trouble on station. I’ll be cautious because some
might be in league with Morgan, but a few will probably be willing
to help.”
That assessment was better than Chip had
hoped for and probably accurate based on Julian’s experience. If
they were going to have to deal with a pirate armada in addition to
internal saboteurs, they’d need all the help they could get.
“Good. I’ll see what support I can get sent
here on the double, through my channels.” Chip was betraying more
of his actual position to the group, but at this point, he had to
let them know there was at least some chance of help being on the
way. General Winters wouldn’t let a key Rim station fall to
pirates. If Chip could get the message out—and his implant was
already working on the transmission—then Winters would muster
whatever nearby ships he could find to aid them.
“Most of you know already, but a few don’t
and need to.” Chip decided to come clean a bit, to help morale.
“I’m not completely retired. I run intel operatives out of this
bar, some of whom are included in this group. I know I just outed a
few of you, but I think we’ve already exposed ourselves to anyone
with half a brain here tonight. The vets in this group have more
than that.” He smiled to soften his words and try to build
camaraderie. They’d have to fight pirates together. He needed to
build the team quickly. “You all know as well as I do, this station
is a key point on the Rim. I’ve already filed reports on what I
knew. My updated report will go out shortly and include a request
for immediate assistance. They’ll send help as soon as they get my
transmission. All we have to do is hold off the pirates until it
gets here.”
Chip noted the relief on several faces,
quickly followed by determination. Excellent. He’d been right to
tell them.
At that point, Lila fell off her chair.
Chapter Eight
Chip saw Lila teeter out of the corner of his
eye, but was too far away to catch her. Thankfully, the other guys
got her before she made a hard landing on the floor. Chip was at
her side a second later.
“What’s wrong with her?” Julian asked,
clearly concerned. Lila’s eyes had rolled back in her head and her
body was spasming slightly.
Chip held her until it stopped, thankfully,
only a few seconds later.
“I’m all right,” she said softly, pushing
against his hold. “Just a vision. A strong one, but I’m okay.”
“What can I do to help?” Chip asked. His
heart was racing. She’d just scared the hell out of him.
“Coffee,” came her weak reply.
Chip looked up at one of the men and nodded
toward the coffee maker. “Set it to quick brew. It should be good
to go. The bots keep it ready.” Roscoe dashed off behind the bar to
get the coffee maker going while Chip lifted Lila in his arms and
took her over to one of the booths along the wall. A small crowd
came with them, all concerned for Lila’s wellbeing. “Somebody
remove the table,” he ordered and two men hopped to it, lugging the
heavy table out of the booth and placing it nearby.
Chip placed Lila down gently on the padded
seat, sitting next to her with one arm around her shoulders,
supporting her. She was still a little wobbly, but color was coming
back to her pale face. Roscoe returned with a steaming cup of
coffee, which he handed to Chip. He in turn, held it to Lila’s
lips, gratified when she curled her little hand around his and
sipped at the hot beverage.
She started to look better almost
immediately.
“Sorry, guys. I don’t usually keel over from
visions. This was a really strong one and you all need to hear it.”
Her voice was quiet in the still room, all the men watching her
cautiously.
“Are you psychic, ma’am?” Smiley, one of the
pilots, asked with awe in his tone.
Lila smiled at him and sipped her coffee,
nodding slightly. “I see the future. Or, in this case, possible
futures.”
“My gran was psychic,” Smiley went on when
Lila stopped talking to
might be in league with Morgan, but a few will probably be willing
to help.”
That assessment was better than Chip had
hoped for and probably accurate based on Julian’s experience. If
they were going to have to deal with a pirate armada in addition to
internal saboteurs, they’d need all the help they could get.
“Good. I’ll see what support I can get sent
here on the double, through my channels.” Chip was betraying more
of his actual position to the group, but at this point, he had to
let them know there was at least some chance of help being on the
way. General Winters wouldn’t let a key Rim station fall to
pirates. If Chip could get the message out—and his implant was
already working on the transmission—then Winters would muster
whatever nearby ships he could find to aid them.
“Most of you know already, but a few don’t
and need to.” Chip decided to come clean a bit, to help morale.
“I’m not completely retired. I run intel operatives out of this
bar, some of whom are included in this group. I know I just outed a
few of you, but I think we’ve already exposed ourselves to anyone
with half a brain here tonight. The vets in this group have more
than that.” He smiled to soften his words and try to build
camaraderie. They’d have to fight pirates together. He needed to
build the team quickly. “You all know as well as I do, this station
is a key point on the Rim. I’ve already filed reports on what I
knew. My updated report will go out shortly and include a request
for immediate assistance. They’ll send help as soon as they get my
transmission. All we have to do is hold off the pirates until it
gets here.”
Chip noted the relief on several faces,
quickly followed by determination. Excellent. He’d been right to
tell them.
At that point, Lila fell off her chair.
Chapter Eight
Chip saw Lila teeter out of the corner of his
eye, but was too far away to catch her. Thankfully, the other guys
got her before she made a hard landing on the floor. Chip was at
her side a second later.
“What’s wrong with her?” Julian asked,
clearly concerned. Lila’s eyes had rolled back in her head and her
body was spasming slightly.
Chip held her until it stopped, thankfully,
only a few seconds later.
“I’m all right,” she said softly, pushing
against his hold. “Just a vision. A strong one, but I’m okay.”
“What can I do to help?” Chip asked. His
heart was racing. She’d just scared the hell out of him.
“Coffee,” came her weak reply.
Chip looked up at one of the men and nodded
toward the coffee maker. “Set it to quick brew. It should be good
to go. The bots keep it ready.” Roscoe dashed off behind the bar to
get the coffee maker going while Chip lifted Lila in his arms and
took her over to one of the booths along the wall. A small crowd
came with them, all concerned for Lila’s wellbeing. “Somebody
remove the table,” he ordered and two men hopped to it, lugging the
heavy table out of the booth and placing it nearby.
Chip placed Lila down gently on the padded
seat, sitting next to her with one arm around her shoulders,
supporting her. She was still a little wobbly, but color was coming
back to her pale face. Roscoe returned with a steaming cup of
coffee, which he handed to Chip. He in turn, held it to Lila’s
lips, gratified when she curled her little hand around his and
sipped at the hot beverage.
She started to look better almost
immediately.
“Sorry, guys. I don’t usually keel over from
visions. This was a really strong one and you all need to hear it.”
Her voice was quiet in the still room, all the men watching her
cautiously.
“Are you psychic, ma’am?” Smiley, one of the
pilots, asked with awe in his tone.
Lila smiled at him and sipped her coffee,
nodding slightly. “I see the future. Or, in this case, possible
futures.”
“My gran was psychic,” Smiley went on when
Lila stopped talking to
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