BOREALIS IX: AKIRA'S CHOICE
Novella by Vijaya Schartz
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When bounty hunter Akira Karyudo accepted her assignment, something
didn't add up. Why would the TPP want a kidnapped orphan dead or alive?
She will get to the truth once she finds the boy, and the no good SOB
who snatched him from a psychiatric hospital. With her cheetah,
Freckles, a genetically enhanced feline retriever, Akira sets out to
flush them out of the bowels of the BOREALIS space station. But when she
finds her fugitives, the kidnapper is not what she expects.
Markku,
a decorated rebel soldier, stole his nephew from the authorities, who
performed painful experiments on the boy. Stuck on Borealis, he protects
the child, but how can he shield him from the horribly dangerous
conditions in the lawless sublevels of the decrepit space station?
Akira faces the worst moral dilemma of her career. Law or justice, duty or love. She can't have it both ways.
EXCERPT:
Two thugs stalked away to follow the cheetah.
"Go after that cat and you're dead!" The strong baritone voice came from a tall man aiming a blaster at the two hoodlums.
He
stepped out of the shadows, in full paramilitary gear. His left hand
held a long knife. He sidled toward Akira, circling the thugs, who
started to retreat at the sight of his blaster.
"Mind your own business." Akira didn't appreciate unwanted help.
The
man stepped closer. "These goons know nothing about civilized rules of
fighting. They want your body, your hide, your cat for its meat, and
your armor and weapons."
"I know that." Who did this man think she was? A neophyte? "There is no honor in killing defenseless creatures."
"There
is no honor in this place." His gaze skimmed the sorry lot holding an
assortment of blades and clubs, some with protruding metal spikes.
"Believe me, they are far from defenseless."
The thugs kept their distance from the blaster aimed at them, but they did not retreat.
"Still.
I refuse to kill if there is another way." None of those rejects would
threaten her individually, but their number could present a challenge.
As more joined the group, she counted two dozen.
The louts
glanced at one another with indecision. At least, they understood the
warning. She was trained and dangerous. Not to be trifled with. They
widened their half circle in front of her, still hesitating, but they
held their ground. Chikusho.
In a few long steps, the stranger
joined her side. From his walk and the way he held his weapons, she
could tell he had military training. He didn't look like a TPP soldier,
though. Something wild lurked in his clear blue gaze. A free thinker. A
bounty hunter like her? Or perhaps a rebel?
"You look like you could use some help."
"Do
I?" Unbelievable. "Why should I trust you?" She couldn't help the
derision in her voice. "For all I know, you could be their leader,
luring me into a trap."
He chuckled and shook his head. "I'm not one of them, and you are in more trouble than you know."
"Get
out of my way." Akira clicked open the metal claws of her forearm
braces then unsheathed a titanium short sword and adopted a defensive
stance. "I work alone."
He laughed. "And I'm telling you, this is
no place for a warrior from a distant past. Especially, one who cares
about something as futile as honor.
HOPE YOU ENJOY THE READ!
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Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
