Battling Chaos

By Terry Compton

The four boys didn't try to create the chaos, it just naturally followed them. They were just waiting for rescue and trying to have a little fun along the way. Of course, if they made some money that was even better.
Hardly any of the adults around them agreed with their idea of fun though. They claimed they were the ones battling the chaos following the boys. The boys didn't really intend for those battles to start a war between several planets, pirates and sex slavers. It just happened.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Terry Compton
• Release date: May 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463582947

Terry Compton

Terry Compton has raced stock cars, rode horses across the Scapegoat Wilderness, fished and hunted most of his adult life while working at several different jobs. He is an Air Force veteran and served in the Air National Guard for several years. He is currently retired from being the owner, chief welder and installer for an ornamental iron business where he has made several award winning metal creations and is now turning this creativity to writing.Terry loves to read science fiction, westerns and mystery stories. Some of his favorite authors are Clive Cussler, Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy, Andre Norton, Poul Anderson, Robert Heinlein, Louie L'Amour, Zane Grey and Anne McCaffery. He is currently learning about 'indie' authors who are publishing e-books.Terry currently lives in Montana with his wife and a dog who thinks she is a short furry people.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The speedy courier spaceship dropped out of hyper-space and aimed its nose at Topas. It started a fast burn toward the planet and soon entered the atmosphere. The ship had not been on the tarmac for more than a few minutes when a ground transport pulled up.

The airlock opened on the side and two Kawa natives stepped out. One wore a one piece flight suit with pilot's wings attached over the breast pocket. Pistols hung in holsters on each hip and a couple of bulges suggested there might be knives or other weapons in the pockets of the flight suit.

The other was dressed the polar opposite. He wore a fitted business suit that obviously had been custom tailored with shiny boots on his feet. No weapons were visible, but his bearing suggested that he might not need them. Both of the Kawa natives wore a set of glasses that obscured their eyes.

After glancing around, the one in the business suit started down the ramp. He started walking briskly to the waiting vehicle. The pilot descended, turned back to the ship and touched a few buttons. The ramp slid back into the ship and the airlock swung shut with a hiss. He then walked to the vehicle and stepped into it.

After a few minutes of dodging busy traffic in the city near the spaceport, the vehicle pulled up to a building marked as the city hall. The Kawa in the business suit stepped out and entered the building.

His glasses lightened a little once inside, but still obscured his eyes. A receptionist sitting at a desk indifferently polished his fingernails with a cloth. The business suit walked over to stand in front of the desk. Without looking up, the receptionist growled, What do —

His eyes lifted from his fingernails and he gulped before he continued in a much different tone, Yes, sir. How may I help you?

The suit's voice came out in perfect diction, I'm here to see a client who had some trouble with a local establishment.

You must be here for the spaceship crew and captain who ripped up the Shooting Star. That was quite a —

The receptionist's voice stopped as he had to swallow again when he looked up at the man. He pointed down the hallway as his voice squeaked, The jail is down there.

The Kawa turned and walked away from the receptionist. He met much the same greeting from the police, but after a few minutes he sat in a room, empty except for four chairs sitting around a table.

He pulled out a collapsed tablet and opened it up to study the charges, fines and damages against his client. The door swung open and a disheveled prisoner shuffled in. The policeman fastened his shackles to a ring on the floor.

As soon as the policeman stepped out of the room, the prisoner asked, Who are you? What do you want?

The suit silently sat there looking over his tablet. His finger occasionally moved to turn a page, but other than that he remained still. The prisoner growled, Who are you? Why am I here? I've been sitting in that filthy cesspool you call a cell for three weeks.

Without looking up, the Kawa said, Three days, Captain Jada, not three weeks.

Well, it seemed like three weeks. The light never changes and it stinks like —

I don't care what it smells like. You contributed to it with your stench. Sit there and be quiet until I finish here.

Captain Jada's jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed in anger, but he sat silently as he glared at the man on the opposite side of the table. His hands clenched and unclenched for several moments before his mouth opened.

The Kawa said, According to this, you and your crew are going to spend a lot of time in a place much more unpleasant than where you have been. You'll be there a minimum of five years and maybe as much as fifteen.

Who are you and what is that you're looking at?

I'm someone here to help you out of a jam. My name isn't important; just what I can do for you. And as for what I'm looking at, it's the charges, fines and damages you and your crew have against you.

