She shook her head, unable to accept that her sight was back when it made no sense.To do so would set her up for heartbreak when this was fleeting, at best.She nibbled her lip and scanned the ship, marking where everyone stood.Two men at the door, another near the pilot, and the leader, pacing from the front console to the rear of the compartment.They thought her blind.That gave her some advantage.But even if she managed to steal a gun, she didn’t know how to use it.Never mind that it went against everything she stood for to not harm a living soul.
She gaped at the scene through the windscreen, or whatever it was called: lilac-gray skies, pale sunlight, and deep green mists hiding the ground below high mushroom-shaped towers.Tiny ships flowed between buildings.It was surreal, slamming it home where she was.
She rubbed her eyes, blinked them open, then narrowed on the farthest Ivoyan, testing her limits.Holy farg.Excitement and sheer joy exploded through her, bouncing her on the seat.She snuck a glance at the scowling leader and stilled.
“Ulvus?”She smiled at him, admiring his amber-colored eyes against his obsidian skin.He was handsome, too, with his wide forehead, sharp cheekbones, and pointed chin.
“Yes?”He gazed at her.
“Do not let them know…but I can see.”She smothered a laugh.
His brow furrowed.“I do not understand.”
She flicked a dismissive hand at him.“Think they plan to kill me?”On a gulp, she twisted in the seat to face him.“What are you doing here?”
He bowed his head.“I am viewed as a failure when all I did was force Vic to show the Q.C.C.her skills.It is true; my reports do smack of resentment.”Sadness darkened his expression.“I did as you suggested: chose honor…” He leaned back and stared at the door.“I also revealed where Nenn was and with whom, believing the udaps needed to know all to make informed decisions.I am sorry if you being here is my fault.”
His logic was sound; she’d give him that.“They said they were clearing the ship as procedure.”Though, why she wanted to ease his guilt, she didn’t know.They’d known she was onboard, and maybe that was because of him.She couldn’t say for sure.“Any ideas on how to escape?”
His jaw dropped.“No,” he rasped.
“If I steal a gun, can you use it?”
His eyes bulged.“Tiny, what are you saying?This is madness.”
“Ulvus, I’m standing.”And she did, drawing everyone’s attention to her.“I need to pee,” she said, staring ahead.“I don’t want to wet the floor like an untrained pet.”
The leader recoiled.“Escort her to the waste closet,” he said to another man.
She held out a hand and waited.
“I will take her,” Ulvus said, clasping her elbow.
“No.”The leader shoved Ulvus into his seat, then yanked her forward.
She scowled.“Quit pushing me around.I have legs.”
That got her almost dragged across the floor to a narrow door.She stepped inside and tried to seal herself in.
“You do not need privacy,” the new man said, his tone bored.
“I refuse to pee with you watching,” she gritted out.
He nudged her in and hit a button.Three beams swept over her, making her skin tingle.And out she was pulled.“Now sit.”
She ran her hand along the wall to settle beside Ulvus.Well, that was pointless.“That got us nowhere,” she whispered.
“What did you think would happen?”
“Really?Do I have to spell it out?I was to be a distraction.”She folded her arms across her chest.“I assume you watched me instead of stealing a gun?”
“And do what with a weapon, Tiny?”He chuckled.“Even as a sava, I cannot take on three Ivoyans with phasers.”
“Of course you can if you have the element of surprise.”
He scoffed.“I could take one, maybe two, but by then, we would be dead.”
Hope fizzled like a dying flame.“If you steal a gun and so do I?Maybe then?”
