Page 20 of Becoming Brandy

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The ship shook again,this time more violently. Wrek opened the wall and started through it.

“Wait,” Brandy called. “What do I do?”

He turned as if he’d forgotten she was there. “Stay safe.” Then he bolted out of the room and sprinted down the hall.

Brandy ran to the entrance, but the ship rocked again, pitching her onto the floor. While the ship rumbled, she stayed on her knees, starting a prayer she hadn’t spoken in years. They were going down. She was going to die. Hail Mary, full of grace…

But the ship leveled off and the rumbling stopped. She stood up, clinging to the wall. When the ship didn’t toss her to the ground, she left the room and continued toward where she’d seen Wrek disappear.

The walls were pulsing a purplish-red. There were no alarms going off that she could hear, but walls were opening and aliens, both humanoid and beast, were exiting them. At first, Brandy was nervous she’d meet one like the monster that had attacked Drake, but they were all too busy to notice her. It took her a while to find the bridge, the place where she’d first been beamed on board.

It was in pure panic mode. Aliens were rushing around, tending to symbols on the walls that were flashing red. Wrek had his hands on a large white board rising out of the floor. He was clearly doing something important judging by his expression. Tork rushed in, pulling a shirt over his impressive muscles. He went right to Wrek, and they started talking in hushed tones.

Brandy huddled against the wall, not moving. She didn’t want to be noticed or pushed out, but she also wanted to be close if Han came aboard. Excitement built in her chest. Han was coming to get her.

But as the ship rocked again and more warning signs flashed, it occurred to her that maybe he wasn’t coming to get her. Maybe he was just here to destroy them. After all, if Drake was after Charis, it would be easier to blow up the whole ship than to attempt a rescue. Han could abduct Charis a new best friend.

She felt chilled to the bone as she thought about it. Would Han simply destroy everyone?

“He’s hailing us,” Wrek said, turning to Tork.

He frowned. “Put the bastard on.”

Wrek raised an eyebrow, but Tork insisted. “Do it. I want to talk to him.”

“What will Drake say?”

“Do it!” Tork ordered.

The large blank wall at the front of the room suddenly turned into a screen. Han’s face appeared. Boy, did he seem pissed.

“Han,” Tork said, stepping up with his hands casually behind his back. “Nice of you to call, cousin. It’s been, what? Ten years.”

“Save the bullshit,” Han fumed. “How dare you attack our ship and transport one of our own off-board.”

“To be technical,” Wrek said, stepping beside Tork, “she was not one of your own. As a human, she has no laws governing her removal.”

“You know what I mean,” Han said through his teeth. “You cannot beam anyone off our ship. There are laws forbidding unlawful removal.”

Wrek clammed up fast, but Tork continued. “You abducted her from Earth. We abducted her from you. Seems pretty even, don’t you think?”

“No!” Han banged his fist on something off screen. “You had no right. I am king—”

“Will be king,” Tork said, cutting him off, “when the little tyke arrives. And how is your mate? Under the weather, I hear.”

“Don’t you dare talk about Charis. I know this abduction had something to do with her.”

Tork’s expression was one of mock innocence. “I have no idea what you mean.”

“Enough of this. Where is Drake? I want to speak to him. Now.”

Tork shrugged. “Drake is busy. He has better things to do.”

“Tell him he better find time to talk to me or these little warning shots,” he jabbed his finger angrily in their direction, “are just the tip of the iceberg.” He gazed around. “Where is she?”

“Who?” Tork asked, studying his nails like this whole thing bored him.

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