Page 42 of Pirate By Parrot

MEL SAT IN HER CHAIRand tossed a basketball in the air as the official from the Citadel reamed her out.

“Yaluthu are treasured beings, and they are needed for those who have suffered trauma. To have you simply abduct them as pets is sheer piracy.”

“I didn’t abduct them.” She kept tossing the ball, and her little friend remained on her shoulder.

“Abduct, stole. I don’t know what you think you will gain by it, but they are not to be disposed of so lightly.”

“I didn’t abduct them. My companion spoke to them and explained our situation, and then two little ones volunteered to be with us. My companion just brought them to the ship. Now, they are sharing emotions and conversing with us.”

She balanced the ball on her fingertip and ignored the angry green man in Citadel robes. “Sir, do you have anyone there with a Yaluthu that can speak to this situation?”

“There is one, but they are in pursuit of your vessel.”

“Fun. I hope they like high gravity.”

“You have the Yaluthu in high gravity?” He was horrified.

The enthusiastic cheeping made her grin. “It doesn’t seem to mind.”

“What is its name?”

She chuckled. “Whee.”

“What?”

“Whee. It thinks of me and saysWhee, so it is Whee.”

She stood so the little creature was visible, and it slid down her arm saying, “Whee,” before it chirped happily and climbed up her again.

The little red and gold menace was relentless as it climbed up her arm. Beak and pudgy claws, it made it back to her shoulder.

The Citadel staffer was astonished. “You have still stolen it.”

“Great. The great Yaluthu piracy. Give me the information of the representative chasing me, and I will get in touch with them.”

“Why?”

“Because if they want to chase me down, I want them to take the most efficient route.” Mel grinned.

He paused and gave her the call sign. “All Alliance and Imperium vessels are looking for you.”

“Okay. I am fine with that.”

She got the information, and Ves got to work on it. She waved farewell and ended the call.

Ves said, “They were not kidding. The removal of the Yaluthu from a space station has given you and Marko a pirate classification.”

“Well, that has to be a very interesting thing. I am surprised it was so easy to break the law. All I had to do was pick up some shopping.”

“Indeed. Oh, we can install a com now. Your body is finished growing.”

“Now?”

“Yes. Now. You completed the last surge after you arrived on the shuttle. Don’t you feel it?”

She flexed her hands and felt that the pain that had been in her body, the pervasive ache that had worn on her mood and her thoughts, was finally over.

Whee chirped happily.

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