Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
MURGUL
Getting on the Korgon ship was easier than it should have been, and it has the spines on my back standing in apprehension.
I cannot believe that Bikar’s plan has actually worked this effortlessly, considering how fast he drew up the plans for this mission.
A few cuts with a laser knife disabled the manual locks on the exterior door, and Bikar’s ability to hack into anything and everything released the secondary electronic locks.
Hooking the snap ring from my belt to a hook on the side of the ship, I make sure it’s secure for my return trip to the Zenith before pulling myself through the access panel.
It’s such a tight fit that I have to suck in a breath to squeeze my considerable bulk through the narrow opening.
Did your fool of a brother bother to measure the entry point? What if we did not fit, and I was unable to rid the Void of Korgon filth? Tch, details matter. Which Bikar should gods well know!
Yes, Vrog. That is the greatest of our problems right now. The fact that we might not have been able to infiltrate a Korgon ship, instead of the fact that our mate is livid with us.
Shockingly, Vrog has nothing to rebut my sarcastic comment with.
Silently, I pull the panel closed behind me and type out a short message to Bikar on my wrist comm, letting him know I have gained access to the Korgon ship.
He needs to pressurize the small space I am in before I can take off the biosuit and open the door to the vessel’s interior.
Tic’s later Bikar’s response echoes in my ear.
“Murgul, I’ve sent a copy of the Korgon’s ship schematics to your comm. You now have access to a full map of their craft.”
Dimming the light emanating from the display, I click through the screens on my wrist comm.
I find the new file easily, but I have to muffle my snarl when I see the schematics.
This is not a regular scout or smuggler transport.
It is a frackin Korgon colony liner. There are more Korgons on this frackin vessel than they have left on their own planet.
Before I can lose my shet, Bikar sounds off, his voice full of forced levity.
“I may have failed to mention just what kind of Korgon ship I found, but in my defense, you really should have asked.”
Unfortunately, he is not wrong. This is something you should have expected him to pull. Even though it pains me to agree with that moron.
When I get back to the Zenith, I am going to beat him unconscious.
Ohhhhh, yes please. I have wanted to do that for orbital rotations; you just will not let me.
Well, you will have your chance soon.
Yesssssssss.
Suppressing my rage at Bikar’s subterfuge to get what he wants, I focus on the matter at hand.
According to this map, the cargo bay is, thankfully, on this level of the ship.
At least I do not have to figure out how to get up and down multiple levels whilst avoiding more Korgons than I can count.
Bikar must have planned this from the get-go.
However, inserting me on the same level as the cargo bay does him no favors.
Omitting information is still lying, and I will get my pound of flesh.
A tic later, I feel my body gradually get heavier as Bikar pressurizes the room and gravity returns. The flash of a blue light on my comm tells me that it is safe to take the biosuit off.
Time is of the essence; the longer I am on board, the greater my chance of discovery.
Quickly removing the biosuit and facemask, I position them in an easily accessible area, in case I need to leave in a hurry.
Moving over to the exit door, I wait, knowing that Bikar is working his magic to clear a path for me.
A tic later, a soft snick tells me the door is unlocked, and I ease it open a sliver, just enough that I can see down one end of the corridor. I am going to have to trust Bikar to warn me if the other end is not clear.
Pausing, I wait. When no warning comes, I push the door open wide enough for me to slip through before closing it behind me, unworried about it being locked and preventing escape. If my irksome brother can unlock it once, he can do it again.
Creeping down the dank passage, I shudder at the filth coating the floor beneath my boots and the walls all around me.
Korgons are a vile species. We may not be natural, but at least we have hygiene standards.
Truth. You are rather fastidious to be as unhinged as you are.
Madness does not equal sullied.
Snickering at how offended he sounds, I resume my stealthy slinking towards my destination.
The trip to the cargo bay is surprisingly uneventful, and I do not encounter any Korgons.
Entering the vast room, I am hit by a wall of putrid stench.
Eyes watering at the overwhelming odor, I look for their import/export recorder.
Most ships involved in smuggling or piracy have them, since it is the easiest way to track inventory.
Keeping to the edge of the room with my back to the wall, I creep around the perimeter until I run into exactly what I am looking for.
