The lights in the cockpit dimmed for just a second, as if the ship was pouting. “Fine.”
“Wait!” JR12 exclaimed. “Are Ari and As’ni secure?”
“Of course they are, you underdeveloped bug,”Elemiresponded in a condescending tone.
Morgan smirked, but quickly made her face bland. No need to encourage this budding rivalry. “Good. When Ari wakes up, I’ll tell him how accommodating you’ve been. I’m sure that’ll absolutely thrill him.”
A simpering giggle from the ship erupted. “Oh, thank you!”Elemisaid with a playful lilt. “I’d do anything to make thatgorgeousman happy.”
While Morgan had the same inclination, she let that statement go. Instead, she watched as the soft pulse of light rippled across the controls asElemi’ssystems hummed to life. The ship’s engines purred beneath her feet with faint vibrations that increased as she powered up.
“Plotting the course now,” Elemi continued, her tone chipper. “And no worries, darling. I’ll have all of you there safer than any of those rust buckets they call ships in the Consortium. Honestly, I don’t know why that beautiful Chancellor D’zia doesn’t begmeto join their fleet.”
Morgan shook her head. “You’re way too important to be part of some fleet.” She hid her grin behind her fingers. “But if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll ask him when I see him. Just get us there in one piece first, okay?”
“Of course, darling girl.”
The ship shifted slightly as the platform it was on lowered to the hanger deck beneath the engine room.
Morgan sat on the pilot’s chair with JR12 safely settled on her shoulder and watched the change from one section to another on the vid screen in front of her.
The hangar doors opened to reveal a vast stretch of star-filled space beforeElemidetached from the dock.
A subtle shift told Morgan they were in motion asElemiglided smoothly from the Ozevroc ship.
The engines whispered, yet pulsed with a powerful, restrained energy that hummed through the floor and walls.
“Heading into the stars, darling.”
Straps crisscrossed over Morgan’s shoulders and held her safely against the secure chair.
“Hang on, JR12.” She spoke to the small android on her shoulder. A small tickle of pain where his feet dug in told her he didn’t waste time taking her literally.
“Sit back and relax,”Elemipurred. “You’re in excellent hands, my dear.Veryexcellent, if I do say so myself.”
Morgan sank back into the pilot’s seat, savoring the subtle thrill of acceleration asElemicarried them forward, slipping smoothly into the boundless darkness of space.
Morgan watched on the vid screen of the command deck as Chloe’s ever dwindling ship, theNightshadetowing theNebula Viper, sailed farther and farther away.
In her last communication, Chloe assured her all the Ozevroc were snug and happy. “Well, notallof ’em are happy-clappy.“ She smirked on the screen of her multicorder. “Here’s my parting gift to you. It’s a vid of Zara displaying their gemstone encrusted, claw-looking thingy to the former high chieftain. It’s funnier than hell to watch the m’ferbellow and cry like a whiny little brat.“ Her chuckle made her dark curls dance around her smiling face. “Once we get those females settled on Runihura, we’ll contact the authorities at the Consortium and dump the male assholes off. Then we’ll get in touch with you so we can kick some crystal-ass back to where they come from.” She glanced away from the screen. “Come on, gargantuan man, let’s go. Let’s get this done so’s we can get our buds from the AoA to come and join the fun.” Her attention came back to Morgan. “Girl, try not to start shit before we get there, ‘k? See ya soon!”
Chloe’s live communication ended, and a short vid displayed the former High Chieftain Welozz losing his shizzle as Zara haughtily declared herself high chieftain and that he and his males were now under her total control. She raised the Talon of Ancients high above her bony head, causing the males in the cages to drop to their knees, wailing and roaring the whole time.
Morgan sat back with a satisfied grin when the vid ended. Yeah, karma was a bitch and she didn’t take prisoners. Served the hubristic clods right. Maybe the Ozevroc as a species now had a chance for a better life. If nothing else, at least the females and their children would survive. Maybe if they were so inclined, they’d show their males a way better way of life that benefited the species.
Speaking of males. “Elemi, how do I take these straps off?“ Morgan tugged at the immovable soft material covering her chest. They were warm, like smooth skin. She gasped when they slid off her and merged with the material on the chair. Sitting up, she checked on JR12, who was resting on her shoulder with his needle-like legs tucked under his bulbous body.
“Elemi, where’s Ari?”
A brief silence.
Morgan was afraid the ship wouldn’t respond at first.
“My starshine is asleep in the slumber chamber I created for him.”Elemididn’t elaborate.
Morgan crossed her arms. “And how do I get there?” Nothing was going to keep her away from a warm and drowsy man she itched to wake up.
Again, silence. Morgan tapped her foot in time with her forefinger on her arm.
