Council Leader Vorik stood by the cargo shuttle, working the replicator for those who assembled the do. He didn’t like to stay stationary, leaving everyone else to do the work; he liked to help. The sound of a shuttle could be heard, the roar of its engines becoming louder as it ca closer. Vorik looked up, seeing it was not one of their own. It was a large cargo shuttle that looked like it had been through multiple battles. It was what bounty hunters or smugglers’ cargo shuttles would look like.
Pulling out his comm link, he spoke into it. "We have company. It’s a cargo ship. We need backup now! Send a cargo ship to take the group of people by the lake to the mother ship."
Council Leader Vorik called out around him. "Prepare for battle. It’s highly likely that they will try to kill us."
The work stopped imdiately, and everyone building the do activated their armor. They knew they would sooner or later have company, so they stayed prepared. Everyone had armor on while they worked, as well as blasters and various bladed weapons.
The do was not yet complete. There was nothing to protect them while they worked. They still had over a dozen panels to place. After that, they could activate the do and build dwellings. At the mont, the do was just pieces of technology. It wasn’t anything until the last piece was placed.
The cargo ship landed smoothly in front of the entrance of the do. Council Leader Vorik’s comm link went off. "There are two shuttles. One is on the opposite side of the do. I think they want to try to trap everyone. We’re sending back up to take out both shuttles." It was Fleet Commander Lerian who spoke.
Council Leader Vorik watched the wide doors open, and nearly three dozen n exited. They were fully adorned in battle armor, holding long blasters as they exited. It was clear they were not there to talk. They were there to kill or capture. That ant there were that many just like them behind them also. "Target the shuttles; there are three dozen n in each."
Two pinpoint blasts ca from space, hitting the shuttles. The blast hit, causing the shuttles to explode. Debris, fire, smoke, and ash flew out around the blast. The debris from the destroyed shuttles hit the n as it sped at them from the blast. Many of the n fell to their deaths. Others were only injured.
The leader looked at the carnage in anger. He pulled his second blaster out, one in each hand, ready to fight. Before he could get a shot, blaster fire hit him in the shoulder, knocking him back several feet.
The leader went down as blaster fire broke out around him. The injured n were too injured to be fast enough to fight efficiently. They held their own, though shooting back as quickly as their injuries allowed. The Rasians fought, trying to ensure none of the n got away to alert more to co.
Vorik turned to who had shot. It was Aleigha. He knew her aim was better than that. She wanted him alive. When he looked at her, she shrugged. "We need to interrogate him and find out how many more are on their way here."
Council Leader Vorik nodded in understanding, turning back to help with the fight between them and the remaining bounty hunters.
A swarm of fighters entered the planet’s atmosphere. It was a mixture of Kreq and Rasian. They flew in the shuttles, taking out survivors. Vorik gestured to several of his guards to contain the leader.
They all knew their job. At the sa ti, one man went to the replicator and ordered a sedative, while a larger group headed for the male, stripping him, then binding him in bar shackles. They didn’t leave his feet out. He would be unconscious when they moved him to a holding area.
Pulling out his comm link, Vorik spoke into the small device. "Did any getaway?" he asked. Per procedure, he knew that the fleet was watching the situation. Close-up visuals of the shuttles, as well as scanning for cloaked ships that could be hiding at all tis.
"No, sir," Fleet Commander Lerain reported. "Only the one being detained."
*** ***
Drell watched the large cargo shuttle approach. It was the sa model as the one Wix witnessed before they were helped by the people of the planet.
He watched it land and the doors open. The small blond Jada exited with her mate, Orik. They looked stressed. Anxiety radiated off them. It was Orik who spoke. "We need to get all of you off of the planet. We can take you to our fleet. Two large cargo ships are attacking the do we’re building. I believe they’re looking for you. We don’t know if two is all they have. You would be safer on the ships above the planet. We won’t force you, but you need to know what’s going on," he told them in a rush. "We can keep you safe, but you would have to trust us."
Drell stiffened. His first thought was that the help they gave earlier was a ruse to get them to trust them. He had lied to his brother about liking them. He felt their help was a way to get them to trust them.
Orik’s comm link went off. He had it open to hear the conversation between Vorik and the fleet. "There are two shuttles. One is on the opposite side of the do. I think they want to try to trap everyone. We’re sending fighters to take out both shuttles." It was the fleet commander. Council Leader Vorik’s voice suddenly ca through. "Pinpoint blasts. Target the shuttles; there are three dozen n in each."
