Page 42 of The Stolen Tribute
Suddenly, the lights went dim and flashed bright red.
Self-destruct sequence initiated via remote AI access …
“Oh shit,” I gasped.
Self-destruct sequence initiated via remote AI access … All crew to escape pods immediately.
I didn’t think. I just ran as fast as I could to the upper deck, where my crew was hopefully still waiting for me.
The sound of my boots on the metal floor echoed as I rain. I ignored the computer voice, knowing it would only distract me. I had to get to the airlock before my crew left, and it had already been a few minutes.
I jumped the last few stairs, arriving at the upper airlock, where my crew was docked to the trawler. “You didn’t leave,” I panted.
Trex, my second-in-command, smirked at me. “Do you really think I wouldn’t wait?” He asked.
“It’s been more than five minutes,” I said.
Self-destruct sequence initiated via remote AI access … All crew to escape pods immediately.
“Don’t argue, just hurry your ass up!” Trex shouted. He pulled himself up through the hatch and helped me after him.
The airlock closed with a hiss.
Grook and Tilez were already inside.
“What the hell happened?” Grook boomed.
“I’ll tell you when we’re safe,” I panted.
Trex jumped into the pilot’s seat and revved the boosters. “Where to, Captain?” He asked.
“Just get us clear for this explosion,” I said.
My crew and I used a smaller sized interceptor-class starship. It was big enough for all of us to live on, albeit a bit cramped and outdated. The paneling and finishes were not nearly as nice as the high-quality chrome that Zexian engineers used on the mothership, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
The engines roared to life, and our small ship undocked itself from the massive trawler.
Trex guided the ship straight upwards, putting as much space, literal space, between us and the trawler just as it began to shake.
A moment later, the giant trash ship quaked, trembled, and then exploded in a fiery ball. The flames nipped at us just as we got away.
We continued upwards, Trex forcing the ship to give us everything it had. The computers’ raised alarms, and the engines whined until we finally came to a hovering stop.
“We’re alive!” Trex cheered.
“Yep,” I said, having no time to celebrate. I tapped my password into one of the viewing screens and began looking around.
“Hey, where’s that human girl?” Grook asked. He always was blunt.
“She’s safe. I hope,” I said, typing a command search for other ships in the area. “But our mission isn’t done yet.”
The system scanned the space around us, picking up a corvette-sized fighter ship that was hovering a few kilometers away, heavily cloaked and likely armed to the teeth. Dal.
I brought the scan up on the main screen.
“That’s a Zexian G-9,” Tilez said. He was our resident tech guy, who knew pretty much every class and make of ship in the galaxy. “It’s well-armed and can carry a full crew,” He added.
“Are we going after that?” Trex asked, although his expression told me he already knew the answer.
“Yep. We need to go save Kylie,” I said.
“What happened?” Grook asked.
“She was taken. Tricked. She sacrificed herself to save us from the monster on that ship,” I said. My blood was boiling.
“Who?” Trex asked.
“Dal,” I hissed. “The scheming bastard that ruined my military career. I can’t allow another person to be hurt by his ego. This time, he’s not getting away.”
