Excerpt: Secrets of the Black Moon

The El-dal ship was right behind her.

VaRee traced her fingers over the computer screen, bringing the pirate ship into sharper focus on the viewer before her. In subspace, they were evenly matched, and considering they had a full crew with a seasoned pilot, and she was a Vindari who'd never set foot behind the helm of a spaceship. The most she knew about flying a spaceship, she knew from her Guardian, TeLar, who had given her only the most basic instructions as they'd raced through the winding tree-tunnels of their city, before the El-dal's laser had sliced through TeLar's back.

She pressed her trembling fingers to her eyes to staunch the tears that threatened. She was the Librarian, the keeper of all the Vindari history: all their knowledge, all their secrets. Her survival was paramount, more so than any of her kin. She had to get to Zutara, the second of the two planets on this side of the galaxy that the Vindari called home.

What were the coordinates that TeLar had given her? In her fright, VaRee simply could not remember.

On the viewscreen before her, the El-dal ship grew larger, an ominous figure in the blackness of space.

They'd killed everyone. Her mother and father, her sisters, her friends...TeLar. All of them, gone. She was the only one left.

VaRee wrapped her arms around herself, trying to contain the pain that blossomed throughout her chest, the ache for those long gone. She'd felt them, each one. Felt their pain, felt it when the light of their spirits vanished from the mortal realm.

TeLar, TeLar, TeLar... Her mind and heart called for him in unison, but he was gone. The Guardian, chosen to protect her at all costs. She'd never expected him to fall this soon. His death, for he had been right beside her, had been the hardest for her to bear.

She had to remember the coordinates!

Suddenly, static crackled over the intercoms of her transport ship, and she heard the gruff breathing of the El-dal captain.

"You can't outrun us, Librarian," he said, and the onboard translator automatically rendered the words in VaRee's native tongue. "Surrender now, and yours will be a painless imprisonment."

Fury spiked within her at the voices of the murderers. Goddess curse them all for the destruction they'd wrought upon the Vindari! They were peaceful, and sought no quarrel with anyone.

"We know you know the coordinates of the Black Moon," the voice said silkily. "Give them to us. You have nowhere to run. We'll track you down, no matter where you try to go."

VaRee swallowed the lump of helpless rage in her throat. She had one place to run. One place to go. And one trick in her arsenal that they would never expect.

She tapped the computer and brought up the screen to input the coordinates. She wasn't sure if she was getting them right, but she was too angry to care. TeLar's death would not be in vain, not if she had anything to say about it.

VaRee opened up a hailing frequency, and held one blue finger poised over the engine button. She waited until the El-dal ship was almost within tractor range. She could sense their joy and excitement in the victory they felt was close at hand.

Then she spoke.

"May you, your children, and your children's children be cursed for the horrors which you have committed today. May the galaxy know you as the cowardly scum you are. And may your every goal remain forever out of your reach."

With that, she punched the button.

And went careening into hyperspace, where the El-dal could not follow.