Starship Renegades: Buccaneer: Starship Renegades, #4

By S.J. Bryant

Betrayal. Poison. Almost Certain Death.

Space Pirates. They're the stuff of B-grade action movies, right?

So Kari thought, until she and her companions are captured by a swaggering captain with a cutlass. The lying traitor on board her ship set a trap, and she walked right into it.

Captain Blanchard wants to sell Kari and her companions into slavery. There's only one thing for it: escape, and damn the trail of bodies.

If they can't escape, they're doomed to lives of servitude. There's just one problem: Kari and her crew have no resources, no allies, and no hope.

If you like sword fights in space, long odds, and massive space stations, then you'll love Starship Renegades: Buccaneer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Saffron Bryant
• Release date: Jan 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393977179

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Kari scanned the ads in the latest edition of the transport magazine on her communicator. Glowing banners with scrolling text called out 'easy cargo, hard cash!' and 'Call now for free insurance.' Buried at the bottom, squeezed between an ad for a robot assistant and one for an old freighter, was her ad. Transport for Cash, see the Phantom in the Ryevo shipping yards. It didn't have scrolling text, or color—that would have cost extra—and so it blended into the background. But it was all she could afford, and she needed the work.

If you let me take some jobs… Wren said from just behind Kari's right shoulder.

Kari flinched, leaping out of her chair, and spun, one hand already on her gun. Don't do that! She couldn't be blamed for being jumpy around Wren, not when the other woman had been hell bent on killing her just a few weeks before. Kari's side still ached from the piece of shrapnel that had lodged between her ribs.

Wren leaned back against the wall of the ship, where yellow paint spelled out Phantom. Bright sunlight poured through the open door and seemed to light everything inside the ship except Wren's face which she managed to keep in perpetual shadow.

If you let me steal something, we might be able to afford more than dried ration bars, Wren said.

No, Kari said, returning to her chair at the ship's entrance and snatching her communicator from the floor where she'd dropped it. I don't want the local authorities to come after us. You know that if they look us up it will lead them to Raxis, and then the Imperium will get word and we'll be arrested before we can even spend whatever money you steal. No. We stay legal, we stay under the radar.

No good if we starve, Wren muttered, melting deeper into the hallway.

Kari rubbed her eyes and tried to push Wren's words out of her head, but they were hard to ignore. For three weeks Kari had been trying to get an honest job, and so far, nothing. They were running low on food—as Ryker reminded her every time they ate—and they needed to keep moving. It was only a matter of time before the Imperium came looking. Or Wren's damn Guild for that matter. The further away they were, the better.

They'd all agreed there was no reason to go back to Raxis. None of them had strong ties there, not strong enough to risk capture anyway. So they'd stayed on Ryevo and searched for work. Which had led to this; Kari spending every day sitting in an uncomfortable chair at Ghost's entrance in the hopes that some traveler or transporter would come along who needed her services.

So far, all she'd got was sunburned.

Heavy boots warned of Ryker's approach and as usual, Piper walked in his shadow.

How's it going, Captain? Ryker said.

Kari waved at the empty stretch of ground in front of Ghost's entrance. A few ships dotted the parking lot, but otherwise it was bare. Same as every other day.

Beyond the shipping yard, the buildings of Ryevo rose up in a jagged skyline, and behind the city, the forest. It covered most of the planet, except for this small patch which had been carved out for the city.

Kari and her companions knew as well as anyone that the forest was far from empty, but the city and the forest seemed to have reached some sort of agreement and stayed out of each other's way.

We may have to consider other options, Ryker said.

We don't have other options.

There are always options. This planet must have a militia, and there's always jobs for mercenaries—

No. Kari's gaze flew from the communicator to Ryker's face. No. We're not that desperate. There was no way she'd let him go back to that. He hated the senseless violence, so the fact that he'd even consider it… she had to do something.

There are people coming, Piper said, before scurrying away down the hall.

Kari's eyes snapped to the bare stretch of cement.

Two silhouettes staggered across the shipping yard from the city, heading in her direction. They carried a huge box between them, big enough to hold several bodies.

Kari stood and squinted. They had to be coming to Ghost. They had to be.

It felt like a lifetime that Kari had to wait for the two to lug the box across the shipping yard. In the end she couldn't handle the suspense and hurried onto the hot tar to meet them.

