“We do still have engines though, don’t we?”
“Yes, but it’s going to take us much longer to get anywhere, unless we can get the burst engines fixed.” He peers at the console nearest to him.
“And what are the chances of a fix?” I query.
“Not in this sector,” he says.
Something moving on my console attracts my attention.
“I think we have more than one problem, and this one isn’t engine related.” I stare down at the console where a screen has morphed into existence.
“What is it?” Driok comes over to me.
“I think…” I stare down at the screen. “I think those are the Gryn. It looks like the baron really did want rid of them, as I’m sure his intention was to dispose of us as well.”
Driok peers at the screen. “Are you sure?”
The movement I saw earlier has ceased. Instead all I can see is a dark room with a light seemingly far away.
“What do Gryn look like?” I ask Driok.
He shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s not a species I’ve come across. If they work for the baron, presumably they look like his other muscle.”
“Could anything look as gross as the hippo/bison?” I wrinkle my nose.
“Heepobizn?” Driok queries. “Do you mean the Badadon?”
“If they look like a cross between a hippo and a bison, then yes, the Badadon,” I respond, peering closer at the screen. “Look, something moved down there.” I jab at the screen again as what looks like a veil swipes over the screen.
“Whatever they are, we can’t bring them with us,” Driok says. “For one, I don’t need any more warriors, given I have my own to locate first.” He presses something next to the screen. “Gryn, I am Lord Driok of the Sarkarnii, member of the High Bask and descendant of the great general Draxx.”
“And with the biggest ego this side of the wanker nebula,” I add.
Driok shoots me a look. I’m pretty certain I hear laughter coming back through the comm.
“I am here with mymate,” he growls. “The baron gave you to us, but we wish to set you free.”
All of a sudden, an eye appears right up close to the camera. It’s completely dark, with a darker pupil in the center. I shy back from the screen a little.
“You’ll forgive us if we don’t believe you,” a voice rasps, even darker than the eye, even deeper than the blackness of space and rougher than all the diamonds yet to be mined. “And also wish to let you know, should you release us, we will kill you.”
Driok snarls out loud. “Nevving Gryn.”
“Vrex you.” The eye disappears and yet again there is only darkness.
“They can’t get out, can they?” I ask Driok. “Because I don’t much fancy being killed.”
“Those nevvers wouldn’t get close,” Driok growls, moving from my console to one nearby. “Looks like the baron was right about them though. No wonder he wanted rid of them.” He inspects his console further. “They’re in the furthest hold. They can’t get out, or I’d expect they would have by now.”
“What do we do with them?” I stare at the screen, but there’s no more movement or close ups of body parts.
Driok digs his claws into his console. “I think there’s a way of directing them through to one of the escape ships. It means we don’t have to have contact with them and they can be free.”
“Sounds like a plan.” The voice growls out of the console again. “Set us free, Sarkarnii of the High Bask, and we might not have to do you any damage.”
I stab at the console, finally muting the feed between us.
“Does the escape ship have any weapons?” I ask.
