Ronin (The Pike Chronicles Book 3) by G. P. Hudson Page A

Chaanisar.”
    Sallas turned to someone off camera and nodded. Turning back to Bast he said, “Being Chaanisar and being Juttari are one and the same.”
    “Not on this ship, Prime Minister. We have revolted against the Juttari. They no longer control us. Although I am curious as to how someone one thousand light years away knows so much about the Juttari?”
    “I am not at liberty to share that information,” said Sallas. “You mentioned you have the Hermes crew on board your ship. Are they your prisoners?”
    Bast laughed. “Of course not. They are our guests.”
    “Forgive me if I am skeptical.” He turned to the person off camera again and then said, “You claim to have Captain Pike on board, is that correct?”
    “Yes.”
    “I would like to speak to him.”
    Bast turned to Captain Pike, who had been following the discussion. Bast gestured his hand to the console and Pike approached. Standing in front of the display he said, “This is Captain Pike.”
    Sallas looked off camera and then smiled. “Captain, there’s someone who’d very much like to speak to you.”
    The Prime Minister shifted and a red headed woman appeared. She looked at the camera and her eyes widened. “Captain, is that you? Are you alright?”
    A broad grin formed on the Captain’s face. “Doctor Ellerbeck, I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you.”
    Bast caught his breath. They had done it. They had found the Doctor.

Chapter 16
     
    Jon woke to the sounds of battle. Angry shouts, panicked screams, and thunderous explosions filled the night. He grabbed his energy weapon and jumped out of bed. His father taught him to sleep fully clothed, gun at the ready, when in the field. He shouldered the weapon and rushed out of his tent. Outside was forest and chaos. Several dead bodies lay at his feet. He knew them. Members of the resistance. Where was the enemy? Blue energy bolts lit up the dark sky as running figures fired upward. He craned his neck, trying to see the threat. There. Triangular lights shone through the treetops. He pointed his weapon at the lights when someone grabbed him by the arm and pulled. He whipped around, freeing his arm and leveling his weapon. He exhaled sharply when he came face to face with his father. His cousins stood behind him, their weapons pointed at the sky.
    His father’s eyes were wide and urgent. “Run you fool. Run!”
    Jon needed no more encouragement and he took off with his father and cousins. “What’s happening?” he asked.
    “They found us,” said his father, without breaking stride.
    “Who found us?”
    “The Chaanisar.”
    The word sent a spike of cold terror up Jon’s spine. “We have to go back. We have to save the boys.”
    “The boys? They’re the ones who led the Chaanisar to us,” yelled his father.
    “What? How?”
    “They were tagged with trackers when they were captured. In case they tried to run. It was already too late when we found out.”
    Jon went silent. It was his fault. His choice to rescue the boys doomed the mission. He had cost the lives of good men.
    As if reading Jon’s mind his father said, “Don’t blame yourself. I should’ve known better. I should’ve checked them before we left the compound.
    “What about the Governor?” asked Jon.
    “Dead. I saw to it myself. Rammed a blade right through his heart. Too good for him, but better than nothing.”
    “What about everyone else?”
    “They have to make their own way. We can’t stay together or those devils will catch us all,” his father glanced back at Jon, the moonlight shining off his glistening forehead. Eyes grim. “Enough talk now. We head for the caves.”
    They ran through the forest, barely able to see. They didn’t use flashlights for fear of the Chaanisar finding them. They relied on memory and sure-footedness to see them through. Jon feared losing an eye as branches kept whipping his face. More than the branches he feared the pine needles, dreading the thought of one of them