Sasha wasn’t much for burglary, but that ship sailed after her third attempt to force the doors open.

She combed through Gabriella's room, moving aside the scattered garments for some secret button or lever that would set her free. She had no idea how long she had or what she was even looking for, but she tore the room apart anyway. Didn't the door shut after she grabbed me? So then...Maybe... She looked at the unconscious little girl. She seemed so peaceful when she wasn't threatening to crush her to death.

“Why did you have to go and lock me up, Gabriella? I was just starting to like you."

She kneeled over, patting the girl down from head to toe. She felt something lumpy on the side of her blouse. Hmm? She slipped a hand into one of her small pockets, coming out with a flat commpad no bigger than a donut. When she clicked it on, a field of light appeared under the glass. Sasha remembered seeing similar device attachments around the ship. The Madame had called them Retinal scanners.

Sasha peeled one of Gabriella's eyes open, raising the glass screen in front of her.

“Retinal scan accepted,” a robotic voice said. “Please input command.”

Sasha tried to make her voice sound higher.

“O-open the door, please,” she said.

The robotic voice chimed. “As you wish, princess.”

The locks across the door slid away, Sasha smiling as her prison peeled open. The light of the hallway shined like a beacon.

“Anything else?” the voice asked.

“No, I- Wait. Stand by for further orders." She glanced to Gabriella. "Oh, and be ready to activate at the sound of my voice.”

“As you wish, princess. I shall be here."

She nodded. Considering it belonged to Gabriella, she figured the commpad would be useful in helping her get around. But considering it ran on a scanner, she needed it to stay active as long as possible. Whatever the situation was outside, she doubted she'd have the time to run from the cells to Gabriella's room over and over.

"Make sure this door stays locked," Sasha said, stepping into the hall.

"As you wish." The gates reappeared. "Anything else?"

"No, but keep standing by."

Sasha ran down the corridor, headed straight for the containment cells.

***

Given how few people challenged the Black Web, Sasha assumed her liaisons and their AIC helpers were the only prisoners aboard. Yet as she moved from cell to cell, she saw no signs of the panda or the weasel or even that strange-looking commander. In fact, she didn't recognize any of the people within the cells. Then again, they were all tucked in bed so she could barely make out their faces.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Her ears twitched, senses alert for any pirate passing by. Though she had no idea how many people were in on the "trap the Panther" plan, she knew questions would arise when they found a beat-up teenager scanning over prisoners. Without GT, the only thing she could do was run and hide. But she refused to abandon the search. Not until she found her liaisons or-

Sasha halted, pressing her face against the barrier. Wait. What the heck?

Lying flat on the bed was a lanky weasel with light brown fur. Sasha instantly noticed the patch of white fur under his chin, her lip curling in a snarl. There was no mistaking the Mr. Erin look-a-like.

“Bettle?” she asked.

The weasel didn’t respond, lying back in his cell.

“Why the heck are you locked up here?”

No response.

“Hello! Don’t play deaf, jerk! I know you can hear me!”

Nothing. Sasha shook her head. He really was the most annoying person in the cosmos. Had the Madame locked him up for being too much of a pain in the tail? If so, she fully supported her decision. Stupid weasel. She didn’t have time to deal with the headache that was Mr. Erin's evil clone. A thorough scan of the cells revealed no further signs of either of her liaisons. She only saw more of the sleeping prisoners. Sasha sighed.

Alright. Don't panic, Sasha. You can't give up now. -

An idea popped into her head. She whipped out her stolen tech.

“Hey, commpad,” she said.

The robotic voice chimed.

“Yes, princess?” it asked.

“Do you have access to the rest of the ship, by any chance?”

“I can gain it. One moment, please. Processing. Processing. There. What do you ask of me?”

“Can you access whatever cameras are aboard? I need to know the location of a large panda and a skinny weasel. Preferably without a sc-”

She felt a jolt.

Sensations like rapid water rushed through her body, flooding the air around her. Sasha tensed, the signals pouring out. She recognized them. Mr. Xan? She closed her eyes, focusing on the sensations. They felt so close. And so vast. She'd never felt so many signals coming from one place before. Least of all from lazy Mr. Xan. What’s going on? Her eyes opened.

“CP, are you feeling this spike too?”

“I am, princess. Would you like me to locate it?”

“Yes. And tell me if you find a weasel nearby.”

The commpad beeped, slowly processing Sasha’s commands. All the while Xan's signals resonated through the ship, Sasha feeling a slight headache at the intensity. What the heck is this? Mr. Xan, what are you doing? The commpad chimed.

“The signals are coming from the Madame’s chambers, princess.”

Sasha winced. Madame Dyré's room? That couldn't have been a coincidence.

“What about the weasel?” Sasha asked.

“There is one in the garden.”

She nodded. Though she couldn't feel anything but the panda, she knew better than to doubt the skills of a robot. Especially not the one who was her biggest ally in the entire ship.

"Please take me there, CP," she asked.

"I would be happy to guide you, princess."

The commpad began to relay instructions, Sasha racing off in the garden's direction.

Please don't be dying, you two.