Imminent Danger: And How to Fly Straight Into It (10 page)

Miguri’s hair drooped as a shadow of understanding crossed his face. “Then I am sorry to say so, but yes, it is likely.”

“But I thought the Tetrarchy doesn’t allow anyone to interfere with terrestrials! Chakra Corporation sounds like a big company. How can they get away with something like this?”

“The Tetrarchy is only concerned about exposing planet-locked species to spaceflight technology before they are capable of it themselves. It is illegal to abduct a terrestrial from their home planet, but only because of the danger of contamination.”

“So if it’s against the law, then the Tetrarchy must track down kidnappers and rescue the people who are abducted, right?”

Miguri shook his head. “Sadly, no. Were that the case, you would not be in this situation. Once a terrestrial has been abducted and sold off-planet, the Tetrarchy does not bother to track down and prosecute the abductors.”

“Wait,” Eris interrupted. “That makes no sense. So it’s illegal to kidnap terrestrials, but once you do, there’s no punishment?”

“There is a punishment for being caught in the
act
of kidnapping,” Miguri corrected, “but once the abduction has occurred, the government does not interfere.”

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Tetrarchy policies often leave something to be desired,” Miguri agreed. “The government does not care what happens to individual terrestrials, because they are not citizens of the Tetrarchy. They have no identification numbers, thus no rights. If they are bought by someone, then they are—”

“Just property,” Eris realized. “That’s absolutely—”

“Terrible?”

Eris shook her head. “I was going to say familiar.”

The Claktill’s hair shot up, and his tail began to twitch. “Humans have been enslaved before? I had no idea!”

“Not quite. We kind of enslaved each other, actually.”

Miguri looked disgusted. Eris didn’t blame him. She felt the same way.

They heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

“He’s coming!” Eris exclaimed. “What do we do?”

“Act docile,” Miguri whispered. “He will think we are no threat and might let down his guard.”

“But we
are
no threat!”

“Shhh!”

The door slid open to reveal the black-clad Rakorsian with a tray of food in one hand and a striker dangling casually from the other. He placed the tray on Miguri’s bunk.

“Thank you,” Eris said tonelessly, restraining the urge to pick up a bowl and throw it at him.
Stick to the plan, Eris.

“Thank you,” Miguri echoed, his face impassive.

Varrin cocked his shaggy-haired head. “To be honest, I was expecting more of an attitude from you two.”

“We’ve thought it over,” Eris said in what she hoped was a defeated voice. “We’ve realized you’re only doing what’s right by you.”

“It is not like fighting will get us anywhere,” Miguri added placidly.

Varrin gave them a piercing look. “I suppose if you aren’t going to cause me trouble, I
could
let you back out into the main part of the ship. It would save me having to deal with your meals and cleanser breaks.”

Eris barely managed to hide her look of triumph.

The Rakorsian continued. “As long as you swear to stay in the areas I assign you …”

Hook, line, and sinker,
Eris thought gleefully.
Then I’ll zap him with his striker while he’s sleeping, and we’re home free.

Varrin chuckled. “Or I could do the intelligent thing and keep the pair of you locked up where you can’t sabotage me or my ship.”

The two captives’ faces fell.

“But you just—” Eris began.

Varrin tapped his ear with his index finger. “Genetically enhanced hearing. I heard your little escape plan.” He smirked. “Nice try.”

As Varrin turned to leave, Miguri suddenly jumped from his bunk and darted toward the open door. The Rakorsian shot out a hand, seized the Claktill by the back of his tunic, and lifted him several feet off the floor. “Where do you think you’re going, rat?”

Miguri sank his razor sharp teeth into Varrin’s little finger. “Shiro ma rasht!” Varrin cursed, dropping the Claktill and clutching his bleeding hand. Miguri scampered across the room and back up onto his bunk, where he tried to hide behind his pillow.

Fearing for Miguri and expecting the worst, Eris stood to intercept Varrin before he could go after his assailant. But Varrin merely stood in the doorway, glaring at the Claktill. “That was uncalled for, rat,” he said coldly. “Luckily for you, I don’t believe in attacking those weaker than me. And you’re about as weak as they come. Enjoy your meal.”

He left the cabin, closing the door firmly behind him.

Eris groaned. She walked to Miguri’s bunk and rested her arms on the edge of his mattress. “Oh, Miguri! Why didn’t I listen to you? Why did I trust him? How could he turn on us like this?” She put her head down on her crossed arms and sighed.

“He is Rakorsian,” Miguri said. “Get some sleep, my friend. Alpha Centauri is only a few days’ travel from here.”

“Do you think we’ll be able to escape once we get there?”

The Claktill smiled encouragingly. “I have lived a very long time, Eris, and I have been in worse situations than this. Do not worry. We will persevere.”

Eris was overwhelmed with affection for her little friend. Reaching up, she grabbed Miguri from the bunk and then twirled around while hugging him.

“Your species displays an excess of emotions,” the tiny alien mumbled when she released him. “Yet not in an unpleasant manner.”

Eris sat back down on her bunk. “Emotions. Yeah.” Stretching out on the bed, she closed her eyes and pictured the arrogant, traitorous, gorgeous Rakorsian. “That’s what’s been getting me into trouble.”

11

T
hree days later, they were orbiting Alpha Centauri Prime.

Varrin arrived at the guest quarters carrying two sets of what looked vaguely like handcuffs. “How are my two favorite prisoners today?” he said cheerily. He tossed each prisoner a set of handcuffs. “Put those on,” he added and swept from the room.

