“Ah, yes, only the captain may embrace him with passion and gusto,” Ryker teased, earning a sharp warning glare from Roys. Ryker, perfectly alright based on his teasing grin, raised his hands defensively. “Joking, sir.”
Oneby one, the group came in, Arana included. She kissed my cheek where she whispered thanks into my ear before crying against Iylene’s shoulder. Even Iylene had a wet sheen to their eyes. Zavir had a box of tissues that he used to blow his nose and offered to anyone who needed them. I would never say out loud how sweet that was because I would rather die than hear their teasing.
“We were worried, and I believe I can speak for everyone in requesting that you ensure nothing like this ever happens again. You’re not allowed to die on us,” Iylene said.
“Good to know because I have no intention to die any time soon.” Or eating, apparently, because I struggled to take more than two bites. Tareik assured us I could handle it, just take my time.
Drugged up or not, this was getting too emotional for my liking. I had a limit, and we were crossing it.
“Anyone want to catch me up on everything?” I asked. “Maddy said I was out for two days, that our beacon can’t launch yet and that the surviving pirates are here. Is that all?”
“Is that all?” Ryker repeated, having lost all the joy in his eyes. He, and the others, glanced toward the exit before he blurted out five words I never expected to hear: “An ambassador’s daughter is here.”
Good thing I wasn’t eating, or I would have choked on it. “Fuck off,” came out instead.
“Those shitheads were seeking one hit after the other. That’s why they grabbed me. They thought my mom’s would pay good money to save me, or someone would pay good money to,” Ryker ran a finger over his throat. “But the craziest part is that there were three other hostages with us, one of them being Kayleigh fucking Layne.”
My attention shifted between everyone before landing on Ryker. “Am I meant to recognize that name?”
Roys sighed. Maddy face-palmed. Lilea shook her head. Iylene took a note from Roys’ book because their eye twitched. Zavir snorted into a tissue, maybe a laugh or more crying while Arana hacked on her laughter.
“Fuck, Lucky, yes!” Ryker threw his arms in the air. “I know you have shit for brains, but Layne is the Ambassador of Donova, the head of the fucking Alliance territories!”
“Oh.”
“Oh, he says.” Ryker paced while Zavir followed, using two hands to pat him on the back.
“In short, we stumbled on something big,” said Roys. “Ms. Layne was captured, along with two smaller political rivals to The Company.”
“And The Company will have the militia come down on all our asses, in one way or the other,” I finished, feeling sick and it had nothing to do with my injury.
“Yeah, it’s trouble.”
“We are open to fixing those troubles,” an unfamiliar voice emerged. A stranger entered the room wearing one of the science team’s uniforms. She was a tall, elegant human with fair white features and long dark brown hair. Anyone could see she had been raised among the elite, seeming to glide rather than walk.
“Lucky.” She nodded toward me, and her voice carried a smooth and unfamiliar accent. “I heard a lot about you in such a short time, and I wish to thank you for helping to get us all out of there alive.”
“I don’t know if you need to thank me. Admittedly, your rescue was an accident,” I said with more gruel in my mouth. Roys rubbed my back, trying to stifle a smile.
“Regardless, I appreciate your efforts and would like to reward them, all of you, considering what might transpire.” Kayleigh had her handsclasped at her waist in a fruitless attempt to hide her shaking. The experience frightened her, and no one would blame her for that.
“I do not know the individual who hired these pirates. One moment I was journeying to see a friend, and the next my ship was attacked. Everyone…” She shut her eyes and took a calming breath. “I was the only one taken alive, and those pirates kept me locked up. However, I overheard them from time to time. I will not share that information with you because the less you know, the better, but I also believe The Company was involved. Unfortunately, I do not know if they will spare all of you. We had time to speak, and those at The Company will assume I talked, but there may be a way to keep all of you safe.”
“I’m sorry to be the downer here, but there is no way out,” Ryker said with his hands in his hair. “We are utterly fucked from every angle. Even if we don’t know shit, we’re stuck in the militia and no doubt this,” he waved his finger at Kayleigh, “is going to start a war with The Alliance. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but a few years from now? Yeah, and we will be the ones getting ourselves blown to bits. Not to say we didn’t always have that risk, but we will be on the front lines if only as an excuse to get rid of loose ends.”
“You do not need to fear that at all, Ryker. Your mothers always planned to get you out after this tour,” Kayleigh said with a slight smile that had Ryker jumping in the air.
“Ha! I fucking knew they wouldn’t make me stay.” But he pointed at us. “Still, that doesn’t leave them in less trouble.”
“Which is why I plan to get all of you out of the militia entirely,” said Kayleigh, earning a wide-eyed look from everyone in the room.
“Go on,” Arana whispered.
“The pirates have been locked up. They don’t know what has happened here, and their vessel has a phenomenal cloaking device system.I suggest we concoct a story. The pirates attacked. Their vessel was destroyed along with anyone who wishes to depart. In reality, you use that vessel to travel to Alliance territory. Once you are there, my mother will get all the paperwork necessary for your stay, and the militia cannot intervene.”
“What about you?” asked Iylene.
“People must know what happened. We’ll fire the beacon in a day or so, and all who remain, including myself, will collaborate on the story. You’ll be free. Even if, by some chance, the militia learns of your whereabouts, they cannot travel into Alliance territory or take our citizens, which all of you will be.”
