“Too risky,” Ontarii said, turning to look around. “We’ve got to stick to the story we’ve concocted. Let’s start moving down the rows and hope we discover the shuttle before they figure out we’re not who we say we are.”
Ontarii led them as they started making their way through the rows of spaceships. As varied as the ships were, so were the shapes taken by the Hareema. There were a few in their natural state, towering blocks of jelly, here and there, but most had taken the shapes of other creatures.
Brook ignored them and concentrated on the ships. Then she realized she had no idea what they were looking for.
“What’s your craft look like?” she asked.
“If it’s our run-of-the-mill Class B shuttle, it will be a little larger than the vessel that brought us here. It’s aqua blue, with fins on the top and along the sides to use for steering. I suppose it resembles a large, spiny fish.”
Ontarii’s description was helpful, and Brook started scanning the rows for a bit of aqua blue.
“There!” Drake said, pointing down a row. “I saw a fin poking out from behind that Cerrelian cruiser.”
The trio headed in the direction Drake suggested, and soon she saw it. It did resemble a spiny fish of sorts, and the color reminded her of the Mediterranean Sea.
“How are we going to get aboard?” she asked.
They’d reached the hatch that served as the ship’s entrance and she realized then that there was no entry panel for inputting a code.
“Like this.” Drake held out a finger, emitting a tiny bolt of electricity, right at the seam of the door. The metal drew back, exposing the dark, empty cavity of the interior.
“In you go.” Ontarii pushed her forward.
As she stumbled into the main cabin, the lights began flashing on around her. Ontarii and Drake followed after her, and Drake sealed the door behind them.
Brook hung back as the males went to work. They waved hands over consoles that popped up holographic displays. She marveled at how advanced their technology was compared to Earth’s own.
No wonder they located and boarded my ship with no problems.
“According to the scan, we’re in sector XJ-3. I’ve input coordinates for a small moon not far beyond this station. I can’t put in coordinates for their bloody home world because I don’t know where it is.” Drake’s voice was strained.
“Let’s hope no one questions it,” Ontarii replied. “I’m going on manual navigation until we clear the chamber. Have scans found an exit yet?”
“Yes. I’m sending the information to your console now.”
Brook seated herself on the bench that ran along one of the walls and watched. It would be no easy task, smuggling them out of Hareema hands and back into space. Would they make it to Zanthar? Or would the Hareema find them out and come after them?
Ontarii proved to be a deft pilot, and the small ship gracefully sailed over the other ships and the creatures below.
Drake brought up the main view screen and Brook watched as they approached the exit.
“It’s not open,” Ontarii growled. “How are we supposed to get out?”
“It will open,” Drake said, his voice rough but full of certainty. “Ithasto open.”
“Well, the trip might end before it begins, if we crash into that hatch.”
“I’m giving you an order, Major,” Drake barked. “Head straight for the hatch. It will open.”
Ontarii nodded and they pushed forward.
Brook closed her eyes, not wanting to see her own death when it came for her.
Nothing happened. There was no crash, and the ship sailed smoothly onward.
“See, Major,” Drake said, his voice sounding cheerful for the first time since she’d met him. “Have a little faith, for Noruma’s sake.”
Ontarii laughed, then his face became serious again. “We’re not out of the woods yet.”
