Page 54 of Bound to the Alien King
“Hm.Doubtful, since I’m arresting all of you for aiding in the escape of two Faid.”
I quaked with the need to lunge forward and end him where he stood, despite the spray of bullets I would summon if I so much as moved.I wanted to see his realization that he should’venevereven uttered my daughter’s name.I thirsted for his blood on my hands while I made him regret ever hurting Nera too.
What kind of monster was he anyway?What kind of man knowingly stood by the people who’d engineered the death of his daughter?
As if sensing my fury, Nera moved to my side, slipped her fingers into mine, and squeezed reassuringly.
“Wait, did you say two Faid?”Umo asked, still puffing his cigar with his arms raised over his head.“What’s the meaning of this?There are no Faid here on this show.”
“And even if there were,” Nera said, shrugging casually, “we’re all back now.No one escaped here, so put your guns away.Besides, is this any way to treat the former members of your crew?”
Every one of them glared at him, practically vibrating with wrath.
Mike Early didn’t even spare them a glance.“They’re traitors, just like you are.”
Pete stepped forward then, his face pale yet his expression resolute.“We will not be intimidated by threats; come what may, justicewillprevail.”
Rolling her eyes, Nera held her chin high while her body radiated fierce determination.
“You won’t get away with this,” she said firmly.“We have evidence of what you did to the ships before we crashed.Plus, your assassin spilled alotof beans.”
“His word is useless compared to Earth Space Fleet.”Early laughed coldly.“And if you’re referring to those cameras inside theOdessa, I’m afraid that they are broken beyond repair.”
Nera smiled slightly, a predatory gleam in her eye.“That’s where you’re wrong.”
She pulled out a data drive from her pocket and waved it at him triumphantly before slipping it back into place.
Some of the officers exchanged nervous glances.
They could either take us hostage until they could control what evidence came out about them and then kill us, or we could control the narrative on live TV where they wouldn’t dare kill us.Yet.Maybe not ever if we gave the viewers one hell of a show.
The problem was the only camera drones I saw were switched off and lying uselessly on the stage.
“So what’ll it be?”Nera said, her voice steady.“Or are we just going to stand here all night with our thumbs up our asses?”
Miekil’s green gaze sought out mine, narrowed and calculating as always.So what’s the plan here?I could practically hear him asking.
The plan was to send an email.With my Faid tech, I pulled up the email program inside my mind and tapped out a quick message with a couple of flicks of my eyes across the keyboard.
Email date: 7/30/2640
From: [email protected]
Subject: Please
Rain, if you can hack into the drone cameras, I might be able to get Nera out of this alive.
As if my message had summoned her, Rain stepped out from the jungle wall behind the stage with Nera’s cat perched on her shoulders.Her sensible shoes were silent on the wooden planks.Dressed in overalls, she looked like she was ready to get to work.
“Done,” she announced.
One second later, every single camera drone lifted into the air.Several of Earth Space Fleet’s officers’ guns wavered as they eyed the cameras nervously.Others aimed their guns at the cameras.A few glared at Rain and swiveled their weapons to her.
Pete winked at the nearest camera.“We’re live, baby.”
“If you shoot those drones, I’ll sue your asses for damage to private property,” Umo yelled, though his beady eyes flashed dollar signs at capturing all of this on live TV.“These damn cameras cost more than double your salaries.I guarantee it.”
