Alien Captain's Bride - Scarlett Grove Page 0,5

go home.”

"I can just imagine what Abby is thinking right now," Madeline says to herself. “If we were together right now, I'm sure she would be gloating that she was right all along.”

“Being right about an alien invasion isn't really something to gloat about," Bobby says.

"Let's try to focus on what we know," I say. “We were abducted by mantis beings who Bobby tells us have taken us for food. But if they wanted to eat us, then why didn't they just do it back on Earth? Why kidnap us?”

"Maybe it's for some twisted science experiment," Bethany says.

"Maybe they're holding us as hostages," Madeline offers.

"Maybe they're just saving us for later," Bobby says. “You know? Like leftovers."

"We’re all going to die," Sophia wails.

"Maybe they're going to try to breed us to get more humans, like breeding cattle," Bethany suggests.

The more I think about it, the more I believe that Bethany’s suggestion may be the case. The idea of being bred as a food source sends a shiver down my spine. I would rather die and be done with it than be used in such a manner. But at least it buys us time.

"I want to go home," Sophia says.

"Stop being such a baby," Bobby says.

"Shut up, Bobby," Madeline snaps. “You're not helping."

"There's nothing to help. Get it through your head. We were taken to be food. We're all going to die. If not today, then eventually. It isn't any different than it was on Earth. We’re all slaves. Except now it's just more obvious."

"Shut up, Bobby,” Bethany says.

“You are awfully nihilistic for somebody so young,” I say.

"I'm not nihilistic. I'm a realist."

I slide down the wall and sit on the floor, resting my head against the cool metal and gazing up at the ceiling. My thoughts are whirling in darkness, and I don't know how to escape.

The whole ship lurches forward and shudders. I fall to the floor and smash into Bobby. She grunts and yells at me, and I push back up to sitting. It feels as if the ship is now struggling against an opposing force.

Maybe we just jumped into hyperspeed or something. I’ve read enough science fiction to assume as much. The ship groans beneath me. Whatever is happening, it doesn't feel right.

A skittering and clacking sound comes from behind the wall. The mantis beings sound panicked in the rush of activity.

"Maybe they're being attacked," Bethany says.

"Oh good. That means we’re gonna die sooner. Except we won't be ripped apart and eaten. Now we’ll explode," Bobby says.

We all stare at her. I glare at the teenager. She smirks, and I roll my eyes. I want to tell her to grow up. But that would be pointless.

“Something is happening out there,” I say. “Let's hope it's something better than this."

4

“First objective complete,” I say, my voice less assured than my men deserve.

“Congratulations, sir,” Lieutenant Controi says.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, gentlemen. Our mission is far from complete.”

As the last syllable leaves my lips, a Mantis ship materializes. A laser beam blasts at us, hitting the forward hull.

The crew bursts into activity. I shout commands. Our deflective shields are engaged, and the ship’s crew begins the process of fortifying and repairing the ship.

“Life-forms aboard?” I ask.

“I’m getting no signs of humans aboard, sir. It appears to be an offensive craft.”

“Fire away.”

We open fire on the Mantis fighter ship, our weapons making short work of the craft. But more of the ships materialize and engage. Laser fire explodes from every direction. Our shields hold, preventing further damage to the Xojor, but with so many attacking, we are losing power.

We know that we will never win a full out confrontation with a Mantis armada. This mission must be quick before more ships are alerted. They outnumber our entire navy a hundred to one.

Our single ship is surrounded by a dozen Mantis craft. We are already outnumbered, and their weapons are quickly ticking away at our shields. We engage, blasting them into oblivion, until we are floating in a sea of space debris.

Another ship, shaped like a long cylinder, breaks from Earth’s atmosphere. Instead of moving toward us to engage, it speeds in the opposite direction.

“Life-form status on that ship,” I command.

“I’m getting human readings, sir. This appears to be a transport ship.”

“Are they female?” I ask.

“They are all female, sir.”

“We take the ship, recover the females, and then we return home.”

“Yes, sir,” my crew replies.

We give chase, the Mantis craft unable to escape our superior speed. We are about to