DarkStar Running (Living on the Run Book 2) by Ben Patterson Page A

Lilia fared no
better. “They’re closing in. I don’t need your mucking about confusing the
issue.”
    Her jaw tightened noticeably as she shook her head and
motioned to his console. “You just mind what’s in front of you and let me do my
job.”
    “I’m in command, woman. Respect that.”
    “Keep us out of pistol shot, DarkStar ,” Lilia
ordered, “but don’t let them fall too far behind.”
    “Roger, ma’am,” the ship responded.
    “Now just one minute here. You’ll follow my orders, DarkStar .
Not those of a . . . a waitress ,” he sputtered.
    “When Captain Slone is wrong, sir, I’ll disobey those
orders. But until then . . .”
    Lilia grinned. “Like I said, flyboy, who put you in charge?
It doesn’t sound as if DarkStar has.”
    It didn’t pay to argue. Time was crucial, and he had none to
waste. Seeing Lilia was determined to fight him every step of the way about his
being in command, Stan groused to himself, then spoke to regain control. “Back
tactical out a bit. Give me a broader picture.”
    “Yes, Captain.”
    Lilia rubbed her temples with both hands, trying to ease the
soreness, but her actions were in vain. Thinking clearly seemed as much an
effort for her as it did for him.
    Panning back, the planet’s moon came into view. Lilia leaned
forward and pointed. “Get us around to the other side of Chagwa’s moon, and as
soon as we’re out of view, go to full stealth.”
    “Yes, Captain.”
    “Now, wait a minute, woman. We should head for open space
and run like nobody’s business.”
    “What? Why?”
    “It’s like I said, someone has to be in charge, and I’m the
one with the military experience.
    “So, it certainly isn’t going to be a waitress from
Seychelles when it comes to a military operation, huh?”
    Stan’s mood had instantly soured, but he couldn’t tell what aggravated
him more, seeing his own men trying to kill him, or suffering this young
upstart’s attitude.
    “It’s like DarkStar said, Stan. Correct me when I’m
wrong, but until then, mind your own station.”
    “Yeah, Lilia, walk us right into a trap, will you? I’m not
going to let that happen.”
    “Your men are behind us, Stan,” she said coolly. “All of
them. How is ducking behind that moon going trap us?”
    He sat hunched over his console. “I see that my one good
deed in rescuing you has come back to bite my butt. I can’t explain my every
decision, woman. You’ll just have to yield to my experience.”
    Lilia’s voice was quiet but confident. “Stan, let’s just get
through this. For whatever reason, I know what I’m doing. I can’t say why, but
I know everything from the ship’s name, to understanding what we’re up against.
Learn to live with this new dichotomy will you?”
    Naïve young woman, he thought.
    Fine.
    Live and learn.
    Who knows, maybe he was wrong. He shook himself. Blast! He
had to stop second guessing himself. He’d calm himself, give her the reins, and
correct any mistakes she’d make, then she’d come to learn why his military
experience trumped everything else.
    Then it dawned on him, naïve or not, she deserved better
than what she got on Atheron. He’d muscle past pirates and patrols; past traps
and hidden dangers, and everything else thrown at them between here and
Providence to get her to safety . . . and out of his hair. If that,
and that alone was to be his one good deed, then so be it. He’d make it happen.

Chapter Nine
    Blowing white powder a quarter mile into the air, the ship
exploded from the frozen snow with both Darts in hot pursuit. As the
other five interceptors took up the chase, Troy and Jessup headed for the
refinery to refuel.
    In another moment Stan and Lilia were clear of Chagwa’s
atmosphere, well on their way to its moon. The Darts struggled to keep
up as this new ship pressed forward.
    “Warning... danger,” alerted DarkStar as she swung
the tactical display around to the dark side of the moon.
    Stan tensed. As he had