Forsaken Skies Read Free Page A

the yacht’s spinning, tumbling path. Damn it.
    At least atmospheric resistance had slowed them right down—maybe Lanoe could actually catch the kid now.
    The green pearl in Lanoe’s vision blinked back into existence, surprising him. The comms laser had reestablished contact.
    â€œThom,” Lanoe called. “Thom, are you there? Are you okay?”
    The kid sounded terrified when he replied. Breathing hard, his voice pitched too high. “I’m…I’m still alive.”
    â€œDamn it, Thom,” Lanoe said. “What were you thinking back there? There were people on that freighter. You could have killed them.”
    It took a long while for Thom to reply. Maybe he was just struggling to pull out of his spin. Lanoe could see his attitude thrusters firing, jets of vapor that were lost instantly in the dark cloudscape.
    When Thom did come back on the line he sounded calmer, but chastened. “I didn’t know that.”
    Lanoe couldn’t help but feel for Thom. When the kid had made a break for it, when he’d stolen the yacht and run for the nearest wormhole, Lanoe had followed because he thought maybe, somehow, he could help. To the kid it must have looked like there was a hellhound on his tail. “Get control of your ship,” Lanoe told him. Though honestly it looked like Thom had already done just that. The yacht had stabilized its flight, even with one damaged airfoil. The kid had skill, Lanoe thought. He had the makings of a great pilot. If he didn’t die right here. “You all right?”
    â€œI’m fine.”
    â€œThen let’s think about how to keep you that way. Slow down and let’s talk about this. Okay? First things first, we need to get out of this atmosphere. Let’s head back to the Hexus. I can’t promise people there will be happy to see you, but—”
    â€œI’m not going back,” Thom replied. “I’m never going back.”

    It should have been over by now.
    It should have been quick and painless. He should have hit that freighter dead-on and that would have been that.
    Thom realized his eyes were closed. That was stupid. You never closed your eyes when you were flying—you needed to be constantly aware of everything around you. He opened his eyes and laughed.
    There was nothing to see out there. Black mist writhed across his viewports. His displays were all turning red, but who cared? That was kind of the point, wasn’t it?
    Just fade to black.
    If only Lanoe would shut up and let him get on with it.
    â€œThere’s no way forward here, Thom. If I have to shoot you to stop this idiotic chase, I will. Turn back now.”
    â€œWhy would I do that?” Thom asked.
    â€œBecause right now I’m the only friend you have.”
    â€œYou were my father’s puppet. I know you’ll take me back there if I give you the chance.”
    â€œYou’re wrong, Thom. I just want to help.”
    Thom leaned back in his crash seat and tried to just breathe.
    He was surrounded by expensive wooden fittings. His seat was upholstered in real leather. He couldn’t help thinking the yacht would make a luxurious coffin.
    Thom was—had been—the son of the planetary governor of Xibalba. He was used to a certain degree of luxury. He understood now how much of that he’d taken for granted. Nothing had ever been denied to him his whole life.
    No one had ever bullied him in school—his father’s bodyguards had seen to that. No one had ever said no to him as long as he could remember. But now Lanoe wouldn’t just give up. Wouldn’t just let him go.
    It was infuriating.
    Thom wondered why he didn’t just switch off his comms panel. Block Lanoe’s transmission. Maybe, he thought, he just wanted to hear another human voice before he ended this.
    Even if he didn’t want to hear what Lanoe had to say.
    â€œI was just your father’s escort pilot, Thom. I’m