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The other Titans turned to me. They wanted to argue, to make other suggestions, as their own fated mates were on board.
But I was their emperor. When I issued a command, it had to be obeyed.
I understood how helpless they must be feeling right now but I knew I was doing the right thing.
I decided to give them a little encouragement to ease their fear.
“If they make it into space, it’ll be a million times more difficult for us to find them again,” I said. “In space, we’ll be unable to fire on their ship. If they leave our atmosphere, it could be years before we find them again. In the meantime, we would be at Slak’s whim. I can’t allow that to happen. This is our best chance of getting them back. I have no intention of letting any of your mates get harmed in the process.”
A couple eased a little but the others refused to look at me and peered out the window at the ship below instead.
The Creator help me if anything does happen to their mates.
I got the feeling that if they held me responsible for the loss of their mates, it wouldn’t matter I was their emperor. They would cut through as many men as necessary to get their hands on me.
But for now, they were on my side.
“Take us down,” I said. “Tell the other ships to cover us.”
“Sir, may I suggest we set down behind the blind corner over there?” the pilot said. “It’ll make it harder for them to shoot us down.”
“Do as I ask,” I said, doing nothing to calm the chill in my voice.
If they wanted to kill me, then they’d better get on and do it.
“If they open fire, I want all ships to target their weapons, engines, and thrusters,” I said. “Anything that won’t rupture the core and result in an explosion. They have some very valuable cargo on board and I will not risk it being harmed.”
“Understood, sir,” the pilot said before issuing my commands to the other ships.
We sat down directly in front of the Changeling spaceship. It was an old model, fully capable of interstellar travel, but not at modern speeds.
I descended the ramp and wasn’t surprised when the other Titans joined me. They carried plasma rifles and blaster pistols. Ready for a fight if it was necessary.
I wore no weapons. My shield was my title and influence. If they killed me, they lost both.
I eyed the ship and the giant turret on its underside. It tracked us as we approached.
I was keenly aware every step might be our last.
Our boots crunched the charcoal gravel underfoot until we came to a stop a dozen yards out. The other Titans stood with their weapons at their sides, ready to fire on the ship at a moment’s notice. I hope none of them acted hastily.
“Hello there,” I said in a cool, level voice.
I directed it at the windshield that marked the cockpit high up on the craft.
I couldn’t see anyone through the window. Moonlight obliterated anyone who might be looking down at us.
“I am the emperor,” I said. “If you return the women you took from us, we will not open fire and you will be allowed to leave. All we ask is you give us back what you took.”
I waited for a response but none came. I shared a sideways look with the others. They shrugged their shoulders.
CRUUUUUNG!
I started as a hatch opened in the belly of the ship. It groaned loudly as it pressed itself into the dirt. I waited for someone to present themselves, someone to come and speak with us. Instead, there was nothing but empty darkness inside.
Did they expect us to go in there? I would be handing myself over to them. Was that the smartest thing to do?
“What do you think?” I said to the others.