“He can’t be serious,” Eris said, throwing her set to the floor disdainfully. “I am in protest here. If he wants me to wear these handcuffs, he’ll have to wrestle them on me himself.”

“They are binders,” Miguri corrected, donning his set. “And I suggest we do as he says. I do not particularly enjoy being manhandled by revolting turncoats, and I doubt you do either.”

“Yeah, I guess.” She sighed. “You know, as soon as I get the chance, I’m going to sock that arrogant bastard right in the nose. I think I’d enjoy that very much.”

Miguri eyed her with concern. “I sympathize with your hatred for the Rakorsian, but I do not believe that would end well for you.”

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t actually try it. I just—I want him to learn how it feels, you know? Give him a taste of the hurt he’s causing us. I doubt I could hurt his
feelings
, so punching him will have to do.”

“You must pick your battles, my friend. We are at the Rakorsian’s mercy, and there is nothing we can do about it.”

“Except bite him.”

Miguri looked sheepish. “Perhaps not my wisest decision, I admit.”

The cabin door slid open, and Varrin walked in. He spotted Eris’s binders on the floor. “Still angry? It’s been three days, terrestrial. Get over it.”

Eris picked up the binders and threw them at Varrin’s head. Grabbing them out of the air, he shot her an amused look. “Nice try. I like feistiness in a woman.”

“Go to hell,” she snarled.

“Don’t be so stubborn,” Varrin said and then moved to her side so quickly she didn’t have time to react. Grabbing her hands, he clamped the binders onto her wrists. “Come with me. I have a ship to land, and I need to be sure you’re safely stowed.”

He herded them into the rec room, strapped them firmly into seats, and then disappeared toward the cockpit.

“I swear,” Eris muttered, “just give me
one
minute alone with him and a striker … I mean, where does he get off treating us like dirt?”

The intercom beeped. “Stop complaining, girl. You’re making my head hurt,” Varrin said through the speaker.

“Oh, shut up and just fly the damn ship!” she shouted in the general direction of the cockpit.

“Such cruel words!”

Eris could tell from the tone of Varrin’s voice that he was probably enjoying himself immensely and entirely at her expense.

“I’ll say whatever I like, slaver,” Eris retorted.

“Businessman,” Varrin corrected.

“Traitor.”

“Opportunist.”

“Deceiver.”

“You’re the one who’s a bad judge of character.”

“Yeah, well …” Unable to think of a good response, Eris settled for glaring at the intercom. She tried to cross her arms but had forgotten she was wearing binders on her wrists. To her dismay, the binders emitted a salvo of electric sparks when she moved her hands apart.

“Ow!” she yelped. “That hurt!”

“Those are Vekrori binders. They have a default minimum shock setting,” Varrin said. “You’ll just have to deal with it.”

“Gee, thanks for the warning,” Eris fumed.

The ship descended toward Alpha Centauri Prime. As they broke through the cloud cover, the planet spread out below them like a brilliant emerald and sapphire blanket.
It looks just like Earth,
Eris thought
.

They flew over golden plains, craggy mountain ranges, and glittering watery expanses.
It’s beautiful,
she thought.
Except …
“What are those?” she asked as they passed over an immense tract of land crisscrossed with wide strips of a glowing white substance.

“The lamri fields of Alpha Centauri Prime,” Varrin announced grandly over the intercom.

“Is that why this place is so important?” Eris asked. “Because they manufacture lamri here?”

“They don’t manufacture them; they grow them.”

Leaving the lamri fields behind, the ship flew toward a massive city dotted with silver spires. “Spire City, capital of Alpha Centauri Prime,” Varrin said. “Seat of Tetrarchy power, known for its excellent light tag team, the Spire City All-Stars, and famous for
mikichiki
dancing.”

“I hope you’re not expecting any applause,” Eris grumbled. “Or a tip.”

As the
Nonconformity
neared the city, Eris saw that the spires were skyscrapers easily three times the height of the tallest building Eris had ever seen.

After a few more minutes of flight, the ship touched down at a spaceship dock near the center of the sprawling metropolis. Moments after landing, Varrin entered the rec room, pulling on a black, leathery bomber-style jacket. A striker was strapped to his belt. “Time to go,” he said. “I hope you enjoyed your flight.”

Eris glared at him.

Varrin herded his prisoners off the ship down the ramp that descended from its belly. Walking away from the
Nonconformity,
Eris paused for a moment to glance back. The ship looked as she had thought it would—smooth, streamlined, and of course black. It reminded her of a gigantic bird of prey waiting to swoop down on unsuspecting victims.

Which is exactly what it did to us
.

Given that Varrin’s buyer was the allegedly massive Chakra Corporation, Eris expected he would lead them to one of the huge silver spires. Instead, he prodded his captives out onto the city streets. Despite their situation, Eris couldn’t help but be amazed by her first sight of an alien city. She gawked at the rainbow of land-bound vehicles, some hulking and emitting noxious fumes, others sleek and covered in exotic patterns. Eris jumped when a bright purple vehicle parked by the curb hummed to life and zoomed up to join the layers of flying cars gridlocked overhead.

The Rakorsian and his captives were soon absorbed into the throng of aliens bustling along the pedestrian lane. As they walked, Eris saw tentacled aliens, slimy aliens, spotty aliens, and some that were all three. To her surprise, no one looked twice at the bound captives.
Talk about turning a blind eye,
Eris thought, and then did a double take as they passed a five-legged, slimy yellow alien that appeared to have no eyes at all.