Page 45 of My Big Scaly Alien Naga
Then a crackle of static filled the room, followed by a clipped, authoritative voice.
“This is Commander Lhu of the Vigilance, acting representative of the Intergalactic Authority.We have received your transmission, Bloodstar.Stand by for boarding and interrogation.Maintain position and prepare for data transfer.”
“Wait, let me,” Venom said and rose from his chair.“Commander Lhu, this is Agent V-29@#1 of the IA Intelligence Fleet.I have been working undercover on the Kalumbu Space Station until my discovery.If you check your records, you will find transmission from me including emergency broadcasts sent via my implant.”
A pause followed his words.My heart was beating rapidly.What if they decided that we weren’t friendly?They could blow us into smithereens.
“They’re not taking chances,” Penny muttered.
“They wouldn’t,” Vruhag said.“Kalumbu is a nightmare.They’ll want to verify everything firsthand.”
Silus rolled his shoulders.“I’m already compiling the files we extracted.Trial manifest, contestant tags, the genetic tracking records.Anything I could grab during my last hack.Maybe that will help.”
Finally, Commander Lhu’s voice filled the room again.“Agent V-29@#1, please activate your communication implant for verification.We will send further instructions.If you do not respond within the next five clicks, we will assume that you are not who you say you are and will take appropriate measures.”
With a click, the transmission ended.Silence followed.
Venom hissed in frustration.“I don’t know if I can reactivate the implant that quickly.I need to focus.Calm myself.It doesn’t work if I’m agitated.Which I am.Very much.”
The tension rolled off him in waves.He wouldn’t be able to do it in this state.And we’d all die.
I took charge.“Everyone, get out.Venom needs space.”
They all stared at me in surprise.Then, Vruhag got up from his captain’s chair and gave me a court nod.“Do as she says.Clear the bridge.”
21
Venom
The world around me faded.I dropped inward – into the depths of thought, through the layers of consciousness and memory – until I stood once again before my mind safe.
I pressed my palm to the surface and thought the password.Once, twice, a third time for luck.
The safe opened.
Pain lanced through my skull as the dormant implant surged to life – a flare of pressure behind my eyes, my temples, the nape of my neck.
I didn’t know how much time had passed.I was vaguely aware of Clare’s presence, nestled against my side, her hand clutching mine.Without her, I would never have found the calm to enter the safe.She was my salvation.My everything.I hoped she would come to recognise that soon.
Dialling into the Vigilance’s communications network was surprisingly easy once I sent them my clearance codes.
I exhaled slowly.
“I’m in,” I murmured aloud.
Clare squeezed my hand.“Was that it?You didn’t even flinch.”
I smiled without opening my eyes.“I had help.”
A stocky male appeared in front of my mental eye, his face obscured in shadows.It was hard to guess his species.Exactly the point.Commander Lhu was so important that he did not reveal himself unless he absolutely had to.None of the IA commanders ever did.
“Agent Venom.I am pleased that you are indeed real and safely off that blasted station.What is the situation?”
“I have found sanctuary on the Bloodstar, along with several victims of the Trials’ game makers.Did you receive the data I sent before I was caught by the enemy?”
“We have and it has been most useful.We also intercepted your message from the planet’s surface, your witness statement.As unpleasant as your entry to the Trials must have been, it has provided us with hard evidence that contestants are indeed not taking part of their own free will.All in all, I believe we have enough data to put the game makers to trial.”
A wave of pride washed over me.I had done it.All those rotations of isolation and deceit had been worth something.
