Chapter Five

I woke up in a huge bed with silky black sheets, and for the first time in my life, I felt safe. Which was kinda weird and nice at the same time. I frowned when I remembered Jedrick had been mucking around in my head. What had he done to me while I was sleeping? I bet he had planted some kind of command to make me obey him.

Something moved across my legs. I took one look at the crocodile snake slithering toward me, shrieked, and rolled off the bed. I did a face-plant on the cold metal floor. Ouch. I rolled over and massaged my aching nose.

The snake peered over the side of the bed. "I did not mean to frighten you. I am called Chiara, and I was hoping we could be friends."

"Friends?"I stared in astonishment at the talking snake. I had always wanted a friend, but Mother said it was too dangerous. "I would be honored to be your friend. What are you?"

"I am a Shani from the planet Derak," Chiara answered. "What are you called?"

Her musical voice and bright blue eyes had me smiling. "Zadie."

"Are you injured?"

Feeling a bit stupid for freaking out, I got to my feet. "I'm okay." I looked around at the room. One wall held an assortment of weapons.Another wall was covered with pictures of scary creatures with sharp teeth. I took a closer look. That enormous Askole stood next to the obviously dead critters. Guess they were his trophy kills. "Where am I?"

"In Father Trayon's quarters."

"I'm surprised he didn't put me in a holding cell."

"Father Trayon does not lock up children."

His mistake. I got a glimpse of myself in a mirror and my jaw dropped. I wasn't covered in mud anymore. My hair was silver again, they had removed my green contacts, and I was wearing pink pajamas. I ran my hands over the soft material. I had always wanted pink pj's. "Who changed me back?"

"Soval removed your disguise and the tracking device."

"Soval?"

"He is the ship's medic," Chiara replied.

"Oh."I wondered if he was a runt like Max. My stomach rumbled noisily.

Chiara coiled on the edge of the bed. "Are you hungry?"

"I'm starving."

"Momma Jia programmed the food processor to provide human food. There are hamburgers, French fries, pizza, chocolate cake and…"

I cut her off, "All of them. I want to try all of them. Specially the chocolate cake."

A tinkling laugh filled my mind. "Momma Jia is very fond of chocolate too."

"It's the best. Can you show me where the food processor is?"

"Yes." Chiara slithered off the bed and I followed her into an eating area. I examined the food processor and to my relief, I knew how to use it. As my fingers flew across the keyboard, I asked, "What do you want to eat?"

"I ate earlier."

"Okay." I loaded my food onto a tray and carried it over to the table. "How did you end up on an Askole ship?"

"Momma Jia saved me from the slavers on Threll."

"I've heard stories about Threll. It was run by a Yagga, and didn't it explode?" I took a big bite of chocolate cake and moaned. It was so good. I crammed more into my mouth.

"Momma Jia blew it up."

I tried a French fry next. "All by herself?"

"Yes, she is a mighty warrior," Chiara answered proudly.

"I can't wait to meet her."I finished off the fries and picked up the hamburger. "How did you end up on Threll?"

"It is a very long story."

I looked at all the food on the table. "I have the time." I bit into the hamburger.

Sorrow filled Chiara's eyes and images flashed across my mind. I was suddenly there as the Rodan soldiers attacked Derak destroying everything in their path. Her horror became my horror as the monsters took her and the other younglings from the nests and stuffed them into cages. "Most of my nest mates were eaten."

The hamburger dropped from my hands as I caught fleeting glimpses of her nest mates being eaten alive. Nausea rose in my throat.

"The few of us who survived were taken to Threll's black market to be sold."

The images shifted and I was standing in a bustling labyrinth of stalls selling everything from weapons to food to exotic creatures and half-starved slaves. The jabber of a dozen languages filled the air as the vendors hawked their wares.

"They sold my nest mates until only I remained."

I pushed the plates of food back. I had lost my appetite. "Didn't anyone come to save you?"

"Momma Jia came, but no one was able to track my nest mates."

"What is wrong?" Jedrick demanded suddenly.

Was he spying on me? "Nothing."

"Do not lie to me. Something has upset you."

Chiara interjected, "It is my fault. I was showing her the Rodan attack on my home world."

"Zadie is too young to be shown the Rodan soldier's butchery," Jedrick scolded.

Chiara curled into a little ball. "My apologies."

"Did you forget I was raised on Gliese? Crom's butchery rivals the Rodan."

"Duly noted. The Rodan soldiers who attacked Derak were eliminated. Chiara's people have been avenged and the younglings who were killed, were given the proper death ritual," Jedrick stated grimly.

I wiped at the tears running down my cheeks. Those horrific images would haunt me for a very long time. "That might be true, but those monsters are still eating people. Why haven't you killed all of them?"

"The galaxy is vast and there are thousands and thousands of worlds for them to hide on," Jedrick answered.

I scowled. "I betcha you didn't know Crom helps them. A lot."

