panel that controlled it.

She used the metal tray to slam the control pad as hard as she could, imagining the cyborg realizing that she’d tricked him. She hit the panel again, using the edge of the tray to hammer at it repeatedly until the control panel broke. She tore the dented lid off the tray and grabbed for the drink inside, dropping the damaged tray and mess of food to the floor. She shook the drink, tearing the seal off with her teeth, and poured liquid into the broken control pad. Instantly an acrid, burning, electrical smell filled her nose. The wires were fried.

Something struck the door from inside and she heard the cyborg yell her name. Drakos was trapped in the room and she was glad she could only faintly hear him. Ships were designed with thick walls in case of a space breach. Sealed rooms without damage could remain sealed until they ran out of breathable air, which also meant someone would have to pass close to hear him yelling. She turned and ran for the lift.

She’d seen a ship map on the wall but she hadn’t time to study it when Flint had walked her past it. Now she studied the ship layout to locate the life pods. No pods were on her level but there were two on the deck below her. With her heart pounding she hit the button to call the lift. She wouldn’t have much time before Drakos called for reinforcements. When the lift doors opened she sighed in relief that it was empty.

She hated the damn things but it would get her to another level quickly. The lift doors shut and she leaned against the wall as it dropped a level. The doors opened and fear hit again until she realized the corridor was empty, no one was waiting to grab her She ran, heading down toward the first split. She saw the red marker on the wall that pointed toward the life-pod bulk doors. She pressed one to open but nothing happened.

Had they been disabled? Were the pods gone? The doors should open if they were working. She moved to the other door and hit the emergency open button. It slid open. Relief hit her as she saw the interior pod door slide open a second later, revealing the interior of the pod on the other side of the small docking sleeve.

She ran in and spun, hitting the emergency close button. She stared at the empty corridor and hoped that luck was with her since no one had appeared to stop her. Her fear didn’t ease until the door slammed shut, sealing her inside. She moved the few feet into the pod and sealed those doors. She turned then to take a better look at the pod.

The emergency lights had been activated by motion so she had a clear view of the interior—a twenty-five passenger pod. It was larger than she thought it would be which was lucky for her. She ran around the passenger area to the pilot seat. Throwing her ass into the seat, she started to put on her belt.

“State emergency,” a hollow male voice startled her.

“Um…”

“This is autopilot for Pod 3. State emergency.”

She bit her lip. “We’ve been boarded by pirates. We need to blast away and get away from the Star before they can come after us. Pirates have control of the Star .”

“State destination to safest location please.”

“Um…Earth?”

“Understood. Uploading location. Locked.Prepare for release and sudden hard blast when we are clear.

Countdown in three, two, one…”

She barely got her belt tightened before the pod released. Her body slammed forward, hard against the belt as the small ship turned then was thrown back against her seat as it launched. Her stomach protested the sudden and violent move and a moan of terror burst from her parted lips. Most of the gravity went.

The pod slowed to a stop and she saw her blonde hair floating as her limbs grew so light she could barely feel them.

“Cross your arms tightly to your chests and lean your heads back against the headrest,” the computer voice ordered. “Hard blast in three, two, one, blast.”

Mira would have screamed but she had no air left in her lungs from the violent motion of being slammed into her seat. She was glad she’d followed the instructions quickly. If she hadn’t crossed her arms over her chest she was pretty sure they would have been broken by the sudden burst of speed. The force was