I yelled, “Computer, what’s going on?”
“The shock dampeners need to be lowered,” Computer said.
“Why haven’t they?” I said.
“You haven’t engaged them,” Computer said.
“So, do it!”
“Do you request for me to take the ship in automatically?”
“Does that’s mean I don’t have to touch anything?”
“That is correct.”
“Then yes!”
Computer wasn’t getting annoyed—I wasn’t even sure it was capable of that—but I thought I heard it in its voice.
The flight was a lot smoother after that, and better again once we descended from the clouds and I could see the ground. I doubted I could survive a fall from this height and opted to keep my eyes clenched shut.
There were only a limited number of things I could do when I reached the castle. I could speak with the Changelings and convince them to change their mind about their plans. As they were the ones who intended to murder me in the first place, I wasn’t sure that was the best course of action.
The second option was to grab a blaster and start shooting…
I’d last about five seconds before I bit the dust. But what a last five minutes! I’d go down with honor. That was what the Titans respected, wasn’t it?
I could light the beacon. But wasn’t there a special way it had to be done? Didn’t Kal mention something about only a Taw being able to do it? From memory, it wasn’t just a lump of wood, it something spiritual to the Titans.
Best left to those in the know.
That brought me to the one other option I had available to reverse everything I’d done.
I needed to follow Kal’s instructions to reach the prison cells. From there, I could set him free. Surely that was where they would take him after they arrested him at the castle?
He’d be forced to await his punishment. I’d been gone a few hours. With any luck, he would still be there. Then I could rescue him, bust him free, and we could run away somewhere, or he could have another plan up his sleeve. Nothing too crazy or overly heroic. Just something to help his people.
I felt nervous about seeing him again. Would he forgive me? Not right away maybe, but he had to forgive me eventually, didn’t he? I did come all this way to rescue him… after I’d been the one to condemn him to his fate in the first place.
I hoped we could still salvage our relationship.
The town was empty of locals as Computer took me over it. They hustled like ants in a long line toward the castle perched on the hill. I felt relieved to be flying in a standard Changeling shuttlecraft. It looked identical to the others flying underneath the gargantuan frigate.
“Set us down over there,” I said, “behind the trees.”
Computer maneuvered us toward the treeline. I didn’t want to be seen. I didn’t think most of the Changelings would have recognized me as human but they might grow suspicious if they saw me coming out of one of their ships alone.
I hesitated with taking the pilot’s blaster. I didn’t want them to see it tucked in the back of my pants. I took it anyway. You never knew when you might need a good blaster.
I slapped a hand on the red button that brought the hatch down. The wood was silent. Even the local wildlife had quietened. The locals hustled like sheep along the road toward the castle’s main entrance where a series of canvas covers provided shade over a hastily erected dais.
My stomach fell to my feet. It had to be for Kal. Was that how they would punish him?
I squinted to make out the details. Little figures wheeled tall struts that sat on each corner of the stage. Was it a torture device?
With any luck, Kal would never see it. We would escape to a place of safety to negotiate a peace deal or…
I had no idea. I didn’t know what would happen. I only knew I couldn’t let him die like this.
Not because of me.
I stepped from the foliage and lowered my head. I approached the outer wall and marched along it. I kept an eye on the upper battlements where the Changeling guards would be keeping watch.
I needed to reach the far corner. There, according to Kal, was where I would find what I was looking for.
Loose stones beneath a thick thatch of ivy.
Boy, I hoped it wasn’t poisonous! That was just about the last thing I needed—
Thump!
Something struck the ground beside me and then slithered down the wall. It was white and thick, and cool like Egyptian cotton.
Bedsheets?
I covered my eyes against the glare of the sun. A figure crouched and stepped over the side. It used the sheets to climb hand-over-hand to the bottom. They moved fast.
The ass was shapely. I wished mine looked half as firm. Something slipped from the figure’s pocket and fell to the soft soil at my feet. I picked it up and shook it. It was a water container and sounded half full.
The figure’s feet touched down. She clapped off her hands and reached toward the ground for the dropped waterskin.
“Thanks,” she said.
“You’re welcome,” I said.
Then she saw me. Her eyes fell open and her mouth formed a big O.
“You,” she declared.
“Emana?” I said. “You know, I once tried to escape with bedsheets. I didn’t even get out of my room.”
I gave her the best smile of apology I could muster.
She slugged me in the face.
“Ow!” I said, clutching my face. “Did you break my nose?”
“No, but I’m going to!” she screamed.
Emana had always been cute and fluffy toward me but now she had murder in her eyes. She was strong—monster strong the way all Titans were—and could snap me in half without breaking a sweat.
“Hold on!” I yelled, stepping back and raising my hands.
To my surprise, she did. But her hands were still cupped in giant maws that could tear me
