Planet of Ice (The Broken Stars Book 2) Read online

"Depends who you ask," Kort said without looking up from his checks. "Some say it does, but there're scientists who believe the universe is actually curved."

  "Really?" Max blinked several times, trying to imagine such a thing. "What's on the other side?"

  "Someone smarter than me would have to answer that."

  "Hmm. So . . . which do you believe?" Max asked.

  "Jeez, I don't know, kid." Kort pressed a finger against his chin. "All I can tell you for sure is that once upon a time, ancient human explorers believed the Earth was flat, and look how wrong they were. Maybe it's a question that can't be answered for another couple hundred years or so. If ever."

  Delta walked into the cockpit and plopped down into the co-pilot's chair, her feet up on the console, arms folded across her stomach. She inhaled a deep breath, and sighed. "This is so boring! Where is this place, anyway?"

  "Boring?" Max arched an eyebrow. "How can you be bored when the view is this amazing?"

  "Seen one star, you've seen ‘em all," Delta said.

  Kort flicked his finger against the sensor screen, and tinkered with the contrast dial.

  "Come on, Delta," Max said. "The Alna System is still a long ways off, so let's try to make the best of it."

  "Sight-seeing and history lessons?" Delta harrumphed. "No thanks."

  "Okay, how about something else?" Max said. "What about a game of Twiz?"

  "Can't." Delta examined the ends of her long, purple-dyed hair. "Juke took the deck of cards with him."

  "Oh, right."

  Kort frowned. He felt the screws around the sensor panel, finding them all tightened.

  "We could wake Kirby up and see if he has any ideas?" Max suggested.

  "Oh, yeah, listening to him babble on and on sounds like a great way to pass the time," Delta said.

  "Well, do you have any ideas?" Max said.

  Kort smacked the sensor screen.

  "Hey! What's up with you today, gramps?" Delta said, frowning at him. "Why do you keep fussing with the monitor? Don't tell me this old rust bucket is falling apart on us now, in the middle of nowhere!"

  "Max, wake Kirby." Kort dipped the cockpit lighting. "For once, that droid is gonna be of use."

  Max knew better than to ask questions. He'd only seen Kort in ‘serious' mode on a handful of occasions, none of them good. Putting his hand behind K1R-B's head, Max dug his fingernails into the seams of a compartment, and popped it open. He pressed two fingers against a rectangular pad and held the position for three seconds. K1R-B's ocular LEDs lit up and flickered a few times before coming online.

  "Oh!” K1R-B said. “Have we reached the Alna System already?"

  "Not quite." Max closed the compartment door. "Kort needs you."

  "It's dark in here." K1R-B surveyed the cockpit. "We didn't fly into a black hole did we? I knew we should never have let Delta pilot the ship . . ."

  Delta clenched her first and shot K1R-B a dirty look.

  "Relax," Kort said. "Can you run a diagnostic on the Maiden for me?"

  "Certainly." K1R-B stood up. "Am I looking for anything in particular?"

  "Nah, could be nothing." Kort shifted his eyes back and forth between the front window and sensor screen. "Just perform a systems check and let me know if you find anything . . . fishy."

  K1R-B opened a panel on its chest, discovering a bright red ladybug magnet. "Oh, very funny, Delta."

  Delta spread her arms, feigning innocence.

  K1R-B unspooled a cable from under its chest plate and plugged into the ship's mainframe. The Maiden's console came to life, its bulbs flashing patterns as K1R-B ‘spoke' to it.

  "Talk to me, Kirby," Kort said after he'd given the droid several quiet moments to converse with the ship’s computer.

  "Retrieving a report for you." K1R-B jolted, and steadied itself against the nearest bulkhead. "Diagnostic run time: 17.4 seconds. All systems: online. Fuel levels: 61.2 percent. Core: stabilized. Jump Drive: stabilized. Weapons: stabilized."

  "Is that all?" Kort said.

  "No." K1R-B disconnected its cable from the mainframe, and resealed the plate. "I also completed the first ninety-nine levels of Tetris."

  "Hmm . . ." Kort said, not taking his eye off the sensor screen. "Thanks, Kirby."

  "I'm sensing raised levels of concern in your voice," K1R-B said. "Was there something you wanted me to find?"

