Read Online Deep Space Endeavor 3 Death Match by Ron Francis - Free Book Online Page A

injured. Who was that guy ? He wondered. Manny and four of his men went with the medics while the rest of his men took off to help Lieutenant Cheng. Charlie and Dane woke up the rest of Ariel’s bodyguards, and told them after they had dressed, to meet up at the med-center.
    “You tried to kill a very good friend of mine,” Jason said as he slowly circled his injured opponent. There was fire in his eyes as he looked at the injured assassin. He wanted to hurt this man badly, but knew he needed him alive to get some information from him. Still, if he could injure Ariel that badly, he wasn’t someone to trifle with, so he would kill him if he had to.
    “I still will,” the Dragon replied with a confident smile as he lunged at his new foe.
    Jason was ready for the attack and parried his strike. He came back around with a roundhouse right that knocked the assassin off his feet. He wanted him alive to find out who was behind the attack, but he knew this man was dangerous, so he was taking no chances. He kneed his opponent in the face as he tried to rise and then fell to the ground as the assassin had swept his feet. His opponent stood above him with a dagger in his left hand and Jason had no choice but to put two blaster bolts in his chest. As the assassin fell to the ground, the rest of Manny’s men caught up to him. He instructed them to take the body and then met up with Ariel’s bodyguards. They were all to meet back at the med-center.
    The transmitter alert woke Nina up from a light sleep. She had been having trouble sleeping since Ariel told her about the plot on her life. “This is Nina,” she answered, not looking to see who had called; she knew it could really only be one of three people.
    “Nina, it’s Manny.” She could hear the anxiety in his voice as he spoke. “I hope you are sitting down, because I have some really bad news.
    That is certainly an ominous beginning ; Nina pushed away the dread and the covers as she sat up in bed and asked, “Why, what’s happened?”
    “We uncovered a plot against Ariel and didn’t have time to warn her. We arrived on Telos while she was fighting with the assassin. I shot him, but he lived. The last I saw of him, he was fighting Jason. I sent some men to help, but I had to get Ariel to the med-center quickly, so I don’t know the outcome. Ariel has been seriously injured and is on her way to the nearest med-center now. I’m in the aircar with the medics. They’re not sure she’s going to make it. I’m so sorry I didn’t get there in time. She will have round-the-clock security, two dozen men until she recovers. The assassin killed some of her bodyguards and at least eleven guests and employees while making his way to her.”
    “I’m on my way to Telos now, Manny. Keep her safe until I arrive.” She tightly replied. So many things were going through her mind as she thought about her younger cousin. The Enclave had just unleashed their opening gambit in this deadly game of chess they were playing, and Nina would make sure it cost them dearly. She couldn’t think about that now, though, all she could think about was her younger cousin clinging to life. She had been left all alone to fend off the attack of an assassin that obviously loved killing. Where was her security detail? How had the assassin gotten to her? Why didn’t she just stay the night on Polisia? Question after question jumped into her mind and she had to fight the urge to cast blame until she figured out what had happened. She could hear the pain in Manny’s voice at not being able to get to her in time. She was sure he did everything he could and would need to make sure he was not blaming himself. If only Ariel had stayed the night like I suggested. If only I had made her. No, she wouldn’t blame herself either. This was all on Natora.
    She was about to explode with anger as Serge looked at her and asked, “What is it, my love?”
    “The Enclave got to Ariel. Manny found out about it, but