Page 37 of Accidentally Abducted
Zeysor grinned. "Looks like we're going to have to do an old-fashioned stowaway trip."
***
My heart was beating so fast I thought I was going to pass out.
Supply carts were lined up, waiting for their turn to go up the space elevator to the waiting ship. They were going quickly. The humans responsible for confirming their contents barely had time to scan the barcodes before the next hover-cart came.
"We're going to jump on one of those?" I asked.
"It's the best option we have," Zeysor said.
The caravan of self-driving carts came to a stop thanks to a faulty barcode.
"Come on," Zeysor said.
We sneaked around to the end of the line, finding a cart wrapped in a metallic covering. Zeysor cut through the fabric and opened it for me to climb in. He followed after.
The cart was about half full, with old-fashioned mail, and packages destined for Earth.
Zeysor seemed surprised. "No teleporting post offices here, huh?"
"Teleportation isn't exactly common place on Earth," I said, remembering how regular teleporting around the space station was for Zeysor. "Many people still get their packages delivered by drones because of the cost."
"Hm," Zeysor leaned back in the mess of wrapped parcels, thinking.
I didn't have a chance to ask him what he was thinking, because the cart lurched forward suddenly.
It was moving forward through the line quickly now.
I heard voices outside and hoped no one would notice the small slit we made in the protective covering. I held my breath as we came to a stop, straining to hear what the humans were saying.
After a painfully long minute, the cart began moving again.
I let out a sigh.
Zeysor gave me a thumbs up. "Now up the elevator we go."
I settled in beside him, cradled by the nest of wrapped packages.
This wasn't over. I wouldn't be calm until I had my feet back on Earth, where the Commander couldn't touch us. At least, I hoped he wouldn't. If he'd been that concerned with the Earth treaty he wouldn't have kidnapped me. I hoped Greta was alright. I wondered if he'd sent someone down to find her.
"I have to warn Greta when we get back," I said.
Zeysor glanced at me. "Will she believe you?"
"I have to try," I said. "If it's not too late." I shuddered. "The Commander is sick if he thinks it's ok to abduct people just because he likes them."
Zeysor nodded slowly. "I thought we were past actions like that. The treaty is in place for a reason. I know many people were abducted in the past."
"And it took centuries for us to even believe it was true," I added.
The cart trembled and shot upwards so fast that the packages tumbled around.
I held Zeysor's hand tightly. This was not going to be an easy ride.
When we reached the top of the space elevator, we were banged up and bruised from all the shaking packages.
Zeysor groaned.
