Page 53 of Zinnia and the Zombie
The gentle hum of the engines fell silent. In its place came the soft, rhythmic beeping of warning systems and the hiss of emergency ventilation.
“Jaxx?” Her voice sounded thin and frightened.
“We’ve lost main power,” he said, his attention focused on the few displays that still functioned. “They hit us with some kind of targeted electromagnetic pulse. Engines are offline.”
He tried bringing the controls back online but all of the systems were unresponsive other than life support. With both weapons and propulsion disabled, they were effectively helpless.
“They’ve overridden all our systems,” he added. “We’re completely vulnerable.”
Another proximity alert flashed on the screen, indicating the pirate vessel was extending a docking mechanism. A metallic clang reverberated through the hull as the ships connected.
“They’ll be boarding within minutes.” He sorted through possible scenarios, discarding each as quickly as it formed. A direct confrontation would be suicide—even at full strength, he couldn’t fight an entire crew. His priority had to be her safety.
A desperate search of the bridge revealed a storage compartment built into the bulkhead on the port side. It was designed to hold navigation equipment and emergency supplies, but she was small enough to fit in it.
“Here.” He quickly guided her towards the compartment, and pressed the release mechanism. The panel slid open, revealing a space just large enough for her to hide. “Get inside.”
Her eyes widened. “What? No! I’m not hiding while you?—”
“Listen to me.” He gripped her shoulders, willing her to understand. “I need to face them alone. If they sense your presence, they’ll search the ship until they find you.”
“But—”
“I can read their energy signatures, anticipate their movements. I’ll be more effective if I’m not dividing my attention to protect you.” His voice softened. “Please, Zinnia. Trust me.”
She searched his face, conflict evident in her expression. “What will you do?”
“Try to reason with them first. Pirates are motivated by profit—I might be able to negotiate.” He didn’t mention what would happen if negotiation failed. They both knew.
The sound of the airlock cycling reached them—the pirates had begun the boarding procedure.
“There’s no time,” he urged. “Please.”
Reluctantly, she nodded. “Don’t you dare die on me, Jaxx.”
“I have no intention of leaving you.” He brushed a brief kiss across her lips, then helped her into the compartment. “Whatever happens, don’t make a sound until I come for you.”
The panel slid shut just as the heavy tread of footsteps echoed from the corridor leading to the bridge. He positioned himself at the center of the command area, his stance deceptively relaxed but ready to move in any direction. He searched for theapproaching energy signatures and frowned as the inner door slid open with a soft hiss.
He expected a squad of armed pirates, but his senses had not misled him. A single male entered the bridge moving with a predatory grace. The newcomer was tall and powerful, with golden skin and a long tail that swayed slowly behind him. His face was angular, with faintly feline features—a Tajiri hybrid. His flamboyant clothing was clearly expensive, but it lacked the formal precision of one of the Tajiri merchant houses.
More importantly, the energy blaster in his hand was aimed directly at Jaxx’s chest.
“How interesting,” the pirate drawled. “I expected Grorn. You are… decidedly not.” Bright blue eyes narrowed. “What are you doing on a Grorn vessel, golden one?”
He maintained his relaxed posture despite the weapon trained on him. “The same thing you are, I suspect. Taking advantage of an opportunity.”
The pirate’s mouth curved in what might have been a smile, revealing sharp fangs. “A thief, then?”
“A survivor,” he corrected. “The Grorn were hunting me. I did not wish to be caught.”
The pirate circled slowly, keeping the blaster steady. His tail continued its rhythmic swaying, a counterbalance to his movements. Jaxx recognized the tactic—the tail’s motion was meant to distract while the pirate assessed his potential opponent.
“You eliminated an entire Grorn hunting party?” The pirate sounded impressed despite himself. “Alone?”
He inclined his head slightly. “They were… overconfident.”
“As am I, perhaps?” The pirate’s smile widened. “Perhaps introductions are in order. I am Captain Doren va Korr. And you are?”
