Page 62 of Galactic Sentinels: Vol. 1
He has a way to give me back my freedom… and he’s choosing not to? Why would he keep that from me? Why would he want to keep me here, isolated?
“You haven’t told her what we’ve been up to, have you?”
“No, don’t worry. She has no idea. I’ve been careful not to say anything that could give us away.”
My heart pounds in my chest. He’s hiding something. Something serious. Something that involves me directly.
Suddenly, I’m back in the shadows of my past—Henri’s secrets, his manipulations, the way he used favors to tighten his grip on power. I thought Pherebos was different. Ifelthe was different. Was I wrong?
I can’t shake the feeling that I’m missing something important. Something that would explain all this.
I step outside quietly, staying close to the wall. They’re facing the lake, bathed in the soft light of dawn. They don’t see me.
Then Akifumi speaks again:
“There’s a big slave sale coming up in the twelfth parsec south. Thought you might be interested.”
“You did the right thing. Of course I’m interested. This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. I’ll be there.”
“And your guest?”
“I’ll take care of Ileana. Don’t worry.”
"You can count on me."
The words hit me like a blade of ice. My blood turns cold, cracking through my chest and soul like frost splitting stone. I’ve never felt this kind of pain—not even when I uncovered the Governor’s darkest secrets.
Pherebos… the man I trusted, the man Iloved… is planning to sell me at a slave market.
I feel like the ground has vanished beneath me. I knew he was involved in shady dealings, but I believed him when he said it was just counterfeit goods. Iwantedto believe him. Like a fool, I let his kisses and his carefully crafted tenderness wear down my defenses. I swore I’d never trust a man blindly again. And yet… here I am.
I have to get out. Now.
I rush back to my room, heart pounding, and slip on my soft-soled slippers to protect my feet. Every second counts. They still think I’m asleep—I have to use that to my advantage.
I close the rear window and open the one facing the landing platform. No time to try SIL again. I already know it won’t respond to me—it’s loyal to Pherebos. I tried everything when I first arrived on MyFaS. That ship has a mind of its own.
But Akifumi’s single-seater is different.
I sprint across the platform, climb the access ramp, and activate the lock.
“Hello. Where do you want to go?” the AI asks in its neutral, metallic voice.
“Show me the map of possible destinations,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady.
A detailed map of Confederation and Coalition bases appears. I scan it quickly. I can’t go back to the Confederation—Henri would find me in no time. I need somewhere remote. Somewhere forgotten.
I focus on the outer systems—smuggler territory. A planetary base, not a space station. Somewhere small, where my medical skills might actually matter. A place where I can trade knowledge for safety. A place where no one will come looking for me.
I select a destination that fits the bill. Isolated. Quiet. Far from everything.
The AI confirms the coordinates and begins the launch sequence.
As the ship lifts off, I glance back at MyFaS one last time. The planet that gave me hope… and then broke my heart.
I’m free now. But I never imagined freedom could taste so bitter.
Once I reach cruising speed, I finally take a moment to look around. This ship is nothing like Pherebos’s—sleek, cold, efficient. Definitely Confederation tech.
