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“What will you do when you see them?” Alice said.
“The same thing they did to me,” I said coldly.
Rogiz 4 was huge and lush with huge valleys between even larger mountains. Many other advanced cultures had offered to share their technology in exchange for leases to build resorts on the planet’s surface. The native species had denied all offers. They saw no value in advanced technology. It never seemed to make cultures happier, and in fact, only seemed to have the opposite effect.
What really made the other alien species gnash their teeth was the rare materials just beneath the surface. The sheer wealth available was second to no other planet in the entire galaxy.
But the native Rogizian species respected nature and its bounty and only harvested as much as they needed to survive. Their decision caused them trouble. Without adequate protection from their enemies, smugglers easily slipped in and pillaged the small towns and tribes.
I kept a close eye on my former ship, Silent Shadow, as we approached a hill behind it. I checked the scanners but found the single lifeform aboard hadn’t moved from their original position.
I drew my sword and ran out through the hatch and around the hill. If the ship’s defense system had been initiated, it would detect our approach and open fire. Were they so overconfident that they wouldn’t even set up a perimeter?
Fools!
I breathed a sigh of relief when I reached the ship. I placed a hand on her. It felt good to be with her again.
I leaned in close to Alice. “Be careful. Try to be silent.”
I peered around the ship’s open hatch at the cargo hold. No one stood with a blaster pistol to greet me. Instead, I heard music. It was screeching, loud, and wailing. It belonged to Rattigan. It always got on my nerves. How Rattigan could claim it was good dancing music was a mystery to me.
Rattigan lay on his back fixing something wrong with the shuttlecraft. Just as well I bought a new one, I thought.
I pressed the blade to his neck.
“A good captain would not have left you as the lookout,” I said. “Come out.”
Rattigan slowly slid down to look at me. His eyes snapped toward the blaster pistol just two inches from reach.
I kicked it across the floor, grabbed him by the lapels, and raised him off the floor with a single arm.
“You were always my least favorite crewmate,” I said.
Rattigan struggled against my arm but it was no use. “It’s not my fault!” he said. “I went along with the flow! It’s not my fault! It wasn’t my idea!”
“Maybe not,” Alice said, stepping out from behind me. “But you were one of the ringleaders. I heard you and Horn Tusk talking about it that day outside the shuttle bay.”
Rattigan shook his head. “You can’t believe this human female! They haven’t even colonized their own moon!”
I brought him closer to my face. “And yet, they know a great deal more about honor than you, my friend. For now, I’m putting you on ice.”
I moved to the nearest empty pod. “Computer. Prepare pod number seven for a new occupant.”
“No!” Rattigan said, struggling against my grip. “You can’t do this! I’m one of your crew!”
“Good point,” I said. “Computer. Remove all crew members from active duty, effective immediately.”
“All crew members have been removed,” Computer said.
I dumped him in the pod. Alice slapped her hand on the controls. Rattigan beat against the thick lid but there was no escape. His movements slowed. Within minutes, he was asleep.
“Computer, prepare for take-off,” I said.
“Preparing for take-off now,” Computer said.
The hatch rose. Inches from locking into place, a red flash zipped through the gap and burnt the metal frame.
“What was that?” Alice said.