In the distance, they saw the beams shooting from the sky. Fire and debris rose from the ground above the tree line.
Jada rushed over. "We need to get you out of here," she said, folding her arms. Her gaze went to Wix, who was on her mother’s lap. There was worry in Jada’s pale features.
Drell scanned his people, then nodded. He rushed into the damaged ship and grabbed the replicator. He didn’t want to lose it. It could save their lives. Drell ushered all his people onto the cargo shuttle, counting each one to ensure no one was left behind. When everyone was accounted for, the doors of the shuttle closed, and it soared into space.
Orik’s comm link went off again. It was Council Leader Vorik. "They found the ship because of a tracking beacon. They only saw a flash of the last known location. We don’t know if they will be able to track it once the ship is fixed. I need their leader on the communications," he ordered. "I need to speak with him now!"
Orik held the comm link for Drell to speak into it. "He’s on, sir," Orik stated.
Drell bent forward to speak into the small device. "I am Drell. I lead my group."
"We can give you a ship. We need to destroy yours completely. If there is a tracking beacon on your ship, then as soon as you fix it, they will be able to find you. I need your permission. If you want to take the chance of them coming after you in it, then that is your decision. My decision is to give you a ship if you allow us to destroy yours so it can’t be tracked," Council Leader Voirk stated through the comm link. A loud commotion could be heard on the other side of the small communication device.
Anger flashed through Drell. It felt like this was all a trap to take them back. In his mind, he knew it didn’t matter; they wouldn’t see their ship again anyway. "You may destroy it," he said evenly, doing his best to hide his rage.
Once the cargo shuttle was out of range, a beam shot down from the sky, pinpointing the damaged ship. It exploded in a ss of debris and flas. The group watched in silence as their only escape was destroyed.
"Take them to the mother ship. When we get back from dealing with these bounty hunters, I will return to the ship and speak to the leader, Drell." Council Leader Vorik stated. "Fleet Commander Lerin is finding a single corridor of quarters for them so they can stay together. I don’t know how long I’ll be. The bounty hunters ca prepared. We are still dealing with them. There was a third shuttle that was cloaked. We’re still scanning for more."
As Council Leader Vorik spoke, another pinpoint beam shot toward the planet. Fla and debris exploded from the spot it hit.
"Looks like that was the third shuttle," Orik stated, looking out the front window of the cargo shuttle.
There was silence from Drell’s group. Fear and anxiety on their faces. Anger on Drell’s. Wix suddenly broke away from her mother, heading for Jada. Wix had had her doll in her hand. Everyone stiffened as they watched the child rush up to the small female.
Wix held the doll up for Jada to see. The doll’s hair had changed from black to light yellow. Jada wondered if they figured out how to change it or if it was a different doll. She didn’t know. She smiled at the child in front of her. "You changed her hair," she said, smiling down at the girl. The entire group watched tensely at the two’s conversation.
Wix giggled. Jada, without thinking, picked the girl up, setting her on her lap. Tension filled the shuttle. Jada felt it but ignored it. She smiled at Wix. "Did you na your dolly?" she asked her.
Wix nodded vigorously, giggling. She grinned widely up at Jada. "Jada, Jada, Jada," she repeated, then showed Jada the doll again.
"You nad your dolly Jada?" Jada asked Wix, smiling down at the happy child.
Wix nodded, her grin growing. Her small head bent back to her doll. She played with the doll quietly on Jada’s lap. Jada reached up, combing out the child’s hair with her fingers as everyone watched tensely. Once it was smooth, Jada braided it intricately.
Everyone watched in silence, tense at how close Wix was with Jada. On their ho planet, children could be taken by mates of their masters who liked a certain child and couldn’t have their own.
The shuttle glided smoothly toward the mother ship. The large hangar bay door opened, and it glided inside and landed. Jada picked up Wix, pushing her gently toward her mother. "We’re here; go to Mama, okay."
Wix nodded and ran happily to Neve.
The door to the shuttle opened. Jada exited with Orik beside her. Drell walked slowed down the ramp behind them, stopping at the bottom to look around. His people stood behind them as they scanned the hangar bay. Fear in their eyes, unsure of what would happen next. None of them knew if their being taken off the planet and to the mother ship was a trap or genuine help. They had watched their only ans of escape being destroyed. They couldn’t help the anxiety and fear that washed through them all as they exited the shuttle and walked down the shuttle’s large ramp.
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