Chapter 41

The ship sailed smoothly over the expanse of the purple ocean. The color reminded Sylvie of X's skin when he was aroused. She bit her lip as fear surged through her heart.

“We're almost there,” the major said a few seconds before Magnis informed them that they were approaching their target. “Let's go over the plan one more time.”

They'd put the scheme together on the fly while they were consulting with the ship's computer. The laboratory where the ship was lodged had a large door that connected to a cargo elevator. The elevator ran the length of the colony, and the highest floor was actually the small bit of the structure that was exposed to the air and not covered in water.

They'd gotten Magnis to carefully maneuver the ship into the elevator and then taken off from the top of the structure. They were lucky. Since nearly everyone had gone to the execution, no one was likely to be watching the camera feed. Or answering proximity alarms. At least, not until after they were already gone.

Their plan was simple. They were going to fly over the execution, somehow make it past the defenses surrounding the arena, and then rescue the regent.

The only part of the plan that was certain was flying over the event. The major had no idea how to make it past the defenses in an Earth ship that had no weapons. As for the rescue, they'd think of something. If they made it to that step.

“I'm picking up readings of three small vessels.” The computer's voice made her jump.

Calm down. You're gonna have to keep cool if you want to get out of this alive and save your mate.

Her mate?

That’s what X was. Like it or not. She'd never planned on finding love on an alien world, but now that it had happened, she couldn't deny it. X was her mate.

“Zantharian light cruisers,” the major said. “They are armed, and their maneuverability is more precise than a dragonfly. Do you think this ship can outmaneuver a dragonfly?”

Sylvie knew the ship could take off, land, and fly in a straight line. Magnis was smart, but there were only a few Earth ships of this design and they were sure to be less advanced than their Zantharian counterparts.

“We'll have to think of something, and quick.” Three ships appeared on the view-screen and were headed in their direction.

Her ship had no weapons left.

Strike that.

It had one weapon, the self-destruct, which was now permanently disabled. It was able to deep scan up to a radius of 1000 kilometers, and a light scan of up to 100,000 kilometers. It could put out a signal to other ships and planets, had a low-level defense shield and a very limited tractor beam.

“Incoming transmission.” Magnis played the message. “Unidentified vessel, you are attempting to enter restricted airspace. Reverse course immediately.”

“We need a weapon.” The major glanced over at her. “Either that, or we can crash ourselves into the crowd and hope the distraction allows the regent to escape.”

They were finally drawing close enough to the execution site for Sylvie to take in the scene. The arena was massive, a huge bowl that held hundreds of thousands. It looked like every seat in the house was taken.

In the center of the arena was a dais with a circumference of maybe ten meters. The dais was surrounded by water. In the center of the round platform stood two lonely figures.

The major was right. Without a weapon, they were toast. Not only could they not get past the security ships, but they wouldn't be able to free the regent and get him back on the ship.

Zantharians could put out strong pulses of natural energy, similar to an electric eel. But there was no way the major could create a shock great enough to penetrate the shields of the other ships.

Maybe the major is right. Maybe a crash would be enough of a distraction to get X free.

“Major, if I could get you down there, could you help the regent escape?”

“I would do my best.” He looked at her, his face firm with resolve. “I know you're not Hareema because you took my shock. And there's a woman down there that looks just like you, who is the enemy. Get me close enough and I'll take the agent out. It might be enough to delay the execution long enough to expose the real infiltrators.”

Sylvie nodded. It was the best they could do.

“We're only going to get one shot at this. Magnis, you need to evade those ships long enough to get close to the center dais.”

The major frowned. “You won't be able to get that close, but I know the water is pretty deep. Get as close as you can, then pop the hatch. I'll take my chances in the water.”

Sylvie nodded. “You heard the man, Magnis. Get us as close as you can.”

“Unidentified vessel,” the angry voice of a Zantharian pilot rang through the small cabin, “you have failed to follow instructions. If you attempt to come any closer, we will fire on you.”

“If they shoot me down, I could hit the crowd and kill innocent people,” Sylvie said. “Why don't they just tractor me out of the area?”

“We're on high alert, remember? The aggressive defense agenda, pushed through by our new Acting Regent?”

Sylvie scowled. She'd heard the news as part of the same report that had informed them of X's capture and upcoming execution. “So they are going to risk hurting their own people to take me out? And I'm defenseless?”

“Apparently so.” The major took up his position beside the hatch. “Open the hatch now, in case they fire.”

She gave Magnis the order, and the hatch opened. They'd just breached the perimeter of the arena, closing on the dais.

“The lead ship is charging weapons,” Magnis said.

“Good luck.” The major nodded toward her.

“Save the regent, please,” she replied, then watched as the major flung himself from the ship.

The ship was immediately slammed by an energy ray.

“Altitude control disabled,” Magnis said, and the ship began to flail, the hatch unbalancing it. It listed to the right, then banked left so rapidly that Sylvie wasn't able to steady herself. She slid from her seat and out the open hatch, falling rapidly from the sky.