We didn't start the fight. We just finished it.

You got caught. Your opponent didn't. Ergo, you pay.

The captain took a deep breath and let it out in a huff. He asked, How are you going to help me? Will you make all of that go away?

Go away, no, but I will keep you out of Topas' work farms. From the looks of you, I don't think you'd make it six months, let alone five years.

Fear crossed the captain's face at those words. He asked, What do I have to do?

I'm authorized to offer you a hundred seventy-five thousand credits for your spaceship —

WHAT? No. I won't do it. How will I make a living? What would I do without a ship?

The Kawa tapped his tablet with his finger as the captain ran out of steam. The captain's eyes followed his finger's every move. The suit softly said, That money will pay all your fines, the damages and leave you enough for some trade goods. My client is willing to lease the ship back to you for six months for five thousand credits per month. At the end of that time, you may repurchase your ship for one hundred ninety-five credits if you so wish.

My ship is worth three to four times that. I'm not going to sell it.

The Kawa stood to his feet. The captain said, Where are you going? I just want more for my ship and longer to buy it back.

The suit didn't even answer him, just started walking to the door. The captain cried out, I'll let you have it for three hundred fifty thousand.

Two more steps brought a hurried, Two fifty.

As his hand touched the door knob, Alright, two hundred thousand.

He swung the door open and started to step out of the room. The captain sighed before he said, Alright, I'll take the deal. I can't stand it in here any longer.

The Kawa turned back to the table and pulled out his tablet. He unfolded it and set it down in front of the captain. He said, Put you signature and thumbprint here.

The captain gritted his teeth, then slowly reached out to sign and thumbprint the contract. The other man reached for the tablet, checked it out and then added his signature and thumbprint. After folding the tablet, he put it in the inner pocket of his suit. Moving to another pocket, he pulled out a credit stick.

This will be waiting at the front desk after you and your crew have been processed. You'll be riding with me to the spaceport. Part of the conditions of your release is that you leave immediately and never return.

The captain looked at the amount on the stick and protested, It looks like it's five thousand credits short.

That's your first month's payment. Don't forget, you're on the clock. No payments and you lose the ship. Six months. That's all you get to buy your ship back.

With that, the Kawa strode to the door and nodded at a guard just outside. Fifteen minutes later Captain Jada and his three crewmen were shoved out the rear door of the jail. A van sat there to haul the four back to the spaceship.

The crew of kidnappers tumbled from the van and walked toward their ship. The Kawa pilot stood by the airlock. Captain Jada stopped so abruptly, his crew ran into his back. The captain asked, Who are you?

I'm the man who's going to give you the new codes for your leased ship.

He sent the codes to the captain's comm, then started to turn away. He stopped and looked each of them over, causing them to shift to a defensive posture. The pilot said, "Oh, by the way, Heather sends her greetings. She said she's sorry she couldn't be here today, but she's coming for you. She found a new vibro-blade knife.

I wouldn't be any of you for all the credits in this galaxy. I saw what she did to those two combat robots and the hundred pirates. And she did it single-handedly.

The captain and crew looked like owls as their heads swiveled to look for Heather. Captain Jada could barely speak when he asked, Who are you? Are you fingering us for her?

I'm Musi, just a pilot for – well, you don't really want to know. And no, I'm not fingering you for her. I just met Heather once and I'm really glad she took a liking to me. Not like the feelings she has for you. The only thing that might appease her a teeny tiny bit is if you make those boys rich and see that they're very safe and happy.

The entire crew gulped and looked around some more. They moved as a group, each member touching the other. The captain took three tries to get the airlock open. Musi hurried away to the courier. In just minutes, the kidnappers' ship blasted the ground he had been standing on. It flew out of sight seconds later.

In the courier, Musi asked, Do you think you motivated them enough to get them moving to the Costyx?

I think so. Did you say anything to help?

Yeah, I just hope it's enough to motivate them to go now instead of waiting.

The Kawa in the suit tapped his suit pocket. I have something to take their ship away and give it to the boys if they don't move fast enough.

I know and Kassie thought about doing that, but that bunch may know how to get in without a fight. Well, I guess it's up to someone else now. I'll get you back to the station and then I have another mission.

Thanks, Musi.

For what?

For getting me and my family off Kawa. And getting me a job with Miss Kassie.

