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    The Lost Star Episode Four
    The Lost Star Episode Four
    The Lost Star Episode Four
    Ebook166 pages3 hours

    The Lost Star Episode Four

    By Odette C. Bell

    ()

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    About this ebook

    The end is here.
    Ava is trapped, and Hunter’s on the edge of death. If they can’t find each other and stop Zor, he’ll tear a hole right through the Milky Way.

    With everything in the balance, they must battle until the end.
    ...
    The Lost Star follows a shackled superweapon and a judgmental lieutenant thrown deep into an enemy empire. If you crave space operas with action, heart, and a splash of romance, grab The Lost Star Episode Four today and soar free with an Odette C. Bell series.
    The Lost Star is the 4th Galactic Coalition Academy series. A sprawling, epic, and exciting sci-fi world where cadets become heroes and hearts are always won, each series can be read separately, so plunge in today.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOdette C. Bell
    Release dateMay 2, 2016
    ISBN9781311867063
    The Lost Star Episode Four

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      Book preview

      The Lost Star Episode Four - Odette C. Bell

      Chapter 1

      Lieutenant Hunter McClane

      The red hand sliced through the shields, reaching towards Hunter, its fingers outstretched, energy crackling between them.

      Captain Ross shoved Hunter out of the way.

      What are you doing? Hunter had time to yell.

      What I have to do, Ross said through a trapped breath as he half shifted his head towards Hunter. You look after my crew, you got that, flyboy? You got that?

      What are you going to do? Hunter spat, fear pounding through his chest as the shields buckled further and further, their emitters seconds from failing completely.

      The red mannequin had almost pushed its arm all the way through the buckling force field, so much energy crackling off its fingers and ethereal skin, it looked as if the arm was emanating from a lightning strike.

      You’ve got more of a chance of saving the Queen. Now save her, Ross demanded.

      Then, without another word, he thrust forward, drawing an electro blade from his side in the blink of an eye.

      Though the blade was shielded, if he were stupid enough to use it against the mannequin before the force field discharged, he’d be caught in the ensuing explosion.

      There was no way he’d live through it.

      Before the word, No, could crack from Hunter’s mouth, a new warning alarm roared through the makeshift bridge.

      It was enough to get Ross’s attention.

      He snapped his head towards the viewscreens, eyes drawing wide. What the— he began.

      Despite the fact the red mannequin was still trying to shove its way through the force field, Hunter’s attention was stolen away by the strength of Ross’s reaction.

      He twisted towards the viewscreens.

      And that’s when he saw it.

      Just behind the three battleships, a vortex was forming in space, ripping through the black veil like a knife through fabric.

      It’s a wormhole, Ross bellowed. Reinforcements.

      Hunter didn’t think his heart could sink further.

      He was wrong.

      True dread the likes of which he’d never experienced came upon him all at once. It pounded so hard through his heart, he was sure it flattened the muscle to a pulp.

      Prince Zor, you monster, Ross had time to say before one final alarm blared through the ship.

      The wormhole opened, and a massive super-heavy cruiser pushed its way out.

      At first all Hunter could do was stare in dread as he realized there was no way the Queen would make it through this.

      ….

      Wait. God – wait. It was the Mandalay.

      Hope flashed through his gut, flew into his heart, and ignited his last spark of faith.

      It’s the Mandalay. It’s the Mandalay, the words tore from his lips.

      That’s Coalition, Ross realized, his intense, desperate gaze locked on the screens. What the—

      Hunter wasted no time. He thrust forward, flattening his hands on the communication panel and typing as fast as he could. Harvey, that better be you. It’s Hunter. We need your help. Now. We’re in the mining vessel. For the love of God, if you’ve got guns, use them.

      There was a pause. It was pure hell to endure it.

      Then there was a beep as the Mandalay returned with an audio message. Hunter? Harvey’s voice broke with pure emotion. Hunter, is that you?

      Sure is, Harv, but no time to explain. Just get those heavy cruisers off our tail. We’ve already got major structural damage and an invasion force to vie with.

      There was another considerable pause. Then the Mandalay started firing.

      And what a sight she was. She plowed towards those three heavy cruisers like an avalanche slamming down a mountain.

      While the heavy cruisers were much bigger than the Queen and much, much better armed. They weren’t Coalition vessels. They didn’t have the same discipline, the same training.

      Though Hunter had seen a lot in his career, he knew he’d never see anything like this again. He’d never feel relief like this either.

      He’d been taken to the brink. Then, out of a tear in the very fabric of space-time, the cavalry had emerged.

      Just when Hunter thought he could stand there and watch the viewscreens in total awe as the Mandalay wiped the floor with those heavy cruisers, more alarms blared through the bridge.

      I don’t know what is happening out there, but we can’t forget we’ve still got mannequins on board, Ross spat. And that one’s still trying to come through the door—

      Hunter turned, eyes growing wide as he stared at the force field.

      It was only just holding back the red mannequin.

      In a couple of seconds, it would fail.

      It would take more than a couple of seconds for the Mandalay to destroy those heavy cruisers.

      Though it was just a guess, Hunter imagined that once those heavy cruisers were destroyed, the mannequins would disappear.

      All we have to do is hold off until the Mandalay destroys those heavy cruisers, he summarized as he flung himself forward. You stay here. Coordinate things. Time for me to end this. With that, Hunter plucked his electro sword off his back and pushed forward.

      Ross made brief eye contact with him as Hunter flung himself towards the door. Then, with a single command, Ross told the shields to turn off.

