Tamed By the Alien Pirate by Celia Kyle Page 0,35
on probationary status for the time being until I’m certain this isn’t all a trick. The credentials you gave us may have been forged, but they’re based upon your real-life experience. A woman of your intelligence and talent would move our program forward at much greater speed.”
“If you’re asking whether I prefer to be a lab rat or ply my trade, I think you know which one I would prefer.”
“Yes. I think I do.”
I flinch as he comes around the desk and approaches me, but then he thrusts his hand out for a customary shake.
“Welcome to the Earth First movement, Patriot Thrase. I truly hope I won’t have to cut your skull open.”
I take his hand and grip it tightly.
“That is a sentiment we both share.”
Probationary status. Well, it’s better than getting strapped to a table and having unspeakable things done to me in the names of information and science.
Besides, I know Zander won’t let me remain in their clutches, not for long. I am his jalshagar, after all.
Chapter Seventeen
Zander
Energy blasts char the stone walls of the flood sluice pipe, sizzling through the air and raising the hackles on the back of my neck as we flatten ourselves against the wall. I’m the first to return fire, electing to use the Raptor rather than the weak force pistol since I can’t really make out our enemies in the chaotic rain of fire.
Soon my fellows join in, and the sluice pipe becomes a hotbed of weapons fire, shouts, and drifting smoke.
None of us seem to be hitting anything, however, and after a moment the fire dies down. I raise my voice so I can be heard down the pipe by our adversaries.
“You Blue Dawn scum will not stand between us and our captured crew. To do so will result in your death.”
“Bah.” The deep voice that echoes back from the darkness and smoke most likely belongs to an Odex. “You will die, you ignorant puissant.”
“Hey, Brax, hold up. Did he just call us Blue Dawn?”
The second voice was not as deep, but also far more sensible.
“I don’t care if they call us late to dinner, Tur.”
“But aren’t we here because Blue Dawn kidnapped Num?”
“Yes, yes, yes, don’t bore me with details.”
“And they called us Blue Dawn…”
If we wait for the Odex to figure this out, we might be down here all day. I power down my rifle and sling it over my shoulder before rising from my crouch.
“What are you doing, Zander?” Solair’s mouth gapes as I walk out into the middle of the pipe with my hands in the air. “Surrendering?”
“I don’t think these are our enemies, Captain.” Raising my voice, I address our as yet unseen rivals. “I am Zander of the Ancestral Queen, and if you are not with the Blue Dawn, I am not your enemy.”
“Ancestral Queen?” The Odex sneers with his tone. “Never heard of it.”
Solair gets the idea, and he stands up as well.
“Hello there. I’m Captain Solair of the ship in question, which you have never heard of. And I don’t think we should be shooting at each other since it turns out neither of us are Blue Dawn.”
“He has a point, Brax.”
“Who is the leader, Tur?”
“You are, of course. C’mon, we can always kill them later if they turn out to be the bad guys.”
“Hmmph.”
Stepping out of the smoke into full view, a massively build Odex slings his equally massive rifle over his shoulder and glares down the tunnel. His nostrils sniff the air, and he growls.
“I don’t know, Tur. I smell humans.”
“Oh for goodness’ sake, Brax.” A lanky Pi’Rell dressed in loose fitting trousers and a tunic steps into view. Purple tattoos snake all over his ebon skin, and a contemplative frown creases his features. “They are not the enemy. Take a leap of faith for once, why don’t you?”
Solair starts walking toward their group, his arms carefully held out at his sides.
“Now your man seems pretty sensible. I would listen to him if I were you.”
The one called Tur reveals himself to be a Grolgath as he comes into view and speaks.
“Listening to sensible things isn’t Brax’s strong suit, but the rest of us kind of balance him out.”
Brax sighs and motions for Solair to come closer.
“Very well. I know when I’m outvoted. Gyn, you can drop the cloaking field.”
I start as a scaled Shorcu appears out of thin air and powers down his magnetic boomerang, a nasty weapon that can sever bone and tissue like a hot knife through Rauth