Galaxy's End: Book One by LeRoy Clary (popular ebook readers txt) 📗

GALAXY’S END

LeRoy Clary

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Galaxy’s End

1st Edition

Copyright © 2021 LeRoy Clary

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Cover Design Contributors: Karen Clary

Cover image: Used by license from www.bigstock.com

Editors: Beta Readers

 

 

 

 

 

Acknowledgments

 

Good books are a team effort, written by several exceptional people, all of whom have my thanks. This group sets my limits and helps establish the foundations for my books, keeping me on track as they progress.

My beta readers, Lucy Jones-Nelson, Laurie Barcome, Paul Eslinger, Dave Nelson, Sherri Oliver, Joel Mobley, and Pat Wyrembelski, all found lots of things for me to correct, and to improve. Thank you all. I want to publish the best books I can, and they are certainly better with your help.

My wife puts up with me and deserves extra credit for her help with the covers and her ideas—and she gives me the time to write.

And my dog, Molly. She sits at my feet and watches me write every day.

 

 

 

 

 

Books by LeRoy Clary

 

The 6th Ransom

Blade of Lies: The Mica Silverthorne Story

Here, There Be Dragons

The Last Dragon: Book One

The Last Dragon: Book Two

Humanities Blight

Nine Years After

The Mage’s Daughter Series

 

The Mage’s Daughter: Discovery

The Mage’s Daughter: Enlightenment

The Mage’s Daughter: Retribution

Dragon! Series

 

Dragon! Book One: Stealing the Egg

Dragon! Book Two: Gareth’s Revenge

 

Dragon Clan Series

 

Dragon Clan: In the Beginning (short introduction)

Dragon Clan #1: Camilla’s Story

Dragon Clan #2: Raymer’s Story

Dragon Clan #3: Fleet’s Story

Dragon Clan #4: Gray’s Story

Dragon Clan #5: Tanner’s Story

Dragon Clan #6: Anna’s Story

Dragon Clan #7: Shill’s Story

Dragon Clan #8: Creed’s Story

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Contact Information

Contact LeRoy Clary at leroy.clary@gmail.com or message him on Facebook at: LeRoy Clary's Facebook Page if you have questions and/or suggestions

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CHAPTER ONE

 

Kat

 

Brill held up a cautioning hand as his eyes anxiously searched for nearby security robo-guards floating through the aisles of the packed sports stadium built to showcase the best human and alien gladiator combat matches. “Tell me again why they won’t they catch us?”

I shook my head and explained without trying to restrain my sarcasm, “The fake tickets we bought were for unsold seats. No worries.”

“That’s just what the scalper told you so he could sell them to you. Besides, you know we have to take it easy. That damn judge said he’ll treat us as adults the next time we’re in trouble. That means he’ll sentence us to work-crews.”

“Come on, you don’t see anyone waiting to take our seats or reporting us, do you?” My needlessly impatient tone was never a good sign. He should know enough to back off before I lost my temper.

He scowled instead.

Of course, buying tickets from a vendor hiding behind a peanut roaster was dangerous. Brill was right about probably nobody having real tickets. That was the operative word. Probably. The rightful owners might appear at any time—or they might see us in them and notify the security-bots.

But the morning was young, the sun bright, and the smile on my face genuine. All the signs of a good day. I was the more upbeat of the pair of us. I tended to view the world with cheerful eyes. The day was ripe with illicit opportunity. Untended belongings, credit chips in plain sight, and unwary citizens ready to give up part of their valuables all waited for me.

Spectators packed the newly constructed Roman Arena despite the early morning heat. An unusual buzz of anticipation filled the air as people gathered in clumps and discussed the first bouts. Our wrist-comps displayed the details of the gladiators, their past wins and losses, the betting odds for matches today, and other information.

A Salado of undetermined sex held four paper-wrapped synth-burritos in an appendage as I approached, moving more quickly than us. I mentally suggested that it didn’t want all four. Two were plenty. It sat on a stone bench and casually placed two beside it, retaining the others for a morning meal.

As we walked by, I paused and pointed to the burritos set aside as I asked, “May I?”

The Salado flashed a toothy smile. “Please, I purchased too many and I hate to see them go to waste.”

I thanked the being and handed one to Brill.

He took it  when