You earned it. She's going to need a lot of help to do all the changes and I think you'll be a key player, Musi said.

I'm going to do what I can. I just hope this new setup will be better than the Charter Alliance.

I think it will. I just wish we could tell more people, but I understand why we have to keep it to ourselves for now.

***

Kassie Gunn sat in the pilot's seat of her cloaked spaceship watching the monitors. Soon a ship rose from Topas streaking toward a jump point. She looked down at what looked like a very small mobile desk that sat between the pilot and co-pilot's seat. An arm extended from it to the computer connection on the dash.

She asked, Ommex, are you in contact? Where are they going?

Yes, I'm in contact with Max and they are going to the coordinates for the Costyx. Apparently they are in a big hurry too.

We'll follow. I want to be there to head off any trouble and be close enough to get into that pleasure palace when they go in.

Kassie punched in the coordinates and moved the spaceship on a similar course to the other ship. Just after it jumped, she did as well. As they came out of hyper-space, her eyes checked all the monitors. She saw the other spaceship about fifty thousand miles ahead of her.

She also saw the big pleasure palace sitting in orbit near the fifth planet. A quick passive scan of the planet showed no life. The temperatures were too high and it lacked the moisture to make it habitable.

Her gaze swung back to the Costyx and she froze. Ten spaceships were sitting around the big one. Captain Akan said, That looks a little dicey. How do we deal with them? Do you think you can still get in and out with the twins' parents?

She hesitated for a long moment before she answered, I don't know. Those boys aren't going to wait. I'll stick to the idiots and see what happens. You might call Lieutenant Moga up here to see what we face. Those marines wouldn't let me leave without two platoons to help.

Kassie eased her ship up behind the kidnapper's ship. She lifted a little above it and then eased right over the top of it. Ommex kept her abreast of any moves the other ship might make. She told Captain Akan to attach their ship to the other with a tractor beam. As he made the connection, Kassie finally relaxed a little.

Lt. Moga followed Heather through the door. Heather said, Whoa, what do we have there? That's a pleasure palace, but the others? Are we going to a party?

Kassie said, Yeah, maybe the kind of party you like with lots of guns and getting to shoot people. I think those ten ships sitting near the Costyx are pirates left there to support her. I don't know if they've taken sex slaves off as workers or if they only took crew.

They'll only take slaves that are obedient and subservient. They won't risk letting them get away or causing any trouble, Heather said."

And you know this how? Lt. Moga asked.

I worked on one until Varn rescued me about a year ago. Crimeny, I'd like to take that whole ship and all the slaves on it to Orlowa. The slavers could just be shoved out an airlock after I cut a few excess parts off of them.

The Lieutenant stared at her without saying anything. Kassie asked, How would you take the ship? We don't have enough marines to fight them and besides, the slaves would panic if they saw them.

Moga asked, What about the self-destruct? Does every ship have one? Would that pleasure palace?

Heather looked puzzled until Kassie answered, I'm sure it does. That would be another problem to overcome. Then there's those ten ships sitting around the palace.

Captain Akan said, I don't think you have ten ships to worry about. I only see three that are active. I'd bet my retirement that the other seven are empty. Most likely the crews are at those nova blasted planets helping strip them.

Yeah, just three ships and how many combatants on each? How many on the big one? Taking all of them should be a snap. Moga mused.

Kassie looked at him as she said, Maybe you're right. How would those little ships work as transport for you marines?

You're joking, right? You're not joking. Do you know that you're crazy for even thinking about something like that? Moga said.

Ommex said, You need to listen to this. Our kidnappers are in trouble.

A voice came over the speakers, Unidentified ship, turn around. You are trespassing in private space.

The master of the kidnapper's ship said, I'm Captain Jada and I'm here with my crew to gamble. Isn't our money good enough?

This is private space and we're not taking customers aboard right now.

Silence descended on the solar system for several minutes, then Captain Jada came back on the air, Alright, I guess we can go spend our quarter million credits —

Wait, did you just say quarter million, as in two hundred fifty thousand?

Actually it's a little more, but that's all we're going to risk. We heard this was a high roller ship, but we can see you only deal with the small time gambler.

Ommex said, They have a tight beam to the pleasure palace. I can't intercept it from here.

Five minutes went by, then the kidnappers' ship made a turn. It started to boost speed for a jump. Kassie reached for the tractor beam disconnect. Her voice tightened as she asked, Ommex, where are they going?

