Page 57 of Stalker
The taxi's engines whine as I slam the throttle forward. Wind whistles through the broken roof as we rocket between the gleaming towers. Red warning lights flash across the dashboard - this civilian craft isn't meant for combat maneuvers.
Three security skimmers drop into formation behind me, their weapon ports glowing hot.
"Target acquired. Power down your vehicle immediately."
I bank hard right, scraping paint off a cargo hauler. The security skimmers follow, their superior engines closing the gap.
A maintenance tunnel looms ahead - barely wide enough for the taxi. Perfect.
The taxi screams in protest as I force it sideways. Sparks shower from both walls as we thread the needle. One security skimmer tries to follow and clips its wing. The resulting explosion lights up my rear view.
Two left.
The tunnel opens into Hydroponics Dome Three. Rows of vertical farms stretch toward the artificial sky. I weave between the towers of green, scattering terrified workers.
"All units converge on target. Do not let him escape."
More skimmers join the pursuit. Their shots come closer, scoring black marks across my taxi's hull. The whole frame shudders - one more direct hit and I'm done.
I spot my chance - a maintenance shaft leading to the station's outer skin. The security forces would never expect...
The taxi plunges into darkness. Warning klaxons blare as we enter vacuum-rated territory. The pursuing skimmers hesitate at the threshold, giving me precious seconds.
One sharp turn, then another. The taxi's nav system fails completely but I don't need it. All maintenance shafts lead to the same place.
We burst into the starlit expanse of a ship graveyard - derelict hulks waiting to be scrapped. I kill the engines and let momentum carry us into the hollow corpse of an ancient freighter.
The security skimmers streak past, their sensors confused by all the metal. Their frustrated chatter fades as they continue the search in the wrong direction.
I release a breath I didn't know I was holding. Time to ditch this ride and disappear into the station's shadows.
CHAPTER 22
MARYSE
The marble floors of the Royal Gardens Hotel gleam under my heels. Each click echoes through the opulent lobby, a steady rhythm that matches my thundering heart.
"Name?" The concierge's perfectly manicured nails tap against her holoscreen.
"Maryse Daniels. We have an appointment with Captain Strongbow."
Behind me, Vorpa's scales catch the light from the crystal chandelier. Her sister Prova stands close, shoulders tense, golden eyes darting to every corner. The bruises from her captivity still mar her scales.
Dad did that. My father. The thought twists my stomach into knots.
"Ah yes, the Captain is expecting you. Penthouse suite." The concierge waves her hand toward the glass elevators. "Please proceed."
My hand trembles as I press the button for the top floor. The evidence weighs heavy in my pocket - datacubes filled with proof of my father's crimes. Each one represents a life destroyed, a family torn apart.
Vorpa places her clawed hand on my shoulder. "You're doing the right thing."
"I know." The words catch in my throat. "But he's still my father."
The elevator climbs higher, leaving my stomach somewhere near the lobby. Through the glass walls, Alpha Centauri Station spreads out below us, a maze of gleaming towers and transport tubes. Somewhere down there, my father goes about his day, probably planning his next atrocity.
"Ready?" Vorpa asks as the elevator chimes.
I straighten my spine, squaring my shoulders. The collar Bruticus gave me sits warm against my skin, hidden but present. A reminder that sometimes love means making hard choices.