Page 48 of Galactic Sentinels, Vol. 1 (Chronicles of Pherebos #1)

Prax

‘’You can go!’’ the guard says, opening the door.

I've been stuck in this cramped room for hours, waiting for the Intergalactic Confederation to make a decision about my fate. They give me water and three nutritional bars, but I'm more stressed with each passing minute. What are they going to do with me?

I've heard of isolated penitentiaries in space where dangerous people are locked up to protect the general public. Is this where I'm going to spend the rest of my days?

A Sadjim like me would go mad in a few weeks. We need wide open spaces to run and jump. So to be deprived of that?

But maybe it's totally deserved? I've been thinking a lot about what I've been doing with my life. I've been stealing resources left and right, only for my own benefit and my partner's. So, to be arrested for not doing something I didn't even want to do is kind of ridiculous.

‘’Yes, you're free! I heard you saved the life of one of our own. Thank you so much!’’

What's that? What's he talking about? The only life I have.. .

Oh my gosh! So my beautiful human is still alive. I'm so relieved.

When I saw her and the Asgarnian trying to leave the fortress by water, I thought I had to intervene, that he was forcing her.

But then I saw their looks, their connection, their bond. I felt a twinge of jealousy, but I let it go. They were clearly together. And they were running away. I took the remote control out of her restraining collar and set her free. Their grateful looks confirmed that I had done the right thing!

Then I got dressed and tried to get out of the lair quickly before being brought before Noviosk, who was bound to wonder if I'd had anything to do with their disappearance. I wasn't... well... not completely! There was no way I was going to stick around and have to face that psychopath!

‘’Do you need anything before you go?’’ the guard asked.

Just my ship and some supplies, if possible. I'd come here to refuel. I'm not one to beat around the bush.

‘’We'll give you a few bars in advance.’’

‘’Thanks for your time. Do you know if you arrested a certain Bully... a Penubian...‘’

‘’I'll check it out, just give me a couple of minutes!’’ he says, typing away on his tablet.

If Bully's out there, he's definitely gonna come after me! He'll never stop looking for me to take his revenge. I'll have to be hyper-vigilant from now on. I know him well enough to know his tracking skills... and his lack of empathy. He'll never forgive me for my betrayal .

‘’Sorry, he's not here. But I do have a message for you. Akifumi, one of our higher-ups, wants to meet you before you leave! I think he's got an offer for you.’’

An offer? What kind of offer could a high-ranking Confed officer possibly have for me?

Let's go, I'm all ears!