      Half a second later, the red mannequin burst through the doors. Just as they parted, Hunter sprang out to meet it.

      He didn’t pause.

      He was ready. His whole body was pumped full of adrenaline. And hope.

      And adrenaline and hope are a potent, dangerous mix.

      They crowded out every other emotion, even fear.

      He let a bellow split from his lips as he thrust forward with the electro blade.

      The red mannequin immediately transported, reappearing right behind him.

      Somehow Hunter had known what it was going to do, and he was ready.

      He dropped to one knee, rolled to the side, and purposefully shoved his feet into the wall. He flipped backward. Just in time. The mannequin sliced towards where he’d been with a brightly glowing energy sword.

      There were three other blue mannequins in the corridor.

      Rather than slash towards them, Hunter concentrated on the red one.

      Its lips pared back from its teeth, and it roared right in his face. Then it thrust forward, glowing red eyes locked on him as an energy sword formed in its other hand.

      It sliced towards him with both the swords, their tips moving so fast they were like blinding blurs of light.

      Hunter roared as he pitched forward, slinging his sword over one shoulder and letting it go. It sliced past the red mannequin’s ear, but as it whistled by the thing’s enormous shoulder, it collected two of the blue mannequins. It carved them clean in half, and they exploded in a sea of sparks.

      The sword slammed into the far wall, sinking down to its hilt.

      Even before it landed, Hunter had already moved.

      He shoved forward, skidded to his knees, rolled, and struck the opposite wall. He darted to his feet, twisted around, grabbed the hilt, turned the sword off, plucked it from the metal, and turned it back on. It was all in one smooth, calculated movement.

      By the time he was back on his feet, the glowing electrified sword in his hand, the last of the blue mannequins was upon him.

      It slashed towards him with its sword, the tip of light slicing clean past his arm, burning the skin. He took the opportunity to shove forward with his shoulder.

      He collected the mannequin in the stomach, dropped to his knees once more, then twisted around with the sword, slicing one of its legs off.

      It too exploded in a sea of sparks.

      That left one.

      The red mannequin stood in the corridor, its blazing ruby-red body like fire embodied.

      Again it opened its mouth, pitched its head back, rolled its luminescent eyes into its head, and screamed. The bellow was so loud, so piercing, it felt as if it would split the Queen in two.

      Without pause, Hunter wrenched his mouth open and offered a scream of his own. It was guttural, gritty, borne of the anger, desperation, and pain he’d been forced to endure over these past few days.

      It bubbled up within him with so much force, it felt as if a volcano erupted in his stomach.

      He thrust forward just as the red mannequin pushed towards him.

      The red mannequin sliced out with two energy swords, and Hunter pushed towards it with his electro blade.

      They reached each other.

      Reason told him he’d lose.

      It was reason’s turn to lose.

      Just at the right moment, Hunter threw himself to the side and let go of his electro sword. It flew through the air as Hunter fell to his side and rolled.

      He punched to his feet, sprang forward, and somehow caught the sword before it clattered to the floor and sank through the metal.

      Then he twisted around and struck the red mannequin right across its back.

      His electro blade pushed through the thing’s glowing ethereal skin.

      It did not cause the beast to burst into sparks.

      So with one more penetrating cry, Hunter plucked the sword back and twisted it around, collecting the creature on the back of its neck.

      Finally it fell.

      It had time to twist over and lock one of its massive, luminescent eyes on him.

      … He swore he saw something in that gaze.

      Something beyond pure hatred. Some level of malevolence he’d never experienced.

      Then the red mannequin burst into sparks. They scattered over the walls, tumbled across the floor, and sank into the leather of his boots, a terrible stench escaping into the air.

      Rather than stand there and celebrate, Hunter twisted on his foot and shoved down the corridor with all the speed his body could muster.

      He was determined to buy his brother some time.

      …

      Captain Harvey McClane

      He was sitting on the edge of his seat. It was dangerous. With one single shake, he’d fall to his knees.

      But he couldn’t push back, and God knows he couldn’t push to his feet.

      Hunter.

      He’d heard Hunter’s voice.

      Somehow the Mandalay had been transported into the Barbarian sector.

      And now they were in a pitched battle with some strange class of Barbarian cruisers.

      His crew worked frantically, and even though it was a hard battle, the Mandalay was up to the task.

      I’ve never seen that class of cruiser before, Hutchins spat.

      He’d given her the task of figuring out what was going on.

      There’s nothing like it in the Coalition databases. All three heavy cruisers are equipped with some frankly incredible weapons. We’re plugging away at them, but it’s harder than it should be.

      Keep it up – we can’t lose this battle, Harvey snapped.

      He locked his gaze on the Queen. A massive mining transport, its hull was a patchwork of different metals, gun turrets and pulse cannon drives crammed into every nook and cranny.

      Despite its size and power, it was no match for the Barbarian cruisers pinning it like wild wolves.

      But on board was his brother, and Harvey had no intention of letting Hunter go again.

      Not this time.

      …

      Ava

      The Prince was distracted.

      They finally arrived in the lost star system.

      Though Ava had no access to a viewscreen, she didn’t need one.

      The second they crossed into this section of space was the second her mind virtually exploded, tingles racing down her body, a heady pressure spilling from her chest and virtually locking her in place.

      Her whole left arm had been injured when her final lock exploded.

      It had torn through her tunic, ragged scraps flapping at her elbow as the Prince continued to tug her along through the expansive, clean, white

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