“Unidentified vessel,” the angry voice of a Zantharian pilot rang through the small cabin, “you have failed to follow instructions. If you attempt to come any closer, we will fire on you.”
“If they shoot me down, I could hit the crowd and kill innocent people,” Sylvie said. “Why don't they just tractor me out of the area?”
“We're on high alert, remember? The aggressive defense agenda, pushed through by our new Acting Regent?”
Sylvie scowled. She'd heard the news as part of the same report that had informed them of X's capture and upcoming execution. “So they are going to risk hurting their own people to take me out? And I'm defenseless?”
“Apparently so.” The major took up his position beside the hatch. “Open the hatch now, in case they fire.”
She gave Magnis the order, and the hatch opened. They'd just breached the perimeter of the arena, closing on the dais.
“The lead ship is charging weapons,” Magnis said.
“Good luck.” The major nodded toward her.
“Save the regent, please,” she replied, then watched as the major flung himself from the ship.
The ship was immediately slammed by an energy ray.
“Altitude control disabled,” Magnis said, and the ship began to flail, the hatch unbalancing it. It listed to the right, then banked left so rapidly that Sylvie wasn't able to steady herself. She slid from her seat and out the open hatch, falling rapidly from the sky.
