Viking Unbound Read Online Free

Officer Frey. I am Director Mitzi Lahm.”
    “Director Lahm.”
    “We have received your data.”
    Frey stopped herself from babbling straight into an explanation and kept her expression serene.
    “We have new orders for you.”
    She braced herself for dismissal, but saw instead a new file icon appear at the bottom of the screen.
    “Read these, obey the instructions and then destroy them using FREN code TRZ9Y.”
    “Yes, Director. Thank you, ma’am”
    Mitzi fixed her with a blistering gaze. “We will be discussing your unscientific conduct when you reach Alpha Three.”
    “Yes, Director.”
    “Over and out.”
    Trying not to dissolve into a small puddle of relief at not being instantly dismissed, Frey opened the orders file and considered the few short sentences. She grabbed her FREN recorder, and as requested, manually input the series of codes from the file into the database.
    When the recorder beeped, she got down from her stool and unlocked the exterior and interior doors into the Viking’s holding cell. She wrinkled her nose as she stepped into the final space. It felt warmer than it had yesterday. She automatically checked the temperature unit on the wall and the ice for signs of degradation but could see nothing unusual.
    Except… she leaned closer to the ice, her breath misting on it. The Viking looked clearer today, and that was not possible. She could see the shaved sides of his head and the runes tattooed there, the thick sweep of long black hair hanging halfway down his back. Hardly daring to breathe, she pointed the recorder at the ice and waited for the four sensors to respond to the new commands as she circled the raised block.
    “ Hjálpa mér.”
    Frey went still. The telepathic thought was faint, the voice unfamiliar and the language unknown. She was fairly certain that apart from Slavin, there wasn’t another Pavlovan on the ship, so who was projecting thoughts to her?
    The sensors beeped and she jumped and looked down at the screen. Heeze , what was going on now? There were numbers where there should’ve been zeroes.
    After one quick glance at the ice, she went back to the lab and entered her secure codes for FREN. It took but a click to feed the new data back to the director. She waited tensely in her seat, but there was no reply. What the hell was she supposed to do now?
    Curiosity drove her back to the ice and the Viking within. Even in the time that she’d been away, the ice was even clearer. Three of the probes were now visible. She squinted closely at the still figure and finally detected the fourth device, which seemed to have been placed right against the Viking’s skull.
    It was winking red like a ruby, reminding her of the droplet of red blood she’d collected on her finger. Was that where the blood had come from? Dread settled low in her gut and she backed against the door.
    “ Slavin? Can you come down here ?”
    “ Is it important ?”
    “ I think it might be .” Frey hesitated. “ Did you pick up any telepathic activity earlier ?”
    “ Apart from you? No, why ?”
    “ Then you really should get down here. I’m…scared.”
    “Hang in there. I’m calling security.”
    Frey stayed where she was blocking the exit. She had the stupid sense that if she left the space the Viking might follow her…
    Within minutes, Slavin appeared on the other side of the glass with the head of security, a competent male called Brown.
    His voice sounded in her com. “What’s wrong, Tecky?”
    “The sensor readings have changed on the ice. It’s warming up. I’ve reset the temperature controls twice, but nothing seems to make any difference.”
    “Are you trapped in there?”
    “No, I just wanted someone with me when I tried to get out.”
    He nodded through the glass at her. “Then go ahead. I’ll cover you and lock the door the second you’re through it.”
    “You can’t lock this door. I’m the only one who has the security clearance to do it.”
    “Then get out of there