Star's Storm(61)

“Crew member Star Strauss, ejected from liquid waste port three,” the computer responded.

Jar linked into Jazin’s comlink even as he was locating the video recording of the corridor and the location of the crew members whose prints he had on file. The man was in the shuttle bay. Jar opened communication’s with Dakar and Armet at the same time as Jazin answered.

“Is she safe?” Jazin asked tensely.

“Dakar, apprehend crewman Delant. He is needed for questioning. Expect deadly resistance. Armet, get to the disposal bay and check the system for the last disposal location. Jazin, your female was ejected from the Blue Star,” Jar responded coldly. “I wish permission to interrogate Ensign Delant for his role in her abduction,” Jar paused as he received the video feed. His eyes flickered brightly as the information poured in. He fast forward until he received the information he wanted. “I will also need Ensign Corklar.”

“I will get Corklar,” Armet snarled. “I just passed him heading for engineering.”

Jazin stood frozen as he listened to Jarmen. All his mind could process was Star had been ejected from the ship into open space. He gripped the railing as his knees threatened to give out on him. He closed his eyes and pulled her beautiful face into his mind. A cold, deadly rage built. He would get the information that he needed for the traitors, one slice at a time.

*.*.*

Star groaned as she came to. Her head throbbed like someone was beating on a bass drum for the first time in music class. One thing was for sure, they were having one hell of a party by the feel of it. She hoped drummer was enjoying it because she sure as hell wasn’t!

She opened her eyes and felt a moment of uncontrollable terror. She opened her mouth to scream but all that came out was a tiny whimper. Star raised her hands as far as she could and felt along the side of the container she was trapped in. Her mind played every horror movie she had ever seen where someone was buried alive. She was definitely in some type of container. Her breathing accelerated as a full fledge panic attack threatened to overwhelm her.

“Respiration has increased,” a calm voice stated. “Reduce breathing by using deep breaths to calm your intake.”

“Where…. Where am I?” Star whispered hoarsely.

“Relax and continue to breath as normally as possible. Escape pod guidelines provide for the minimum oxygen levels to extend the possibility of rescue. Passengers who do not panic can extend levels by two additional hours if they remain calm. Rescue beacon is active and has been answered. Retrieval in approximately twenty-four minutes, eight seconds.”

The voice continued to repeat the instructions every few minutes until Star felt like screaming just to get it to shut up. She got the message already. She was stuck, someone was on their way, breath slowly.

Star remained still, looking up at the dimly lit interior. Taking a deep breath, she focused on what she could remember and tried to fill in the blanks. The two men had obviously been responsible for her being here. The million dollar question was why did they do it and what did they want. If Star had to guess, she would place all of chips on Tai Tek being behind her abduction. That guy was really beginning to piss her off. She bet he was behind all the other sudden ‘situations’ as well. That guy either had way to much charisma which she obviously wasn’t seeing or he had money, or credits in this case, coming out the ying-yang.

Star flexed her fingers in the soft cloth interior and frowned when the tips of her fingers brushed something small and hard. She wiggled further down and searched along the crevice with her fingers until she felt it again. She rolled it between her fingers. A soft sob escaped her as she recognized the comlink she had been reaching for before the jerk stunned her. She wasn’t sure how far it would work but it was a chance of rescue, no matter how slim.

She felt around it until she found the tiny button on the side. She drew in another deep breath and pressed the button. It was linked directly to Jazin’s, no one else, just his.

“Jazin,” Star called out loudly. “Jazin, please you have to hear me.”

“Star,” Jazin’s voice came over the comlink. It was weak but it was his voice. Static made it impossible to hear what he was saying so she didn’t even try.

“Jazin, I’m in some kind of a box. You have to help me. The computer said something was coming,” Star sobbed. “Please, you have to hear me. Jazin, I’m in a box. It feels like a coffin. I don’t like coffins.”

The box jerked and a loud bang sounded on the outside of it near Star’s head. “Retrieval in progress. Life support is stable. Congratulations passenger, you are safe,” the automated voice said before the lights in the box turned off plunging Star into darkness.