Page 32 of Life-Debt

Shaking my head over the insanity, I got out of my seat, crouched beside my co-captain’s chair, and stroked the baby Veloc’s head until she woke. I cooed to her. She cooed back, reaching out with her capped claws. Having seen how Veloc snuggled with each other before, I lowered my head and presented my cheek, the closest I could do to mimic how they comforted each other.

She nuzzled me and chirped.

“I’m going to be taking you home soon, sweet baby. My friends are adding a few extra pieces of cargo, then we’re leaving. I expect we will be met by your kin. You will need to coo and chirp and be a happy baby for them, all right? They’ll be angry because you were stolen.”

While I struggled to make the correct sounds, she cooed an acknowledgment, and she began to purr, an indication she understood my request. Cradling her to my chest, I made my way to the cargo bay entry, activating the display near the door to monitor for Carthello and his companion. Eight minutes after cutting off communications, he arrived with three other operators, who hauled a corpse and another container.

Idiots. Sighing, I lowered the gangway, wondering what the container contained. I decided against asking, instead keeping an eye on them. They tethered the corpse to one of the brackets and stacked the container with others. Carthtello placed a sheet on top, waved at one of my cameras, and bounced to the end of the gangway before jumping for the space station.

Once they were all clear, I closed the gangway and returned to my seat. I activated the comm and said, “You have some serious problems with basic math, Carthello.”

He laughed at me. “Have a safe flight. You’re clear to go, and we’ve already gotten a confirmation from the Veloc they will escort you, and you won’t need your new baton, which is in the container with a few other things you’ll like on the self-defense front.”

“Thanks. Stay safe. I expect to see you at the spaceport, so don’t get yourself killed being stupid.”

“I’ll see you soon enough, I’m sure. Assuming you’re not romanced, of course.”

“And what use would I have for romance if he isn’t interested in exploring the stars with me? Get with the program, Carthello. I’m not giving up space for any mere man.”

He bellowed his laughter. “Off you go, Viva. And should you be successfully romanced, I will come visit to gloat over your defeat. But to soften the blow, I’ll bring you more presents.”

Wicked man. Well, former man. “Fly safe.”

I cut the communication off before we made fools of ourselves. I returned the baby to her nest, cooed to reassure her, and eased my ship away from the dock. The thrum of the engine startled the hatchling, how flattened her crest and cowered on the seat.

“It’s okay, baby,” I told her in a mix of trills, coos, and whistles. I accelerated slower than normal, keeping an eye on my precious cargo. Once I got the ship up to fifty percent throttle, I stabilized the speed, set a course for Veloci Minor, and relaxed. Using the intercom, I gave Pandora permission to roam.

Then, I scooped the hatchling up, put her on my lap, and played with her, while looking through my front window for any of the common hazards of space, trusting in my ship’s systems to alert me of trouble.

ELEVEN

“It won’t be comfortable, but I can hold three.”

Five days after leaving the space station, my ship squealed a warning of incoming ships. Pandora chittered a warning, and she snatched the kit by the back of his neck and fled for the safety of her nest as I’d taught her. The main display indicated I’d been located by an entire fleet of Veloc. One angry adult Veloc worried me. Ten ships worth of angry Veloc left me with few options. The communication system activated with a request to communicate. As I valued my life, I sat in my captain’s chair, scooped up the baby, and settled her on my lap, sacrificing my fingers to her sharp little teeth so they would see her happy and cooing rather than distressed.

I accepted the communication, approving video communication.

A Veloc with a crimson crest, a similar shade to the hatchling’s, appeared on the screen. His bright green eyes focused on my lap.

“She’s fine,” I announced in his language. “She was scared when she was first recovered, and those who claimed her from the kidnapper weren’t sure how to care for her, so I needed to clean and oil her feathers, but she doesn’t seem to have come to any harm. They provided plenty of food for her in a mix of meat and milk. She’s been digesting it fine, so I assume they were able to get suitable fare for her.”

The male’s crest snapped upwards. “You’re fluent in our language.”

“I have a great deal of time in space, so I thought it wise to learn languages. Veloci is the most challenging of the languages I’ve learned, but it’s coming in useful.”

“You use the formal form, but you are understandable. Thank you for bringing her. Do you have a safe way to be boarded or to bring her to us?”

“I don’t have a suit viable for her. I can’t guarantee her safety. We might be able to rig a docking. If you have suits, I can open the gangway. I can board two Veloc, maybe three in a pinch.” I switched to trade, hoping the hatchling hadn’t been taught other languages yet. “She wants her parents, and while she accepts food and care from me, she knows I am a transporter.”

“Her parents are here, and we can get them into suits. Your gangway is safe? Can you temporarily welcome a third Veloc on board?”

“It won’t be comfortable, but I can hold three. The seats for landings are not precisely comfortable for your species.”

“This is fine. Her parents and a guardian would be preferred. He will not be a problem, I assure you.”

I nodded. “I will open the gangway. There is a man in stasis in the cargo bay. Upon revival, he will be put on trial, and upon confirmation of guilt, he will be given to you for discipline. Or as lunch. I have no pity for those who kidnap a hatchling.”

The Veloc showed me all his teeth. “Lunch sounds delightful.”