WIP Wednesday - First Mataras: Irene

  The Kalquorian Empire vs. the band

Irene planted her palms against Weapons Commander Amig’s back and rose up. Sheunleashed a scream, desperate for someone to hear and help her. Herwell-trained lungs and voice delivered, and her shriek echoed along thecorridor.

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

A dark streak appeared, shooting into sight from behind thecurve of the bay. As it drew close, a second blur shot from the rapidlyshrinking 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, knockinghim forward, out of Irene’s sight. Then she was falling with Amig as Rusprolled 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 inRusp’s embrace, then shoved to her feet and behind him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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