Page 26 of Fighting Gravity
When I activated the cuffs around Quinn’s wrists and saw her wince, I wanted to slam her against the wall again and knock more sense into her. She’d brought it on herself. She had no idea what could have happened if anyone had snagged her before I did. To everyone else in the galaxy, humans were just animals. Dumb animals. She had no rights. No knowledge of Tao Prime or the scum that inhabited it.
I pulled Quinn close as she rubbed the new cut on her neck.
It was so infuriatingly easy to damage her, even when I was trying to hold back.
“You stay close,” I snarled. “Or I’ll knock you unconscious and carry you over my shoulder.”
“Should have just left me on the shuttle,” she said.
“We’re on Tao Prime. That shuttle is being stolen as we speak.”
She grimaced at me like she had the upper hand. Her look was challenging and defiant, even though she was completely at a disadvantage.
“Where the fuck are we going?” she said.
“We need a ship.”
I yanked Quinn forward as Veron draped the cloak over her, concealing her pale skin. As big as the thing was, it also made her body look less slight, which would draw less suspicion.
“Should have just let her go,” Veron said under her breath.
“Get in contact with the rest of the crew and inform them of my plans,” I said to Kaar, ignoring her.
Kaar nodded and wandered off to do his work.
“What are your plans exactly?” she asked.
“To get a ship.”
“Yeah, but with what credits? You know the shikari don’t accept fel.”
“I’m not offering credits.”
Veron’s eyes lit up. “You’re trading the human then?”
“Shut up, Veron, or I’ll offeryou.”
She growled, hanging her hands on her belt as we marched through the crowded center square. It was an empty threat, but it still conveyed my fragile mood.
Most of the inhabitants on Tao Prime were outcasts. Some species I didn’t even recognize. But almost everything in the galaxy knew us. My ancestors made sure our reputation could carry us far, even if the gek had gone a bit quiet. We were not to be trifled with and I was making sure that reputation was flourishing again.
If only pirates had the same sense about them that others did.
No matter. Revenge was our driving force. Kaar had gotten detailed readings on the pirates that attacked the Argos and he knew not to flush the data. I’d be getting my vengeance eventually.
I liked that ship…
All ships had an end, but the Argos deserved a more glorious one.
Walking through a less crowded section of the square, I saw little animals in tight cages squeaking and chittering at passersby. I wasn’t sure if they were being sold for food or as pets. I wasn’t even sure where they were from. Tao Prime was such a trash heap of random things that it was hard to keep up. But, because it was a melting pot, I was likely to find myself a new ship. At least one with enough power to get somewhere more helpful.
The station was dark, lit by dim lights hanging on wires that wove throughout the giant tunnel system. Most of the inhabitants were from dark planets. Veron and I navigated it with ease, but Quinn kept tripping and wavering on her feet. If I recalled correctly, her planet was bright with a star that shed blinding light half the time. I couldn’t imagine. It hurt my eyes just thinking about it, but it meant that Quinn was having a rough time walking over the uneven terrain when we got to a rockier path. I moved my grip from the cuffs to her arm in case she tripped and I had to keep her on her feet.
“Where the hell are we even going?” Quinn complained.
“I’m looking for someone in particular.”
Veron chuckled.
