Page 27 of Saving the Space Pirate

“Oh my God, this is so sweet,” I muttered. “But can we go now?”

“I don’t think so.”

Fuck.

If something seems too good to be true…

Then it probably is.

Princess Zurian strolled across the courtyard, a cohort of guards at her back. I really hated this woman.

She stopped in front of our little group, facing Yolanda. “You really thought I wouldn’t have you watched?” she asked.

“Actually, yes.” Yolanda shrugged. I was very impressed with her ability to appear unconcerned, but thenshewasn’t tied to a stake.

“I never trusted you,” Zurian said.

Yolanda snorted. “Lying bitch. You were totally taken in.”

“Maybe. It makes no difference now. We can go back to the original plan. I always liked it better. We tell your father you were kidnapped—perhaps we can send him a finger or an ear or…” She shrugged. “We’ll worry about the details later. But basically, he votes with us at the meeting or you go home in pieces.” She waved at the guards behind her. “Tie her up. She can watch the executions, and then take her to the dungeons.”

Two guards grabbed Yolanda, cuffed her hands behind her back, and forced her to her knees a few feet from my stake, attaching the cuffs to a post in the ground. Another retied Rekowski to his stake, and we were back where we started.

“Well, that went really well,” Rekowski muttered. “Great fucking rescue.”

“Almost as good as the attempt you made,” Yolanda snapped. Looked like the bitch was back.

“I wouldn’t have needed to if you’d told me the truth.”

“I might have been able to if you’d taken that job with the Federation like I suggested.”

“How was I supposed to know—”

“Okay, guys, just shut up.” I cut him off. But enough was enough. I really didn’t need this. I was going to die. I did not want the last thing I heard to be their bickering. “Just as a matter of interest,” I said, “what did the two of you see in each other?” I managed a snarky smile. “Oh yes, I remember—Rekowski does have a ten-inch cock.”

“How the hell do you know that?” Yolanda growled.

“Because he told me. Boasted about it. But unlike you, I have more taste than to get up close and personal with Rekowski’s monster dick. Hmm, and I suppose you are his boss’s daughter. You know, actually, thinking about it, you two are made for each other.”

People were trickling into the courtyard, no doubt to witness the execution. Though I doubted there would be much of an audience. This could hardly be legal under Federation law.

In the crowd, I caught sight of Sarah. Her eyes were red from crying, and she wouldn’t hold my gaze.

The end.

Then a ripple ran through the mass of people. They all looked up, and I followed the movement. From out of nowhere, the sky filled with ships, and a voice came over some sort of loudspeaker system.

“This is the Federation. Drop your weapons or die.”

All around, the guards were throwing down their guns. It was over.

Yay.

Princess Zurian stalked across to me, halting a foot away. “You think you’re saved? They won’t be in time to rescue you. You’ll be fried before they get anywhere close.” She held up the control unit. “Burn, bitch.” And she pressed the red button.

Immediately, I felt a warmth through my back.

Not good.

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