Chapter 26

Steel arched over their ship. Bars lined the landing bay. They encircled the transport.

Relda followed the prompts on the touch devices, and an opening formed. She stood and shuffled her feet. She checked her surroundings. If the Dialorians heard her footsteps, it was over.

If her steps made any noise, the sound of her breathing and heart palpitations muted them.

The reinforcement beams came alive, morphing from metal to thin glass structures. They flashed fire engine red, and squawks echoed through the landing bay.

Time froze all around Relda, and she thrust her body weight against the transport. Hot, moist breath invaded Relda’s neck. She wrinkled her nose at the smell. He had consumed space crustaceans recently. She dared not move her eyes. The sneer that followed the breath kept her hostage.

“Don’t move.”

The Dialorian had a cool, egomaniacal tone. Relda watched every movement inside the transport. None of the clones shifted.