Lost Among the Stars
Copyright© 2025 by Sol Tangoran
Chapter 9: An Unlikely Alliance
The moment the airlock sealed behind Ny’Vara and her warriors, I collapsed into the captain’s chair and let out a long breath.
That had been close.
I stared at the viewscreen, watching their sleek, silver-hulled vessel drift back toward their fleet. They hadn’t fired on me yet, but that didn’t mean I was in the clear.
I turned to G’Lan. “Status?”
“All systems operational. K’Zari fleet remains in a defensive posture. No immediate signs of hostility.”
I exhaled. “Alright. Keep an eye on them.”
For now, it seemed Ny’Vara was willing to play along—but I knew better than to trust a warrior captain with a dozen warships at her back.
Still...
I thought back to the way she had looked at me before leaving—less like an enemy and more like a puzzle she wanted to solve.
That could work in my favor.
### A Dangerous Invitation
Hours passed in silence. The K’Zari fleet remained stationary, their weapons powered down but still very much ready.
Then, a new signal flashed across my console.
INCOMING TRANSMISSION—PRIVATE CHANNEL
I frowned. “G’Lan, source?”
“Encrypted. K’Zari vessel—Ny’Vara’s personal signature.”
I hesitated, then sighed. “Put it through.”
The screen flickered, and there she was.
Ny’Vara sat in what I assumed was her personal quarters—a dimly lit chamber lined with dark metal and soft, violet fabrics. Her golden fur shimmered under the low light, and those piercing emerald eyes studied me like a hunter watching prey.
“Captain Harper,” she said smoothly. “I trust you are still alive.”
I smirked. “So far.”
Her tail flicked lazily. “Good. Then I have a proposal.”
I leaned forward. “I’m listening.”
She rested her chin on one hand. “You command a ship of considerable power. You claim it is yours by right, yet you know nothing of its past or the war it was built for.”
She wasn’t wrong.
She tilted her head. “Join me aboard my vessel. Let us speak in person—without threats, without weapons. Just words.”
I frowned. This was risky.
She could be setting a trap, trying to separate me from my ship.
But...
If she truly wanted to seize the dreadnought, she could have tried already.
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