Chapter 59

“Probably thought you were one of the mercs,” the first man said. “They

opened all the cells at once. We were all agitated, but the others were

different—like animals. Vicious killers. We all ran for the exit when the cell

doors opened, but then the Robus, as you call them, came charging back, and

we ended up trapped here.”

“We’ll get you to safety now,” Kira assured him. “More of our people are

in the next room. They’ll get you out.”

“Thank you.” He bowed his head. “I don’t even know how long I’ve been

here… or where ‘here’ is.”

“This is the planet Valta,” she told him. “We’re with the Tararian

Guard.”

He looked surprised. “The Empire is involved?”

“Well, the Guard. The whole point is sorta that it’s not official,” Kira

corrected.

The man nodded. “Whoever you are or whatever reason you’re here,

thank you. We owe you our lives.”

Murmurs of thanks passed through the crowd.

She smiled. “It’s what we do. But if you’ll excuse us, I need to find the