Chapter 5

There were only two crew members on the transport pod and myself, it was a small vessel but at least I had my own quarters. It was stark inside but there was a shower that I was thankful for. After washing and tending to my arm I took out the badge with the Eachak tree symbol on, it had been cycles since I had tasted the succulent Eachak fruit, they were rarely exported beyond Nebari territories.

There was a small coms deck in my quarters I’d already tried to contact Rygel but now that he was a Dominar again it seemed an endless process of going through his pompous lackeys to get to him. It had taken a while to convince them that I was a close friend but they finally told me he would be ready for a transmission in half an arn. I put my feet up on the battered panel and swung back in the worn chair.

Playing with the badge nervously I opened the frequency, of course I would be happy to speak to the little slug again but it meant committing myself further towards a journey I was reluctant to take. The monitor sparked to life and I saw the rotund little figure come into view.

“And how’s my favourite little trelk, in trouble already” Rygel gave a half smile, he looked a little tired, not at all unusual for him he ate and slept more than anyone I know.

“Hey Ryg, from you I’ll take that as a compliment, just thought I’d see how you were doing, you know back on the throne, opened your harem yet” I was stalling.

Rygel chortled “I have no need of a harem now, I have just one exceptional female he he. If you must know it’s not really as glamorous being Dominar as I remembered, my cousin has left me so much to do here” he scrunched up his eyes.

“But that isn’t why you contacted me is it.” A look of genuine concern crossed his toad like face.

“I’ve found out where Neri is” I paused swallowing “he’s back on Nebari Prime and I need some help getting in”.

“You are seriously contemplating going back there, are you tinked?” His beady eyes questioned me.

“I have to see him Ryg, there’s nothing else left for me now, I should have done this cycles ago.” I was trying to keep my voice from trembling.

“There is me” his eyes glistened “my offer is always open, I would like to help of course but I’m not sure how”.

“I need something, a drug maybe that will fool the Nebari into thinking that I’ve been cleansed, I thought with your contacts you might know someone. Looking at him now it was hard to remember that we had spent most of our time together arguing although we had more than a few laughs.

Rygel smiled “Well of course I know people, the question is finding one I can trust” he preened his gown.

“I really need this Ryg, finding my brother depends on it and if you try to charge me I’ll have your mivonks”

“No Chiana, you insult me he he, just make sure you don’t get yourself captured there is no way I could get you out of that.”

“I know, don’t worry, I’ve still got to see what mischief your getting up to there.” I touched his smile on the screen fondly, frell if I wasn’t missing the little toad.

Rygel rubbed his royal necklace and said he’d be in touch, he thought to himself that he felt less like a Dominar now than he had on Moya.

“Good luck little trelk” he whispered.


Chapter 5 part 2

I heard a sound outside as the transmission ended, possibly a loose panel the ship could certainly do with some repairs but I wanted to make sure. I reached my arm out to touch the door pad keeping my body out of the doorway my pulse pistol ready.

I slowly moved round to see into the corridor, empty. I glanced around the ships frame; nothing looked out of place although it was untidily patched together, mesh panes and wires running everywhere. If there was an eavesdropper then I had to find out now, I couldn’t make plans for the trade station if I was arrested as soon as I disembarked.

Running through the small corridor I thumped the door pad to the bridge, the two ragged looking sebacians looked round, one was sitting at the controls and the other standing seeming to be checking some wires on the far wall.

“mmm, cosy” I said, “so you boys do this a lot, ship things for Pietros”

I moved closer to the one standing inches from his face smiling as swept my hand along the wall.

“We’ve done a few jobs for him, we don’t normally take on passengers though, you’re an exception.” The man sitting at the controls was the one talking, he looked over me grinning salaciously, “shame we won’t have more time to get to know each other”.

I could see sweat pouring off the man next to me he was definitely nervous, time to heat him up a little more. I brushed my hand along his coarse jacket,

“Did you learn anything interesting” I breathed. “I saw you outside” I could dilate my pupils as though they were winking and as I did so I could see it had had the desired affect.

“You can see through walls” the man choked. He staggered back a little,
“I saw that you were contacting a Dominar before, royalty is always worth credits, I’m just a business man looking out for a deal”. He was scared, hardly someone who would risk dealing with Nebari military.

I stamped on his foot hard bringing my eyes close to his,

“That’s not all I can do, next time knock”.

He looked at the pilot and cursed under his breath; his companion grinned and told him to check the engines.

“Don’t mind him, he’s a farbot but not dangerous, if you’d care to join me we have plans to make.” The pilot swung a chair round next to him.
“This shipment isn’t going to bring itself”