Page 25 of Pirate By Parrot

“Confinement, torture, and sexual assault before being told that the Citadel needs their money back before she can get treatment.”

“Oh, shit.”

“Yeah. Well, it was nice meeting you, Liona. I wish you a lovely life and prosperous union.”

“Um, I want to hug you.” Liona fidgeted.

“I will be careful.” Mel leaned down, and Liona wrapped her arms around Mel’s neck.

The whisper, “Just give it time; you aren’t done yet,” made Mel blink. She patted Liona’s back carefully, and when the small woman let her go, she straightened.

Annabelle looked at her and said, “Are you ready?”

Mel lifted her hand, and Marko squawked and flew to her wrist, and then she sidestepped up to her shoulder. Marko looked at Liona.“Bye, bitch!”

Liona laughed, and Mel headed back to the ship with her buddy riding high.

They settled in, strapped in, and Ves lifted off. On to Rai.

Chapter Five

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BACK ON THE LARGERship and on the way to Rai, Mel sat in her quarters and activated the com.

“Ves, I want to know about the Vendari.”

“No.”

“What do you mean no?”

“I mean that the people known as the Vendari were nasty, cruel, and brutish, and you don’t need to know about them.”

Mel paused. “So, you know why I am here.”

“Yes, Mel.”

“Why am I here?”

“Vendar received permission to try again.” Ves paused. “Vendar was delighted to hear from the Reset Project. When they learned that you were already halfway to a Vendari transformation, it was—as you say—a no-brainer. So, they paid to complete your transformation, and it was executed on the station.”

“Got it. So, the Skevarik?”

“Tried to steal you when they realized their chance for you had been outbid.”

“Which is why they tried to blow me out of the sky.”

“They are sore losers.”

“And they harbour resentments against the Vendari.”

“And yet, they didn’t come onto the station.” There was a smug and innocent note in the voice.

“Because you have the gravity so high, they would get squashed. Now, honestly, how much gravity do I actually need for survival?”

Ves paused. “Two gravitational forces. You can be adapted for two gravitational forces.”

“That is what I thought. This body has felt so weird.”

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