by Celeste Raye
"Stop it!" Mariana shouted. "Crying won't help. It will only make us nervous and unable to think clearly. We're going to get out, I promise. There has to be a way to manually open this thing or an override somewhere. You're street kids. You must have broken into a few places for food. How?"
The tallest male, who's hair was jet black and cut so close to his head it spiked, mumbled, "Check for a latch. They're usually above the door."
"Great idea!" Mariana praised, feeling like a teacher, or worse yet, a mother. "None of us are tall enough to reach. Can you lift your friend? She's the smallest of us."
The boy motioned for the girl to step up on his bent leg. She was shaky, but she complied. Her small, roughened hands swept over the top of the door. Then, she shook her head.
"I guess there's not one. Next idea?" Mariana pled.
Finally speaking, the girl replied, "The panel, pop it off. Sometimes, if you pull out the wires, the door can easily be shoved open."
"Now we're thinking positively. Thank you, young lady."
"Tika: that's my name," she answered.
"I'm Mariana. Let's get out; then we can learn who we all are. Does anyone have something to help me pop this panel off: a knife or other thin object?"
"Here," the other male, pale from head to toe, stated. He handed her a piece of metal that he'd shaped into a knife.
Mariana slipped it behind the panel cover and pried at it. She shimmied it across, loosening the metal as she went. It fell to the floor with a clank. Wires tangled together in the large rectangle. She was trying to decide which ones to disconnect when a small, rough hand reached around her and yanked them all. Tika had suddenly grown courageous.
Silence prevailed. Mariana hadn't noticed that the door had been continuously making a buzzing sound until it ended. The foursome stared at each other for a second or two, then as one they clutched the door and shoved. It slid open without protest. Relieved and thankful, they spilled out into the cooler, huge, empty space.
The group spread apart to the far corners. "No, wait!" Mariana called out. "Don't run. We're still on this journey together. We can help one another. Come back. Let's learn who we all are. Please."
Reluctantly, they drew closer, yet still several feet apart. It was good enough for now. "As I said, I'm Mariana. I was once of the privileged class, until my father died and was proclaimed a traitor. We were homeless until I was four. Then, my mother and I were slaves. I ran away because I was about to be sold. I intend to become a pirate. Now, you know all of my secrets, so tell me yours."
"I swear not to betray you if you swear the same," the dark-haired boy replied. When everyone nodded, he continued, "I am Drake. My sire was from Waterpark." He spread his fingers to display the webs between them.
Mariana knew from her studies that Waterpark was the name humans used to refer to a planet that was ninety percent water covered. So, Drake was a hybrid: human and alien.
"I was left on the riverbank at birth. An old human woman found me and raised me. She is now gone. I couldn't stay on Earth knowing I was unwanted. I will try my luck on Delti Utopia 6 or continue on to another world, maybe even the one that holds my relatives," Drake concluded.
"I am a weredragon: a Naga," Tika announced. "My father was human. My mother was killed shortly after my birth. My father did the best he could to keep me, but his wife didn't want a reminder of his infidelity, especially now that I am able to transform. I am searching for more of my kind."
The last child, the pale young man, shyly responded. "I am York. I was an anomaly among my people. We are the snake people: charmers that can speak to them. My skin should be much darker, and my hair as well. I am shunned. My parents are shamed, so I left to save them from more problems."
"Well, it appears we all have good reasons to seek a new life. We're all misfits, so we should fit in well on Delti Utopia 6."
A trash shoot opened and spilled bits of vegetables and fruit onto the floor, disrupting the life stories. The youngsters fell upon the pile like ravenous beasts. Mariana held back, appalled by their action, yet understanding. It had been many years since she was that hungry and needed to forage for food. But, if she wished to survive the journey, she would have to join in.
It wasn't so bad. The trip had just begun, and the bits of food were fresh. She sat cross-legged and nibbled on a carrot top.
"You must eat more than your fill," Drake demanded. "There will be less edible portions as the days go by. Build up fat for the worst days. It doesn't matter whether you like the food or not; you must eat it anyway."
