Dream Unchained by Kate Douglas Page A

trying unsuccessfully for so long to find freedom. Many of our people made that choice on their own. They scattered their energy rather than power the Gar ship. In that respect, those of us who remain are cowards. We were not willing to die, which made us complicit in the murder of too many worlds.”
    He broke eye contact with Mac and stared toward the big windows looking out over the array. “Thank Nyria, many of the worlds were already barren of living forms. Not all worlds support life.” He shook his head and sighed before gesturing at Cam’s painting. “But too many were like this one. Too many were peopled by sentient beings with well-developed civilizations. We left them as nothing more than empty shells.”
    Jesat stepped up and put his hand on Dake’s shoulder. Ankar, Bane, and Aza joined him, standing on either side of the two. “Dake leaves out an important part of the tale,” he said. “We did not act because we were not willing to die uselessly. When we were first captured, the Gar still had engines and power to run their ship without us. Our deaths would have had only a minor impact on them. They would have continued destroying worlds and our deaths would have solved nothing. Now they are totally dependent upon us to run their ships and keep their people alive.”
    Dake glanced at Jesat and nodded. “What Jesat says is true. Before, if we’d suddenly disappeared, the Gar would have continued on with very little trouble. Now?” His smile sent chills along Mac’s spine. “Now, when the last of us leave, the ship will implode and they will die.”
    â€œYou’re sure of this?” Mac realized his gaze had been drawn away from the Nyrians. He couldn’t take his eyes off Cam’s painting. This was the future that awaited mankind should their plans fail, and yet he was putting all his trust into creatures he didn’t even know.
    Zianne was different, wasn’t she? He loved and trusted her, but what of the rest of the Nyrians? Were they truly as honest, as honorable as she? Could he believe them without doubt? What choice did he have? His own government refused to listen. Someone had to pay attention.
    He forced himself to stand, to turn his back on Cam’s painting and look at the Nyrians. “Once you’re gone, they can’t return to their ship’s original power source?”
    â€œIt’s no longer functional.” Aza glanced at the others. “Three of us infiltrated their aging power plant. It’s been shut down for well over a hundred of your years, so no one noticed when we destroyed components necessary for its function. The last ones capable of repairing the machinery died generations ago. The Gar have grown lazy, their equipment is outmoded, and they are totally dependent upon us.”
    â€œI sure hope you’re right.” Mac stared once again at Cam’s disturbing painting. “Because that could just as easily be the earth if things don’t go as planned.”
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    â€œAfter all the excitement this morning, it’s been really quiet.” Lizzie stepped aside as Kiera settled herself into the recliner and placed the mesh cap over her dark hair. “I actually napped for a while.”
    Kiera smiled softly. “Sounds good. I didn’t sleep much last night. Too many things to worry about.”
    Lizzie punched her lightly on the shoulder. “Too many good-looking guys in your bed’s more like it.” She stared at Kiera and laughed out loud. “Good gods, girl. You’re blushing. I didn’t know black chicks could blush.”
    Kiera rolled her head to one side and glared at Lizzie. She held that look for a few seconds and then burst into giggles. “That, my dear, is not a blush. Trust me, because I’m not one bit embarrassed about what I did with my guys. It’s heat. Pure heat, just thinking of what went on in my bed last night. It’s