  "Yeah, seriously." Delta put her feet down on the floor and swiveled her chair toward Kort. "You gonna tell us what's going on or what? You're acting strange . . . well, stranger than normal, anyway."

  Kort rubbed his face irritably. "Okay. I didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure, but I think we may have picked up a tail."

  After a harrowing escape from the Sjan Imperial Forces' mighty grasp, the last thing anyone wanted to hear about was more trouble. As much as Max hoped they could put their trials and tribulations in their rearview for a while, he knew better – not even bitter defeat would keep the Sjan off their backs for long.

  "What?" Delta leaned in over the monitor. "You need to get your eyes checked. The sweeps have been clear since we left Hantor."

  "Or perhaps you need to learn how a poorly-cloaked craft looks on sensor." Kort poked the screen with a firm finger. "See that shadow right there?"

  Max and K1R-B gathered around the console.

  "I don't see noth – " Delta squinted. "Wait . . . that's odd."

  "Exactly," Kort agreed.

  "I can't see it," Max said. "What am I missing?"

  "Come here." Kort waved Max closer. "You see that ghosting effect the sensor line generates as it sweeps around the grid?"

  "Yeah."

  "Now look when it gets here." Kort rubbed his finger on the lower left section of the screen. "When the line passes this point, watch for a dark blip in the sensor trail. Blink and you'll miss it."

  Max focused, watching the sensor circle the grid several times before the anomaly became visible to him. "Whoa!"

  Kort nodded grimly. "It's an old trick I picked up years ago. Wouldn't work with younger ships, and more modern equipment. I tell you, there are times I'm glad this tub is as old as she is."

  "So, uh, what do we do?" Delta asked.

  "Kirby," Kort said. "How long to spool the Jump Drive before we can use it?"

  "The Maiden's energy levels are optimal. Five minutes?"

  "Good." Kort licked his lips. "Chances are this creep has no idea he's been spotted. If we can stall long enough to prime the Jump Drive, we should be able to get out of here without incident."

  "Sounds like a plan," Delta said.

  "Alright, Kirby." Kort turned his chair to face the droid. "I'm going to keep an eye on our guest. Spool the Jump Drive."

  "I shall see to it immediately," K1R-B said.

  "Anything I can do?" Max said.

  "Just sit tight." Kort returned to the console. "Delta, watch that blip and tell me if anything changes."

  Delta strapped into her seat. "Roger!"

  K1R-B pressed a button above the engineering station. A flat-panel monitor and keyboard slid out from a compartment in the wall. K1R-B's digits clacked on the keyboard, entering a series of commands with blazing speed. "Drive priming has begun. T-minus four minutes, fifty-seven seconds until Jump."

  "Better have a look at this," Delta said, pointing at the screen. "We've got movement."

  Kort pushed up his long sleeves. "I was afraid of that."

  Max cupped his hands against the glass and looked outside. The cockpit shook with great force, knocking Max onto his backside. K1R-B dashed over and helped him to his feet.

  "Are you okay?"

  "Yeah, thanks," Max said.

  The whole ship shook again.

  "What was that?" Delta asked.

  "Our friend out there must have us on thermal." Kort checked the ship's gauges – all stable. "Probably noticed the heat change below deck and figured out what we're up to. Hang tight, kid. This may get bumpy."

  Max belted himself into his
chair as another hit rocked the Fair Maiden. K1R-B performed a quick scan of the ship's systems. "Superficial damage only."

  "Just a shot across the bow so we don't forget they're there I reckon," Kort said. "Delta, get our shields up."

  "But, Kort . . ." K1R-B said. "Diverting power to shields will delay the Jump Drive."

  "Yeah, well, if the Maiden gets turned into Swiss cheese, a Jump Drive won't matter, will it?" Kort looked at Delta. "Do it."

  Delta flipped up all the toggles on a control panel to her right. The cockpit hummed as energy pulsed through the Maiden's shield emitters, generating a protective coating around the ship.

  "Eight minutes, thirty-two seconds till Jump," K1R-B reported.

  A series of blasts pounded the Maiden's shield, rocking the ship. Max squeezed the chair's armrests as the cockpit shook around him.

  "Don't you be getting nervous back there, flyboy," Delta said without looking.

  How does she always do that? Max wondered.

  Another round of fire pummeled the ship, jostling the crew once again.

