Read Rise the Renegade (Rork Sollix Book 1) for Free Online Page B

windows. One lighted bulb hung from the ceiling on a thin cable.
    “Who are you?” The yellow-booted girl emerged from a shadowy corner into the light. She was thin, too, and young. Perhaps no older than Lala.  
    And there was Buff, on her shoulder. The little guy jumped to Lala. She caught and snuggled him against her cheek.
    Rork found himself drawn to this Indian girl. Tall and too thin, her grooming was impeccable. Her long, black hair hung straight down the back of her head. She seemed oddly trustworthy despite the fact that she’d put him in that cage and plotted to sell him.
    “We’re just a young couple seeking a better future, perhaps like you two,” the girl said.
    “We’re brother and sister.” The boy stepped forward. His brown eyes, in shocking contrast with the pure white that surrounded them, settled on Lala.
    The roof rattled as a craft passed overhead. A sliver of sunlight invaded the room for a heartbeat before disappearing again. The room was empty except for a tall, narrow cabinet in the corner to Rork’s left. Heavy footsteps fell in near-unison outside.
    Lala stared at the boy, her head inclined to one side. She began to smile.
    Rork interlaced his fingers with hers and pulled her back towards the entrance. “Thank you. We have to go.” He walked backwards two steps and turned his back to them.
    “You are the pirate Rork, are you not?” asked the girl.
    Rork stopped short. He glanced at Lala. “No, sorry, wrong guy.”
    The wall to Rork’s left disappeared and a rush of air pushed Lala into him. The black-hatted man stood thirty meters away to their right. In front of them, an Earth Defense Force fighter hovered silently. A dozen men kneeled and stood below it, their long, black laser rifles pointed at them.
    One black-haired man, his belly pushing through the velcro closures of his white and green striped shirt, stepped from around the corner to face Rork. “Indian Immigration. All four of you are under arrest.”

7
    “I KIDNAPPED her. I swear to you that the blue-haired woman is my kidnap victim. I considered raping and murdering her, too. She needs counseling and relocation assistance. She hasn’t done anything wrong.” Rork pushed back from the flimsy, particle-board table and stood up. Dust flitted through the twilight air. “I confess to it all!”
    The guard put a hand on Rork’s shoulder and pushed him back down into the shaky plastic chair. The interrogation cell was narrow. The floor was dirty and cracked but at least it wasn’t a dusty hovel. If he could get his captors to buy his story, Lala would get her second chance. What happened to him was unimportant.
    He closed his eyes and felt Lala’s cool, smooth touch on his cheek. For a fleeting second, he felt the rich scented vanilla of her perfume. Then it was gone and he wanted it again. But it wouldn’t come. It might never come again.
    A door opened in the mirror that faced him and a chocolate-skinned woman walked through. She wore a form-fitting bright yellow blouse and pencil skirt with a crimson sash. Her slick black hair curved forward towards her eyes in a steady wave then rolled rollickingly back over the top of her head and down to her neckline. She sat down across from Rork and smiled up at him, ruby red lips revealing perfect teeth.
    “I am Attorney General for the Indian Realm, Sophia Patel. You admit that you are the pirate Rork Sollix?” she asked.
    “Yes.”
    “You are the subject of the Barbary warrant for piracy?”
    “Sounds right. Yes.” He scratched his wrists under the restraints.
    “Do you admit to the charges?” She openly studied his face.
    “Ye— What will you do with the blue-haired woman?”
    She flashed her teeth at him and breathed in deeply. “Lala Fevari, right? You want her to go free?”
    “She’s my victim. I was going to rape her. She needs help.”
    “Madam AG,” said a male voice over the intercom, “the prisoner is lying to you. The woman fought us more than this