Page 41 of The Stolen Tribute
SIXTEEN
JAXIR
I watched the silver escape pod vanish. I felt helpless. Never in all my life had I felt like that before. I’d always had an idea. I’d always been able to figure out what to do next. Right now, I was lost without her.
I stared at the empty escape hatch, silent. Slowly, the feeling started to return to my body. Anger came surging forth, and I let out a shout that lasted so long I tasted blood.
“Kylie.” I panted.
I had to save her. There was no way this is how it ended. She would not give herself up for my crew or me. This was not the solution, this was just a minor setback.
I grabbed the bag of collected weapons and pulled on the door. I pulled with such force that the door sprang open and clanged against the metal walls.
So, Dal had unlocked the door. Had he truly left the AI or was he waiting and watching? I knew that scumbag wasn’t going to keep his end of the bargain.
I had to get to the bridge before he killed us all.
I ran as fast as I could, looking for an emergency portal for the intercom. There had to be something down here in the service corridor. No ship of this size didn’t have a way for the crew to communicate.
I ran upstairs until I reached the polished chrome corridors. I was covered in dust and aching from hauling the heavy bag of weapons.
Then, I saw the intercom portal. It was just a simple microphone input with a keypad. I hit the broadcast button, and the screen lit up.
“Thank the stars,” I sighed. I punched it again and spoke as quickly as I could. “Crew. Get back to the airlock right now. There’s been an incident.” I left it at that, just in case Dal was still listening.
Next, I went back to the control bridge following the stench of the gelatinous Mujugs.
The Mujugs were stumbling and squelching around the halls, unable to do anything without an AI to guide them. They left trails of goo whenever they stepped.
I took aim and used my laser blaster to clear the way. They fell before me, and I had to step over their bodies to get to the control bridge.
I’d forgotten the main door was still jammed, but this time I was saved thanks to the heavy tools and weapons I was carrying. I rummaged through the bag until I found a small explosive device. I slapped it on the door and then ran around the corner.
After a brief high-pitched beeping, an explosion shattered the chrome and plastic. My ears were ringing, but I didn’t have time to care.
Once the dust settled, I climbed through the hole that the small explosive made. The control bridge was just how I left it.
The speaker was sputtering. The computer’s voice tried to say something, but it was overpowered by the static.
I worked to reconnect to my crew’s ship. “Do you hear me? Control bridge. Over!”
A moment later, I heard my second-in-command’s voice.
“What’s going on? We’re at the airlock, sir!”
“Hang tight,” I shouted back.
I didn’t have time to explain anything over the intercom. Every moment I wasted meant that Kylie might slip through my fingers for good.
No matter what I tried, the computer system would not let me in. It was locked and totally inaccessible. Not even the usual backdoor tricks worked; Dal had it completely locked down. I hated to admit it, but I was impressed. I had always been a better hacker than him.
I slammed my fist down on the screen and stood up. Ok, so we had to just make a break for it.
“Get into the ship. If I’m not there in five minutes, go without me!” I commanded.
My second-in-command said something, but it was washed out by static.
I didn’t wait long enough to find out what he said.
