Free Leaving Dreamland by Jessica Jarman

idea of so many lives at risk.”
    “Thanks.” Samantha nodded. “The Keelons made themselves enemies by kidnapping people against their will. Abducting people from their beds is almost as bad as training little boys to be fighters. There’s a reason our men don’t want to go back. We’re doing the right thing. If we can hurt their crew, hopefully, no more will come.”
    Shannon smiled. “I just hope we win. Maybe then you can take me up at night so I can see the sky and feel like I’m up there.”
    “Sure, once it’s safe. It’s a great feeling. First, we have to get rid of the Keelons, so I’m going to pass out the DNA samples. Don’t touch any buttons in there but look all you like.” Samantha walked off.
    “Thanks.” Shannon shivered at the thought of being kidnapped and taken away from her family. Did the Keelons even know English? The idea of being abducted was terrifying, but the idea of being unable to communicate at all made it worse somehow. The panic and terror. “If they wanted to communicate with us, they could without hurting people,” she said to herself.
    If there was anything she could do to get that hatch opened faster, Shannon wasn’t going to let the Keelons hurt anyone else.
    * * * *
    It was a week after she’d seen the planes when Shannon finally heard the blaring sirens calling for a full offensive just after dusk. She was supposed to report to the observation room and watch safely with Bonnie and their father. Her guys were to provide security with other alien groups inside Dreamland. None of the alien allies would be near any of the jets since a trigger could misfire and send the powder airborne.
    That was a stroke of luck. She went her way and they went theirs. Instead of the observation room, she raced for the hangar and headed straight for Samantha’s special plane. She scurried up the ladder. Everyone was so focused on their tasks that no one noticed her. Climbing into the back area, she found the compartments on either side were locked down.
    They had to be filled with the powder. Shannon tried the wider center compartment, and it opened. She sighed in relief when she saw it was empty then slid inside and closed the door. The plane vibrated, and Shannon stayed silent. If Samantha found her, Shannon knew she’d be kicked off.
    She held the floor as the fighter started to move. Closing her eyes, she tried not to think about what might happen as her stomach flipped with the motion. The ride was rougher than on a commercial airplane, but she was pretty glad she couldn’t see the looming Keelon vessel.
    When it felt safe enough, she pushed open the compartment and crawled the short distance to where Samantha was strapped in.
    “What the hell?” Samantha said.
    “I had to.” Shannon looked around.
    “Base, I’ve got a stowaway. Be advised Shannon Madison is on board.” Samantha turned to Shannon. “You’re lucky this Keelon ship is low in our orbit.”
    “It’s safe?” Shannon asked.
    “You’ll be okay. I just don’t see why you’re doing this.” Samantha hit buttons.
    “Return to base! That’s an order!” Hastings cut in on the com link.
    “No! You’ve got the special ship and the good weapons.” Shannon saw the Keelon vessel and froze.
    Suddenly, the whole plane shook. “They’ve got us,” Samantha said.
    “Opening their hatch?” The view of the stars was beautiful, but that wasn’t the point of the trip. Shannon stared, but wasn’t exactly sure where to look. “Wow, that’s a big ship.”
    “Yep, we’re out gunned, but if they wanted to wipe out Earth, they’d have done it already.” Samantha sounded so calm it shocked Shannon.
    She couldn’t stop staring. “How can we possibly beat them?”
    Samantha smiled. “See that hatch opening?”
    The hint of movement excited Shannon. “Get them!”
    “Firing!” Samantha said.
    One drone rocked the ship as it launched. Shannon watched it fly then disappear.
    “Remote detonation,” Samantha