Nowhere. It's a bluff because they don't have anything programmed for a jump.

The pirate came back on the comm, Where are you going? I thought you wanted to gamble.

I do, but I'm not doing it out here in space. You told us to leave and we are. I know a planet-side casino that will take some big bets. Don't worry, I'll spread the word that the Costyx is no longer interested in gambling. This planet is a crossroads so that news will soon spread across the galaxy.

Another voice said, Come back. We'll show you some gambling.

Ommex quietly said, That one came from the Costyx.

Captain Jada turned his ship around and flew back to the pleasure palace. As they entered the shield across the rear, Kassie said, Ommex, get in touch with the boys. Tell them if they set one foot off that ship before I tell them to, I'll take them to Sokol and they'll spend the next month in environmental with marines watching over them as they clean.

Moga muttered, And it's definitely nasty.

His jump and scream made Heather jump and scream. Kassie snapped a look behind them to see four Nagini trying to crowd in the cockpit. Kassie yelled, You're not going to fit, so just stay there.

As Ommex talked to Menixa, one of the snakes practically went into a frenzy. Kassie said, You're his ride, aren't you? Well, you'll have to wait until one of your brothers or whatever they are can get into this ship and disarm the self-destruct. Tell them not to be seen.

The snake's entire body moved up and down which seemed to excite the other three. Abruptly, another slightly bigger Nagini joined them causing Moga to grab Heather in his arms and move almost in Captain Akan's lap.

Chapter 2

Kassie looked over at Moga and Heather. He had his two arms wrapped around her and she had all four of hers around him. Kassie said, Hey, you two, if you're going to do that, get a room.

Moga shoved her away to land right smack in Captain Akan's lap. His face turned a bright green in embarrassment as he stuttered, I, I ahh I didn't mean nothing. Those things just spooked me a little.

So you just took advantage of being spooked to cop a feel from a pretty girl?

The green brightened and spread down his neck. Ahh, umm, no, Ma'am. I was just putting my body between those creatures and her to protect her.

Heather sat there on the Captain's lap with her mouth open as her four arms waved in the air. A grin spread on his face and then Kassie started chuckling. Soon both she and Captain Akan were laughing so hard the tears were running down their cheeks. Heather whispered, You were protecting me?

This brought more laughs and more waves of embarrassment. Then another squeal came from Heather as she leaped from the Captain's lap and hugged Moga again. He looked like he could pass out at any second, but Kassie couldn't get a breath to say anything. All she could do was weakly pull at one of Heather's arms.

At last, Kassie caught her breath. She said, I'm sorry, Moga, but the look on your face was just too much. Heather, you can let go now. You're safe.

The sight of a five-foot nine-inch Taun wrapped around a six-foot eight-inch marine with her trumpet shaped ears waving languidly and her eyes glued to his face brought out more giggles. One of Moga's arms went back around Heather as he said, It's alright, Ma'am. I'll gladly stay here and protect her.

That hand softly stroked the thick mane on Heather's back. Kassie said, You do know who this is, don't you? That's Heather and she rides those snakes.

You mean Heather who shot up two hundred pirates and a platoon of combat robots?

This brought more chuckles from Kassie and the Captain. Kassie nodded at him. He just kept stroking her mane as he said, I don't care, I'll still protect her.

Heather let out a big sigh and hugged him harder. Kassie rolled her eyes, then said, Never-the-less, we have some ships to take and you can't do it with her wrapped around you. Ommex, what do you need to try to break into the Costyx's AI?

I need to get to a computer port. I could just ease out the back of our ship and see what I can find.

Kassie eyed his new form before she said, Go. Did you scan those other pirate ships outside? How many have someone in them?

I could only use passive scanners, but I think all ships have at least two personnel on them. The three that show as active have ten to fifteen people each.

How can we take ten spaceships with only forty marines? asked Moga.

Kassie eyed him as she said, You marines are going to take them one at a time and pretty quickly at that. Heather, Kalla and I will take this pleasure palace.

The marine's mouth dropped open in shock. Just three of you? How will you take on the hundreds of crewmen?

I don't know yet. I guess that's why we need to meet in the conservatory. It's the only place big enough to hold everyone. Ommex, go ahead and see what you can do with the ship's computer.

