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“Do not open those bay doors.”
The first officer and the captain exchanged another look.
“What?”
“They’re open, Your Highness. The AI opened the doors. We’re being boarded as we speak.”
My rage erupted in a scream. “No!”
Jessie had caused this. She would pay.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Jessie
My teeth rattled from the vibration while the rest of me felt like I was being flattened by the G-forces as the ship lifted off.
“We’re doomed, aren’t we?” A fellow captive sank to the floor and wrapped her arms around her knees. She’d been taking an early morning jog in the park when an alien man appeared out of nowhere and stunned her. My cellmates had shared their stories of brazen abductions.
“They’re not going to kill us.” I chose my words carefully. The chance of rescue appeared bleak. While the LOP’s plan had always been to use us as bait, the ship had left far earlier than the LOP expected. Would the league realize we were gone?
“Why did they take us?” asked an unfortunate coffee shop customer who’d been kidnapped along with the barista.
We’re going to be sold as slaves unless the LOP pulls out a miracle. Unfortunately, the organization with the spotty performance record wasn’t known for its miracles. Maxx, I’m so sorry for doubting you, and Garrison…I hope you’re okay.
The G-forces eased, and, for a couple of seconds, we floated off the floor until the grav-simulator kicked in. We’d entered outer space.
“How can this be happ—” the coffee shop customer broke off as a stunner-armed Copan slowed and glanced into our cell.
Go away. I disliked how he lingered. He shuffled away, and I expelled a breath of relief.
I needed to tell my cellmates the truth, even if I panicked them. Information had been withheld from me with disastrous results. Better that they were scared and panicked than ignorant.
“This isn’t the first time I got abducted by aliens,” I said, and their eyes got big. “Aliens have been kidnapping people for decades.” I filled them in on the cartel and the LOP, ending with a zinger. “The woman you think is President Erika Stadler is an alien. The real Stadler is dead. She was replaced by the princess shortly after the inauguration.”
Suddenly, pandemonium broke out on the ship. A klaxon sounded, and shouting guards charged down the row and thundered across the catwalk.
“What’s happening?” the barista cried.
I moved to the front of the cell, careful not to touch the invisible electrified barrier. I couldn’t see beyond the first few cells in either direction. But forceful, loud shouts emanated from the rear of the ship, and I realized the guards had been running forward, away from the stern. “Whatever it is, it’s happening at the back of the ship.”
Craning my neck, I strained to catch a glimpse.
Out of the commotion, Imana appeared in front of our cell. Before I could even blink, she pulled a blaster out of her skirt, aimed at me, and fired.
The blast rebounded off the force field, nearly hitting her.
“You said they wouldn’t kill us,” the coffee shop customer cried.
“She’s not after you; she wants me.”
Imana screeched with rage. She pointed her handheld at the force field. The hum died.
Oh shit. Oh shit. “Get out of the way!” I yelled at my cellmates.
Imana raised the weapon. The guard who’d been patrolling by our cell came running. He lunged and jabbed her with the stun stick. The blaster fell from her hand, and she hit the deck, her body convulsing. My jaw dropped. The guard grabbed her blaster, holstered it, then slipped his hand into his uniform pocket and pulled out a broach. His gaze sought mine. The face was unfamiliar, but I recognized those golden eyes. “The next time you get up to go to the bathroom, I’m going with you,” he said.
“Maxx?”
