Download the Book - Islam and Science Fiction
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At that, Annette looked at her monitor <strong>and</strong> saw who it was. She<br />
went berserk, screaming "Paula, NO!" <strong>and</strong> buried her head in her<br />
arms. She made no move to save her friend.<br />
Paula screamed back. "Don't listen to <strong>the</strong>m! They're <strong>the</strong><br />
murderers! Do what you have to do!"<br />
Three seconds later, Shahid pulled <strong>the</strong> trigger himself.<br />
Ten seconds later, three red grapes, burdened with all <strong>the</strong> plastic<br />
explosives <strong>the</strong>y could move, floated through <strong>the</strong> service hatch. They<br />
smelled faintly of fingernail polish.<br />
Erica rolled slowly to face <strong>the</strong> bridge. Balanced between moving<br />
too slowly <strong>and</strong> being noticed, between having her eyes closed to slits<br />
<strong>and</strong> not being able to see through <strong>the</strong> tears, between hatred, fear, <strong>and</strong><br />
grief, she touched <strong>the</strong> keys to maneuver one grape behind <strong>the</strong> head of<br />
each terrorist.<br />
She detonated <strong>the</strong> devices. They exploded simultaneously, taking<br />
everyone by surprise. The terrorists tumbled across <strong>the</strong> deck,<br />
crashing into <strong>the</strong> walls or floor, as <strong>the</strong> crew ga<strong>the</strong>red <strong>the</strong>ir wits.<br />
"Well," Raj said after a few seconds, "don't just float around,<br />
grab <strong>the</strong>m, for Pete's sake."<br />
The crew secured <strong>the</strong> three unconscious terrorists, <strong>and</strong> checked<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir pulses.<br />
"This one's dead."<br />
"Aw, too bad."<br />
"This one's wasted too. You oughta see <strong>the</strong> back of his head."<br />
"Wait a minute, this one's still alive."<br />
"Damn, missed one," Erica Thompson said in disgust.<br />
From <strong>the</strong> Confessions:<br />
My new name means Servant of <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r of Flame. I chose it<br />
to remind me of who I have become.<br />
I now know that we had no chance of succeeding from <strong>the</strong> start.<br />
The reasons are many.<br />
First, we were caught by a well laid trap. I think I know how it<br />
worked, but I will not discuss it here, for fear of compromising future<br />
security. What I will say is this: <strong>the</strong> security was far better than my<br />
contemptuous opinion led me to believe. Had that trap failed, <strong>the</strong>re<br />
were probably several more which would have worked. I also suspect<br />
it was no accident that I lived. They needed <strong>the</strong> ringleader to bring<br />
back to Earth <strong>and</strong> put on trial.<br />
The second reason we failed was <strong>the</strong> courage <strong>and</strong> compassion of<br />
<strong>the</strong> crew, a factor I didn't just underestimate, I totally discounted.<br />
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