The words I needed to say easily presented themselves on my lips… Even though I knew I shouldn’t utter them.
“I love you too,” I said.
I breathed her in as we traveled at warp speed through endless space, ten lightyears from another living soul.
Computer performed a scan of the planet’s surface as we drifted lazily over it. I thought the ship wasn’t there until Computer bleeped.
“Silent Shadow has been located,” he said.
“Where?” I said, leaning closer to the computer terminal.
The hologram spun the planet around until it came to a large green expanse on the largest island. A red marker pointed out its location.
“Do you think they’re on board?” Alice said.
“Computer,” I said, “run a scan for life signs.”
After a moment, Computer replied. “Scan complete. One life sign detected.”
I turned to Alice. “They left someone behind to keep watch on the ship and alert them in case somebody attacks.”
Alice frowned. “Why didn’t they use the same tractor beam they used on us?”
“The Rogizians are much easier to round up than humans.”
“Why?”
“Because the Rogizians all look like children.”
Alice stared at me. “You’re kidding?”
“They stop aging around the age of eight. They live out the rest of their lives looking like that.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “Why does that happen?”
“It’s just a quirk of their DNA.” I turned back to the hologram. “Computer, take us down, half a click from the ship on the eastern side.”
Computer bleeped. I strapped my sword and knife scabbard around my waist.
“What will you do when you see them?” Alice said.
“The same thing they did to me,” I said coldly.
Rogiz 4 was huge and lush with huge valleys between even larger mountains. Many other advanced cultures had offered to share their technology in exchange for leases to build resorts on the planet’s surface. The native species had denied all offers. They saw no value in advanced technology. It never seemed to make cultures happier, and in fact, only seemed to have the opposite effect.
What really made the other alien species gnash their teeth was the rare materials just beneath the surface. The sheer wealth available was second to no other planet in the entire galaxy.
But the native Rogizian species respected nature and its bounty and only harvested as much as they needed to survive. Their decision caused them trouble. Without adequate protection from their enemies, smugglers easily slipped in and pillaged the small towns and tribes.
I kept a close eye on my former ship, Silent Shadow, as we approached a hill behind it. I checked the scanners but found the single lifeform aboard hadn’t moved from their original position.
I drew my sword and ran out through the hatch and around the hill. If the ship’s defense system had been initiated, it would detect our approach and open fire. Were they so overconfident that they wouldn’t even set up a perimeter?
Fools!
I breathed a sigh of relief when I reached the ship. I placed a hand on her. It felt good to be with her again.
I leaned in close to Alice. “Be careful. Try to be silent.”
I peered around the ship’s open hatch at the cargo hold. No one stood with a blaster pistol to greet me. Instead, I heard music. It was screeching, loud, and wailing. It belonged to Rattigan. It always got on my nerves. How Rattigan could claim it was good dancing music was a mystery to me.
Rattigan lay on his back fixing something wrong with the shuttlecraft. Just as well I bought a new one, I thought.
I pressed the blade to his neck.
“A good captain would not have left you as the lookout,” I said. “Come out.”
Rattigan slowly slid down to look at me. His eyes snapped toward the blaster pistol just two inches from reach.
I kicked it across the floor, grabbed him by the lapels, and raised him off the floor with a single arm.
“You were always my least favorite crewmate,” I said.
Rattigan struggled against my arm but it was no use. “It’s not my fault!” he said. “I went along with the flow! It’s not my fault! It wasn’t my idea!”
“Maybe not,” Alice said, stepping out from behind me. “But you were one of the ringleaders. I heard you and Horn Tusk talking about it that day outside the shuttle bay.”
Rattigan shook his head. “You can’t believe this human female! They haven’t even colonized their own moon!”
I brought him closer to my face. “And yet, they know a great deal more about honor than you, my friend. For now, I’m putting you on ice.”
I moved to the nearest empty pod. “Computer. Prepare pod number seven for a new occupant.”
“No!” Rattigan said, struggling against my grip. “You can’t do this! I’m one of your crew!”
“Good point,” I said. “Computer. Remove all crew members from active duty, effective immediately.”
“All crew members have been removed,” Computer said.
I dumped him in the pod. Alice slapped her hand on the controls. Rattigan beat against the thick lid but there was no escape. His movements slowed. Within minutes, he was asleep.
“Computer, prepare for take-off,” I said.
“Preparing for take-off now,” Computer said.
The hatch rose. Inches from locking into place, a red flash zipped through the gap and burnt the metal frame.
“What was that?” Alice said.
“A blaster pistol,” I said. “Computer, identify the shot’s origin.”
“The shot was fired by a Litheizer pistol owned by—”
“Stryder,” I said.
He must have raided a nearby village and was on his way back when we arrived. Good luck getting back on board now, asshole.
I nodded to Alice. “Come with me. We’re going to the deck.” As we left the cargo hold, I said, “Computer, open a communication channel with Stryder.”
Computer bleeped. “Communication channel established.”
“Well, well, well,” I said. “If it isn’t my mutinous crew.”
In the background, the crew muttered among themselves, disbelieving it could be me.
“You got off the planet faster than I expected,”