It was good advice, and prophetic. A journey that would have taken less than a week in one of the sleek new transports instead lasted close to a month. The rusted pile of bolts they rode in broke down more often than it moved. Repairs took forever in the hands of incompetent mechanics and technologists.
The four days they had to use generators for life support proved to be the worst. There was barely enough air to keep them alive. Oxygen in the trash facility wasn't a priority. The foursome said little, didn't eat, and laid listless on the metal floor.
The malfunction of the water sprayer turned out to be a blessing. They used hollowed-out fruit rinds, melons and oranges mostly, to catch the water. It kept them from dying of dehydration.
As the weeks passed, the children became Mariana's teacher. They showed her how to judge what was edible of the now molding bits of food and what to avoid. Due to their aid, she didn't become ill. She, in turn, showed them how to shove the garbage into taller piles so that empty space remained for them to live.
They knew the moment the spaceship began its descent. The ship started shuddering as it had in the beginning. Piles of trash fell from their stacks. Fearing they would be buried beneath the mess, they climbed atop it. Though they had grown used to the smell, this older mess held a stench that burned their noses.
"How do we get out?" Tika dared to ask as the ship settled onto his landing dock.
"In the trash," York replied. "There will be automated machinery that scoops out the trash and dumps it elsewhere. Ride the scoops."
"Isn't that dangerous? Won't they dump us into grinders?" Mariana asked.
"If it is automated, there will be no one to see us. Just go. Don't wait for the scoops. Be careful not to get harmed by the machinery," Drake said.
"Is this goodbye?" Tika wanted to know. "Will we not stay together?" Her small face showed sadness and despair.
Mariana desperately wanted to reassure her, but that wasn't possible. It was going to be difficult enough to get the pirates to accept her. She couldn't bring along a child. She wasn't even sure how to take care of herself or where to find a band of pirates.
However, her heart wouldn't allow her to abandon the girl just yet. "I'll see that you make it into the city. But, then I'll have to say farewell. Pirates don't accept children. They may not accept me since I'm eighteen. I wish you all good fortune and thank you for being my friends."
The doors rattled as they unlocked. Noises from the way station made their ears ring. They slid down the piles of trash and ran to the doors as they opened further. On the other side were unexpected faces.
Men, in ragged, mismatched clothes, with tattooed bodies, and holding various weapons confronted the foursome. Their eyes darkened and their faces hardened when they glimpsed the youngsters.
"Trying to steal our booty for yourselves?" a gravelly voice asked angrily. "Take 'em! Cut 'em to ribbons!"
A roar shook the air. From out of nowhere a huge dragon appeared, its scales shimmering in hues of purple, from plum to wine. Its wings swept the pirates aside, and it landed between them and the foursome, its great tail encircling Mariana and the others.
Mariana didn't know whether it was protecting them or wanted them for itself. It didn't matter. She was too awed by its beauty to be afraid. She had heard stories of the great Naga. Tika claimed to be one. But, she had never seen one. Daringly, she touched the scales. They were hard, sleek, and smooth. She expecte
d them to be cold and slimy. Instead, they emanated warmth and were dry.
A rumble came from its chest. To her surprise, the dragon spoke. "They are children, Torbin. They have not come to steal your bounty. Look at them. They're refugees, filthy from living in the trash heap. Do not kill them before they've had a chance to live. Let them go. Should they seek to become your rivals, I will destroy them myself, and you may, in turn, destroy me."
Chapter Five
Tann
When Tann's day had started before dawn, after less than three hours sleep, he certainly hadn't expected it to end this way. Challenging his leader's command was asking for death.
It was a record-breaking day for transport arrivals on the way station. Travelers were coming and going from so many planets, some had to remain in orbit while awaiting a landing spot. The casinos, fancy or otherwise, were doing a brisk business. It seemed a star was performing at the music theater and every species wanted to catch the show.
