Chapter 19: Avast!

As soon as Etzli burst awake, she knew something was wrong. She didn't know what exactly. She didn't know anything, at first.

It took her a few seconds to remember who she was.

Next, she struggled to understand why she was so wet. (Icicles tended to form during stasis, and they melted once the hypersleep pod was deactivated.)

Then she tried to remember where she was. A passenger starliner. Headed... somewhere?

Wait, did she meet the King?

The hypersleep pod hissed open. Still clutching her pillow, Etzli sat up. She heard shouting somewhere ahead in the main passenger section. Angry voices. Someone shouted a warning. Someone else laughed.

Etzli climbed out of the freezer. She needed a weapon. A shaggy, faux fur pillow wasn't going to do it. Inching through the rear hold, she kept her eye out for anything pointy.

She found a pistol right away. The only problem was, its barrel was pointed at her face.