Titan Encounter Read Online Free PDF Page B

again. Then he was bargaining
with Ferren , and Naomi was part of the price. 
Those events faded as earlier events flowed to life.  He was negotiating
to free a family, even earlier giving the father a job.  Next, he was
freeing the man moments after he had been given in payment. In flashes he saw
himself doing the mundane tasks of life, but also giving money and assistance
to others. But he also saw Garrett, who had treated him like a son. The man he
had murdered.
    Days of floating in
an escape pod with Mara flowed backward through his mind until the moment of
his mother’s death rushed into his consciousness. He saw her as if for the
first time dying on the wrong side of the portal. Mara cried beside him. He
shook his head violently. “No!”The sketchpads hit the ground. Pages
floated in the air and spilled across the deck.
    The gun flew from
Naomi’s hand and crumpled like a toy in midair. She stumbled backward, barely
maintaining her footing.
    “I’ve got to go. Out of my way.” He flung his hand to the side as if to sweep her away.
    Naomi flew against the wall.
    He felt her struggle. Somehow his mind held her to the
bulkhead.
    They glanced at the crushed weapon at her feet.
Frantically she resisted his mental grasp.
    Weariness gave way
to exhaustion. “Stop. Stop. Whatever I am, I won’t
hurt you.” His tired arm collapsed to his side.
    She collapsed to her
knees. “You are a Titan?” It was both a statement and a question.
    No. Don’t think so,
but how then did I disarm you, hold you against the bulkhead and nearly
strangle Ferren ? “I didn’t mean to scare you.”He stared at Naomi’s pleading eyes. He sat on one duffle bag with his head
in hands. What am I?
    “It is indeed confusing.  You have powers only the Nephilim or Titans possess…
    Did I ask that out loud?
    “…but you show mercy and kindness.”
    Mercy? Kindness?
    “You set me free and have treated me with kindness. I
had a gun pointed at you, but you did not kill me when you could have.”
    A myriad of thoughts bubbled in the back of his mind. Am
I crazy? How many god-like beings does Naomi know, or think she knows? Is she
crazy? But one idea pushed to the front of his mind. Can she hear my
thoughts?
    Yes, if you wish it.
    No! He shook his head, then grabbed it with both hand. No!
    He felt her mind shut to him like a door slamming
closed.
    I’m crazy. Justin stood. I’m hearing voices. “I need to get to the cargo bay.” The duffle bags hardly moved under the pull
of his tired arms.
    Standing, she said, “I must flee this place also. Please
allow me to accompany you.”
    “Why would you want
to come with us?”
    Frantic words poured
forth. “I am sure Ferren will attempt to kidnap me
again. It is best that I leave before his next attempt.” She looked about. “If
you and Mara are gone, there is no one to hold me to this place. You and Mara
are the only friends I have.”
    It was true, there was nothing for her here. She would surely be
snatched and sold to Ferren’s mystery buyer. Even
without that threat, her youth, beauty, and innocence would lead to her quick
victimization. He looked into her eyes and knew that he did not want to leave
her behind. “Perhaps we can find a safe place for you. Come on,” he said and
moved slowly forward with bags in tow.
    She nodded as he
passed. “Do you need help with that?”
    Exhausted from the
fights, Justin offered her the lighter of the two bags.
    He dragged his bag
into the bay.  Mara had arrived first and, still in her torn and blood
stained dress, wrestled with docking cables.
    Pulling hard on a
cable tie down, she turned and smiled, “You found Naomi!” Looking at the other
woman she asked, “Have you decided he’s not a demigod?”
    “No.”
    Justin frowned at
Naomi then shrugged as he turned back to Mara.
    She yanked the cable
with renewed vigor and it fell to the ground.
    “What is that?”
Naomi tilted her head up with her eyes half closed.
    Justin and