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"Not if you have tellic to hyper-jump," Navik says. "From our current location, I can have you there in seconds."
"And Onis. Where is that?"
Navik moves the map again with quick flicks of his finger. "Here." He points to a galaxy on the edge of the map.
"Why does the map end?"
"That's the edge of the known Universe. Nothing has been charted past this point."
"Why not?"
Navik shrugs heavy shoulders. "Don't know. Maybe because the next galaxy we can detect is so far from the last ones charted, no one is brave enough to venture out that far into the unknown."
We travel in silence, my mind roaming around Navik's words. We are insignificant compared to how immense the Universe is. I had seen all manner of bizarre creatures on Onis before I was locked up like a prized pet, and yet there is still so much out there waiting to be explored.
"How did you manage to escape Warden Hyt?" Navik asks as if he knew where my thoughts had wandered.
"Opportunity," I answer, keeping my gaze on the map. "When the prison break happened, Warden Hyt and the guards were too distracted to pay attention to me. The warden accidentally left my cage unlocked, and I used the chaos to my advantage."
"Sounds like you owe Ruze and the Berserker some gratitude," Navik says with a smirk.
"I know of the Berserker, but who is Ruze?"
"The Nomadican bliker that shot me in the chest and stole one of my Moktian ships," Navik grumbles. "Ruze and the Valosian warrior Warden Hyt deemed the Berserker, somehow broke out and decided to free all the females used as prizes for the winners of the arena."
"I'm glad those poor girls were saved. It isn't right to enslave people."
Navik's eyes flicker with a hint of something I can't quite read. "No, it isn't right," he agrees with a heavy grumble. "But unfortunately, that's how things are in the Universe. The strong prey on the weak, and those in power abuse it for their own gain."
"Not much different from Earth," I mumble, thinking of the corrupt politicians back home.
"How long were you held on Onis?"
"A few years, I think." I rub a weary hand across my forehead. "It could have been worse. I could have been given to the prisoners and used like the other girls."
Navik's low growl startles me. "Warden Hyt will never touch you again."
"Thanks to you."
Navik nods curtly, shifting in his seat as if uncomfortable with my gratitude.
"Qhix said you were going to catch me up on something." I look at Navik. "What was it?"
I can see his mind mulling something over. His wheels are spinning, but his mouth is tightly sealed. I'm not given time to wonder what it is he doesn't want to tell me before the ship's sensors beep out an alert. Navik taps on a screen to show the ship that follows.
"A Yulineon patroller has its weapons systems locked on us." Navik's hands fly over the controls. "Strap in, we're going to hyper-jump and try to lose him."
The ship's engines power up as Navik activates the hyper-jump. No sooner do I get my seat strap buckled than my stomach drops as we're flung through space. Everything around me is a blur of color, like being shot through a kaleidoscope. The stars become streaks of color against the blackness of space, and the ship vibrates and hums with power. My heart pounds in my chest as I feel the force of acceleration pushing me back in my seat.
The journey is over before it starts, and the ship slows just outside a different galaxy. I gasp for air, feeling like I've run a marathon. Navik's face is tense as he checks the sensors. The Yulineon patroller is nowhere to be seen.
"That was close," I breathe out in relief.
But our victory is short-lived as the ship's sensors beep again. Navik curses as he brings up the view screen to reveal the Yulineon patroller who followed us and is closing in on us fast.
"Bliking dund!" Navik's hands fly over the console as I sit by helpless to do anything. "Let's see how good a pilot he thinks he is."
My heart pounds in my throat as Navik makes evasive maneuvers through the galaxy, expertly weaving and bobbing to avoid the Yulineon's fire. The Yulineon is not easily dissuaded, staying hot on our tail, relentless in his pursuit.