  "Shields holding at seventy-two percent," K1R-B shouted.

  "Seventy-two percent already?" Kort veered the Maiden to the right. "That fighter is packing some serious firepower. We're a sitting duck out here."

  "Suggestions, old man?" Delta asked.

  "Hey, kid?" Kort looked over his shoulder at Max. "I think it's time for a little target practice. Those upgrades I took the liberty of having the Maiden outfitted with after our last run-in with the Sjan are just waiting to be tested."

  "My pleasure." Max unlatched his safety harness and climbed the ladder to the brand-new gunnery chair, which controlled a cannon on top of the ship. He cinched his hands around the controls, and lowered the targeting visor.

  "Remember, he's cloaked, so look for anything out of the ordinary," Kort yelled up to him.

  "Out of the ordinary . . ." Max mumbled under his breath. He inspected the heads-up display's neon blue, hexagonal grid. A blurry mass at their flank distorted his view of the stars, making them appear as though under water. "There!"

  Before Max could lock on to his target, the enemy ship opened fire, pelting the Maiden with a barrage of energy bolts. The cockpit lights stuttered, died, and changed color, bathing the crew in bright red light.

  "Shields holding at forty-nine percent," K1R-B noted. "Six minutes, four seconds till Jump."

  "How we looking up there, kid?" Kort asked.

  Max weaved the aiming reticule around the grid, attempting to find his target. "There!" Max pulled the trigger. A ball of yellow electricity formed around the mouth of the cannon, and shot out in a straight line – so powerful, Max felt the heat against his cheek.

  The blast struck the invisible fighter, disabling its cloaking device. The attacking ship's features came into sight: a two-passenger cockpit; slender, gunmetal frame; blood-red stripes spanning the length of downward-curving wings, and armed to the teeth with cannons.

  "Whoa . . ." Delta's jaw dropped. "That thing looks like a metal dragon!"

  "Nice shot, kid!" Kort said. "Now that we can see it, he's bound to be irked, and I for one am not interested in learning the full capabilities of that ship. Press AUXILIARY THREE."

  Max complied. Mechanical sounds followed as the ship loaded alternate weaponry into the cannon. He lined up his shot and opened fire, releasing stiletto lasers toward the enemy fighter. The ship barrel-rolled to avoid the attack, and returned fire, breaching the Maiden's shields.

  An explosion tore a hole in the Maiden's side.

  "Damage report!" Kort shouted.

  "Small tear in the docking ring," K1R-B replied. "I'd recommend against repairs at this time."

  "Docking ring?" Kort said to no one.

  "What's wrong?" Delta asked.

  "All that effort to penetrate our shields just to attack our docking ring?" Kort scratched his head. "Doesn't make any sense."

  Delta shrugged her shoulders.

  "T-minus ninety seconds to Jump," K1R-B announced.

  Max fired another round of needling blasts, pummeling his target’s exterior. The enemy ship disengaged from combat, drifting out into space. “Yeah!” He raised his fist in celebration. “Got ‘em!”

  "Nice work, kid," Kort called out. "Get back to your seat and prepare for Jump."

  Max disengaged the targeting visor, slid down the ladder to the cockpit, and secured himself in his seat.

  "That goes for you, too, Kirby," Kort said.

  Magnets fell off K1R-B's torso as it scurried to an empty seat beside Max, and attached its safety harness.

  "You ready?" Kort asked Delta.

  She snorted. "Have we just met?"

  Kort laughed. "Prepare to Jump in five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . ."

  The Maiden's Jump Drive roared, shaking the cockpit with intense vigor. The red warning lights faded to black, and with a rising whir, the ship Jumped, leaving behind a bright, white tail in its wake. The stars became blinding white streaks in the glass.

  Once departed, the enemy vessel turned around and limped away in the opposite direction.

  2

  Kort eased off on the throttle, successfully stabilizing the Fair Maiden after the Jump, which can be tricky for even an experienced pilot. He calculated a precise equation on the fly, measuring force and speed. Failing to make a smooth transition from Jump would have devastating effects on a craft, and he knew the dangers all too well. If he maintained Jump speed too long, the ship's bolts and rivets would be ripped clean from the metal and cause the Maiden to fall apart. If he exited Jump too sudden, the pressure would crush the vessel like an aluminum can.