Pulling the small square data block from my haversack, I unsnap the cord from the side and insert it into the waiting port.
Clicking the button on the side of the data block, I activate it and wait.
Tics later, the screen lights up as Bikar begins downloading gods knows what.
That task complete, I move out into the cargo bay to see if there are any small items the Korgons will not miss that I can acquire for my brothers.
Credits have been relatively low since rescuing the humans, and if I can help contribute to our coffers in any way, I will do so.
Looking around the area, I stop, shock holding me immobile when I realize cages of all sizes surround me.
Some are small, while others are large enough to hold creatures as large as I am.
Curling my lip in disgust, I spit at them. I should not be surprised, but the fact that the Korgons deal in flesh peddling is abhorrent to me. Sentient beings are not a commodity to be bought and sold to earn credits. Shaking my head, I start to move away from them when I hear a low whimper.
What was that?
I am unsure, but for some reason it sounded… familiar?
Familiar? In what world does something on this cesspit sound familiar to you?
Yes, that is what I said. I did not stutter, fool!
Spinning on my heel, I move closer to one of the rows of cages, looking for the source of the sound.
Peering around, I do not see anything until I reach the last column of stacked cages at the end of the row.
Giant eyes stare back at me from one of the smaller cages on the bottom of the stack.
Crouching down, my heart sinks when the little creature shrinks back from me, cowering in fear.
Poor thing, they have either forgotten it was here or they do not care that they have left it to die.
Look closer, there were more of them… once.
Vrog’s voice is quiet and solemn for the first time since he appeared within my mind.
I did not think him capable of expressing sympathy, empathy, or pity for another living being.
But, then… we have never seen anything like this.
Peering closer, my keen eyesight pierces through the gloom of the room, and I see the rotting remains of the same type of creature littering the floor of the small cage.
Well, frack. Do you think our mate would want a pet? I cannot leave this poor creature here. It is not so large that it will not fit in my haversack.
Vrog snickers before replying.
I think you will do anything to make our mate smile as you are besotted with her. Especially since she is rather cross with you at the moment.
And you are not utterly obsessed with her?
I did not say that.
So, I should dispatch the little creature and end its misery instead?
He hesitates, which, for Vrog, is monumental in and of itself.
I did not say that either!
Then do not bait me.
Why not? I derive such joy from doing so. The little one does not deserve death. Save it. We shall take it back to our mate as a gift.
His sly tone gives me pause, and then it clicks.
You know what it is, do you not?
Vrog’s malicious chuckle is his only response as he retreats from the forefront of my mind and thus the conversation.
Withdrawing my laser knife, I cut through the lock on the door and swing it open.
Crooning nonsensical words to the little thing, I slowly reach inside the cage, sympathy welling when it cowers and cries as it tries to avoid my grasp.
Scooping it up, my heart sinks when I can feel every bone in its tiny body.
It appears as though my arrival was just in time; it would not have made it much longer.
Depositing it into my haversack, I make sure none of the instruments inside will harm the wee thing, and move a few things around to pad its frail form before moving back towards the recorder location.
Scanning the area, I check to make sure I am still alone before exiting the row of cages and striding back over to the recorder.
Picking up the data block, I notice that the light changed from red to blue.
It is a visual signal that Bikar is done harvesting data, and the block is ready to be undocked from the recorder.
Removing the cord from the port, I snap it back against the data block and power it down before slipping it into a pocket in the side of my haversack and fastening it closed.
It is a heavy device, and I do not want it to harm my little passenger if I have to move abruptly.
Turning to leave, I am not sure who is more surprised, me or Vrog, when three Korgons appear out of the shadows.
Their approach must have been hidden by the stench saturating the room.
The biggest of the three speaks, addressing me directly in a nonchalant manner, his basal voice reverberating around the room.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here? A lone creature that looks like a mutated version of a Rukuhk who thinks it is smart to steal from us. Hand over the data block, and we might let you live.”
Ignoring the malicious chuckles of his companions, I bare my teeth at him and shake my head no. We all know he is lying. Korgons have no mercy for anyone who wrongs them, and they’ve just caught me stealing.
Frackin finally!
Vrog’s nefarious words are the last conscious thought I have before everything fades away as he surges forth, taking control of my body and shoving me into the darkness of his cage.