Forged in Darkness

  The captain's voice brought her back to the apparently tense situation. "Is it still there, whatever it is?"

  "Yes, it is, Captain."

  "And you still don't know what it is?"

  "Nope."

  Violet expected the captain to be angry, but he simply nodded, seeming to accept that there was something invisible, and possibly dangerous, just outside. Yep, things were definitely a bit crazy aboard the Krim Sprinter.

  "Captain, the warp system is online and ready to go," the intercom suddenly blared. "Tell Cyrus to keep it to warp one, one point five max. But preferably warp one."

  "You heard him, Cyrus. Warp speed one point eight."

  Cyrus looked at him with a disapproving glare, but simply asked, "Where to, Captain?"

  "Anywhere but here."

  A moment later, Cyrus reported, "We're ready when you are, Captain."

  "Drop the shields and engage the warp field as fast as your robotic arm possibly can," the captain said as he leaned forward in his chair, staring intently at the still empty space in front of the ship. "Three, two, one, go."

  Everything happened so fast; Violet could barely comprehend what she was seeing. She could hear the click of the shields dropping and feel time freeze momentarily as the warp field formed and the ship jumped into warp speed. And in the same instant, she saw three photon blasts appear out of nowhere, heading straight for them. She squeezed her eyes shut and grabbed the chair, bracing for an impact that never came. When she managed to pry her eyes open, all she could see was the emptiness of space streaking past.

  Maybe space wasn't going to be so boring after all.

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