Page 3 of Abducting Sarah

The hum of my cockpit was a nice change from the unpredictable sounds on Earth. The way humans chattered was hell on the nerves. That forest had been nice, though—reminded me of home.Can’t wait to get back there and for all this nonsense to be over.

Egg-shaped glass surrounded me on three sides to improve my view. Unlike my boss, I was my own pilot, so my cockpit was designed to my specifications. Deacon’s ship was top of the line in every way and one of the most uncomfortable vessels I had ever been in. But he was classed and moneyed and with that came certain expectations. Apparently comfort was not one of them.

I flipped the switches for the power driver and the infirmary buzzer light came on. I hit the receiver and asked, “Ode, how is the patient?”

“Eh, not great. Can you come down here?”

“Why? I’m not a doctor.”

“Jacaranda Cozz, I am not delivering a human in her condition to our boss! Get down here!”

Turning off the intercom, I made my way through the ship toward the infirmary. No one was at their station, as I had ordered.What is going on with this girl that caused my whole crew to abandon their posts? Whatever it is, it’s not good.

I double-timed it to the infirmary, past the curved corridors and blinking blue lights. Shouts peppered with Earth-English obscenities came from the infirmary.They released her. Fuck.

When I came around the open doorway, I quickly took in the sights. Ode wielded a jet injector as she leaned away from the human, her blue hair dangling back and her black skin shimmering like crude oil. My crew wore black fatigues, all but Ode. She liked the white lab coats of humans. Even though Ode was two heads taller than the human, she wasn’t aggressive, and defending herself against a patient was not in her.

Sarah had somehow gotten a hold of a penknife and was swinging it wildly at Ode and warning her to stay away. Treg’s green, blubbery form stood between the human and Ode to shield his girlfriend.

My android, Camp Deo, hid in the far corner. Her copper machine parts shone in the bright white laboratory lights—hiding in the corner did nothing to hide her. Camp Deo, being a Deo model android, had no instinct for violence. Deos were best for analytics, languages, ship repairs, and other tasks that required a delicate touch. Wrangling a wild human was not in her programming.

My other crew members, Kapok and Tiger, were sneaking up behind her. Their family resemblance was obvious—like all Ladrians, they had an opalescent layer in the skin that gave them a shimmer, but their family was one of the last who had a purpletinge over their gray skin. When Kapok and Tiger were within reach of Sarah, she turned and nearly nicked them both.

She shouted, “Back the fuck up, bitches!”

I laughed and walked up behind her, tapping her on the shoulder. She was faster than I had expected though and whirled around and slashed my cheek. Then, appearing shocked by my presence, she dropped the penknife.

“I’m sorry—what are you…did they take you too?”

Shit, I still look human.I turned to my crew and said in Ladrian, “You have to look human, or she will keep freaking out. Hit your mogs.”

Each of them tapped the button on their belt transmogrifiers, and they transformed into their human appearances, confusing the actual human. She blinked rapidly, not believing her eyes. In the confusion, Ode was able to sneak up on her and hit her with the jet injector.

The human frowned and looked around, then she clutched her head. In Ladrian, she asked, “What’s happening to me?”

“I’ve given you an injection,” Ode explained. “It will help you to understand our language and to speak it. How are you feeling?”

“I feel a little…strange. Why do you all look human now?” The way her mouth chewed my native language was appalling.

“All your questions will be answered soon, I promise,” the doctor assured her. “Are you feeling drowsy?”

She stumbled against the exam table and frowned. “Yeah, what’s…?”

Ode signaled Kapok and Tiger, and they lifted the human onto the table, where she swiftly fell asleep. With the crisis over, I asked Ode, “What was she doing awake?”

“Do you have any idea how many drugs she is on? I’m amazed she survived the transfer beam ride here! I had to wake her just to make sure there wasn’t any neurological damage.”

“Drugs?” I asked in confusion. “Why would Deacon want some addict?”

Ode frowned. “You would do best to ask him yourself.”

“I know, I know,” I huffed in annoyance. “She was really that messed up?”

“Yes. I wouldn’t have woken her otherwise. I know better.”

Kapok strapped the human to the table, then stared at her a little too long for my comfort. I snapped my fingers at him. “Hey.”

He looked up with that glint in his eyes. “What?”

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