Chapter 3: Kidnap

My negative thoughts were cut short by a low-level droning that slowly grew in intensity. I looked above me to zero in on the sound. I gasped. Hovering above me was a behemoth of a ship.

I stood transfixed to the spot as the ship hovered slowly downwards. The ship’s landing legs set down and I was completely overcast by the body of the ship. The bottom was about six metres above my head and the noise was deafening. The pilot had left his engine running: he clearly didn’t want to be hanging around here long.

With slow methodical action a ramp folded from the ship’s underbelly. There was a woosh of gas as the ramp touched the ground. Snapping back into action I crouched down and picked up the policeman’s gun. If whoever was coming down that ramp was hostile he’d soon find out that he wasn’t the only one. I raised the gun as boots appeared on the ramp. Rapidly the boots sprung into view accompanied by a dozen others. The men who the boots belonged to were wearing dark blue uniform and cradling guns far bigger than my own. Only the man in front wasn’t covering me with his weapon.

The leader was tall and athletic with brown hair and twinkly blue eyes. He wore a black cape over his blue uniform and a crinkled brow accompanied his clothes. He was scrutising me intensely with those blue, blue eyes. I felt his gaze rove over my features; my tall, broad frame, my short black hair and wary, handsome face. I decided to break the silence.

‘Get back,’ I told him, ‘I’m armed’.

He didn’t even pause for breath. ‘That,’ he said in clipped military tones, ‘ is obvious’. He paused. ‘What is also obvious is that we outnumber you thirteen to one, are better armed and equipped and can easily neutralise you before you can even move’.

His men shifted position to illustrate his point. My mind did a mental tally and silently agreed with the leader’s words.

I sighed. ‘What do you want?’

What he did next surprised me. He walked right over and took my free left hand. He shook it and said, ‘You must be Jack Dillon.’ It was a statement not a question. ‘I’m Commodore Alfred Tennison of the Conquistador. I’m here to take you home.’

I knew exactly what he meant but after five years I wasn’t going back.

‘I left Sapphire City long ago,’ I said, ‘Tell my father I’m not coming back for love or money.’

The Commodore took a deep breath. ‘Your father didn’t send me. But he is the reason I came.’

‘What?’ I spat out.

He pulled on my hand. ‘If you want the answers then you’ll have to trust me.’ He looked me in the eyes. ‘Will you come aboard my ship? This town is no longer the hideout it once was.’

I sighed. Curiosity won my inner battle. ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I’m coming with you.’