Mik’t pushed the grav-sled full of Gravitrum along the short hallway between the shuttle’s cargo airlock and the deep space airlock. The humans spoke about ships like they were interchangeable, but clearly didn’t understand the maximum distance capable of each type. Jean believed the shuttle could carry enough warriors to overtake a cruiser, but the Scaladorian had spent enough time on those ships to know how difficult it would be with the force they had. Despite how much they wanted this to be the last time they had to fight, Mik’t knew the fight would never end.

  He'd thrown in with these prisoners, these pirates, and now he was stuck. After seeing the secrets hidden in that long-forgotten chamber, he knew he had no choice but to try and restore his people to their former glory.

  Ahead of him lay the last chance he would have to break ties with the humans. He could turn in the ore and climb on board the ship with his fellow guards, continuing to live a life he knew was a lie. Or, he could deliver the ore and turn around, returning to the shuttle and taking his place beside Jean. One way, he was giving up his life. The other, he would give up his heart.

  A light above the deep space airlock turned green, and the doors slid open silently. Inside stood a pair of guards he'd known and trusted for years. They did not know this would be the last time they saw their friend as anything but an enemy. He wanted to deny it; he wanted to take the easy way and get on that ship. But it seemed his heart had made a decision his mind was not quite ready to accept.

  “Mik’t! So you were the unlucky bastard that got stuck with cart duty?” the first guard said with a cheerful wave of his antennae.

  “Yeah, well, there’s a first time for everything, I suppose. Command said I haven’t been pulling my weight out there, so I helped out just this once.” He replied, responding with an antenna wave of his own.

  “At least it gives you a few more minutes to pack up. With the new deployment length, you’d think they would ease off on some of the day-to-day drama.” The second said, pulling the cart away from Mik’t and pushing it up the ramp. “Get your bag out of the cart before the transport commander sees it. He is such a stickler for the rules. It wouldn't surprise me if he honors the Stygibora by rubbing his aedeagus to them nightly.” The first warned. Having met this flight commander once before, Mik’t couldn’t exactly say the man was wrong.

  “I wish I could, but I’m a little behind on my bills. Command gave me the go-ahead for a double rotation,” Mik’t lied.

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  “Sorry to hear that. Want me to pass a message to the wife and kids when I get home?” The first asked.

  “Just the usual. Tell her I love her, and I’ll be home soon as I can,” he choked. Being away from family was always hard, but this was for something greater. If he succeeded in his quest, his children might one day see the stars. Hopefully, Rodney could break the encryption on the deep-space transmitter and he could pass on the message himself.

  “Alright bud. When you get back with that pocket full of credits, you can buy me a drink. I might skip our next rotation. It’s been a while since I took a vacation and I need to spend my time.” The guard said, pushing the grav-sled onto the deep-space cruiser.

  Mik’t wiped an eye as he turned away, headed back across the station to the shuttle waiting for him.

  ~~**~~

  Monique walked calmly along the hallway with her stinger resting comfortably on her shoulder. True to Mik’t’s information, she hadn’t crossed paths with any guards along her journey. If things continued progressing like this, it would be the smoothest mission she’d ever been part of. Considering the number of times a plan went off the rails while she and Jean destroyed companies that purposefully added to atmospheric pollutants, having a mission like this was a good change.

  An energy rifle was jammed against the handle of the door, propping open the entrance to the security monitoring station. If the guard was at his station, there was no chance he could properly defend himself before she had time to drive the tip of her weapon through his heart. It would be a brutal death, but at least it would be fast.

  She pressed her back against the wall and slowly peeked around the corner. Inside, a large Scaladorian soldier sat with his back to the door while rhythmic breathing echoed throughout his the room. The human soldier couldn’t have asked for a better situation. There would be no resistance, nor would she have to see the life leave this creature as it died on her blade.

  Monique stood behind the creature; weapon positioned so the tip could sink through his neck all the way to his thorax. With an iron resolve, she brought the weapon down, piercing through armor, chitin, and flesh. The guard thrashed in pain, trying desperately to reach behind his head. It didn’t matter how hard he tried; he was already dead. His body just didn’t know it yet.

  She yanked the blade out of his neck and pushed the body out of the chair. With almost casual disinterest, she closed and locked the security door, ensuring that no one could bother her. Her work was brutal, but it needed to be done if they were to survive the coming days. It was simply too much risk to try converting more Scalador while also building their new home.

  Monique clicked her radio three times, signaling Rodney and Mik’t that she was in position. A few minutes later, the shuttle disconnected from the orbital station, drifting quietly toward the planet’s surface as if the pilot was planning re-entry.

  It was time to wait.