AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Luka blinks. “You’re better off with a team. We don’t know how many there are.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I say calmly. “They’re all going to die. The only question now is whether it will be at my blade or at my stinger barrel.”
Thankfully, Rossa’s not there to argue with me, although I know she ultimately would never stand in my way.
“Satto—” Luka looks at Rossa’s second-in-command for assurance.
“Let him go.” Satto nods his approval. “The mating spirit has him.”
The Gemstone scrapesthe deck with a force that sends green sparks flying. If Rossa were here, she’d be cringing for her “poor sweet lover” and all the repairs it will need after this ugly landing. I watch the deck doors close with fidgeting fingers, but I can’t jump into the landing zone until the air has been stabilized.
A quiet hiss and a blinking green light signify that my waiting is done.
I jump down flights at a time to reach the landing zone. I pull on my stinger and throw open the door to the cargo hold. It seems that the crew had made sure to disengage all the exterior locks with their override power.
Things inside the cargo hold are deceptively in order. Supplies are neatly strapped in their proper shelving, and every corner is clean and untouched. But then, Dash’s cargo wasn’t what these petty thieves were after.
I brush by the engineering room, only checking for intruders before moving on to the more luxuriously decorated areas of the Gemstone.
I peek through the crack to see what I’m dealing with.
The hall is decorated with lush fabric panels and a gold handrail. Each door along the way is inset with detailed designs showing naked dancing females of various species. Directly ahead of me lies the arched entry to the bridge, guarded by two Plax. A third male is banging on one of the doors to the private spaces.
“Open up!” He yells. There’s a pool of green blood pooling at his feet. It’s seeping through the crack. “What’s going on in there?
I don’t waste any more time.
I punch the door-open key and enter the hallway with my stinger cocked.
One shot, and the Plax closest to me hits the floor with a particle blast through his neck.
Gruff Plax yells starts up, but not much is accomplished before I mark the next intruder with a blast. It’s not as effective, swiping his abdomen, but not targeted enough to kill. I protect my body with the door frame as they return my fire. They have a fourth companion on the bridge who they call out to for help. The door frame takes some damage, disintegrating on the corner as their shots land.
I listen as they argue with their companion about opening the bridge doors, but it seems the thief at the helm might be leaving them for dead.
“Can you at least open one of the other doors?” the injured one gripes. “We’re completely exposed here.”
“The controls are—”
I use their momentary distraction to shoot again, and they let out a stream of untranslatable curses.
“Hey, you!” The uninjured Plax in the hallway addresses me directly. “Let’s talk this over. I’m sure we can cut a deal. No need to end this the ugly way.”
I don’t know what leverage they think they have, but I decide to entertain their stupidity.
“What deal do you have in mind?” I call back in Alliance-Common.
“We have a precious take here, and it has a heartbeat,” the one on the bridge announces through the overhead comm speaker.
“I know what you have,” I growl. Do they think they’ve been caught in this ship by chance?
“Do you? Well, if we kill the female, you won’t gain anything. Either you play nice with us, or we end her.”
It’s likely a bluff, considering the trickle of green blood in the hallway. I have a feeling my vicious mate cut one of their companions open.
I laugh coldly. “Then show her to me,” I say. “Bring her into the hallway. For all I know, she is dead already.”
The two I can see exchange a glance.
