Page 27 of Agrippa's Acceptance

Agrippa activated the cloaking device from her tablet. Anatu monitored from her own tablet, ready to jump in if any problems occurred. A small shuttle exited the bay to ensure if there were any spy devices around it would look as if the hangar door opened to allow several shuttles to exit.

The hanger door opened and they shot out into space. She felt dizzy and then her system adjusted and she stared out at the blackness surrounding the control room. When she’d realized she was stranded on a space ship going who knows where, she’d felt so afraid and vulnerable. Looking at the vastness of space, she realized how small and insignificant humans and cyborgs and Tunrians were.

“I already miss my human,” Anatu said sulkily.

Sargeant Bjorn muttered something from where he sat on one of the bunks, sorting through an array of tools and weapons.

“The cloak is holding,” Anatu said, tension in her voice.

Agrippa went through the ship’s functions on her tablet. “All systems working.”

“Course laid in,” Amelagar said.

They’d decided to plot a course that would put a planet between them and the clones line of sight every time Anatu had to go into stasis. This was a test run for the ship to see if they can use the planets for the times Anatu couldn’t be awake. They would start going into stasis in shifts, when they were assured the ship performed as expected.

They reached the first planet on time and without a problem with the cloak.

Anatu went to her bunk and laid down. “I am used to sleeping with my human. I like sleeping with my human,” she muttered before she closed her eyes.

Agrippa went to stand in the door of the bridge. “She just closed her eyes and went ot sleep. Can you do that?”

“Yes.”

She sighed. “I wish I could.”

He gave her a heated look that didn’t need words to translate.

They carefully adjusted the course they plotted on earth and then recloaking, they continued their journey. They all stared at the large screen in front of them. The clone ships, in their formation, looked like large beasts ready to hunt.

They tested the ship and did their drills for the next month, to be sure everything is functional before they went into cryo sleep.

Anutu was a wizard with the computers, but she was sullen and missing her president. Truthfully it was starting to flicker on Agrippa’s last ryhov.

“It’s time to go into stasis,” Agrippa said quietly, when they reached the third planet.

Anatu nodded, she’d had very little sleep and she and two of the marines will go into stasis while the next planet was between them and the clones. Even if the cloak failed, they should remain undetected.

Sergeant Bjorn tried to assist Anatu into the stasis pod and she glared at him. “Go away, you’re not my human.”

The marines exchanged glances and stepped back. They’d obviously been given instructions to look after the president’s wife.

Sergeant Bjorn gritted something that sounded like wrinkly and went to the other stasis pod.

Chapter Twenty

Agrippa had set her cryo unit to wake her every three months, alternating with Anatu. Their ship travelled at three times the speed than that of the clones. That speed was due to the inventiveness of the humans. That way they could monitor the systems, make sure they were on track with all systems working. Most importantly, they could monitor the cloaking device.

It was the fifth time she came out of stasis that she frowned and checked their location and then did it again, but the data remained the same. She looked at Anatu who wasn’t preparing to go into stasis.

“You brought me out early? Is Amelagar all right. And everyone else.”

“Everyone is well. The situation has changed. Bring out the others while I explain.”

She started the sequence that would wake Amelagar. Would he kiss her again before they went back into stasis? Her ryhov went crazy at the thought of talking to him again. Touching him, having him touching her. Would he kiss her?

Amelagar opened his eyes and stepped out of the cryo chamber. “What’s our situation?”

“The clone ships—”

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