Chapter Twenty-Eight

My teeth rattled from the vibration while the rest of me felt like I was being flattened by the G-forces as the ship lifted off.

“We’re doomed, aren’t we?” A fellow captive sank to the floor and wrapped her arms around her knees. She’d been taking an early morning jog in the park when an alien man appeared out of nowhere and stunned her. My cellmates had shared their stories of brazen abductions.

“They’re not going to kill us.” I chose my words carefully. The chance of rescue appeared bleak. While the LOP’s plan had always been to use us as bait, the ship had left far earlier than the LOP expected. Would the league realize we were gone?

“Why did they take us?” asked an unfortunate coffee shop customer who’d been kidnapped along with the barista.

We’re going to be sold as slaves unless the LOP pulls out a miracle. Unfortunately, the organization with the spotty performance record wasn’t known for its miracles. Maxx, I’m so sorry for doubting you, and Garrison…I hope you’re okay.

The G-forces eased, and, for a couple of seconds, we floated off the floor until the grav-simulator kicked in. We’d entered outer space.

“How can this be happ—” the coffee shop customer broke off as a stunner-armed Copan slowed and glanced into our cell.

Go away. I disliked how he lingered. He shuffled away, and I expelled a breath of relief.

I needed to tell my cellmates the truth, even if I panicked them. Information had been withheld from me with disastrous results. Better that they were scared and panicked than ignorant.

“This isn’t the first time I got abducted by aliens,” I said, and their eyes got big. “Aliens have been kidnapping people for decades.” I filled them in on the cartel and the LOP, ending with a zinger. “The woman you think is President Erika Stadler is an alien. The real Stadler is dead. She was replaced by the princess shortly after the inauguration.”

Suddenly, pandemonium broke out on the ship. A klaxon sounded, and shouting guards charged down the row and thundered across the catwalk.

“What’s happening?” the barista cried.

I moved to the front of the cell, careful not to touch the invisible electrified barrier. I couldn’t see beyond the first few cells in either direction. But forceful, loud shouts emanated from the rear of the ship, and I realized the guards had been running forward, away from the stern. “Whatever it is, it’s happening at the back of the ship.”

Craning my neck, I strained to catch a glimpse.

Out of the commotion, Imana appeared in front of our cell. Before I could even blink, she pulled a blaster out of her skirt, aimed at me, and fired.

The blast rebounded off the force field, nearly hitting her.

“You said they wouldn’t kill us,” the coffee shop customer cried.

“She’s not after you; she wants me.”

Imana screeched with rage. She pointed her handheld at the force field. The hum died.

Oh shit. Oh shit. “Get out of the way!” I yelled at my cellmates.

Imana raised the weapon. The guard who’d been patrolling by our cell came running. He lunged and jabbed her with the stun stick. The blaster fell from her hand, and she hit the deck, her body convulsing. My jaw dropped. The guard grabbed her blaster, holstered it, then slipped his hand into his uniform pocket and pulled out a broach. His gaze sought mine. The face was unfamiliar, but I recognized those golden eyes. “The next time you get up to go to the bathroom, I’m going with you,” he said.

“Maxx?”

“Maxx,” he confirmed.

I leaped out of the deactivated cell and flung myself into his arms to the gasps of my astonished cellmates. “How did you get here? What’s going on?”

A contingent of purple-uniformed men strode down the corridor. “Are they LOP?”

“Yes.” He smiled.

I turned to look at my cellmates. “The cavalry is here!”

Three agents halted beside Imana’s twitching body. One of them addressed her in Ara-Cope then said in Terran Universal, “Princess Imana of the Kingdom of Copa, planet Nomoru, you are under arrest for trafficking in sentient alien species, kidnapping, impersonating a government official, and homicide.” They snapped electronic cuffs around her wrists. Two agents each grabbed an arm and hauled her away.

One agent remained. Judging from the braid and decorative insignia on his uniform, I guessed he was a high-ranking official. Of course, the brass would get personally involved in the capture of an infamous criminal. He had three eyes, and serpentine antennas twisted atop his bulbous grayish-blue head.

“May I introduce my superior, Commander Jovi,” Maxx said, and then pulled Imana’s broach from his pocket and flicked a tiny switch on the device. In an instant, he transformed into the man I recognized. My cellmates gawked. He passed the broach to his superior. “Here’s the hologram device Imana used to impersonate President Erika Stadler.”

“Are we free now?” the jogger asked.

“After we secure the ship and document the evidence, the vessel will return to New Terra where you’ll be debriefed and released,” Jovi said in accented Terran Universal.

“Debriefed? You mean, wipe our memories like you did with the repatriated Star Cross passengers?” I glowered. I didn’t have Giselle’s antidote! Would I forget the past few days? Would I forget Maxx?

“No. Some of the abductees may be called upon to testify before the tribunal. Many changes are coming. I predict the near future will be a lot different.” Jovi looked at Maxx. “Good work. We couldn’t have done it without you delaying the ship and disabling the shimmer.”

“Garrison Keller and I were a team. We worked hand in hand. Jessie is the one who acquired Imana’s hologram device, and undercover agent Phanx played a critical role by deactivating the shimmer.”

“Duly noted.” Jovi nodded and strode away.

“Garrison’s okay, then?” I asked.

He nodded. “He’s fine. After dropping me off, he went to the safe house to wait it out since Imana’s men were searching for him.”

I sighed with relief. “I’m so glad. I was so worried about him. Who’s Agent Phanx?”

“This ship’s first officer. He’s LOP. I told you we’d been working this for a while and had multiple people involved,” he explained, and then held up his hand. “I know you have a lot of questions. I promise, this time I’ll answer them all, but I can’t do it right now. I have to help secure the ship and then assist with the interrogation.”

“I understand.” I also understood that, as this mission came to an end, so did his time on New Terra. My heart panged.

He turned to my wide-eyed cellmates. “I know you’re anxious. You’re all safe now. Please remain here until you’re approached by an LOP officer. You’ll recognize them by the purple uniforms.”

Maxx looked at me again. “We’ll talk soon.” Amber eyes heated with emotion, but I feared reading too much into it.

“I’m sorry for doubting you and shocking you with the stunner,” I said, compelled to apologize while I had the chance. I wasn’t taking anything for granted anymore. No more assumptions.

“Apology accepted. The rest can wait.”