“Four Alneusians and their luggage will arrange for passage in the port while the shuttle is loading.He’s agreed to the cover story.”
Lokmi added, “The suits are assembled, tested, and ready as of last night.All we require is the bin.”
“Elcoger said he’d have the luggage to us this afternoon.He can’t wait to see us go.”Piras allowed himself a slight smile.The timing couldn’t have been better.
Inspired by Mereta’s ruse involving the stolen Alneusian exoskeleton, Piras had arranged for Elcoger to procure three additional exosuits.The task of emptying the outer chasses hadn’t been a problem for Lokmi.Concocting vid simulations of Alneusian entities to mask their faces in the bubble masks hadn’t either.The problem had been making it so the Kalquorians could see through those vids in order to move around in the suits.Ever the engineering miracle worker, Lokmi had managed to figure out a solution.
The face of their biggest hurdle to getting past Dark-ridden port security guards scrunched.“I do not look forward to being jammed in a travel bin again.”
“We don’t have any other option,” Piras said, his tone sympathetic for Hope’s coming trial.“You aren’t tall enough to be an Alneusian in its exosuit.The only species we could hope to make you pass for is a Beonid and—”
“And they always travel in pairs.I know.”Hope scowled.“Is it wrong for me to feel they’re being hatefully inconvenient in their bond?I mean, they die at the same time, even if it’s due to one having an accident.”
“I’ll lodge a complaint with their ambassadors on Kalquor when we get home.”Piras winked at her, earning a laugh.
“You do that.”She shrugged.“Truth be told, I’ll do almost anything to get off this planet, including folding myself like a blouse in the luggage.We’ve way overstayed our welcome.”
Piras straightened and assumed his admiral persona.“Yes, we have.Let’s get ready to go the instant we get the bin.”
* * * *
Elcoger himself flewthem to the spaceport where the Adraf shuttle awaited.Piras thought he did so because he didn’t trust his underlings to keep Mereta’s present whereabouts quiet.Whatever the reason, it was a relief to avoid the Beonids.
They were soon in the spaceport, making their way to the dock where Kila had been assured their escape vessel awaited.Piras was reassured no one offered them a second glance in their Alneusian disguises.The hover bin floating next to them, which contained their gear, the Dark in its containment, and most importantly, Hope, also received no attention.
“There it is,” Lokmi breathed as the octagonal Adraf shuttle came in sight.“We’re getting closer to the finish line.”
Piras wasn’t so eager to count the hurdles to rescue.They had too many more to go.
The Adraf captain himself was attending to his crew as they loaded a shipment into the shuttle’s cargo bin.His gaze was sharp and speculative, Piras noted, as they approached.
“Impressive disguises,” he muttered as they drew close enough to hear him.His long, furry neck wove as he inspected the group.“I’d be interested in how you managed to accomplish the one-way vid projection.I don’t believe it’s ever been done before.”
Piras could sense negotiations...or rather, bribery...afoot.Lokmi’s new tech would be considered proprietary by the Kalquorian Empire’s fleet, not available as a bargaining chip.And he simply wasn’t in the mood.
“Non-negotiable,” he growled.“You named your price to get us off Jedver.No doubt the reason you postponed responding to our call was because you insisted on receiving it in full from my government in advance.”
“That was before I knew the secretary-general had managed to disappear.There are four of you, and your Earther is too small to be disguised as an Alneusian.My guess is she’s in the bin.”The Adraf smiled, his massive block teeth an unattractive sight.“The reward for Mereta and those who helped him get away is astronomical.Why shouldn’t I ingratiate myself to the All and fatten my account, Kalquorian?”
“Asshole,” Kila snarled.He stepped toward the Adraf, but Piras’ glare skewered him.He halted.
“Can you see Darks?Can any of your crew?”Piras fought to keep from speaking through clenched teeth.He’d expected a play by the avaricious Adraf captain, but the callous disregard for their life still infuriated him.
“Sadly, no.I’m sure we’re surrounded by them, however, since they’re still searching for your friend.Why don’t you share that tech before we attract their attention?”
Piras let a dangerous smile twist his mouth, wishing the Adraf could see it.“Too bad you can’t detect them.If you could, you’d know the spiritual member of my party...whom you’ve already named...has tamed his.He’s able to put it to sleep while monitoring activity from the All.He can even speak to the All.”Piras stepped closer to the blinking Adraf.“If you’re leaving us no options, he can let the All and the Darks in the area know you’re about to help us leave ahead of you alerting anyone to our presence.You’ll collect execution as your reward.”
“You’re bluffing,” the Adraf sneered, but his gaze darted nervously at the other “Alneusians,” trying to pick out which might be Mereta.
“He doesn’t need to,” Mereta said.“We’ve been detected.”His bubble-masked head nodded to indicate a number of security guards heading their way.
Piras’ stomach lurched to see the Beonids, Ivad and Ershma, leading the force.Ivad’s teeth were bared in a vicious leer, shockingly similar to the Adraf’s smile when he’d demanded the vid tech.
They’d been betrayed by the Beonids.Kila snarled, pulling a blaster from a large pocket on the exosuit.Lokmi did as well.
