Everything was still and quiet. Lying on my bed, eyes closed, not moving, I almost felt like a part of the stillness. A soft creak broke through my thoughts; the guards outside my door. I thought I'd convinced everyone at dinner that I was sick. Nora even brought in a cup of tea earlier and fussed over me like a mother bird. Guess it was all just an act. So now my biggest problem was how to get out without being seen. Jaycee had a plan all worked out. A plan she'd refused to tell me until I promised to take her along. Guess she doesn't want to be owned by Cash any more than I do.
It was a good plan, but very risky, and I wasn't sure it would work. Even if we made it out, where would we go? When I asked the droid this she just said we'd figure that out once we escaped. I didn't like that, but it sounded better than being locked up on some ice ball of a planet.
Right now my job was to pretend to be asleep. Jaycee's job was to hack into the cam system Cash installed in my room and record me lying here in bed, then set it on replay showing that image over and over again. To anyone monitoring cams, it'd look like I was still sleeping when, in reality, I wouldn't even be in the building.
I wasn't sure how long it would take her to do all that, but it seemed like hours. Meanwhile thoughts where swirling around in my head. This is a bad idea. What if we get caught? Will they shoot me?
A faint noise made me jump, and my eyes flew open. What was that? Heart pounding, I lay there listening so hard I could've heard a speck of dust hit the floor.
There it was again; a faint scratching, tapping noise coming from one of my windows. I dared to sit up, clutching the sides of the bed with clammy hands. Carefully I slid out of bed. My bare feet noiselessly crossed the cool floor, and paused in front of the window. The shades were drawn, but I could make out the dark outline of something out there, something waiting . . . I shivered in my singlet and thin trousers.
One hand clutching my medallion, I shakily reached up and pulled back the curtain. Jaycee's round photoreceptor stared back at me from behind the glass, but what stunned me the most was that she was floating.
I opened the window quickly. "Jaycee! What the feke are ya doin'?"
She chirped an unintelligible answer.
"This floor is over a hundred levels up! Do y'know what'll happen if you fall?"
The droid turned her domed head from side to side with an exasperated buzz.
I made a quick glance behind me. "Did you take care of the cams?"
She whistled an affirmative.
"Then why didn't you distract the guards so I could slip out of here like we planned?"
Slowly, Jaycee explained that there were armed guards stationed at every lift, stairwell, and exit. Cash wasn't taking any chances.
"So now what? Guards everywhere, no other way out . . ." my voice trailed off as it dawned on me exactly why Jaycee was hovering in front of my window.
"Oh no." I took a step back. "There's no way--"
The droid bleeped a question.
"No, I don't think ya can carry me! Yer rocket boosters aren't powerful enough ta keep both of us in the air!"
Jaycee gave an indifferent whistle and began to fly away.
"Wait! Jaycee, wait! Come back!" I hissed between my teeth, going to grab my pack. Why does she always get the last word?
YOU ARE READING
STAR WARS: ADVENTURES OF BUCK RYDUR - BOOK 1 PART 1 FREEDOM'S PRICE
Science FictionMy origins are unknown. My first memories are of being sold into slavery. Even my species is a mystery. Limitless power flows through me. This galaxy; it's not my home. Even my name is not truly mine. They call me Buck Rydur.