Kaitlyn O'Connor by Enslaved III: The Gladiators Page B

to enslave their enemies to use them for labor in ancient times, but that was hundreds of years ago! We don ‟ t do it now!” She hesitated as it occurred to her that the sex slave trade was still alive and well established, but she damned well wasn ‟ t going to say anything 38

    about that when she could see she ‟ d be tarnished with the same brush in their eyes. “Mostly I suspected something because I ‟ m an engineer—was—well, I still am. I just don ‟ t have a career anymore. Could I…look at one a little more closely? I couldn ‟ t really examine the one Lecur put on me. I can ‟ t see it.”
    The three men exchanged questioning looks, but Kael finally bent down and lifted his chin.
    She didn ‟ t actually want to touch it after what they ‟ d told her, but she ‟ d realized immediately that she couldn ‟ t simply ignore it. If it was true about the collars, there would never be any hope of escape if she couldn ‟ t figure out how to disable it or remove it. “I imagine there ‟ s some sort of sensor that goes off if it ‟ s removed while it ‟ s hot,” she murmured to herself as she studied the apparently smooth surface for any sign of a crack that would indicate where the workings were housed. “If I could get one open and study it….”
    “Blow up if try remove,” Kael said.
    Nervous already, the comment made Loren jump and snatch her fingers back. She studied his face for a long moment and then looked at the collar again, studying the faint line she ‟ d finally discovered that she knew much be one edge of the cover. She straightened finally, considering what he ‟ d told her. “I guess that ‟ s that, then,” she said dismissively since she didn ‟ t especially like the suspicion in their eyes.
    Kael ‟ s eyes were piercing. “You engin-eer. Tink can…break?”
    Loren felt her color fluctuate. She shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. “I was just curious.
    There isn ‟ t a lot around here to occupy the time.”
    She knew he didn ‟ t believe her just from the look in his eyes but, to her relief, he allowed the subject to drop and they left shortly afterwards.

     
    * * * *
     
    Adrenaline was pumping through Kael when he returned to his own cubicle and his mind was working as fast as his heart was pumping. Ignoring Dakaar and Balen, he paced the small cell, struggling with the ideas churning in his mind and finally settled on his bed when he realized his agitation might be noted and reported if anyone saw him. Dakaar studied him for a while and finally got up and sat down on Kael ‟ s bed without permission.
    “Do you think she actually knows anything about the collars?” he asked quietly.
    Kael looked at him sharply but frowned and shook his head. “I do not know the word—engin—eer, but I am guessing she knows machines and she thinks if she can study how it works that she can stop it from working.”
    Balen moved closer, settling on his other side. “What are you thinking?”
    Again, Kael shook his head. “It would dangerous…for her. Even if we could get our hands on one, we could not chance it being caught in her possession. I do not see how we could make it work.”
    “Make what work?” Balen hissed impatiently.
    Kael ‟ s lips tightened. “If it could be done, then we would be one step closer to freedom—only one—but I do not see how—not now.”
    Dakaar and Balen both stared at each other before turning to look at Kael again. “We could not pass through the space station even without the collars without being instantly recognized.
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    We are the champions. They will know us.”
    “Where would we go?” Balen pointed out.
    Kael turned to look at him. “If I am right and she understands machines, she might be able to understand how their ships work.”
    Excitement lit Dakaar ‟ s and Balen ‟ s faces for several moments before their faces fell.
    Dakaar frowned. “She would not know where our world is, would she?”
    Kael shook his head. “I do