5
Austin’s shoes pounded the treadmill’s rubber surface. Sweat beaded on his forehead, dripping down his nose as he started a fifth mile. Music blared into his ears, propelling him to run faster. The workout mix had been the same since he played baseball in high school. It made him feel at home.
No one else exercised in the workout facility. After spending the morning in the UV room to grab his required minutes of Vitamin D, Austin had rushed to the gym to run. Over the past month, he had grown to love this time in the early morning. Other than the occasional officer who couldn’t sleep, it was a time when most Star Runners not on duty were asleep in their racks. The only sound in the hallway was the Formidable’s engines rumbling.
After his workout, Austin would settle in to study the ne
