Captive Surrender Read Free

come. It just wasn’t now.
    “I demand to see whoever is out there. I can hear you. By galactic order, I command you open this cell and let me out.”
    This time there was no mistaking the sound of laughter coming from the other side of the wall.
    “I hope you know that by attacking me, you’ve opened yourself up to a whole lot of trouble. People have gotten life sentences on prison moons for less.”
    The wall to her left began to shimmer. Maurra turned in time to see the whiteness become transparent. On the opposite side stood two Kronners. Not much of a surprise. For a moment she wondered what had happened to the Ellinod, and then a third Kronner joined his buddies. He held her uniform.
    “Ulraz jouit momvem od!” the third one jeered. His friends laughed in response. Mr. Three held up her shirt and waggled the crest at her.
    These idiots had no idea what she could do. But, on the other hand, neither did she know what they had planned for her or what they would do to her if she fought them. She eyed the cubicle. This place could be rigged to do just about anything if she caused problems.
    Give them enough antimatter, and they’ll blow themselves up.
    One thing was certain. She was not on Cura-Cura anymore. The almost undetectable vibration under her feet meant she was on a large ship. More likely a cargo vessel that was probably heading back to Kronnaria.
    Great. But I’m due back at headquarters in forty spacial hours. If I don’t answer roll call, SOP will send out another psi cop to look for me.
    A fourth Kronner appeared from around the corner of her cell. This one carried a bundle. Before she could comprehend what he held, the Kronner tossed it toward her. She missed the split second the cell wall went down. She cursed herself for the missed opportunity. Apparently her brain was still fuzzy.
    “In zizi collerero.” He grasped his chest and jiggled himself. “In zizi collerero.”
    Now she knew what the bundle was. She went over and picked it up. The shiny black straps were embarrassingly thin. It was a hoochie suit. These Kronners wanted her to dress up like a street whore.
    She dropped the straps and stood back. “Screw you. Give me back my uniform.” Without the translator embedded in the uniform, she had no idea what these sleazy aliens wanted.
    “In zizi collerero.” Another one of the Kronners shook a fist at her.
    “Fuck your in zizi collerero. Give me back my uniform!”
    The instant the Kronner on the far end raised his hand. When she saw the implant in its hand begin to glow, she knew what they had used to subdue her. Now she’d see which was greater—her psionic power or their negative neuron ray.
    “In zizi collerero!” He really meant it this time.
    Maurra was more than ready. “Go ahead, you little shithead. Show me what you’ve got!” She kicked the hoochie suit across the floor of her cell. She’d rather go nude than put that thing on.
    She felt her mouth open in shock when the other three walls of her cell suddenly cleared, and she could see there was one other person being held prisoner like herself.
    The Ellinod looked up at her in dazed surprise. He turned his head to see the Kronners standing beyond the wall, and his face instantly turned gray. His mouth opened to show fierce incisors, and he roared in fury.
    Neither of them got the chance to say anything when the Kronner turned and fired at the Ellinod. Pinkish light surrounded the creature. He bellowed in pain and slumped to the floor of his own cube.
    “In zizi collerero.” The Kronner pointed to the hoochie suit.
    Her temper went combustible. She slammed her hands against the nearly invisible wall of her cell, ready for the jolt. Focusing her psionic power, Maurra tried to melt her way through.
    Two other Kronners lifted their hands, and along with the first one, all three aimed their beams at her. The fourth Kronner kept his hand aimed at the unconscious Ellinod. This time the beam glowed almost black.
    “In zizi