The Last Narkoy: Gathow: Book 2 by Elizabeth Price (good e books to read .txt) 📗

few crew members with collars. It will take some time to remove them all,” he continued to explain. He removed his black cap, wiping away the beading sweat on his glistening bald yellow-skinned forehead. It was the first time she realized he was the same species as the leader of the Underground.

“Are they a threat?” she asked seriously.

“Not with their masters under custody,” he said. He pointed into a large room that served as a cafeteria for the officers. Within the room several hundred men and women sat on the floor, all wearing collars around their necks. Several turned to Sedom, fear haunting their eyes.

Sedom nodded, her eyes meeting the sparkling eyes of a young Mandicien man. “Very well. Let’s start transporting those with collars first. I want those collars off of them as soon as possible. Have our teams search deck by deck for anyone hiding. Tell them not to hesitate shooting if they’re met with resistance.”

“What are your plans for the ship, if I may ask?” he asked, as they continued back into the corridor.

Sedom glanced around the corridor. “I’m not one to destroy anything that could be useful. I have a moon I’ll house it in until I have a crew to fill her. For now, have a team go through the computer banks and strip this ship of every piece of data we can find,” she explained. “Good work.”

TWENTY-THREE

 

Noral ran out of the infirmary, toting a black bag over his shoulder. “Sortec, two words: more staff!” he yelled as he ran passed her and into the cargo bay.

She hurried after him, followed by a dozen people she didn't recognize. What had she allowed now? Above, the orbs hovered like mad, unsure what to do. She motioned for one to drop to her.

“State directions,” the orb said.

“Capture only those who pose an immediate threat on Gathow, myself, or those listed.”

“Order accepted.” The orb flew off.

“Sortec!” Danstu called out.

Now what? “Remind me to ignore your suggestions. You've single-handily led Gathow into chaos,” she called as he approached.

“We have Mercaun in custody. What would you have me do with him?” he asked, too calm for so much chaos.

A shocked grin appeared in Sedom's eyes. “The captain? Great. Um... send all of the prisoners to holding and then I’ll let Rosanheer and Zion deal with him. Let them have fun extracting information from him about this damn base we keep hearing about,” Sedom ordered. “I'll be in the cargo bay attempting to help.”

Evolanc flew by, but quickly turned when she saw Sedom. “Sortec! We've got injured. There's no way that the five of us can help all of them. Please...” Two men, carrying a stretcher, blocked Evolanc for a moment. “Call the Braum and have him send help.”

It took a moment to register what Evolanc said. She nodded. “Good idea.” Sedom rushed back to her quarters and to her com station. “Number, number... what's that stupid... ah!” She tapped in the number of Jasper's home. A woman's face appeared, giving the normal greeting. “The Braum, it's an emergency.”

Seconds later Jasper's face appeared on the screen. “Sedom? Everything okay?”

“Jasper! You...” Sedom called in a rush of air.

“What did I do now?” Jasper asked, readying himself for another verbal assault.

“I need your help. Send as many medical personnel as you can spare, immediately,” she said out of breath.

Jasper nodded excited from Sedom’s excitement. “Of course, right away. What happened?” he asked. His eyes were looking down as he typed in the information.

“We took down a Marisheio starship over Matrador. My team managed to rescue over two-thousand slaves. My staff isn't equipped to handle the casualties,” she explained.

“I have two science ships in your area. I'm sending them now. Expect them in a few of your hours.”

“I owe you,” she called in a rush, knowing she had the skip the normal chit-chat they usually engaged in.

“Yes, you do. Sedom… congratulations.”

Sedom grinned. “Thanks, Jasper. Talk to you soon.” She cut off the transmission and ran for the door.

Outside her unit, she was met by three of her new guards. It was a love-hate situation when it came to her guards. She liked them, but she hated being followed. At the same time, even she had to admit she had become rusty to recognizing danger, especially in Gathow. Outside the city, she was always on alert, but inside the city, she let her guard down way too many times for her comfort.

“Where’s the excitement?” she asked Tremble.

The woman pointed the way to the cargo hold near the ship bay. Sedom hurried inside the cargo bay, now filled with slaves. Many were lying on cots and even more lying on the ground. Cidele ran passed without acknowledging Sedom. Zion did the same, only he paused to shoot a scowl at her.

“You happy now?” Zion called sarcastically.

“Very!” she called back. She continued down a row of injured. Her hand was grasped by a Clove-Windrit mix woman.

“My crew... is my crew okay?” she asked in gulping breaths. A long piece of metal was protruding from her left shoulder.

“You are the captain of the Elnek?” Sedom asked concerned, her finger tapping her pistol in its holster on her hip. Didn’t they have the captain in custody already?

The woman shook her head, tears running down her cheeks from the pain of her shoulder. “The Almon... it’s a transport ship. We were transporting orphans to the Tador sector. My ship...” she seethed, slamming her fist into the cot, “was captured two days ago,” she said in one long breath, “trying to leave this system.”

When Sedom looked into the woman's eyes, she saw only pain and concern. “What is your name, Captain?” she asked.

“Sallris Cembre,” she cried out.

Carefully, as to not cause her any more discomfort, Sedom rested her hand