The small desk levitated on its gravity repulsers and moved down the passageway. Kassie led Heather, Moga and Captain Akan to the conservatory. All the others on the ship except Lenixa, Qena and Kellie Anne were already there. Four of the smaller Nagini even made their way into the room.

Kassie called for the ship's AI to project a scene of the pleasure palace and the ten spaceships. Several comments worked through the crowd until she said, We came to get Menixa and Lenixa's parents off this big tub, but we face a little problem getting away if we get caught.

Her comm chimed before she could go any farther. She excused herself and went to a corner to take the call from Ommex. Kassie, we have a problem. When I checked, the catwalk outside the ship was clear, but just as I came out someone stuck their head out of a hidey hole. They know we're here.

She quickly waved Gerx over and told him about their problem. Ommex showed the hiding place and Gerx said he would send two marines to bring the hider back to the ship. As they headed for the door, Kassie told them to see if their target might have been sending information to the bridge or elsewhere.

Twenty long minutes went by before the marines sent word that they had captured the hider and were on their way back. Soon they pushed a dirty, disheveled, stinky male into the room. He didn't take much urging to move in front of Kassie.

She asked, Who are you and why were you hiding up there?

Name's Denixa. That's where I stay. It's as far from environmental as I can get.

A snort of disgust and the look Moga and Gerx exchanged with each other told Kassie they still remembered that smell and the task they had been assigned. She shifted her head so they wouldn't see her little smile.

After a short interrogation, Kassie found out Denixa was a sex slave that had been forced into cleaning the environmental units for several years. She could tell there was more to the story, but he wouldn't willingly share, especially with all the people in the room. He claimed he hadn't sent any warning to anyone, but she saw the suspicion in Moga and Gerx's eyes.

Moga asked, How many slavers are left on this tub?

I'm not sure, but I don't think many. They are locking most of the slaves in their rooms and we don't have any customers.

What about that other ship in the bay?

Well, they might be, but they just arrived, so I don't know for sure.

Denixa had no idea about the other ships outside. After a few more questions, Moga nodded to Kassie that they had all the useful information they would be getting. Kassie told Moga to have a couple of the marines take him to one of the storage rooms and keep him there. She also told them to get him some food and drink.

No one spoke for several minutes after the marines and Denixa left. Kassie said, This changes things. I think rather than trying to rescue two people, we're going to take the entire pleasure palace.

Captain Akan asked, What about those ten ships outside? They won't let us go willingly.

Gerx quipped, Just capture them and take them with us.

That's a good idea. Captain Akan, can you fly the marines out to those ships so they can board them? Kassie asked.

Two marine lieutenants looked at her with amazement written on their faces. Gerx said, It was a jest.

I know, but it sounds like it would work. You marines take those ten ships while the girls and I take this one. Oh, you'll need to take a few Nagini to clear self-destruct devices and help with subduing the crew.

Gerx scowled as he said, No, Ma'am. I won't do it. You can send me to the environmental units for the next two years, but I won't go with those things. They hate me.

Moga spoke, Me too.

Kassie frowned at them, How will you find all of the bombs? It would take you days and we don't have the time, not to mention that some of them would most likely be set off when they discover you on the ships.

Gerx crossed his arms over his chest as he said, I'm not going with them. They'd start on the pirates and then turn on us. Just shoot me here if you don't like it.

Captain Akan interrupted, Why don't we start with the far ships and let a couple of the Nagini clear the bombs. After they leave, the marines could go in to secure the ship, then go on to the next one.

Kassie and the two marine lieutenants were staring at each other, but this suggestion seemed to relieve some of the tension. They finished their plans and stood to implement them when Kalla asked, What about the boys? Are they going to stay on that other ship?

Heather said, You know they won't.

Kassie sighed, I don't suppose they will either. Let's send Trigger and the other ones they ride over to protect them. The boys can start searching the slave quarters after we secure engineering and the bridge.

The four Nagini in the room moved so fast the air around them popped, causing everyone to turn to look. Kassie said, I hope the kidnappers are off the ship.

She tried to call the boys, but the comm just rang and rang. With a sigh, she hung up and asked five of the Nagini to start searching the pleasure palace for bombs or other threats. Fifteen minutes after they left, Lieutenant Moga led his platoon of marines out onto the catwalk next to their ship.

