As I limped toward the pod, I dodged the debris that hadfallen all over the bay. Several times, I had to stop and lean against a pile to catch my breath. The trip across the bay seemed endless as I shook with chills and struggled to focus past the pain.
I was barely conscious by the time I slapped the pod’s button, opening the door. I fell into it, not caring about buckling up—I only wanted to get away. Surely the ship couldn’t take much more abuse—the shaking and sound of explosions were increasing—and who knew how much longer I’d have before either the hijackers or my masters showed up.
I didn’t want to wait around to find out.
Looking over the pod’s controls, I cursed. I couldn’t read anything. So, I did the only thing that seemed reasonable, smacking the big red button that looked just like the one that had opened the pod. When the door closed and the sound of locks engaging filled the small space, I collapsed with relief.
There was a sharp jolt, then my stomach climbed into my throat as I felt the escape pod dropping away from the ship. The thrusters roared and my body was pressed back into the seat from the force.
Exhaustion hit me, and I could no longer ignore the excruciating pain. I leaned back in the chair, taking in a long, deep breath. I closed my eyes and slowly exhaled.
I made it.
I escaped.
Relief flooded me.
My eyes refused to open. My limbs refused to move, even when my unbuckled body was thrown across the cockpit.
I didn’t care.
I heard a hiss as the cabin filled with gas, and I slipped into unconsciousness.
I hope I survive this...
CHAPTER TWO
Xylo
“All medical personnel and Senior Staff to the hangar,”Z’fir’s tenor mental voice ordered.
“Confirmed, Sire,”Xylo replied right away.
Xylo set aside the research report he was reading and stood. He hurried to the door of his suite, grabbing his scanner and medcase along the way.
After five long years searching the Aldawi territory for a habitable world the crew could settle, every day seemed the same. This emergency sent excitement fizzing through him. Something to shake up the familiar routine.
As he hurried from his quarters, Xylo wondered about the emergency. The ship’s scanner drones would not return for another few days and their current location was not near any habitable planets. There had not been any departure of the fighter squads either.
Perhaps they were being hailed by the Aldawi or one of their allies?
Xylo’s cabin was on the deck with the medical staff, instead of the top floor with the Royals and other senior staff. Xylo was the ship’s Master Scholar in charge of organizing allresearch available to the alliance. Which meant he needed to understand and memorize as much as possible about the species encountered by and registered with The Conglomerate of the Euph Galaxy—CEG. He also needed enough medical knowledge to assist the Circuli healers with any species they might encounter. Living with the medical personnel helped him fulfill this responsibility.
A responsibility that had never been needed until this current mission.
Xylo enjoyed being on the same floor as the rest of the science staff. The infirmary, where he spent a great deal of his time, had a hallway connecting directly to the hangar bay. Everything was conveniently located, and it did not take long to get anywhere he needed to go—unless he had to report to the princes or to the bridge. His rooms on their ship—theDestiny—were only a floor above the infirmary with public spaces one floor above the living suites. There were four pairs of private lifts between the three main floors. The lowest level contained the infirmary, hangar bay, and storage bays, the middle level held all medical and science staff living spaces, and the third floor consisted of the general dining halls, entertainment halls, as well as access to the ship’s terrarium.
As he entered the hangar bay, Xylo sensed the excitement in the air.
Spotting a crowd surrounding the ship’s Circuli commanders—Prince Z’fir of Wudox and Prince V’dim of Ulax—Xylo hurried over. He saluted his princes and settled into parade rest, curious to learn what the excitement was all about.
The landing pad was empty.
He got his answer when he glanced beyond the hangar bay’s shield gel. Their ship had two tractor beams on an escape pod unlike any he had seen or studied. It was dark, metallic green, windowless, and the language written on thesides was nothing he had seen before. The pod was small, looking as though it could only fit one person comfortably.
“Routine scans happened across this escape pod. Our systems read one lifeform aboard, yet there has been no communication from the pod. The emergency beacon is off, and the only system active is life support. We do not know who or what is inside—or what condition they are in,” Prince Z’fir reported, facing away from the group as he watched the escape pod approach the hangar entrance.
Prince V’dim turned to face the crewmen, then glanced at Prince Z’fir. “What Prince Z’fir is trying to say is neither of us can get any readings from the being inside. Nor do we know if it is dangerous. It could be a trap. Something could have happened. We do not know if we are too late or...” Prince V’dim’s voice trailed off as one of Z’fir’s vines wrapped around his shoulder in comfort.
