Queen of the Savages - Complete by Lisa Lace Page A

stomach, she'd have lost her cookies right there. As it was, she only felt like she had to vomit.
    Tracy decided that a life in space was definitely not glamorous.
    Rev followed after them, and Tev closed the hatch. Tracy looked around and saw they were in the pilot's cabin. Two seats sat close to a bank of lighted panels with a joystick at each seat. Behind the pilot seats was an additional row of passenger seats.
    Both brothers tore off their helmets, and Rev drew Tev into a brotherly hug.
    "We made it!" he yelled.
    "It won't be worth anything if we don't get away from here," said Tev.
    "Then let's go. Tracy, strap in."
    Tracy settled into one of the other chairs, and after removing her helmet, she secured the seat belts around her. Instead of a single strap, on this ship there were two that came over her shoulders, securing at a latch in the center of her chest. The brothers sat in the pilots' chairs and started working through the preflight sequence, speaking to each other so fast that Tracy couldn't catch what they were saying.
    As the ship's engines started to rumble, a light flashed on the main view screen.
    The hairy little face of Tul filled the screen.
    "This is the captain of the Ceichis. I demand to know who is attempting to take that ship. I hope it's not two disgusting Kerdim."
    "Ignore him," said Tev.
    "No problem," said Rev. "What's keeping us from taking off? Is it the docking clamps?"
    "Yes, we're still attached to them. If you retract ours, and we'll pull away from their ship."
    "Doing that could damage the hull," pointed out Rev.
    "Leave and live. Stay and die."
    Rev sighed. "You always make things so black and white, but you're right this time."
    Tracy felt a small lurch as the clamps released.
    "What's that guy's name?" asked Rev.
    "Tul, his name is Tul," said Tracy. "He was the first officer before Kor died."
    "Captain Tul," said Rev with a sneer, "This is Ar-Reven and Ar-Teven, trackers for the Enforcement Wing of the Aligned Worlds. You are charged with several crimes: kidnapping a non-aligned world sentient, kidnapping an Enforcement Wing officer, and assault on an Enforcement Wing officer. If you refuse to release the docking clamps, your sentences and the sentences of those under your command will be correspondingly increased."
    Tul laughed. "You trackers think that you can make everyone in the galaxy obey your commands by mentioning your title. You know we are CRIMINALS, right? Why shouldn't I just kill you where you are?"
    "Do it." a voice croaked in the background. "I want them dead. I don't care about the bounty."
    Zywth pushed Tul away from the screen. The blue skin on his face was scored with jagged black streaks. Lower on his body, dark blood welled through wounds.
    "You fuckers!" he spit. "You are going to pay for this! I told Quargan not to trust you, you bastard. If I don't get you, he'll hunt you down!"
    "Good," said Tev. "That will only make it easier to arrest both of you. Don't worry, Zywth. Once my testimony is recorded there won't be a place safe for you in this galaxy. We'll have you in a nice prison where you belong."
    Tracy wasn't paying attention to the posturing. Instead, she studied the lime green screen that floated above the control panels. In the corner of the front screen, there were rotating images of the exterior of their ship. Motion there caught her eye.
    "Guys!" said Tracy. "Eyes upper right. See that?"
    Spacesuits were swarming out of another hatch of the Ceichis and headed straight towards the smaller vessel.
    "Fuck," said Rev. "They are going to try to breach our hull."
    "We went by the book, Rev, " said his brother.
    "You're right." Rev tossed a glance in her direction. "Hold on. We're about to put a lot of stress on this ship."
    "Just hit it. I've had it with these people. Let's get out of here."
    "As you wish. Let's get out of here before company shows up, Tev."
    Tev pulled back then forward on the stick, rocking the ship. It jolted at each movement, and the