Dark Vengeance Read Free Page A

the floor in the alien ship’s gravity.  With due diligence, we pulled ourselves into that gravity, stood and backed away from the pressure doors. The alien ship’s airlock did not slide closed. It snapped instantly shut. We picked up our bags and stood at the closed inner door, waiting.
    R.J. could not resist a nervous quip. “Well, this really is a fine mess you’ve gotten us into.”
    “Don’t push it or I’ll start scratching my head and crying.”
    “I hope the flight suits are appropriate.”
    “At least we can run away fast in them.”
    “Right.”
    The inner door suddenly snapped open so quickly and silently it startled us. Beyond the inner airlock door, large silver elevator doors swished open. We stepped in, found no controls whatsoever and before we could turn, heard the doors close behind us. There was no sound or sense of motion. The doors on the opposite side of the car opened a moment later. The view beyond was dazzling.
    Before us was a large gallery area with plush furniture here and there, some of it difficult to understand. The high, domed ceiling peaked at a portion of the tubular section of ship we had seen from above. View ports filled its surface. They were tinted gray blue and not transparent. The room was oval with a wide wraparound chrome counter on the left and a large fireplace some distance away on the right. A dark figure with his back to us sat by the dead fire. Thick white carpet embedded with silver stars of various sizes covered the floor. Small glass courtesy tables were here and there. The air felt slightly too cool and smelled like that of a hospital with a touch of perfume added. The angelic receptionist behind the counter beckoned us with a wide smile.
    She was not human but was breathtakingly beautiful and intensely radiant. There was a silver-white glow around her that matched the white gown she was wearing. It sparkled from silver embedded in the material. A wide luminous neckline added to the aura. The gown was sleeveless but she wore matching arm-length gloves that came up just short of the shoulders. She had pointed pixie ears barely visible through loops of golden-silver hair with silver clips in the center of each loop. The tiny nose and small mouth accented unblemished ivory skin. Her eyes were almost too large to be proportionate. They were blue-gray and piercing.
    As we stepped up to the counter, I realized R.J. was just as mesmerized as I. The entire length of the counter top was displaying ship’s information. Our ethereal host kept her practiced smile and drew a small hand scanner from beneath the counter. She held it up pointed at us.
    A computer voice from the scanner spoke:
     
    “This audio file is designed to check your language translators to verify adequacy. If you do not possess a language translator please notify your attendant and one will be provided for you for the duration of your journey. The following segment of this audio file has been assembled from portions of the various dialects you will need. If at any time you do not understand any part of this audio file please notify your attendant. We are committed to providing you with the utmost in safety and comfort. Please advise the attendant of any needs that may arise. This concludes your language translator verification. Thank you for your patience.”
     
    R.J. and I already had translators inserted in both ears, devices obtained on a previous trip to Enuro. I glanced over at him with a childish smirk and found him still staring at our beautiful host with his mouth hanging open. She did not seem offended by the earthling’s worshipful gaze.
    “Captain Adrian Tarn, and Commander Rowland J. Smith?” Her voice was as hypnotic as her aura. It sounded like the two sexiest voices I had ever heard, mixed together to make one musical voice. Instead of answering her, we continued our blank stares.
    Something snapped in R.J.’s mind. “Commander Rowland Smith? Commander?!” He looked at me and