I’m led out of the brig by the two guards, and I breathe a sigh of relief as I escape their cells. A moment later, I find myself in a long hallway, headed towards the other wing of cells – those reserved for female prisoners. As we march down them, flanked on either side by those Aurelian guards, I notice the blinking lights overhead, and the dark pits where a few of the bulbs have burned out.
Interesting. As huge, intimidating and impressive as The Instigator is, I am starting to realize that Captain Aelon’s warship is old, and it’s starting to show the impact of decades of wear and tear.
So many clues and questions lay in front of me now – the presence of the Scorp on that moon, and the information Captain Aeon had received about the Wayward Scythe and my stolen cargo. Who is this cocky, swaggering commander? What are he and his triad doing here?
And how can I use that information to my advantage? To escape – preferably with the treasure we’d stolen, and subsequently had stolen from us.
One thing is certain – I need to squeeze as much info out of the Aurelian commander and his men as possible.
I start with the guards. As they lead me down the corridor, I demand: “Why are you guys here? Who is paying you to clear the Scorp nests from that moon?”
The Aurelian guards don’t stop walking. In fact, they don’t even acknowledge my question. It’s like they’re walking a dog, rather than escorting a real, live human prisoner.
Instead of a response, all I get is the view of the towering Aurelian guard in front of me. He’s got a big, broad back that I get to stare at as he walks ahead. His light armor can’t hide the muscular frame of his massive body. It’s intimidating to think that even the subordinates on this ship – the guards and engineers – are built to the same towering, God-like scale as Captain Aelon and his triad.
I’m led maybe a hundred feet down the corridor before the guards stop me in front of another set of huge, steel doors.
Finally, the tallest of the guards turns to face me – looming over me like a mountain. For the first time, he actually speaks to me – scowling: “I have some advice for you, human. Don’t test Captain Aelon. He’ll break you.”
Even by the standards of Aurelians – who are notorious for hiding any hint of emotion – the warning comes across as cold and serious. The guard’s slate-grey eyes are like those of a statue as he glares at me. I shiver, letting his words sink in.
I suspect the warning wasn’t given without reason. On the surface, Captain Aelon might seem like a too-full-of-himself, overconfident braggart – but underneath that surface…
…I can feel the danger emanating from him.
I remember back to when Aelon he was confronting that Toad captain – Hoplan. Aelon was doing everything he could to provoke a reaction from the Toad commander, right down to using that insulting nickname of ‘Hopper’. Aelon seemed almost disappointed when Hoplan had turned and fled.
I realize now that Captain Aelon lives for the chance to challenge people – and that he’ll never back down. I’ll have to play him extremely carefully to stand any chance of getting out of this situation alive.
With the guard still staring at me, I demand:
“If Captain Aelon’s so dangerous – why doesn’t he go down to that moon? Why does he send you guys down there if he isn’t willing to go himself?”
It’s a question I’d wanted to ask Aelon myself, but I hadn’t got the chance before my crew had tried to stage their ill-fated escape.
I’m pushing my luck, though. My question throws the bravery of this guard’s commanding officer into question, and the result of that could go either way.
This Aurelian standing in front of me has a deep, ragged scar running down his cheek that he most certainly didn’t get from shaving – so I’ve got no doubt that he’s confronted the same Scorp menace as I’d seen Aelon’s battle-brothers return from fighting.
The guard stares down at me with those cold, slate-grey eyes – such a trademark of his species – and yet I detect the same heat lurking beneath them as I did when Aelon and the other Aurelians stared at me. It’s a heat that I now realize is always present when one of this all-male species is in the presence of a woman. I can’t help but be reminded of how small and vulnerable I am in comparison to these towering warriors; and how hungry they all appear for me.
The guard snarls: “There’s more to being a captain than being tough – you of all people should know that. Don’t question the Captain’s bravery – he loves to fight. The only thing Aelon likes more than killing Scorp is killing Toads – but he’s needed here.” Then, the guard jerks his head towards the doorway we’re standing in front of. “Now, shut your mouth and get inside.”
He unlocks the door, pulls it open, and gives me a light shove to make sure I stumble forward.
I find myself in a cell, similar to the one that Chris and the others were being kept in, but noticeably more isolated than the general brig.
As soon as I step inside, I hear an excited voice.
“Tasha!”
As my eyes adjust to the dimmer light, I see a face that gives me the first comfort I’ve felt for hours – that of Sawoot.
Despite being a captive, my first officer grins as I stand there, the door slamming shut behind me.
If it wasn’t for the sight of Sawoot, I’m sure the clang of the cell door