So many transports were shoved into a small area, two sharing a dock most of the time, that the guards couldn't protect most of them. It made easy pickings for the pirates. Torbin's crew was the only one on Delti Utopia 6 at the moment, so their spoils were piling up. They had pilfered more jewels, gold coins, and treasures than they usually got in a month. Yet, not one heist had amounted to enough in itself to garner Tann's reporting it or being relieved of his undercover work.
This last transport might prove to be the one, though. Despite it's rusted hull and worthless, lazy crew, it was rumored to be carrying technology that would be coveted by nearby species. If not, then the precious metals inside the technology could be profitable. The crew abandoned the spaceship before the engines had completely shut down. Either they didn't realize the worth of their cargo, or they believed the falling apart transport was enough of a disguise to avoid piracy. Fools, all of them.
The easiest way into a ship without drawing attention was through the trash compartment. This one was simpler than most. Its doors had opened without provocation when the system failed, leaving it ready to board. Tann had held back at the edges of the group, already tired from rummaging through transports. He'd decided to let the rest dig, and if the rumored cargo was actually aboard, he'd begin recording the theft and thus remove one more pirate club from existence. Then, he would get his own life back.
Torbin's shouts had caught his attention. Tann's laser-sharp eyes had homed in on the four objects drawing the leader's wrath. They were children, and he could smell their fear. Nature took over as he grew upset. Before he knew it, he had transformed and was lifting off the ground. "It's too late to stop now," he thought.
Unadvisedly, he challenged his leader. This was definitely not the way to gain trust, but he couldn't let the kids die. He was a space cop, sworn to protect the innocent. If necessary, he would reveal his true vocation, or better yet, use dragon fire to kill Torbin. One way or another, these kids would live.
The touch of a soft hand on his tail startled him, but he didn't let it show. He stood at attention, waiting to see what action was best to take. It shocked him when Torbin backed down and didn't order his immediate death.
"Lower your weapons, boys. Tann is correct. These are children. They ain't nothin' to us. Let 'em be someone else's burden and not our weakness. If we killed 'em, the authorities would tail us, and we'd never earn another penny." Lowering his voice for Tann's ears alone, he said, "Ya will answer for this insolence later, where ya can't use dragon abilities against me."
Tann lifted his tail, allowing the foursome to leave. "Go!" he ordered. "I can't control them forever."
The boys grabbed Tika and tried to force her away. She refused to move, as did Mariana. They shrugged and left the females behind.
Torbin and his men rushed into the spaceship. Tann released his hold on the dragon's form and returned to a man. His steely gaze remained on the females throughout the transformation. All six feet and eight inches of his muscular body towered over the girls. The seemed mesmerized by the sight of his sculpted torso, bulging biceps, and thick thighs. They were too busy gaping to be intimidated.
Tann broke the silence by bellowing, "Leave! You're not safe here. Go to High Street. Ask at the alley doors for work. You can't stay here."
Mariana drew herself up and stood tall, all five feet and four inches of her. "I'm not leaving. I'm not a child. This is exactly where I want to be. I wish to be hired as a pirate. Can you do that?"
Tann roared with laughter. It felt amazing to let out the tenseness of his shoulders. The girl had spunk and more courage than was good for her, but she was delusional if she thought she could become a pirate. He tried to explain and make her understand the impossibility of her request.
"Pirates don't recruit children, and most of the time they don't accept females. Also, it is not my choice. The leader is the one who recruits, and he has already asked for your death. The reprieve I managed to get for you will be most certainly revoked should you bother him again. I vouched for you and the others, so it would mean my destruction as well. Forget this ridiculous notion. Go, now."
"If not this band of pirates, then another will do. I will become one. You can't command me. I am an adult and will do as I please."
"What of your companion? Will you risk her life too?" Tann asked, studying Tika.
"She's not responsible for me," Tika replied. "You are."
The statement caught Tann off guard. He stuttered, "What have I to do with you?"
