Shielder — A new Science Fiction Romance (Book 1, Shielder Series) Read Online Free PDF

riddled with holes and too large for her feet.
She hadn't been filthy, but she hadn't been clean either. The
decontamination chamber would take care of that problem.
    But it wouldn't eliminate the disruption to
his plans. Chase balled his hands into fists, nagged by misgivings
he had harbored when he first intercepted her distress signal.
Nessa hadn't given him any real cause for concern, but he made it a
point to be suspicious of everyone. Her ship had been stranded
right in his flight path. Coincidence? Or one of Dansan's attempts
to decoy him?
    Not that he'd allow anything—or anyone—to
deter him. Nessa had no weapons, nor could she access his ship
operations. Instinct told him she posed no real threat. Even so,
he'd find out everything he could about her. He'd watch her every
move until he left her at Star Base Intrepid, four days away.
    The beep of the subspace transceiver drew
his attention. He punched the com pad. "State your message."
    "You were supposed to contact me at 1500
hours, McKnight. Sudden memory lapse, old man?"
    Blazing hells. Taking care of Nessa, he'd
forgotten about Sabin, the one person who'd never let him slide. "A
small delay, Travers. I've got Nathan Long. Caught him stowed away
on a freighter headed for the Verante constellation."
    "Well, son of an Antek. Long's been evading
capture for as long as I can remember. How'd you get a fix on
him?"
    "Let's just say he double-crossed one of his
closest associates, who was only too willing to disclose Long's
location."
    "I've got a lead on a max-level offender in
Alta's sector. A lot of reward miterons riding on this one. Since
I'll be traveling near the prison base, I can take Long and turn
him in," Sabin offered. "Where do you want to hook up?"
    "I heard Dansan's been spotted on Saron. I'm
headed there now, but I'm two days out." Good thing Nessa was in
decon, Chase thought. She wouldn't appreciate the delay in their
flight schedule.
    "You've had more false leads on Dansan than
Alta has moons. You never give up, do you?"
    The ever-present pain and hatred spilled
from Chase's soul. No, he'd never give up. Although well aware of
his obsession with Dansan, Sabin had no inkling of Chase's real
reason for pursuit. Chase intended to keep it that way. His partner
might not buy the explanations, but he knew when to mind his own
business. "You know how it is, Travers. I could use the
miterons."
    "Okay, where are you headed after
Saron?"
    "Star Base Intrepid. I have to deliver
something."
    "Intrepid. That would work. I can pick up
more supplies while I'm there,” Sabin said. “But it will have to be
fast, so I can get to Alta. Can't let some other shadower get my
quarry and collect all those miterons."
    "Intrepid it is, then. I'll need a day on
Saron, so give me five days. Contact me before you enter the star
base orbit and I'll transmit my coordinates. Signing off." Chase
disconnected the signal, then returned to the decon viewer.
    He studied Nessa critically. She'd told him
she was twenty-two seasons of age. She was little for an adult
female, and way too thin. With her narrow hips and small breasts,
she could even be mistaken for a boy, dressed in the right
clothing. How long since she'd had enough to eat? he wondered. The
scanty supply of food she'd brought with her wouldn't feed a child
for a week.
    The strong pull to come to her aid irritated
him. He didn't have time to be concerned over the fate of one
bedraggled waif and her mangy lanrax. Not when the annihilation of
an entire clan cried out for revenge. With a disgusted grunt, Chase
turned off the viewer. The sooner he got rid of his passenger, the
better.
    Just one quick stop first.
     
    * * * *
     
    "You are not permitted access to any part of
this ship, other than your quarters and the galley. You may enter
the cockpit only with my permission. You're forbidden to talk to
any prisoners I'm transporting."
    Nessa nodded, unable to look away from
McKnight's eyes. They glinted like magnasteel, taking on