Maria’s eyes widened. That she was a human from Earth was common knowledge now, but she hadn’t spoken about her time with the Raxxians. Not since she’d been unceremoniously tossed in the transport container so many weeks ago. Somehow, this man knew things. And he said he was there to help. Maybe he really was, but she still had doubts.
“You’re a stranger. Why should I trust you?” she finally asked, rising to her feet but not approaching the bars.
“Because I know others from your world. Earth women who arrived here much as you did, though they are quite free, unlike you. A problem I would rectify at once, if you will accept my assistance.”
He stopped, standing silently as he waited for her reply. No matter his sense of urgency, this was not the time to press. Maria would have to make the decision in her own time and of her own accord and there was simply no other way about it. He could, however, look for the release mechanism while she thought it over.
His people were not known for their use of technology. In fact, on this world, they were one of the few rural tribes that more or less eschewed it. But that didn’t mean they didn’t know how to use it, and Zepharos was quite the anomaly among his people, traveling far and often, visiting other cities and races with great delight for weeks or months at a time before returning home.
As a result, he was actually quite comfortable with many varieties of technology, and the locking system utilized in this holding area was very similar to those he had experience with. He should be able to open the cell door with no problem. This wasn’t a high-security prison, after all. It was just a holding area for all intents and purposes.
He tested his theory on the cell adjacent to Maria’s the door clicking and swinging open silently as he keyed in the command.
“Well, nice to see that works,” he commented to himself.
“What was that?”
“Nothing. Just an observation,” he replied, then said nothing more.
Maria seemed a little discombobulated by his unexpected silence. “That’s it?”
“That’s what?”
“You’re not going to try to talk me into coming with you?”
“I see no point in it. And I do understand your hesitance. You do not know me, true, and you have clearly been through a lot. It is no easy decision to make, and ultimately it is precisely that.Yourdecision. Either you wish to take your chances with me and flee this place, knowing we will be pursued without a doubt. Or you remain here to serve out your best years as a glorified house slave. But while I will not pressure you, I would remind you that time is limited. If you are to join me, we will need to leave sooner than later. The festivities provide a nice distraction, but it will only last for so long.”
Maria paced back and forth, eyeing the oddly calm man standing outside her cell. He was proposing flight, becoming a fugitive, and yet he was unworried about the ramifications. It was odd. Odd, but for some strange reason she felt she could trust him. Something in his bright amber eyes that showed a depth of character hidden beneath his casually smiling façade.
“Okay,” she finally said. “But they’ll notice I’m gone.”
“Already on it,” he replied, keying open her cell then opening a storage cabinet and removing another few blankets and a pillow. He stepped into her cell and quickly began tucking them under her blanket into the shape of a sleeping person. It wasn’t perfect by a long shot, but unless they came in to check on her, it could very well work.
“You think that’ll actually work?”
“Not for long, but we’ll be far from here by the time they notice you haven’t moved or eaten anything. I’d estimate we have until mid-morning if not afternoon before they come after us. But we’ll have to run, and hard at that. Are you up to it?”
“Wait, you don’t have a ship?”
He chuckled. “The one time I might regret my people’s avoidance of technology. But even if that wasn’t the case, any craft leaving between now and then will become part of a tracking protocol. One that actually helps us.”
“How is being on foot going to help us?”
“Because it is something they would absolutely not expect. And while they are chasing down every last ship that you might have absconded on, we will be putting a lot of distance between us and this place. They all rely on technology so much that the very idea of escaping on foot won’t cross their minds for days. And by then, if we are lucky, we’ll be able to secure a ride from a location far from here. One that will not fall under their scrutiny. But, as I said, we will have to run.”
“Oh, I can run. But what about Ziana?”
“Ah, the other human.”
“Myfriend.”
He caught the urgency of her tone and understood, but circumstances were not on their side. Not for that.
“She is unreachable for now,” he said, shaking his head apologetically. “And even if we could get to her, removing the cuffs binding her and her partner are beyond my skills.”
“But we can’t just leave her here.”
“I’ve seen her teammate compete before, and believe me when I say he isquiteformidable. Your friend is in the best hands she could hope for. We can work on getting her freedom later. But none of that will matter if you do not first make your escape. Are you ready to do this?”
