Captive Surrender Read Free Page A

collerero.”
    She backed off. The little creatures were not above torturing and maybe killing the Ellinod just to get her to dress up as a common prostitute.
    Put the fucking thing on if it’ll stop them from attacking the Ellinod. Remember, your first duty as a JoJo is to protect and defend. Back off, and keep your eyes and ears peeled. There has to be a reason. There has to be an explanation.
    Maurra nodded, hoping they would understand. “All right. You win for now. I’ll in zizi collerero.”
    Picking up the straps, she started to slip them over her head when she stopped. Why make her put it on when they could have just as easily put it on her themselves when they’d stripped her the first time?
    The answer was obvious. By making her do it herself, they had forced her to bend to their will. Point for the Kronners. Zero for the JoJo. They must be really loving the odds.
    The outfit included a pair of elbow-length fingerless gloves and thigh-high boots, both made out of the same cheap, shiny black material. The whole thing was made for show—to wear just long enough for a quick bump-and-grind interlude then ripped off without further ado for some paid recreation.
    “Better enjoy it while you can.” She eyed the one Kronner who had remained behind to make sure she obeyed entirely. “This game is just beginning, but I play by my own nasty set of rules. Plus, I cheat.”
    By the time she was finished cinching the last strap, her cell went opaque, leaving her alone in a stark white emptiness. Behind her, she could hear the Ellinod moan softly in pain.

Chapter Three
     
    Nearly six hours passed. If there was a side benefit to being psionic, it was the ability to tell time without clocks. It didn’t matter what planet she was on or what galaxy she was visiting—Maurra could tell the exact local time within seconds. Not all psi cops could do it with precise accuracy, and she was better than most who could.
    Right now her internal clock was frozen, which meant they were still in space. Her stomach clenched. She was getting hungry. And cold. The Kronners came from a very humid planet and kept their ships on the cool side. It would have been all right if she was wearing her uniform, but this hoochie outfit was no better than being bare-ass naked.
    She undid the braid behind her head and combed through the thick, dark red mass of hair with her fingers. She pulled some of it over to cover her shoulders and breasts and huddled with her knees up to her chest. Sighing loudly, she braced her forehead against her knees.
    “Covil mwato?”
    The voice was deep. Resonant, with a texture like velvet being dragged across sandpaper. Definitely not the voice of a Kronner.
    “I don’t know what you’re saying, but if you’re commenting on our situation, I agree with you.”
    She heard the Ellinod move. It was a subtle shifting, which made her realize she hadn’t heard him move before now. Maybe he’d been sleeping off the effects of being rayed and had just now woken up.
    “Iji kuv JoJo?”
    All right. That much she could interpret.
    “Yeah, I’m a JoJo. My name’s Maurra.”
    “Maurra.” There a slight, silent pause. “Kuvma Safan.”
    Safan. His name must be Safan.
    “Hello, Safan. I wish I could say it was nice to meet you.”
    There was more movement. She heard the unmistakable sound of peeing. Maurra blinked. A second later, she realized she had to go too. There wasn’t anything in the empty, sterile cube except herself. But at least she had the frosted walls to provide her with a modicum of privacy. Moving over to the farthest corner, she squatted and pulled aside the one-inch strap that ran between her legs. As soon as she was done, she hurried back to the other side of her cell.
    “Kleeja. Moromo.”
    Whatever you say.
    The unmistakable sound of a door sliding open got her attention. Maurra jumped to her feet as one wall of her cell went transparent. Three Kronners stood just inside the entrance to the huge room.