Page 4 of Stolen Slave

I didn’t miss the way his plates trembled as he spoke and knew I needed to tread with more care.

“What kind of waste does it produce?”

“Clear minerals of many colors and thick white and yellow mineral veins that can be melted.”

“Any tonong?”

The Wsoau eyed me shrewdly for a moment.

“Perhaps.”

I grunted and pretended to watch the vegetation around the landing site.

“I know someone who would be interested in the tonong at void-chit prices...along with information about a void-runner who landed on this planet a few arcs before me. Perhaps we could trade information, and I could have a look at your mineral waste myself.”

The Wsoau waved me forward.

In short order, I was back on my ship with one thousand units of mineral waste in my cargo bay and the coordinates of another camp. My cred-stick was five hundred chits lighter than it had been before I landed, but thanks to the waste, I wasn’t worried about the loss. I smiled, the stark whiteness of my teeth reflecting on the view port, and thought of the cleansed terra the mineral waste would provide. Terra-rich was better than chit-rich to some.

Leaning back in my seat, I watched the planet’s veg as I flew over it and inhaled deeply. Thanks to having the bay door open for so long, the air smelled fresher than the recycled stuff I’d been breathing for the last lunar-rev. Hopefully, breathing in fresh air wouldn’t be a problem soon.

A faint tingle from the stim tracker on my wrist increased in intensity the closer the ship drew to the coordinates. The terra-connection was rougher at this site, but the ship stabilized without a problem.

Wsoau with burn packs paced the edges of the new landing site, keeping back the vegetation. A blast of flame emerged from the overgrowth straight ahead. The plants withered, showing a wide path.

As soon as I opened the bay door, a Wsoau gestured to the path.

“He went this way.”

The Wsoau’s rushed speech struck me wrong, and I paused on the ramp. The exoid rattled its plates in agitation.

“Is there a problem, my friend?” I asked, itching to reach for my phasers.

The rattling ceased.

“The path will not stay clear long, and your friend is two hours ahead of you.”

I didn’t believe that was the reason behind his agitation, but I continued down the ramp.

“Thank you for your concern, my friend. I’ll be back quickly.”

Scorched, withered plants curled away from the blackened terra that crunched under my boots. Tamping down the urge to hurry, I paid attention. Only the Wsoau lived on Narlin Four for a reason. The terra diggers didn’t spend much time on the surface with the plants, choosing instead to live in the safety below the roots.

The tingle from my stim tracker remained steady as I progressed. Either my quarry was on the move, or a fair amount of distance was still between us. Noting the tiny sprouts of green already emerging from the blackened path, I wondered how the smuggler managed to traverse as far as he had.

A clicking sound followed by a muffled roar answered my question.

“Don’t char me, my friend,” I called before I spotted the Wsoau around the next bend.

As soon as he saw me, his plates rattled.

“Why are you here?”

“I’m following a bounty. Perhaps you’ve seen him? Four arms. Two legs. A face only a birther could love.”

The Wsoau’s plates quieted.

“I keep this track clear. It splits ahead. One leads to the camp. One leads to the mines.”

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