Ethereal Lives: A Romantic Sci-Fi Novel

Chapter 24

Ax leant against the wall, as Trel explained the layout of the ship. It sounded surprisingly small and would be easy to navigate. The plan to capture them seemed to be a fairly minor operation with very few people involved.

They'd been on board for one day, and the men had been extremely quick at learning everything they needed to know and ensuring they got guard duty. Apparently, no one wanted to watch the prisoners. The other Xans had been more than happy to allow Bizax and Trel the job.

It had given them the ability to walk around the ship undetected as there seemed to be minimal security and hardly any cameras on board. As long as one of them stood outside the cell at all times, they never got questioned.

"They're very lax," Trel explained. "I think the one you killed back at our ship was in charge. Those left are just following through with his plan to sell you, but they are new to all this. Kestel is obviously the leader now. However, he has no idea what he's doing."

"That will work in our favour," Ax said.

Trel agreed, "They follow no set schedule and bicker constantly about who will do what. They don't like following orders from Kestel, so he and Wain, are in constant disagreement. It shouldn't be too hard to slowly pick them off. I say we separate them one at a time and just take on their image until we each have one, and put their bodies in here. It'll even the odds for our final attack."

It made sense, and the sooner they started the better. Ax stepped forward. "Agreed, we don't know what planet we're headed for, so the sooner we infiltrate them, the better. I'll go first with Jas." He turned to his pilot. "I want you to have access to the control room to see how the ship works ASAP."

Jas stepped forward. "Ready when you are."

Together they exited the cell, leaving Trel standing guard and headed down the corridor with Bizax. He paused outside a room. "A pilot sleeps in here."

With a nod, Jas twisted the handle and crept into the room. A few moments later he poked his head back out. "No one here, I'll wait."

They continued down the corridor, confident Jas could handle himself and would subdue the pilot with no problems. The sound of voices coming towards them brought them to a halt. Signalling for Ax to be quiet and wait, Bizax continued around the corner they were approaching.

"Why aren't you on guard duty?" Ax heard one of the Xan ask.

"Got hungry."

"Food hall's in the other direction." Suspicion was evident in the Xan's response.

"Oh," he heard Bizax mumble, seconds before saying, "fex."

A loud thump sounded as Bizax shouted. "Coast's clear."

Turning the corner, he found his friend stood over the bodies of two Xans, who now lay unconscious at his feet. "Feel threatened, did you?"

"Bored," Bizax replied with a deadpan expression.

Ax chuckled. "Do you know who they are?"

"Just random lackeys."

"They'll do,"

Each heaving a body onto their shoulder, they rushed back to the cargo hold.

"Maybe we should just throw them out an airlock." Ax suggested a minute later. The Xan was no light weight and though he loathed admitting it, carrying one wasn't easy.

Bizax sniggered at his comment. "Need bodies in the cell in case anyone checks."

He grunted in response and lifted the body higher on his shoulder. Trel saw them approaching and opened the cell door. As soon as they entered the bodies were dropped unceremoniously onto the floor.