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Back Stringers Save as PDF
Chapters (64)
  1. FRONT COVER
  2. TITLE PAGE
  3. DEDICATION
  4. CHAPTER ONE
  5. CHAPTER TWO
  6. CHAPTER THREE
  7. CHAPTER FOUR
  8. CHAPTER FIVE
  9. CHAPTER SIX
  10. CHAPTER SEVEN
  11. CHAPTER EIGHT
  12. CHAPTER NINE
  13. CHAPTER TEN
  14. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  15. CHAPTER TWELVE
  16. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  17. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  18. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  19. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  20. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  21. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  22. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  23. CHAPTER TWENTY
  24. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  25. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  32. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  33. CHAPTER THIRTY
  34. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  35. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  39. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  42. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  43. CHAPTER FORTY
  44. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
  45. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
  46. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
  47. CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
  48. CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
  49. CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
  50. CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
  51. CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
  52. CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
  53. CHAPTER FIFTY
  54. CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
  55. CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
  56. CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
  57. CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
  58. CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
  59. CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
  60. CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
  61. CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
  62. CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
  63. CHAPTER SIXTY
  64. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We coasted toward the docks near the center latitudes of Aszerat. My nerves, by now, were frazzled from the combined effects of the dredgings and detox – not to mention the anxiety of the Scythin’s imminent arrival. All of those things were enough to make a person crack, and yet what really did it was the fact that our chances of finding a galaxy-annihilating relic came down to whether or not a floating space city had any better security than a Hilton Garden Inn.

102 You and Patton tried that last summer – And we would have found water too if the cops hadn’t showed up to lecture us about “private property”.

103 Oh, this one is really gross. See, the male just stabs – Nope. Stop.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Sitting in the captain’s chair, Aptat projected a map of Aszerat over the deck and the Blue Quadrant was divvied up.

“Naecia and I will take the northern latitudes,” said Aptat. “Patton and Ben, the south. Izairis, you’ll have the center strip along the equator so you can be close to the ship in case anything goes down.”

Naecia knew there was far more ground than they could ever cover, but what other choice was there? They would get through as much as they could each day, then return to the ship for rest, and head out again and again until they found the Chime. Maybe being inside Aszerat would jostle more clues out of the Earth man’s brain. If they were still empty handed when the Scythin showed, they all agreed that the only rational choice was to run.

Aptat gave each of them a handful of registered guush micro-billets in case they needed to bribe anyone or purchase emergency supplies, making sure to record the allocations in the ship’s ledger against any future profits.

The size of the city came into stark relief as they approached the docks. “How are we supposed to find anything in there?” said Izairis. “It’s massive.”

“How many amber doors could there be?” said Ben, his optimistic tone betrayed by a grimace.

“In case anyone was wondering, I’m still fine to run away,” said Aptat.

“Of course you are,” said Naecia. “Just remember who owns the ship.”

“Yeah, I meant to ask about that,” said Ben. “Why doesn’t Aptat own the ship anymore?”

“Stuff... happened,” said Naecia waving her hand in the air as if to erase any request that she repeat the story.

“Yes,” said Aptat, coming to attention. “And if I recall correctly, the deal was that those shares would be returned to me after I obtained the caridianite from the Terror’s Glaive, which I did.”

“If I recall correctly,” responded Naecia, “it was to keep you from murdering all of us while in your carapace. Unfortunately, we still need you in your armor. I’ll be happy to return your shares once we’re done here and can part ways.”