by Eve Langlais
“Chief!” One of the ensigns yelled for him. “We’ve got a problem with that last crate we ordered from La’zuun.”
Which contained silicia, an organic material that resembled a fluffy pile of leaves, purple ones with hair-like filaments that were valuable in the creation of holochips for a variety of items.
“What the hell is wrong now?” he muttered as he stomped over.
“There’s something alive in the crate.” The ensign indicated with a pointed finger. “Should we shoot it?”
Alive after weeks of being in space? Probably a rodent. Pesky buggers were hard to kill. “Don’t do anything.” Firing into the silicia would destroy them. Given their cost, and the need for them, they couldn’t afford to lose even a single one. “Is it a rat? A bacoon?” Which resembled the raccoons of earth but with spiked tails and much sharper teeth. Funny how the universe might be vast, but certain bottom feeders existed in every culture.
“If it’s a rat, then it’s a big one,” the ensign said.
“Get the inoculation kit ready.” They kept a few in engineering at all times because of the rodent problem. Being in space didn’t make the rats immune to disease, and humans were highly susceptible.
He stuck his head in the crate, metal hand flexing. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d caught a lively bugger. He’d have to make sure he crushed it without spilling any blood. Blood and the silicia didn’t mix well.
At first, he didn’t see anything, the fluffy leaves filling the space. He began to dig them out, handing them back to the ensigns crowding at his back. He kept pulling them out, wondering if the ensign had imagined movement.
Except there, at the very back in a space it had cleared. A shape. Huddled in a cloak.
A stowaway.
“You. Hiding in the crate. Get out here.”
The hood shook, and the body shrank.
“Don’t make me drag you out.”
Slowly, the hood turned, and he saw straight through the shadows hiding her face to the giant violet eyes inside.
Eyes that widened upon seeing him.
“Who are you?” he barked.
The figure in the cloak didn’t reply, and yet he could have sworn he heard someone whisper, Your destiny.
* * *
The End.
Next: The Cyborg’s Stowaway.
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Also by Eve Langlais
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