Page 15 of Tanin's Treasure
“It’s as I told you. We were contracted to pick up a chest containing something precious. During our inspection of the treasures, our captain felt that the chest was deceptive and had me investigate further. That’s when we found you.”
“So, your client? He’s the one who brought us here?”
“His employees, actually. They jettisoned your chest in an effort to save themselves. Or, more likely, to not be caught with you. We were hired to get the chest back.”
“And is that’s what’s happening now? Are you bringing us back?”
Alred didn’t answer her right away. He instead began speaking to Tanin in their tongue. Repeating the question. She wasn’t sure that she liked the fact that the answer wasn’t an immediate and resounding no.
Tanin responded to him. But he kept his eyes on her. Answering her directly. So confident and unconcerned, it was no wonder she was having trouble believing him. That wasn’t the alarm of someone who accidentally found trafficking victims.
“The captain states that our client violated the terms of the job when he attempted to hide illegal cargo for transportation. Our contract with him is thus null and void. You two, I assume, did not leave your home voluntarily.”
“No way.” Garnet might not remember exactly what happened when they left the planet, but she didn’t need the flashes of broken, disjointed memories to know it wasn’t by choice. Even if they did want to leave Earth – which wasn’t altogether a terrible prospect considering everything – there was no way the two of them would have agreed to go likethis.
“In that case, we will transport you and your darling sister to the nearest peacekeeper ship or outpost. Whatever is closer.”
“And a peacekeeper is?”
“Keepers are Coalition police. They have no jurisdiction on planetary bodies, but they do hold it over starships, space stations, colonies on any world smaller than a planet, and, of course, through space itself. They will be able to help you get back to your home safely.”
“And the guy who kidnapped us?”
“There is more than enough evidence in the chest and with your testimony to see that he is suitably punished, I’m sure. But since we do not want to share in that punishment, we would like to bring you to the keepers as quickly as our ship allows. Which will be some time, I’m afraid. Our generator needs a few days to recharge.”
“What’s going to happen to us in the meantime?”
Again, Alred translated her question, and again, Tanin answered it while maintaining eye contact with her. She stared back at him. Calming down further thanks to that gaze.
There was something so steady about it. So untouchable. That he was so focused on her should have been unnerving. The creepy twins sure felt that way, and they definitely had the hard, unending, no blinking look down pat.
But there was just something different in the way Tanin looked at her. Not like a creepy statue. More like a leader, secure in his power, overseeing the solving of a problem.
“The captain says you two are free to stay in the extra guest cabin. You will be treated more as passengers, though, of course, we will not charge you for your stay. He does request first, however, that you be checked out in our medbay. As rudimentary as it is, it can still tell us if you’ve any kind of… issue after your ordeal.”
“Issue like what?”
“Injuries. Tracking devices. Things like that.”
“Tracking de- Is that what this collar is!?” She reached up, grabbing for the offending ring. The more she calmed, the more she was aware of just how tight it was around her throat. It wasn’t choking her, but she wasawareof it in the worst kind of way.
Alred cocked his yellow head. “I admit, I don’t know what that collar is. Ah, but I should be able to scan and remove it from you. There are very few systems that are designed against or even capable of keeping my kind out.”
“Right,” she mumbled, not even sure what his kindwas. Was he a computer program? He certainly wasn’t acting like one. But AI could get super realistic even on Earth with their less advanced technology, so alien AI must be super high tech.
She wasn’t going to figure it out just standing here.
Turning her head, she spoke back to her sister-
“What do you think?”
Goldie peeked up at her through her bangs. Unlike Garnet, her wavy hair was free to fall down around her face and shoulders, unencumbered, all the way to her waist. She appeared to be trying to hide under the long strands.
“Do we really have a choice?” She whispered back.
Garnet growled with frustration. Not because she didn’t like the answer, but because she knew she was right and hated the feeling of helplessness that washed over her at hearing it.
Good intentions, bad, or anything in between, they had no other option but to go along with whatever these strangers wanted.