"I'm Naga, just like you. I've read that all Naga take responsibility for orphans and train them. I am such. It is your duty to train me as my mother is dead and my father is human."
"I can't fulfill that duty, child. My line of work keeps me in danger. If I must, I can find you a suitable caretaker, but that is all."
"You should be ashamed to call yourself Naga. I need guidance from one of my own species. I have transformed twice so far, but it was difficult, and not by choice. Help me learn to be in control of my abilities, please."
"Even if I wished to, I can't. I have no home. I drift with Torbin's band from way station to way station. We steal, lie, cheat, and sometimes kill. Do not latch yourself onto the likes of me," Tann begged.
"Let me come with you," Tika pled. "I'm an excellent pickpocket. I can steal from those who would never let you near. I'm an asset."
"I too can go places that you can't. Women are not noted as pirates when first you meet them. Dressed well, I can fleece the richest of men," Mariana announced, brazenly.
Tann couldn't believe what he was hearing or how stubborn the pair was. He truly didn't need this right now. He was in danger of death from a distrusting leader, a target for other pirates, and probably would soon be out of a job for lack of finding evidence. He should have never intervened.
Torbin's second in command came searching for Tann, "You got a death wish, boy? Why are them brats still here and why ain't you aboard. We found the prize! There's so much that Torbin's decided to confiscate the whole ship. He wants you to fly it to the other side of the way station. You're to stay and guard it until he's ready to sell the technology. Babysittin' this rusty tank is part of your punishment. Get rid of them brats and come aboard before he sees your stupidity."
Tann turned his back and stalked off, praying the girls disappeared into the sunset. This assignment wasn't punishment. It would give him time to catalog all the technology and send the information into his superiors. Once the selling began, they would have the pirates on grand theft charges. It wasn't much, but one crew at a time was better than nothing.
In the pilot's seat, he let out a relieved breath. Without the pleading, sad eyes in front of him, he could forget his encounter with the girls. It was going to take a lot of groveling to get an ounce of trust out of Torbin, if he was allowed to live that long.
Just as he performed the miracle of getting the engine in the old crate started, Torbin's gruff voice announced, "Well, would ya take a gander at that? See what I found sneakin' aboard?
I do believe ya owe me a debt, Tann. Here be your so-called children. They've just sealed their own death, along with yours."
"No! He had nothing to do with this," Mariana screamed. "I asked to be a pirate, but he said no. I came on board looking for you, sir. You're much smarter than him, I'm sure. He wouldn't listen to reason, but you will. You know we can get money where your men can't. You know women and children can be an asset. Tika is tiny and can pop in and out of large groups, picking pockets. I have the ability to distract men with my curves while she swipes their coins right off the gambling tables. You want more gold; I'll get it. Your men can raid while we rob the rich blind."
Torbin got a speculative gleam in his beady eyes. He knew a good deal when he heard one. Eventually, the marks would catch on to the two girls, but in the meantime, they could bring him a bundle. His gaze roved over Mariana. Beneath the filth, she did have curves. Cleaned up and dressed just right, she would be easy to get into the big casino, where pockets held too much gold to count. He'd find a way to slip the kid in or maybe let her roam outside, through the trading village.
Tann's anger was palpable. He was ready to declare war, without hearing a single word from Torbin. He could easily guess what the sly look was for. He'd let them live, for a time anyway. But, their lives as well as his, would hang in the balance day to day. One wrong move or one penny less than the pirate expected and they would be executed. No pretty words, flirting, or promises would stop it again.
"Well, girl. Let's see if ya can deliver like ya claim. If ya clean up good enough, I might just take ya for myself, money be damned. Ya got some moxy in that body, for sure. Reminds me of my old lady. She was better at stealin' than my old man. She killed a few more too. The little one's life depends on ya, girl. Don't let me down," Torbin declared.
Turning to Tann, he commanded, "Clean 'em up and teach 'em a few tricks while you're sittin' on this rust bucket. I'll get 'em some appropriate clothes for the big house. Don't let 'em escape. They belong to me now."