Page 69 of Collision!
They burst onto the bridge.But the captain wasn’t waiting impatiently for them.The big Kufzasin was standing facing the front monitor, all his golden fur bristling.
On the screen was another ship.
Suvan pulled Mariah to one of the consoles ringing the center seat.“I’ve never been up here,” he told her under her breath.“I always use remote access.”
“It’s the ship that was following us before we added the ghostform,” Delphine said sharply.“Without our mask, they’ll have scanned us, no doubt.”
Nehivar didn’t turn his attention from the screen where data scrolled too fast for Mariah to understand.“Chief, can we outrun them?”
“According to analysis of their engine output…” Suvan tapped at his console and sent the data to the main screen.“We could run a few rings around them andstillleave them in our afterburn.”
Nehivar growled his approval as he finally settled into the captain’s chair.
“Captain, they’re hailing with a repeating message,” Felicity reported from the communications console.“Should I open a channel?”
“Why not?”He adjusted his eye patch.“Put it on screen and let’s hear it.”He glanced over his shoulder at Suvan.“If it’s a trap, I’ll listen to you this time.”
“On the record, Captain.”
Over Nehivar’s grunt of amusement, an automated intonation ticked on: “…about your ship’s extended purchase agreement.We’ve been trying to reach you about your ship’s extended purchase agreement.We’ve been trying to reach you—” The message crackled.“Oh.Hello?Is somebody there finally?”
The forward screen fuzzed and then cleared with an image of…a sea star?
Mariah stared, fascinated.She knew the Big Sky IDA outpost in Montana had an Ajellomenes comptroller (which had always made her wonder exactly how closed world her Earth really was) but she’d never seen one.
“Why are you stalking us?”Nehivar snarled.
“Stalking you?Oh no.We weren’t.Or wewere, but only because we could not confirm your ident.”The Ajellomenes waggled one suction-cupped arm.“But now that we have, we will be taking immediate repossession.Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
“As pirates go, at least this one is polite,” Mariah whispered to Suvan.
His fingers twitched over the engine controls.“I’ll say please before I roast them in our upgraded plasma wash.”
The captain slouched in his chair, looking all the more dangerous in his arrogance.“You think I’ll let you steal my ship?”
“Steal?”The Ajellomenes reared back, bubbles sputtering from its beak.“It’s my uncle’s ship.Your payment never went through.”
Very slowly, Nehivar straightened.“I’m sorry.What did you say?”
The flustered ET suctioned up a datpad.“Here.Notice of default and reclamation due to material breach of purchase agreement terms, specifically failure to remit payment.Also, non-response to three standard comm notifications sent to registered purchaser: Mr.Evens’ Odds and Ends Shop, Big Sky Intergalactic Dating Agency, the spaceport of Montana on the planet…” It turned the datpad sideways.“Dirt?”
“Earth, actually.”Evens stepped through the bridge doorway.“As you might have noticed, we were forced into a dangerous sidetrack through the Zarnax Zone, but I assure you, payment is on the way.”When everyone pivoted to glare at him, he added, “Very soon.”
Slowly, Nehivar rose, towering in his anger.“Youstolea haunted spaceship?”His growl was a deep vibration.“How many times did you threaten you’d take command because this was your ship?”
“Never threatened,” Evens protested.“Merely…insinuated.And it’s not haunted anymore.”His sigh was so despondent, Mariah almost felt bad for him.
Almost.
“We’d be happy to leave you all at the nearest miscreant outpost,” the Ajellomenes broke in helpfully.
“Or we can leave right now,” Suvan reminded the captain.“At max power plus-plus.”
Nehivar spun back to the screen.“You have the purchase agreement there?Send me the price and swap out the purchaser.”
Felicity boggled at him.“Ellix,” she whisper-hissed.“Are you kidding?”
The Ajellomenes bubbled more vigorously.“Really?Oh, my uncle will be moist with cheer at this conclusion.”When its datpad pinged, it angled the device the other direction.“Thank you!”
