Chapter 11

Creatures emerged from the unsealed doorway, clad in black jumpsuits. The creatures had different -colored skin on this planet too, but a different variety.

She noticed three shades of brown, a peach color, and pale yellow. Some had long hair, like the females on Akron. Some had shorter hair, like the males on Akron. Some long-haired ones had beards and mustaches. Some short-haired ones had more shapely figures. There would be time to study that later.

Seconds were on the line. '

"Someone's in here," a man with almond eyes and hair the color of ship fuel said.

"Extra-terrestrial?" A woman who had colors on her face asked.

"Possibly. Wait here. We don't want to scare it."

The man stepped closer. His jumpsuit had a label with markings on it.

"Trevon, I don't think that's a good idea," the woman said.

"Relax. It's not trying to hurt us."

Nessa stumbled backward. Her back found the ship. Her mind went blank.

"It's a pretty one," Trevon called back to the others.

He leapt toward Nessa, arms outstretched. He attempted to grab her, and she jumped sideways. Trevon grabbed an armload of emptiness.

"Open the holding unit, Zane," Trevon said.

Zane stepped out of view. The object in the corner with the energy shield—that had given Nessa light earlier—deactivated. The shield disintegrated, revealing a disk. The disk had a dip in the middle. A sleeping cloth and a cushion padded a sleeping pod. Four nourishment packets were stacked on the floor. Nessa's stomach growled. She squatted and bound toward the nourishment packets.

"We've got her," Trevon announced.

He marched and joined the others. A yellow light flooded the little room. Nessa drew a shaky breath. She'd been cornered, and she'd made the wrong move. She let her eyes wander the room. There was the sleeping pod behind her, and the nourishment packets were beside her. A screen glowed outside, and on it she saw a digipad with their markings. Unless she could get that passcode on her implant, she gave up all hope of escape. She collected a packet and situated herself on the sleeping pod.

"Kommer," she seethed. "I could spit. Friendly, huh?"