Page 5 of Alien Naga's Prize

I didn’t see it that way. I wanted to make a life for myself which didn’t mean running from authority, hiding in the vents, and stealing from those who had little enough for themselves. I wanted life to be better for everyone, not just the few prepared to take whatever they could.

Admittedly, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I knew what I would come up against, like the St. John Cholmondeleys of this ship. But I did make him regret his actions for a short while, and I still count it as a win.

I sigh and flick on the message. My whole bedroom glows with light, and fireworks go off everywhere.

“Congratulations! You’ve won!”a voice booms.

Fuck, it’s some sort of spam message. I attempt to shut it down, but the thing carries on regardless.

“The Starlight Lottery is ready to welcome you…Jenna McMahon…you’ve won the opportunity of a lifetime. Please go to your nearest Starlight Lottery office to get further details…”

The message continues with a 3D map to my nearest office, but I stop listening.

I’ve won?

I’ve actually won something?

I replay the message. It seems legitimate. I check the origin. It is from Starlight Lottery and from within S.C.Britannia. It is legit.

I pinch myself and it hurts…a lot.

I’m not dreaming and there is someone banging on my door.

“Fuck it.” I stomp the few meters and activate the spy-gap.

Stood outside, in full dress uniform, is the commander, flanked by Dan and another officer I don’t recognize, one with a sandy pencil mustache and a pencil neck.

“Fuck,” I mutter.

“We know you’re in there, McMahon,” the unfamiliar officer says. “Open the door.”

“I’m on leave. Fuck off,” I respond.

Not my finest retort, but then I’m on the cusp of a new life, so why not?

“You want us to use the warrant?” The officer holds up a significantly more sophisticated version of my standard-issue laser pistol.

Fuck.

What the hell do they want? I’ve got about three seconds to decide. I flick the door lock and walk away until I’m in the center of my quarters and close enough to the escape hatch if I do need to go.

Sometimes having a criminal family has its uses. In this case, it’s knowing not to trust anyone, ever.

The commander enters first, wrinkling his snooty nose at my tiny, crowded quarters. I fold my arms as Dan and the other officer enter. Dan gives me a sheepish smile. I raise my eyebrows at him.

“It was my idea to bring Officer Mannering. I thought seeing a familiar face might assist,” the commander says, eyes on me, raking up and down.

I’m wearing what I usually sleep in, an old, soft T-shirt which…oh fuck, clings to my every ample curve. The two most ample of which are currently bra-less.

And I’m in the middle of my quarters with nothing else to grab in order to cover myself. I’m going to have to brazen this one out, so I pop a hip and put my hand on it.

“What do you want,Commander?”I sneer. “A day ago, you couldn’t wait to get rid of me.”

“We’re here because of the lottery,” the unnamed officer says.

“And who the fuck are you?” I ask. The commander takes in a breath.

“May I remind you, McMahon, you’re still in the service, even if you are on leave. Captain Charlesworth is a member of the intelligence corps, and he outranks you.”