Page 65 of Sol Survivor

Excellent.Vic bounced on her toes and tossed Drafe a grin.“And Tiny?”

“In hydroponics.”

“Hide our presence, Computer.We wish to surprise the crew.”Vic hurried along the passages and snuck into the narrow hydroponics lab, turning to usher the warriors in before closing the door.There was no need for anyone to stumble upon them crowding the passage.“Hi, Tiny.”

“Vic.”She faced the door.“I thought you… Nikko said we’d lost you to some freak accident.”Medical scents engulfed Vic with Tiny’s crushing hug.

“You did.”So the bastard had lied?Which proved Tiny innocent of Nikko’s dealings.“My tether was cut.”

Tiny frowned.“Cut?”

“Yes.”Vic proceeded to fill her in.“Which leads us to believe there are prisoners on board.”

“Us?Wait, did you say warriors?”Tiny tilted her ear to listen.“Three?”

Vic gestured to Drafe and his males to come closer.“One at a time, step forward and introduce yourself.”

Drafe cast a glance at Tiny but settled his gaze on Vic.His eyes darkened to a rich amber.“I am Meorri aac Drafe Arrak.Vic is my female.”

Her breath caught.Swells of delicious heat uncoiled in the pit of her stomach.Dropping her chin to her chest, she hoped to hide the shimmer of tears.Yes, she was his and happy to be.

“Oh,” Tiny gasped when Drafe took her hand.“Does that mean what I think it means?”

“More than you can know.”Vic threw her human arm around Tiny for a sideways hug.“Nenn, you’re next.”

“Describe them for me, Vic.Oh, I do love the way they smell.Like I’m in a biodome on Ganymede, filled with rich soils, succulent plants, trickling water...”She paused to inhale through her nose.“Volcanic rock.”

Trickling water?Vic glanced at the vats of bubbling water.And her dear sweet Tiny wanted her to describe them?Sure, Vic could wax lyrical over every aspect of Drafe, but she didn’t want to share.And doing so over the other warriors would be rude.“Drafe and Nenn are close to you, the others...Besides, we’re out of time.Will you help us?”

Tiny folded her arms across her chest and waited.

“Fine,” Vic huffed.“They have obsidian skin.Their hair runs from their brows to the base of their spines.All are muscled, strong, and skilled.Drafe’s a warrior guardian.Caah’s a tech guru.Nenn is like you, a medic.”

“He is?”Tiny gasped, raising her white gaze.

“Can you not see me?”Nenn gathered Tiny’s hands in his.“Loss of sight is no more where I come from.Allow me to heal you.”

She scowled.“With implants?”She shivered.“That’s a no, thank you.”

Nenn chuckled.“We regrow your eyes and encourage the optical nerves to reconnect.I will return for you when our mission is complete.”

Tiny leaned closer to Vic to whisper, “Is he for real?”

“Yes.”Vic chuckled.“Now, will you help us?”

“Sure.What you need is access to the engine rooms.Security was restricted, but last night, Captain just up and gave everyone full-access status.He did sound…odd.Anyway, that means I can appoint you as our new captain.”Tiny giggled as if this wasn’t a life-or-death situation.

Vic arched a brow.“That could work, but won’t Leah notice?”

“Why would she?”Tiny scoffed and waved a dismissive hand.“She’s probably got her boots up on the console and her nose buried in smut.”Tiny faced the nearest console.“Computer, set all crew to staff access, and grant Vic full control.”

“Control granted, Captain Vic.”

“See.Easy as that.Computer, locate all storerooms.”Tiny gestured to the console now flicking throughMula Pesada’sfloor plans.“I would start there.”She returned to clipping rosemary and placing the stalks in a bowl.Her movements were so delicate as she snipped by touch.She stiffened and titled her head as if to peer at everyone over her shoulder.“But Vic, what if you’re wrong?”

Vic squeezed between Drafe and Caah who studied the ship's diagrams until they found one large enough.Nearest to the engine rooms, it was clear why anyone would ignore the many heat signatures.She trailed a finger from hydroponics to the storeroom, assessing the least obvious route to take.

Realizing Tiny had spoken, Vic said, “Then we leave the ship without bloodshed.”

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