Breathing in Space (A Game of War Part Four)

By Michael Cairns

Ally flies and Stem shoots…

Ally and Stem are free. They've escaped the Atrile and are finally on their way to earth. But the universe is a big place and as they already know, little is as it seems.
In need of oxygen, Ally and Stem stop at a space station run by a mysterious benefactor, Nephal. Out of cash, they take part in the daily 'contest, one on one battles with the other explorers. But things begin to go awry, first on the station itself and then between the two of them.
Is Stem paranoid? Did the battle on the Nexus destroy all hope of him finding his powers? And can Ally hold them together when all she wants to do is fly?

Part four of A Game of War throws Ally and Stem into another adventure where nothing is quite what it seems, and no one is to be trusted.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Cairns
• Release date: Mar 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781909699090

Michael Cairns

Michael Cairns was born at a young age and could write even before he could play the drums, but that was long ago, in the glory days - when he actually had hair. He loves chocolate, pineapple, playing gigs and outwitting his young daughter (the scores are about level but she's getting smarter every day). Michael is currently working hard on writing, getting enough sleep and keeping his hair. The first is going well, the other two...not so much. His current novels include: > Young adult, science fiction adventure series, 'A Game of War' 1. Childhood dreams 2. The end of innocence 3. Playing God 4. Breathing in space 5. Escape 6. Gateway to earth > Urban fantasy super-hero series, 'The Planets' 1. The spirit room 2. The story of Erie 3. The long way home >Paranormal horror post apocalyptic zombie series, 'Thirteen Roses' 1. Before (Books 2-6 due for release in spring)

Book preview

Breathing in Space

A Game of War

Part Four

By

Michael Cairns

Publishing

Published by Cairns Publishing at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 Michael Cairns

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.

1st Edition

Find out about future releases by Michael Cairns at http://cairnswrites.com

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

Intro

The warning light had been flashing for a couple of hours. Each time she came back to herself, it was that much harder to breathe. Stem was in the pilot seat, head resting to one side, eyes half-closed.

They were drifting, breathing vapours. Close to death, and still so far from earth. Would she feel it, the point when her body gave up, or would she just stay on the spiritual plane forever, searching?

She closed her eyes and slipped free of her body, and the Vale. The stars glittered around her and she forgot the fear and the heaviness in her chest. Life lapped at her like waves striking a beach, a universe of souls vibrating and being. But they were too far away!

It was like the beach just kept getting bigger, the sea forever out of reach. She picked a new direction, traveling miles in seconds, only to be met by the same quiet murmur.

She came back to herself and glanced one more at Stem. His mouth hung open, his eyes closed.

Stem? STEM.

She pushed herself up from the cot, then sunk back, gasping and coughing. Her mind was drifting and she found herself out of her body again, looking down at her pale, skinny form. Her hair had gone pale, and her braids were fraying.

She rushed from the ship.

Chapter 1

She was frantic. For three days she had been searching, heading out in spirit form in different directions to find some sign of life.

They had been heading for a station, a place Stem knew about. He had only a rough idea of the co-ordinates, but with their new-found abilities, that should have been enough. Turned out it wasn't. Or the station had moved, it didn't matter now.

She remembered how it felt, on the Homeship and the Nexus, when she'd lifted free of her body, and felt the universe, breathing around her as she accessed the spirit plane. From a life of slavery, to becoming something so much more. Yet here they were, no oxygen, and no hope.

There had to be a better way. Rushing around on the spirit plane wasn't working. There was too much space and she could spend the rest of her life here and still see only a fraction of it. She was still thinking physically, and perhaps that was the problem.

She shouted in her mind, a scream of frustration that was almost tangible. She felt it fly from her, hurtling in all directions. Yes! She screamed again, then fell quiet, listening, opening her mind.

The silence enveloped her, the muttering suddenly absent in the wake of her distress. Then she heard it. A faint response, a response that was growing louder every second. She found the source, and rushed back to her body.

Stem, Stem, wake up.

She was shaking him, pausing to cough, then shaking him some more. He opened bleary eyes and joined her in coughing, then stopped himself, holding his hand over his mouth as his body shook.

Stop, stop coughing. Too much air.

I know where we can go, c'mon.

His eyes lit up and he struggled to sit. She sat in his chair and floated free again, checking the direction, then came back and gave him the bearing. The Vale moved, twisting around, then jumping forward as he half-fell onto the sticks.

She stayed on the spiritual plane, listening again for the sound, her heart racing as it grew louder and louder.

This is station Nephal, are you in distress?

Yes, yes, we are, where are you?

Just follow me back, you are not far.

She came back out, gasping in the stale air, but waved at Stem, a smile splitting her face. He gunned the engines, dragging every last bit of power from her, and they surged forward. Within a few minutes the station came in sight, a huge orb from which spokes thrust out into space, ships of all types moored to them. Steel ropes held the ships tight, glittering in the light from the nearest star. The sight of it brought tears to her eyes and