I yanked my Mark II blaster out of its holster, rotated the container’s handles and threw open the lid against my instructions.
“Help!”
I climbed up on the bay’s support structure to look inside.
My mind raced to process the images. A young woman stood naked at the middle of the container, save for a long mane of bright red hair. She covered herself and fell silent. I looked around the container and saw eight medical beds angled up against the two side walls.
My skin crawled at the sight of other unclothed beings. Various ages and genders were represented through each bed’s lid. I assumed they were alive, but it could have gone either way.
Whatever this was, I wasn’t going to like it.
If you liked last week's snippet (or the full story for those who found it via my website), and liked this one as well, make sure to pick up a copy of the full collection. Enjoy!
Interesting. Why isn't she lying in her bed?
ReplyDeleteNow this is a very intriguing snippet. Yes, I want to know why she's out of her bed and calling for help, too.
ReplyDeleteIf there's anyone I'd want to have save me, it would be Aston. ;)
ReplyDeleteNice way to hook us!
Really now, does Aston EVER like it? I love this character and I love the pickles you put him in! Great snippet!
ReplyDeleteMore trouble for Aston. Poor guy... Great snippet as usual!!
ReplyDeleteGreat snippet! Nice tension throughout and nice hook.
ReplyDeleteLaurel and Gayle, all is revealed (oops, no pun intended... :-P ) in the rest of the story. Hee hee...
ReplyDeleteHeidi, you aren't the only one who's told me that. ;-)
JC, one of the primary contributors to a plot is to have conflict, and to put your character in pickles such as this. He seems to have an overabundance of them, but if he wasn't, his stories wouldn't be all that good. :-)
Glad you enjoyed it, TK and Jason!
Thanks everyone for stopping by! Now it's time to settle in with some ramen (presently cooking) for lunch, and to check out all of the other snippets!
What's not to like about a naked redheaded woman? I love this snippet! My curiosity swells.
ReplyDeleteAn intriguing scenario. (I take it "container" is something the size implied by a container ship, not a lunch basket.) It needs some rearranging, like put the call for help before he draws his sidearm, and the red hair should modify "naked."
ReplyDeletePatrick, I'm not sure that was your curiosity... :-P
ReplyDeleteSue, Aston carries containers in his ship's cargo bay. Unfortunately, he wasn't allowed to examine this one ahead of time.
Thanks for stopping by, everyone!
At least he got to see her naked before the trouble begins!
ReplyDeleteWell, there is that, but I'm not sure he was in a state of mind to take in the sights right then... ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
Dead or alive, discovering bodies in your hold is just damn creepy.
ReplyDeleteOh, Aston. Everyone knows the Mark II blaster is so last year. All the cool Space Pirates are onto the Mark IV!
ReplyDeleteFun stuff, as always!
And not just any bodies, Misa, but explaining that would give the story away... ;-)
ReplyDeleteCary, Aston is one of those old-school purists who knows what he likes, and sticks with it religiously...although his eyes (and trigger fingers) do stray a bit in the new novel.
Thanks for stopping by!
Sounds very ominous.
ReplyDeleteIndeed...and it only gets worse. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!