Are you looking for transport? she said, forgetting any formalities in her desperation.

You're the Phantom? said the first man with a wide grin.

Yes.

Then yes we are! He placed his half of the metal box on the ground and held out his hand. Taylor, at your service.

Kari, captain. And this is Ryker.

The man beside Taylor made no move to hold out his hand.

That's Aydin, Taylor said. Don't mind him, he's an unsociable bastard. We're looking for transport, for ourselves and this. He kicked the side of the box with his shoe. Our employer wants speed and discretion.

You've got it, Kari said.

Taylor raised an eyebrow. You don't even know where we're going yet.

Kari forced herself to take a breath. She was making a fool of herself and that wouldn't exactly put her in a strong bargaining position. She couldn't let these two see just how desperate she was for a job—any job. Where are you going?

Ferion, Taylor said. Do you know it?

Kari didn't. Having spent her life inside the Raxis system, she barely knew the names of the closest systems, let alone the planets inside them. But she kept her expression blank. That will cost you.

How much? Taylor said.

Kari lifted her communicator as if looking at a schedule, but instead she did a quick search for Ferion. Only one system over. She'd have to use most of their katium reserves to get there and that would be expensive to replace. It legal? she said, nodding at the box.

Taylor held a hand to his chest with mock offense. What exactly are you accusing me of?

Kari raised an eyebrow.

It's legal. Our employer just doesn't want certain competitors to know he's got it.

Fine, Kari said. For the two of you, plus the cargo, it will be two thousand credits.

Taylor whistled. Have you got five-star accommodation and three course meals?

Heat spread up Kari's neck. With their current supplies, she'd be flat out feeding the two extra mouths. She'd need to take whatever deposit they paid and get Ryker to buy more food before take-off. That's the price, she said, doing her best to keep her voice steady.

Taylor made a show of looking up at Ghost. We'll give you one thousand, and we'll look the other way when we see the tiny beds I'm sure you'll be putting us in. He glanced at Ryker and grinned. This guy knows what I'm talking about.

Ryker chuckled. I suppose it can get a little tight.

Ryker! Kari said.

Don't worry about it, Taylor said. You would never have convinced me you had quality accommodation on that old thing unless I saw it with my own eyes.

One thousand five hundred, Kari said. The trip will burn a lot of katium.

Katium, Taylor said, shaking his head. He clapped his companion on the shoulder. Never get used to it, aye, Aydin? Out here they're still using katium engines!

Out here? Kari said. What's that supposed to mean?

Taylor shrugged. I guess I'm just used to the inner systems. It's all warp crystals and warp tunnels there. It almost killed me to have to take a katium drive here.

Kari couldn't tell if he was making it up as some kind of joke or if he was being serious. The inner systems didn't use katium for faster-than-light travel? Then what did they use? And what would that mean for Raxis—a system whose economy was built on katium?

No. That wasn't her problem, not anymore. The only thing she had to think about was getting enough money to look after herself and her crew. What did it matter what the inner systems were doing?

Well, here it's all katium, Kari said. And it costs. So, one thousand five hundred is my final offer.

Fine, Taylor said. Although I'm sure you're robbing us blind.

Half now, Kari said. Half on arrival.

You don't beat around the bush, do you?

Taylor tapped his communicator against Kari's and a green notification flashed across her screen. Seven hundred and fifty credits deposit.

We don't do tokens or physical coins, Taylor said. The boss doesn't like to play with children's money. I hope that's okay.

Kari had only used the digital currency a few times in her life. It just wasn't done on Zenith. But she was starting to learn that there was a lot more to the Universe than what Zenith had to offer.

Welcome aboard, she said. Let us help you with that.

She and Ryker helped Aydin and Taylor hoist the box up and carry it the rest of the way across the shipping yard to Ghost, up the loading ramp, and down the corridor to the first spare room.

Aydin still hadn't said a word and his eyes flashed when Kari first touched the box. Fine. She'd dealt with unfriendly customers before. She'd stay out of his way if he stayed out of hers.

Ah, see, Taylor said. I knew this wasn't going to be five stars.

Kari looked around the small room and truly saw it for the first time in a long while. She'd become so used to living in her tiny pod that she barely noticed it anymore. But now the narrow bed—barely big enough to hold a normal sized person, let alone someone with broad shoulders like Taylor and Aydin—and Ryker now she thought about it—seemed laughable. The walls and ceiling pressed in close, leaving barely enough room for all of them to stand, even pressed against each other. And with the box as well there was almost no floor space at all.

