Jazin pulled back with a sigh as alarms began sounding as the blast from the Tearnat warship burst through the shields. “We are all going to die!” IQ wailed as he came rolling up to Jarmen.
“We are not going to die,” Jazin said in exasperation. “Jar, how long do we have?”
“A minute, maybe two,” Jar responded. “If we don’t find a way off this thing, we are all going to die.”
Star tiredly rested her head against Jazin’s chest. “What next?”
Jon Paul and Luc came scrambling into the bridge carrying a large box between them that clanked and clattered as glass knocked against each other. Both men had a huge grin on their face. Jazin looked at the ceiling briefly before he looked back at Jar in resignation.
“We are packed and ready to go,” Luc said excitedly.
“Armet, where are you? We could use a way off this thing before it explodes,” Jazin said moving toward the emergency hatch they had entered.
“I’m docking under the freighter now. I hope you weren’t attached to that maintenance shuttle,” Armet said calmly. “You better put a move on. This bucket of bolts doesn’t look too good.”
Chapter 20
They had escaped the freighter with not a second to spare. Jon Paul and Luc had toasted their goodbye to the freighter cheerfully while IQ kept trying to snuggle up to Jarmen. Jar had finally shut the little service bot down. Star didn’t know if it was because he was embarrassed or so he could get some peace and quiet. Numbnuts had promptly requested permission to recharge and shut down on his own. By the time they were safely back on board the Blue Star, Tai Tek had pulled another disappearing act. She knew that all the men were frustrated but they also felt more confident than ever that it was just a matter of time before he was caught.
Jazin told Star that Manota and Jo had returned along with Star’s parents and an wide assortment of other characters. He didn’t tell her that Manota swore that half of their new passengers must have been from a dozen or more bizarre different species! His normally quiet brother looked extremely agitated.
“What is wrong?” Jazin had asked once Dakar, Armet, and Jarmen had left to get some much needed rest. “Did you encounter problems returning to our mate’s world?”
“Yes,” Manota admitted reluctantly. “We had to bring a few additional passengers that were not a part of Jo and Star’s family or the circus. There were two members of their world’s security force that followed us. I was left with no choice but to bring them with us.”
“Who else?” Jazin asked concern.
“The one called Walter found a young female who had been beaten the night we were to leave. She needed immediate medical care,” Manota said quietly. “I had no choice but to bring her with us. I am not sure if she will heal, at least mentally. She still had not spoken. Jo, her parents, and a few of the others spend time with her.”
Jazin felt a wave of unease. “How did our mates’ parents react to you?” He asked hesitantly.
“Jazin, these creatures….,” Manota drew in a deep breath before he looked over his shoulder to make sure he was alone. “They are some of the most unusual I have ever seen.”
“What happened?” Jazin asked bluntly.
He wanted to get back to his mate. He didn't have time to try to decipher what Manota was reluctant to share. He was too damn tired anyway. Personally, he could care less if Star’s parents accepted him. She was his and he would never let her go. He leaned forward, rubbing his brow tiredly, and looked at his brother. He had never seen him look so uncertain before.
“Tell me,” Jazin said impatiently.
“Her parents were so happy to see Jo and know that their daughters were safe they did not question who I was at first. Of course, that changed after they discovered where I planned to take her and them. The next thing I knew, I have a hundred different beings, supposedly humans, their mobile homes, and their wide variety of pets on my warship. I don’t think I will ever understand the ones they call clowns. They are downright scary!” Manota admitted quietly. “You will see when you get home. Father has set them up not far outside of the city. He felt it would be better for them to slowly assimilate into our society so they do not cause a panic among our people. When will you be home?”
“In a few days,” Jazin answered as he leaned back and ran his hands through his hair. “You know Tai Tek has disappeared again, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Manota growled out before he smiled cruelly. “But he is in for a surprise. I have located another stash of his credits. Not only that, he has made another enemy. Ristéard Roald is not happy at being used. He has sent some of his own men after Tai Tek. The star systems have just gotten a little smaller. Even the mercenaries he has hired will not want to cross Ristéard. The Grand Ruler is not known as a forgiving man.”