The Nebula's Heart: A YA Space Opera by Marie-Hélène Lebeault

Author:Marie-Hélène Lebeault [Lebeault, Marie-Hélène]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beaches and Trails Publishing
Published: 2024-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

6

The cadets let out joyous cheers. Though they had survived multiple close calls, this one had seemed so close to killing them. They couldn’t believe their luck at having escaped so quickly.

“Only one thing to do now,” Alex said. “Return home.”

“Not so fast.”

They swiveled towards the sound of Dorian’s voice. He held Nia against his chest, one hand covering her mouth, the other holding a steel blade against her throat. Laila stood behind him, holding two laser guns trained on Yasu and Alex.

Jaxon swallowed, his vision turning red.

Alex rose from his seat, attempting a diplomatic approach to the situation. “Dorian, what are you doing?”

“You want to renege on our deal.” His smile was so unnerving, spreading his lips to his ears in what looked almost like a grimace. “We had a deal.”

Alex shook his head. “No, we didn’t.”

“I told Nia I would save you if you agreed to save me and my people.”

“We can’t save you and your people,” Alex said. “We’re children.”

“Who traveled across the boundaries of space?” Dorian said, his tone malicious. “You think I don’t know all about the possibilities of travel? I was once at the stupid academy you and your friends probably attend. The same academy he blew up. All four of you; dead. Along with multiple other colleagues. I saw you yesterday, and I knew, in an instant, what was happening. We cannot let this man do as he wishes.”

“But we’re not equipped…”

“Stop saying that!”

Nia flinched in his grip, and he relaxed as if concerned he was squeezing her too hard. Seizing the opportunity, she shrugged him off. Jaxon sprang into action, deploying his zapping tool and lunging towards Dorian. Laila struck his arm from behind with a swift kick.

The two others scurried into the space, hoping to help restrain Dorian, but he was too fast and strong. He easily twisted Yasu’s wrist and pushed him aside. He sidestepped Alex, watching him receive a sharp punch from Laila.

With little effort, Laila and Dorian subdued the cadets. Dorian grabbed Nia, holding her tight against his chest again. “I don’t want to hurt anyone,” he said.

Shocked at their speed, accuracy, and composure, the others took shaky breaths.

“We don’t want to hurt you, either,” Nia said.

Dorian laughed, the sound coming out with some strain.

“Guys,” Nia said, her heart thumping, “let’s cooperate.”

“No!” Jaxon cried.

“We don’t have a choice. Let’s just see where this takes us. If he believes in us so…”

Jaxon didn’t want to listen. “You only feel this way because he’s Kel, and you’re in love with him.”

Nia blinked. Yasu coughed.

Alex was tired of the entire ordeal. “What do you want us to do?”

“We have wasted time,” Dorian said. “I want you to hurry. We’ll get to the outer edges of the nebula, and we can tap into it. Your device–the one you used for jumping–you should be able to use it to cross to the other side.”

“What other side?” Alex asked, brows furrowing. He couldn’t deny the imperative pressure of curiosity weighing on him. Perhaps if

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