snagged on her way down, flashing a lot more thigh than she would have normally been comfortable with, but she was too stunned to care. Three rows of personnel were there to greet her, the pinnacle of the lines had to be the captain.
    “Sarah Anders. We are glad that we found you. The pressure to locate a valuable Alliance asset has weighed heavily upon us. We are delighted to be the ones to bring you to Danyo.”
    She padded carefully across the deck, keeping her feet intact. “Thank you for the belated rescue, do you have any word on the arena fighter that was injured?”
    The Captain, and she had to be the Captain, looked to her aide and raised one eyebrow.
    Sarah almost stopped short. The Captain was a Dhemon. In Nyal space. That was exceptionally odd.
    “I will check on that for you, Captain.” He snapped off a salute and ran off.
    “I will have an answer for you shortly.  I am Captain Lannick and you will be given the VIP quarters until we arrive at Danyo.” The captain turned and led the way down a lightly illuminated hallway. “We will find you more suitable clothing and you will be able to wash off the blood.”
    That almost made her faint. Sarah had forgotten that she was covered with Athon’s blood. “I really hope that Athon is all right.” Her escort stopped her cold and slammed her against the wall.
    “What? Did you say Athon?”
    “Ow. Yes. Athon Kellan. He was fighting for me so that I wouldn’t be given to that other bloody barbarian. He was very badly injured. He is the one I was asking about. He’s in your sickbay.”
    “Son of a bitch.” The captain bolted down the hall, leaving the two bewildered crewmen to escort her to the VIP quarters.
    She was unsurprised