A Guest In Your House by Shane Shepherd

Author:Shane Shepherd [Shepherd, Shane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-08-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Three

They were too late, as Liu had intended by damaging the elevator. Yet Win still choked on guilt and horror when he peeked at the bridge through its glass doors: three security officers circled Liu, hands empty; their phasers were at Liu’s feet, like she’d made them throw the weapons at her then destroyed them under her heels. The Admiral still had his phaser, though it was lowered, and he spoke evenly and firmly to her. She had her fingers like claws around the Second Officer’s throat.

At least Chadwick wasn’t caught up in that; he and the other officers were tucked in a corner of the bridge, away from Liu.

“Let go of him,” the Admiral said. “I know you’re confused, but you can’t threaten the Second Officer and think there won’t be consequences. You’re a level-headed and smart woman. Let go of him now, Commander Liu.”

“Useless, incompetent humans,” Liu snarled, but didn’t turn away from the work station in front of her. It was the helmsman’s station.

“What is she doing?” Aya muttered.

“Her back is to us,” Win murmured, stepping forward and waving to catch the Admiral’s attention.

She wants the Shapeshifter, Win mouthed at him. She’s with the Spiders.

The Admiral shook his head slightly; he mouthed something back, but Win couldn’t understand with the helmet and the distance. They tried again, but still didn’t understand each other.

The Admiral turned to Liu instead. “Captain Tavares is outside. He will walk in. He’s unarmed.”

Aya raised an eyebrow, wiggling her plasma phaser.

“Hide it,” Win whispered.

“I don’t care,” Liu growled, turning to glare as Win and Aya stepped into the bridge. “None of you pathetic idiots can beat me!”

“We can’t,” Win agreed, pacifying, as they walked up to the Admiral. They stood a little behind him.

“Explain,” the man demanded. Everyone’s gaze went to Liu, but she didn’t do anything. “I let you in here, so make it worth it.”

“She’s working with the Spiders,” Win answered promptly. “I don’t know how or why. She’s after the Shapeshifter, sir. I think she’s trying to get help from the Spiders somehow, since she hasn’t found it yet.”

The Admiral didn’t turn away from Liu or say something about Win’s pet alien causing problems, but Win felt the force of his furious glare anyway.

He nodded towards Liu instead. “We can negotiate.”

Win nodded and stepped forward.

“Liu, I know where the Shapeshifter is,” Win said. Liu stilled. Win straightened up to his full height, commanding attention, and her eyes flitted to him. “Let go of Oliveira and I’ll tell you.”

Liu turned fully to him, expression slackening with relief. But a beat later her eyes narrowed.

“Liar!” she hissed. “I’m not an idiot! You said you didn’t know before! I looked all over and didn’t find it, while you were hiding like a coward.”

Her grip on the Second Officer slackened slightly.

“I wasn’t hiding,” Win said. “I know where it is. Let go of Oliveira and we can talk, Liu.”

Liu’s expression darkened. Purple spread until it took over most of her face, climbing down her neck and to her arms.

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