I can put this in the storage bay, Kari said.

No, Aydin snapped.

Whoa, Kari said, holding up her hands. I just thought you might want some more room.

It stays with me, Aydin said.

Okay, Kari said, backing out of the room into the hallway. Whatever you say.

Taylor sighed and shook his head. Never did learn people skills this one. Of course, it's my luck to get stuck with him for a journey to the middle of nowhere with ships that still use katium drives.

Kari tried not to think too badly of Aydin; she wasn't exactly friendly at times either. She half turned and tapped her communicator against Ryker's to give him some of the money and caught his eye. He'd know what to get. At least they'd have food for this damn journey.

He nodded and slipped down the corridor.

Right, Kari said. Ryker has just gone to get a few last-minute supplies and then we'll be off. In the meantime, would you like the grand tour and to meet the rest of the crew?

Aydin grunted but Taylor zipped into the corridor with a wide grin. Would I ever.

CHAPTER 2

Kari fired up Ghost's engines and the ship rattled and rumbled as it pushed away from Ryevo. Bright streaks of orange and red stained the horizon from the setting sun in the distance. It reflected off Ghost's dashboard, turning it to brilliant shades of crimson. Kari relished in the feel of the controls in her hand and urged Ghost faster, upward, to the freedom of the sky.

They burst through a thick layer of cloud, then higher still until the ship broke away from Ryevo's gravity into outer space.

Kari entered the coordinates for Ferion. Better find something to hold on to people, I'm activating the katium drives. She waited a few moments and then brought her finger down on the bright red button—a louder roar sounded from inside the ship.

They lurched forward, moving faster and faster so that Kari was pressed into the back of her seat. The stars turned to blurs and inertia made it hard for Kari to breathe.

Seconds later, they stopped accelerating and for Kari it was as if they'd stopped moving altogether. She drew a deep breath and climbed out of her chair. Until recently she'd never used the katium drives, and now this was the second time in as many months. Life had changed. But she tried not to think about that, tried not to think about the people she'd left behind on Zenith. The rebellion. There was no point in her going back, she'd be captured before she even set foot on the planet. No, the rebels would have to fight without her.

She left the pilot's pod and sauntered through the engine room, down the corridor, to the dining room where loud laughter sounded.

Taylor sat at the table with Atticus. Wren perched on her usual stool, but a rare smile cracked her face.

Captain! Taylor said. Come and join us.

Kari took a seat beside Atticus. Where are the others?

That gentle giant, Ryker, said he had to fix something in the storage hold, Taylor said. Your young sister didn't seem to want to join us, and don't expect Aydin to participate in any team-building activities, it's not really his thing.

Kari shrugged. Each to their own. I don't think 'team-building activities' are my thing either. For the first time in a long time Kari's shoulders relaxed and it didn't feel like she carried the weight of the Universe. Ryker was getting some work done—she had asked him to fix that support stand before they'd even left Zenith. And Piper could be shy of new people—not so surprising given her past. So, all was well; she had a job, she had money, and she had a good crew.

That was some nice flying, Taylor said.

Kari snorted. With these new models it's not like it used to be. It's just a press of a button.

New, Taylor said. New!

Atticus and Wren joined in his laughter. After a few moments, Kari couldn't help but smile.

Okay, Kari said. So, Ghost has got a few miles behind her.

It must be what, a class-five engine? Taylor said.

Four, Kari said with a wince.

Four. Suddenly I'm afraid for my life.

Kari scowled. It's served us fine this far. But I can drop you off here? She gestured at the window where blurred stars streamed past.

No, Taylor said. No. I apologize. This is a fine ship. A very fine ship.

Good, Kari said. Besides—

Would you all be quiet? Rusty uncurled from where he'd been hunched in a ball in the corner. An empty glass lay on its side near his leg.

Whoa, Taylor said. I thought that was just a pile of scrap.

And good to meet you too, Rusty said.

Rusty, Kari said. This is Taylor. He and his companion Aydin are traveling with us for a few days.

Great. Rusty climbed to his feet and trudged to the cupboard that housed the coolant. More humans. He poured green fluid into the glass, splashing some across the bench and overfilling so that it poured down the sides.

He staggered back to his corner and slumped into