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“Intensify our shields,” Neloff directed Tandor. “They’re trying to scan us.”
“Already on it.”
“Torretian vessel, state your reason for detaining us or move the fuck out of my way,” Neloff barked, apparently having opened a comm-link with the other ship.
An image appeared on the main display. The male looked familiar but Jobek couldn’t quite place him. He had short auburn hair and blue/green eyes. His features were sharp and he had a golden cast to his skin tone. “I want the conduits. Release them to me and I will let you live. Resist this in any way and you will pay for your actions with your life.”
The arrogant tilt of his head and the wordy threat triggered something in Jobek’s memory. He sounded just like Emperor Jevara. Holy fuck, this was Verbet, the old emperor’s bastard. Jobek looked at Neloff. Did he realize they were dealing with Jevara’s proxy?
Rather than argue with the arrogant asshole, Neloff cut off the comm and ordered, “Fire all weapons!”
“Do you know who—”
“Yes! Now fire!”
Jobek fired on the other ship, pelting the hull with a variety of pulses and blasts. He hoped to hells Neloff had more of a plan than trying to fight their way out of this. The other ship was bigger and doubtlessly better armed than theMadelle.
Neloff dove, barely avoiding the other ship’s response.
Was he stalling, giving Cylex time to arrive and even up the odds? It wasn’t a bad plan, except for the conduits. If Verbet was determined to find them, they needed to be as far away from him as possible.
Neloff brought theMadellearound sharply but found a second ship blocking his path. He dove and rolled left, but a third ship appeared. “Fuck.” Each time he changed their trajectory, a new ship appeared until they were surrounded by six agile fighters and the original warship.
Verbet hailed them and Neloff reluctantly connected.
“Valiant effort, but you are surrounded and out-gunned. Surrender now. No one needs to die. I just want the females.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Neloff insisted. “There are no females on this ship.”
Jobek reinforced his mind link with Ansley then reached out for his mate.Are you with Cylex’s mate?
Yes, what’s wrong?
We have been detained by a group of Torretian ships that are looking for the conduits. He cannot exit hyperspace anywhere near the Citadel.
What about you guys?she objected, fear rippling across the link.Don’t you need help?
They will let us go as soon as they realize there are no women onboard.
Your message was delivered. Please cooperate. I want to see you and Tandor again, very soon!
“Scan my ship,” Neloff was saying. “There are no females onboard. We’re a trading vessel.”
After a tense pause, Verbet snarled, “Hold your position. I’m coming aboard. You must have a shielded compartment somewhere. I know you found those conduits.”
Dread jolted through Jobek. Their hold wasn’t shielded, but it was filled with illegal contraband. Not one to waste time or fuel, Neloff had collected a variety of exotic goods over the past few months. He wanted to make sure the trip was not wasted even if the hunter teams had failed to find the conduits. If Neloff let the Torretians onboard, they would doubtlessly seize the cargo and probably murder everyone onboard to ensure that they didn’t attempt to retrieve it. Verbet was known for two things: his ravenous appetite for carnal pleasures, and his bloodlust in battle.
“There is no fucking way I’m letting you on this ship,” Neloff told him and terminated the connection.
Without having to be told, Jobek began to fire. He targeted the smaller ships first, picking off two before the Torretians realized the negotiation was over.
“Watch for a hole and jump to hyperspace if you get the chance,” Neloff yelled to Tandor as he swung the ship this way and that.
Jobek fired off a quick volley and Neloff executed the next maneuver before Verbet’s crew could lock on to theMadelle’s position. Over and over they eluded the larger ship’s weapons while dealing damage to the surrounding ships. The warship fired a barrage of concentrated bursts reminding Jobek of how out-gunned they were.
“Gods damn it,” he muttered under his breath, but just kept firing.
“I’m rerouting energy into the shields, but they’re not going to last much longer,” Tandor warned.
