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And Alice. Every second I ever spent with her.
“Message received,” Computer said.
I snapped to attention and cleared my throat. I spoke to the remaining abductees. “Everybody get in your pods.”
They climbed inside. The lids hissed as they slid into place.
“Computer, play message,” I said.
“Captain Nighteko of Silent Shadow, identification number 96812. We have a package of human females for you to transport to their masters. Coordinates enclosed. Return to Earth immediately. Signed, Governor of Earth Colony Six. Service with a smile.”
Earth. The last place I wanted to go.
“Computer, send a reply,” I said.
What would I tell them? That I didn’t want to go? That they should call somebody else? That I didn’t need the money?
I sighed. What I didn’t need was an even worse reputation.
“I’m coming now,” I said. “Send.”
“Message sent,” Computer said.
I took a seat on a pod. “Computer, do you ever feel like the universe is conspiring against you?”
“Negative,” Computer said. “The universe consists of random acts that, on the surface, may appear to have a pattern but in actuality—”
“Never mind,” I said.
I peered down at the town and its frantic revelry in stealth mode so none of the humans below could see me. I descended to a large warehouse on the outskirts to the north. I disabled stealth mode and lowered the ramp.
A line of ten human females stood whimpering, terrified, with their hands clasped behind their backs.
“Where is your crew?” the Changeling in charge said. He wore a human male identity, middle-aged, graying at the temples. The kind face did not belong on a Changeling’s frame. On his nametag: Rogers.
“I had a disagreement with them,” I said. “I’ll pick up a new crew later.”
“It’s against regulations to transport without a crew,” Rogers said.
“Then leave the merchandise here and find someone else,” I growled.
Rogers glared at me. He knew I needed contracts from this facility. All smugglers did. He motioned to his men. “Take them on board.”
I watched the women march by. Tears streamed down their cheeks. They didn’t beg for mercy. They must have done their begging earlier and found their cries ignored.
I felt both relieved and disappointed Alice wasn’t among them. Perhaps now she had a chance to live a free life. With any luck, she’d be a hundred miles from here by now. That thought made me feel a little sadder.
I turned to ascend the ramp.
“Hold up,” Rogers said. “We have one more human female.”
Another human female struggled as two Changelings wrestled with her, dragging her toward my ship.
“No!” she wailed. “Get your damn dirty paws off me!”
I recognized her immediately, of course. She wasn’t someone I could easily ignore.
She kicked and screamed and struggled. A true warrior.
