Page 60 of Arresting the Warlord

“The dude must be loaded.” I ran a hand over the plush seats.

“He was. Zarek will confiscate all of his properties.”

“Keyan’s gonna be pissed.”

“The self-entitled prick thought he could defeat me and take my partner,” Jake snarled, taking the co-pilot’s chair.

I snorted. “Keyan’s not real bright and I’ve seen better mental shields on a ten-year-old.”

“In the last five hundred years, only two males in Drax’s clan have obtained warlord status.”

I settled in the pilot’s seat and drew on Jake’s knowledge. “I’m not surprised.” I tapped several icons on the command console and brought the engines online.

“Fasten your harness,” Jake ordered.

“Yes’um, boss.” I quickly buckled up. Hmm. First, I needed to input the coordinates for Zarek’s ship. A quick check of the scanner and I typed them into the navigational computer.

“Remember. Slow and easy,” Jake said.

“I got it. I got it.” I pulled back on the joystick and the shuttle lifted off.

“Not that slow.”

I added more power. The shuttle was a dream to fly. “Does Drax have his own warbird?”

“He has an old Macchi Class warbird. Why?”

I pointed to the console. “Someone’s hailing us.”

“Let’s see what they want.” Jake punched a button.

A harsh voice stated, “My lord, our informant has advised the prison transport will leave Earth’s orbit in two hours. The assault team is standing by to retrieve Keyan. Have you secured the female yet?”

“Can we say dumb asses?” I quipped.

Jake shook his head in disbelief, hit the transmit icon and did a dead-on impersonation of Drax’s voice, “We have acquired the female.”

“Excellent. Once you are onboard, we will set off the bomb Earth First planted on Zarek’s warbird. Soon Cantor will assume his rightful place as the Overlord. Transmitting rendezvous coordinates now.”

“Copy.” Jake disconnected the comm-link.

“Well, they’re a day late and a credit short, but that does answer some questions. Cantor was in cahoots with Drax and Earth First. Won’t they be surprised to learn their plan failed big time.” I shot Jake a cheeky grin. “This is too good of an opportunity to pass up. I say we pull a Trojan horse on them and arrest all the traitors.”

“Zarek agrees,” Jake said, inputting the new coordinates into the nav computer.

Was Zarek permanently linked with Jake? He always seemed to know what we were doing. “All we need is fifteen warriors to complete the deception.”

Poof. Fifteen Coletti warriors in full battle armor appeared in the shuttle.

Anticipation thrummed through me. “Woohoo! Our very own SWAT team. There’s nothing I love better than arresting bad guys.”

Chapter Eleven

Following the flashing lights, I brought the shuttle to a gentle stop in the landing bay of Drax’s warbird and smiled. A perfect landing.

Jake suddenly inquired, “What do you have on under your armor?”

“A tunic, leggings and boots. Why?”

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