When he gave the all clear, Kassie, Kalla and Heather followed. Five more Nagini came with them. Heather rode on one because she still didn't have the stamina to do all they needed to do, but she insisted on going anyway.

Lieutenant Moga and two of his marines moved out with her and the two snakes to engineering while three more accompanied Kassie and Kalla to the bridge. Kassie and Kalla each rode a Nagini with one of the marines sitting behind them. The third marine had ridden animals on his home planet so they finally convinced him to ride alone.

Kassie and Kalla had to keep reminding the two riding behind them to not squeeze so tight, especially when the snakes picked up speed in some of the seldom used corridors. About half way to the bridge, they ran into a cluster of ten slavers.

Go through them, Kassie shouted to the Nagini.

The snakes bowled the slavers over and as they flew through, Kassie started firing her stingerray at them. The startled marines took a second, then joined her. Kassie stopped the Nagini and sent them back towards the pile of bodies.

The marines jumped off and shot everyone again to make certain they were out. Kassie's gaze flew around the corridor until she spotted a door. Leaping off the snake, she sprinted to it to carefully open it and peer inside.

A storage room greeted her eyes, so she called for the marines to strip them of any weapons and comm units, then lug the stunned bodies inside. After they had all the slavers inside, she called Ommex to lock the door and not let them out until she gave the order.

After mounting up again, they raced for the bridge. They ran into ten more slavers in three groups along the way and blasted them with stingerrays. A quick search, one more blast to keep them out and then the marines shoved them into the first handy room.

Kassie said, I hope no one is monitoring the video feeds from these passageways. They'll have the bridge doors shut down tight.

The group stopped a little ways down the corridor while Kassie slid off the Nagini to go try the door. It didn't respond to her attempt to open it. Easing back to the group, she pointed to a doorway. The marine riding by himself tried it and found an empty meeting room.

She posted a Nagini on the ceiling outside the bridge door and a marine at their door. Everybody except the guard slumped into a seat. Kassie went to a corner to call Ommex. Are you in the computer yet?

Yes, I can control environmental and most of the doors.

Open the bridge when I give you the word.

I said most of the doors. The slavers did something different to the bridge door. I can't open it.

Kassie took a deep breath before replying, I don't think Josh and Cherry had this much trouble. Ommex, I need you up here as fast as you can get here. I need you to see if you can get that door open. If you can't, we're going to have to blow it open or use a laser torch on it.

A tense ten minutes went by before the marine sentry told her Ommex was near the bridge door. Kassie went over to peek out. The marine had to lean over and let her look under his arm. Her breath came out in a hiss causing all the others in the room to leap to their feet and ready their weapons.

Kassie said, As soon as Ommex started trying to open the door, a robo-turret dropped from the ceiling. I can see at least four laser weapons on it. Nagini, take care of that if it starts to fire, but wait if it doesn't.

The seconds ticked by like hours, then the bridge door started to slide open. Kassie rushed out, but the marine beat her to the bridge. The turret fired at him, but the Nagini ate the pulse and then turned to stop any more shots.

On the bridge, the marine found two guards with their feet up on consoles. He shot both before they could even react. The marine took a big jump into the bridge and swept his weapon around looking for more targets.

The two guards were the only people in the room. Kassie waved the rest of her group in and told Ommex to go try to get into the computer so they could get ready to leave. She had two of the marines drag the two slavers into the meeting room just down the passageway.

As they were doing that, she moved to the captain's chair and sat down. She tried to bring up some of the screens, but they stayed dark. Her eyes lifted expectantly to the AI plugged into a port. The marines came back into the bridge and locked the door.

Ommex pulled away from the port to say, No luck, Kassie. They pulled the interface to the ship's AI. I'd bet they took it with them to make sure no one could steal this ship.

Can you do something to bridge it?

Maybe with a bunch of wires and a little help.

Kassie's jaw tightened in determination, Well, we have to do something. We don't know how long before more of the pirates and slavers come back. Have you heard anything from Heather?

***

Heather rode the Nagini at the head of the procession of marines. Lieutenant Moga almost had to trot to keep up with her. Two slavers appeared in the little-used passageway they took. Heather whipped her stingerrays out and shot them before any of the marines could react.

Moga grumbled at her for taking chances since she wasn't up to full speed, but she just told him to dispose of the trash she had created. The other marines found an empty room and locked the unconscious slavers in it.

