impact twisted his neck to the side and split his lip. He spit blood onto the deck.
One of the goons hoisted Walker to his feet and shoved him down the hall toward the detention center. He was going to get a good look inside after all.
In the prisoner processing area, he was forced to remove his body armor. He was down to his skivvies. Then he was escorted to a holding cell. The goons tossed him inside, sending him crashing to the deck. These bastards were strong. At 6’5”, Walker wasn’t an easy guy to throw around. But they made him seem like a rag doll.
By the time Walker climbed to his feet, an energy shield enclosed the opening of the cell.
Walker was like a snarling bull, ready to charge at the snickering goons outside.
“I wouldn’t touch that shield, if I were you.” The voice came from the corner of the cell.
Walker glanced over to see a Decluvian lounging on a bunk.
“That beam will disintegrate your flesh. But if you’re looking for a quick end to the misery, by all means, try stepping through that energy field.”
Walker’s eyes stared back at the blue field that illuminated the entrance. It gave off a slight hum, kind of like a bug zapper.
“The name’s Luvix, but you can call me Lu… or Vix… or whatever the hell you want. I don’t really care.”
He had orange skin and large black spots. He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world. He could have just as well been on vacation, lounging in a hammock.
“You speak pretty good English for a Decluvian.”
“The galaxy is filled with old Earth TV shows bouncing around. It’s a primitive language. Easy to pickup.”
Walker glared at him.
Lu pulled out a hand rolled cigarette he had stashed in his pillow case. He sparked it up and took a hit. He offered it to Walker, who waived it off.
“Are you sure? It’s really good Majuva herb. All the way from the Sapova sector.”
Walker ignored him, and tried to get an angle on the rest of the detention center. But he was careful to keep his distance from the containment beam.
“Might as well relax and enjoy this place. It’s only going to get worse from here. If you don’t end up as the main course, you’ll be shuffled off to one of the mining colonies. Let me tell you, that’s brutal.”
Walker stepped away from the containment beam and turned back to Lu. He surveyed the cell. It was barely big enough for the two of them. There was a small sink, two bunks, and a place to take care of your business. But that was about it.
“What are you in for?”
“My charming personality.” Lu smiled.
Walker almost chuckled.
“Are you sure you don’t want a hit, man? It makes the suck factor of the situation go way down.”
* * *
W hat happened to Walker was happening to Malik and Saaja. They were rounded up by armed guards and brought to the CIC.
Tyvelon’s eyes beamed with delight. “Welcome aboard. So good of you to travel all this way. As representatives of Saarkturia, it is my humble honor to have you as my guest.” He was toying with them. He bowed in mock deference. “But perhaps you could explain to me why you brought a human along with you and tried to pass him off as a Saarkturian? I’m sure I will find your answer most intriguing.”
“He is a spy, and has given us valuable information,” Malik said.
“Really? And what information is that?”
“Communication codes,” Saaja said. “Enemy locations. His help with translations has been invaluable.”
“What need does a diplomatic envoy have for a spy?”
“We’re not a diplomatic envoy,” Malik admitted.
“Obviously,” Tyvelon replied.
“We crashed on Thantos 6,” Saaja said. “The human helped us escape.”
“Interesting,” Tyvelon mused. “I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s a long story,” Saaja said.
Tyvelon grinned. “Take them to the brig. They’ll make excellent workers in the mines.”
Malik and Saaja struggled as the guards tried to pull them away.
“You can’t do
One of the goons hoisted Walker to his feet and shoved him down the hall toward the detention center. He was going to get a good look inside after all.
In the prisoner processing area, he was forced to remove his body armor. He was down to his skivvies. Then he was escorted to a holding cell. The goons tossed him inside, sending him crashing to the deck. These bastards were strong. At 6’5”, Walker wasn’t an easy guy to throw around. But they made him seem like a rag doll.
By the time Walker climbed to his feet, an energy shield enclosed the opening of the cell.
Walker was like a snarling bull, ready to charge at the snickering goons outside.
“I wouldn’t touch that shield, if I were you.” The voice came from the corner of the cell.
Walker glanced over to see a Decluvian lounging on a bunk.
“That beam will disintegrate your flesh. But if you’re looking for a quick end to the misery, by all means, try stepping through that energy field.”
Walker’s eyes stared back at the blue field that illuminated the entrance. It gave off a slight hum, kind of like a bug zapper.
“The name’s Luvix, but you can call me Lu… or Vix… or whatever the hell you want. I don’t really care.”
He had orange skin and large black spots. He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world. He could have just as well been on vacation, lounging in a hammock.
“You speak pretty good English for a Decluvian.”
“The galaxy is filled with old Earth TV shows bouncing around. It’s a primitive language. Easy to pickup.”
Walker glared at him.
Lu pulled out a hand rolled cigarette he had stashed in his pillow case. He sparked it up and took a hit. He offered it to Walker, who waived it off.
“Are you sure? It’s really good Majuva herb. All the way from the Sapova sector.”
Walker ignored him, and tried to get an angle on the rest of the detention center. But he was careful to keep his distance from the containment beam.
“Might as well relax and enjoy this place. It’s only going to get worse from here. If you don’t end up as the main course, you’ll be shuffled off to one of the mining colonies. Let me tell you, that’s brutal.”
Walker stepped away from the containment beam and turned back to Lu. He surveyed the cell. It was barely big enough for the two of them. There was a small sink, two bunks, and a place to take care of your business. But that was about it.
“What are you in for?”
“My charming personality.” Lu smiled.
Walker almost chuckled.
“Are you sure you don’t want a hit, man? It makes the suck factor of the situation go way down.”
* * *
W hat happened to Walker was happening to Malik and Saaja. They were rounded up by armed guards and brought to the CIC.
Tyvelon’s eyes beamed with delight. “Welcome aboard. So good of you to travel all this way. As representatives of Saarkturia, it is my humble honor to have you as my guest.” He was toying with them. He bowed in mock deference. “But perhaps you could explain to me why you brought a human along with you and tried to pass him off as a Saarkturian? I’m sure I will find your answer most intriguing.”
“He is a spy, and has given us valuable information,” Malik said.
“Really? And what information is that?”
“Communication codes,” Saaja said. “Enemy locations. His help with translations has been invaluable.”
“What need does a diplomatic envoy have for a spy?”
“We’re not a diplomatic envoy,” Malik admitted.
“Obviously,” Tyvelon replied.
“We crashed on Thantos 6,” Saaja said. “The human helped us escape.”
“Interesting,” Tyvelon mused. “I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s a long story,” Saaja said.
Tyvelon grinned. “Take them to the brig. They’ll make excellent workers in the mines.”
Malik and Saaja struggled as the guards tried to pull them away.
“You can’t do
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