Lost Planet 02 - The Stolen Moon Read Free Page B

what?” asked Parker. The same question had popped up in Chase’s mind. Was the captain still worried about someone on the ship discovering their secrets? Or had they already been found out?
    Maurus turned and waved the glowing rod over a metal box affixed to the wall. “Do you know about these emergency stations? They should always be stocked with phoswhites.” He opened the box, where a stack of clear rods rested in a bin, and tossed one to each of them. “Just hit the round end hard against the wall, like this.” He demonstrated by whacking a stick against the wall. The echo rang down the hallway as more light filled the space around them. “They’re good for about an hour.”
    Lilli grabbed a rod from the bin and gave it a savage smack against the wall, her eyes glittering in the glow it created. They all took turns lighting phoswhites, until enough light surrounded them that they could see everything for several feet. Beyond that the view dropped off into dense blackness. They moved slowly down the hall, where Maurus led them past the empty canteen. Shouts were being exchanged somewhere in the distance. Chase strained to hear what was being said, but he couldn’t make out a single word. When they came to one of the ship’s three wide stairways, Maurus pulled the stairwell door open and waved for them to go inside.
    â€œWhere are we going?” asked Chase as he passed by.
    â€œHead upstairs,” said Maurus. “We’ll go to the armory.”
    Parker looked back. “What? Why?”
    â€œThe captain told me to get you somewhere safe. The armory’s our best bet.”
    â€œBut I want to go to the engine room,” said Parker.
    â€œI want to go to the engine room,” mimicked Lilli in a mocking voice.
    A door crashed open above them, and the sound of multiple footsteps echoed down the stairwell. Four grim-faced soldiers marched past and headed through the door Maurus still held open into the hallway, all with their blaster guns out and at the ready. Bringing up the rear was Colonel Forquera, the ship’s second-in-command. A frown flashed across his lean, shadowy face when he saw the small group.
    â€œWhat are they doing out of their rooms?” he asked Maurus in a low voice. Forquera was one of the few people aboard the ship who knew about Chase’s and Lilli’s unusual abilities and the true reason why they had been taken aboard the Kuyddestor .
    â€œCaptain wanted me to secure them and get them somewhere safe. I was taking them up to the armory.”
    Forquera shook his head. “Armory’s no good—Poliski’s team is out doing a sweep of the ship to check for any signs of external incursion.”
    â€œYou think this could be an outside attack?” asked Parker. “I highly doubt it.”
    Chase’s blood went cold. Parker had told him that it was impossible to hack the ship from the outside, but maybe someone had found a way. Parker didn’t know everything, after all.
    Forquera’s eyes flickered briefly to Parker. “Take them to the brig. All the cells are empty right now.”
    â€œNo,” said Chase firmly. He’d spent time in that brig before and had no interest in revisiting it.
    â€œTake us to the engine room,” said Parker. “I can help fix the problem.”
    â€œThe bridge—” Maurus started.
    â€œAbsolutely not,” said Forquera.
    â€œEngine room. Engine room. Engine room,” said Parker, like an obnoxious parrot.
    â€œEnough!” barked Forquera. The communicator at his belt beeped, and he looked down at it. “Lieutenant, just make sure they don’t get in the way.” He turned and continued into the hallway after his men.
    As soon as the door closed behind Forquera, Parker crossed his arms. “Engine room.”
    Maurus sighed. “Please, don’t make this hard. You know I’m still under extra surveillance right