Before they could return, Heather dismounted from the Nagini and stepped to the engineering door. Her attempts to open it didn't work. The Nagini slithered forward and nudged her out of the way. A second later the door slid open.

Heather strode into the room, followed by both of the Nagini. Moga and the marines noticed what she was doing and sprinted for the door. They arrived to find her gesturing with her weapons to the two sitting at a table gambling.

The two slavers were so startled, they only sat there as she stomped across the room to them. Moga looked around, then looked up. Another slaver leaned over the catwalk railing taking aim at Heather. Moga didn't hesitate before he shot. The slaver tumbled off the catwalk and slammed into the deck, causing the two gamblers to jump.

Moga said, Stupid woman. Didn't look or wait for her back up. You two, get up there and search the rest of the room for hostiles. I'll see what she thinks she's doing.

His stiff gait as he moved toward her told of his anger. He stopped a few steps behind her to say, What do you think you were doing? There could have been a room full of slavers in here.

I didn't think about it. We needed to secure engineering and I did it.

You almost got yourself shot again and then I'd have been in deep trouble with Miss Kassie. Heather, don't do that again. Why haven't you shot these two already?

One of her arms on her left side waved at an open maintenance panel as she said, Didn't you see that? I want to know what they are doing and if they can get it back together again.

As she argued with Moga, her eyes never left the two sitting at the table. She stared harder, then asked, Well?

The two squirmed, but didn't say anything until one of her hands lifted a blaster and shot the table between them. The blast threw splinters across their faces and made them duck. Moga stepped around her and his rifle came to bear on them.

He growled, Answer the lady's question.

One of the slavers started to make a smart remark, but decided against it when Moga's rifle pointed at his foot. He said, The captain had the engineers pull the power plant auto-control module. Someone could still run the power plant by manual control, but it would take an engineer to do it if the ship was to fly.

The other snorted, Yeah, a really, really good engineer. None of ours could do it.

Chapter 3

Menixa, Daru, Sempo, Ghita and Sierra crowded around the monitor to see outside the ship. Captain Jada and the crew had left fifteen minutes ago with more of the devices to influence the gambling machines. Ghita asked, Are you going to activate any of the devices?

Menixa glared at him, Do you think I'm stupid? They start winning and they won't quit. Besides, if they win too much with no one else around, the slavers will just kill them and take over this spaceship. Then what would we do?

Sempo asked, Can you get into the slaver's computer?

Not from here. I need a direct terminal.

Daru said, So we wait.

They watched a few people move around in the landing bay, then they left. Soon all four boys were fidgeting. Before they could get too worked up, a noise behind them made them whirl around.

Sierra let out a shriek at the sight of the four Nagini who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Ghita let out a yell, Trigger.

He rushed to the snake and threw his arms around it. The other three followed closely on his heels. In a few moments, all four were mounted on their snakes talking excitedly. Sierra still pressed back against the monitor. Her eyes were almost as big as her glasses.

Ghita finally noticed her. He slid off of Trigger and went to her. You don't have to worry. They're friendly. We ride them all the time back at the station. You should see —

The terror hadn't left her face, so Ghita reached for her hand. He stood holding it until she settled down. The other boys went to their gear and brought back saddles and guide ropes. Daru brought Ghita's and saddled Trigger after he had his Nagini saddled.

Ghita kept talking until he could lead Sierra over to Trigger and let her pet it. Her body still quivered with tension, but calmed after a bit when the snake made no abrupt movement. She backed to the monitor when Ghita and the boys mounted again.

She caught the movement of more Nagini coming down from the catwalk. Two women with a man behind each of them rode on two of the snakes. Another man rode by himself and they soon disappeared out the door.

Sierra called to the boys whose thrill at riding again had turned to boredom because they couldn't go anywhere. They slid off their mounts and came to watch the monitor just as another woman came riding a Nagini down from above with three marines trailing behind on the stairs. An unridden snake accompanied them.

Ghita said, That's Heather. I wonder what they're going to do.

Menixa growled, I hope they're careful. They could get a bunch of slaves killed.

Their gaze stayed glued to the monitors for a few more minutes before Menixa declared, I have to find a computer terminal and find my mom and dad.

Don't you think we'd better wait for word from Kassie? Sierra asked.

"Not with Heather loose. She hates slavers worse than me. She'll blast