WIP Wednesday - First Mataras: Irene

  The Kalquorian Empire vs. the band

Irene planted her palms against Weapons Commander Amig’s back and rose up. She unleashed a scream, desperate for someone to hear and help her. Her well-trained lungs and voice delivered, and her shriek echoed along the corridor.

Her captors sighed in its wake. Amig picked up the conversation where they’d left off. “Rescue or not, you have to agree doing it this way is the height of dishonor. I might resign from the fleet.”

A dark streak appeared, shooting into sight from behind the curve of the bay. As it drew close, a second blur shot from the rapidly shrinking opening that led to Clan Sherv’s vessel.

Captain Nil snarled, “Do you think I like—”

The first blur lowered. As Amig started to turn toward it, it collided with the backs of his knees and became Rusp.

At the same instant, the second blur smacked Nil, knocking him forward, out of Irene’s sight. Then she was falling with Amig as Rusp rolled away to avoid being crushed beneath them. An iron grip found her arm, yanking her free of the weapons commander’s grasp. Irene was momentarily in Rusp’s embrace, then shoved to her feet and behind him.

He was also standing and facing the snarling Amig, who went for his blaster…and found his holster empty. Rusp pointing it at him only seemed to piss him off. He jerked, as if to attack.

“Don’t do it, Nobek, or your captain will be in a world of hurt.” Sherv was there, out of Amig’s reach, pointing another blaster at the stunned Nil, who was slowly climbing to his feet. Sherv backpedaled, keeping the blaster he’d apparently stripped from Nil trained on the weaponless captain. “Irene, get in our ship.”

Amig’s fury was short-circuited by obvious shock. He gaped at Irene. “Them? You were with them? The lemanthev band?”

“Go to the ship, Irene.” Sherv and Rusp stood between her and the destroyer officers, backing slowly away.

“Listen, boys,” Nil warned, he and Amig advancing toward them, step for step. “It’s a rescue, not a kidnapping. Our orders came from the highest offices to get her away from Earth custody.”

“I don’t know of many ‘rescues’ where a woman is crying and screaming for help from her supposed saviors. It isn’t a good look for the empire’s fleet officers.” 

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