Page 39 of Bonded

Absolutely not.“Not that I’m aware of,” I said.

“Ah, well, more bounty split for us then,” the Nokta replied, his sharp black teeth on full display when he threw back his head to laugh. “It’s all good that you lot are missing out. Turns out there’d been a bit of poaching lately. A crew got hit close to here. Lost their goods. We been tracking it. Good treasure. Top-notch.”

His eyes gleamed in a feral way that made me want to smash his face in on principle. I wanted him to stop talking because I knew deep in my gut that he was hinting at something horrible that I didn’t want to know about.

“The Kaza twins were recruiting to find the cargo. Says that whatever we found would be double its weight in sovereigns.”

The hauler slowed as we approached the south landing dock.

“You should talk to your captain. If you decide to join the search, let the Kazas or Brooks know Tarvin referred you. We get a bonus for extra hands we bring on board. That’s how you know the pay’s good, when we don’t have to worry about other crew swiping our goods.” He elbowed me and cackled.

Vryek and I shared a look. With Priya warm at my side, I could maintain the little calm I had.

Soon. Soon we would be back on the ship, and I didn’t have to worry any longer.

“Well, that sounds fun, unfortunately our appointments expect us in the opposite direction. Perhaps later,” Vryek said.

“If we don’t plunder all the goods first,” Tarvin doubled over with glee. “You get what I mean, dontcha bruv? This salvage we be looking for?” He leaned over toward me, so close that I could smell his fetid stench. “Females. And not just any females. Genetically altered human females. Prime meat. The kind changed for the rigors of space. Their body chemistry altered to experience heats and could be bred out to some of those longer-lived races that are having trouble getting them babies out, you know. Some of those races would pay top dollar to have a female that was easily bred.”

“And those that aren’t could serve other uses,” Vryek said, his tone detached.

“Yes, you get it!”

A stone look came over Vryek’s face. A rush of ice cold electricity surged down my spine. I’d only felt that a few times before, and it didn’t equate to anything good. “Vryek! Ithran needs you,” I said.

Ithran’s hand was on Vryek’s shoulder. We had arrived at the dock. I didn’t notice as I was so disturbed by what Tarvin implied.

Ithran bodily escorted Vryek out under the guise of a good-natured pat on the back. Tarvin had been so close to death, and didn’t realize it. He was still chuckling to himself, probably dreaming about the poor souls he would violate.

Brooks and Tarvin had exited the shuttle, and quicker than I could follow, Tarvin was at my side, hauling Vryek’s bag with Priya inside of it onto his shoulder. “Here, let’s get that for you. Whatcha got inside of here, anyway? Clothes? Whatever it is, smells good!”

I snatched the bag from him, my hand around his throat. “Do. Not. Touch.” I said, the words barely intelligible from my mouth.

“Easy, easy!” Brooks said.

Both Vryek and Ithran grabbed my wrists. I was enjoying the many shades of color the Nokta turned.

A warm glow radiated around my ribs, like a pair of arms wrapped around me. A small voice whispered in my ear.You can let go.

Immediately a let go. The Nokta dropped to the ground, coughing air into his lungs. The bag that had once held Priya hung loosely from my elbow. All that was inside were blankets and Vryek’s old coveralls for when he worked on the ship.

Priya was gone. Again.

Don’t worry. Leave them. Come on.

There was an insistent buzz at the base of my neck. Now I knew it was Priya. That was where the chip had been inserted to link with the ship.

Priya?

Hurry. Let’s go.

I needed no more encouragement. Shaking off Vryek’s and Ithran’s hold on me, I straightened my shirt. “I don’t like anyone touching my things.”

With that, I stepped over the still gasping body of Tarvin the Nokta, and strode directly toward the shuttle.

I didn’t check to see what Ithran or Vryek were doing. I let the pull on my heart guide me inside of the shuttle and toward the back. Kothar and the others had already filled this shuttle full of goods, and were loading up the other shuttle.

I didn’t dare say her name. There was no telling what these mercs would do. As I went to the farthest set of storage compartments, all the way up high behind some paneling, I saw a pair of large, luminous eyes staring back at me from the darkened cabinet.

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