"Does he?"There was a prickly sensation in my head and Jedrick growled, "I will notify the Overlord."

Poof! He was gone from my mind. Chiara looked so sad, I picked her up and stroked her leathery brown skin. "Don't worry. We will find all your missing nest mates. No matter how long it takes."

Chiara raised her head and stared up at me. "Blood oath?"

"Sure. Blood oath." I yelped when she bit me. "Why did you do that?"

"A blood oath requires blood."

"Well, I'm not biting you."

Chiara slithered onto the table. "Father Trayon comes."

"Wonder what he wants?"

The doors slid open and in zoomed Father Trayon. His gaze roved over me. "I see you like chocolate." He picked up a napkin and cleaned my face.

I wiggled in his grip. "Stop it! I'm not a kid. I can take care of myself."

"That is debatable. Zarek requires your attendance at our war council."

"Why?"

"He has many questions about Crom and the Rodan. Get dressed."Father Trayon handed me a leather bag.

I looked inside and grinned. There was a black jumpsuit, underwear, and boots. "Wow! New boots!"

Father Trayon led me over to the bathroom. "Be quick. We do not want to keep Zarek or the High Commander waiting."

"Yes, sir." Once the door shut behind me, I eagerly removed my pajamas and tried on the clothes. Everything fit perfectly. I carefully folded the pj's and hurried out.

"You didn't brush your hair," Father Trayon grumbled.

"I don't have a brush."

Father Trayon pointed to the bed. "Sit."

I obediently walked over to the bed and sat down.

Opening a drawer on a bedside dresser, Trayon pulled out a brush and a green hair scrunchie.

"Is that for me?"

"It is." Father Trayon quickly brushed my hair into a ponytail and pulled the scrunchie on. "Much better." He scooped me up and held out his arm for Chiara. She curled around his wrist and off we went.

It was like doing warp ten inside the ship. Giggling loudly, I cried, "Whee! Go faster." And Father Trayon did. The hallway blurred around us. "Wheeee!"

He came to an abrupt stop in a room with a long table and tapped a chair. "Sit here."

"Yes, Father Trayon." I climbed onto the big chair and looked around. One wall held a display case with old, bloody weapons. There were scanners, monitors, and a bunch of viewscreens. "What are we doing here?"

"War council." Father Trayon tapped away on his warrior's bracelet.

I blinked in surprise. "Why do you need me?"

"They wish to question you about Crom and the Rodan alliance."

My stomach knotted. "They?"

"Zarek, Jedrick, General Jones, Commodore Zan, and the High Commander." As Father Trayon listed their names, they each appeared on different viewscreens.

I stared at them in alarm.

"Do not be afraid. Father Trayon will protect you." Chiara slithered across the table and dropped into my lap.

"Against Jedrick?"I cuddled her against my chest.

"Yes."Chiara wound her tail around my neck and rubbed her head against my cheek. "He knows we are friends."

"He does?"

"Father Trayon knows everything."

I kinda doubted that. The males in my family weren't the brightest.

"Am I to believe you called a war council on the word of a child? A child whose father belonged to the notorious Shadow Thieves Guild. Have you lost all reason," Commodore Zan's snapped abruptly.

Zarek bared his teeth in a predator's smile. "Are you challenging me Zan?"

"I simply want to know what proof you have Crom is actively helping the Rodan."

Zan was what my mother would call a dumb ass. "The proof is on my warrior's bracelet."

"Put the data up on the screen," Commodore Zan shot back.

I winced. I should have kept my mouth shut. "My bracelet is at my grandmother's cottage on Earth."

"Was Zadie's bracelet confiscated in the raid General?" The irritated note in Zarek's voice had me squirming in my chair.

"I'll check." General Jones typed into his control console. "It was, along with her gun belt. I'll have it downloaded into the system."

Chiara suddenly shivered.

"What's wrong?"

"I think I am being summoned."

"Summoned?" I frowned. "Like psychically?"

"No. My people can create wormholes to travel to other planets but only a few are powerful enough to bring someone to our home world."

"Why would they summon you?"

"I do not know." The raw panic in Chiara's voice had me on my feet.

I was vaguely aware of Zan shouting questions at me. "Can you stop it?"

"I am trying."

"What is wrong?" Jedrick and Father Trayon asked at the same time.

"Chiara says she is being summoned."

Father Trayon demanded, "By who?"

"Get away from her,"Jedrick commanded.

Before I could move, a gray whirlwind erupted around me. I tightened my grip on Chiara. "Who is doing this?"

"I am not sure. It could be the Queen Mother or one of her commanders. Something terrible must have occurred,"Chiara cried.

"What do I do Jedrick?"

"Survive. I will come for you." Our mental link snapped.

Bellowing his terrifying battle cry, Father Trayon burst through the vortex and tried to push us out. Instead of saving us, he got sucked down an endless black hole too.