Page 221 of Galaxy Games Four-Book Box Set (Galaxy Games)

221

The Rules Change

A ’Dar

Now that there are so few of our enemies and we have access to weapons, I’m on a mission. Mel’Kan thinks he might be close to fixing the propulsion system. I need to destroy our adversaries and get ready to leave this forsaken planet.

I’m strong, determined, and buoyed by the female at my side who is my helpmate in every way. We stride off the ramp of the pirate ship and are accosted by two males who must have been lying in wait for us.

I cut them down with my laser rifle before they can make their first strike. We use their bodies to check that each of our weapons works.

Although I offered to do it for her, Maya shakes her head. “We’re at war, A’Dar. I don’t have the luxury of being a noncombatant. I will fight by your side.”

Little Maya’s nostrils flare and her lips flatten. For a moment, I’m certain she’s going to lose the contents of her stomach, but she breathes through it and straightens her shoulders as we prepare to leave the landing bay in search of others.

We roam the halls, not bothering to dampen our footsteps, waiting for our enemies to accost us. The next three kills are easy. We’re a male and a female appearing not to pay too close attention to our surroundings.

After those kills, things become harder. Our foes have heard our weapons. We will be the last people they’ll accost.

We duck into a small janitorial closet and Maya checks the computer pad.

“Nine males, three females,” Maya grits out. She’s anything but gleeful as she delivers the news. “We’re down to the bitter end. The three females are Emily, Anna, and me. It will only be males from here out. I sure hope Mel’Kan has figured out the propulsion system.”

A quick comm to Mel does not give us the answer we were wishing for.

“‘Hit another problem’,” A’Dar reads out loud, “‘I believe I’ve repaired the damage from the cerium electro-pulse, but the Deltonium fragmenter won’t hold a charge. I’m working on it.’”

“What does that mean?” Maya whispers.

I shake my head. “It makes no more sense to me than you,” I tell her, for a moment forgetting that her people have advanced from the images I watched of them almost two thousand years ago.

“Why don’t you all converge on Deck Eight?” Zedd’s disdainful voice pierces the air.

We happen to be near a wall vid. It pans in on Maya and me. All of our weapons are on display.

“She’s setting us up! Baiting everyone to descend on us at once,” Maya says, her terror is obvious in her voice.

“They can see we have weapons,” I say, my eyes narrowing. “I don’t know what her game is.”

“Perhaps if you all get this done quick enough, I’ll leave not one but two standing.”

Her voice is earnest, but if I’ve learned anything over the last few days, this female never tells the truth.

“To my viewers, all I have to say is, never fret. Don’t feel cheated that Down To Earth hasn’t even lasted two full days. You can always trust Jahzara Zedd to give you the best in viewing entertainment.”

Her smile may radiate from a humanoid face, but it holds no warmth.

“Consider this the end of phase one and the beginning of phase two. I won’t give away my secret.” She shakes her finger in a tease. “Just trust me when I say I have something better in store. Much better.”

My stomach feels as if I just swallowed a pitcher full of cold lead.

“What is she up to?” Maya asks, her eyes large in her face.

“Nothing good. Come.”

She called all of our opponents to this deck, goading them to find us, to take us out. We won’t have the advantage of surprise. We at least need the best location from which to fight.

I grab Maya’s hand and pull her toward the aft cargo bay. It’s on this floor and about the same size as the landing bay. It holds storage for the needs of thousands. I doubt any food has lasted all these years, but we’ll need other supplies for the trip home.

“There are pallets filled with goods. We can hide to our advantage and pick off our attackers as they enter. I’ll set you up in a place of safety away from me. Don’t shoot unless it’s absolutely necessary to save your own life. I’ll draw all the fire. I’ll keep you safe,” I say as we barge through the double doors.