Page 70 of Captured

Hicks takes the clear material, a shine in his previously dull eyes.

“After all these years,” Hicks says with a breathless voice. “We finally have a weapon to destroy every last one of them.”

Just then, a detonation so deafening my eardrums ring shakes the gargantuan shape of the Pearl. The floor trembles and my brothers and I crouch in defensive positions. In front of us, the humans cry out and Governor Taylor falls to the ground. The older woman screams, terror clearly visible on her face.

“What was that?” Colonel Hicks straightens after nearly falling like his colleague. He turns accusing, aggressive eyes to me. “What did you do?”

I open my mouth to answer, but no words come out. At my side, Harko points to the small screen where the vastness of space seems to be engulfed in flames. The Freedom has completely disappeared. It its place is a flaming ball of metal.

“What did you do?” Colonel Hicks bellows, his face turning a dangerous shade of red. “Traitor!”

But as Colonel Hicks speaks, the forbidding shape of the Black Star Command ship comes into view.

“Impossible!” Harko shouts. “My scanners have detected nothing.”

“Stay here.” I get to my feet, my exoskeleton extending to cover my entire body. I face Colonel Hicks directly, ignoring Governor Taylor. “This is an ambush, Colonel. Someone from your camp has betrayed you.”

Then I turn and run, followed by my two brothers, leaving the leaders of the Rebellion behind. The Black Star has just made a terrible mistake in attacking the Pearl.

It will be the last mistake they ever make.