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
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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
