by Trevor Scott
Ju-Long whispered to Nix, “Was that supposed to be a thank you?”
Nix shook his head with disappointment. “It’s as good as you could hope to get from the likes of him.”
Saturn joined them just as the Ansaran ships lifted off, leaving the crew in a swath of dust. Saturn was cradling her cheek as she looked to the downtrodden Liam and asked, “What the hell just happened?”
“It’s the box,” Liam began.
“I know,” Saturn replied, putting a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll get it back or we’ll find another way home. This isn’t over.”
“No. The box, it can’t be right. It’s not possible.”
Ju-Long eyed him closely. “What is it?”
“The device wasn’t how the Disciples of Re described. Sand blew onto the side and I saw. It just couldn’t be.”
The crew waited expectantly while Liam found the words. Finally, Ju-Long said, “Spit it out.”
Liam’s gaze traveled to each of his human companions in turn.
“Vesta Corp. The box read Vesta Corp.”
Saturn’s jaw dropped. “No, that’s not possible. We’re the first humans in this system.”
She turned to Nix expectantly. Nix pointed to himself and said, “Don’t look at me, I’ve never seen a human before I met you.”
The Ansaran ships faded into the distance, becoming absorbed by the yellow horizon. Liam stared off at the sky, still so foreign to him with its almost permanent sunset.
Ju-Long stamped at the sand with his boot in frustration. “Where do we even go from here?”
Nix spoke first, “I know of someone who may be able to help, but it will require we work with Zega again.”
“I forgot about him,” Liam admitted. “I guess you could say we’ve done what he’s asked, which means we’re even.”
“If we go to him for this, he may require more than just a favor.”
Liam thought about Zega’s last favor request while looking at the Kurazon wreckage. What he’d asked for was hardly a small feat. Zega was hardly the kind of person to whom Liam wanted to be indebted. Nix crossed his arms and said, “Zega will help us because he has no choice, but that doesn’t mean the price won’t be steep.”
Liam motioned toward The Garuda, “What about that? Isn’t that Zega’s ship?”
“Despite what he says, she is no one’s ship. She flies where she wishes. Zega may be the technical owner, but she’s never let him fly her.”
“How can a ship reject a passenger?”
“She fakes an engine malfunction.”
Liam shook his head, letting a smile form across his face. “Well then, Captain Nix, lead the way.”
“That reminds me,” Nix said, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. If this mess with the Kurazon has taught me anything it’s that I have a lot to learn.”
“What are you saying?”
“You are the first person to best a Kurazon in single combat. I’ve never even heard stories of such a feat. You should lead this...whatever we are.”
Saturn mused, “Captain Liam Kidd. It does have a nice ring to it.”
“Me? I can’t even place us on a map. I don’t know what use I’ll be.”
“I know this system better than any Dinari. I will be your guide. All you have to do is lead.”
Liam turned to Saturn and Ju-Long. “And both of you agree with this?”
Saturn nodded and said, “But don’t expect me to blindly follow your orders. Don’t forget, I used to boss you around.”
Ju-Long looked Liam up and down and then pointed to his biceps. “If we’re going to be fighting any more Kurazon, I think we’ll have to work on packing on a little muscle in this area.”
“I’ll work on that,” Liam said sardonically.
Ju-Long smiled. “You might also want to try some growth hormones. Those things are tall.”
Liam stood up straight to make himself appear taller. “Hey, for a human I’m pretty tall.”
“If you say so.”
Nix and Saturn began walking toward The Garuda, shaking their heads. Saturn said loud enough for Liam to hear, “Maybe this was a bad idea.”
EPILOGUE
Smoke curled around the wrecked bridge, up and out through the massive hole left by the Ansaran lasers. The jagged circle that was cut from the ceiling dropped hundreds of tons of metal on countless Kurazon. Their purple blood now adorned the broken pieces of steel jutting from the grated floor of the bridge. Bodies lay all around, burned with Ansaran laser blasts. The cowards did not even entertain a hand-to-hand fight. Instead, a dozen ships fired in on them, cutting through them ruthlessly. How dishonorable.
He heard the last breaths around him cease. He was alone now. More than a hundred Kurazon dead and he was the only survivor. What a pity. But he did not have the will to die. As a commander of the Throng he had certain obligations. He remembered the words of his father.
‘If you cannot live to seek honor, live to seek revenge.’
The Kurazon wiped blue war paint from his face using the back of his hand. On his hand, he saw purple swirls within the blue. A small wound. He made his way to his feet, cradling his left arm where a laser blast had cut into his shoulder. His gaze traveled up to the setting sun and he squinted his golden eyes. Though it would not be this day, Garrick would have his revenge. Of that, he was sure.