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“How did they know to come? You don’t think—?”
“They’re part of the smuggling ring? No. They’re here because I sent them a message.”
Alice peered up at me, agape. “You sent them a message? When?”
“When I knew we weren’t going to manage this on our own.”
Alice slapped me affectionately on the arm. “I thought you would be ostracized by the other smugglers if you ever betrayed them?”
“I would be,” I said. “But I didn’t expect to live through today, never mind get to smuggle another human female. You made me see things differently. What if it were you in those pods, only I hadn’t met you yet? They’re all you, remember? And that means I had to protect them all. Or, at least try to.”
“Thank you,” Alice said, going up on her tiptoes to kiss me on the cheek. “That’s for all us human females.” She wagged a finger at me. “But don’t be thinking they can all kiss you like that.”
I raised my hands in surrender as we limped across the depot.
A series of smaller ships—but still large enough to take on a well-fortified planet alone—broke off from the frigate and descended to the ground. Multiple hatch doors dropped open and soldiers disembarked and rounded up the Changelings. With us limping toward them, they didn’t appear to consider us much of a threat.
The soldiers wore thick metal plating for armor and rifles that could dissolve a bank vault in ten seconds. Two soldiers aimed their rifles at us. Just beyond them, their commanding officer gave orders. Once he was done, he approached us. His name was etched into his breastplate. CARVER.
He looked me over. “You’re the one that called us?”
“I am,” I said.
“There’s a big reward out for these smugglers,” Carver said. “I can’t give you an exact figure but it must run into the thousands. And then there’s the colony to consider. By the time it’s all told, you’re going to be a wealthy man.”
Alice grinned up at me. When I didn’t grin back, she frowned with thought.
Carver’s second in command leaned over and whispered in his superior officer’s ear. He checked the device the officer was holding and glanced at me, comparing me to the sketch they had on record.
I knew this would happen but I wasn’t entirely sure what would happen next.
“Well, this is a pickle,” Carver said with a heavy sigh. “My lieutenant informed me you’re a wanted smuggler yourself. Is that true?”
“It’s true,” I said.
Carver nodded, clearly disappointed. Then his eyes drifted over to Alice. “And who’s this?”
“One of my former captives,” I said.
Alice wrapped her arms around my waist. “Will he get off for helping you capture all these smugglers?”
“Unfortunately, that’s not my decision to make,” Carver said. “The Council will have to look at your case and make a decision.”
I nodded. The Council was harsh but fair. It was the best I could hope for.
Carver nodded to Alice. “Is she the reason you had a change of heart and called us?”
“She turned me into a better Titan,” I said.
“I can’t blame you. She’s a real beauty. She’ll still be here when you get back.”
“Wait,” Alice said. “Get back? From where?”
“From his hearing,” Carver said. “All right, cuff him.”
She stepped between us, preventing them from approaching. The soldier was strong, made even stronger with his mechanically-enhanced suit. I raised a hand and he pulled back.
I never knew they could be so understanding.
