Bad Omens (Slip Runner Book 4)

J. N. Chaney Copyrighted Material Bad Omens Copyright © 2023 by Variant Publications Book design and layout copyright © 2023 by JN Chaney This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living, dead, or undead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from JN Chaney. www.jnchaney.com 1st Edition For Joshua Bauer. Welcome to the crew. Pull up a seat! Now that you’re here, you’re family. CONTENTS Don’t Miss Out Previously in Slip Runner Warning Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Epilogue Acknowledgments Glossary Join the Conversation Connect with J.N. Chaney About the Authors Don’t miss out on these exclusive perks: Instant access to free short stories from series like Backyard Starship, Sentenced to War, and more. Receive email updates for new releases and other news. Get notified when we run special deals on books and audiobooks. So, what are you waiting for? Enter your email address at the link below to stay in the loop. Click Here PREVIOUSLY IN SLIP RUNNER BOOK 3, DEFIANT EXILE Cole and his crew landed on Empyria to find a fettered society living an outmoded existence. Talking with Empyria's citizens revealed the truth about August Walton's true intentions. After every Solstice the Eternal leader selected individuals he considered to be unworthy to be culled from the Nereus and exiled them to Empyria. The planet was cultivated and its new inhabitants forced to farm in order to produce resources for the unwitting passengers still aboard the seed ship. In order to keep the growing population in line, Walton prohibited the use of advanced technology and subjected the aerial attacks. Cole attempted to convince Empyria's leaders to join forces and fight back, but they refused, claiming fear of retaliation. This wasn't explicitly true. The council knew that a rebellion might result in a restructure of the power hierarchy and selfishly didn't want to risk being overthrown. This left Cole in a grim position. The Nereus was the only way out of the system, but taking on Walton with two ships, a small crew, and no allies seemed an impossible task. Until he made contact with Kame, Nadia's sister and a rebel leader determined to expose Walton and make him pay for his crimes. Cole and Kame worked together and planned a mission to reboard the seed ship with her group of rebels. It all came to a head when Cole fought Walton and the Cognitive Doris, ultimately killing the Eternal leader. He died for his trouble but was revived and ultimately recovered. In the aftermath, Nadia revealed that she had discovered a clue as to where they might find Anypsians. She gave Cole diaries that were discovered after Walton's death that contained information on his travels before settling in Empyria's home sector. These events brought them to the start of a new journey, one that will bring the crew to their most shocking revelation yet. One that just might have a universal impact. WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS ACTION, CUSSING, AND GENERAL BADASSERY. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. 1 I studied the screen in front of me with intense focus. Whatever move I made next would reveal whether I had correctly predicted my enemy’s strategy. There was only one ship out there in the void, and it stood between me and survival. “Riker, stop playing with your dick and fire already,” complained Lieutenant James Barrick. “Easy for you to say,” I grumbled. “This is your area of expertise, not mine. Pipe down so I can think.” When he fell silent, I again focused on the battle board. My quarry was cloaked but already wounded. The moon they were using as a safe haven had a deep crack running through its dark side. With no way to be sure which part my enemy waited in, I had to go with my gut. The tension was palpable. I could feel the eyes of my crew boring into me as they waited for me to make the final command. My palms felt damp, a sign of nerves from the battle. It had been going on for over an hour now, and it was down to this. I made my choice. After a quick swipe to dry my hands on my pants, I tapped the holo screen. “Fire at will.” The sound of a missile firing played over the intercom to indicate the action, followed by silence while I waited to see if my gamble had paid off. It didn’t take long, a few seconds at most, but it seemed to stretch into minutes before Poe announced the results. “Congratulations, Captain Riker. You are the Last Ship Standing.” I pulled my visor off and slumped back in my seat as if I’d just run a marathon. The lights were coming up, and Barrick looked less than happy across the way in his own command station. I shot him a satisfied smirk while the rest of the already defeated players got up and stretched. We were on the Roswell in one of the rooms Gray said was an all-purpose space, though I doubted the Anypsians who built this ship ever foresaw it being used as an arcade hall. The smart furniture had been programmed to recreate command stations so we could get more fully immersed in the game. Traversing slipspace for so many days on end made for a lot of boring hours. In an attempt to break up the monotony and keep his charges from falling into despondency—his words, not mine—Poe suggested that we start