Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
SLAVIC
Murgul and I stand at the airlock door, ready to push forward the moment our tractor beam locks onto the Pyrkyne ship. The light turns green, and I release the outer valve securing the tunnel connecting us. Bikar and Falon will use our distraction to steal the fuel out of their tanks remotely, while we take care of the crew. Pulling the plasma cutter out, I quickly disable the outer seal of their ship and yank the door open expecting to be met with its guards, only to find the hall in front of me empty.
“ Bikar , where the frack are they?”
“ I am showing five heat signatures on board Slavic . I scrambled all messages coming in and out, but they have not even tried to call for assistance. Proceed with caution.”
Stepping forward, I motion for Murgul to head one way, while I take the other. I hate separating us, especially against any Pyrkyne , but we need to figure out what is going on this ship. Heading directly toward the helm, the familiar layout of the ship makes it easy to navigate. The doors slide open, and I draw my sword as fighting with live ammo on a space cruiser is guaranteed death, only to stop when I see the crew.
Three youngling Pyrkyne huddle together in front of the control panels. One that is slightly older than the others, stands protectively in front of them. I lower my sword. I may be a pirate and wanted for more crimes than I can count, but I am not a youngling killer.
“ Where are your parental units?”
I must give this young male credit. Although I can clearly see the fear on his ugly face, he continues to stand between me and the younglings behind him. “ I am the captain of this vessel.”
“ Right . … So , I am assuming the reason you didn’t send out a distress signal when we locked on is because you either stole this ship, or you are on a joy ride.”
Before I can say another word, I hear a scuffle behind me as Murgul pushes another two he found into the room. I turn my head as the female straightens up her clothes, the bite marks, and scratches on each of their skin, showing everyone what Murgul walked in on. I have a smirk on my face when I glance over at him.
“ Do not say a word, brother! I …. That … Ughh , I will forever have that burned into my brain.” He actually shudders in disgust and I can’t help but laugh.
“ Look Rukuhks , we do not want any trouble. You had no reason to board us, as there is nothing of value on board.”
“ What were you doing on the Navale ?”
“ Picking up my younger sister and her mate. My sire was adamant that I didn’t possess the skills to fly there and back successfully, but I was determined to prove him wrong. Are … you going to kill us?”
“ No , but when your sire finds out what has happened, you may no longer see my kindness as a blessing. While you are dwelling on that thought, let me tell you what we are going to do. I am taking your fuel.” When he goes to speak, I put my hand up to stop him. “ We will leave enough for you to get home safely. While we are siphoning the fuel, I plan on looking around and then we will rid your ship of any and all of its cargo. While we are plundering the cargo hold, one of you will accompany me to your quarters where we will relieve you of all your jewels and credits.”
The one I am assuming is the sister starts blubbering and snorting. They are a disgusting, filthy race. The rotting and putrid smells wafting off their bodies, has me holding my breath. “ Which one of you is going to be our escort?”
I am impressed when the young male steps up. He may be on the small side right now because of his youth, but normally the Pyrkyne are formidable opponents simply due to their size and stamina on the battlefield. When my mind tries to drift back to the days of my own youth and the many beatings my brothers and I received from this race, I have to remind myself that these younglings were not at fault.
I nod for Murgul to watch the others as I grab the male slightly harder than I need to. Marching him out the door toward their personal rooms, he enters into the captain’s quarters two steps in front of me. I cannot help gagging when the smell hits me. The room lays in ruin and waste, and even though I know how disgusting their race is, I am still unprepared for the refuse in this area. Kicking the old food and torn garments out of the way, I direct him toward the ship’s safe. “ Open it quickly.”
With fumbling, fat digits, he finally gets the code right and the door swings open. I grab all the documents and chips inside the vault without looking at them, swiftly placing them inside the many pouches attached to my belt. “ Where to next?”
“ That is, it. Anything we had, we put in the safe before landing on Navale . I knew there were pirates there and wasn’t going to take the chance of openly carrying any credits on me. The few things we purchased have already been used as we were only going to be on the ship for another rising.”
“ Your home world is a few rotations away, and there are no other space stations or habitable planets in this direction. Your navigation is off.”
“ The hyperdrive cuts the distance in half.”
“ This ship is equipped with a hyperdrive system?”
“ Isn’t yours?”
“ No , but it will be now that you have been so helpful. I should send a thank you to your sire.” Hitting the comm on my wrist I ask, “ Bikar did you hear that?”
“ Every word. Falon is on his way over now to lighten their ship of a few devices. The fuel transfer is almost done and because these younglings are going to be traveling a few more rotations than planned, I have pumped all our garbage into their cargo hold. That should tide them over quite comfortably until they arrive home.”
“ How gracious of you, brother. Let me know when Falon has retrieved the equipment, and I will send Murgul to the cargo bay to loot the crates in that area. Until then, I will be at the helm with our most amicable hosts.” Murgul leaves and heads to the cargo bay the moment we return.
The instant I release the young male, he goes to stand in front of the others. The female is still blubbering off to the side. She has a few jewels embedded in her skin, something that is common for their females. And even though it’s tempting, she smells so bad I would not dream of getting close enough to retrieve them. Instead , I address the youngling that is trying his best to be brave.
“ Youngling , who is your Sire ? If your family owns this star cruiser, there is no way you are a commoner.”
He hesitates to reveal his family name, and the moment he does I see red. “ Governor Rambore is my Sire , Rukuhks .” Before I do something I regret, I turn and walk off. “ Please relay my condolences when you return and tell him that Slavic and his brothers appreciate the bounty we pilfered from his ship.”
The helm’s door shuts behind me, “ Bikar , unhook us and get everyone back on board, my stomach cannot take any more of this smell.”
“ Murgul and Falon have just returned. Simply waiting on you, big brother.”
After welding the outer hulls airlock on the Pyrkyne ship closed, I hit the locks to reengage our flight path on the Zenith . The younglings’ predicament of having to explain to their sire what just happened is one I do not envy. Though I may detest the male, his younglings are not to blame for the system’s control over him. I could have taken out my revenge on his spawn, but my life giver would leave her grave merely to remind me of what a disappointment I have become. I will not tarnish my life giver’s memory by destroying an innocent. No matter the amount of hatred I hold for their creator.
Normally after a raid, I am in a great mood, but the mention of their sire’s name has done nothing but throw my failure in my face. I walk into the sanitizer, grateful to have the funk of that species off my skin only to be greeted by a small, red maned, pissed off female.
“ You guys are nothing but a bunch of fucking thieves!”