“You mentioned that we needed to keep a low profile. Do you have a destination in mind?” he asked, changing the subject.
She looked up at him, the troubled look in her eyes fading, and nodded her head. “Yeah, it’s a place along the rim between Marastin Dow and Sarafin space where Ander used to take me. We should be safe there,” she said.
Behr relaxed and began to eat as Raia talked about some of the adventures Ander had taken her on. Several of them reminded him of those he had enjoyed with his father. He loved the way her eyes lit up as she laughed and the way her cheeks flushed. By the time the meal was over, all he could think about was how she must glow after an intense night of lovemaking.
Chapter Six
Raia warily studied the Marastin Dow warship off her starboard bow. The warship was keeping pace with them. She checked the hologram disks. Everything was working correctly.
“Is there a problem?” Behr asked.
She glanced over her shoulder before checking her other sensors. “We’ve got a warship keeping pace with us. I don’t like it,” she replied.
He slid into the co-pilot seat. “That’s a Destroyer. Even with the modifications that you’ve made to your freighter, you won’t be able to outrun it,” he observed in a grim voice.
“If they board us, they’ll know this isn’t a research ship,” she added.
“We have another fifty clicks before they demand to board you. If they do…,” he said.
“They won’t,” she interjected before turning in her seat. “Pi, I need you.”
In seconds, Pi was sitting in front of her on the control dash. The Peekaboo looked funny with the holographic image of the Destroyer projected on her small tan and white body. Pi gazed out the front windshield before turning back around and looking at her.
“Show me what you see,” Raia quietly requested.
She lifted her hand and gently laid it against Pi’s side. Closing her eyes, she waited for the images to come. A relieved smile curved her lips, and she opened her eyes again. Reaching out, she lifted Pi into her arms and snuggled with her for a moment before placing a kiss on Pi’s small, furry head.
“I think that deserves some extra cookies. Don’t forget to share them with Chummy,” she murmured.
Pi clapped her tiny hands together and licked Raia’s cheek before disappearing. Raia laughed and wiped the wet spot with her sleeve. She grinned at Behr’s confused expression.
“We’re going to be alright,” she said with a confident expression.
“How do you know?” he asked.
“You’ll see,” she said.
Raia opened the communications system and locked on a rapidly closing warship. She hoped Pi’s vision was right. If it was, they just might make it.
“Curizan Challenger, this is the Curizan research vessel CRV5126 requesting escort,” she inquired.
“CRV5126, this is the Curizan Escort ship Challenger, acknowledging your request. Please stand by for further instructions,” the communications tech stated.
Captain K’lard Astar stood on the bridge of the Curizan Escort Ship Challenger, listening to the murmur of his crew’s voices. On the screen in front of him, he could see an array of Marastin Dow warships spread out in an unusual formation. They appeared to be searching for something. The Challenger had encountered a Marastin Dow military blockade shortly after arriving through the jump gate. This was the second encounter with a large number of their ships.
“Sir, we’ve received a request from a Curizan research vessel for an escort,” the communication tech announced.
K’lard noted the confused expression and the hesitancy in her voice. He walked over to her and looked at the research ship’s signature. Everything appeared to be in order.
“What is the problem?” he asked.
“Sir, there is no way this can be the CRV5126,” the tech replied.
“Why do you say that? The ship’s signature and documentation appear to be in order,” he said, studying the information on the screen.
“Yes, sir, on the screen it looks in order, but I’m sure that it isn’t. My brother is on the CRV5126. I talked to him yesterday. He is working with the Valdier scientists on the Minor Moon of Leviathan,” she said.
“Inform them we will provide an escort to the jump gate,” a deep voice ordered.
K’lard straightened and lifted an eyebrow at the man standing a short distance behind him. He had been surprised when General Razdar Bahadur was transported over to his ship shortly before their last jump. He had heard stories of Bahadur, but this was the first time he had ever met the man. He returned his attention to the tech.
“Inform the ship to remain on their current path and that we will escort them as far as the jump gate,” K’lard instructed.
“Yes, sir,” the tech said, turning away.
K’lard stepped back and listened as the tech communicated his instructions. He called out an order to increase speed to intercept with the ship. Once he was finished, he looked at Bahadur and raised an eyebrow.
“You do realize if the Marastin Dow find out that we escorted a ship that wasn’t one of ours, it will cause more than a few headaches for our diplomatic relations,” he drawled.
Bahadur shrugged. “That is what the politicians are there for—to deal with the misunderstandings,” he said.
K’lard shook his head as Bahadur turned and strode off the bridge. He returned his attention to the ship, wondering who would be crazy enough—other than Razdar Bahadur—to want to upset the entire Marastin Dow armada. He narrowed his gaze on the small dot moving in their direction.
“Ensign, get me intel on any recent activities in the region,” he ordered.
“Yes, sir,” the information ensign said.
“And tell my security chief I need to speak with him in my office,” he instructed.
“Yes, sir. Captain off the bridge,” the ensign replied as K’lard exited the room.
Several hours later, Raia breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the jump gate’s lights ahead. There had been a few close calls involving a terse Marastin Dow captain insisting on boarding and searching their ship and the Challenger’s captain threatening war if they did.
“CRV5126, this is the Challenger. The captain requested that you receive a current update of the surrounding regions. Unusual meteor activity has been detected that might damage your ship. Safe journeys and may your mission be successful,” the tech said.
“CRV5126 acknowledges receipt of the incoming file. Safe journeys,” Raia replied.
“It might be better to review what they’ve sent before I program the jump,” she commented.
“I agree. I’ve never heard of meteor activity before in this area,” Behr replied.
Raia tapped the file and pulled it to the side. It opened on the holograph screen between them. She frowned when a set of images appeared, and Behr loudly hissed in dismay.
“Well, they don’t look like any meteors to me,” she reflected with a skeptical expression.
“They are just as dangerous. The first one is a Triloug assassin named He’lo. He fought in the Triloug Civil War. He was court-martialed for killing three of his superior officers. He went underground and worked for whichever side would pay him the most. He kills for credits, but he also does it for pleasure. The second man is Orb. He is a Hoggian assassin from the Keltar regions. He started his life of crime at an early age—even by Marastin Dow standards. He slit the throats of his foster parents and escaped on a trade ship. He was caught and sent to prison where he learned how to hone his killing techniques. He led a prison riot on an Antrox mining prison. Eighty-three Antroxes and forty transport ship crew members were massacred. The prisoners escaped on the transports, and he was on one of them. We found the bodies of the escaped prisoners floating in space for a full click. He likes to work alone,” he explained.