Page 66 of Sawoots Story

The Toad commander grunts. “Each one of your Reavers has an Orb. I stand to capture over a hundred of them.”

“Yes. Hundreds of small, mid-sized Orbs from my Reavers. Hundreds of even smaller ones from our Orb-Blades—not to mention themassiveone, probably half the size of the one that powers your Mothership, right there in the bowels ofThe Instigator. But remember, each of those Reavers is manned by an Aurelian triad with three hundred years of experience in killing Toads—and who’ll use the full power of all those hundred or so Orbs against you. You don’t have the element of surprise, frogspawn. You’ll hurt us, I know. You may even killThe Instigator, but you’ll pay a heavy price for it. We don’t need to win to hurt you,badly.”

There’s a sick eagerness in Aelon’s voice. He wants to keep Tasha safe, but part of him wants to fight. It’s in his nature to kill Toads. “So, choose, Toad, but choose carefully, because this might be the last choice you ever make.”

“Give ten Reavers, plus Orbs, then I make deal!” Meelon’s voice changes, consumed by greed, unable to form full sentences. He sounds more guttural in his eagerness to get the words out.

Markrin taps his fingers against the console. “He needs to make the deal quick. The explosives are getting close to bursting.”

I turn, looking back at the cargo hold. That’s not what I wanted to hear right now. The heavy doors between me and the Orbs will do nothing if they explode, but at least I don’t have to look at the heavy metal containers filled with chemical death. Garrick reaches his huge hand around the chair and squeezes my thigh, reassuring me.

“No,” states Aelon flatly.

“You are in no position to negotiate!”

“I know your hand, Meelon. Are youcertainyou know mine?”

The HUD disappears. The Toad blockers are on full power. Garrick doesn’t flinch, rubbing my leg gently to reassure me.

I just want this thing to be over. I hate the waiting. The lights flicker back on, and I let out a sigh of relief.

“I accept your offer, Aelon.”

“Fuck yes,” growls Tar’ank eagerly. He has no fear. He wants to watch the Toads blown into nothingness.

“How disappointing,” Aelon scoffs. “I thought I might have one last battle. Very well. I’ll have my man drop the Orbs off into your vicinity.” There’s a pause. “Ifany oneof your ships passes by the drop point, it’s a declaration of war. This deal has exhausted my goodwill towards Toads. Count your lucky days that you came across me when I had more to lose than you did, because I’m still hungry for your blood, Toad.”

“You hear all that, Garrick?” Aelon’s voice comes from the sub coms-link, and Garrick nods.

“Loud and clear, Captain. Dropping payload.”

Aelon’s Reaver turns, flying away from the Mothership and out of range of its weapons. Now it’s our turn to face the weapons batteries.

We fly past Aelon’s Reaver. I can almost make out the shapes behind the thick glass of the cockpit. The smallest silhouette is my best friend, looking so tiny compared to the massive Mothership. She was brave enough to get into range of instant death.

I grit my teeth as we float closer to the Toads. Our HUD display lights up red and flashing before Garrick silences it, and I try not to look at all the weapons locks aiming in on us.

We move silently forward. The massive, fetid green ship dominates our vision. It’s an abomination. It looks like it’s held together by tape and bubble gum, a massive space station that powers through space hunting down weak targets and reducing lives to credits.

We stop. There’s a heavy clunk as the cargo bays open. I watch the O2levels of the ship drop.

“Masks on,” orders Garrick, reaching under the controls to a drawer he pulls open. He takes out a full helmet that he pulls on, twisting it to lock in place with his battle armor. He stands to his full height, and with the glass separating us he’s even more alien than before. “The suits are not fit for humans. Stay in the cockpit. If you see the mothership fire, you go.”

“You’ll be thrown out of the cargo bay if I do that!”

He shakes his head sadly. “You’ll have one chance, and a slim one. If the weapons hit, it won’t matter where we are. No one survives.”

He presses a button on his watch, and the weak points of his suit are sealed up with sliding metal panels. He’s stiff as he steps up, followed by his triad. He’s space ready, but he’d be slow in combat. Heat emanates from them. The suits are set to warm them against the icy cold of space.

They walk to the heavy doors that separate the cockpit from the living quarters, hitting the button to open them. Markrin gives me one last look, his face set and serious, and I don’t want to think it could be the last time I see them.

Then they step through the corridor, and the doors shut them off from me.

There’s a hiss as they open the door to the cargo bay, and the O2levels drop everywhere but the cockpit. I feel so alone, this tiny little air bubble in the endless vastness of space. When Garrick, Markrin and Tar’ank are with me, it doesn’t matter where we are, I feel their security.

I look through the view panel as boxes of Orbs float into space, kicked so they spin towards the Toad Mothership at a slow pace that won’t alert them.

Each crate is a fortune. It should have been our fortune. My old life was just a week ago, but it seems so far away. I feel like a new person.

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