  Kort exhaled, and immediately checked the sensor screen, relieved to find no unusual readings. "We weren’t followed."

  Max felt the gradual decrease in speed, and removed his safety harness. “Of course we weren’t!” He pressed his thumb against his chest. “I blasted that thing to bits. Not even a ‘metal dragon’ is going to slip past me.”

  Delta brushed her hair off her face. "So . . . what was the point of attacking us? I mean, they had us dead to rights, and failed to hit anything critical. How’s that possible?"

  Kort didn't answer.

  "Well, that's it," K1R-B said, unstrapping itself from the chair. "The Jump Drive generator has been depleted. We'll have to give it time to recharge before we can Jump again."

  "Let's hope we won't have to any time soon." Kort flipped down two switches, and pulled down a three-prong lever. "I'll divert all energy back to the Drive to lessen the cool down time, but that means we'll be coasting at a snail's pace for a while."

  Delta sighed. "Great."

  "Hey, I'll have you know the Maiden's thrusters are some of the best around."

  "If you say so, old timer . . ." Delta said, looking away.

  "That's the spirit!" Kort patted her knee. "In the meantime, we'd better patch up the Maiden for the next leg of our trip. Care to give me a hand, Max?"

  "Of course, Uncle Kort."

  Kort unbelted from the pilot's chair and joined Max near the back of the cockpit. He tousled Max's hair and smiled. "Thanks, kid. Figured I could count on you."

  Something inside Delta's yellow and black striped messenger pack buzzed. She furrowed her brow and retrieved a personal communication device from a zipped pouch. A blinking green light beckoned from the hand-held tablet. Her finger hovered over the screen for a few seconds before she swiped an unlock pattern. The green light turned amber. Delta's eyes shifted back-and-forth across the screen as she read. She gasped and covered her mouth.

  "What’s the matter?" Kort asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

  "A spectral entity? Where!?" K1R-B shouted, scanning the cockpit from corner to corner.

  Max covered his eyes and shook his head. "I keep forgetting to tweak his emotion settings . . ."

  Delta tugged at her safety harness and threw it to the side. The metal buckle clanged against the console. She sprang from her chair and
ran toward the exit. Her weight on a pressure pad in the floor activated the cockpit doors. They split down the middle and retracted into pockets.

  "Where in the heck did she get that comms pad?" Max inquired.

  "No idea." Kort scratched his head. "Figured you might know since they're all the rage with you kids these days."

  "Stolen it, no doubt," K1R-B said. "After all, she is the type . . ."

  Max made toward the door. "Should one of us go after her?"

  "Maybe give her some space for now." Kort moved in front of him. "You know, girls her age get . . . complicated."

  "What do you mean?" Max said.

  "Well . . . uh . . ." Kort shuffled his feet. "Tell you what, I know a lot more about ships than I do girls, so what do you say we get to work on those repairs, huh?"

  "Okay."

  "Great." Kort said, relieved. He opened a storage locker and removed two gravity suits from hangers. "Here."

  Max took one of the suits from Kort and held it up by the shoulders to inspect. The crimson and beige two-tone suit had seen better days, stained with dark streaks of ash and magnetoplasmadynamic thruster fluid, but the helmet was still in good condition – only a few minor scuffs here and there.

  "You're in charge, Kirby," Kort said.

  "What?" K1R-B threw its hands in the air. "What if that ship comes back looking for us?"

  "Relax." Kort put his arm around Max. "What could possibly go wrong?"

  "Ah! Don't say that!"

  "Awesome," Max deadpanned. "Apparently he's developed superstition, too. Scared of ghosts and his own shadow."

  "You'll be fine," Kort said. "Besides, we'll be close by. Only need about thirty minutes to fix this ol' girl up. If anything weird happens, just press that big red button on the console, and Max and I will come running, okay?"

  K1R-B's knee joints shook. "Okay."

  ___***___

  Recessed lighting above the windows lit the ship's corridors. Although not as bright as the cockpit, it provided ample visibility to move about. Max inputted the serial number from Kort's gravity suit into a comms panel on his forearm. A speaker inside his helmet beeped, followed by a few seconds of scratchy audio. Kort's mouth moved, but Max couldn't hear him. Max pointed toward his ear and shook his head.