Page 26 of Neverwylde 6
Chapter 12
Sentenced
These people don’t mess around.Kelen saw the multitude of armed guards standing behind the clear protective barrier that separated them from the airless void of space. There may not have been exactly fifty troopers awaiting their set-down, but it was damn near close.
True to her word, she set the shuttle down in the center of Bay 9, and Gaveer helped show her how to power down the engine. Once the outer hull doors were closed, the bay depressurized. Everyone got to their feet and got ready to leave the shuttle.
Fullgrath stretched, then turned to face Kyber. “Argue all you want, but we’re gonna stick to you and the others like power magnets on steel. I think if we present a show of force in protecting you guys, it’ll make the guards think twice about shooting.”
“What if they think Kyber and them are using us as shields?” Jules brought up.
“That’s a chance we’ll have to take,” Cooter said. “First things first, I think only us Terrans should be packing weapons.”
“I agree.” Kleesod handed his blaster to Sandow. “We cannot give them any reason to believe we are dangerous.”
Massapa handed his to Jules. Kelen held out a hand to take Kyber’s. He hesitated, then gave it to her. Their fingers touched, and she almost shuddered. That familiar ache returned with vengeance, sending sheets of heat sliding over her muscles and leaving her weak-kneed. Keeping her face averted, she took care to shove the blaster inside her uniform. It would not do either of them any good for her to show him how she felt at the moment. She needed to remain calm and clear-headed, and aware of everything that was about to take place in the event they needed to take action.
“Do we need to surround them?” Mellori brought up. “Keep them in the middle?”
“I think that will only make the guards believe they’re using us as shields,” Fullgrath surmised. “I think if two of us each stick with one of them, we should be all right.”
“Okay, then. Let’s disembark,” Jules remarked, and took a stand next to Massapa.
Fullgrath and Mellori braced Kleesod, and together exited the shuttle first. Sandow and Cooter hooked up with Gaveer. Dox joined Jules next to Massapa, leaving Kelen and Kyber to themselves.
A small decontamination bubble was erected and attached to their hatch. Two at a time, they entered the structure to undergo a quick sterilization. The guards were surrounding the shuttle as they exited and gathered to wait for everyone to finish being sanitized. Easily noticeable was the fact that all weapons were trained on them.
Fullgrath stopped at the bottom of the ramp to wait for someone of significance to approach. It didn’t take long. A man wearing a colonel insignia strode forward. Both Fullgrath and Mellori saluted, even though the man was not their military superior.
Kiss ass every time you can,Kelen mentally noted. She and Kyber stood at the rear, observing every reaction. She couldn’t help but notice he was keeping his hands away from her for appearance’s sake. There was no way of knowing how the guards would react to seeing him with his hand to her back, as he preferred to do. Or worse, around her shoulders.
The colonel returned the salute. “I’m Colonel Pfeiffer. I’m in command of this outpost. Which of you is Lieutenant Fullgrath?” His eyes roved over everyone in view. Kelen recognized the voice of authority they’d heard over the comm link.
Fullgrath took a half step forward. “I am, sir.”
“Are you armed?” The man minced no words.
“We are.”
“Hand them over.” No please. No nice request. Any hesitation would have disastrous consequences.
Everyone removed their blasters, passing them down to a nearby guard who confiscated them. The colonel eyed them again, and Kelen could tell he was acutely aware of their dirty and ragged appearance.
“You said the Seneecians were in shackles. I don’t see any restraints.”
Fullgrath gave a slight shake of his head. “You asked if they were our prisoners, which they are. Nothing was said about having them in restraints.”
“They must be placed in restraints,” Colonel Pfeiffer ordered and gestured to someone on the side.
Fullgrath began to protest. “That won’t be necessary.”
But Mellori quickly intervened. “Hold off.” The engineer turned to Kleesod. “If it will help to calm their fears, would you mind being in restraints?”
Kleesod turned around to check with Kyber. At Kyber’s nod, he gave Mellori the go-ahead.
Another guard stepped forward with shackles. Kelen noticed Kyber and the others didn’t say anything or make any moves that could be interpreted as threatening. She also saw the colonel staring at the emblems on each Seneecian’s upper chest. Pfeiffer’s eyes widened slightly and he gave Kyber a hard stare.
“Done, sir,” the guard announced when he was finished. Pfeiffer gave them a final scrutiny and crooked a finger in their direction.
