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“What would you ask of me?” he said.
“Freedom,” I said. “Return me to my planet, my people.”
The leader shook his head.
“I paid very handsomely for you,” he said. “I cannot let you go after one mission.”
I darted a look at Not George Clooney, who shrugged. He brought me there with empty promises. Well, I wouldn’t be doing anything without assurances.
“Bringing the Titan’s mining empire under your control isn’t enough of a return on your investment?” I said.
The insect scratched himself.
“It is,” he said. “But only if it is brought entirely under my control.”
I had his attention, at least.
“And what does that entail?” I said.
“If he turns out to be a traitor to his new overlords, I want proof I can share with his people, make them see he is not worth following.”
“And if he’s loyal to you?”
“Then I want to know how we can ensure he will always be loyal to us.”
My heart rate spiked. I had no idea if I could do what he was asking me. But I was desperate to return home. I didn’t need to find proof of anything. I just needed to take advantage of the right opportunity to escape the first chance I got.
S’lec-Quos cocked his head to one side. It looked so human I was taken by surprise.
“Very well,” he said. “Do this, and you shall win your freedom.”
“What about my friends?” I said.
“What about them?”
“If I do this mission, I want them to go home with me.”
S’lec-Quos’s mandibles made an irritated chitter noise.
“This mission is for you, not your friends,” he said, turning back to his throne. “Enough. I have spoken.”
Not George Clooney shook his head to prevent me from angering the beast. But how could I not try to rescue my friends?
He fumbled in his pocket for the deneuralizer device.
“Then I refuse the mission,” I said hastily.
Not George Clooney shut his eyes in desperation. He was too slow with the deneuralizer.
S’lec-Quos paused and turned back to face me.
My heart was in my throat. Had I gone too far?
The creature did not descend on me, did not pummel me into oblivion. Instead, it just stared at me with those coal-black eyes.
“You will carry out the mission,” he said coldly. “You have twenty-four hours. You will discover the lord’s allegiance. If you succeed… Fine. You and your friends shall return to your backwater planet. But if you fail, both you and all your friends shall die.”
My eyes bulged.
