Ethereal Lives: A Romantic Sci-Fi Novel

Chapter 25

"The best thing to do is split into pairs." Ax stood in the cell in his stolen Xan form, organising his plan of attack. "If we spread out over the ship, we have more chance of getting them alone and picking them off one at a time. There are eight of us, fifteen of them. Not bad odds, if we can dwindle their side down, even better."

He eyed the pile of, now dead, bodies in the corner. Most of them had been strangled and looked like they were sleeping. They had been necessary deaths. He wasn't about to risk them escaping and stopping their plans. "Hide any kills. The longer we have to pick them off the better."

Murmurs and nods of agreement went around the men as they paired up. Jas and Dyan would go together, both needing to make their way to the control room. Brise would go with Trel, and he with Sek. Praid, being the smallest of them all would go with Bizax the largest. Despite stealing a Xan image, he would still only have the strength of his smaller self. As soon as they were all prepared, Ax opened the door to Trel and Bizax, who stood guard.

"Okay guys, let's go hunting." He slapped Sek on the back, and together they walked down the corridor, both alert, looking for any kind of movement.

They hadn't gone far when Sek's hand, firmly grasped his shoulder bringing him to a stop. Indicating to be quiet, Sek nudged his head in the direction of a door to their left. He and Sek were used to working together, so he knew Sek must have heard something. They each stood on a side of the door. The handle was on his side, carefully reaching over he turned it as quietly as possible then snatched his hand back, leaving the door to glide open on its own. It didn't take long for the Xan inside to investigate what had caused his door to open. As soon as he appeared, Ax grabbed him. Restraining his arms to his body, he held him firm while Sek snapped his neck in one smooth motion. Quickly moving the body back into the room, they hid him in a closet.

"Fourteen to go."

Sek nodded in agreement, and they continued on their way down the corridor. They needed to dispatch as many as possible as quietly as they could.

Moving strategically through the ship, the men checked room after room eliminating anyone they came across. Some put up a fight. Most were caught unawares and didn't know what hit them. By the time they reached the control room the opposition was down to six, including Kestel and Wain. Ax didn't have experience with the rest of the Xans but hoped they wouldn't put up too much of a fight. All the men except Jas and Dyan had met up in the corridor a few moments ago. If everything had gone as planned, the other two men were already inside.

"How do you want to play this?" Sek asked standing a few paces from the door.

Ax looked amongst the men. As they travelled through the ship, they'd each acquired weapons.

"Storm the fortress," he said, "no matter how we play it, all of us entering there at once will look suspicious. Hopefully, if we dash in together, we can take them out unaware. I'll go in first and warn Jas and Dyan, you all follow. With any luck, we'll be able to surround them." Giving his friends one final look, he entered the control room.

As soon as he walked through the door, he knew something had gone wrong. The guns pointing straight at him gave it away. "Whoa, what's all this?" he asked, holding his hands up.

"Name, rank and previous ship." Wain barked at him.

Trying his best to look harmless, he attempted to lower his hands. Guns being powered up abruptly stopped the action. "Hey, no need for that. What's going on?"

Wain addressed him down the barrel of his gun. "It appears the prisoners have escaped and taken over some of the crew." He waved a hand to his left to indicate Jas and Dyan who were still in Xan forms but were now on the floor tied up, Kestel towering over them. Jas appeared to be wounded. His right trouser leg had a growing blood stain on the thigh.