Page 7 of Taken By The Alien Warrior Pirate

I was sure that if Cyburn deemed him worthy enough to be on his crew, then there had to be an important reason for it.

“We’re trying to turn the ship around right now,” Cyburn explained. “It’s proving to be more challenging than we initially thought because there is an issue with one of the mainframe engines. I have a crew down there right now working on it. Silver is down there as well, reporting the status back to me through the radio.”

The crew mate’s eyes widened but he otherwise nodded solemnly and didn’t voice his fears aloud.

Now if only we could find a way to get Amada to comply like that. She obviously had beef with Cyburn, but if I didn’t know forsurewhat it was, I couldn’t identify the exact cause of her disgruntled behavior. I could only be left wondering what the hell her problem was.

“Cyburn?” Silver asked through the crackly radio attached to his armor vest.

“Yes?” he returned with a hint of optimism.

“Are you still on the bridge?”

“I am.”

“I have good news.”

Cyburn exhaled slow relief. “Wonderful. I’ve been waiting to hear someone say this to me.”

“The engine issue was just a minor glitch,” Silver explained. “It’s been restored, and we should be good to go.”

Cyburn cut a glance at Amada over his shoulder.

“Did you hear that?”

“Yeah, I heard it,” Amada barked sharply. “I’m trying to readjust the route now.”

“She’s under a lot of pressure,” Cyburn said, turning to look at me as if he thought he should be personally responsible for apologizing for Amada’s indignant behavior.

“It’s fine,” I said and offered him a wan smile.

Maybe it was none of my business what her problem was, as long as she wasn’t reckless enough to get us all killed.

Cyburn raced back to the control boards on the bridge. I tried to ignore the little jab of angst I felt that he was being slightly dismissive, but I knew he had a lot on his mind and as the captain of this ship, a lot of responsibility to distract him too.

“I’m getting us out of range,” Amada cut sharply. “I’m not incompetent, you know.”

“No one said youwere, Amada,” Cyburn said with a morsel of irritation in his voice.

“It’s still dicey out there,” Amada groaned, furiously working the controls.

“Just do the best you can to change course,” Cyburn advised.

“You don’t think that’s what I’m already trying to do?” Amada practically roared. “The alignment takes a minute to adjust.”

Cyburn stood up and stalked off, his green cheeks stained red with frustration.

I wanted to be able to help him or offer him support, but instead I clammed up and sat stiffly in my seat, still baffled at Amada’s brooding temper that seemed more than exaggerated for the situation.

ChapterFour

CARMELA

The first time I realized there were other humans on boardThe Blade, it took me by quite a surprise.

Honestly, I became a little irritated that Cyburn hadn’t mentioned this to me before. The first chance I got to talk to him alone, it was the first thing I mentioned.

“Why haven’t you told me about the other human people on board?” I asked, trying not to let the hurt show in my voice.

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