Flashing Dark by Bobbie Falin

Author:Bobbie Falin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: space opera, science fiction, adventure, women writers, cute alien
Publisher: High Flying Press
Published: 2022-01-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

The Bad News

Across from us stood a row of cells.

"Aw, come on," I protested as Duff's people freed my hands and shoved me into one.

Saura made a similar sound of displeasure as they pushed her into the one next to me.

"This is a freakin' dungeon!" I exclaimed.

"You're prisoners," Duff replied.

They all returned to the niche and disappeared.

"Dammit!" I slammed my palm against a bar.

Saura stood in silence while I walked off the pain.

In the middle of that, a Frairy appeared bearing water bottles and sandwiches. He shoved the containers through the bars and left without a word.

Which led to more silence as the food and water was gratefully consumed.

"Okay," I said at last. I walked over to the shared wall of bars between our cells to face Saura, who was now sitting stiffly against the far wall. "We're not in a good situation." Understatement. "And I'm sorry for all this. I know how it affects you. It wrecks our partnership. But I'm glad you're here. When I first woke up, I didn't know what happened to you. I was afraid you were at Idwal, and I had no idea how to get back out there to rescue you. Finding the kid and discovering what she knew about what went down out there, then getting someone's official attention was my only hope. And, yeah, I know how bad my presence on this world is for the EA and for the Tabi Empire. I sure as hell don't expect your people to put themselves at risk for me."

Ears snapped out and forward. Amber eyes regarded me even harder than before. She was listening.

"I swear I did not know she was anything special." Someone had to be monitoring our exchange, and I didn't want to pile fuel on the fire by saying the t-word. The Brktar might still be a threat but, apparently, they would have to recover their forms enough to tell someone what they overheard—if they'd understood us. "She's little," I gestured her height, "and white-haired." Like an angel? No. I would end up having to explain the concept to her, and I didn't know how much time we had. "I lost my left arm and my wetware getting her out of the airlock. I tried to get through to you, but the Hand signaled it was shutting down. All I know is whoever destroyed the shuttle wanted the kid dead badly enough to blow Section Ten wide open. They spaced us, Saura!" It was the first time I actually allowed myself to confront the incident since it happened. Outrage and shock choked me into silence.

I forced myself to move on, explaining how I woke up in an auto-doc on a Ritto-ssa ship with the kid hovering over me. How they brought me to the Xix and the kid left the ship while they carried me off. "The Zeeks rejuved my arm. But no wetware." I ruefully lifted my left arm, as if she could see the flesh beneath the layers of armor and shipskins.

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