145

The captain beamed down to the planet, which was against protocol, but no one could see the point in protesting this time; after all, it was the captain's wife who was in jeopardy.  The first officer thought Captain Blake was a fool--no woman was worth saving--and he was unable to keep the contempt from his mobile features when sending the captain off.  "Say what you're thinking, Lieutenant."  Lieutenant Ebaum's face twitched, but he said nothing.  The captain was growing impatient.

119

"Get out of the trunk." The girl unfolded painfully, her knees and hands bruised from kicking, her fingers bleeding from trying to disconnect one of the tail lights. She squinted against the light, eyes watering. At least, she thought, I left some DNA for them to identify me. She tried not to sob.