Page 48 of Stealing Jia

Slurppp!It was like going from zero to warp drive in ten seconds flat. The horrific, twisting funnel of energy rocketed us across a weird black void and dumped us on the bridge of Trayon’s battle cruiser. “Get us out of here.”

Trayon erupted out of the command chair. “What is wrong?”

“The warp drive on the Rodan ship we just left is going to explode in about seven minutes.”

“Hard about 180 degrees. Go to warp twelve and notify Zarek,”Trayon ordered.

The navigations officer quickly obeyed.

The Rodan Commander appeared the view screen. “Running won’t save you.”

Chiara hissed at him.

I gave him the one finger salute. “Maybe not but it doesn’t matter, you’re all dead aliens walking.”

Trayon quickly disconnected the vid feed. “Explain your actions.”

On another screen I noticed Zarek’s warbird was streaking after us. “I left three thermite grenades on that middle ship.” I glanced down at the timer on my gauntlet. “They will blow in three, two, one.” I turned my attention to the ship’s main view screen. The Rodan battle cruiser vanished in a nimbus of white-hot gases and debris. Machinery and pieces of the hull slammed into the other ships.

“The explosion took down their shields and severely damaged three of the ships,” the navigations officer advised.

Which was why they weren’t chasing after us. I did a little happy dance.

Trayon’s furious yellow eyes fixed on me and he berated me mentally, “Have you lost all sense? Even I would not board an enemy vessel alone.”

Adoz’s and LeeLee’s heads poked out of my pocket. I placed them on my shoulder. “I wasn’t alone, and you can yell at me later.”I turned to the main view screen.“That warp drive is about to go boom.”And it did.

A blinding flash was followed by brilliant billows of yellow and orange flames erupting from the disintegrating spacecraft. The searing inferno engulfed the other Rodan ships and they disappeared in the growing debris field.

Shock waves from the explosions violently shook our ship.

I hung onto the command chair and grinned in delight. “And Cason’s biological father is no more.”

“He was the Rodan commander who attacked my home,”Chiara announced.

What were the odds? I stroked her head. “You have avenged your people.”

“But they are still dead,”Chiara said sadly.

And there was nothing I could do to change that fact. “Sorry cara.”

Bey jumped on my chest and bared his fangs. “You took a youngling into battle!”

“Not on purpose.”I tried to pry him off my armor, but it was like he was glued on.

LeeLee skittered down to him. “Momma Jia not know. She need me.”

“Yes, I did. Your web balls saved the day.”I stroked her silky fur.

Adoz chirped.

“And your fire was exactly what we needed.”

Adoz preened.

Trayon’s tentacles squirmed wildly around his face. “How many soldiers did you encounter?”

“Only two.”

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