Page 2 of Captured By the Alien Captain
I’m already itching to head to the settlement and fight back.
Hendrick gives me a rundown of what happened. An ambush with very few survivors. There’s no real purpose behind the attack besides to spill blood on the soil of a planet our kind has only discovered a short period ago.
We are ordered to rescue those who have avoided slaughter and to kill whatever Medarians are still on site.
“Ah, yes, and one more problem that needs to be addressed.” Hendrick makes sure to point his attention in my direction. His eyes crinkle as he squints. “That sister of yours, the doctor, she’s been taken. We don’t know why as these creatures have never taken an interest in…”
His words become a fizzle as I blink. Watching his mouth move, I don’t register a single thing he says as his previous words run on repeat in my head.
Flora has been kidnapped. Instead of being murdered alongside those at the settlement, our enemy has taken her against her will. What are they doing to her at this very moment?Running tests while attempting to learn humanity’s greatest weaknesses?
She’s frail and weak, defenseless. My sister is my opposite, choosing to save a life over taking one. She’s the sort who wouldn’t even crush a bothersome mosquito without tearing up. And now, she’s been taken.
Heat crawls up my throat and the burn can only be compared to a white-hot rod being jammed into my body. I want to scream and insult this man for not protecting such an important settlement. Her entire team was there, hunting for answers to save us all.
She wasn’t safe from the moment she left my side.
“You will go directly to sector five.” Hendrick’s voice grows louder as he must notice the daze behind my stare. “You will help collect what survivors remain and take them to a new settlement until we can properly diagnose the damage. Do you understand?”
He’s firm and direct. Repeating his earlier demand, he waits for me to acknowledge the order. Without directly saying the words, his message is clear.
I’m not to go after the fuckers who kidnapped my baby sister. I’m not to return whatever they’re doing to her tenfold. Message loud and clear.
“Yes, sir.” The words fall out flat, sounding automatic. I stand a little taller, salute this man again, and end the call before he can go throwing out more nonsense.
Swarmed by silence once more, my knees give out and I’m left leaning against flashing lights and buttons. Breathing in through my nose, I hold it in for seven long seconds before exhaling hard enough to make my chest deflate into nothing. I inhale once more. Seven seconds.One. Two. Three.
I don’t make it to four. My next exhale is nothing but a raw scream escaping my throat. One of burning fury. One that seeks revenge. No, one thatdemandsit.
I’m not a crier, not after being raised to believe tears were a sign of weakness. However, right now, I want tears to fall in hopes of releasing this intense force growing bigger and bigger in my chest. I want to be able to breathe without this scorch.
Taking a minute to collect myself, thankful to have no eyes watching this moment of vulnerability, I move back to my feet.
Every minute is precious. There’s no time to panic.
My crew are all stiff as I leave the room. Not having time to apologize or even try to address them, my surroundings become nothing but a blur as I move toward the top half of the ship. Seeking the navigator, I flatten my hands against the display of our neighboring solar system. The one we’re trying our damndest to occupy.
“Set a course to Nedatere.”
The man sputters at my demand. “W-We received an order–”
“Nedatere,” I repeat, my voice lowering in pitch. “Please.”
“But that’s where–”
“–those Medarian bastards reside. Yes, I know.” Giving up on trying to be calm, I grunt when he fumbles to put in the new coordinates. “We need to be there by the hour, understand?”
A nervous swallow becomes a quick nod. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Thank you.” Turning around, I stalk toward the cockpit next. Reaching for the device hanging above the pilot’s head.
Clearing my throat, I hear the sound echo through the ship.
“This is a message from your commander. We will be going a bit off course with our next mission. I want to thank every one of you for your hard work and ability to serve. This next mission, a rescue one, will not be easy. Be on your highest guard.” My frown grows as the thought of Flora’s fate crosses my mind once more. “It’s about time we show the Medarians whattheInfernocan accomplish when push comes to shove. The war may continue to grow, but we will win this battle. I guarantee it.”
There’s the roar of fighting spirit flooding from both floors of the ship. It’s like music to my ears, the song of liberation.
My crew might be scared of me at times, hell, might not agree with me, but none of that matters right now. Not when the shared hatred of this species boils deep in our blood. Our murdered families, those who we lost through this process of finding somewhere to call home, are the ones we fight for.